A conceptual model of epikarst processes across sites, seasons, and storm events

Tobin, Benjamin W.; Polk, Jason; Arpin, Sarah M.; Shelley, Adam; Taylor, C. James

doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.125692

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Microplastics have recently been identified in karst systems, but little is known of their sources, fate and impacts (Balestra & Bellopede, 2022; Panno et al., 2019). Predicting contaminant transport pathways is complicated by mixing of fast and slow flow paths, reflecting a need for an improved understanding of flow components and storage (Tobin et al., 2021). Furthermore, karst systems are more vulnerable to changing climate regimes, which increase or decrease precipitation inputs, and may require special protection measures such as larger stormwater control structures (Veni et al., 2001).…”

Section: Exploring the Carbonate Endmembermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Interpretation of speleothem records within caves, which are an important source of paleoclimate information, requires substantial understanding of carbonate CZ processes, as signals recorded in speleothems are first filtered through the upper portion of the CZ (Fairchild et al., 2006; Fohlmeister et al., 2020). Consequently, studies of cave drip water have provided substantial insight into carbonate CZ dynamics (e.g., Tobin et al., 2021; Treble et al., 2022). Because of rapid mineral dissolution processes within, and subsurface fluxes through, the carbonate CZ, carbonate CZ systems may act as a bellwether for CZ responses to climatic and human perturbations (Sullivan et al., 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Carbonates in the Critical Zone

et al. 2023

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Earth's Critical Zone (CZ), the near‐surface layer where rock is weathered and landscapes co‐evolve with life, is profoundly influenced by the type of underlying bedrock. Previous studies employing the CZ framework have focused primarily on landscapes dominated by silicate rocks. However, carbonate rocks crop out on approximately 15% of Earth's ice‐free continental surface and provide important water resources and ecosystem services to ∼1.2 billion people. Unlike silicates, carbonate minerals weather congruently and have high solubilities and rapid dissolution kinetics, enabling the development of large, interconnected pore spaces and preferential flow paths that restructure the CZ. Here we review the state of knowledge of the carbonate CZ, exploring parameters that produce contrasts in the CZ in different carbonate settings and identifying important open questions about carbonate CZ processes. We introduce the concept of a carbonate‐silicate CZ spectrum and examine whether current conceptual models of the CZ, such as the conveyor model, can be applied to carbonate landscapes. We argue that, to advance beyond site‐specific understanding and develop a more general conceptual framework for the role of carbonates in the CZ, we need integrative studies spanning both the carbonate‐silicate spectrum and a range of carbonate settings.

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Section: Exploring the Carbonate Endmembermentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbonates in the Critical Zone

et al. 2023

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“…Soil may play an important role in the formation and functioning of karst features. In karst terrain and features, soil thickness and physical properties, such as bulk density, texture, and structure, may influence infiltration and thus the hydrologic functioning of karst features (Tobin et al, 2021). The thickness of soil overlying limestone bedrock can impact the rates of dissolution in these systems, with an intermediate soil cover of approximately 1.5 m corresponding to the maximum observed weathering rates (Dong et al, 2018).…”

Section: Core Ideasmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Due to the heterogeneity in karst terrains, their global prevalence, and their importance for water resources and other ecosystem services, there is a need to better understand how soils and pedogenesis are altered in karst terrains (Ford and Williams, 2007; Andriani and Parise, 2017; Green et al., 2019; Radcliff et al., 2021). Further, previous soil–landscape descriptions of karst features have largely been focused on tropical regions (Sedov et al., 2008; Cabadas‐Báez et al., 2010; Silva et al., 2017; Maranhão et al., 2020) or in northern boreal forests (Smirnova and Gennadiev, 2011, 2012, 2017), with less emphasis on temperate ecosystems, even while the influence of soils on karstic processes is gaining greater recognition (Tobin et al., 2021). For these reasons, we investigated changes in bulk soil physical, chemical, and mineralogical properties within two karst features in the Inner Bluegrass region of central Kentucky.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Topographic gradients of soil physical, chemical, and mineralogical properties in central Kentucky sinkholes

