•Solute transport in a karst vadose zone studied by 3 long-term tracer tests.•Tracer breakthrough curves monitored over 11 successive hydrological years.•Defined various processes with significant ...effects on solute transport in karst.•Demonstrated long-lasting storage in the vadose zone of karst aquifers.
The processes influencing the solute transport in the karst vadose zone were studied by long-term tracer tests with artificial tracers. The results of three successive tracer tests with different modes of injection were compared. Tracer breakthrough curves were monitored at three drips of different hydrological types inside one of the cave galleries of the system of Postojnska Jama over several years. Comparison of the results indicates the highly significant influence of preceding hydrological conditions (dry vs wet), injection mode (artificial flushing vs natural infiltration by subsequent rainfall, and on a bare rock vs on an overlying layer) and geologic heterogeneities within the vadose zone on solute transport in the karst vadose zone. Injection with artificial flushing resulted in rapid infiltration and the tracer traversed almost one hundred meters of bedrock in hours. However, the majority of tracer can be stored within less permeable parts of the vadose zone and then gradually flushed out after additional abundant and intensive precipitation in the period of several years. Long-continued sampling in each of the tests proved to be important for reliable characterization of the long-term solute transport dynamics.
The CO
2
concentration of the air in Postojna Cave (400–7900 ppm) is found to be induced by CO
2
sources (human respiration contributing ~ 20,000–58,000 ppm per breath, outgassing of dripwater and ...water seeping from the vadose zone/epikarst with a
p
CO
2
values of 5000–29,000 ppm, and underground Pivka River having
p
CO
2
at 2344–4266 ppm) and CO
2
dilution (inflow of outside air with a CO
2
concentration of ~ 400 ppm). Measurements show that sinking Pivka River has the lowest CO
2
concentration among plausible CO
2
sources but still continuously exceeds the surrounding cave air CO
2
concentration. During the winter months, intensive ventilation reduces the cave air CO
2
concentration to outside levels (~ 400 ppm), even in the centre of the cave system. CO
2
dilution is less pronounced in summer (CO
2(min)
≈ 800 ppm), since the ventilation rate is not as strong as in winter and the outside air that enters the cave through breathing holes and fractures is enriched with soil CO
2
. During spring and autumn, the daily alternation of the ventilation regime with a smaller rate of air exchange results in yearly cave air CO
2
peaks of up to ~ 2400 ppm. Some dead-end passages can be much less affected by ventilation, resulting in a cave air CO
2
concentration of up to 7900 ppm. The strongest diurnal CO
2
peaks due to human respiration were recorded during the spring holidays (increase of up to 1300 ppm day
−1
), compared to considerably smaller summer peaks despite peak visits (increase of ~ 600 ppm day
−1
).
Historical air temperatures at three karst caves in Slovenia have been compared to current data time series. In Postojnska Jama (PJ), the most visited show cave in Slovenia, the significant ...temperature difference between historical and modern measurements at the Pulpito site relates to the months April to November. Mean monthly temperatures measured at the Sepolcro site (PJ) in the modern period (2016–2019) are year round significantly higher than in the historical period (1935–1937). The temperature increase over the last 85 years in PJ is attributed to outside temperature rise and additional heat input from visitors, especially for Sepolcro site. A comparison of current (2017–2019) and historical (1956–1957) temperature data in touristically poorly visited Predjama Cave shows lower increase as in PJ and is completely related to outside cave conditions. In the case of Škocjanske Jame (Tiha Jama), air temperature has not significantly increased since the historical 1928 measurements because the monitoring site looks to be morphologically isolated from significant impacts of outside climate and visitors.
Partial pressure of CO, (pC02) and its isotopic composition (513CairC02) were measured in Postojnska jama, Slovenia, at 10 locations inside the cave and outside the cave during a one-year period. At ...all interior locations the pC02 was higher and 513CairC02 lower than in the outside atmosphere. Strong seasonal fluctuations in both parameters were observed at locations deeper in the cave, which are isolated from the cave air circulation. By using a binary mixing model of two sources of C02, one of them being the atmospheric C02, we show that the excess of C02 in the cave air has a 513C value of-23.3 plus or minus 0.7 %o, in reasonable agreement with the previously measured soil-C02 513C values. The stable isotope data suggest that soil C02 is brought to the cave by drip water.
