Morphometric classification and spatial distribution of dolines in southern Slovenia

Stefanovski, Sašo (author), Ferk, Mateja (author), Verbovšek, Timotej (author), Stepišnik, Uroš (author)

Dolines have traditionally been classified based on qualitative descriptions. This research presents the first attempt to connect a morphometric classification of dolines with existing morphological typologies in Slovenia. Using an automatic detection algorithm on a digital elevation model, we identified 179,288 standalone dolines and classified them into four classes based on morphometric characteristics. The classes were interpreted using statistical and spatial analyses. Dolines in Slovenia can be grouped into bowl-, funnel-, well-shaped, and elongated types. The type and distribution of dolines reflect the properties of karst, particularly sediment coverage and cone karst features. This research marks an initial step toward the systematic study of dolines, laying a foundation for further research.

• Language: English
• Keywords: karst, karstology, dolines, typology, data clustering, digital terrain model, Slovenia
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FF - Faculty of Arts
• Publication date: 01.01.2025
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 7-27
• Numbering: 65, [št.] 2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-176619
• UDC: 551.435.82(497.4-13)
• ISSN on article: 1581-6613
• DOI: doi.org/10.3986/AGS.13940
• COBISS.SI-ID: 253670403
• Publication date in RUL: 05.12.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Acta geographica Slovenica
• Shortened title: Acta geogr. Slov.
• Publisher: Geografski inštitut Antona Melika ZRC SAZU, Založba ZRC, Slovenska akademija znanosti in umetnosti
• ISSN: 1581-6613
• COBISS.SI-ID: 124775936

Licences

• License: CC BY-SA 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
• Description: This Creative Commons license is very similar to the regular Attribution license, but requires the release of all derivative works under this same license.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Morfometrična klasifikacija in prostorska razporeditev vrtač v južni Sloveniji

Abstract

Vrtače so bile tradicionalno razvrščene na podlagi kvalitativnih opisov. Ta raziskava je prvi poskus povezave morfometrične klasifikacije vrtač z obstoječimi morfološkimi tipizacijami v Sloveniji. Z uporabo algoritma za samodejno zaznavanje vrtač na podlagi digitalnega modela višin smo identificirali 179.288 samostojnih vrtač in jih razvrstili v štiri razrede glede na njihove morfometrične značilnosti. Razrede smo interpretirali s statističnimi in prostorskimi analizami. Vrtače v Sloveniji lahko po obliki razvrstimo v skledaste, lijakaste, vodnjakaste in koritaste tipe. Tip in razporeditev vrtač odražata lastnosti krasa, zlasti prekritost s sedimentom in prisotnost kopastega krasa. Ta raziskava pomeni začetni korak k sistematičnemu preučevanju vrtač in postavlja temelje za nadaljnje raziskave.

• Keywords: kras, krasoslovje, vrtače, tipizacija, razvrščanje, podatki, digitalni model višin, digitalni model reliefa, Slovenija