Open AccessUna revisión de los procesos de sufosión o piping en España
Author(s) -
J. M. GarcíaRuiz
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
cuadernos de investigación geográfica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.537
H-Index - 20
eISSN - 1697-9540
pISSN - 0211-6820
DOI - 10.18172/cig.1243
Subject(s) - piping , marl , geology , arid , expansive clay , expansive , drainage , hydrology (agriculture) , landslide , soil water , archaeology , mining engineering , geomorphology , geotechnical engineering , geography , environmental science , paleontology , ecology , soil science , environmental engineering , structural basin , compressive strength , materials science , biology , composite material
The papers referred to the development of piping processes in Spain are reviewed. Most of papers are focused on semi-arid environments of the Ebro Depression and South-East Spain, where large collapses occur favouring the evolution of gullies. In many cases, piping is related to the presence of badlands. Piping is particularly relevant on soils and poorly consolidated materials on soft rocks (marls and lutites), with abundant expansive clays and high sodium content. The existence of strong hydraulic gradients (linked to bench-terracing of cultivated soils, or to gully incision) is a necessary factor. Many of the problems related to piping are generated in old cultivated fields or even in irrigated fields. In mountain areas the presence of subsurface drainage networks has been cited as a consequence of the presence of micro-mammals burrowing or dead roots, though they do not lead to the development of badlands.