What is speleology?

Answer 1

Speleology is a scientific discipline that is concerned with all aspects of caves, cave systems and other karst features, their make-up, structure, physical properties, history, life forms, and the processes by which they form (speleogenesis) and change over time (speleomorphology).

Speleology is the scientific study of caves which term derived from the Latin 'speleum' meaning “cave.” Speleology requires a knowledge of geology and hydrology. Cave explorers are commonly known as “cavers” or “potholers”. It is also considered as the sports or pastime of exploring caves. People who explore caves as a hobby are called cavers or spelunkers.

Speleology is a cross-disciplinary field that combines the knowledge of chemistry, biology, geology, meteorology and cartography to develop portraits of caves as complex, evolving systems.

Speleology is a systematic exploration of caves, popularly called spelunking. It includes the measuring and mapping of caves and reporting on the flora and fauna found in them. One application of speleology is the tracing of the movement of underground waters to prevent water pollution.

Speleology is a subdivision of geology, which has furthered knowledge in mineralogy, hydrodynamics, archaeology, biology, and many other formal disciplines. Speleologists use many special contrivances and methods in exploring caves. One technique is the use of dyes to reveal the outlets of complicated underground-stream systems. Use of special shoes, safety helmets, flexible ladders and cables, and dependable lamps enables present-day speleologists to explore the recesses of large caves much more thoroughly than was formerly possible. Cave explorers occasionally stay underground for days, mapping and studying an extensive area.

The French lawyer Edouard Alfred Martel is often called "the father of modern speleology". Between 1888 and 1914, Martel organized annual campaigns to explore the subterranean world of Europe. His exploration of the underground river of Bramabiau on the 27th June, 1888, is considered to mark the birth date of modern speleology in France.♥

Answer 2

Speleology comes from the Greek word Speleo(ΣΠΗΛΑΙΟ) which means cave,so is the science of caves exploring

Answer 3

Exploration of caverns and its study are the objects of speleology.
This activity is born at the end of the past century in France. It extends for Europe and the World in a few years.

As a sport it brings the emotions of the great adventures in the nature.
In a weekend or in a single day, the caver can feel himself in a world as remote as the bottom of the sea or the surface of another planet.
From the confortable horizontal caves to the deepest pits or across complex maces, there are many types of caves that requires you to have diferents levels of knowlege and experience.
To practise speleo you need not only physical condition but also mental aptitude.
The subterranean world can be fantastic or terrible, training and attitude of the explorer do the diference.
The spanish cavers are gruped in the Federación Española de Espeleología that includes 15 territorial federations, like the Federación Andaluza. There are more than 250 groups and 5.000 cavers in Spain.
This groups organize training in various subjects and levels with the collaboration of the Schools of Speleolgy that depend of the Federations that also maintains rescue teams.

As a scientifical activity it attracts atention of geologists, biologists, archaeologists and many others that find in the caves a place to learn from.
From prehistoric days to the present, caves have been refuge and habitat of many cultures.
Animals of the underworld has adapted to extreme conditions, they has lost vision and pigments, but they has developped new senses and strategies to survive in this media.

Answer 4

Definitions of speleology :

the scientific study of the cave environment, including the physical, chemical, and biological aspects.
www.nps.gov/maca/learnhome/glossary.htm

the scientific study of caves
the pastime of exploring caves
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Speleology is the scientific study of caves and other karst features, their make-up, structure, physical properties, history, life forms, and the processes by which they form (speleogenesis) and change over time (speleomorphology).
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speleology

Answer 5

Speleology, simply put, is the scientific study of caves. The prefix speleo- is also the root from which the word "spelunking" comes from, which is the recreational sport of exploring caves (also known as "caving").

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speleology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spelunking

Answer 6

What Is Speleology

Answer 7

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speleology

Answer 8

The scientific study of caves, but the word can mean the activity or pastime of exploring caves too.

Answer 9

Oh sure, that is if we had any idea what speleology was OK poolekit, thanks for the link. The only way that I'M going in a cave is if Jacky goes with me!

Answer 10

going down