Final answer:
Tower karst is formed through a combination of weathering and erosion processes acting on soluble rock, such as limestone. It is characterized by tall, steep-sided towers or pinnacles. The erosion associated with tower karst is primarily caused by the dissolution of the rock by acidic groundwater.
Step-by-step explanation:
Tower karst is formed by a combination of weathering and erosion processes acting on certain types of soluble rocks, such as limestone. Tower karst is characterized by tall, steep-sided towers or pinnacles that have been shaped by the dissolution of the rock over millions of years. The erosion associated with tower karst is primarily caused by the dissolution of the rock by acidic groundwater.
In the process of tower karst formation, groundwater containing carbon dioxide dissolves the limestone in microscopic cracks, gradually enlarging them over thousands of years. Eventually, caves are formed. The groundwater that seeps into the caves deposits solid calcium carbonate, leading to the formation of stalactites hanging from the cave ceiling and stalagmites growing up from the cave floor.
Above ground, the same processes continue to shape the landscape, resulting in convoluted and tower-like formations. This type of erosion is primarily caused by the chemical dissolution of the soluble rock.