What is Karst Topography?
by ISA Board Certified Master Arborist Mitch Hoy, #MN-4814BT/TRAQ
Karst topography is a distinctive type of landscape characterized by the dissolution of soluble rocks, such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum, over geologic time scales. This process creates unique landforms and features, including sinkholes, caves, springs, disappearing streams, and underground drainage systems. Karst landscapes are commonly found in regions where soluble rock formations are present and are influenced by factors such as climate, hydrology, and geology. Here in the upper Midwest, the site of an ancient sea that deposited limestone formations over millions of years, karst is common- especially in forested regions.
Trees play an important role in the long-term shaping and development of karst landscapes through the processes of water infiltration, root growth, leaf litter, and canopy interception. Their presence directly influences the rate and scale of karst feature formation. Perhaps most critically, water that filters through recycling tree material on the forest floor becomes imbued with water-soluble carbonic acid. This acid dissolves limestone, creating the characteristic pocketed and tunneled rock formations. The limestone again deposits in caves through underwater streams, creating beautiful formations of stalagmites, stalactites, and flow-stone.
Karst topography is critical for aquifers where much of our drinking water comes from. Forest ecology is essential to the moisture cycling of our planet and has critical long-term effects to our health and well-being. Trees bring life!
Sources:
Ojakangas, Richard. Roadside Geology of Minnesota. Missoula, Montana: Mountain Press, 2009.
Meindl, George. Forest Ecology. University of Wisconsin Pressbooks. https://wisc.pb.unizin.org/forestecologyoer/
