the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
| 20 May 2026
High-Resolution Karst Spring Discharge Datasets of the Euro-Mediterranean Mountain Regions
Abstract. Karst groundwater systems exhibit heterogeneity in recharge, circulation, and discharge, occupying a unique position within groundwater systems. This complexity facilitates rapid responses via the preferential flow routes, making karst systems vulnerable to climatic and anthropogenic pressures. High-altitude karst aquifers are particularly susceptible to shifting climate patterns – specifically rising temperatures, declining snow cover, and increasingly less and inconsistent precipitation – within the Mediterranean climate hotspot. Effective sustainable management of these groundwater systems require robust hydrological modelling; however, the application of such models is often constrained by the availability of high-quality, reliable datasets. This study presents a comprehensive collection of high-resolution karst spring discharge data from major Euro-Mediterranean mountain belts, including the Atlas, Betics, Pyrenees, Jura, Alps, Carpathians, Apennines, Dinarides, Hellenides, Balkans, Taurus, Levant, and Zagros. We compiled a total of 118 discharge time series specifically curated for hydrological modelling. Geographically, the dataset is led by the Alps (approx. 42%), followed by the Dinarides (approx. 10%), with the Apennines, Carpathians, and Zagros each contributing approx. 7%. The Levant and Taurus account for approx. 5% each, while the remaining regions (Atlas, Balkans, Betics, Hellenides, Jura, and Pyrenees) represent less than 5% each. In terms of temporal resolution, 92% of the records are daily, while hourly and monthly data each comprise 4%. The average record length is 19 years, which is led by a 99-year series from Unica Spring, Slovenia (1926–2025). Regional analysis indicates that the Alps, Apennines, Balkans, Betics, Dinarides, Jura, and Levant maintain average record lengths exceeding 20 years, whereas the Atlas, Carpathians, Taurus, and Zagros range between 10 and 20 years. The shortest average records were observed in the Hellenides and Pyrenees (7 and 8 years, respectively), which is still adequate for hydrological modelling applications.
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Status: open (until 12 Aug 2026)
- RC1: 'Comment on essd-2026-281', Sylke Hilberg, 09 Jul 2026 reply
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RC2: 'Comment on essd-2026-281', Anonymous Referee #2, 10 Jul 2026
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This manuscript presents the KaMERaMAN dataset, which compiles high-resolution discharge time series from 118 karst springs distributed across 13 European–Mediterranean mountain systems. The topic addresses the pressing need for high-quality observational data for hydrological modeling in climate-sensitive regions of the Mediterranean, and is therefore of clear scientific significance and practical relevance.
The dataset demonstrates good performance in terms of adherence to the FAIR principles, metadata completeness, spatial coverage, and data volume. All 120 data files are accompanied by comprehensive descriptive metadata with unique site identifiers, and the use of a standardized CSV format substantially enhances data accessibility and reusability. The dataset contains more than one million observations, with an average record length of approximately 19 years, making it a valuable resource for regional comparative hydrological studies.
I recommend minor revision prior to acceptance, with the following comments:
1.Negative discharge values: Some stations (e.g., TAU_03_TR@Pinarbasi) contain a small number of physically implausible negative discharge values. The authors should verify the origin of these values and provide an explanation in the data documentation. If these values result from measurement or post-processing errors, appropriate correction or clear flagging should be implemented.
2.Empty data files: A small number of station files contain entirely missing discharge values. The authors are encouraged to further check data completeness, clarify the reasons for missing data, or adjust the statement regarding the total number of “118 stations” to ensure consistency between the manuscript and the dataset.
3.Justification of variable selection: The dataset currently includes discharge as the sole variable. It would be beneficial to briefly justify this design choice in the manuscript and discuss potential future extensions to additional hydrological variables, in order to better define the scope and applicability of the dataset.Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-281-RC2
Data sets
High-Resolution Karst Spring Discharge Datasets of the Euro-Mediterranean Mountain Regions Çallı SS et al. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19448791
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The manuscript High Resolution Karst Spring Discharge Datasets of the Euro-Mediterranean Mountain Regions by Selim Calli et al. presents a newly compiled dataset of 118 high-resolution karst spring discharge time series from major mountain regions across the Euro-Mediterranean area.
General comments: The study is specifically designed to support hydrological modelling of vulnerable karst groundwater systems. The dataset provides long-term, discharge records, offering an important resource for studying the impacts of climate change and improving the sustainable management of high-altitude karst aquifers. The manuscript is clearly written, provides a good overview of the most important karst aquifers in Europe, and thus serves as a solid foundation for in-depth karst hydrological studies. Publication is highly recommended.
Specific comments: I don't have any specific comments, as the study has been presented in a perfectly adequate way. The data collection and presentation of the results are clear and transparent. The challenge of presenting a large volume of data and a broad scope of investigation in a way that conveys information while keeping the manuscript easy to read is effectively addressed using examples in combination with supplementary materials.
Technical comments: I just have two very minor comments: in Fig. 2, some of the mountain names are hard to read; at first, I couldn't find the Alps at all. In Figure 7A, there is no boundary indicating which section is shown in Figure 7B.