UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA
Last Time
Arid Lands Topography
•
GY 301: Geomorphology
Arid vs. semiarid vs. desert (rainfall)
•
Arid topographic features
•
3 maps due tomorrow by 5 pm
Lecture 19:
Karst
Geomorphology
Classic Tower Karst; Guilin, China
Arid and Semi-Arid Regions
• Arid and semi-arid regions are distinguished on the basis of their
annual precipitation sums and include:
Cycle of Landform Development
• Initiated by tectonics: Normal Faulting resulting from
lateral extension of lithosphere
• Alluvial
Fans
• Playa Lakes
• Inselbergs
• Bajada
• Pediment
(Bajada)
(Inselbergs)
Today’s Lecture
Karst Geomorphology
Karst Geomorphology
•
What is karst?; Chemical considerations
•
Karst landforms (small to large scale)
•
Karst features on topographic maps
•
First described by Serbia Geographer Jovan Cvijić (1865–
1927)
http://www.karstdata.cn/uploads/Users/english%20version%20pictures/Jovan_Cvijic.jpg
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Karst Geomorphology
•
•
First described by Serbia Geographer Jovan Cvijić (1865–
1927)
Named after the Kras Plateau region bordering Italy and the
former Yugoslavia (now Serbia)
Karst Geomorphology
•
•
•
Karst Geomorphology
•
•
•
First described by Serbia Geographer Jovan Cvijić (1865–
1927)
Named after the Kras Plateau region bordering Italy and the
former Yugoslavia (now Serbia)
Distinctive landforms caused by dissolution of limestone by
water (surface and ground water)
First described by Serbia Geographer Jovan Cvijić (1865–
1927)
Named after the Kras Plateau region bordering Italy and the
former Yugoslavia (now Serbia)
Distinctive landforms caused by dissolution of limestone by
water (surface and ground water)
Chemical Considerations
•The relationship between PCO2
and Ca 2+/CO32- is non-linear
CaCO3 ←
→ Ca2+ + CO32Thrailkill (1968)
Karst Topography
Chemical Considerations
•
•The relationship between PCO2
and Ca 2+/CO32- is non-linear
Limestone dissolution
features are abundant and
diverse both at the
surface and underground
•Mixing any 2 waters that are
naturally saturated with Ca 2+ and
CO32- will result in a solution that
is undersaturated (e.g., dissolution
of CaCO3)
Thrailkill (1968)
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Karst Topography
•
Limestone dissolution
features are abundant and
diverse both at the
surface and underground
Karst Topography
Small Scale
•rillenkarren (karren)
•solution pits
•pavements
Karst Topography
•Like meandering rivers, the degree
of karstification can be related to
“age”
Karst Topography
Small Scale
•rillenkarren (karren)
•solution pits
•pavements
http://www.ux1.eiu.edu/~cfjps/1300/pits.jpg
Karst Topography
Small Scale
•rillenkarren (karren)
•solution pits
•pavements
Karst Topography
Large Scale
•caves
•sinkholes
•disappearing streams
•tower karst
http://www.wildasia.org/images/380/DB_DeerCave.jpg
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Karst Topography
Karst Topography
Large Scale
Large Scale
•caves
•sinkholes
•disappearing streams
•tower karst
•caves
•sinkholes
•disappearing streams
•tower karst
Stalactite
Stalagmite
Flowstone
http://www.devsys.co.uk/Album/Places%20of%20Interest/limestone%20caves.jpg
Karst Topography
Karst Topography
Large Scale
Large Scale
•caves
•sinkholes
•disappearing streams
•tower karst
•caves
•sinkholes
•disappearing streams
•tower karst
Karst Topography
Karst Topography
Large Scale
Large Scale
•caves
•sinkholes
•disappearing streams
•tower karst
•caves
•sinkholes
•disappearing streams
•tower karst
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Karst Topography
Karst Topography
Large Scale
Large Scale
•caves
•sinkholes
•disappearing streams
•tower karst
•caves
•sinkholes
•disappearing streams
•tower karst
Karst Topography
Karst Topography
Large Scale
Large Scale
•caves
•sinkholes
•disappearing streams
•tower karst
•caves
•sinkholes
•disappearing streams
•tower karst
Karst Topography
Karst Topography
Large Scale
Large Scale
•caves
•sinkholes
•disappearing streams
•tower karst
•caves
•sinkholes
•disappearing streams
•tower karst
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Karst Topography
Large Scale
Karst Features on Maps
Springs
•caves
•sinkholes
•disappearing streams
•tower karst
Karst Features on Maps
Karst Features on Maps
Artesian
Wells (free
flowing)
Disappearing streams
Karst Features on Maps
Caves
Karst Features on Maps
Sink holes
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Upcoming Stuff
Homework
Arid Lands Geomorphology (due Friday)
Next Lecture:
Groundwater and Hydrogeology (with apologies to Dr. Connors)
Friday’s Lab:
Map interpretation (karst/groundwater)
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