Geological conditions of groundwater occurrence in the Pieniny Klippen Belt (West Carpathians, Poland)

The paper presents selected results of hydrogeological research carried out in the Pieniny National Park and adjacent areas during the period of 1995-2004. The objectives of the studies were to explore the geological environment and conditions of groundwater occurrence, its circulation and drainage system, as well as the physico-chemical properties of groundwaters. An important part of the research were rock fissuring measurements in natural outcrops which made it possible to determine the fissures spatial orientation, the fissuring parameters, and the fissure permeability coefficient. Investigations of rock matrix hydrogeological parameters in selected lithostratigraphic complexes of the Pieniny Klippen Belt were also carried out. Groundwater occurrence conditions in alluvial and weathering cover deposits are characterized as well.