Sapping

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Sapping is a type of erosion where the ground seems to have collapsed into wide valleys. Steep-sided U-shaped valleys of fairly uniform width with box-like, "theater-shaped" headwalls are characteristic of sapping. [1] Sapping is caused by water in the ground moving laterally until it eventually seeps out and creates its ampitheater-like shape. Valleys made by sapping occur throughout the world including in England, Colorado, Hawai’i, New Zealand, and other places. [2]


The two canyons at center-left in this photo from Canyonlands National Park in Utah have the theater-shaped heads typical of valley features shaped by groundwater sapping.

Many channels have been seen on Mars that look like ones created by groundwater sapping here on Earth.[3]

See also

References

  1. Kocher, R. and J. Piper. 1986. Morphology of Large Valleys on Hawaii: Evidence for Groundwater Sapping and Comparisons with Martian Valleys. Journal of Geophysical Research. volume = 91. Issue = B13|pages = 175–192.
  2. Nash, D. 1996. GROUNDWATER SAPPING AND VALLEY DEVELOPMENT IN THE HACKNESS HILLS, NORTH YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND. Earth Surface Processes and LandformsVolume 21, Issue 9 p. 781-795
  3. Gulick, V. 2001. Origin of the Valley Networks on Mars: a Hydrological Perspective. Geomorphology. volume = 37. issue = 3–4. 41–268

External links