Opportunities of analogue physical modeling in Karstresearch

Using analogue physical models for research in natural science is generally widespread. In karst research, modeling was first used to study the dissolutional denudation of gypsumkarst in the 60’s. Later, the study of physical analogue models in karst researches were expanded to the form development of dissolutional, flow, and depositional phenomena that can be observed on karsts. This study presents those theoretical and practical problems our workgroup(of which the author of this study was also a member) has solved by designing, building and operating physical analogue models, and by evaluating the results as well. Using model experiments in karstresearch, mainly in the field of morphological researches has become effective because the analogue correlation was applied between the natural object and the model built in the laboratory. With the appropriate use of the analogy, the form developed in nature can be replicated, thus the factors that influenced its formation can be studied.