Karst Dissolution Calculator
Accurate calculation of limestone dissolution rate and CO₂ consumption in karst systems based on peer-reviewed scientific models (Dreybrodt, 1988; Kaufmann & Braun, 2000; Palandri & Kharaka, 2004).
Calculation Results
About the Karst Dissolution Calculator
The Karst Dissolution Calculator is a scientifically accurate online tool designed to estimate the rate and extent of limestone dissolution in karst environments. Built upon decades of peer-reviewed research in carbonate geochemistry, this calculator implements the most widely accepted kinetic models for calcite dissolution under open and closed system conditions.
Karst landscapes cover approximately 15% of the Earth's land surface and host some of the world's most important groundwater resources. Understanding dissolution rates is essential for hydrogeology, speleology, civil engineering, and environmental management in karst regions.
Why Karst Dissolution Matters
Limestone dissolution is the primary process that creates caves, sinkholes (dolines), disappearing streams, and underground rivers characteristic of karst topography. The rate at which calcite (CaCO₃) dissolves controls:
- Sinkhole and subsidence hazard assessment
- Cave passage development and speleogenesis
- Groundwater vulnerability in carbonate aquifers
- Long-term landscape evolution and denudation rates
- Carbon dioxide sequestration in the critical zone
How the Calculator Works (Scientific Methodology)
The tool calculates:
- Equilibrium calcium concentration using the temperature-dependent solubility product (Ksp) for calcite and open-system PCO₂.
- Dissolution kinetics using the combined forward and backward rate law: R = k₁aₕ⁺ + k₂aₕ₂co₃ + k₃aₕ₂o − k₄a_ca²⁺a_co₃²⁻
- Switching from linear to nonlinear rates when solution approaches 80–90% saturation (Dreybrodt’s higher-order terms).
- Long-term average surface lowering by integrating over thousands of years with inhibition effects.
When to Use This Calculator
Use this Karst Dissolution Calculator when you need to:
- Assess long-term stability of building sites in karst terrain
- Predict cave enlargement rates for speleological research
- Model CO₂ drawdown in soil–karst systems
- Teach karst hydrogeology in university courses
- Support environmental impact assessments in limestone regions
User Guidelines
Default values represent typical temperate karst conditions (15°C, soil PCO₂ = 1%). Adjust parameters according to your field measurements:
- Temperature: 5–25°C (tropical karst may exceed 30°C)
- PCO₂: 0.0003 atm (atmosphere) to 0.1 atm (under thick soil)
- Initial Ca²⁺: 0 mg/L for aggressive rainwater
- Flow velocity: higher values → closer to kinetic limit
References & Further Reading
This calculator is based on the following peer-reviewed works:
- Dreybrodt, W. (1988). Processes in Karst Systems. Springer.
- Kaufmann, G., & Braun, J. (2000). Karst aquifer evolution. Water Resources Research.
- Palandri, J. L., & Kharaka, Y. K. (2004). A compilation of rate parameters of water-mineral interaction kinetics. USGS Report.
- Ford, D., & Williams, P. (2007). Karst Hydrogeology and Geomorphology.
For a comprehensive overview of karst processes, visit the Wikipedia page on Karst Dissolution Calculator.
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