SAJC Cluster 2.2 Lecture 13 Notes (Karst Landforms in the Humid Tropics)

St Andrew’s Junior College H2 Cluster 2: Tropical Environments H2 Cluster 2_Lecture 13_2025/pg1 Lecture 13 Karst Landforms in the Humid Tropics KEY QUESTION: ✓ What landforms can be found in the humid tropics? ✓ What factors influence the formation of karst landforms in the humid tropics? ✓ What is the importance of karst landforms in the humid tropics? With the completion of this lecture, attached readings and tutorial, you should be able to: • Identify the different karst landforms and describe their features • Discuss the role of geomorphic processes in the formation of karst landforms • Discuss the ecosystem services provided by karst landforms • Discuss the impact of human activities on ecosystem services provided by karst landforms Lecture Outline 13.1 Introduction 13.2 Global Distribution of Karst Landforms 13.3 Features of Karst Landforms 13.3.1 Cockpit Karsts 13.3.2 Tower Karsts 13.3.3 Caves 13.4 Role of Geomorphic Processes in the Formation of Karst Landforms 13.4.1 Role of Geomorphic Processes in the Formation of Cockpit Karst 13.4.2 Role of Geomorphic Processes in the Formation of Tower Karst 13.4.3 Role of Geomorphic Processes in the Formation of Caves 13.5 Factors Influencing the Formation of Karst Landforms 13.5.1 Climate 13.5.2 Vegetation 13.5.3 Rock Characteristics of Limestone 13.5.4 Tectonic Activity 13.5.5 Human Activities 13.6 Importance of Karst Landforms in the Humid Tropics 13.6.1 Ecosystem Services Provided by Karst Landforms (a) Provisioning Services (b) Regulating Services (c) Cultural Services (d) Supporting Services 13.6.2 Impact of Human Activities on Ecosystem Services Provided by Karst Landforms 13.7 Summary: Conditions Favouring the Development of Karst Landforms 13. 8 Conclusion

St Andrew’s Junior College H2 Cluster 2: Tropical Environments H2 Cluster 2_Lecture 13_2025/pg2 13.1 Introduction • In geomorphology (i.e. the study of characteristics, origins and development of landforms), karst landforms (see Fig. 1) are a set of landforms mostly developed in carbonate rocks due to their high solubility. Karst landforms therefore only develop in limestone under favourable conditions. Fig. 1 Different Karst Landforms • Characteristics of Limestone o Limestone is made up of calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate is insoluble in water; it is highly soluble in acid. o The concentration of calcium carbonate may vary from area to area. Limestone which has high concentration (80% or more) of calcium carbonate is highly susceptible to the processes of carbonation and solution (see Lect. 11). o Limestone is a permeable rock. It has lines