Invitation

Dear Colleagues,

I am honoured to invite you to the "International Symposium on Hierarchical Flow Systems in Karst Regions", to be held in Budapest, Hungary, on 2-7 September, 2013.

The declared objective of the Symposium is to introduce the concept of gravitational groundwater flow systems in the thinking and practice of the karst community. Therefore the Symposium is being organized by the Regional Groundwater Flow Commission of the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH), Karst Commission of IAH, Karst Hydrogeology and Speleogenesis Commission of the International Union of Speleology (UIS). To supplement the scientific programme, a pre-Symposium course, REGFLOW - MANKARST, will introduce theoretical and practical aspects of regional groundwater flow and karst hydrogeology.

The Symposium will honour Professor József Tóth, in celebration of his 80th birthday. Professor Tóth is a pioneer in the theory of groundwater flow patterns. In 1962-63 he was the first to demonstrate the hierarchical nature of groundwater flow with analytical models based on regional studies in Alberta, Canada. His concept of hierarchy is essential to a full understanding of groundwater flow. It serves as the inspiration for this Symposium.

The location is also significant. Budapest is well known for its examples of hypogene karst, and it is here that many pioneering studies of this field were made. It is also a city of many resources – scientific, historical, and cultural. Many karst examples are easily accessible within the city and its surroundings.

The purpose of the Symposium is to encourage the integration of karst research with traditional groundwater flow theory, by comparing the hierarchical nature of water flow and mass transport in both fields. This concept promises a link between the groups of scientists as seems to be a major occasion for hydrogeologists. Furthermore, it presents a good opportunity to meet some outstanding members of the international community of hydrogeologists interested in the questions of regional groundwater flow and karst hydrogeology.

We welcome researchers in all aspects of groundwater who have an interest in karst and regional groundwater flow respectively or together. Whether you are a karst specialist or simply interested in the subject, you can contribute to the dialogue of how karst fits into the broader framework of flow systems and modern hydrogeology. Geologists, speleologists in all fields of groundwater are welcome, as are those who are concerned about the nature of subsurface porosity, petroleum, geothermal energy and ore reservoirs in karsts. The greater the diversity of interests the more significant will be the result.

On behalf of the Organizers, I'm pleased to invite you to the Symposium - see you in Budapest in September 2013!

Judit Mádl-Szőnyi
Symposium Chair