Digital Topographic Analysis of Cockpit Karst

Cockpit karst landscapes are among the most unique landscapes in the world. The distinctive surface topography can be characterized to compare these places with other karst and non-karst areas alike, identifying discrete topographic signatures, and determining geological conditions responsible for the observed terrain. This research quantifies the nature of cockpit karst in its type area, and examines the significant geodiversity of tropical karst in Jamaica. It looks at both landscape and landform morphometry, and developed different metrics to quantify these. Ultimately, many of the assumptions and hypotheses about the nature of and controls on tropical karst are re-evaluated and more detailed examinations conducted.