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

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