Internal Pressure Sculpting and Speleogenesis in Autogenic Karst

Author

Bryan Booth

Files

Publication Date

July 2013

Publication Title

Journal of Earth Science and Engineering

Volume Number

3

Abstract

Understanding the ongoing speleogenic processes that produce sinkholes and control the vital drinking water supplies of Florida and much else of the world is necessary research. This article (and the associated poster presentation) discusses theoretical processes that may act in addition to mass dissolution kinetics in producing voids, conduits and caves in autogenic karst landforms. Possible theoretical factors that affect these speleogenic processes are: microscopic mixing corrosion (low constant flow, low constant flow against current, temperature-induced mixing corrosion, and pressure-induced mixing corrosion in karst matrix), random dissolution models, simulation of gravity-induced microscopic breakdown, and storm surge effects. Finally, a theoretical model is discussed that unifies these various microscopic processes into a macro-scale process, called internal pressure sculpting. Computer models were designed to illustrate these theoretical processes: (1) Non-calibrated computer models simulating each process discussed in this paper are presented for illustration, (2) as well as the preliminary results of calibrated models depicting random dissolution, mechanical breakdown, and storm surge effects. The theoretical processes discussed and simulated may have major effects on cave morphology. Computer simulations appear to accurately portray the shape and form of some cave features with dissolutional morphologies. Theoretical discussion concludes with a general discussion of possible improvements to the presented models as well as the ability to generalize theoretical processes to hypogenic, halogenic, and autogenic speleogenesis.

Keywords

Cave development in limestone, Mixing corrosion, Karst, Computer modeling, Solutional widening rate, Speleogenesis

Document Type

Article

Language

English

Identifier

K26-01794

Recommended Citation

Booth, Bryan, "Internal Pressure Sculpting and Speleogenesis in Autogenic Karst" (2013). KIP Articles. 2751.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/kip_articles/2751