McGraw

Ramsey

Obura

et al. 2022

Soil Science Soc of Amer J

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An estimated 20% of the world's land surface is underlain by lithologies favorable for karst formation. Karst features (e.g., sinkholes) and soils coevolve, likely influencing local pedogenesis, soil carbon storage, and hydrologic patterns. While karst is widespread, our understanding of the influence of karst geomorphology on pedogenesis remains limited. To better estimate the impact of karst geomorphology on pedogenesis, we characterized nine pedons as a function of landscape position (i.e., toposequence) in two subsidence sinkholes located in the Inner Bluegrass physiographic region of central Kentucky; we characterized a suite of soil physical, chemical, and mineralogical properties. The Inner Bluegrass is underlain by a phosphatic limestone and is susceptible to karst formation. Expectedly, total carbon was greater in lowland positions relative to upland landscape positions. However, inverse relationships between elevation and clay content, selective iron, aluminum, and silicon extracts contradicted previous toposequence trends. Clay mineralogy differences between toeslope and summit positions suggested sediment transport from summit to toeslope positions. Karst geomorphology may limit pedogenesis and facilitate more rapid material export through karst conduits compared to other lithologies. Given the extent of karst terrains and lithologies susceptible to karst formation, future work is needed to understand the magnitude of the impact of karst on pedogenesis and other earth system processes. INTRODUCTIONKarst topography is complex; the rapid dissolution of carbonates leads to unique landscape features such as disappearing streams, abundant springs, extensive cave systems, lack of surface drainage, and sinkholes (Ford and Williams, 2007;Palmer, 2007). Karst hydrology is highly interconnected with rapid flowpaths that connect the soil surface to deeper groundwater (Chen et al.,

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“…This includes the soil and the epikarst, which is the superficial weathered rock. Tobin et al (2021) developed a conceptual model of the hydrological processes occurring at two different epikarst zones based on the study of its hydraulic and hydrochemical responses to different storm events. Precipitation amount, intensity, and seasonality were the main factors impacting the outflow response for both independent sites in this study.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimating karst groundwater recharge from soil moisture observations – A new method tested at the Swabian Alb, Southwest Germany

Berthelin

Olarinoye

Rinderer

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Abstract. Understanding groundwater recharge processes is important for sustainable water resource management. Experimental approaches to study recharge in karst areas often focus on analysing the aquifer response using a disintegration of its outlet signals, but only a few directly investigate the recharge processes that occur at the surface of the system. Soil moisture measurements have a high potential to investigate water infiltration to deeper soil depth or epikarst with an easy and not too intrusive installation. They can yield long-term measurements with high temporal resolution. Using these advantages, we developed and tested a method to estimate recharge based on soil moisture measurements. The method consists of the extraction of linked events in rainfall-, soil moisture and discharge time series and a subsequent fitting of the parameters of a simple drainage model to calculate karst recharge from soil moisture metrics of individual events. The fitted parameters could be interpreted in physically meaningful terms and were related to the properties of the karstic system. The model was tested and validated in a karst catchment located in Southwest Germany with hourly precipitation, soil moisture, and discharge data of eight years duration. The soil moisture measurements were distributed among grassland (n = 8) and woodland areas (n = 7) at 20 cm depth. A threshold of about 35 % (±8 %) of volumetric water content was necessary to initiate effective infiltration. Soil moisture averaged during the wetting period of each event was the best metric for the prediction of recharge. The model performed reasonably well estimating recharge during single rainfall events. It was also capable to simulate 88 % of the average annual recharge volume despite considerable differences in the performance between years. The event-based approach is potentially applicable to other karstic systems where soil moisture and precipitation measurements are available to predict karst groundwater recharge.

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A conceptual model of epikarst processes across sites, seasons, and storm events

Cited by 9 publications

References 26 publications

Carbonates in the Critical Zone

Carbonates in the Critical Zone

Topographic gradients of soil physical, chemical, and mineralogical properties in central Kentucky sinkholes

Estimating karst groundwater recharge from soil moisture observations – A new method tested at the Swabian Alb, Southwest Germany

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A conceptual model of epikarst processes across sites, seasons, and storm events

Cited by 9 publications

References 26 publications

Carbonates in the Critical Zone

Carbonates in the Critical Zone

Topographic gradients of soil physical, chemical, and mineralogical properties in central Kentucky sinkholes

Estimating karst groundwater recharge from soil moisture observations &ndash; A new method tested at the Swabian Alb, Southwest Germany

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Estimating karst groundwater recharge from soil moisture observations – A new method tested at the Swabian Alb, Southwest Germany