The effect of visitors in a touristic cave and the resulting constraints on natural thermal conditions for palaeoclimate studies (Eagle Cave, central Spain)

Authors

  • David Dominguez-Villar Departamento de Geología, Universidad de Alcalá, Ctra. A-II km 33.600, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT, Birmingham
  • