Glossary of Karst and Cave Terms

Field, M.S., 1999, A lexicon of cave and karst terminology with special reference to environmental karst hydrology: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Center for Environmental Assessment, EPA/600/R-99/006, 201 p.

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Term	Description
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allogenic	Formed or generated elsewhere, usually at a distant place [1]. See also autogenic; recharge, allogenic; recharge, autogenic.		View
allogenic drainage	Underground karst drainage that is derived entirely from surface run-off that originates on adjacent non-karstic, generally impermeable, rocks. Also allochthonous ...		View
allogenic valley	A karst valley incised by a watercourse originating on impervious rock with a volume sufficient for it to traverse a ...		View
alluvial	Pertaining to or composed of alluvium or deposited by a stream or running water [6]. Also applies to material lining ...		View
alluvial apron	A fan-like plain from the deposition of glacial outwash [16].		View
alluvial channel	River or stream channel bed composed of unconsolidated alluvial material [16].		View
alluvial corrosion	Greater intensity of solution, caused by the passage of water through unconsolidated deposits rich in carbon dioxide, thus increasing aggressivity ...		View
alluvial fan	A fan-like deposit of detrital material from steep mountain slopes [16].		View
alluvial plain	A plain formed by the deposition of water borne sediments [16].		View
alluvial veneer	A very thin cover of water borne sediments [16].		View
alluvium	A general term for clay, silt, sand, gravel, or similar unconsolidated material deposited during comparatively recent geologic time by a ...		View
alpine karst	1. Karst formed at high latitude, or in polar regions regardless of altitude. 2. Almost synonymous with glaciokarst but restricted ...		View
alternative	Adjective used to designate an intake or resurgence operating only during rainy seasons; in some areas reversible; equivalent to intermittent. ...		View
alveolar	1. Consisting of a honeycomb shape [16]. 2. A specific erosional pattern resulting in a cellular structure [16]. See also ...		View
alveolization	(From the Latin word 'alveolatus,' meaning hollowed out.) Pitting of a rock surface produced by wind loaded with sand, by ...		View
ammeter	A meter used to measure the flow of water in a stream channel. Synonym: current meter [16].		View
amorphous silica	Silica with no definite crystalline structure [16].		View
analysis, chemical	laboratory procedure in water quality determination to identify chemical constituents [16].		View
analysis, complete chemical analysis	Chemical analysis of a water sample for physical, chemical, and bacteriological constituents [16].		View
analysis, core	Petrophysical analysis of a rock core acquired through the process of boring a hole in rock with the intention of ...		View
analysis, morphometric	A geodetic and geometric description of basin, stream network, or sinkhole plain, the purpose of which is to determine the ...		View
analysis, sieve	Mechanical grain size analysis by sieving an unconsolidated material through a series of sieves [16].		View
anastomosis	1. The development of a network of branching, intersecting, and rejoining channels in a two dimensional system. Anastomosing tubes, or ...		View
anastomotic cave pattern	A type of maze cave consisting of tubular passages or holes in a cave or in a solution-sculptured rock. A ...		View
anchor	A fixed object used to secure a man whilst operating a safety rope or for attaching equipment such as ladders ...		View
anchor ice, ground ice	Ice that is temporarily attached to the bottom of a river [16].		View
anemolite	A helictite in which the eccentricity is ascribed to the action of air currents [10]. The word is derived from ...		View
anemometer	A device used to measure wind speeds [16].		View
angle of contact, wetting angle	The angle between the liquid phase and solid boundary measured through the liquid phase [16].		View
angle of repose	The natural slope of unsupported granular material [16].		View

Glossary references