Copyright Information: All images are in the public domain and available for free. If you use this image, credit NOAA/NGDC, A.S. Navory. |
Sinkholes, although not classified as landslides, are another form of ground subsidence that can happen catastrophically. This sinkhole occurred in 1981, in the time span of one day. (The City of Winter Park later stabilized and sealed the sinkhole, converting it into an urban lake.) This form of subsidence occurs when carbonate layers that lie below the surface dissolve. When the weight of the overlying ground becomes too great, or the dissolved area too large, the surface collapses. These features occur in karst topography. Karst topography is common in Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee, and also occurs in many other places around the world. Image Credit: A.S. Navory. The slopes above streams and rivers are subjected to a variety of processes that cause them to recede and retreat from the river or stream channel. These processes, collectively called mass wasting, can be classified according to rapidity of movement and according to the type of materials that are transported. |
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