Do You Live on Karst?

Sep 10, 2014

Do You Live on Karst?                
 
Because springs are characteristic, from ancient times people have preferentially settled on karst.
This is beautifully illustrated by the map above (from the PA Geologic Survey) showing population centers in southeastern PA (black polygons) overlain on the distribution of karstic rocks (beige).  Look for the little red dot in the center of Lancster... that is Franklin & Marshall College - we are dead in the center of one of the largest expanses of karst in the East.
Do you live on a karst aquifer?  Use this map from the Houston Advanced Research Center to find out.
                
And if you live on karst, you should definitely donate!
Thank you.
PS  Tomorrow, I will pose this question/challenge to our European visitors, please check back for other regions of the world - they are coming...

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About This Project

How does alpine groundwater get from mountaintops to valley springs?

Franklin & Marshall College

In the Alps, there are karst areas where plentiful precipitation soaks right in. This water flows through underground passages to important springs in the valleys below. Except for a few caves, these groundwater conduits are un-mapped. We are testing remote sensing methods for locating them. This will aid land use and water withdrawal planning to protect this critical resource from threats posed by (e.g.) increased development and climate change.