Natural and induced sinkholes of the Obruk Plateau and Karap?nar-Hotam?? Plain,Turkey |
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| Authors: | U?ur Do?an Mutlu Y?lmaz |
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| Institution: | 1. Pamukkale University, Engineering Faculty, Department of Geological Engineering, K?n?kl? Campus, 20017 Denizli, Turkey;2. Department of Earth Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA;3. Middle East Technical University, Department of Geological Engineering, Tectonic Research Unit, TR-06531, Ankara, Turkey;1. Institute of Geography, Faculty of Science, Pavol Jozef ?afárik University in Ko?ice, Jesenná 5, 04001 Ko?ice, Slovak Republic;2. Department of Physical Geography and Geoecology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, 842 15, Slovak Republic;2. Member of the teaching staff of the International Doctoral School of Karstology – University of Novi Gorici, Nova Gorica, Slovenia;1. CNR-IMAA, Hydrogeosite Laboratory, Italy;2. University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy |
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| Abstract: | The number of sinkholes (locally known as obruks) has increased rapidly in recent years near Karap?nar, located in the semi-arid Konya Closed Basin in Central Anatolia. Nineteen sinkholes have formed in the last 33 years (1977–2009) as a result of the collapse of cavity roofs in the Neogene lacustrine limestone in the Obruk Plateau and beneath Quaternary lake sediments in the Karap?nar-Hotam?? Plain. Of these, 13 have formed within the past 4 years (2006–2009). The Obruk Plateau takes its name from the presence of several hundred paleo-sinkholes which formed as a result of natural processes during the Quaternary period. More recently, human activity has induced the formation of new sinkholes, which presents a hazard to life and property. Changing agricultural patterns have led to the opening of thousands of deep wells in recent years, and increased water pumping currently exceeds the sustainable yield of the aquifer. Thus the formation of sinkholes has been triggered by a combination of natural and human causes. The groundwater level has dropped almost 24 m in the vicinity of Karap?nar during the last 26 years (1983–2008). Approximately 8 m of this drop occurred within the 4 years prior to the study (2005–2008). Legally-binding precautions must be taken to prevent further water table decline, in order to decrease sinkhole formation within the basin in the years to come. |
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