1. Karst Topography and The Water Cycle
March 23, 2015

2. Karst = refers to limestone
Topography = the shape of the land’s surface.
Karst Topography = land feature involving limestone

3. Sculpting Limestone
Dissolution: Limestone dissolves easily in slightly acidic water.

4. Dissolution of Limestone
1) Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
dissolves into Rainwater.
Forms Carbonic Acid (weak acid)
CO2 + H2O H2CO3
2) Calcium Carbonate (limestone) dissolves into Calcium Bicarbonate
CaCO3 + CO2 + H2O  Ca(HCO3)2

5. CaCO3 + CO2 + H2O  Ca(HCO3)2

6. Karst Topography Bluffs and Outcrops Depression Marshes and Ponds
Water-filled Caves and Tunnels *
Terrestrial Caves *
Sinks *
Rocklands *
Springs *

7. Water on Earth
Oceans/Salt Water: 97.25%
Freshwater: 2.75%

8. Freshwater on Earth: 2.75% Glaciers: ~2.00%
Groundwater: Aquifers, soils: ~ 0.70%
Atmospheric water: ~0.04%
Surface water: Lakes, ponds, rivers: ~0.01%

9. Water Cycle

10. Terms Surface water: Water on surface of land, rivers, lakes, ponds
Groundwater: water seeps into soil and open bedrock

11. Precipitation: Snow, Rain Condensation
Water vapor cools in the atmosphere to form liquid water droplets suspended as clouds
Precipitation:
When saturated water falls to Earth’s surface by Gravity

12. Transpiration: Evaporation:
Plants release water taken up from soil back into the air as water vapor
Evaporation:
Water changes form from liquid to gas as heats.
water vapor released from lakes, rivers, oceans into atmosphere.
Clouds from Transpiration over Amazon

13. Water Cycle