Question

Identify the following steps in the development of a karst landscape by dragging them to the correct targets. A. Caves form below water table. Water- table. b. Water table sinks; new caves form. c ) New caves get bigger d. Old caves empty; speleothems Sinkhole grow e. Caves collapse; karst landscape develops.

Answer 1

The development of a karst landscape involves the formation of caves below the water table, the sinking of the water table causing the formation of new caves, the growth of the new caves, the emptying of old caves and the growth of speleothems, and finally, the collapse of the caves resulting in a karst landscape.

Step-by-step explanation:

The development of a karst landscape involves several steps.

1. Caves form below water table: This occurs when groundwater containing atmospheric CO₂ dissolves limestone over thousands of years.
2. Water table sinks; new caves form: As the water table sinks, new caves are formed through the same dissolution process.
3. New caves get bigger: Over time, the new caves grow larger as more limestone is dissolved.
4. Old caves empty; speleothems grow: Old caves empty as water evaporates, leaving behind speleothems such as stalactites and stalagmites.
5. Caves collapse; karst landscape develops: Eventually, the caves collapse, leading to the development of a karst landscape.

Answer 2

The development of a karst landscape involves the dissolution of limestone to form caves, the decoration of these caves with speleothems as the water table drops, and eventually, the surface landscape's transformation due to cave collapse.

Step-by-step explanation:

The development of a karst landscape is a complex geological process that occurs over thousands of years. The formation of a karst landscape begins with the dissolution of limestone due to acidic water creating microscopic cracks. Over time, these cracks expand to form caves. As the water table changes, new caves can form at lower levels. These caves then grow in size as more limestone is dissolved.

When a cave's water table drops, it leaves an air-filled space allowing for the growth of speleothems, such as stalactites and stalagmites, which form from the deposition of calcium carbonate. Eventually, some caves may collapse, leading to the creation of distinctive karst landscapes on the surface, characterized by sinkholes, towers, and other unique landforms. The entire sequence represents a natural cycle of erosion, deposition, and tectonic activity.

A karst landscape's unique features, such as the steep limestone pinnacles of the Stone Forest in Yunnan Province, China, result from the same processes that produce caves and their speleothems.