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| The Rise and Rise of Sinkholes? |
Are Sink Hole occurrences around the globe on the rise. A quick look to see if there is an epidemic of these head scratchingly bizarre Natural Disaster holes in the ground appearing in an apocalyptic manner? Or is it business as usual on Planet Earth? A companion video will be released a couple of days after this article at The Twelve Gates You Tube Channel.
VID: Recent Strong Earthquakes and Sinkholes. Is a Mega Quake on its way?
Firstly what is the definition of a Sinkhole.
A sinkhole also known as a cenote, sink,sink-hole, shakehole, swallet, swallow hole, or doline is a depression or hole in the ground caused by some form of collapse of the surface layer. Some are caused by karst processes—for example, the chemical dissolution of carbonate rocks or suffosion processes. Sinkholes vary in size from 1 to 600 m (3.3 to 2,000 ft) both in diameter and depth, and vary in form from soil-lined bowls to bedrock-edged chasms. Sinkholes may form gradually or suddenly, and are found worldwide. They are not associated with Earthquakes.
Sinkholes are common where the rock below the land surface is limestone or other carbonate rock, salt beds, or in other rocks, such as gypsum, that can be dissolved naturally by circulating ground water. Sinkholes also occur in sandstone and quartzite terrains. As the rock dissolves, spaces and caverns develop underground. These sinkholes can be dramatic, because the surface land usually stays intact until there is not enough support. Then, a sudden collapse of the land surface can occur. Information courtesy Wikipedia
Are Sinkholes on the increase?
Accuweather recently reported that "Increased reporting of sinkholes (as the public becomes more aware of them), combined with urban sprawl, may lead to the impression that they are occurring more frequently now than in the past," according to Rick Green, geologist for the Florida Geological Survey.
Accuweather went onto say that Randall Orndorff Director of the Eastern Geology and Paleoclimate Science Center for the U.S stated
"We have no hard evidence to say for sure that sinkholes are occurring more than they have in the past; however, since human influences such as paving and building in sinkhole-prone areas has increased, it probably follows that we are seeing them more often," Orndorff said.
Many have blamed the recent massive hole formations to fracking and drilling and tunnel boring (Bertha, the largest tunnel boring machine in the world, caused a 250-cubic-foot sinkhole to open up on Seattle's waterfront), though scientists say a link has not been found yet with fracking and drilling
My Views:
"Dissolving of rock by circulating ground water" is the key statement here and globally the recent El Nino event has accelerated this process resulting in a lot of water in the form of storms and flooding which would have a huge impact on underground rock formations and causing sink holes to increase dramatically. The exact reverse as in drought can have a similar effect, there has been plenty of that also as a result of El Nino. As with everything as more people become aware and more focused on sink holes, then it naturally follows that they will become more prominent. BUT still there does seem to be a lot of these bizarre openings happening on a daily basis?
Recent Headlines:
Watch as Giant Sink Hole Swallows Large Portion of Road in California The Telegraph 12 April 2016
Giant Sink Hole pens in Florida BBC 31 March 2015
75-foot by 45-foot crater swallows high school basketball court in Huntington Park, California SOTT 13 April 2016
Sinkhole threatens homes in Des Moines, Iowa. Science Thoughts 4 April 2016
If you are fascinated by Sinkholes a website entirely dedicated to these phenonenom is over at thesinkhole.org
Bible Quote: from the Old Testament that suggest a sink hole at the time of Moses
Book of Numbers 16:30-34
30. But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.
31. And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:
32. And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.
33. They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.
34. And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.
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