Multidimensional Nature of Geosites and its Implications for Geoheritage Inventories

Abstract

Abstract Geosites are defined as coherent entities: geodiversity elements that reveal scientific or other significance. However, earlier studies have shown that many geosites are complex structures that differ by: 1) their spatial extent; 2) the involvement of different geological processes that 3) operated at diverse time scales; 4) the active or passive character; and 5) the influence of biotic and cultural factors. Although these traits of geosites, provisionally termed dimensions, have been researched in earlier contributions, the inventories that integrate all aspects of geosites have yet to be designed. In this conceptual paper, an initial version of an open source online inventory that uses a relational database, and incorporates complex structures identified within individual sites is developed. The inventory is tested using four case studies from central Europe that reveal the intricate arrangement of various geodiversity elements of geoscientific relevance, existing in the same location and shaped by a diverse set of geological processes operating at different spatial and time scales. The study shows that future evaluation and management activities may benefit from a detailed description of a potential geosite that identifies all relevant geodiversity features, their thematic scope, and their relationships with biotic and cultural components of the site.