Karst Region (The Burren)

Question 1

What process exposes the limestone

Answer 1

Glaciation

Question 2

What is karst

Answer 2

Limestone

Question 3

What is it called when Landforms above and below the surface are created

Answer 3

Karstification

Question 4

Name 2 other Karst regions internationally

Answer 4

Slovenia and Dalmatian coast Croatia

Question 5

What does the formula H2CO3 mean for carbonic acid

Answer 5

It means its weak

Question 6

How does the rainwater become more acidic

Answer 6

It moves through soil becoming more acidic from dead plant roots etc

Question 7

What 3 conditions must be present for a karst to exist

Answer 7

Weak limestone, Limestone cannot be under water and lots of rainfall

Question 8

What 4 surface features are present in a karst

Answer 8

Clints, Swallow holes, Dolines and Turloughs

Question 9

What 2 underground features are present in a karst

Answer 9

Caves, Dripstone features

Question 10

What are Grikes

Answer 10

Vertical joints or cracks (30cm wide and 100cm deep)

Question 11

How are grikes formed

Answer 11

Formed when water widens the joints in the limestone

Question 12

What are clints

Answer 12

Blocks or limestone between the grikes

Question 13

Where in the Burren is limestone pavement found

Answer 13

Black Head

Question 14

What % of the Burren does limestone pavement make up

Answer 14

20%

Question 15

What are Karrens

Answer 15

Small depressions found on clints

Question 16

How are karrens created

Answer 16

Acidic water collecting in them

Question 17

How does fluting develop

Answer 17

Water from a Karen runs off the clint into a grike, creating a funnel

Question 18

How are Swallow Holes formed

Answer 18

Carbonation and Gravity

Question 19

What speeds up the process of Swallow Holes

Answer 19

Hydraulic action and Abrasion

Question 20

What is the name of a river that goes underground due to acidic water

Answer 20

Dry Valley

Question 21

Where can Swallow Holes be found

Answer 21

Poul na gColm in Co.Clare

Question 22

What are Turloughs

Answer 22

Temporary seasonal lakes that occur in a limestone landscape

Question 23

When are Turloughs visible

Answer 23

During winter when water level rises

Question 24

Where are Turloughs common

Answer 24

East Galway and North Clare

Question 25

What is ground water

Answer 25

Water held underground (Aquifer)

Question 26

What are Dolines

Answer 26

Closed depressions or swallow holes

Question 27

What lengths can Dolines come in

Answer 27

10-1000m in diameter and 2-150m in depth

Question 28

How to Dolines develop

Answer 28

When a joint widens or the roof of an underground cave collapses

Question 29

What are 2 or more Dolines joined together called

Answer 29

Uvala

Question 30

Where are Dolines found in the Burren

Answer 30

Aillwee Hill

Question 31

What is a dry valley

Answer 31

a river that has no river flowing through it

Question 32

How are dry valleys created

Answer 32

When the river is swallowed by a swallow hole

Question 33

What is another name for a dry valley

Answer 33

emergent river

Question 34

how are caves and caverns created

Answer 34

When surface rivers flow underground and enlarge the underground joints through carbonation

Question 35

Where are caves/caverns formed

Answer 35

Below or under the water table

Question 36

Where are caves/caverns seen

Answer 36

Dunmore caves

Question 37

What are the 3 dripstone features

Answer 37

Stalagmites, stalactites and pillars

Question 38

what are Stalagmites, stalactites and pillars known as collectively

Answer 38

Speleothem

Question 39

How do Stalagmites develop

Answer 39

drops of water fall onto the floor of caves building up small domes

Question 40

What shape do Stalagmites have

Answer 40

Shapeless because of water splashing

Question 41

How do pillars form

Answer 41

When Stalagmites and stalactites join together

Question 42

How are stalactites formed

Answer 42

When calcite rings are left behind after water drops

Question 43

what are straw stalactites

Answer 43

Smaller stalactites that are hollow and grow several meters

Question 44

What are the 4 stages of Karst landscapes

Answer 44

Initial, Youthful, Mature and Old

Question 45

When does the Karst cycle begin

Answer 45

As soon as the carboniferous Limestone is uplifted from the sea

Question 46

When does the Karst cycle End

Answer 46

Once the Limestone has worn away