I have examined the schedule of proposed meetings of both IGCP 299, the IGU Study Group and the ISU. We have meetings planned for July 1991 (China), August 1992 (USA), and August 1993 (China and Canada). I therefore propose that the Australian meeting be scheduled for December 1992. This will allow time for us to apply for funding from the Australian Committee of IGCP in February 1992, and to negotiate access to sites on the Nullarbor Plain with the National Parks Services of Western and South Australia, as well as the Aboriginal landowners from the Maralinga-Tjarutja community. This negotiation is necessary as the Nullarbor Plain is about to be nominated for World Heritage listing, and all scientific access to cave sites is restricted to those holding permits from those authorities.

I intend to attend the Washington meeting of both the IGU and the IGCP 299 in August next year, and hope that by then matters will have become more clear on both the timing and funding for the Australian meeting. I look forward to discussing final plans for an Australian meeting and the overall project with you and others at that time.

It is proposed to hold a meeting in 1994 (probably Wallingford or Oxford) to bring the U.K. contributions to the project to a conclusion. We hope that this meeting will include a field trip. We hope that you as Leader of the Project will be able to come to this meeting and that you think it a good idea.

We, Japanese Working Group, would like to propose again that we organize a symposium on the topic of "Karst & Speleothem Information on the Quaternary Environmental Changes" for the summer (June or July) of 1993 or 1994 in Phuket, Thailand. We plan to have 7 days symposium in Phuket with one day excursion (if possible 8-9 days with 4 days excursion). Thailand is a wonderful country and everything is so cheap compared to Japan, and it is a good place to access easily from all over the world. Phuket Island area is best known to her spectacular drowned tower karst, and the tectonic movements have affected their development and also a structural control is the key for the origin of the tower karst in this area. Here is an only place at present circumcutance to observe the drowned tower karst conveniently in the world. And human impacts have influenced to this karst area. Thus it is a good place for the field seminar. Of course the main topic of the symposium is the "Quaternary environmental changes and karst with speleothem"The technical problems of all dating methods, the methodological matters to reconstruct palaeoenvironment from both karst and speleothem, and the case studies will be discussed in this symposium. We talked to Dr.Sweeting and others about our proposal and they all strongly supported to have symposium in Thailand. We will forward you a tentative outline of our proposed symposium soon. We are sure that this symposium will succeed and many scientists will participate in this kind of symposium.

The soil properties of the karst areas are reflected by the different calcareous materials and the different environment for the soil formation processes. On the Nansai Islands, including Ryukyu Islands, there are the terraces composed of uplifted coral reefs, formed in Holocene, 38,000 yrB.P., 60,000yrB.P., 80,000yrB.P.,100,000yrB.P., 125,000yrB.P. and over 240,000yrB.P. In this area, URUSHIBARA-YOSHINO (1987, 1989, 1991) reported (i) the iron crystallinity progress in accordance with the ages of terraces and (ii) the change of crystal type of iron also in accordance with the age. (iii) furthermore, the soil types progress also from Rendizina to Dark-red soil and to Ferrallitic Dark-red soil. It has been made clear that the ages are needed at least several 10³ years for Rendizina, several 10⁴ years for Dark-red soils, and several 10⁵ years for Ferrallitic Dark-red soils, under the subtropical monsoon conditions.

The same methods should be examined in several regions where the environments for soil formation are different. However, this methods at the fields and in the laboratories should be examined internationally to make some standards, because the method is sensitive. At first, this working group will make the time scale of iron crystallinity under different climate such as Southwest Japan, South Australia, Caribbean Countries and the Mediterranean areas. After that, it will be extended to some other countries.

After obtaining good results, we will be able to estimate the approximate age of soils in the karst areas where we have no method for examining the age of karstification.

As a secondary product, the comparison of soil types in the karst areas in the world can be also made in this working group.

URUSHIBARA-YOSHINO, K.(1987): The problems of soils in limestone area of the Nansei Shoto, Southwest Japan. Endins 13, 127-131.

URUSHIBARA-YOSHINO, K.(1989): The red soils on a limestone area in Nansei Island, Southwest Japan. Proceedings of IGU Study Group Man's Impact on Karst, Sydney 1988, 183-189.

