ABSTRACT
Alpine karst is the solutional landscape occurring at high altitudes throughout the mountains of the world. It is distinctive primarily by virtue of localized colder conditions resulting from the altitude, often resulting in restricted vegetation, seasonal snow and snow melt, and past and present glaciers. Exceptionally steep hydraulic gradients develop between upland recharge areas and adjacent valleys. Alpine conditions do not particularly favour karst development: runoff is seasonal, dissolution subdued by reduced biological activity, and past and present geomorphic processes compete and hinder evolution of karst.
