CAVE RESEARCH UNIT
The Cave Research Unit (CRU) objective is to study the caves and karst of Israel.
It also serves as the national speleological organization of Israel, connecting cavers and scholars.
General Information
Address:The geography Department
Hebrew University of Jerusalem,
Mt. Scopus,
Jerusalem, Israel 91905
Tel: (972)2-5883355; (972)2-5883352
The CRU is a part of the Department of Geography, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The CRU offices are located it the Department of Geography, Mount Scopus Campus, Jerusalem; and at Ofra, a village half an hour drive north of Jerusalem. Both offices are operated by the same staff. The office in Ofra serves as a front base for expedition work, containing most field equipment and the library. The CRU office in Jerusalem deals with research and university teaching.
We collect any cave and karst data and file it within our database. Two systems of data organization are used. The 'old' filing system is based on regional files, each covering 20x20 km. The basic data is gradually transferred into the 'new' system, based on GIS (Geographical Information System). The new system allows elaborate spatial data analysis. It is being used for geomorphic, environmental, and hydrological studies.
We perform cave surveys nearly every week (usually from Sunday to Friday). These are performed by the permanent staff and volunteers, who are very welcome. Present survey regions: Nahal Natof (Western Samaria); Nahal Wahita (eastern Samaria); Judean Desert; Judean Mountains. Survey results are published in 'Niqrot Zurim' and other bulletins.
Detailed research projects often follow the basic survey. Research topics include karst geomorphology, paleoclimate, environment, biology and archeology. Research results are often published in international publications. A major recent research project was performed in the unique salt karst of Mount Sedom diapir. Aspects studied include: Hydrology and denudation rates of halite karst; Morphology and development of salt caves; Holocene environmental change determined from the salt caves; Holocene history of the Dead Sea levels; Uplift rate relative to base level of a salt diapir as indicated by cave levels; Structure of the salt diapir from cave evidence; Exposure age of the karst landscape; Entrenchment rate of stream profiles in the salt caves.
Several studies were recently performed in limestone karst; among these: Geology and speleology of Nahal Qanah Cave System; Isotopic equilibrium in stalagmites from caves in a dry region: Jerusalem, Israel; Karst origin of the upper erosion surface in the Northern Judean Mountains; Ariel Cave < Survey and ground penetrating radar study.
'Niqrot Zurim' - Journal of Israel cave research
The journal covers all aspects of caves and speleology in Israel. It appears in Hebrew with English abstracts. Numbers 1-20 have been published until 2000. Still available are numbers ,8,9,10,11-12,13,14,16,17,18,19, 20. Two books on Israeli karst are also available (Hebrew with English abstracts): 'The karst system of the Mount Sedom salt diapir' and 'Vertical shafts in a Mediterranean environment (Ofra, Israel)'. Each volume costs 30 NIS in Israel and 10$ abroad. Price includes mailing.
CRU conducts guided tours to caves, lectures and similar activities
upon request. University courses are conducted on a regular basis as a
part of the Geography Department program in the Hebrew University, Jerusalem.
Courses include: Karst terrains and and environmental problems; Human use
of caves in Israel; Karst and environmental problems for graduate students;
Underground voids and man: special issues.
Copyright ©, 1997, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. All Rights Reserved.