Breve síntesis histórica de las investigaciones hidrogeológicas en el Karstde Cvijic y Martel a la actualidad

Zusammenfassung

Mankind has been using the water from karst since immemorial time. However, the scientific explanation of the processes didn´t advance until the contributions of Martel, Civjic and Grund; the latter one was the first to consider the existence of a continuous saturated zone, which is nontheless essentially static. Research about the genesis of the main exo and endokarstic forms, as well as the karstic hydrogeology started soon. UNESCO, the International Association of Scientific Hydrology and the International Association of Hydrogeologists promoted the International Hydrological Decade and organized scientific meetings in many countries. Schools in Moulis (France), Neuchatel (Switzerland) and Montpellier (France) were very innovative, favoring a spectacular advance in the knowledge of karst from the 70s in the 20th century. This extensive research conducted by numerous experts in different domains allows us to assert today that the acquired knowledge is very broad. Finally, we review the main Spanish Research Groups, with a special emphasis on the impact that COST Actions, promoted by the European Union,has had in the advancement of modern karst hydrogeology