The need for recognition and implementation of a sinkhole-floodplain hazard designation in urban karst terrains

Soluble rock terrains pose increased flood hazards because of a demographic shift from the upper Middle West and metropolitan Northeast to the “Sun Belt.” Approximately one-half of the soluble rock terrains in the continental United States occur in the Sun Belt. Urbanization of karst terrains generally increases the frequency and magnitude of sinkhole flooding and the probability of collapse. Soil erosion attendant with urbanization results in silt deposition in depressions, reducing sinkhole runoff storage capacity and regolith hydraulic conductivity. A new flood-hazard designation termed the sinkhole flood-plain is advocated for use by federal mortgage agencies in karst terrains so that sinkhole-related flooding can be minimized. A four-phase methodology for assessing sinkhole flood hazards in a rapidly urbanizing karst terrain is developed, using examples from central Tennessee and southern Kentucky.     

Evolution of major environmental geological problems in karst areas of Southwestern China

Karst terrains are generally regarded as a fragile and vulnerable environment. China’s karst is mainly developed in pre-Triassic, old-phase, hard, compact carbonate rock. The lack of soil cover in bare karst land can enhance desertification. Its underground drainage system can aggravate both drought and flooding problems; the interconnected surface and subsurface conditions allow for easy contamination by pollutants. Moreover, karst terrains quite often suffer from a series of engineering problems, such as water infiltrating into mines or transportation tunnels, leakage from reservoirs, and failure of building foundations. As resources and energy exploitation intensified in recent years, karst areas in Southwest China faced some severe geo environmental problems. In order to find out how the problems action and evolution in recent years, field and laboratory investigations were conducted in Guangxi autonomous region, Guizhou, Yunnan, Guangdong, Hunan, Hubei provinces, and Chongqing municipality. About 100 experts from the Provincial Geological Survey and graduate students took part in this project. Several symposiums were held during those 3 years. Besides the in situ survey, data were collected from hydrogeological survey results since 2000 when the new round of land resources investigation began. After analyzing these data, rock desertification, drought and flooding, and contamination and engineering geological environmental problems were considered the most prevalent problems in karst areas in Southwestern China. The status of each problem is elaborated upon in this paper and should be considered for future sustainable development.     

Geomorphic aspects of groundwater flow

 The many roles that groundwater plays in landscape evolution are becoming more widely appreciated. In this overview, three major categories of groundwater processes and resulting landforms are considered: (1) Dissolution creates various karst geometries, mainly in carbonate rocks, in response to conditions of recharge, geologic setting, lithology, and groundwater circulation. Denudation and cave formation rates can be estimated from kinetic and hydraulic parameters. (2) Groundwater weathering generates regoliths of residual alteration products at weathering fronts, and subsequent exhumation exposes corestones, flared slopes, balanced rocks, domed inselbergs, and etchplains of regional importance. Groundwater relocation of dissolved salts creates duricrusts of various compositions, which become landforms. (3) Soil and rock erosion by groundwater processes include piping, seepage erosion, and sapping, important agents in slope retreat and headward gully migration. Thresholds and limits are important in many chemical and mechanical groundwater actions. A quantitative, morphometric approach to groundwater landforms and processes is exemplified by selected studies in carbonate and clastic terrains of ancient and recent origins. Received, May 1998 · Revised, September 1998 · Accepted, October 1998     

Karst flash flooding in a Mediterranean karst, the example of Fontaine de Nîmes

Karst flash flooding, identified as one of the hazards in karst terrains, is directly linked to the structure and hydraulic properties of karst aquifers. Due to the characteristics of flow within karst aquifers, characterized by a dual flow – diffuse flow within fissured limestone and conduit flow within karst conduits networks – flash flooding may be important in volume and dynamics. Such phenomenon may cause serious damages including loss of lives, as it occurred on 3rd October 1988 in Nîmes (Gard, South France). Flash floods there have been considered to be the result of very intensive rainfall events conjugated to runoff due to the geomorphologic context of the city located down hill. However, preliminary results of recent studies of the hydrologic behaviour of groundwater and surface water for a specific event (September 2005) show that the karst plays an important role in the flood genesis. The main characteristics of the Nîmes karst system leading to karst flash flooding are presented in this paper. A methodology comprising modelling of the karst system allowed proposing simple warning thresholds for various part of the karst (water level threshold for the karst conduits and cumulative rainfall threshold for the overflowing fissured karst). These thresholds can be included in the flash flood warning system of the Nîmes city.     

