Castles & karst |
Geomorphological Setting
The rock layers in the central Kentucky karst region are tilted an average of about 0.3 degrees towards the northwest; which does play a role in hydrologic processes. Castleguard, similarly, slants down towards the south-southeast – also playing a role in the hydrologic process.
The dominant structural feature of the karst area is a regional monocline. Complex structural detail is superimposed on the monocline, and the dip is quite irregular locally. While Castleguard does not have any significant folding, geological maps show that there are at least three small folds with axes perpendicular to the regional strike in this region. Their anticlinal parts have a strong hydrological importance, because they determine the location where down cutting surface streams first intersect the limestone to provide an outlet for groundwater in the limestone aquifer.
The karst in central Kentucky is of a warm, humid, subtropical climate. The state’s mid-latitude position is in a region where weather can be highly variable – mean annual temperature ranges from 12-15 degrees C. Average annual precipitation ranges from 42-52 inches.
The dominant structural feature of the karst area is a regional monocline. Complex structural detail is superimposed on the monocline, and the dip is quite irregular locally. While Castleguard does not have any significant folding, geological maps show that there are at least three small folds with axes perpendicular to the regional strike in this region. Their anticlinal parts have a strong hydrological importance, because they determine the location where down cutting surface streams first intersect the limestone to provide an outlet for groundwater in the limestone aquifer.
The karst in central Kentucky is of a warm, humid, subtropical climate. The state’s mid-latitude position is in a region where weather can be highly variable – mean annual temperature ranges from 12-15 degrees C. Average annual precipitation ranges from 42-52 inches.