KENTUCKY KARST
Figure 2A - Bedrock - collapse sinkholes form gradually over time with the gradual collapse of a cave passage at depth. Over time, collapse propagates up through the overlying rock causing subsidence at the surface.
Figure 2B - If the cave collapse extends into rocks that are not themselves prone to dis- solution, a caprock sinkhole is formed.
whether this type of collapse is a fre- quent occurrence, one that poses a major geohazard where large cave systems exist, as in Bowling Green, Kentucky. To determine the occurrence and dis- tribution of bedrock collapse sinkholes, relationships to known cave passages were established. Other factors, such as overburden, structural geology, drain- age and land use were used to assess risk areas in the Bowling Green area. Methods used to analyze, interpret and assess risk included the use of remote- sensing, GIS, cave data, and maps.
This research will aid in a better understanding of bedrock collapse sink- holes in Bowling Green by providing a hazard map that depicts areas of weak- ness and likely collapse. The methodol- ogy being developed will be applicable to the study of sinkholes1 as a geohazard in the Commonwealth of Kentucky as well as other locations where sinkholes are prominent.
Study Area
More than 30 km of cave passages lie beneath several major cities of Warren County whose cumulative population is approximately 113,792. While only encompassing roughly 7% of Warren
Figure 4 - Large cave collapse sinkholes have changed the course of Lost River Cave. Although much of the Lost River Cave system is not easily accessible – making it hard to survey the full extent of the system – sinkhole collapses and known locations have aided in a depiction of much of the Lost River Cave system. Documentation of the system is largely done by the Kentucky Speleological Survey (KSS) and the Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS).
County, the city of Bowling Green holds nearly 52% of the county’s population and some of the greatest expanses of cave passages (Figure 3).
The Lost River Cave System drains much of the landscape around Bowling Green proper. Bedrock collapse sink-
holes occurring in the Bowling Green area are largely related to the under- lying Lost River Cave System and its associated cave passages. Lost River Cave System has five natural entrances and contains approximately 11 kilome- ters of mapped cave passage (Figure
1. This report is a condensed version of a Senior Thesis that may be obtained from the author at
bittiny.moore00@
gmail.com.
Figure 3 - Warren County has several areas of development, including cities. Based on the underlying geology, karst features have been able to form throughout most of the county.
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