Karst porosity estimations from archive cave surveys - studies in the Buda Thermal Karst System (Hungary)

The Buda Thermal Karst System is located under the densely populated hills of Budapest. One of its caves (Pál-völgy Cave System) is the longest cave of Hungary with 30.1 km. The research was done in this area as a methodological study to estimate karst porosity parameters of aquifers or hydrocarbon reservoirs. In this study two modeling methods are demonstrated. The volumetric modeling method was primarily aimed to determine the macro-scale (\u3e0.5 m) conduit porosity (referred as macroporosity) of the study area as percentage of the incorporating limestone and marl. This method is based on archive survey data (maps and records). Through this method, morphometric parameters and the approximate sizes of the unexplored cave parts were also calculated. The porosity modeling was aimed at the estimation of the meso-scale (0.02–0.5 m) and macro-scale conduit porosity. It is based on rock face measurements near the Pál-völgy Cave System and image analysis. The matching macroporosity estimations of the two methods suggest that the map-based volumetric modeling method can be a useful tool for karstologists and modeling experts to extract as much information as possible from existing cave maps, even if the records of the original survey were lost or scanty. With the matrix porosity data published earlier from this area, and the conduit porosity calculated from the models, hydrological models of the area can be completed