URUSHIBARA-YOSHINO, K.(1991): The red soils on a limestone areas on Kikai Island of Nansei Islands, Southwest Japan. Tubingen Geographische Studien (in printing).

I would like to comments from the standpoint of soil researcher for the karst areas as follows.

1. In the karst areas, soils have been not yet satisfactorily and systematically classified. The properties of soils seem to be reflected by the difference of calcareous materials, the difference of environment for soil formation, secondary action such as secondary deposit of sediments, mixture of aeolian materials and human activities. At the first stage of soil formation, the soil properties are very similar, because of rich calcium ion in the soils. However, the time scale and the processes of the soil formation should be reflected strongly by the environmental conditions. We should therefore study the systematic soil classification in the karst area of the world using the pedological research methods.

2. For studying the karstification, we have several methods to estimate its ages of action. One of them, the crystallinity of iron in the soils of karst areas, reflects clearly the ages of the soil formation in Southwest Islands of Japan, as has been reported by K.URUSHIBARA-YOSHINO. The method should be examined as many as possible at the karst areas in the world. Therefore I would like to propose a working group organized by K.URUSHIBARA-YOSHINO and D.GILLIESON as a part of activities of No.299, IGCP.

3. The impacts of human activities for soils have been occurred mainly in the historical age. Especially, since the years around 1970, the machines have been introduced for agricultural cultivation in the karst areas. As the results, the soils were erroded quickly, or the different materials are introduced and added into the original soils. So the original states are completely changed. The soil formation processes of limestone areas are very slow as compared with those in the other areas having different mother materials. Therefore we have to preserve these soils in the karst areas. The reports of present condition should be collected as many as possible. This works have been doing by IGU Study Group "Environmental Change in Karst Areas": chairman Prof.Ugo Sauro, Department of Geography, University of Padova, via del Santo 26, 35123 Padova, Italy. If someone has interests for the human activities of soils in the karst area, please contact with Porf.Ugo Sauro or Prof.Kakuzo Urushibara-Yoshino, Department of Natural Sciences, Komazawa University, 1-23-1, Komazawa, Setagayaku, 158, Japan.

All scientific research work need reliable fundamental data. In the international karstology the basic data are the geological, climatological and hydrological particulars of karsts in the different countries. For correlation of karstic processes and phenomena there are many individual contributions, but still missing a world-wide data-base. One of the Hungarian working groups of IGCP 299 would like to help in this matter obtaining data of karst areas and caves from all part of the world.

The principal sources of a data-base are the karst monographies of different countries and regions, the Proceedings of the International Speleological Congresses, the studies in different scientific periodicals, geological, geomorphological and karst distribution maps, etc. Our working group has compiled also a formula for obtaining numerical summarized data on karst and caves of different types, and was sent to about 80 countries and karst researchers.

Obtaining data about smaller and better developed European countries is relatively easy. There are problems in the big "karst empires". In the United States there is not a central bureau of karst research, the data are in hands of different individuals, universities, and hundreds of local caving group of enthusiasts organized in "grottos". But we got a valuable assistance from Prof.William B.White, Pennsylvania State University, participant in IGCP 299, who organized also a working group from various parts of United States, and we hope, that the karst and caves inventory for US will be ready in this year by help of the National Speleological Society. In the Soviet Union the problem are similar, here we asked Prof.K.A.Gorbunova, Perm University, who is also a participant of IGCP 299, for mediation between the different karst institutions and researchers in the USSR. In the third biggest "karst-empire", China, Prof.Yuan Daoxian gives us helpful assistance to compile the karst inventory. In these 3 countries are the 55% of the world karst areas.

Non the less difficult obtaining data about underdeveloped countries with potentially great karst areas. Such countries are in Africa: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Ethiopia, Somalia, in Asia: Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Burma, in America: Guatemala, Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil. Anybody are familiar with the karst areas of these countries, please help us with information and contact with Dr.Denes Balazs, H--2030 Erdliget, Sard utca 45, Hungary.

Having the fundamental data, we prepared a detailed Karst Atlas of the World. We hope that the data of Atlas shall give many useful information for the researchers of the international karst correlation programme. In addvance hereafter we give some numerical information on karsts and caves in selected European countries. In the next number of Newsletter, we want publish global list of world karst areas.

