International Union of Speleology
Informatics Commission
Speleological Subject Classifications
This "SSC" scheme was created for the purpose of classifying cave and karst data
fields, but could also be useful for other purposes, for example, it has been used to classify
the cave/karst terms in the UIS Dictionary.
It has been prepared by the Informatics Commission (UISIC) of the
International Union of Speleology (UIS) and is adapted from the bibliographic
classification scheme used in the UIS Speleo Abstracts / Bulletin Bibliographique Spéléologique
(BBS) of the UIS Bibliography Commission.
For more information see also the SSC Codes Introduction.
For an example of its use classifying data fields, see the Fields List
page of the UISIC proposal for cave and karst data exchange.
- Main Classifications
- 0 : General
- 1 : Geospeleology and Karstology
- 2 : Regional Speleology and Karstology
- 3 : Biospeleology
- 4 : Anthropospeleology
- 5 : Paleontospeleology
- 6 : Applied Speleology
- 7 : Technical Speleology
- 8 : Documentary Speleology
- 9 : Other
[ Main menu ]
- 0 : GENERAL
- Matters which could apply to any aspect of speleology.
[ Main menu ]
- 1 : GEOSPELEOLOGY AND KARSTOLOGY
- Without geographical connection or of general interest.
- 11 : KARSTOLOGY
-
- 111 : KARST MORPHOLOGY AND MORPHOGENESIS
- Exokarst of carbonate rocks (limestones, dolomites, chalk, marbles);
Geochemistry; Soil-CO2; Corrosion; Karst types (holokarst, merokarst,
fluviokarst, glaciokarst, volcanokarst; Tropical karst).
- 112 : HYDROLOGY
- Water chemistry and physics; Springs and sinks; Karstic groundwater;
Water tracings.
- 113 : GEOLOGY AND PEDOLOGY
- Petrography; Tectonics; Tufa; Bauxite; Glaciations.
- 114 : CLIMATOLOGY AND BIOLOGY OF KARST REGIONS
-
- 115 : FOSSIL KARST
- Paleokarst; Karstic fillings; Paleogeography.
- 116 : HYDROTHERMAL KARST
-
- 12 : GEOSPELEOLOGY
-
- 121 : MORPHOLOGY AND SPELEOGENESIS IN CARBONATE
ROCKS
- Caves, potholes; Corrosion and erosion; Small and large hollow forms;
Sumps.
- 122 : PARAKARST, PSEUDOKARST, AND HYPOKARST
-
[See 1.3-1.8.]
- 123 : SUBTERRANEAN DEPOSITS AND FILLINGS
- Chemistry, mineralogy and morphology; Speleothems, clay and alluvial
sediments; Collapses.
[Guano see 3.1.5. Ice see 1.2.4.]
- 124 : SUBTERRANEAN CLIMATOLOGY
- Temperature, Hygrometry, Winds, Air-CO2; Dripping and condensation
waters, Ice.
- 125 : GEOPHYSICS
- Radioactivity; Seismology; Geothermalism; Volcanism.
- 126 : CHRONOLOGY OF SUBTERRANEAN FILLINGS
- Stratigraphy; Datings; Palynology.
- 13 : SPECIAL KARSTS
- Conglomerates; Magnesite; Travertine; Calcarenite; Corals, Chalk.
- 14 : PARAKARST IN EVAPORITES
- Gypsum, halides.
- 15 : PARAKARST IN SILICEOUS ROCKS
- Quartzite; Sandstones; Flysch; Loess; Marls; Piping in alluvial
material.
- 16 : PSEUDOKARST
- Granites, Gneiss; Talus-caves.
- 17 : ICE HYPOKARST, PERMAFROSTKARST AND
THERMOKARST
-
- 18 : HYPOKARST AND PSEUDOKARST IN VOLCANIC ROCKS
- Lavas, basalt.
- 19 : GEOSPELEOLOGY AND KARSTOLOGY - OTHER
-
[ Main menu ]
- 2 : REGIONAL SPELEOLOGY AND KARSTOLOGY
- F: Use locational categories 8.1. B: Descriptions, expedition reports,
locations, warnings, exploration history, and exploration status of
specific sites. Regional lists, maps, databases, inventories, etc.
