Understanding Risk: Karst Topography, Mine/Land Subsidence, Landslide

The state of Kentucky is vulnerable to various types of natural hazards. The hazards can be mitigated to mitigate the risk and prevent the state from suffering both physical and emotional damage, which may be severe in cases of loss of life. In addition, the state of Kentucky mitigation plan has identified thirteen hazards. However, we will focus on landslides and karst topography mine subsidence.

Karst is a form of the landscape formed through the dissolution of soluble rocks such as dolomite and limestone. Karst topography is a merger of a bumpy and rough ground surface, underground channels, as well as, caves. Sinkholes may be developed when adequate limestone is corroded from the underground. Consequently, the sinkhole can be destructive and cause immense damage since they are known to swallow structures, as well as, cars. Majority of Kentucky’s cities are constructed on karst topography, which may cause potential harm since the buildings have a high chance of collapsing creating sinkholes mine subsidence.

Mining activities are a common reason for the subsidence events and in regards to this, subsidence often occurs in the western and eastern cold field regions of the state. The lines of science are the movement of surfaces because of the collapsing of mining activities. Furthermore, this can lead to the destruction of structures ranging from structural to cosmetic landslip or landslide. These are geological events, which comprise of various ground movement like shallow debris flow, failure of slopes, and rock falls deep. Moreover, many other contributing elements affect the original slope constancy. Generally, the pre-conditional aspects accumulate particular subsurface situations, which make the slope and area susceptible to catastrophe whereas the real landslide regularly needs a trigger prior to being released.