Karst Topography and The Water Cycle
March 23, 2015
• Karst = refers to limestone• Topography = the shape of the land’s surface. • Karst Topography = land feature involving
limestone
Sculpting Limestone
• Dissolution: Limestone dissolves easily in slightly acidic water.
Dissolution of Limestone1) Atmospheric Carbon Dioxidedissolves into Rainwater.
Forms Carbonic Acid (weak acid) CO2 + H2O H2CO3
2) Calcium Carbonate (limestone) dissolves into Calcium Bicarbonate
CaCO3 + CO2 + H2O Ca(HCO3)2
Karst Topography
1. Bluffs and Outcrops2. Depression Marshes and Ponds3. Water-filled Caves and Tunnels *4. Terrestrial Caves *5. Sinks *6. Rocklands *7. Springs *
Water on Earth• Oceans/Salt Water: 97.25% • Freshwater: 2.75%
Freshwater on Earth: 2.75%• Glaciers: ~2.00%• Groundwater: Aquifers, soils: ~ 0.70%• Atmospheric water: ~0.04%• Surface water: Lakes, ponds, rivers: ~0.01%
Water Cycle
Terms
• Surface water: Water on surface of land, rivers, lakes, ponds
• Groundwater: water seeps into soil and open bedrock
Precipitation: Snow, RainCondensation
• 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
• Transpiration: – 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
Water Cycle