The area south from Postojna is composed mostly of karstified Mesozoic carbonate rocks and partly of non-karstified Eocene flysch. The landscape has numerous karst features as caves, poljes, dolines, uvalas, karst springs, ponors, karst periodical lakes etc. with typical karst groundwater drainage. Postojna flysch basin represents the hydrological divide between Adriatic and Black Sea watershed, which is connected with regional active tectonics.
The study area holds several karst springs used for water supply and a military training area, altogether resulting in highly impact environmental protection issues. Proposed NFO network represents multidisciplinary research infrastructures (seismology, geology, geodesy, karstology) on tectonically active, karstic area in SW Slovenia, including multi-parametric sensors (seismology, GNSS, micro-displacements registered with extensometers, continuously monitoring of chemical processes (radon, methane, carbon dioxide), continuously monitoring of cave atmosphere (air T, humidity, air pressure, cave ventilation), monitoring of hydrological parameters).
In Slovenia, karst covers 43% of the country and there are registered more than 14,000 caves. Development of the new NFO network from the area south of Postojna is highly important for gaining new scientific data and products and for realization of the continuously monitoring of chemical and physical processes governing active faults as well as the genesis of earthquakes.
Read more about SLO KARST NFO on the Springer article:
Šebela, S., Tasič, I., Pahor, J. , Mali, M., Novak, U., Aljančič, M., 2023. Development of SLO KARST Near Fault Observatory site in SW Slovenia. Carbonates Evaporites 38, 43.
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