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Abstract:

The principal problems of karst hydrogeology and its distinctions from “common” hydrogeology are rooted in the facts that porosity and permeability in karst aquifers 1) are characterised by high heterogeneity and anisotropy, 2) are not inherent and static characteristics of an aquifer but form and develop in the process of the dissolution action of flow on the host rocks. Speleogenetic research focuses on deciphering of mechanisms and rates of solution conduits development, in final analysis – on their evolution, i.e. on revealing of nature of extreme heterogeneity and anisotropy of percolation properties and hierarchical organization of permeability.

The paper provides general characterization of karst porosity and permeability and discusses conceptual models of karst aquifers. Karst aquifers have multi-porosity structure, with respective flow components demonstrating different hydrodynamic behaviour and complex interaction. Various methods of determination of percolation properties characterize medium on a certain level, depending on the scale of the tested domain. Conduit permeability can be adequately estimated only in the scale of a basin (karst hydrological system). Validity of hydrogeological modeling decreases from regional to the local scales of a domain. 

Advances in development of speleogenesis theory attained in last decades of the 20 century render large influence on understanding of peculiar features of karst hydrogeology. The paper outlines principal theoretical regularities of speleogenesis, which, as well as respective conduit permeability structures, differ substantially for unconfined and confined hydrogeological environments.