Which of the following is most likely to happen? This is a tropical mountain slo

Question

Which of the following is most likely to happen?

This is a tropical mountain slope with thick clayey soil developed over highly weathered granite. No particular planes of weakness or fractures are apparent in the granite. In contrast to the heavy, lush vegetation found elsewhere in the vicinity, this slope has recently been clear-cut and there are wide areas of exposed soil where logging machinery drove or where tree trunks were dragged away. Other nearby hills show bumpy, hummocky regions along their lower slopes.

This is a mountainous area with sedimentary rocks complexly folded and faulted so that they can be found dipping in many directions. Most of the rocks are fragile shales, which break easily along the thin bedding planes. There are a few clay layers between shale beds. Along some mountainsides, the ends of the rocks are exposed, showing that the rocks dip downhill within 20 degrees of the angle of the mountain slope. It has rained intensely for a week and a number of ephemeral streams spring out of the ground partway up the mountain slopes and flow down into the valley.

This is a flat, monotonous plain underlain by thick limestone deposits. Occasionally, round depressions can be found, some with ponds in their centers, some empty. Rivers flow across the plain, but sometimes disappear into the ground and re-emerge elsewhere. Tourists flock to a number of spectacular caves in the area.

Explanation / Answer

The second case is most likely to happen. The phenomena described here are characteristic by Karst topography - sinkholes, caverns and underground channels developing in the humid climate. This is an irregular terrain and occurs as a result of underground solution of limestones.

This is because limestone deposits produce caves which have spectacular scenarios and draw tourists; round depressions with ponds can also be found. Round depressions with void spaces at the centre are sometimes characteristic of these deposits. Rivers exhibit a variety of phenomenon in these places: they flow, disappear and re-emerge.

The first case is not likely to happen as all the criteria described here are not common of tropical setiings of the environment.

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