V. T. Stringfield H. E. LeGrand 1973 <p>Some unusual characteristics of streamflow occur in&nbsp;regions underlain by carbonate rocks. The streamflow characteristics&nbsp;are related to processes of karstification, these processes being&nbsp;dependent on circulation of subsurface water and solution of the rock&nbsp;to form characteristic topography and underground cavern systems. &nbsp;Very highly cavernous and permeable unsaturated zones tend to keep&nbsp;the water table depressed below land surface in many karst regions, a&nbsp;condition that leads to a low density of perennial streams. The uneven&nbsp;distribution of permeability beneath surface karst streams causes them&nbsp;to lose or gain water, depending on the position of the water table with&nbsp;reference to stream level. The conventional techniques of interpolation&nbsp;and extrapolation that have been reasonably successful in approximating&nbsp;streamflow of ungaged sites in nonkarstic regions have only&nbsp;limited use in karst regions. An understanding of principles of&nbsp;karstification and an understanding of the hydrogeologic framework of&nbsp;a carbonate terrane provide a useful basis for evaluating the streamflow&nbsp;characteristics.</p> application/pdf en U.S. Geological Survey Concepts of karst development in relation to interpretation of surface runoff article