Climate Impact on Karst Water Resources

Dear Colleagues,

Karst aquifers play a crucial role in supplying water, with almost 10% of the global population relying on karst water for drinking purposes. In certain countries like Slovenia and Austria, where carbonate rocks are abundant, more than 50% of the total water consumption is sourced from karst aquifers. However, extended dry periods can lead to a decrease or even cessation of spring discharge, thereby jeopardizing the continuity of water supply that relies on karst water.

Apart from being important sources of water, karst springs also pose significant risks to human populations. Flash floods caused by unexpected surges in spring water can endanger infrastructure and human lives. Moreover, bacterial epidemics can occur due to the rapid transport of contaminants through karst conduits during flood events, posing significant health risks.

Climate change projections from organizations like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicate that there will be notable temperature increases and changes in precipitation patterns throughout the remainder of the 21st century. These alterations in climate conditions will lead to changes in extreme weather events with increased intensity, frequency, spatial extent, duration, and unusual timing, consequently raising concerns about potential unprecedented extreme events.

The scope of the Special Issue is to collect high-quality papers discussing the impacts of climate change on karst water resources. This will provide a unique collection of papers on the topic for readers interested in state of the art of climate research and karst.

Dr. Attila Kovacs
Guest Editor

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