Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Climatic Influences on Coastal Cave and Karst Development in Florida

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Coastal Karst Landforms

Part of the book series: Coastal Research Library ((COASTALRL,volume 5))

Abstract

Coastal karst development in Florida is a complex, temporally variable phenomenon that was influenced by eustatic processes and long-term climatic variability through the Cenozoic up through the present. Much of the past history involving coastal and climatic influences on cave and karst evolution in Florida is still not well understood. Currently, Florida is home to almost 20 million people that reside one of the world’s largest and most productive karst aquifer systems, featuring hundreds of springs, caves, and sinkholes as part of its karst geomorphology. The large carbonate platform is exposed to hurricanes, sea level rise, and continued groundwater withdrawal. Therefore, it is important to consider Florida’s karst landscape as an evolving geomorphological system under both past and current environmental conditions. It is important to understand the rock, structure, gradient, fluid, and time elements of Florida’s karst development, with a particular emphasis placed on the climatic influences that shaped the landscape. Focusing on the central and northern regions of the peninsula where the ridgelands and coastal lowlands contain the most exposed karst features, the elements of gradient, fluid, and time interact with climate in such a way that the karst landscape development can be partially explained by changes in the hydrology related to water table fluctuations, sea-level changes, and variability in precipitation patterns over time. Aquifer development, speleogenesis, and paleoclimatic changes on these processes are discussed, while noting that the primary mechanisms controlling cave development,sinkhole occurrence, and karst evolution are past changes in sea level and water table movement. The state’s karst regions are described within this context to organize the discussion of the coastal karst development of peninsular Florida under variable climatic conditions.

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

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Adams PN, Opdyke ND, Jaeger JM (2010) Isostatic uplift driven by karstification and sea-level oscillation: modeling landscape evolution in north Florida. Geology 38(6):531–534

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alvarez-Zarikian CA, Swart PK, Gifford JA, Blackwelder PL (2005) Holocene paleohydrology of little slat spring, Florida, based on ostracod assemblages and stable isotopes. Palaeogeogr Palaeoecol Palaeocl 225:134–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beck BF, Ceryak R, Jenkins DT, Scott TM, Spangler DP (1985) Karst hydrogeology of Central and Northern Florida: The Florida Sinkhole Research Institute, University of Central Florida, Orlando

    Google Scholar 

  • Brinkmann R, Reeder P (1994) The influence of sea level change and geologic structure on cave development in west-central Florida. Phys Geography 15(1):52–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Budd D, Vacher HL (2004) Matrix permeability of the confined Floridan aquifer, Florida, USA. Hydrol J 12:531–549

    Google Scholar 

  • Cane MA (2005) The evolution of El Nino, past and future. Earth Planetary Sci Lett 230:227–240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooke CW (1945) Geology of Florida. Florida Geol Surv Bull 29:339 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Cronin TM, Dwyer GS, Schwede SB, Vann CD, Dowsett H (2002) Climate variability from the Florida Bay sedimentary record: possible teleconnections to ENSO, PNA, and CNP. Clim Res 19:233–245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Denizman C, Randazzo AF (2000) Post-Miocene subtropical karst evolution, lower Suwannee river basin, Florida. GSA Bull 112(12):1804–1813

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Douglas MS (1997) The everglades: river of grass, 50th anniversary edition. Pineapple Press Inc, Sarasota, 478 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Florea LJ (2006) Architecture of air-filled caves within the karst of the Brooksville ridge, west-central Florida. J Cave Karst Stud 68(2):64–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Florea LJ (2008) Geology and hydrology of karst in west-central and north-central Florida. Caves Karst Fl 225–239

    Google Scholar 

  • Florea LJ, Vacher HL (2007) Eogenetic karst hydrology: insights from the 2004 hurricanes, peninsular Florida. Groundwater 45(4):439–446

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Florea LJ, Vacher HL, Donahue B, Naar D (2007) Quaternary cave levels in peninsular Florida. Quaternary Sci Rev 26:1344–1361

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Florida DEP (2006) Florida Caverns State Park unit management plan. http://www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/planning/parkplans/FloridaCavernsStatePark.pdf. Accessed 3 Dec 2012

