Introduction to the symposium

A multidisciplinary symposium on carbon dynamics and boundaries in karst systems, held at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, revealed significant advances in understanding the flux of inorganic and organic carbon between surface and subsurface environments. The event highlighted how recent research in biology, geology, and hydrology is enhancing our knowledge of karst ecosystems, particularly concerning carbon sequestration's role in global climate change. Key themes included epikarst dynamics, phreatic zone interactions, lateral inputs and outputs, CO2 processing, organic carbon sources, and large-scale modeling. The symposium featured keynote presentations by distinguished scientists and explored anthropogenic impacts on karst systems through case studies, offering a comprehensive synthesis of current research directions in the field.

Culver, D. C. (2013). Introduction to the symposium. Acta Carsologica, 42(2-3). https://doi.org/10.3986/ac.v42i2-3.657