فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

The study of karst water potential is one of the most important and attractive studies of this type of distinctive landform. This study has been carried out with the aim of identification of areas of extensive karstification and consequently groundwater resource potential carbonate rocks in Iran considering the role of the chief factors affecting karst water potential. Accordingly, 25 different data layers where interrogated in a GIS platform. Subjective karst map was developed on the basis of what is considered to be a proper combination of these factors. The most important parameters are categorized to three driving factors include chemical, physical, and hydrogeological factors. Thematic map of each parameter was prepared using geographic information system (GIS). Measuring the rate and weight of the maps was performed using analytical hierarchical process (AHP), respectively. The final output map showed different zones of groundwater prospective potential, which was divided into five grades. According to the results, out of the total area of 174,000 km² of carbonate outcrops in Iran, the highest grade of karst water potential was found in the Kopet-Dagh zone in the northeast. So, the significance of karst formations in the Kepe Dagh region is at least as great as that of the Zagros and Alborz ranges, if not greater. Validation of karstification potential map was done with the existence and location of springs and karst aquifers in the Kopet Dagh area.