  • Gaswirth SB, Budd DA, Crawford BR (2006) Textural and stratigraphic controls on fractured dolomite in a carbonate aquifer system, Ocala limestone, west-central Florida. Sediment Geol 184:241–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grimm EC, Jacobson GL, Watts WA, Hansen BCS, Maasch KA (1993) A 50,000 year record of climate oscillations from Florida and its temporal correlation with the Heinrich events. Science 261(5118):198–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grimm EC, Watts WA, Jacobson GL, Hansen BCS, Almquist HR, Dieffenbacher-Krall AC (2006) Evidence for warm wet Heinrich events in Florida. Q Res 25:2197–2211

    Google Scholar 

  • Groves CG (1993) Early development of karst systems. Dissertation published by the University of Virginia

    Google Scholar 

  • Gulley JD, Martin JB, Spellman P, Moore PJ, Screaton EJ (2012a) Influence of partial confinement and Holocene river formation on groundwater flow and dissolution in the Florida carbonate platform. Hydrol Process. doi:10.1002/hyp.9601

    Google Scholar 

  • Gulley JD, Martin JB, Moore PJ, Murphy J (2012b) Formation of phreatic caves in an eogenetic karst aquifer by CO2 enrichment at lower water tables and subsequent flooding by sea level rise. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. DOI: 10.1002/esp.3358

  • Hagemeyer BC (2006) ENSO, PNA and NAO scenarios for extreme storminess, rainfall and temperature variability during the Florida dry season. In: Preprints, 18th conference on climate variability and change, American Meteorological Society, Atlanta, CD-ROM P2.4

    Google Scholar 

  • Harley GL, Reeder P, Polk JS, van Beynen P (2010) Developing a GIS-based inventory for the implementation of cave management protocols in Withlacoochee state forest, Florida. J Cave Karst Stud 72(1):35–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harley GL, Polk JS, North LA, Reeder P (2011) The application of a cave inventory system to stimulate development of management strategies: an example from west-central Florida, USA. J Environ Manag 92: 2547–2557. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2011.05.020

  • Haug GH, Hughen KA, Sigman DM, Peterson LC, Rohl U (2001) Southward migration of the intertropical convergence zone through the Holocene. Science 293:1304–1308

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang Y, Shuman B, Wang Y, Webb T, Grimm EC, Jacobson GL (2006) Climatic and environmental controls on the variation of C3 and C4 plant abundance in central Florida for the past 62,000 years. Palaeogeogr Palaeocl Palaeoecol 237:428–435

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly M (2004) Florida river flow patterns and the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation. Draft report, Southwest Florida Water Management District, 80 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Kindinger JL, Davis JB, Flocks JG (1999) Geology and evolution of lakes in north-central Florida. Environ Geol 38(4):301–321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knochenmus LA, Yobbi DK (2001) Hydrology of the coastal springs ground-water basin and adjacent parts of Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus Counties, Florida. Water-resources investigations report 01–4230. United States Geological Survey, 88 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuniansky EL (2001) US Geological survey karst interest group proceedings, St. Petersburg, Florida, 13–16 Feb 2001, USGS water-resources investigations report 01–4011, 211 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Lane E (1986) Karst in Florida, Florida Geological Survey special publication no. 29. Florida Geological Survey, Gainesville, 100 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Lane E (1994) Florida’s geological history and geological resources, Florida Geological Survey special publication no. 35, Florida Geological Survey, Gainesville, 46 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin JB, Dean RW (2001) Exchange of water between conduits and matrix in the Floridan aquifer. Chem Geol 179:145–165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller JA (1986) Hydrogeologic framework of the Floridan aquifer system in Florida and in parts of Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina. U S Geol Surv Prof Pap 1403-B:91p

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore PJ, Martin JB, Screaton EJ (2009) Geochemical and statistical evidence of recharge, mixing, and controls on spring discharge in an eogenetic karst aquifer. J Hydrol 376:443–455

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore PJ, Martin JB, Screaton EJ, Neuhoff PS (2010) Conduit enlargement in an eogenetic karst aquifer. J Hydrol 393:143–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morrissey SK, Clark JF, Bennett M, Richardson E, Stute M (2010) Groundwater reorganization in the Floridan aquifer following Holocene sea-level rise. Nat Geosci 3:683–698. doi:10.1038/NGEO956

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mylroie JE, Mylroie JR (2007) Development of the carbonate island karst model. J Cave Karst Stud 69:59–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Opdyke ND, Spangler DP, Smith DL, Jones DS, Lindquist RC (1984) Origin of the epeirogenic uplift of Plio-Pleistocene beach ridges in Florida and development of the Florida karst. Geology 12:226–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Otvos EG (2005) Holocene aridity and storm phases, gulf and Atlantic coasts, USA. Q Res 63:368–373