The sub-surface flow path through the Postojnska jama cave system has been monitored with 7 stations distributed along the flow path, monitoring stage and temperature. We have used the stage data to ...model flow through the cave system with the program package SWMM, simulating the active parts of Postojnska jama with simplified geometry. From the comparison of stage observations and predictions, we identified key sections in the cave, which control the sub-surface flow, such as passage constrictions, sumps and by-passes. Using a formal inverse procedure, we determined the geometry of this key sections by fitting predicted to observed stages, and we achieved a very high degree of correlation. Key words: modelling, hydrology, Postojnska jama. Modeliranje toka podzemeljske Pivke v Postojnski jami, Slovenija Z avtomatskimi merilniki in registratorji podatkov smo spremljali podzemni tok Pivke v Postojnski jami na sedmih točkah med ponorom in odtočnim sifonom v Pivki jami. Podatke nivojev in pretoka smo obravnavali z modelom EPA SWMM, s katerim smo simulirali tok v poenostavljeni geometriji kanalov. S primerjavo med opazovanji in modelskimi rezultati smo določili ključne odseke (podore, zožitve, sifone, obtoke), ki najbolj vplivajo na dinamiko toka podzemne Pivke. Glavne parametre teh odsekov smo določili z inverzno metodo, ki temelji na algoritmu soseske (Neighbourhood algorithm, NA) in pri tem dobili odlično ujemanje med modelom in podatki. Ključne besede: modeliranje, hidrologija, Postojnska jama.
In Črna Jama, which is part of Postojnska Jama, underground measurement of VLF (Very Low Frequency) radio signals was periodically carried out in 2012 and 2013 for detection of possible pre-seismic ...and/or other anomalies and to ascertain suitability of VLF monitoring in a natural cave environment. The modulation of the VLF signal was connected with a powerful atmospheric front and changes of the precipitation level. VLF data showed day and night changes and also significant changes between dry and rainy periods when water from the surface reached the cave chamber through about 30 m of limestone roof. During VLF monitoring we did not receive earthquake precursor signals. VLF monitoring in a karst cave could be an option for future research in understanding pre-seismic and other anomalies. On-line connection with other VLF surface or cave monitoring sites in Europe is necessary in future VLF registration. Results of preliminary VLF monitoring showed Črna Jama to be a suitable place for future studies. Key words: VLF radio signals, noise sounds, pre-seismic anomalies, Črna Jama, Slovenia.
Imenski rov (Rov starih podpisov), the Old Cave (Stara jama), was the only part of Postojnska jama known for several centuries until 1818 when Luka Čeč discovered the access to the inner parts of the ...cave. Here we documented ca. 400 inscriptions. About 100 more were also recorded in the historic part of Predjama Cave. From these signatures we correlated 19 with independently historically known persons, less than 5% of the total. The correlation is firm for 15 names, but only tentative for Bellegarde, Kotze, Mihanović and Karl von Zur. The oldest one is that of Johann Melchior Ott(o) of 1642, a painter in the service of Johann Anton zu Eggenberg (1610–1649) the owner of the Castle of Adelsberg at the time, whose coat of arms Ott drew as well. The next oldest is the name Josef Anton Nagel 1748 who also left Latin inscriptions in Predjama cave and in Sloup Cavern, Moravia. All other inscriptions of historic persons are younger than 1800 including those of Franz Graf von Hohenwart, Joseph Petsch Ritter von Löwengreif and Alois Schaffenrath (each with several inscriptions). Noteworthy are also the signatures of Josef Franz Eggenhöfner (1801 or 1809, and 1820; developer of Grotta di Padriciano), Johann Natterer (biologist, 1815, who stayed 19 years in Brazil and laid the basis of the zoological department of the Natural History Museum in Vienna), Karl Beyrich (1819, botanist who died during an expedition in Arkansas, 1834), Giuseppe de Volpi (1820, from Trieste who published first evidence of the cave bear presence in Postojnska jama), Johann Fercher, mine supervisor, and his team of miners from Idrija who signed during their survey of the cave in 1833, Johann Ritter von Hauer (1836 in Pisani rov, Vienna, Imperial Councelor of War and Palaeontologist), Ivan Andrej Perko (the later director of the cave) and several cave guides. Members of the nobility or state employees include Bellegard, Adrienne Brandis Desenffans and her brother Karl Graf Desenffans, Carl von Kotze, and Mihanović.