5. Surveyed/ mapped/ caves of NO.4, number ..............
total length/ horizontal+vertical/ km..............km

10. The most important contiguous carbonate karst areas of the country:
geographical name km² age of rock main type* number of known caves

...............                 ....        ..........      ..........               ............
...............                 ....        ..........      ..........               ............
...............                 ....        ..........      ..........               ............
...............                 ....        ..........      ..........               ............

*: 1. lowland, 2. middle mountainous, 3. high mountainous, 4. low plateau
5. high plateau, 6. other (please, specify).

1. We would strongly like to take charge of Part III (Reconstruction of Paleoenvironment on the Bases of Karst Information) or both Chapter 13 (Basic Approaches on Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction in Karst) and 14 (Cenozoic Global Changes from Karst Informations) of the final reports of IGCP 299. We would also like to establish a sub-group dealing with the topic of "The Reconstruction of Paleoenvironment on the Bases of Karst Information" for the purpose of being able to present good reports for Part III of the final reports under your supervision. We have already carried out some international cooperative research in Brazil, Bulgaria, Thailand, the Philippines and Japan in this topics. We believe therefore, we will be able to undertake the work with confidence. If this sub-group is permitted, we should work in conjunction with many other researchers from all over the world: Prof.D.C.Ford, Prof.P.W.Willimas, Dr.M.M.Sweeting, etc.

2. We can offer to research two typical karst areas from Japan: The Ryukyu Islands as a typical karst area of the Quaternary raised coral reef limestone areas with active neotectonic movement, and Akiyoshi Plateau as a typical karst area of the humid temperate area.

3. I will forward the registration form as soon as possible. The slide set of typical karst features in Japan will also be sent to China.

4. If you would kindly permit us to establish a sub-group and to take charge of the part in the final reports described above, we would also have a symposium or seminar in Japan or another country in 1993 or 1994.

5. In Part I, if possible, we suggested adding a chapter concerning "Karst Process or Agents", separate from the chapters of karst hydrology, geochemistry, and biochemistry.

6. In Part II, the preliminary contents seems to concern mainly climatic conditions, but lithological conditions should also be taken into account, for example, from the stand point of the rock control theory. Thus we would like to recommend that one chapter be added dealing with Karst in Quaternary raised coral reef limestone area. This presents a different aspect from Coastal Karst. The coral reef karst areas are widely distributed in the world, not only in the coral reef islands but also along the cost of Australia, Kenya, Gulf, etc. Such research would be interesting, as these areas are also generally situated in active crustal (or tectonic) movement areas.

7. "The Global Correlation on Biokarst" could also be considered in Part II. Dr.H.A.Viles at Oxford, for example, could contribute such a chapter. Since this topic will also present a different aspect, it might be worthwhile adding in the reports.

8. In Part III, if we could take charge of this part, we would like to suggest a change to the contents: the advantages and benefits of karst study through IGCP 299 to reconstruct paleoenvironment, what kind of information we can obtain about paleoenvironmental reconstruction through karst information and what the advantages of karst information is compared to the other techniques should all be emphasized. Thus, for example, "Paleoclimatic changes from karst information", "Tectonic movements from karst evidence", and/or "Volcanic activity from karst information", etc. would be better as the titles of the text. We therefore would like to recommend, in Chapter 14 and 15, that the contents are classified not by age but by subject or theme.

We are going to attend the next meeting in China and also the INQUA Congress. We, and myself, look forward to hearing good news from you and to meeting you in China.

Following prompting by both Marjorie and Tony Waltham, I am enclosing both completed forms for participation in IGCP 299, and documentation of the Mendip karst area.

I believe it is important that international projects such as this have specific objectives with which individual scientists from different countries can identify, and that such projects should have an international dimension rather than simply being independent research projects conducted in different countries. At present I am uncertain of your views as to focus and objective, but one specific idea came to mind which I would be happy to implement under the auspices of the project. At Bristol we have been compiling published uranium series analyses to derive speleothem growth frequency curves for specific areas of the globe with contrasting Quaternary climates. Our aim is to document the nature of Quaternary climatic change in relation to global shifts in circulation. It struck me this could form a useful focus for collaborative international research, bringing together those karst specialist with interests in uranium series dating to produce a global compilation of uranium series ages similar to that already available for ¹⁴C dates, which are all published in thejournal Radiocarbon.

