Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Multimethod geophysical investigation in karst areas: case studies from Silesia, Poland

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Carbonate rocks are particularly susceptible to karstification, resulting in the formation of structures, such as enlarged fissures, caverns, and sinkholes. These structures pose direct risk to construction and human safety, especially in urbanised areas. In this study, we demonstrate the application of multimethod geophysical reconnaissance, combining electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), induced polarisation (ERT-IP), seismic refraction tomography (SRT), and multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW), to identify the subsurface karst structures at two sites in the Silesian District, Poland. This methodology allowed the identification of the geological structure to a depth of up to 40 m, which exceeds the requirements for geotechnical reconnaissance. At site 1, Niedzieliska, a 30-m-wide and 20-m-deep structure, filled with younger sediments, was interpreted as a karst sinkhole. At site 2, Tucznawa, a 180-m-wide fault zone overlain with suffusion-susceptible sediments was identified. The multimethod geophysical approach presented here can be applied to locate and interpret subsurface karst forms in similar karst terrains worldwide.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aati AHA, Shabaan SH (2013) Detection of karstic limestone bedrock by shallow seismic refraction in an area west of Assiut, Middle Egypt. Lead Edge 32(3):316–322

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Akingboye AS, Ogunyele ACh (2019) Insight into seismic refraction and electrical resistivity tomography techniques in subsurface investigations. Rud Geol Naft Zb 34(1):93–111. https://doi.org/10.17794/rgn.2019.1.9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Azwin IN, Saad R, Nordiana M (2013) Applying the seismic refraction tomography for site characterisation. APCBEE Procedia (elsevier) 5:227–231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ballard RF, Cuenod Y, Jenni JP (1982) Detection of karst cavities by geophysical methods. Bull Int Assoc Eng Geol 26–27:153–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bermejo L, Ortega AI, Guérin, R, Benito-Calvo A, Pérez-González A, Parés JM, Carbonell E (2016) 2D and 3D ERT imaging for identifying karst morphologies in the archaeological sites of Gran Dolina and Galería Complex (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain). Quater Int 433(Part A):393–401

  • Bozzo E, Lombardo S, Merlanti F (1996) Geophysical studies applied to near-surface karst structures: the dolines. Annali Di Geophysica 39(1):23–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Cabała J (2016) Budowa geologiczna – perm, trias, jura. In book: Dąbrowa Górnicza - Monografia t. I Środowisko Przyrodniczo-Geograficzne Edition: 1 Chapter: IV Publisher: Muzeum Miejskie "Sztygarka" (in Polish)

  • Carbonel D, Rodríguez V, Gutiérrez F, McCalpin JP, Linares R, Roqué C, Zarroca M, Guerrero J, Sasowsky I (2014) Evaluation of trenching, ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) for sinkhole characterization. Earth Surf Proc Land 39(2):214–227. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.3440

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cardarelli E, de Nardis R (2001) Seismic refraction, isotropic and anisotropic seismic tomography on an ancient monument (Antonino and Faustina temple AD141). Geophys Prospect 49:228–241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CGDB - Central Geological Data Base of the Polish Geological Institute. https://geologia.pgi.gov.pl/arcgis/apps/MapSeries. Accessed 6 Jun 2021

  • Chybiorz R, Tyc A (2016) Ukształtowanie powierzchni terenu. In book: Dąbrowa Górnicza - Monografia t. I Środowisko Przyrodniczo-Geograficzne Edition: 1 Chapter: IV Publisher: Muzeum Miejskie "Sztygarka" (in Polish)

  • Dakir I, Benamara A, Aassoumi H, Ouallali A, Bahammou YA (2019) Application of induced polarization and resistivity to determination of the location of metalliferous veins in the Taroucht and Tabesbaste areas (Eastern Anti-Atlas, Marocco). Int J Geophys 20, article 13338:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/5849019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dal Moro G (2014) Surface wave analysis for near surface applications. 1-st eEdition, Elsevier, ISBN: 9780128007709

