Simulating Drainage from a Flooded Sinkhole

Understanding sinkhole-drainage capacity and functioning is critical to realizing the effects that may be created when direct­ing stormwater drainage into sinkholes. In this paper, the ba­sics of sinkhole drainage are reviewed in terms of point vortex flow created by drainage down a sinkhole swallet...

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Main Author: Malcolm S. Field
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts 2010-06-01
Series:Acta Carsologica
Online Access:https://ojs.zrc-sazu.si/carsologica/article/view/105
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author Malcolm S. Field
author_facet Malcolm S. Field
author_sort Malcolm S. Field
collection DOAJ
description Understanding sinkhole-drainage capacity and functioning is critical to realizing the effects that may be created when direct­ing stormwater drainage into sinkholes. In this paper, the ba­sics of sinkhole drainage are reviewed in terms of point vortex flow created by drainage down a sinkhole swallet. Then, several different, relatively simple sinkhole shapes are presented and mathematical models developed to simulate drainage from in­flowing water. The models emphasize the significance of drain­age rate as a function of sinkhole shape and sinkhole wetted cross-sectional area relative to changes in water level and time. Model simulations provide insights into the sensitivity of sink­holes to inflow rates and water-level changes withtime. Ma­jor findings include insights into the rapidity by whichinflows may increase the water level in a sinkhole and the significance of sinkhole shape and cross-sectional area as it relates to sink­hole drainage rate. The numerical solution is completely gen­eral so it allows for varying inflow rates in any manner desired. Application of the model to real sinkholes should assist in the management of sinkhole-flooding problems.
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spelling doaj.art-988dde90d137440181c48fe4e010763b2023-02-07T17:46:15ZengSlovenian Academy of Sciences and ArtsActa Carsologica0583-60501580-26122010-06-0139210.3986/ac.v39i2.10592Simulating Drainage from a Flooded SinkholeMalcolm S. Field0U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Center for Environmental Assessment (8623P), 1200 Pennsylvania, Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20460Understanding sinkhole-drainage capacity and functioning is critical to realizing the effects that may be created when direct­ing stormwater drainage into sinkholes. In this paper, the ba­sics of sinkhole drainage are reviewed in terms of point vortex flow created by drainage down a sinkhole swallet. Then, several different, relatively simple sinkhole shapes are presented and mathematical models developed to simulate drainage from in­flowing water. The models emphasize the significance of drain­age rate as a function of sinkhole shape and sinkhole wetted cross-sectional area relative to changes in water level and time. Model simulations provide insights into the sensitivity of sink­holes to inflow rates and water-level changes withtime. Ma­jor findings include insights into the rapidity by whichinflows may increase the water level in a sinkhole and the significance of sinkhole shape and cross-sectional area as it relates to sink­hole drainage rate. The numerical solution is completely gen­eral so it allows for varying inflow rates in any manner desired. Application of the model to real sinkholes should assist in the management of sinkhole-flooding problems.https://ojs.zrc-sazu.si/carsologica/article/view/105
spellingShingle Malcolm S. Field
Simulating Drainage from a Flooded Sinkhole
Acta Carsologica
title Simulating Drainage from a Flooded Sinkhole
title_full Simulating Drainage from a Flooded Sinkhole
title_fullStr Simulating Drainage from a Flooded Sinkhole
title_full_unstemmed Simulating Drainage from a Flooded Sinkhole
title_short Simulating Drainage from a Flooded Sinkhole
title_sort simulating drainage from a flooded sinkhole
url https://ojs.zrc-sazu.si/carsologica/article/view/105
work_keys_str_mv AT malcolmsfield simulatingdrainagefromafloodedsinkhole