Beruflich Dokumente
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Summary. Cla :ed depressions of various sizes are present in most karst areas and the similarity
between their role in the karst landscape and that of the valley in fluvial landscapes has long
been recognized. However, only !arge poljes such as found i n Yugoslavia have been subjected to
detailed hydrologic investigations. This paper examines the hydrological function of the smaller
depressions (dolines and cockpits) which are considerably more common than poljes. A simplified
model of depression hydrology incorporating six flow components, overland flow, throughflow,
subcutaneous flow, shaft flow, vadose flow, and vadose seepage is proposed and this model is
shown to be useful in interpreting the hydrology of polygonal karst depressions in the Waitomo
District, New Zealand. lt is therefore suggested that this model might be adopted as a basis for
future studies of the hydrology and geomorphology of karst depressions.
Resume. Des depressions fermees de diverse grandeurs se presentent dans !es regions karstiques.
Depuis longtemps on leur reconnait dans la formation des paysages karstiques une signification
identique a celle des vallees dans !es paysages fluviaux. Cependant l'hydrologie de grands poljes,
comme ceux qui existent en Yougoslavie, a fait l'objet de recherches detaillees. Le present
travail se preoccupe des fonctions hydrologiques de petites depressions (dolines, cockpits) qui
sont bien plus frequentes que !es poljes. Un modele simple est propose pour l'hydrologie des
depressions ; il tient campte de six composantes : l'ecoulement superficiel, la penetration, l'ecoule
ment sous-cutane, l'ecoulement dans Je karst, l'ecoulement vadose et Ja percolation.
DOI: 10.1127/zfg/25/1981/313