I envisage this as a relatively small specialist group, indeed many of the individuals who I hope would contribute are known to me personally. I would hope that collectively we could define a collaborative research program on which we could report at a working group meeting, and publish as a special issue of a major international journal. This is I presume possible under the IGCP format, and is I believe critical if international collaboration is to work adequately.

I hope you don't mind me making this proposal, but I think it is essential that the project identify specific objectives such as this, which can be persued by a small and motivated sub-group of the wider academic community. My experience in the Uranium Series Intercomparison Project indicate that group size is critical, and that once the project encompasses too many individuals it becomes unworkable, ancannot produce good science. If we can produce evidence of scientific advance at an international level, I believe that the Project may gather momentum and can justify seeking additional funding. Thus rapid initial progress, which is possible with this topic, is critical.

One of the main factors determining and reflecting the special features of karst formation under different natural conditions is the karst water regime.

At present, there are practically no studies and publications dealing with regional and, especially global regularities of the karst water regime. The IGCP project provides such an opportunity.

As known, the karst water regime depends on the special features of the geological and tectonic structure, karst type, climatic conditions, extent of topography dissection, hydrological and terrain conditions, as well as human activities. To reveal the characteristic features of these factors in observed fluctuations of karst water levels, discharge, temperature and chemical composition is very helpful to understand more profoundly the regularities of karst formation as a geodynamic process.

On the other hand, the karst water regime reflects the special features of the karst process which allows us not only to characterize conditions of this process under different natural conditions, but also to approach the prediction on the trend of this process under an intensive human impact or under climatic conditions variations induced by human economic activities. In this connection, of interest is to consider, compare, and make regional division, within the project framework, special karst water regime features under different climatic, geological and hydrological conditions according to a coordinated programme.

1. Revealing regional regularities of the karst water regime formation depending on the geological-geomorphological particularities of the territory and karst types.

2. To improve the karst water monitoring including determination of the optimal number of observation networks, principles of their distribution, and particularities of programmes of observations and their analysis.

3. Assessment of the character and extent of the seasonal and long-term variability of the karst water regime and resources in different regions of the world for optimizing the forms of karst water rational use and management.

4. Revealing regularities of the space-time variability of karst water resources under the effect of man-induced and natural factors, including supposed climatic transformations for predicting this variability.

5. Evaluating the intensity of karst processes in different regions of the world with allowance for natural and man-induced factors as an indicator of the risk of the development of territories and as the basis of selection of environmental protection measures.

In addition to the brief descriptive characterization of particularities of karst formation within selected typical terraines or areas, karst water regime data are subjected to analysis. This work does not envisage any substantial additional field investigations and may be based on collection and generalization of existing long-term observations of the regime of the yield and chemical composition of spring water and surface water of small closed karstified watersheds. The comparison of particularities of the karst water regime of different regions is advisable to make using a series of quantitative and qualitative indices capable of giving objective information about hydrogeological conditions on the watershed. The following information about a selected karst terrain typical of a country should be schematically characterized:

1. Geological conditions of a region in the form of an insert map, longitudiual and cross sections, data on the area of a watershed, its absolute elevation, geographical position, tectonic structure, and, if possible, a photograph of the region or its block diagram.

2. Particularities of karst on a watershed. Typical karst features, estimation of the area of their development and a number of sinkholes per square kilometre, man-induced factors on the watershed which can influence the karst water regime and the intensity of karst processes (water abstraction, its rate and regime, runoff regulation, types and intensity of ground water pollution, etc.).

3. Special features of the intraannual karst water regime for various karst types, depths to ground water table, permeability parameters of water-bearing rocks, etc. A regime diagram should be given.

4. Special features of the long-term karst water regime variability, existence of statistically reliable trends, their intensity in litre per second per square kilometre per year, tendencies to the cyclicity or alternation of dry and wet years.

5. Specific ground water discharge (modulus) in litre per second per square kilometre, ground water runoff coefficients (ground water discharge to precipitation ratio in per cent), average long-term, for dry and wet years, ground water runoff dynamics coefficients (maximum discharge to minimum discharge ratio), and autocorrelation coefficients (at Rt =1).

