What Is a Sinkhole and Where Are They Found? P.1
Sinkholes
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………………………P.1
Definition…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..P.1
Synonyms…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..P.1
What is a sinkhole and where are they found? ...... P.1
What are the conditions necessary for the formation of a sinkhole? ...... P.1
How do we prepare for sinkhole? ……………………………………………………………………………..P.1-2
How might the frequency of sinkholes change in the future? …………………………………..P.2
Systems Analysis…………………………………………………………………………………………………….....P.2
Are there any sinkholes in Australia if so when and how? ...... P.3
Why would people choose to live in a sinkhole prone zone? ...... P.3
Glossary………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………P.4
Bibliography………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..P.4
Introduction
This text will explain a basic understanding of a sinkholes what sinkholes are, how they are formed, how the frequency of sinkholes could change in the future, how we prepare for sinkholes, if there are sinkholes in Australia and why people would choose to live in a sinkhole prone zone along with diagrams and pictures to help you understand sinkholes.
Definition
A hole formed in soluble rock by the action of water, serving to conduct surface water to an a underground passage
Synonyms
Crater, Basin, Void, Sinkage, Concavity, Indentation
What is a sink hole and where are they found?
A sinkhole is a whole in the ground formed when the land on top of a cave collapses in on itself. Unlike a high percentage of natural disasters which rely on the movement of a tectonic plate, sinkholes do not, they actually rely on rain water which acts as a trigger to the catastrophe. Sinkholes can be indirectly in influenced by man. Some Sinkholes can create a 662 metre hole in the ground.
What conditions are necessary for the formation of a sinkhole?
The conditions necessary for the formation of a sinkhole are (limestone, gypsum and dolomite), vegetation decomposed in soil above soluble rock, mass on ground and a source of water
Sinkholes occur when rain has fallen on to soil with decomposed vegetation in it which then makes the rain water acidic when going through the soil it reaches soluble rock it will have the ability to dissolve the soluble rock and create cavity underneath the soil then it will collapse in on itself because of the weight on the land.
How do we prepare for sinkholes?
It is extremely difficult to identify a sinkhole is going to occur because it is very hard to go all around the world looking for holes in the ground because it will be very time consuming so humans aren’t doing much about it. Though there are some warning signs that will help understand if there is one coming:
- Small holes appearing in the ground
- Cracks occurring near the structures foundation
- Check with the county officers to see if the land is on top of limestone or soluble rock
Fortunately, the chances of dying in a sinkhole are approximately 500 million to one. It’s more common to die from fireworks (340,733 to one) then a sinkhole though in Florida, United States chances of sinkholes occurring are slightly higher.
We identified areas that have soluble rock. 13% of the world is covered in soluble rock and if there is limestone there, there is a high chance a sinkhole is going to occur.
How might the frequency of Sinkholes change in the future?
Sinkholes are becoming more often year by year this is due to the fact that we a getting more and more infrastructure in highly populated cities. When it rains, the rain does not fall in one spot, it is spread out over land. When we influence it, all of the water is falling in one small area.
In 2010 a city in Guatemala, North America. Suffered a massive sinkhole killing 15 people. It was caused when a pipe was leaking and sent the water all to one spot and then as result of took down a three story building.
The more our infrastructure grows the more common sinkholes will get.
Systems Analysis
Without weight on land this would still occur but it will take longer if you change anything else nothing will work. There is no natural disaster like this one.
Are there any Sinkholes in Australia if so how and when?
On the 2nd of August a sinkhole occurred in Queensland but it wasn’t because of usually reasons it was because of a mine underneath collapsing a house and a broken pipe creating a pool of water. This is a case where sinkholes are indirectly influenced by man. This is an unlikely event in Queensland because there is no soluble rock in Queensland. The sinkhole had a diameter of 15 metres and a depth of 2 metres.
Luckily no one was injured during this event.
This event was influenced by man but there have been cases where sinkholes have occurred from natural causes. In Australia there is two spots where there is limestone one in south-east SA and in the NT where they have occurred from natural causes. A massive one occurred on April 7 2014 at 8:00pm.
Why would people choose to live in a sink holes zone?
Florida is a beautiful city maybe one of the best places to live but anywhere in Florida the foundation is soluble rock so at any point the ground could collapse. Florida has the highest sinkhole risk out of any other place in the world. And even in a sinkhole zone the chance of dying is approximately 500 million to one. Though again, in Florida your chances of dying are slightly higher.
Conclusion
This text explained what sinkholes are, how they are formed, how the frequency of sinkholes could change in the future, how we prepare for sinkholes, if there are sinkholes in Australia and why people would choose to live in a sinkhole prone zone.
Glossary
Soluble Rock- Rock capable of being dissolved eg. Limestone
Infrastructure- buildings, railways, power lines or pipes
Acidic- having the properties of an acid
Decomposed- decayed or rotted
Natural Disasters- a natural event that causes great damage or loss of life
Catastrophe-an event causing damage and suffering
Tectonic Plates-the two sub-layers of the earth’s crust that move, float, and sometimes fracture
Bibliography