Semester

Spring

Date of Graduation

2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

Eberly College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Geology and Geography

Committee Chair

Dorothy Vesper

Committee Member

Aaron Maxwell

Committee Member

Daniel Doctor

Abstract

Creation of a sinkhole map of West Virginia provides useful data to help identify areas susceptible to sinkhole related hazards, as well as allowing for detailed analysis of factors controlling karst development. Newly available, statewide LiDAR-derived digital elevation data have made mapping sinkholes over larger spatial extents feasible. For this study, sinkholes were mapped for all areas of West Virginia that are underlain by carbonate rocks; then the distribution and characteristics were evaluated overall and in four focus areas (Berkeley and Jefferson counties, Pendleton County, Greenbrier County, and Monroe County). These areas correspond to broader physiographic regions, with Berkeley, Jefferson, and Pendleton are located in the Valley and Ridge physiographic province, and Greenbrier and Monroe are located in the Allegheny Plateau physiographic province. For these four focus areas, cave entrance occurrence was also evaluated using data from local speleological databases. The sinkhole data were generated from LiDAR, machine learning, manual delineation, and Whitebox Patch Shape Tools. Patch Shape Tools was used to calculate the average sinkhole volume, area, elongation, and shape complexity. Morphology and spatial properties were compared for both the entire mapped area and the focus areas. Sinkholes in the Allegheny Plateau (Greenbrier and partly Monroe counties) have a higher density, volume, and area. Elongation and complexity were comparable in both the Plateau and Valley and Ridge. Statewide, sinkhole orientation had an orientation predominantly between 15 – 45 degrees. In the Allegheny Plateau, relatively pure Mississippian carbonates such as the Union have the highest count of sinkholes per formation area, sinkhole percentage, and total volume. In the Valley and Ridge Province, the Ordovician New Market Formation contains the greatest count of sinkholes and cave entrances per area. Both the Union and New Market Formations are lithologically pure and often micritic. Differing surficial expression and distribution of sinkholes and caves in the study areas were found to be a combination of lithology, hydrology, and structural controls.

Download

Included in

Geology Commons

Share

COinS