On the origin and significance of basal notches or footcaves in karst terrains

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)



Description :
In the humid tropics, footcaves and swamp slots are associated with surface and shallow groundwaters charged with chemicals and biota. The indents developed around the bases of widely separated karst towers are responsible for their conversion from cupolas or domical residuals. Even in mature tower karst landscapes, some arcuate footcaves are shaped by laterally corrading streams in flood that have transported and deposited exotic debris. Such corrasion is, however, particularly widespread in youthful karst where valley floors are narrow. Here, footcaves not only may have been initiated, but also occasionally maintained, enhanced, and modified by migrating streams, as well as by scarp-foot weathering and sapping. Microorganisms that colonize moist walls of footcaves may also have contributed.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Physical geography, issn : 0272-3646, 2011, vol. 32, n°. 3, p. 195-216, nombre de pages : 22, Références bibliographiques : 4 p.

Date :
2011

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Abingdon, Taylor and Francis