Spatial distribution and density of dolines in External Dinarides of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

As the distinctive features of karst terrain, dolines are frequently regarded as diagnostic indicators of karst landscapes. Since the beginning of the karst scientific research in 19th century, dolines have consistently captured the attention of geographers, geologists, and geomorphologists. Geomorphological research provides valuable knowledge about the spatial distribution of dolines, their characteristics, origin and development. These features not only serve as significant structural and geomorphological indicators, but also as indicators of karst evolution. One of the most significant and frequent research approaches in the study of dolines in modern geomorphology involves analyzing their spatial distribution. The main objective of this research is to determine the spatial distribution and density of dolines in the External Dinarides of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and make an analysis of the geological structure and morphometric features of the terrain as influential factors of distribution. A digital database was created based on a 1 : 25,000 topographic map, where points on the map denote the positions of the doline areas. The data on doline positions were manually adjusted for digital analysis, which was performed by using the ArcGIS 10.1 software package. The findings indiate that the morphometric relief parameters have a considerable impact on the distribution of dolines. Higher doline density is observed in the areas characterized by Jurassic and Cretaceous limestones within the karst plains of the middle hypsometric belt.