Sources of CO₂ Controlling the Carbonate Chemistry of the Logsdon River, Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

<p>Logsdon River is a major, base-level stream within the Turnhole Bend Drainage basin of the Mammoth Cave System. The Logsdon River system has provided a unique opportunity to examine the geochemical evolution of a stream flowing through a major karst conduit that can be traversed for 10 km. This study examines CO₂ inputs at the upstream portion of the river, which provide major control for the river’s hydrochemistry. Samples were collected from the upstream portion of Logsdon River at what is referred to as the S-188 sump and also nearby at Crowbar Dome over the course of 44 weeks from May 2012 through April 2013. The concentrations of CO₂ for samples were calculated from field and laboratory analysis. The CO₂ concentrations were examined during the study period to assess potential sources of CO₂ input to the karst system in the context of seasonal variation. Seasonal fluctuations were found to be greatest in the near surface sample site, Crowbar Dome. Attenuation of seasonal variation of CO₂ pressures in the upstream Logsdon River S-188 Sump suggests both surface inputs plus additional inputs of CO₂ entering the system, perhaps from the decay of organic material in the saturated passages upstream beyond the accessible portion of the Logsdon River S-188 Sump. This in-cave source of CO₂ has some control on hydrochemistry, and thus waterrock interaction and speleogenesis of the karst landscapes in south-central Kentucky</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Department of Geography and Geology

Year

2013

Author dc:creator

• Hatcher, Bruce Elliott

Contributors dc:contributor

• Chris Groves (Director), Michael May, Jason Polk

• Karst Geomorphology
• Turnhole Bend
• Hydrology
• Geochemistry
• Hydrochemistry
• Geology
• Geomorphology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/1311

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.wku.edu:theses-2314