[See History of Speleology 4.2, Regional Biospeleology 3.3, Anthropology
4.1, and Paleontology 5.1]
- 20 : REGIONAL SPELEOLOGY - GENERAL AND WORLD
-
[Including items covering more than one of the groups below. See
International Congresses & UIS 7.7]
- 21 : EUROPE
-
- 211 : WESTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPE
-
- 212 : EASTERN EUROPE / EURASIA
-
- 22 : AMERICA
-
- 221 : NORTHERN AMERICA
-
- 222 : CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN AMERICA
-
- 23 : ASIA
-
- 24 : AFRICA
-
- 25 : AUSTRALASIA, OCEANIA
-
- 26 : COSMOS
-
- 29 : OTHER
-
[ Main menu ]
- 3 : BIOSPELEOLOGY
-
- 30 : GENERAL BIOSPELEOLOGY
-
- 31 : BIOSPELEOLOGY - SYSTEMATICS
-
- 311 : CRUSTACEA
-
- 312 : HEXAPODA
-
- 313 : ARACHNIDA, MYRIAPODA, ONYCHOPHORA
-
- 314 : MOLLUSCA, VERMES, OTHER INVERTEBRATA
-
- 315 : VERTEBRATA
-
- 316 : MICROBIOLOGY - SOIL, AIR, WATER
-
- 317 : HYPOGEAN FLORA, FUNGI, ALGAE
-
- 32 : GENERAL BIOLOGY
-
- 33 : REGIONAL BIOSPELEOLOGY
-
[See Biogeography 6.4]
- 330 : REGIONAL BIOSPELEOLOGY - GENERAL AND WORLD
-
- 331 : BIOSPELEOLOGY - EUROPE
-
- 332 : BIOSPELEOLOGY - AMERICA
-
- 333 : BIOSPELEOLOGY - ASIA
-
- 334 : BIOSPELEOLOGY - AFRICA
-
- 335 : BIOSPELEOLOGY - AUSTRALASIA, OCEANIA
-
- 39 : BIOSPELEOLOGY - OTHER
-
[ Main menu ]
- 4 : ANTHROPOSPELEOLOGY
-
[See Current Sociology 7.5.]
- 40 : ANTHROPOSPELEOLOGY - GENERAL
-
- 41 : ARCHAEOLOGY AND PREHISTORICAL AND HISTORICAL
CULTURES
-
- 410 : ARCHEOLOGY - GENERAL AND WORLD
- Without regional connection.
- 411 : ARCHEOLOGY - EUROPE
-
- 412 : ARCHEOLOGY - AMERICA
-
- 413 : ARCHEOLOGY - ASIA
-
- 414 : ARCHEOLOGY - AFRICA
-
- 415 : ARCHEOLOGY - AUSTRALASIA, OCEANIA
-
- 42 : HISTORY OF SPELEOLOGY
-
- 43 : PERSONALIA
-
- 44 : ARCHEOLOGY - VARIA
-
- 45 : ORGANISATIONS
-
- 49 : ARCHEOLOGY - OTHER
-
[ Main menu ]
- 5 : PALEONTOSPELEOLOGY
-
- 50 : PALEONTOSPELEOLOGY - GENERAL
-
- 51 : FOSSIL AND SUBFOSSIL FAUNA AND FLORA
(QUATERNARY)
-
- 510 : PALEONTOSPELEOLOGY - GENERAL AND WORLD
- Without regional connection.
- 511 : PALEONTOSPELEOLOGY - EUROPE
-
- 512 : PALEONTOSPELEOLOGY - AMERICA
-
- 513 : PALEONTOSPELEOLOGY - ASIA
-
- 514 : PALEONTOSPELEOLOGY - AFRICA
-
- 515 : PALEONTOSPELEOLOGY - AUSTRALASIA, OCEANIA
-
- 52 : PALEONTOSPELEOLOGY - VARIA
-
- 59 : PALEONTOSPELEOLOGY - OTHER
-
[ Main menu ]
- 6 : APPLIED SPELEOLOGY
- Without geographical connection, or of general interest.
[Cave and karst management fields could belong in any or several of the
sub-categories as appropriate.]
- 60 : APPLIED SPELEOLOGY - GENERAL
-
- 61 : ENVIRONMENT, HYGIENE
- Environmental integrity. Catchment management. Drinking waters.
Pollution. Water purification.
- 62 : MINES, ENGINEERING
- Use of artificial and natural cavities, poljes and dolines; Hydraulic
power; Irrigation; Erosion control; Flood mitigation; Collapse control;
Saltpetre production. Urban, drain and mine speleology.
- 63 : LAW, PROTECTION
- Legislation. Preservation. Vandalism. Access restrictions. Ownership.
Liability. Land-use zoning.
[See Ethics 7.6]
- 64 : RECREATION, TOURISM, GEOSYSTEM
- Experiential use of caves. Show caves and their management. Adventure
caves. Sport caving. Parks. Biogeography, Demography, Planning,
Agriculture.
[See Mine & drain speleology 6.2]
- 65 : HEALTH
- Subterranean therapy. Role of karst in public health.
- 66 : RESEARCH MANAGEMENT
- Subterranean laboratories. Museums. Research centres. Organisational
arrangements.
- 67 : APPLIED SPELEOLOGY - VARIA
- Collectables (Philately, Badges, Postcards, Wine labels, etc)
- 68 : PRODUCTION
- Silviculture. Cheesemaking. Mushroom growing. Wine making.
