KARSTIFICATION INTENSITY MODEL FOR THE TERRITORY OF SLOVENIA

Abstract

Almost half of Slovenian territory could be classified as a karstic terrain. Some areas are intensively karstified, some are less and some are potentially karstic areas. Geology of a given territory very much governs the spatial planning and groundwater resources management, and measures taken in the case of natural or anthropogenic disasters events. Karstic areas are unique natural system with a specific hydrological cycle that is extremely vulnerable to external disturbances such as pollution or similar anthropogenic driven menaces. The karstification intensity model presented here provides very useful first information to the end-users that intent to locate a suitable site for problematic infrastructure, to exploit the karstic water resources or to take measures to prevent them.