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Volume XV |

A complex approach in the interdisciplinary field of karst geomorphology. The case study of Anina karst area (Banat Mountains, Romania)

Abstract: Karst regions are characterized by discontinuity and even by the lack of surface water drainage due to the fissured and porous rocks, but the rivers are often flowing in the underground. Our study area is represented by the Anina karst area, a karst region that is situated in the largest and most compact carbonate area in Romania, the Reșița – Moldova Nouă Synclinorium. This study aims to analyse a mature karst area using a complex approach in karst geomorphology. To achieve this assessment, we intended (i) to get an overall description of the morphology of the area using digital data and GIS methods; (ii) to obtain detailed data regarding cost evolution using geophysics, hydrogeology and speleology, and (iii) to correlate all the data to evaluate the karst terrain from the geomorphology perspective. Our research is still in progress, and yet we have results that are leading to a complex approach in karst topography research from a geomorphological perspective, using different fields of study as geology, speleology, spontaneous potential as geophysical method and computer science (GIS). Based on our field measurements we were able to correlate those features that are extremely important in karst solution processes, as water circulation, underground conduits, slope, soil properties, water properties in order to have a better understanding regarding the actual landscape in the Anina karst area and also in order to develop hypotheses regarding the possible evolution of karst landforms in the studied territory. Interdisciplinarity in karst topography studies is very important. Only by involving scientists, and techniques belonging to different scientific domains, we may understand in detail the karst topography. This complex approach is useful for stakeholders and local authorities in their feasibility studies and strategies for local development due to the fact that our study enriches the knowledge regarding karst environment “behaviour” in Anina region.

Volume XIII |

Geomorphological Risk and Denudational Index (Land Erodability) in Karstic Terrain of Anina Mining Area (Banat Mountains, Romania)

Abstract: Anina Mining Area was defined by Vasile Sencu in 1977 as the area that is surrounding Anina town and may be exploited by mining activities. The aim of this paper is to present two parameters regarding geomorphometry in Anina Mining Area, naming here Geomorphological Risk and Denudational Index (Land Erodability Index). These two morphometric parameters are obtained using geomorphological parameters that we obtained in previous works, as slope, hypsometry, drainage density, depth drainage and morphodynamic potential. The methodology to derive Geomorphological risk and Denudational index (Land Erodability Index) is based on GIS techniques.The results we obtained point out that the study area of this paper is a region where parameters such as geomorphological risk and denudational index have small incidence. This fact is due to the large homogeneous areas from the standpoint of geology and land cover, but also as an effect of large surfaces with a planar aspect as karstic plateaus. From the analysis of these two parameters we must conclude that Anina Mining Area represents a space with small surfaces which are prone to risks associated with geomorphological process and also with small areas where denudation may have high rates due to the large areas where vegetation is present and also due to large plateaus where the primary processes are related to karstification, and these ones are very slow processes.