Jom Landslide
Jom Landslide
Jom Landslide
Sinkhole in Bohol
A common emotion in many novels is wishing that the ground would open up and
swallow the person whole. While it makes for great literary drama, it can be terrifying the
same happens in real life. Imagine standing on solid ground one minute and tumbling
down a deep hole the other. That is a reality experienced by those who have fallen into
sinkholes. These holes open up suddenly, without any indications of what is to happen.
Understanding how such a hole can appear without any warning may seem difficult, but
in fact is quite simple.
Sinkholes are found all over the world. In the U.S., sinkholes are especially
common in Texas, Alabama, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Florida,
according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Causes of Sinkholes
Sinkholes can be natural or man made. Natural sinkholes occur due to erosion or
underground water. They start developing long time before it actually appears. The
ground beneath our feet is not as much of a solid structure as we think it is. The ground
is made from dirt, along with many rocks and minerals. There is water continually
seeping in between the mud, rocks and minerals, as it makes its way down to the ground
water reservoirs. As this happens, the water slowly erodes the rocks and minerals.
Sometimes the flow of water increases to a point when it washes away the underground
structure of the land. And when the structure becomes too weak to support the surface
of the earth, it collapses and opens up a hole. This is how sinkholes are formed.
Humans are also responsible for the formation of sinkholes. Activities like drilling,
mining, construction, broken water or drain pipes, improperly compacted soil after
excavation work or even heavy traffic can result in small to large sinkholes. Water from
broken pipe can penetrate through mud and rocks and erode the ground underneath and
cause sinkholes. Sometimes, heavy weight on soft soil can result in collapse of ground,
resulting in a sinkhole. Sinkholes can also form when the land surface is changed.
Areas that have a bedrock made of limestone, salt deposits or carbonate rock are
most susceptible to erosion and the formation of such holes. These rocks tend to erode
as acidic water passes through them. When rainwater passes through decaying plant
debris, it tend to become more acidic. Over a period of years, overlying sediments
collapse and a sinkhole develops. Sometimes the holes are small, measuring a few feet
wide and ten to fifteen feet deep. Others can be hundreds of miles wide and deep.
However, all of them can be dangerous for those that get caught in them. There are three
major kinds of sinkholes. Their formation is determined by the same geological
processes, barring a few differences.