1. Karst Processes and Landforms

2. Objectives
Discuss processes producing karst landscapes and influencing environmental factors
Analyze landscapes characterizing karst landscapes and describe their formation
Relate karst process to development of undeground cave systems

3. Introduction Through dissolution of rocks landscapes are formed
Karst is name for landscapes and landforms produced and processes causing them
Most karst landforms beneath ground
Limestone caves are examples

4. Karst Processes Rock must be soluble in water
Most karst develop in limestones
Limestone must be less than 20-30% other minerals
More porosity favors karst
Also in gypsum, dolomite, even sandstone

5. Role of Water and Climate
Karst forms slowly in dry climates, faster in humid one
Carbonation is important process
More CO2 in water favors dissolution

6. Relief Flat rocks slow underground drainage and karst development
High relief causes more rapid water movement
Deepening valleys lower water table causing varying levels of karst

7. Groundwater Karst forms large pathways for rapid groundwater flow
Dyes can trace water flow
Contaminants move quickly

8. Karst Landforms and Landscapes—Temperate Karst
Slower forming karst with:
Disappearing streams
Jagged rock masses
Solution depressions
Extensive cave networks

9. Karst Landforms and Landscapes—Tropical Karst
Rapidly forming karst characterized by:
Larger solution features
More vegetation cover
More organic acids and biogenic action
Steep sided hills

10. Karst Landforms and Landscapes—Caribbean Karst
Forms in few locations such as Florida
Hills feed water to flat lying limestones near sea level
Conduits form. Collapse form surface depressions

11. Disappearing Streams and Sinkholes
Streams disappear in swallow holes
Holes formed by dissolution along fault or joint
Solution sinkholes may be large and area may contain thousands
Collapse sinkholes form through collapse of roof
Include collapse and suffusion sink
Two or more sinkhole coming together form large depression called uvala

12. Karst Towers Cone-shaped, steep-sided hill
Main feature in tropical karst
Maybe 100s of meters tall
Form through lack of soil and vegetation cover on parts of limestone bedrock
Surrounding area lowered through dissolution

13. Karst and Caves Form through dissolution along joints/fractures
Consist of portal and termination
Cave network depends on stratigraphy, faulting, jointing
Large areas form chambers or rooms
Stalactites (hanging) and stalagmites (standing) form