  • Dal Moro G, Pipan M, Gabrielli P (2007) Rayleigh wave dispersion curve inversion via genetic algorithms and marginal posterior probability density estimation. J Appl Geophys 61(1):39–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dikmen U, Arisoy MÖ, Akkaya I (2010) Offset and linear spread geometry in the MASW method. J Geophys Eng 7:211–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gómez-Ortiz D, Martín-Crespo T (2012) Assessing the risk of subsidence of a sinkhole collapse using ground penetrating radar and electrical resistivity tomography. Eng Geol 149–150:1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hiltunen DR, Cramer BJ (2008) Application of seismic refraction tomography in karst terrane. J Geotech Geoenviron 134(7):938–948

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ismail NA, Saad R (2012) A case study on ground subsidence using ground penetrating radar. International Conference on Environmental, Biomedical and Biotechnology IPCBEE vol.41, © (2012) IACSIT Press, Singapore: 157–161

  • Kaufmann G (2014) Geophysical mapping of solution and collapse sinkholes. J Appl Geophys 111:271–288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jappgeo.2014.10.011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kearey P, Brooks M, Hill I (2002) An introduction to geophysical exploration. (Vol. 4). John Wiley & Sons

  • Kurek S, Sobczyński P, Szuwarzyński M, Wojnar E (1977) The characteristics of the Chrzanow region deposits. In: Pawłowska J. (ed.) Zn-Pb ores in the Silesian-Cracow area. Geol.Inst.Confidential Papers: 45–71 (in Polish)

  • Loke MH, Barker RD (1995) Least-square deconvolution of apparent resistivity pseudosections. Geophysics 60(6):499–523

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loke MH, Acworth I, Dahlin T (2003) A comparison of smooth and blocky inversion method in 2D electrical tomography surveys. Explor Geophys 34:182–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malehmir A, Socco LV, Bastani M, Krawczyk CM, Pfaffhuber AA, Miller RD, Maurer H, Frauenfelder R, Suto K, Bazin S, Merz K, Dahlin T (2016) Near-surface geophysical characterization of areas prone to natural hazards: a review of the current and perspective on the future. in: L. Nielsen (Ed.) Adv Geophys 51–146. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.agph.2016.08.001

  • Marciniak A, Stan-Kłeczek I, Idziak A, Majdański M (2019) Uncertainty based multi-step seismic analysis for near-surface imaging. Open Geosci 11(1):727–737. https://doi.org/10.1515/geo-2019-0057

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martínez-Morenoa FJ, Galindo-Zaldívara J, Pedrerab A, Teixidoc T, Ruanoa P, Peñac JA, González-Castilloa L, Ruiz-Constánd A, López-Chicanoa M, Martín-Rosalesa W (2014) Integrated geophysical methods for studying the karst system of Gruta de las Maravillas (Aracena, Southwest Spain). J Appl Geophys 107:149–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Owoc B, Marciniak A, Dzierżek J, Kowalczyk S (2019) Majdański M (2019) Seismic imaging of the Mesozoic bedrock relief and geological structure under Quaternary sediment cover: the Bolmin Syncline (SW Holy Cross Mountains, Poland). Geosciences 9(447):1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Park CB, Miller RD, Xia J (1999) Multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW). Geophysics 64(3):800–808

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pazzi V, Di Filippo M, Di Nezzac M, Carlàa T, Bardia F, Marinia F, Fontanellia K, Intrieria E, Fantia R (2018) Integrated geophysical survey in a sinkhole-prone area: microgravity, electrical resistivity tomographies, and seismic noise measurements to delimit its extension. Eng Geol 243:282–293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2018.07.016

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rahnema H, Mirasi S (2012) Seismic and geotechnical study of land subsidence and vulnerability of rural buildings. Int J Geosci 3:878–884