6. Regularities of the variability of spring discharge recession coefficients and karst water levels both within a year and for a long period of time. Estimation of normal depletion of spring and ground water runoff (average minimum discharge to average annual discharge ratio). Statistical variability parameters C_v and C_s, their proportion, laws of level and discharge distribution.Probability distribution curves should be given.

7. Regularities of dissolved solids discharge variability (in tons per year) for seasons of a year and for a long period of time, leaching modulus (in tons per year per square kilometre).

8. Coefficients of correlation of ratio of spring discharge to winter, summer or annual precipitation and air temperature. Evaluation of karst water lag (contribution of precipitation of preceding years to ground water runoff).

9. Time variability of the PH value, dissolved gases (O₂, CO₂, N₂), the index of saturation of karst water with calcium, macrocomponent content, and total solids.

10. Evaluation of the regional synchronism and asynchronism of the karst water regime.

The methodology of computation and estimations, apart from obvious ones, should be unified and coordinated with those engaged in the work. The program STATGRAPH, included in the PC IBM software, may be used.

The form of presentation of materials also must be discussed and coordinated with the participants in the project activities. The following forms (Tables 1,2,3) may be suggested for consideration.

The results of such an analysis may be presented as a publication for a country or its region or an initial information containing a series of factual observations of discharge, level, precipitation, etc., which might be computed using unified PC programs by a group of coordinators, in the USSR in particular.

The final analysis of the information obtained comprises its combined discussion and generalization on a regional scale, mapping of revealed regularities, making of approximate global estimations of the possible variability of karst water resources under the effect of man-induced climatic changes, formulation of recommendations for problems constituting the main purposes of research presented above.

The regional correlation analysis direction is only a part of the general correlation program for project 299 and therefore naturally should be harmonically combined with the other directions of analysis within the present project.

Table.1 Characterization of geological and hydrogeological condition of a karst region

Suggestion for further development of the typical karst area form: to make additional item "Abstract of karst evolution in the area, or of other important peculiarities". Basic features of karst evolution, or spatial variability descriptive mode in 100-150 words. It would be useful for more accurate and adequate understanding of other formalized items.

For instance, such an abstract for the Podol'sko-Bukovinsky karst area is following:

2-D maze caves in the region had been formed under condition of storeyed artesian system of platform type, during Pliocene - early Pleistocene. So, it had not been directly related with climatic conditions. During Pleistocene an erosional uncovering of artesian system had taken place in part of the region, cave systems had been transfered into vadose conditions, and surface karst landscape had been formed. In the area of present vadose conditions small caves of dendritic pattern are forming with descending point recharge from swallow holes. They are superimposed on the maze cave pattern, formed under above mentioned artesian conditions.

So, karst determining environmental changes in the region refer to geological (neotectonic) development rather then to climatic changes.

It seems to me that the "Karst Feature Complex" is, at this stage, too imprecise a concept; it needs a morphological and functional basis. I appreciate the term allows for a holistic approach to karst landform study, but I think it is too vague for detailed correlation work. Hopefully one of the outcomes of the project will be the identification (perhaps by multivariate grouping procedures subject to field checking) of a number of groups of karsts which have strong similarity. This is in contrast to the idea of identifying a number of preconceived types and forcing the data into one or more of them. Thus the existence of "Karst Feature Complex" becomes an hypothesis to be tested from the data we collect and compile.

As a consequence of this viewpoint, I believe it is neccessary to define a minimal data set which will adequately describe each karst and form the basis for correlation. I think that the existing variables are too many for handling, and that some are not so amenable to analysis. Perhaps we need to use some descriptors of morphometry (similar to those used by Mick Day), relevant parameters for climate, soils and hydrology, and a simple set of rock parameters. Whatever is used, I would make the following points:

(1) the data need to be collected with a specific set of hypotheses and modes of analysis clearly set out;

(2) there must be little autocorrelation between variables, otherwise the groups will be anomalous;

(3) the measurements must be the simplest possible and must be standardised wherever possible;

(4) the database needs to be on a readily available commercial package that all members can access.

