UIS Commission on Karst Hydrogeology and Speleogenesis

The next Geological Society of America Convention will be held this year in Minneapolis, Minnesota on 9-12 October.

Seven sessions on caves and karst are being offered this year within the program of the Convention. Several related sessions that would be excellent venues for karst papers are also being offered on topics that include biology, archeology, and hydrogeology. For details: http://www.geosociety.org/meetings/2011/

Of the cave and karst sessions, the following are sponsored or co-sponsored by the National Cave and Karst Research Institute:

T80. Environmental Problems in Karst Terranes/Terrains and Their Solutions: In Honor of James F. Quinlan
GSA Hydrogeology Division; GSA Engineering Geology Division; GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; Edwards Aquifer Authority; National Cave and Karst Research Institute; Karst Waters Institute; Minnesota Ground Water Association
E. Calvin Alexander, Geary M. Schindel
This session on applied karst hydrology and geology is held in honor of the late Dr. James Quinlan, one of the founders of modern karst research in the United States. Keywords: Hydrogeology; Environmental Geoscience; Engineering Geology

T85. Dynamic Gradients in Karst Aquifers
GSA Hydrogeology Division; National Cave and Karst Research Institute; Karst Waters Institute; Minnesota Ground Water Association
Daniel H. Doctor, E. Calvin Alexander
This session highlights approaches for understanding karst aquifer function in the face of dynamic gradients in head, chemistry, and temperature. Studies that provide a geologic context within which dynamic gradients may be interpreted are sought. Keywords: Hydrogeology; Environmental Geoscience; Geomorphology

T93. Pseudokarst
GSA Hydrogeology Division; National Cave and Karst Research Institute; GSA Engineering Geology Division
Lewis Land, Greg Brick
This session will focus on any aspect of pseudokarst, including groundwater piping, suffusion, tectonic processes, talus, wind ablation, littoral (wave action), permafrost, subglacial, and rheogenic (lava tubes). Keywords: Hydrogeology; Geomorphology; Volcanology

Below are additional cave and karst sessions, and sessions soliciting cave and karst papers, which should also be excellent based on the people and organizations involved:

T77. Karst Waters and Culture: Exploring How Karst Water and the Dissolution Landscape Have Impacted Human History and Civilization
GSA Hydrogeology Division; Karst Waters Institute; GSA Engineering Geology Division
Dorothy J. Vesper, William K. Jones
The profound interaction between karst hydrogeology and humans will be explored. Possible topics may include water supply, other resources (saltpeter, caves), land use, archeology (Neolithic, classical, pre-Columbian), hydromythology, architecture, and military geology. Keywords: Hydrogeology; Archaeological Geology

T91. Geology in the National Forests and Grasslands: Stewardship, Education, and Research
GSA Geology and Society Division; GSA Hydrogeology Division; GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; USDA Forest Service; GSA Engineering Geology Division
Michael A. Crump, Christopher P. Carlson
This session will explore aspects of geological science conducted on National Forests and Grasslands. Topics include paleontology, cave and karst geology, engineering geology and natural-hazard mitigation, hydrogeology, interpretive and recreational geology, geo-ecology, and more. Keywords: Hydrogeology; Geomorphology; Geoscience Education

T100. Exploration of Karst Aquifer Systems Using New and Innovative Techniques and Methods (Posters)
GSA Hydrogeology Division; Karst Waters Institute; GSA Engineering Geology Division
Eric W. Peterson, Toby Dogwiler
This session will explore new and innovative techniques and methods used to identify karst aquifer geometries, to delineate flow paths in karst aquifers, and to discern contaminant storage and transport pathways within karst aquifers. Keywords: Hydrogeology; Quaternary Geology; Remote Sensing/Geographic Info System

The call for abstracts has gone out. The deadline for submissions is 26 July.
For details and submission directions see the GSA website:
http://www.geosociety.org/meetings/2011/

Information by Dr. George Veni, NCKRI