基于强溶蚀带特征的地基岩溶发育程度评价方法

岩溶发育程度评价结论不能合理反映地基实际的岩溶问题处理难度,是导致目前岩溶区建筑基础选型失误屡见不鲜的根本原因。本文以南宁市吴圩国际机场新航站楼为工程背景,分析了现有的岩溶发育程度评价指标的局限性,论证了以强溶蚀带厚度作为岩溶发育程度评价指标的先进合理性,提出了岩溶发育程度评价的建议标准,结果表明:基于地基溶蚀率深度分布曲线划分的地基强溶蚀带,综合考虑了地基的岩面溶蚀和洞隙发育的主要深度范围,其分布特征能反映岩溶地基最为复杂的深度范围,其作为场地岩溶发育程度评价指标是合理的,其岩溶发育程度评价标准建议如下:当强溶蚀带厚度（M）分别为:＜3.0 m,3.0 m≤M≤6.0 m,≥6.0 m时,场地岩溶发育程度可分别判定为岩溶弱发育、中等发育和强发育。      

The influence of karst features on environmental studies in Turkey

 The carbonate rocks of Turkey, which underlie about one third of the country, possess major water resources with great potential for electricity generation and water supplies. The ongoing development of karst features, especially in the southern part of Turkey, demonstrates specific environmental problems that occur in many karst water supply projects. Karst aquifers, springs, sinkholes, dolines, poljes and other karst features are of great importance from the standpoint of karst water resources and environmental research studies. In karst regions, conservation and protection of groundwater resources for both qualitative and quantitative evaluations is possible only when the catchment area is determined accurately. Since the catchment area in karst terrains is not limited by the surface drainage boundaries and the groundwater flows through well-developed coduits or fissures, the equations used in non-karstic areas cannot be applied to such karstic regions. Studies on the development of karst features and its environmental impacts in Turkey are of recent origin. Therefore, many unreliable methods are being applied in karstic areas. For example, the use of "shallow holes or sinkholes and fault zones" for septic water waste disposal or as sewage by those who are not familiar with karst, sometimes causes very serious problems of extensive groundwater pollution. This paper discusses the development of different karstic features in Turkey and case studies on its environmental impacts. Received: 27 December 1995 · Accepted: 10 July 1996     

Flash flood mitigation as a positive consequence of anthropogenic forcing on the groundwater resource in a karst catchment

The Mediterranean coastal region is prone to high-intensity rainfall events that are frequently associated with devastating flash floods. This paper discusses the role of a karst aquifer system in the flash floods of a Mediterranean river, the Lez river. Most of the Lez river watershed is located on karst terrains where interactions between surface water and groundwater take place. During extreme rainfall events, the presence of fractures and well-developed karst features in carbonate terrains enhances the infiltration processes and involves the concentration of the recharge into highly organized and permeable flow paths. The groundwater, therefore, quickly moves towards the natural outlets of the karst system. The influence of the Lez karst aquifer system on the associated river floods dynamics is analysed while considering the spatially distributed rainfall, as well as the time series of the groundwater level within the aquifer and of the Lez river discharge measured at various gauging stations. Special attention is given to the relative importance of the surface and underground processes involved in flash flood genesis. It is shown that the karst groundwater contributes to flash floods under certain conditions, while high-rate pumping within the karst aquifer, which generates significant drawdown, may mitigate flash floods under other conditions.     

A new approach in assessing recharge of highly karstified terrains–Montenegro case studies

The recharge of a karst aquifer, in terms of its quantity and spatial distribution, depends on various natural factors such as climate, topography, vegetation, soil, and geology. Selection of an adequate method for assessing recharge in karst is often a matter of dispute. Multi-parameter methods using Geographical information systems tools have recently been successfully developed and applied in karstic terrains of Spain and Lebanon. Specific local conditions such as highly karstified terrains could additionally complicate such an assessment. The Montenegro karstified terrains in the southern part of the External Dinarides are characterized by a very high precipitation rate, irregular seasonal distribution, and absence of surface waters (extremely high infiltration capacity of karst). Considering such conditions, an attempt to apply existing knowledge and experiences to the development of an appropriate multi-parameter method for assessing spatial distribution of autogenous recharge has been made. The KARSTLOP method has been developed, applied, and calibrated at catchments of several large karst springs of Montenegro. Obtained results in tested catchment areas confirm that with some further improvements the KARSTLOP method could be a useful tool to support research of karstic aquifers in similar highly karstified terrains.     

A time-distribution study of doline collapse: Framework for prediction

A temporal analysis of doline collapse on the Western Highland Rim (Tennessee) indicated one approach to estimating the probability of collapse in areas where the geologic and hydrologic criteria associated with collapse have been identified. The distribution of collapse was examined for trend, autocorrelation, and goodness of fit. The distribution of doline collapse during one 12-month period conformed to a Poisson distribution with a mean occurrence rate of λ=0.346 collapses per week and with the interoccurrence times being exponentially distributed (0.01 level). Although the proposed model is spatially and temporally restricted, it may provide an initial framework for estimating the probability of doline collapse in other karst terrains of similar geologic and hydrologic settings.     

