formation of 'cockpit country'
Cockpits are formed
in humid tropical karst regions where simple closed depressions which have convexly inward lobed sides,making them star shaped,with gullies carrying streams after heavy rains are found.They are set among steep residual hills.
Lehmann gave an interpretation of the development of
humid tropical karst evolution i.e., development of the 'cockpit
country'.A prior planation is gently domed, tectonically which rejuvenated
surface drainage,which produced ridges and valleys which align down the flank of
the dome.This is followed by the development of vertical infiltration and
underground drainage causing valleys to breakup into chains of star shaped closed depressions of surface solutional origin.thus,there is centripetal fluvial action supported by rainstorms of high intensity(eg.-New Guinea .The
typical craggy slopes are covered with microgenic soils which is variable and
accentuated by slash and burn gardening or farming technique or other types of
agriculture.the favorable factors are:-
1)Low primary porosity;
2)Great compaction;
3)widely spaced
planes of weakness;
4)Great karst depth;
5)Subjacant
development beneath superficial deposit.
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