Knowra Sinkhole Sinkhole A depression in the ground formed when the surface subsides or collapses, commonly as water dissolves soluble rock or underground cavities lose support.
Karst : Landscape shaped by the dissolution of soluble rocks, with features such as caves, springs, and sinkholes. Sinkholes are characteristic surface features of landscapes shaped by underground dissolution.
Limestone : A sedimentary rock composed mainly of calcium carbonate, often formed from accumulated biological material. Limestone dissolves in weakly acidic water and commonly underlies sinkhole terrain.
Sinkhole hazard mapping : The assessment and mapping of areas where sinkholes are likely to form or cause damage. Mapping combines geology and groundwater conditions to identify vulnerable locations.
Winter Park sinkhole : A large sinkhole that opened in Winter Park, Florida, in 1981 and damaged homes and a public swimming pool. This sudden Florida collapse illustrates the scale of urban damage sinkholes can cause.
Dissolution : The process by which a solid dissolves into a liquid, often through chemical reactions. Groundwater dissolves soluble rock and can gradually create space beneath the surface.
Dolomite : A carbonate mineral and sedimentary rock composed chiefly of calcium magnesium carbonate. Dolomite can dissolve to form karst terrain and sinkholes, though often more slowly than limestone.
Electrical resistivity tomography : A geophysical method that infers subsurface structure by measuring electrical resistance across the ground. It can help locate cavities and disturbed ground before visible collapse.
Guatemala City sinkhole : A deep, nearly cylindrical ground collapse that formed in Guatemala City in 2010. Its striking form drew attention to collapses linked to urban drainage and eroded ground.
Cover-collapse sinkhole : A sinkhole formed when soil overlying a cavity collapses abruptly into it. This subtype explains sudden, dramatic collapses where soil spans an underground void.
Carbonic acid : A weak acid formed when carbon dioxide dissolves in water. It helps groundwater dissolve carbonate rocks that underlie many sinkholes.
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