Journal of Cave and Karst Studies

Journal of Cave and Karst Studies
Title	Journal of Cave and Karst Studies
Former names	NSS Bulletin
Discipline	Speleology
Abbreviation	J. Cave Karst Stud.
Publisher	National Speleological Society
Country	United States
Frequency	Quarterly
History	1940–present
Issn	1090-6924

Journal of Cave and Karst Studies is a quarterly peer-reviewed periodical produced by the National Speleological Society focusing on speleology, karst hydrogeology, and cave science. The journal publishes original research, reviews, and technical notes addressing geological, hydrological, biological, and conservation issues in karst regions. Contributors and readers include researchers affiliated with institutions such as the United States Geological Survey, Smithsonian Institution, Colorado School of Mines, Ohio State University, and University of Bristol.

History

The publication traces its lineage to the NSS Bulletin and evolved alongside organizations like the National Speleological Society, Cave Research Foundation, and British Cave Research Association. Early editorial leadership drew on figures connected to the Geological Society of America, American Geophysical Union, and Royal Society, while contributors included researchers associated with the University of California, Berkeley, University of Kentucky, and University of Zagreb. Milestones align with events and institutions such as the International Union of Speleology, International Congress of Speleology, Geological Society of London, and meetings hosted by the Smithsonian Institution and American Association for the Advancement of Science. The journal’s development reflects broader connections to the United States Geological Survey, New Zealand Speleological Society, Karst Research Institute, and Institute of Speleology (Romania).

Scope and Content

The journal covers studies on karst geomorphology, carbonate sedimentology, speleogenesis, cave hydrology, and subterranean biology, with submissions often referencing work from institutions like the University of Illinois, University of Arizona, University of Nottingham, and Montpellier University. Topics intersect with applied research conducted by agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, United States Geological Survey, and World Health Organization when addressing groundwater contamination, isotope hydrology, and public health in karst terrains. Case studies frequently describe caves and karst systems in regions including the Mammoth Cave National Park, Carlsbad Caverns, Škocjan Caves, Guilin karst, Yucatán Peninsula, and Dinaric Alps, and draw on collaborations with museums and centers such as the Natural History Museum (London), Field Museum, and Czech Speleological Society.

Publication and Editorial Practices

Peer review is managed by editors and editorial boards with members from universities and organizations including the University of South Florida, University of New Mexico, University of Sydney, and University of Ljubljana. Editorial policies reflect standards upheld by associations like the Committee on Publication Ethics, International Union of Geological Sciences, and International Union of Speleology. The journal accepts original research, short communications, review articles, and technical notes, and follows guidelines analogous to those used by journals such as Nature, Science, Geology, and Hydrogeology Journal. Production involves indexing metadata consistent with CrossRef and collaboration with librarians at institutions such as the Library of Congress, British Library, and Bibliothèque nationale de France.

Abstracting and Indexing

The journal is listed in disciplinary and multidisciplinary indexes and databases comparable to Scopus, Web of Science, GeoRef, and AGRICOLA, and is discoverable via services used by researchers at the University of Chicago, Harvard University, Stanford University, and Yale University. Abstracting coverage intersects with domain-specific resources maintained by organizations such as the British Geological Survey, Geological Survey of Canada, and Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe. Citation tracking and metrics are available through platforms associated with Clarivate Analytics, Elsevier, and Google Scholar, enabling assessment by institutions like Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, and California Institute of Technology.

Notable Articles and Impact

Influential papers in the journal have advanced concepts in speleogenesis, isotope hydrology, karst aquifer modeling, and subterranean ecology, drawing citations from researchers affiliated with the University of Innsbruck, University of Ljubljana, University of Granada, and University of Paris. Articles have informed management practices at protected areas such as Mammoth Cave National Park, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, and Plitvice Lakes National Park, and have been cited in reports by the United States Geological Survey, Environmental Protection Agency, and UNESCO. Contributions from prominent scientists associated with institutions like the Max Planck Institute, CNRS, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography have influenced subsequent work in hydrogeology, geomorphology, and conservation policy.

Access and Availability

The journal is distributed to members of the National Speleological Society and is available to subscribers and institutions including university libraries at University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Cornell University, and University of Toronto. Back issues are held by archives and repositories such as the Smithsonian Institution Archives, American Geosciences Institute, and regional libraries in Slovenia, Croatia, Mexico, and China. Digital access and article-level downloads are facilitated through platforms used by publishers like Wiley, Springer, and Taylor & Francis, while interlibrary loan and document delivery services at institutions including the British Library and Library of Congress provide alternative access.

Category:Speleology journals Category:National Speleological Society