Date of Graduation

Summer 2012

Degree

Master of Science in Geospatial Sciences

Department

Geography, Geology, and Planning

Committee Chair

Douglas Gouzie

Abstract

Springfield, Missouri, sits atop the Springfield Plateau aquifer which consists of thinly mantled carbonate and siliceous rock. In Springfield the uppermost exposed unit is the Burlington Limestone, a horizontal carbonate layer which is susceptible to karst formation, including caves and sinkholes. The region within and around Springfield is therefore prone to karst engineering hazards and groundwater contamination. This study is within the Ward Branch Watershed near the James River Freeway/South Campbell interchange, in Springfield, Missouri. Karst features in this study area, such as springs, caves, and sinkholes, were investigated to better understand the overall karst geology. Multiple methods were applied. Dye tracing, both qualitative and quantitative, were used to characterize groundwater flow paths and conduit geometry between sinkholes and springs. Near-surface geophysical methods, specifically electrical resistivity, produced high resolution imagery of karst features at each site. Geospatial analysis was used for visualizing geospatial relationships. Information from all methods was visualized with geospatial analysis and provides relationships between karst features and fractures. Incorporating multiple research methods resulted in a better understanding of local karst behavior.

Keywords

karst, spring, sinkhole, geophysics, dye trace

Subject Categories

Geology | Geophysics and Seismology | Hydrology

Copyright

© James Lundstrom Berglund

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