Understanding of flow and transport processes in fissured and karstified aquifers must account for strong local heterogeneities in the hydraulic parameter field of the aquifer systems and typically sparse and uncertain field data for system characterization. The regulation and sustainable management of these systems is therefore still a challenge in hydrogeology. It depends to a large degree on the ability to make predictions with mathematical models which should be practically applicable and represent the investigated system.
This session welcomes contributions covering all aspects of hydrogeology of fissured and/or karstified aquifers. It includes fundamental research of flow and transport in saturated and unsaturated heterogeneous media and karst development. It aims to fill the gap between model requirements and field data provision with standard and non-standard characterization techniques. Topics to be discussed are for example hydraulic functioning of discontinuities, analysis of karst drainage systems, scaling issues and how to represent nature as closely as possible with mathematical models. Any new ideas for prediction and sustainable management of this type of groundwater resources are addressed in this session.