Karst and Caves of Great Britain

Waltham, A. C.; Simms, Michael J.; Farrant, A. R.; Goldie, H. S.; Palmer, David

doi:10.1007/978-94-009-0085-1

Cited by 45 publications

(38 citation statements)

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“…1) (Simms, 1998;Simms et al, 1996). A number of major cave systems (> 10 km of passages) have been explored in south-east Wales (Waltham et al, 1997) of which at least one, Agen Allwedd ( fig. 1), beneath the plateau of Mynydd Llangattwg, has been known as an important roost for the Lesser Horseshoe bats since at least its discovery more than 50 years ago.…”

Section: Cave Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1 and 2) is the most recent major cave discovery, being first entered in 1994. More than 70 km of passages have been explored to date over a vertical range of 148 m (Simms et al, 1996;Waltham et al, 1997). Ogof Draenen is located only 5 km to the south-east of Agen Allwedd, although separated from it by the deep valley of the River Clydach ( fig.…”

Section: Cave Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Iron age to medieval entomogamous vegetation and Rhinolophus hipposideros roost in South-Eastern Wales (UK)

Leroy

Simms

2006

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology

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Karst cave systems are well developed in Wales (UK) and, in some instances, constitute important bat roosts. Ogof Draenen, near Blaenavon in south-east Wales, is the most recent major cave discovery (1994) with already > 70 km of passages explored spanning a vertical range of 148 m. With the exception of one small chamber (Siambre Ddu) located directly above the main Ogof Draenen system, very few bats have been noticed inside. Extensive accumulations of guano, attributable to Rhinolophus hipposideros, are however found in parts of the Ogof Draenen system. In places covering many square meters and sometimes building heaps > 0.5 m thick, these represent volumes not yet found in any other cave system in the British Isles. Although the date of the abandonment of the main Ogof Draenen system as a bat roost remains unknown, six radiocarbon dates on guano from Ogof Draenen place the occupation in the Iron Age to Medieval period at least. Palynological analysis was undertaken on ten samples distributed through the cave. Comparisons were made with a moss polster and a lake mud sample from the area to provide a first approximation of the regional modern pollen rain and with two modern guano samples, one from Siambre Ddu and one from Agen Allwedd cave (5 km to the north-west) to provide a temporal comparison with the fossil guano. Agen Allwedd cave currently is one of the largest active roosts for Lesser Horseshoe bats in Britain and lies close to the present northern limit of this endangered species in Europe. The main results are that the cave appears to have been used both as a summer and a winter roost; most of the Ogof Draenen guano is formed within c.1600 14 C years and, if the largest heap is continuous, it has accumulated within 750 14 C years, i. e. 0.16 mm.year -1 ; the fossil guano samples reflect a relatively closed oak forest with more abundant ivy (Hedera) and holly (Ilex) than at present; insect-pollinated plants such as Ilex, Acer, Hedera and Impatiens glandulifera are overrepresented in the guano samples; in addition to the usual causes of bat roost decline (pesticides, pollution), in the case of Ogof Draenen, we may add entrance blocked by rock collapse and decline of the local forest cover as well as change in its composition.

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Section: Cave Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Cave Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Iron age to medieval entomogamous vegetation and Rhinolophus hipposideros roost in South-Eastern Wales (UK)

Leroy

Simms

2006

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology

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“…Karren (lapiez) belongs to minor forms of karst, due to the solution of rocks on its surface. These Karren create complexes of superfi cial micro-solutional features of soluble rocks (Waltham et al, 1997). Karren type relief is represented by linear forms, or, less frequently, oval ones (kamenitze).…”

Section: Micro-formsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Surface Karst Landforms of the Notranjska region (south-western Slovenia)

Gawor

Jonczy

2014

geotour

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The distribution and characteristics of surface karst landforms in the Notranjska region, exemplifi ed in the Cerknisica and Rak river catchment, is presented. The geomorphology of the examined area, with respect to on the micro-, meso-and macroforms division, is described. The course and dynamics of morphogenetic and geological processes are analyzed. A geotourist route linking the described landforms of surface karst is proposed.

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“…The past climatic history of the area also has a strong influence and the much of the British karst has been affected by glaciations, glacial and periglacial processes. Areas in the north of Great Britain have suffered several glaciations and surface karstic features have been eroded and modified forming a glaciokarst landscape (Waltham et al, 1997), while sub-glacial and marginal glacial environments have influenced subsurface karstification, especially in the gypsum of northern England (Waltham and Cooper, 1998). Areas in the south of Britain that have not been glaciated have been affected by long-term karstification, much of which has been in a periglacial environment.…”

Section: Soluble Rocks and Karst In Great Britainmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Limestones of Carboniferous age form most of the exposed Palaeozoic limestone in England and Wales, with the best-developed karst landscapes and the longest cave systems (Waltham et al, 1997). Karst features are widespread, particularly in the Yorkshire Dales and North Pennines with their extensive limestone pavements, caves, and resurgences; famous sites in these areas include Malham Cove, Gaping Gill and Hutton Roof Crags.…”

Section: Palaeozoic Limestonesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of karst geomorphology for planning, hazard avoidance and development in Great Britain

2011

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Within Great Britain five main types of karstic rocks -dolomite, limestone, chalk, gypsum and salt -are present. Each presents a different type and severity of karstic geohazard which are related to the rock solubility and geological setting. Typical karstic features associated with these rocks have been databased by the British Geological Survey (BGS) with records of sinkholes, cave entrances, stream sinks, resurgences and building damage; data for more than half of the country has been gathered. BGS has manipulated digital map data, for bedrock and superficial deposits, with digital elevation slope models, superficial deposit thickness models, the karst data and expertly interpreted areas, to generate a derived dataset assessing the likelihood of subsidence due to karst collapse. This dataset is informed and verified by the karst database and marketed as part of the BGS GeoSure suite. It is currently used by environmental regulators, the insurance and construction industries, and the BGS semi-automated enquiry system. The database and derived datasets can be further combined and manipulated using GIS to provide other datasets that deal with specific problems. Sustainable drainage systems, some of which use soak-aways into the ground, are being encouraged in Great Britain, but in karst areas they can cause ground stability problems. Similarly, open loop ground source heat or cooling pump systems may induce subsidence if installed in certain types of karstic environments such as in chalk with overlying sand deposits. Groundwater abstraction also has the potential to trigger subsidence in karst areas. GIS manipulation of the karst information is allowing Great Britain to be zoned into areas suitable, or unsuitable, for such uses; it has the potential to become part of a suite of planning management tools for local and National Government to assess the long term sustainable use of the ground.

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Karst and Caves of Great Britain

Cited by 45 publications

References 0 publications

Iron age to medieval entomogamous vegetation and Rhinolophus hipposideros roost in South-Eastern Wales (UK)

Iron age to medieval entomogamous vegetation and Rhinolophus hipposideros roost in South-Eastern Wales (UK)

Surface Karst Landforms of the Notranjska region (south-western Slovenia)

The use of karst geomorphology for planning, hazard avoidance and development in Great Britain

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