Genetic types, human impact and protection of Hungarian Karsts

There are two major types of Hungarian karsts: Transdanubian type and Aggtelek type. The Transdanubian type consists of those karsts that were significantly affected by tectonic movements and they are faulted into blocks of limestone and dolomite. Surface features in these karsts are scarce, only a few dolines and gorges are present, and karrenfields are the most typical features. The Aggtelek type karsts are tectonically less disturbed and usually characterized by typical karst features. From an environmental point of view, karsts belong to the most sensitive areas. Landscape transformation in the karst environment started with the appearance of early humans. Early man gathered firewood from the karsts, thus the deforestation of karst regions began. Later human activity modified karst formation due to agricultural activity on the one hand and by industry on the other. In Hungary two karst areas (Bükk- and Aggtelek Mts.) have been designated as national parks, and some are nature reserves. The Law on the Protection of Nature (1996) declared all the springs, dolines, caves, endemic flora and fauna protected. We can say that the karst areas of Hungary are mostly under protection but we still have some conflicts between nature protection and landuse on the karsts

Heavy metal content of some Hungarian and English karst soils

The heavy metal content of karst soils is a significant aspect of karst water because 25% of drinking water comes from the karstwater of the world. The pollution (especially the heavy metal pollution) of the soils is dangerous for karst areas. If the metals pass from the soil into the karst water it will be unhealthy for the population. Much heavy metal is inherited from dry and wet deposition. Acid dry and wet depositions bring pollution materials and give rise to acidification of soils. Soils which have appropriate characteristics can bind the heavy metals to the different soil particles. This power to prevent the heavy metals reaching soil solution mainly depends on the pH, the organic matter and clay content of the soils, namely on the buffering capacity of the soil. The soils with high buffering capacity can accumulate the dangerous metals in the soils and do not permit them to go to soil solution and thus to reach the limestone bedrock and finally the karst water. Generally, the mobility of heavy metals increases with decreasing pH and decreasing organic matter content of soils. Our paper presents the heavy metal content of karst soils in some English and Hungarian karst territories. The analysis of soils attempts to detect the connection between the organic matter content, pH and the heavy metal content of these soils. In the karst-literature we have as yet few data concerning heavy metal contamination of karst soils. Our data indicate the pollution level of karst soils. These data are a basic point for further investigations

Microclimate of karstic dolines

Összefoglalás : A karsztos területek formaképztsében és fejlődésében meghatározó tényező a klíma. A mikroklíma a karsztok geoökológiai folyamataiban játszik fontos szerepet. A tanulmány a karsztos dolináknak - a karsztok fagyzugainak - speciális mikroklímáját mutatja be, különös tekintettel a különböző tengerszintfeletti magasságokban elhelyezkedő dolinák mikroklímájának különbözőségeire és hasonlóságára. Summary - Climate is determinant factor of the formation and development of karst surfaces. Microclimate plays an important role in the karstic geoecological processes. This work highlights the specific microclimate condition of karstic dolines as the frost pockets of karstland with special attention to the differences and similarities in the microclimatesofdolines in different elevation