the analysis of cave dripwaters and cave calcite deposits with gis resources

The Analysis of Cave Dripwaters The Analysis of Cave Dripwaters and Cave Calcite Deposits with GIS and Cave Calcite Deposits with GIS

ResourcesResources

Central Texas Cave ProjectCentral Texas Cave Project

Central Texas Cave ProjectCentral Texas Cave Project

Constituents of Concern Include:Constituents of Concern Include:

Central Texas Cave ProjectCentral Texas Cave Project

Constituents of Concern Include:Constituents of Concern Include:

Driprates of Cave DripwatersDriprates of Cave Dripwaters

Pic of Dripping stalagtite

Central Texas Cave ProjectCentral Texas Cave Project

Constituents of Concern Include:Constituents of Concern Include:

Calcite GrowthCalcite Growth

Central Texas Cave ProjectCentral Texas Cave Project

Constituents of Concern Include:Constituents of Concern Include:

Dripwater GeochemistryDripwater Geochemistry

Central Texas Cave ProjectCentral Texas Cave Project

Constituents of Concern Include:Constituents of Concern Include:

Dripwater GeochemistryDripwater Geochemistry

pHpH ConductivityConductivity Major IonsMajor Ions Isotopic Compositions Isotopic Compositions

(Oxygen, Deuterium, Carbon)(Oxygen, Deuterium, Carbon) AlkalinityAlkalinity

What affects the geochemistry of these What affects the geochemistry of these waters? What affects the rates of calcite waters? What affects the rates of calcite growth? growth?

Project ObjectivesProject Objectives

1)1) PrecipitationPrecipitation

2)2) Overlying SoilsOverlying Soils

3)3) Land CoverLand Cover

Use GIS to determine:

Study AreaStudy Area

Caverns of Sonora Caverns of Sonora

Natural Bridge CavernsNatural Bridge Caverns

Innerspace CavernsInnerspace Caverns

Project ObjectivesProject Objectives

1)1) PrecipitationPrecipitation

2)2) Overlying SoilsOverlying Soils

3)3) Land CoverLand Cover

Use GIS to determine:

Texas Average Annual Texas Average Annual PrecipitationPrecipitation

Source: Texas Water Development Board

Central Texas Average Annual Central Texas Average Annual PrecipitationPrecipitation

Source: Texas Water Development Board

Central Texas Average Annual Central Texas Average Annual PrecipitationPrecipitation

Caverns of Sonora lies Caverns of Sonora lies within within 20-22 inches20-22 inches per per yearyear

Source: Texas Water Development Board

Central Texas Average Annual Central Texas Average Annual PrecipitationPrecipitation

Caverns of Sonora lies Caverns of Sonora lies within within 20-22 inches20-22 inches per per yearyear

Natural Bridge Caverns Natural Bridge Caverns and Innerspace Caverns lie and Innerspace Caverns lie within within 30-35 inches30-35 inches per per yearyear

Source: Texas Water Development Board

Are differences in precipitation Are differences in precipitation evident in cave driprates?evident in cave driprates?

DripratesDriprates

Caverns of Sonora has Caverns of Sonora has average driprates average driprates much smaller than much smaller than Innerspace Caverns Innerspace Caverns and Natural Bridge and Natural Bridge CavernsCaverns

Are differences in precipitation Are differences in precipitation evident in cave calcite growth?evident in cave calcite growth?

Calcite Precipitation Calcite Precipitation

Caverns of Sonora isn’t Caverns of Sonora isn’t

growing much calcite!growing much calcite!

Project ObjectivesProject Objectives

1)1) PrecipitationPrecipitation

2)2) Overlying SoilsOverlying Soils

3)3) Land CoverLand Cover

Use GIS to determine:

Are differences in soil type above Are differences in soil type above each cave evident in cave each cave evident in cave dripwater geochemistry?dripwater geochemistry?

Source: Statsgo Soil Database

Caverns of Sonora- MUID TX544

Natural Bridge Caverns- MUID TX105

Innerspace Caverns- MUID TX153

Source: Statsgo Soil Database

Natural Bridge Caverns

Innerspace Caverns

Caverns Of Sonora

Source: Statsgo Soil Database

Project ObjectivesProject Objectives

1)1) PrecipitationPrecipitation

2)2) Overlying SoilsOverlying Soils

3)3) Land CoverLand Cover

Use GIS to determine:

How do differences in land cover How do differences in land cover change the geochemistry of the change the geochemistry of the

cave dripwaters?cave dripwaters?

Source: NLCD 1992 Land Cover Dataset

Caverns of SonoraCaverns of SonoraInnerspace CavernsInnerspace Caverns

Natural Bridge CavernsNatural Bridge Caverns

Source: NLCD 1992 Land Cover Dataset

ConclusionsConclusions

GIS is a useful tool for delineating spatial GIS is a useful tool for delineating spatial heterogeneity over land surfacesheterogeneity over land surfaces

GIS is useful in bringing together many GIS is useful in bringing together many different parameters in which relationships different parameters in which relationships may existmay exist

Future WorkFuture Work

Determine other factors (fractures, Determine other factors (fractures, bedrock, evapotranspiration) that may be bedrock, evapotranspiration) that may be influencing the different chemical influencing the different chemical constituents that are analyzed in the cavesconstituents that are analyzed in the caves

Use tracking analyst to determine driprate Use tracking analyst to determine driprate and geochemical response to rainfall and geochemical response to rainfall eventsevents