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Polk JS (2009) Proxy records of climate change in tropical and subtropical karst environments. PhD dissertation, University of Florida, 658 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Polk JS, van Beynen P, Wynn J (2012) An isotopic calibration study of precipitation, cave dripwater, and climate in west-central Florida. Hydro Proc 26(5):652–662

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Randazzo AF, Jones DS (eds) (1997) The geology of Florida. Florida University Press, Gainesville, 327 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott TM (1988) The lithostratigraphy of the Hawthorn Group (Miocene) of Florida, Florida Geological Survey bulletin 59. Florida Geological Survey, Tallahassee, 148 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott TM (1997) Miocene to Holocene history of Florida. In: Jones DS, Randazzo AF (eds) The geology of Florida. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, pp 1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott TM, Means GH, Meegan RP, Means RC, Upchurch S, Copeland RE, Jones J, Roberts T, Willet A (2004) Springs of Florida, Florida Geological Survey bulletin no. 66. Florida Geological Survey, Tallahassee

    Google Scholar 

  • Spechler RM, Schiffer DM (1995) Springs in Florida, U.S. Geological Survey fact sheet FS-151-95, U.S. Geological Survey, Tallahassee, 2 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Stahle DW, Cleaveland MK (1992) Reconstruction and analysis of spring rainfall over the southeastern U.S. For the past 1000 years. Bull Am Meteorol Soc 73(12):1947–1961

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stringfield VT, LeGrand HE (1966) Hydrology of limestone terrains in the coastal plain of the Southeastern United States, Geological Society of America special paper 93. Geological Society of America, Denver, 41p

    Google Scholar 

  • Tihansky AB (1999) Sinkholes, west-central Florida. In: Galloway D, Jones DR, Ingebritsen SE (eds) Land subsidence in the United States, United States Geological Survey circular 1182. United States Geological Survey, Tampa, 177 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner T (2003) Brooksville ridge cave: Florida’s hidden treasure. NSS News, May 2003:125–131, 143

    Google Scholar 

  • van Beynen PE, Soto L, Pace-Graczyk K (2007a) Paleoclimate reconstruction derived from speleothem strontium and δ13C in Central Florida. Quatern Int. DOI:10:1016/j.quaint.2007.03.019

  • van Beynen PE, Asmerom Y, Polyak V, Soto L, Polk JS (2007b) Variable intensity of teleconnections during the Late Holocene in Subtropical North America from an isotopic study of speleothem from Florida. Geophys Res Lett 34: L18703. DOI:10:1029/2007GL031046

  • van Beynen PE, Soto L, Polk J (2008) Variable calcite deposition rates as proxy for paleo-precipitation determination as derived from speleothems in central Florida. J Cave Karst Stud 70(1):1–19

    Google Scholar 

  • van Polk JS, Beynen PE, Wynn JG (2012) An isotopic calibration study of precipitation, cave dripwater, and climate in west-central Florida. Hydrol Process. doi:10.1002/hyp.8169

    Google Scholar 

  • Watts WA, Hansen BCS, Grimm EC (1992) Camel Lake: A 40,000-yr record of vegetational and forest history from northwest Florida. Ecology 73(3):1056–1066

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watts WA, Hansen BCS (1994) Pre-Holocene and Holocene pollen records of vegetation history from the Florida peninsula and their climatic implications. Palaeogeogr Palaeocl Palaeoecol 109:163–176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White WA (1970) The geomorphology of the Florida Peninsula, Bulletin no. 51. Florida Bureau of Geology, Tallahassee, 164 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Winsberg MD (2003) Florida weather. University of Florida Press, Gainesville

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography and Geology, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, 42101, USA

    Jason S. Polk

  2. Department of Geology, Environment, and Sustainability, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, 11549, USA

    Robert Brinkmann

Authors
  1. Jason S. Polk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Robert Brinkmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jason S. Polk .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Coastal Cave Survey, West Main Street 313 1/2, West Branch, 52358, Iowa, USA

    Michael J. Lace

  2. Department of Geosciences, Mississippi State University, Hilbun Hall 205, Starkville, 39762, Mississippi, USA

    John E. Mylroie

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Polk, J.S., Brinkmann, R. (2013). Climatic Influences on Coastal Cave and Karst Development in Florida. In: Lace, M., Mylroie, J. (eds) Coastal Karst Landforms. Coastal Research Library, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5016-6_15

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation