Rapid karstification process with evaporite-driven sinkholes in Southern Kohat Basin, NW Pakistan
Abstract Sinkholes are small karstic features in soluble rocks that play an essential role in karstification and cause severe environmental hazards. The Karak region of the Himalaya foothills showcases one of the best exposures of karstification landforms, given their highly soluble nature and salt...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | npj Natural Hazards |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44304-025-00061-y |
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| author | Said Mukhtar Ahmad Teng Wang Saad Khan Muhammad Waqar Azeem Lv Fu |
| author_facet | Said Mukhtar Ahmad Teng Wang Saad Khan Muhammad Waqar Azeem Lv Fu |
| author_sort | Said Mukhtar Ahmad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Sinkholes are small karstic features in soluble rocks that play an essential role in karstification and cause severe environmental hazards. The Karak region of the Himalaya foothills showcases one of the best exposures of karstification landforms, given their highly soluble nature and salt dissolution activities. The well-developed sinkholes are unique worldwide, yet have not been investigated. Here, we apply Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), resistivity profiles, and field observations to study the karstification process in this region. InSAR detects numerous localized subsiding zones reflecting rates up to 29 mm/year from 2014 to 2023. Resistivity profiles and field observations catalog them as cover collapse, bedrock collapse, and bedrock sagging sinkholes, carrying distinctive evaporite-driven dissolution features controlled by faulting activity. The results enhance our understanding of the linkages between sinkhole development, subsidence, and subsurface structures, emphasizing the need for comprehensive planning to mitigate future hazards in this less-representative yet populated region. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f330deb5f7f14ef39bb18292a0e2912f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2948-2100 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Natural Hazards |
| spelling | doaj-art-f330deb5f7f14ef39bb18292a0e2912f2025-02-02T12:09:25ZengNature Portfolionpj Natural Hazards2948-21002025-01-012111010.1038/s44304-025-00061-yRapid karstification process with evaporite-driven sinkholes in Southern Kohat Basin, NW PakistanSaid Mukhtar Ahmad0Teng Wang1Saad Khan2Muhammad Waqar Azeem3Lv Fu4School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking UniversitySchool of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking UniversityNational Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of PeshawarSchool of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking UniversitySchool of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking UniversityAbstract Sinkholes are small karstic features in soluble rocks that play an essential role in karstification and cause severe environmental hazards. The Karak region of the Himalaya foothills showcases one of the best exposures of karstification landforms, given their highly soluble nature and salt dissolution activities. The well-developed sinkholes are unique worldwide, yet have not been investigated. Here, we apply Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), resistivity profiles, and field observations to study the karstification process in this region. InSAR detects numerous localized subsiding zones reflecting rates up to 29 mm/year from 2014 to 2023. Resistivity profiles and field observations catalog them as cover collapse, bedrock collapse, and bedrock sagging sinkholes, carrying distinctive evaporite-driven dissolution features controlled by faulting activity. The results enhance our understanding of the linkages between sinkhole development, subsidence, and subsurface structures, emphasizing the need for comprehensive planning to mitigate future hazards in this less-representative yet populated region.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44304-025-00061-y |
| spellingShingle | Said Mukhtar Ahmad Teng Wang Saad Khan Muhammad Waqar Azeem Lv Fu Rapid karstification process with evaporite-driven sinkholes in Southern Kohat Basin, NW Pakistan npj Natural Hazards |
| title | Rapid karstification process with evaporite-driven sinkholes in Southern Kohat Basin, NW Pakistan |
| title_full | Rapid karstification process with evaporite-driven sinkholes in Southern Kohat Basin, NW Pakistan |
| title_fullStr | Rapid karstification process with evaporite-driven sinkholes in Southern Kohat Basin, NW Pakistan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rapid karstification process with evaporite-driven sinkholes in Southern Kohat Basin, NW Pakistan |
| title_short | Rapid karstification process with evaporite-driven sinkholes in Southern Kohat Basin, NW Pakistan |
| title_sort | rapid karstification process with evaporite driven sinkholes in southern kohat basin nw pakistan |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44304-025-00061-y |
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