中国火山岩地区金的成矿环境及分布规律

中国是一个火山岩广泛分布的国家，火山岩区的金矿不论其数量和储量在全国均占有重要地位，根据金和火山活动的关系，可划分出６种金矿类型，它们主要分布在６个火山岩区中，不同地区金的成矿作用各有其特色，总体可概括出７条成矿特征，这对于在我国广阔的火山岩区寻找金矿具有重要的指导意义。     

山区岩溶作用对土地利用方式的响应——以金佛山碧潭泉和水房泉两区岩溶系统为例

不同的土地利用方式可使土地理化性质产生一系列的变化和差异,从而影响到岩溶作用的方向和强度。通过野外溶蚀试片实验法,对金佛山典型岩溶区碧潭泉和水房泉两泉域岩溶生态系统的5种典型土地利用方式下的土壤溶蚀速率进行雨季短时间尺度变化的野外观测。2006年7月中旬开始,重庆地区罕遇43天高温无雨的特殊天气,测试结果表明不同土地利用方式甚至同一土地利用方式下不同海拔的岩溶区石灰岩试片溶蚀速率都存在较大差异,碧潭泉域雨季绝对溶蚀量仅为水房泉域的13.3%,6个测试点土下溶蚀量由大到小依次为水房泉竹林地、水房泉林地、水房泉草地、碧潭泉林地、碧潭泉灌草丛、碧潭泉耕地。在研究时间内降雨量、温度和土壤CaCO3含量差异的基础上,金佛山两泉域岩溶作用主要有两个控制因素:土壤CO2浓度、土壤有机质。     

中国南方岩溶石山地区不同岩溶类型的地下水与环境地质问题

依据碳酸盐岩的出露形式、岩性和层组类型、大地构造等,将南方岩溶环境系统划分为裸露型、埋藏型、覆盖型和断陷盆地型,其中裸露型又可分为连续型和间互型.简要叙述了连续性、间互型、埋藏型和覆盖型岩溶区的大地构造、岩性和岩层组合方面的特征,结合多个典型点最新的研究成果,重点介绍了连续型岩溶区的地表水缺乏、污染、内涝和石漠化问题,提出修建水窖、封山育林等措施缓解缺水和治理石漠化;同时介绍了间互型岩溶区的地表、地下水污染、缺水、石漠化问题,提出依托高位隔水层溶洼成库、寻找蓄水构造打井、封山育林等治理措施;最后介绍了埋藏型岩溶区的缺水、石漠化和塌陷问题,指出打井、恢复植被等治理措施.     

River–groundwater connectivity in a karst system,Wellington, New South Wales,Australia

The characterization of river–aquifer connectivity in karst environments is difficult due to the presence of conduits and caves. This work demonstrates how geophysical imaging combined with hydrogeological data can improve the conceptualization of surface-water and groundwater interactions in karst terrains. The objective of this study is to understand the association between the Bell River and karst-alluvial aquifer at Wellington, Australia. River and groundwater levels were continuously monitored, and electrical resistivity imaging and water quality surveys conducted. Two-dimensional resistivity imaging mapped the transition between the alluvium and karst. This is important for highlighting the proximity of the saturated alluvial sediments to the water-filled caves and conduits. In the unsaturated zone the resistivity imaging differentiated between air- and sediment-filled karst features, and in the saturated zone it mapped the location of possible water- and sediment-filled caves. Groundwater levels are dynamic and respond quickly to changes in the river stage, implying that there is a strong hydraulic connection, and that the river is losing and recharging the adjacent aquifer. Groundwater extractions (1,370 ML, megalitres, annually) from the alluvial aquifer can cause the groundwater level to fall by as much as 1.5 m in a year. However, when the Bell River flows after significant rainfall in the upper catchment, river-leakage rapidly recharges the alluvial and karst aquifers. This work demonstrates that in complex hydrogeological settings, the combined use of geophysical imaging, hydrograph analysis and geochemical measurements provide insights on the local karst hydrology and groundwater processes, which will enable better water-resource and karst management.     

Temperature-driven meltwater production and hydrochemical variations at a glaciated alpine karst aquifer: implication for the atmospheric CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> sink under global warming

About two hydrological years of continuous data of discharge, temperature, electrical conductivity and pH have been recorded at the Glarey spring in the Tsanfleuron glaciated karst area in the Swiss Alps, to understand how glaciated karst aquifer systems respond hydrochemically to diurnal and seasonal recharge variations, and how calcite dissolution by glacial meltwater contributes to the atmospheric CO₂ sink. A thermodynamic model was used to link the continuous data to monthly water quality data allowing the calculation of CO₂ partial pressures and calcite saturation indexes. The results show diurnal and seasonal hydrochemical variations controlled chiefly by air temperature, the latter influencing karst aquifer recharge by ice and snowmelt. Karst process-related atmospheric CO₂ sinks were more than four times higher in the melting season than those in the freezing season. This finding has implication for understanding the atmospheric CO₂ sink in glaciated carbonate rock terrains: the carbon sink will increase with increasing runoff caused by global warming, i.e., carbonate weathering provides a negative feedback for anthropogenic CO₂ release. However, this is a transient regulation effect that is most efficient when glacial meltwater production is highest, which in turn depends on the future climatic evolution.     

