Opportunities

Karst Hydrogeology is a field course that introduces the basic features and processes of karst landscape/aquifer systems with an emphasis on methods and techniques relevant to addressing environmental problems as well as general research applications. Topics covered in daily presentations and discussions include karst hydrology, particularly in the context of the Mammoth Cave region, carbonate geochemistry, groundwater tracing and monitoring, and applications of these methods to karst groundwater problems. Field exercises include surface and cave trips with a particular focus on ‘hands-on’ instruction in qualitative and quantitative fluorescent dye tracing and groundwater monitoring. 

The 2023 field course was held at the Cave Research Foundation’s Hamilton Valley Research Station near Mammoth Cave National Park. Although fieldwork focused in the Park area, discussion about urban karst environmental problems included a field trip to nearby Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Horse Cave, Kentucky.

This course is available as a workshop or for credit (undergraduate or graduate) through the Karst Field Studies Program at Western Kentucky University. Participants must be in good physical condition to negotiate the cave passages and surface hikes which are a major component of this course. Students who take the course for credit develop an independent research project in consultation with the instructors during the week.

Highlighted Events:

Guest Speaker, Thomas Brackman, PG Near Surface Geophysics Innovations
Surface tour of Mammoth Cave Region
Historic area of Mammoth Cave
Hidden River Cave and the American Cave Museum
Lost River Cave and Valley