Zapadliskowe

Zapadliskowe is a Polish adjective used in geology and geomorphology to describe phenomena, landforms, and processes related to sinkholes and ground subsidence. The term derives from the word zapadanie (to sink) and refers to depressions formed when surface material collapses into subterranean voids or when the ground slowly subsides due to changes in supporting structures beneath.

Zapadliskowe processes include dissolution of soluble rocks, such as limestone or gypsum, leading to underground cavities and eventual surface collapse. They can also result from the collapse of cavern roofs, extraction of groundwater or minerals, underground mining, or rapid removal of supporting material through drainage or compaction. In practice, these processes produce depressions, pits, or funnel-shaped basins that vary in size from meters to several tens of meters across.

In terrain, zapadliskowe landforms are common in karst regions and in areas with soluble rocks, as well as in loess or alluvial soils where subsidence is driven by pore-water pressure changes or soil compaction. They are studied in various regions of Poland and worldwide, often in the context of hydrology, landscape evolution, and risk assessment for infrastructure and land use.

Monitoring and management of zapadliskowe phenomena involve topographic mapping, LiDAR and interferometric radar techniques, borehole or cave surveys, and hydrogeological monitoring. Understanding these processes is important for urban planning, drainage design, and hazard mitigation, particularly in regions with active landform change.