The Postojnska jama cave system represents a union of old, now dry, horizontal cave passages, the Pivka river active passage, and shafts or collapse dolines, which enable surface connection with some ...cave passages. The present entrance to the cave is formed at the contact between the Postojna basin impermeable Eocene flysch and the Upper Cretaceous limestone. The Pivka river sink entrance is formed along interbedded movements in the horizontal direction, and in the vertical direction it lies in a strong tectonic fault zone of NE-SW direction. The cave passages are formed in tectonic deformations which developed by the formation of the Postojna anticline, as there are interbedded movements, and in later fault deformations, where the main tectonic fault zones directions are the Dinaric NW-SE and cross-Dinaric NE-SW. Besides two main fault directions, the accompanying broken and fissured zones which are the result of the fault Dinaric tectonics are also favourable to cave formation.
Provider: - Institution: - Data provided by Europeana Collections- Extended description:
Človéška ríbica, tudi močeríl ali próteus (znanstveno ime Proteus anguinus) je dvoživka, ki živi v podzemnih ...vodah Dinarskega krasa od porečja reke Soče pri Trstu v Italiji, preko južne Slovenije in jugozahodne Hrvaške do reke Trebišnice v Hercegovini.2 Je edini evropski predstavnik družine močerilarjev (Proteidae), edini predstavnik rodu Proteus in edini jamski vretenčar v Evropi. Preostalih šest predstavnikov družine uvrščamo v rod Necturus. Živijo na vzhodu ZDA, kjer naseljujejo površinske vode.
Večina sorodnikov močerila (močeradi in pupki, žabe) ima ličinke v vodi, po preobrazbi (metamorfozi) pa gre odrasla žival na kopno in ponovno odloži jajca v vodo. Močeril se ne preobrazi, je neotenična žival, kar pomeni, da še odrasel in spolno zrel ohrani nekatere mladostne (juvenilne) znake ličinke zaradi upočasnjenega telesnega razvoja. Ohrani zunanje škrge, škržne reže in kožo z mnogimi značilnostmi ličinke.
Močeril je dinarski endemit, njegova razširjenost je torej omejena na Dinarski kras. Črni močeril pa je še ožji, verjetno belokranjski endem. Obenem je močeril relikt, torej ostanek neke favne, ki je naseljevala širše območje v davni preteklosti. (vir Wikipedia)
The Olm, or Proteus (Proteus anguinus), is a blind amphibian endemic to the subterranean waters of caves of the Dinaric karst of southern Europe. It lives in the waters that flow underground through this extensive limestone region including waters of the Soča river basin near Trieste in Italy, through to southern Slovenia, southwestern Croatia, and Herzegovina.2 The olm is the only species in its genus Proteus, the only European species of the family Proteidae, and the only European exclusively cave-dwelling chordate. It is also occasionally called the "human fish" by locals because of its skin color, similar to that of white people (translated literally from Slovene: človeška ribica and Croatian: čovječja ribica), as well as "cave salamander" or "white salamander."3 In Slovenia it is also known by the name močeril, which translates as "the one that burrows into wetness."4
This animal is most notable for its adaptations to a life of complete darkness in its underground habitat. The olm's eyes are undeveloped, leaving it blind, while its other senses, particularly those of smell and hearing, are acutely developed. It also lacks any pigmentation in its skin. In contrast to most amphibians, the olm is entirely aquatic, and it eats, sleeps, and breeds underwater. It has 3 toes on its forelimbs, but 2 toes on its hind feet. It also exhibits neoteny, retaining larval characteristics like external gills into adulthood,5 like the American amphibians, the axolotl and the mud puppy. (Wikipedia)
- Information:- Postojna Cave: proteus again on display in a natural water tank; statements by Slavko Polak and Matjaž Berčon.- Original language summary:
Postojnska jama: človeške ribice ponovno na ogled v naravnem akvariju; izjavi Slavko Polak, Matjaž Berčon.- All metadata published by Europeana are available free of restriction under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. However, Europeana requests that you actively acknowledge and give attribution to all metadata sources including Europeana
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