Victor N. Dublyansky and Yuri V. Dublyansky-The Problem of Condensation in Karst Studies. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies 60(1): 3-17. THE PROBLEM OF CONDENSATION IN KARST STUDIES

Condensation in karst occurs over a wide range of natural settings, at latitudes from 25º to 70º and alti-tudes from sea level to 2600 m. In summer (April through September), condensation introduces a signif-icant amount of water into the karst massifs (from 0.1 % to as much as 20 % of the total dry-season runoff). Contrary to common belief, in winter evaporation does not withdraw appreciable amounts of water from the massifs. Evaporating at depth, the water condenses near the surface within the epikarstic zone or on the snow cover and flows back. Condensation can sustain springs during prolonged dry peri-ods (such as summer and winter) when there is no recharge by liquid precipitation. Condensation can play a significant role in speleogenesis, and many forms of cave macro-, meso-, and micromorphologies are attributable to condensation corrosion. It can be particularly efficient in the lat-ter stages of hydrothermal cave development (during partial dewatering) when the temperature and the humidity gradients are highest. Coupled with evaporation, air convection, and aerosol mass transfer, condensation can play a crucial role in the formation of a number of speleothems, as well as create pecu-liar patterns of cave microclimate. Early statements advocating the condensation of moisture in caves can be found in texts of the ancient Greek philoso-phers Thales of Miletus, Empedocles, and Aristotle (VI-IV BC). Marcus Vitruvius Pollio (I AD) stated his belief that the moisture can condense from the vapors of hot waters rising from depth of the Earth (Fedoseev, 1975). During the follow-ing fifteen centuries, the natural phenomena were interpreted in accordance with theological dogmas. Only in XVI-XVII