[See Agriculture 6.4]
- 69 : APPLIED SPELEOLOGY - OTHER
-
[ Main menu ]
- 7 : TECHNICAL SPELEOLOGY
-
- 70 : TECHNICAL SPELEOLOGY - GENERAL
-
- 71 : EXPLORATION
- Techniques and materials. Personal equipment. Explosives. Logistics.
- 72 : DIVING
- Techniques and material.
[See Accidents 7.4]
- 73 : PROSPECTING
- Geophysical, chemical, and mathematical methods. Photogrammetry. Remote
sensing.
[See Water tracing 1.1.2]
- 74 : ACCIDENTS AND RESCUE
- Techniques and material including diving accidents. Accident reports
and analysis. Rescue exercises.
[See Warnings 2]
- 75 : MEDICINE
- Human physiology and psychology. Sociology. Food, nutrition.
- 76 : EDUCATION
- Caving schools. Training. Ethics. Teaching.
- 77 : ACTIVITIES
- International Congresses. UIS.
[See Regional societies 2]
- 79 : TECHNICAL SPELEOLOGY - OTHER
-
[ Main menu ]
- 8 : DOCUMENTARY SPELEOLOGY
- Techniques and materials. General catalogues and repositories.
[Regional descriptions, lists, databases, maps, films, etc should be
primarily classified under 2]
- 80 : DOCUMENTATION - GENERAL
-
- 81 : TOPOGRAPHY
- B: Techniques and material. F: Spatial measurement and representation
of subterranean, topographical and geomorphological environments.
- 810 : TOPOGRAPHY - GENERAL
-
[F: All locational fields should be classified here]
- 811 : SURVEYING
-
- 812 : CARTOGRAPHY
- Mapping. Computer programmes for survey data reduction and mapping.
[See Maps and map lists 2]
- 813 : GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
- Computer-produced representation and analysis of combined spatial and
descriptive data.
- 814 : COMPUTER REPRESENTATIONS. VIRTUAL REALITY.
- Subterranean, topographic and geomorphological images and
representations which exist solely in a computer system.
- 815 : SOLID MODELS
-
- 816 : DIMENSIONS
- Dimensioning methods.
[See Lists of longest and deepest, etc 2]
- 82 : TOPONYMY, TERMINOLOGY, TAXONOMY
- Naming practices. Glossaries. Multi-lingual terminology lists.
Classification systems.
[See Identification systems 8.7]
- 83 : BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Techniques and materials.
[See General bibliographies 8.3.1. Regional, scientific or technical
bibliographies should be classified under their region, 2, or topic.]
- 830 : BIBLIOGRAPHY - GENERAL
-
- 831 : BIBLIOGRAPHIES
- General bibliographies, reference lists and abstracts, e.g. BBS.
Indexes to publications.
[See Brief overviews 8.3.4]
- 832 : CATALOGUES
- Lists of non-textual items which cannot be classified under a more
specific topic.
- 833 : LIBRARIES
-
- 834 : SPELEOLOGICAL PUBLICATIONS
- Lists of serials. Overviews.
- 839 : BIBLIOGRAPHY - OTHER
-
- 84 : PHOTOGRAPHY AND CINEMATOGRAPHY. AUDIO-
VISUALS.
- Techniques and materials.
[Photographic and audio-visual works should be primarily classified under
their respective region, 2, or topic.]
- 840 : PHOTO AND CINE - GENERAL
-
- 841 : PHOTOGRAPHY
-
- 842 : FILM AND AUDIO-VISUAL DEVICES
-
- 85 : GENERAL WORKS
- Speleological books. Popular works. Magazine articles.
- 86 : INVENTORIES. DATABASES. REPOSITORIES
- Techniques and materials.
[Regional scientific or technical lists, databases or repositories should
be primarily classified under their region, 2, or topic.]
- 860 : DATABASES - GENERAL
-
- 861 : DATA COLLECTING
- Techniques for collecting and recording field information.
- 862 : DATA STORAGE
- Filing systems. Data attributes. Data structures. Cross-referencing.
Storage media.
- 863 : DATA ANALYSIS. REPORTING
- Techniques for analysis, reporting, publishing.
- 864 : DATA TRANSFER
- Techniques and formats.
- 865 : DATA SECURITY
- Techniques for protecting data. Rules for release of data.
- 866 : DATA QUALITY
- Accuracy. Lineage. Age. Completeness. Logical consistency.
[F: Fields specifying the author or producer of work should be classified
here.]
- 87 : IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS
- Techniques for systematic identification of individual caves, karst
features, maps, etc.
[See Classification (as opposed to Identification) 8.2]
- 89 : DOCUMENTATION - OTHER
-
[ Main menu ]
- 9 : OTHER
- Classifications not covered elsewhere.