Influence of the rivers on speleogenesis combining KARSYS approach and cave levels. Picos de Europa, Spain

Abstract

The influence of rivers on speleogenesis is studied analyzing the cave levels located in the underground drainage areas related to two fluvial basins. Cave levels are analyzed through their vertical distribution profiles. The underground limits of the fluvial basins are defined using a 3D geometric model of the karst aquifer established according to the KARSYS approach. The aim of this work is to analyze the influence of the rivers on cave evolution using cave morphology. The study area corresponds to the Western and Central massifs of Picos de Europa (Northern Spain), with 214 km of cave conduits up to 1.6 km vertical range. As a result, we established two sequences of development of the cave levels related to the differences of the incision rate of the Cares and Dobra Rivers, and the partial capture of the Western Massif by the Cares River.