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Mapping the karstification potential of central Cebu, Philippines using GIS

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Abstract

Karstification is influenced by numerous factors, such as climate, geomorphology, and geology. Karstified areas are faced with numerous problems such as ground subsidence and groundwater vulnerability. In rapidly urbanizing areas like Cebu in the Philippines, it is imperative to know the karstification potential, especially if karst landforms are already present. We evaluated the karstification potential of central Cebu using Raster Overlay Analysis (ROA) in a geographic information system (GIS) platform. ROA uses multiple maps which represent different factors affecting karstification, such as precipitation, temperature, vegetation, elevation, slope, drainage, lineaments, and geology. These factors were then correlated with the karstification potential map using the Cell Statistics tool. ROA reveals that 17% of central Cebu has very low karstification potential, while < 65% has low to moderate karstification potential and 18% has high to very high karstification potential. High karstification potential is generally associated with high precipitation (> 2100 mm/yr), low temperature (< 24.5 °C), very dense vegetation, high elevation (> 787 masl), gentle slope (< 10°), very high lineament density (> 0.45), very low drainage density (0), and older limestone bedrock. Areas with moderate to very high karstification potential coincide with cave locations. Cell Statistics (Range) reveals that the karstification potential map is strongly correlated with precipitation and temperature, and weakly correlated with drainage density and geology. While assumed to greatly affect karstification, the weak correlation of local geology with the karstification potential is attributed to lithological heterogeneities in central Cebu. Information on an area’s karstification is beneficial to effective land use planning and reduction of karst-related hazards.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the research project entitled Coastal Tectonics of Central Philippine Islands and Its Implications for Seismic Hazards (under the program “Integrative studies on the Geodynamics of the Philippines and Taiwan Arc Systems” (03568-2016)) funded by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) and the National Institute of Geological Sciences (NIGS) Research Grant 2019 entitled Karstification Mapping of Central Cebu, Philippines using GIS. The authors would also like to thank RBC Mendoza, LP Nawanao, Jr., AJT Figueroa, and the Geology 215 class of 2018 (Cebu) for the data they contributed to this study. The authors also acknowledge the assistance and guidance of LSJ Manzano and other MGB personnel in the analysis of sinkholes in Cebu City. The anonymous reviewers are thanked for their comments and suggestions that greatly improved this manuscript. The use of ArcGIS 10.3 was possible through the Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI) Conservation Grant No. 497765 to NT Ramos.

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The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:

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  1. College of Science, National Institute of Geological Sciences, University of the Philippines, 1101, Diliman, Quezon, Philippines

    Regina Martha G. Lumongsod, Noelynna T. Ramos & Carla B. Dimalanta

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  1. Regina Martha G. Lumongsod
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Correspondence to Noelynna T. Ramos.

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Lumongsod, R.M.G., Ramos, N.T. & Dimalanta, C.B. Mapping the karstification potential of central Cebu, Philippines using GIS. Environ Earth Sci 81, 449 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-022-10572-w

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