KARST SCIENCE IN EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA : DIFFERENT CONCEPTS AND APPROACHES FROM DIFFERENT STUDY SITES

Karst science is a complicated research domain. It summons scientists specialised in geology, geochemistry, hydrology, geomorphology and speleology or cave science, and now paleoclimatology; it requires the help of cave explorers and divers, as well as mathematicians and physicists expert in modelling. Biologists also contribute to the knowledge of karst: the evolution of cave life as well as the biota drift from springs inform on karst and caves. Each of these scientists proposes his own sight of the karst medium, his own scale of reference, with or without a hydrological functioning.

Moreover, according to the considered study sites, the proposed concepts and approaches may be quite different. Some examples taken from Europe and North America karsts will help in pointing out these differences. The most illustrating example is certainly the role of joints and bedding planes in the development of caves and karst drainage network. North American scientists insist on the importance of bedding planes, mainly because most of karstified carbonate formations develop in relatively simple structural conditions. At the opposite, French karst hydrogeologists abundantly work on the role of rock fracturing and ignore bedding planes in karst development and functioning.

It must be said to William White's and Derek Ford's merit that they strongly contributed to the progressive emergence of common concepts and approaches in karst science. First of all, they made common all over the World the most famous fields and works concerning karst in North America. Afterwards they both turn their multiple experience to account, at the same time both being cavers, chemists and earth scientists. At last, as specially done by Derek Ford and his karst partner Paul Williams, they integrate to their experience that from Europe research teams, particularly from France. In that way, they are the real pioneers of an integrating cave and karst science, which should be based on general and unique concepts and approaches.