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez V, Gutiérrez F, Green AG, Carbonel D, Horstmeyer H, Schmelzbach C (2014) Characterizing sagging and collapse sinkholes in a mantled karst by means of ground penetrating radar (GPR). Environ Eng Geosci 20(2):109–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rubin Y, Hubbard S (2005) Hydrogeophysics. Springer, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Sikora R, Kamieniarz S, Warmuz B, Wojciechowski T (2016a) Mapa utworów węglanowych triasu, 1:25 000, Katowice, Główny Instytut Górnictwa (in Polish)

  • Sikora R, Kamieniarz S, Warmuz B, Wojciechowski T (2016b) Mapa obszarów predysponowanych do występowania geozagrożeń na terenie miasta Jaworzna, 1:25 000, Katowice, Państwowy Instytut Geologiczny (in Polish)

  • Slater L, Lesmes D (2002) IP interpretation in environmental investigations. Geophysics 67(1):77–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sobh M (2013) Imaging subsurface cavities using geoelectric tomography, ground-penetrating radar and microgravity. Near Surface Geoscience 2013–19th EAGE European Meeting of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics (September)

  • Strzałkowski P (2021) The influence of selected mining and natural factors on the sinkhole creation hazard based on the case study. Environ Earth Sci 80:117. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-021-09403-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun H, Li X, Li S, Qi Z, Su M, Xue Y (2012) Multi-component and multi-array TEM detection in karst tunnels. J Geophys Eng 9(4):359–373. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-2132/9/4/359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Schoor M (2002) Detection of sinkholes using 2D electrical resistivity imaging. J Appl Geophys 50:393–399

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varnavina AV, Khamzin KA, Kidanu ST, Anderson NL (2019) Geophysical site assessment in karst terrain: a case study from southwestern Missouri. J Appl Geophys 170:103–838. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jappgeo.2019.103838

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verdet C, Sirieix C, Marache A, Joëlle Riss J, Portais J-C (2020) Detection of undercover karst features by geophysics (ERT) Lascaux cave hill. Geomorphology 360(107177):1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Wach J, Konecki R, Stachurski R, Ścisłowski M, Wach M (2006) Opracowanie ekofizjograficzne problemowe dla terenu inwestycyjnego Tucznawa w Dąbrowie Górniczej (in Polish), Urząd Miasta Dąbrowa Górnicza

  • Waltham T, Bell F, Culshaw M (2005) Sinkholes and subsidence – karst and cavernous rocks in engineering and construction. Springer Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Wathelet M (2008) An improved neighborhood algorithm: parameter conditions and dynamic scaling. Geophys Res Lett 35:L09301. https://doi.org/10.1029/2008GL033256.pdf

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wathelet M, Chatelain J-L, Cornou C, Di Giulio G, Guillier B, Ohrnberger M, Savvaidis A (2020) Geopsy: a user-friendly open-source tool set for ambient vibration processing. Seismol Res Lett 91(3):1878–1889. https://doi.org/10.1785/0220190360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang J, Brink UE, Toksoz MN (1998) Nonlinear refraction and reflection travel time tomography. J Geophys Res 103(B12):29743–29757

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This research was funded by the National Science Centre, Poland (NCN) Grant 2020/37/N/ST10/01486.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland

    Iwona Stan-Kłeczek, Jolanta Pierwoła, Katarzyna Sutkowska & Radosława Tomaszewska

  2. Institute of Geophysics Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland

    Artur Marciniak

Authors
  1. Iwona Stan-Kłeczek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jolanta Pierwoła
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Artur Marciniak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Katarzyna Sutkowska
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Radosława Tomaszewska
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Iwona Stan-Kłeczek.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Stan-Kłeczek, I., Pierwoła, J., Marciniak, A. et al. Multimethod geophysical investigation in karst areas: case studies from Silesia, Poland. Bull Eng Geol Environ 81, 230 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-022-02726-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-022-02726-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation