Distribution of carbonate rocks and variation analysis of karst water resources in China

Carbonate strata are widely distributed in China, which can be found in more than 30 provinces and cities, covering about 1/3 of the country’s territorial area. Affected by different geological and climatic conditions, carbonate strata in China geographically present different karst landscapes and groundwater resources. Specifically, northern China is dominated by large karst springs, while southern China is characterized by underground rivers. By determining the distribution range of carbonate strata in China, this paper pointed out the locations of large karst springs in the north and underground rivers in the south, analyzed the distribution characteristics of carbonate rocks in the north and south, the degree of karst development as well as their geological and climate genesis, and discussed the differences between karsts in northern and southern China in terms of occurrence forms of karst water and groundwater systems.