Zonation of Surface Karst Development using Entropy Model (Case Study: Parâw - Bisetoon Mountain Masses)

Karst masses have great importance in water supply of settlements and agricultural lands in arid and semi-dry areas. The most the mountains in Kermanshah province consist of carbonate formations, that Parâw - Bisetoon mountain masses in Zagros structural zone (thrust) are one of the most important karst masses. Karst landforms such as dolines, uvulas, and karst caves in this mountain mass are created due to affecting factors in the karst development such as the carbonate formations, tectonic, climatic and geomorphological conditions. The purpose of the present study is to zonate the development of surface karst in Parâw - Bisetoon mountain mass using Entropy model. This study used seven factors of geology, elevation, slope, aspect, rainfall, temperature and distance from the fault as independent variables and sinkholes factor as the dependent variable. The results of this study indicate that 39% of this area is categorized as the high and very high karst development. The accuracy of the model using the sinkholes layer indicates that 98% the sinkholes of region are in these two areas. Also there are a large number of karst springs (Saraw) around the mountain that shows the development of karst in the area.