Abstract The Totes Gebirge is not only the largest karst massif in the Northern Calcareous Alps, it also contains the most cave passages. In this area we are investigating the vertical distribution of phreatic cave passages to determine cave levels. These are vertical zones with clusters of cave passages that can be correlated with former valley floors. Since only phreatic cave passages (i.e. caves that were permanently or episodically filled with water during their formation) are to be analysed, a genetic classification is made on the basis of field observations, cave maps, 3D surveys and descriptions. As of Sept. 2023, the Totes Gebirge range, including the adjacent Warscheneck and the Hohe Schrott, contains 3172 known caves with a total length of 821 km, including the two longest cave systems in Austria, the Schönberg- (156 km) and the Schwarzmooskogel-Höhlensystem (137 km). As small caves do not contribute significantly to these statistics, only caves ≥50 m were included. The remaining 754 caves have a total length of 790 km. Only 46 % of these caves are at least partially of phreatic origin, but they contain 92 % of the total passage length. After subtracting the caves from which no data were available and cave sections that are not phreatic in origin (i.e. vadose or those created by weathering and erosion), 641 km of cave sections remained, which were analysed for their vertical distribution in 25 m increments. The histogram of cave length distribution vs. elevation for the Totes Gebirge range shows only a single significant cluster of phreatic cave sections between 1300 and 1850 m above see level (a.s.l.), with a clear maximum at 1500 m. The massif was divided into four sub-regions and all of them show this main interval, which is why it was interpreted as a cave level. It correlates well with the Giant Cave Level known from all other karst massifs in the Northern Calcareous Alps analysed so far. However, it is peculiar that in the other massifs at least three cave levels are present. Other reasons, such as the lack of known caves and the large size of the massif, which could lead to overlapping of cave levels, are unlikely. Therefore, it seems possible that the palaeo surface drainage pattern around the Totes Gebirge or its uplift history was different from the other karst massifs in the Northern Calcareous Alps and that low-lying cave levels (Spring and Berger Cave Level) or an elevated one (Ruin Cave Level) did not develop. For each of the 21 largest cave systems (≥5 km in length), the peak of the vertical distribution of the phreatic passages was determined. Vectors were calculated in order to test whether palaeo-flow directions could be inferred from their distribution. These phreatic maxima indicate a general dip from ESE to WNW, which could be interpreted either as a palaeo-drainage direction or as a tectonic tilting of the whole massif after the formation of the passages.

Lina Rummler

Lukas Plan

Xenia Hauser

Mitteilungen der Österreichischen Geologischen Gesellschaft/Austrian journal of earth sciences

AUSTRIAN JOURNAL OF EARTH SCIENCES 是奥地利地质、矿物学和古生物学会的官方期刊，主办方是一个以壮观的山脉而闻名的国家，这些山脉是现代地球科学中许多地质和矿物学概念的发源地。 AUSTRIAN JOURNAL OF EARTH SCIENCE 侧重于与阿尔卑斯山、波希米亚地块及周边地区的地球科学相关的所有方面。欢迎其他地区的贡献，如果他们将他们的发现嵌入到一个概念框架中，该框架将对高山型造山带和一般高山地区的贡献联系起来，因此与国际受众相关。投稿须根据 SCI 指南接受同行评审和编辑控制，以确保保持所需的科学卓越标准。

The Austrian Journal of Earth Sciences is the official journal of the Austrian Geological, Mineralogical, and Paleontological Society. The journal is published in a country renowned for its spectacular mountains, which are the origin of many geological and mineralogical concepts in modern Earth sciences. The Austrian Journal of Earth Sciences focuses on all aspects of Earth sciences related to the Alps, the Bohemian Massif, and surrounding areas. Contributions from other regions are welcome, provided they embed their findings within a conceptual framework that connects contributions from orogenic belts and general mountainous areas, thus making them relevant to an international audience. All submissions must adhere to SCI guidelines and undergo peer review and editorial control to ensure the maintenance of the required standards of scientific excellence.

《Austrian Journal of Earth Sciences》是奥地利地质、矿物学和古生物学会的官方期刊。该期刊的主办方位于一个以壮观山脉而闻名的国家，这些山脉是现代地球科学中许多地质和矿物学概念的发源地。《Austrian Journal of Earth Sciences》专注于与阿尔卑斯山、波希米亚地块及其周边地区的地球科学相关的各个方面。我们欢迎来自其他地区的贡献，只要这些研究能够融入一个概念框架，该框架将高山型造山带和一般高山地区的贡献联系起来，从而对国际受众具有相关性。所有投稿必须遵循SCI指南，接受同行评审和编辑控制，以确保保持所需的科学卓越标准。

Category	Quartile
地球科学	4
地球科学, 地球科学综合	4

Cave Levels in the Totes Gebirge (Eastern Alps)

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Journal Info

Category	Quartile
GEOSCIENCES, MULTIDISCIPLINARY	4