Department

Chemistry & Geosciences

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-2026

Abstract

Morphometric analysis is conducted on five karst depressions in Permian-age gypsum of southeast New Mexico. These depressions take on the form of classically shaped blind valleys and sinkholes. Blind valleys in this study are disappearing surface streams composed of multiple tributaries that connect to the main trunk channel leading to a cave entrance. A visible light (RGB) sensor mounted on a quadcopter is used to collect aerial imagery for karst depression mapping and analysis. Field measurements were taken for each depression for comparison with the drone imagery and its derivative layers such as digital elevation model (DEM) and slope. Drone flight elevations were set to 45 m above ground level (AGL) except for one site, which was 76 m AGL, resulting in a spatial resolution ranging from 0.78 to 2.37 cm. A total of 505 images were taken for all sites and mosaiced with photogrammetry software for geospatial analysis. The average field measured depth is 7.5 m and the average DEM measured depth is 5.48 m. DEM measured perimeter ranged from 77 to 675 m and volume ranged from 129 to 4,339 m3. All DEM measured slopes were less than field measured slopes with the differences ranging from −1° to −39°. Drone orthomosaics and DEM-derived layers make it possible to visualize and quantify the complex morphology of the karst depressions that are not clearly discern ible from the ground. Drone imagery can be used to rapidly map and assess gypsum depressions in arid areas.

Publication/Presentation Information

Journal Title:  Journal of Cave and Karst Studies

Volume:  88

Number:  3

Year:  2026

Pages:  100 - 108

DOI: 10.4311/2022ES0105

URL Link:  https://caves.org/wpcontent/uploads/Publications/JCKS/v88/88_3_100.pdf

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