滨海岩溶区过渡带碳酸盐岩溶浊作用的试验研究

滨海岩溶具有内陆一般岩溶区不同的发育机理，其过渡带混合溶蚀作用是控制滨海岩溶发育的最主要因素之一。通过七组不同淡水与海水配比的混合溶蚀实验（封闭CO2－H2O系统），初步得出了过渡带混合溶蚀作用的基本结论：（1）滨海岩溶区过渡带岩溶发育的基本规律与内陆一般岩溶区岩溶发育规律的基本一致，即岩性，结构是控制滨海岩溶发育的最主要因素；（2）滨海岩溶区混合过渡带内碳酸盐岩的混合溶蚀速率大于纯淡水或纯海水中同种岩石的溶蚀速率；（3）在不同的CO2分压条件下，滨海岩溶区混合过渡带内碳酸盐岩的混合溶蚀机理不同。     

岩溶研究的当前任务

<正> 趁《中国岩溶》创刊之际,讨论一下我国岩溶研究的当前任务是合适的。 我国今后十年科学技术发展的方针,是要使科学技术走在生产建设的前面,并坚定不移地为经济建设服务,同时要稳定地逐步地发展基础理论。因此讨论岩溶研究的当前任务,必须根据我国岩溶地区经济建设中经常出现的问题,分析一下当前岩溶研究的实际状况,按照国家科学技术发展的方针,考虑在今后几年里,在岩溶研究的各个领域中,那些方面应该着      

An Experimental Study of Mixture Corrosion Effects of Carbonate Rocks in the Transitional Zone of Littoral Karst Areas

The mechanism for development of littoral karst differs from that of inland karst, and the mixture corrosion effects are one of the most important factors that control the development of littoral karst. Through seven groups of static experiments carried out in a closed CO2-H2O system, basic conclusions can be drawn as follows: (1) the basic law of corrosion process in a transitional zone of seawater-freshwater in littoral karst areas is identical with that in the fresh water, i.e., the lithologic characteristics and rock structure are the main factors which control the development of littoral karst; (2) the mixture corrosion rate of the carbonate rock in the above transitional zone is faster than that in fresh water or seawater; (3) the mechanism for development of carbonate rocks differs at various pressures of CO2 in a transitional zone in littoral karst areas.     

深切河谷附近岩溶地区打井找水模式

深切河谷附近岩溶地区地表水快速下渗,岩溶地下水深埋且集中径流,导致水资源匮乏,易成为较干旱缺水地区。同时在该类地区,受地表水构成的地下水排泄基准面控制,地下水水位埋深大,且以快速的管道流和裂隙流为主,储存空间分布和相互间连通性高度不均匀给打井找水带来了极大困难。发现下伏碎屑岩、逆断层和上覆碎屑岩均能将岩溶地下水和深切河谷地表水之间水力联系切断,导致局部富水,成为打井找水有利靶区。基于此3种类型,结合打井找水成功实例,将其归纳为3种打井找水模式：下伏碎屑岩隔水模式、逆断层阻水模式和上覆碎屑岩阻水模式,这些模式将对在深切河谷附近岩溶地区打井找水提供帮助。     

湘西地质公园岩溶峡谷群成因及其地学意义

湘西地质公园岩溶峡谷分布面积约1 162 km2,岩溶峡谷200多条,密如蜘网分布,是世界上最密集的岩溶峡谷群分布区。湘西岩溶峡谷形态上分为线型峡谷、“V”字型峡谷和箱型峡谷,其间分布岩溶台地和峰丛山地,岩溶峡谷两侧岩溶洞穴、瀑布和石柱发育,景观奇特壮观。相间分布的硅质碳酸盐岩和泥质碳酸盐岩、密集分布的地质构造及高角度节理裂隙、地块掀斜式抬升和强的岩溶水动力为岩溶峡谷群的发育提供了有利条件。岩溶峡谷群的形成经历了地质构造抬升、河流峡谷形成、岩溶峡谷发育三个阶段。与世界其他岩溶区峡谷对比,湘西岩溶峡谷群是世界地质公园中分布规模最大、峡谷最密集、岩溶发育最典型的岩溶峡谷区。湘西岩溶峡谷群不但具有重要的岩溶学研究和地质历史价值,而且具有重要的地质景观和地质文化意义。