Dolines are the most typical surface form on middle latitude karst. These moderate-sized karstic depressions with a more or less circular rim and concave profile typically have a greater diameter than depth. Their occurrence and form depend on the geological, climate and hydrological characteristics as well as the relief characteristics of the area. This research focuses on doline density and their morphometric characteristics in relation to the gradient of the slope on which they occur. It was conducted on three areas with comparable relief, geological, climate and hydrological circumstances on the high karstic plateaus of Hrušica and Snežnik as well as on the Slavnik hill range. The dolines were studied on the basis of data acquired through a digital elevation model with a 1-meter spatial resolution, derived from lidar data, and processed with GIS tools. We have found that dolines occur on balanced slopes and that their density is inversely proportional to slope inclination. The same goes for the average area, perimeter and length of the axes of the dolines, while their depth is directly proportional to slope inclination. The asymmetry of the dolines depends more on the geological structure than on the slope inclination.
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