Are there sinkholes in the uk

But Mathiesen also points out that the timescale for many of these events is thousands of years, meaning that most sinkholes began forming long before humans started interfering. With widely-circulated reports of sinkholes in St Albans, Hemel Hempstead and High Wycombe in the past few years, as well as stories of London's exploding pavements, it can seem that there's some kind of geological uprising taking place in the UK.

It's true that more major sinkholes are appearing around the UK. In early , scientists recorded a five-fold increase in the number of sinkholes occurring over a particularly rainy winter — and the evidence suggests there are more to come.

Ongoing climate change raises the likelihood of extreme weather, meaning the torrential rain and flooding conditions which often lead to the exposure of sinkholes are likely to become increasingly common. But the good news is that the average person is still extremely unlikely to be swallowed by one. Despite an estimated 32, natural sinkholes scattered around the country, they have not been responsible for a single death. Wet weather leading to saturated ground is the primary catalyst for the appearance of natural sinkholes in the UK.

Because they are usually caused by the erosion of bedrock, sinkholes form more easily in areas that stand on chalk, gypsum or salt rock, which dissolve quicker than other types of ground. This makes the south east particularly susceptible, as well as the Isle of Wight and parts of Yorkshire. Surveying can establish whether a property is built over any manmade features that increase the risk of a sinkhole, like a disused mine or tunnel.

When it comes to naturally occurring sinkholes, it becomes far harder to predict. While the technology to examine bedrock in detail does exist, it would be impractical to uncover and monitor all the fissures and cavities that might eventually form a sinkhole.

Skip to header Skip to main content Skip to footer. Home News UK News. Home » Blog » What are sink holes and why are more and more appearing around the UK? London Drainage Facilities explains the science behind sinkholes and why they are becoming more prevalent in the UK. In the past, massive sinkholes have been cropping up around the world in countries such as the USA and China. However, in recent years there has been a dramatic increase in the number of sinkholes appearing at home in the UK.

Sinkholes often arise as a result of natural processes but it has been warned that the marked increase in these kinds of events in recent times could be down to indirect human activity. Sinkholes often arise as a result of natural processes but it has been warned that the marked increase in these kinds of events in recent times could be down to human activity.

And what causes them? A sinkhole is a hole in the ground caused by a collapse in the levels of earth and rock below the surface. They can be very small - around a metre in diameter and depth - or very large. One of the biggest sinkholes ever recorded was around metres deep and nearly metres wide. Natural sinkholes take place when rock deep below the surface is eroded slowly by rainwater seeping down from the surface.

Soil from above falls down to fill the gaps, creating more holes. Eventually - and this could take many years - the surface level collapses, causing a sinkhole.

Sand collapses gradually, creating a sinkhole over time, according to the BGS. But clay can hold out for years, meaning that when the collapse comes it can be dramatic. Other causes of sinkholes are when a deep underground cave collapses, undermining the levels above it. This is common in Wales and Ripon in Yorkshire. Sinkholes can take place in many parts of the world. There are several regions that are particularly prone to sinkholes, like in Florida and parts of southern Italy.