Hazards caused by natural and anthropogenic changes of catchment area in karst

Abstract

Abstract. Determination of the catchment area is the starting point in most hydrological analyses. It serves as a basis for many hydrological and water resources management calculations. The catchment boundaries and areas in karst regions are often fragmented and not accurately known. They can change over time due to natural and anthropogenic causes. Natural and man-made processes cause changes of catchment area on different time and space scales. Human intervention, especially construction of dams and reservoirs, as well as interbasin water transfer through long tunnels and pipelines can introduce instantaneous, definite and hazardous change. This paper presents seven examples of natural and anthropogenic factors which influenced changes of catchment area in the Dinaric karst: 1) Closing of the Obod Estavelle in the Fatniceko polje; 2) Operation of the Zakucac hydroelectric power plant on the Cetina River; 3) Problems caused by Salakovac Reservoir; 4) Catastrophic flooding in the Cetinje Polje; 5) Regulation and canalization of the Trebišnjica River; 6) Building of the underground hydroelectric power plant Ombla; 7) An earthquake in Southern Croatia and Western Herzegovina.