A useful outcome of the project would be the inventory and identification of karsts with high scientific, recreational or aesthetic values. These could then be listed on the World Heritage Convention. I am aware of several caves and karsts already listed. Such a listing would provide a means of "flagging" sites in the event of undesirable developments such as mining, logging, groundwater pollution etc.

Usefull additional data could be maintained as text files with an area description and a bibliography. In this country we have the Australian karst index with in excess of 6000 entries for caves. This was funded by the Australian Heritage Commission, the federal department responsible for both state and international heritage legislation and treaties. I have enclosed a copy of the data form used by our karst index.

If you wish to construct an hydrological database (and I think this is an excellent idea), then the RAMSAR wetlands inventory maintained by UNESCO might serve as a model. I think that such a database should contain information on karst springs, their flow regimes and chemistry, and levels of pollution. Perhaps a frequency diagram of spring water conductivity for each site might provide a usefull basis for correlation. Such a database might also facilitate calculations of erosion rates for each functional karst type or region.

I have enclosed some ideas for an amended registration form. This is very preliminary and I would value your comments. Our level of karst inventory here is quite fragmentary although most state governments now record karst information as part of broader resource inventories. These have been completed for Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and for the national parks of New South Wales.

Land tenure: e.g. strict nature reserve, national park, state forest, vacant
state land, private agricultural, private urban etc.

Highest altitude (m) Lowest altitude (m)
Area (km²) Local relief (m)
Depression density /km² Local slope gradient (° )
Depression mean diameter (m) Depression mean depth (m)
Vertical component: mean (m) standard deviation (m)
Horizontal component: mean (m) standard deviation (m)

Mean rill width (cm) Mean rill length (cm)
Mean runnel width (m) Mean runnel length (m)
Solution pans/ha

Age (m.y.) Thickness (m)
Maximum thickness of soluble rock (m)
Lithology (Folk terminology)
CaO content (%) MgO content (%)
Acid insoluble residue (%) Porosity (%)
Compressive strength (kg/cm²) Schmidt hammer R value
Tensile strength (kg/cm²) Shear strength (kg/cm²)

Koppen climate type Annual mean precipitation (mm)
Daily maximum precipitation (12 year, mm)
Mean precipitation (wettest 3 months, mm)
Mean precipitation (driest 3 months, mm)
Annual mean evaporation (mm)
Annual mean temperature (° C)
Number of frost days/annum
Number of days with snow cover >30cm

Area of catchment (km²) % nonsoluble rock
Annual mean spring discharge (M1)
Wet season mean spring discharge (M1)
Dry season mean spring discharge (M1)
Depth of water table (m) Seasonal fluctuation (m)
Flow regime:
% diffuse % mixed % conduit

system type

ms/cm

Ca²⁺ mg/l

Mg²⁺ mg/l

Na⁺ mg/l

K⁺ mg/l

SiO₂ mg/l

HCO₃^- mg/l

SO₄^2- mg/l

Cl^- mg/l

TDS mg/l

vadose

epiphreatic

phreatic

Hydrochemical data mm/ka No. of years record
Surface lowering (MEM) mm/ka No. of years record
Tablet weight loss (mean) mm/ka No. of years record
(subsoil) mm/ka
(surface) mm/ka
(subaqua) mm/ka

I am very gratefull to you for the information on IGCP 299 International Symposium and Field Seminar and Newsletter 1990.

My colleagues and myself are willing to take part in the fulfilling of this fundamental work. I have duly examined all materials. The content for the Final Reports of IGCP 299 raises no objections while Registration Form for a Typical Karst Area seems to be difficult to fill in. Firstly because karst rock occurence of different composition is often intermittent even within the small territories and is difficult to be spoken about without concrete address on the map. So it seems to be quite reasonable to correlate karst territories zonation to a definite scale (ex. 1:2,500,000), tectonic structures like platform, geosynclinal, trough being taken as the first order structures and all data on Registration Form for Typical Karst Area being allocated to concrete regions, districts, etc. specified by classification indices. I would like to suggest Part V "The Karst Zonation on the Earth" to be included in the monograph "Geology, Climate, Hydrology and Karst Formation" (project IGCP 299) where all these data will be presented. The editorial board is expected to collect all the information as soon as it is received. Yet it should be done for the entire monograph.