Sinkholes

Sinkholes in United States

1. Sinkholes Isabel Garcia Sandra Garcia

2. 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.

3. Sinkhole There 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.

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

5. Blue Holes Blue holes are water filled sinkholes located in the ocean.

6. 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”

7. How is life on Earth affected by sinkholes? Physical injuries Water contamination Sometimes even deadly Guatemala Florida

8. 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 .

9. Problems with Sinkholes

10. 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