Sinkholes

Isabel Garcia

Sandra Garcia

What is a sinkhole?• A sinkhole is a hole in the ground

that forms when water dissolves surface rock. • Sinkholes are formed when a

landscape, where carbonate rock sits underneath the soil, is exposed to water. • Water collects in the cracks called

joints and into the carbonate rock.• As this happens the carbonate rock

is dissolved and is carried away, the joints widen until the ground above them becomes unstable and collapses.

SinkholeThere are two types of sinkholes:• Cover-collapsed

sinkholes- which develop quickly in a matter of hours and cause catastrophic damage.

• Cover-subsidence sinkholes- which form slowly over time with the ground gradually subsiding or deflating.

• These types of events can go unnoticed or undetected.

CenotesCenotes are underground caves in which the roof collapses exposing the underground cave water surface. Cenotes are very common in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.

Blue Holes

Blue holes are water filled sinkholes located in the ocean.

Where do sinkholes occur?

• Sinkholes are most common in what geologist call, karst terrain.• Karst terrain are regions where the type of rock below

the land surface can naturally be dissolved by underground water circulating through them.• 20% of our country is underlain by karst terrain.• Common states that sinkholes tend to occur are Florida, Alabama, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania. • Hillsbourough County in Florida is known as “sinkhole

alley”

How is life on Earth affected by sinkholes?

• Physical injuries• Water contamination• Sometimes even deadly

Guatemala Florida

Problems with Sinkholes

• Sinkholes can range in size and severity.• Contaminate water sources• Costly to people and

government• Example : State of Florida

Florida Senate Committee on Banking and insurance reported 24,671 claims of sinkhole damage between 2006-2010 costing totaled 1.4 billion dollars.

Problems with Sinkholes

Solutions for sinkholes

• People can check with county offices, local or state geological surveys, or the USGS.• Redirecting or blocking water • Treating underground

limestone• Avoiding construction on

wetlands• Sea water treatment facilities• Recycling gray water run-

offs.

• Many sinkholes are formed from human activity. Collapses can occur from: Old mines Leaky faucets When sewers give way Due to groundwater

pumping and construction

Aquifer systems