USING DIGITAL ELEVATION MODEL (DEM) IN KARST TERRAIN ANALYSIS. STUDY CASE: ANINA MINING AREA (BANAT MOUNTAINS, ROMANIA) - Carpathian Journal of Earth And Environmental Sciences

Geomorphometry is essential in nowadays Earth sciences approaches. Earth-surface parameters will generate different values for the same position, based on the DEM resolution. The aim of this paper is to present a geomorphometric approach developed in Anina Mining Area, situated in the most compact karstic area in Romania. The study area is situated in the South-West of Romania, within the Banat Mountains, more precisely in the centre Anina Mountains. We derived the following parameters: slope gradient, drainage depth, drainage density, Topographic Position Index and Topographic Wetness Index. All parameters that were derived using DEM indicate that the study area is a highly karstificated one, with an evoluted karst, where slope, drainage density and drainage depth are morphometric parameters that are highly influenced by karstic evolution. After this approach we can sintetize that using DEM in geomorphometry analysis applied to a karst area, we observe that there is a strong dependency on morphometric parameters and diagnostic karst feature, sinkholes. Our DEM analysis confirms certain hypothesis regarding karst morphology: low-surfaces slopes are favourable for dissolution process; the disorganized drainage network is specifically for karstic areas; high density of karstic depressions on those karstic plateaus indicates a higher wetness value. By practical point of view, connected to the applied geomorphology, this approach could be useful for natural resource management, the study area being part of two national parks, where limestone and karst landforms are prevalent. It could be considered as the first step in the geomorphological description of the Anina Mining Area.