Relict drainage effects on distribution and morphometry of karst depressions: a case study from central Taurus

[摘要] Karst depressions and relict valleys, formed as a result of the combination of karst and fluvial processes, are characteristiclandforms of the Taurus karst region in Turkey. Development of these two landforms is interrelated, and themain aim of this study is to explain the role of paleovalley networks on morphometric properties of the depressions.For this purpose, in this study, spatial distribution of karst depressions and relict valleys, and morphometric propertiesof depressions are investigated on the Ermenek Plateau based on 1:25,000-scaled, topographic maps. About 10,000karst depressions are mapped, 49.5 % and 50.5 % of them being located in and out of relict valleys, respectively.According to morphometric calculations, there are significant differences in dimensional properties of the two groupsof depressions. Mean area, perimeter, short and long axes of relict valley depressions are 2.6, 1.6, 1.6 and 1.4 timeslarger, respectively, than plateau depressions. Relict valley depressions and plateau depressions are elliptical- andcircular-shaped, respectively. Relict valley density has positive effect, while non-relict valley density has negative effect(limiting factor) on spatial distribution of depression density.

[学科分类] 地质学