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Karst Landscapes (i) Name one example of a karst landscape - Leaving Cert Geography - Question 3B - 2018
Question 3B
Karst Landscapes (i) Name one example of a karst landscape. (ii) Explain, with the aid of a diagram, how one surface feature in a karst landscape was formed. (iii... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Karst Landscapes (i) Name one example of a karst landscape - Leaving Cert Geography - Question 3B - 2018
Step 1
Step 2
Explain, with the aid of a diagram, how one surface feature in a karst landscape was formed.
Answer
One surface feature in a karst landscape is a sinkhole.
- Formation Process: Sinkholes form when rainwater, which is slightly acidic due to dissolved carbon dioxide, percolates through the soil and rocks.
- Erosion and Dissolution: The acidic water dissolves the limestone, creating voids over time.
- Collapse: When the void becomes too large to support the surface layer, it collapses, creating a sinkhole.
A diagram can illustrate this process, showing the layers of rock and the movement of water.
Step 3
Explain, with the aid of a diagram, how one underground feature in a karst landscape was formed.
Answer
One underground feature in a karst landscape is a cave.
- Water Infiltration: Rainwater enters the ground and absorbs carbon dioxide, forming a weak carbonic acid.
- Dissolution of Limestone: As this acidic water seeps through cracks in the limestone, it gradually dissolves the rock, enlarging the cracks into tunnels.
- Cave Formation: Over thousands of years, these tunnels extend and develop into caves, often featuring stalactites and stalagmites due to mineral deposits.
A diagram can show the cross-section of a cave system and the features within it.
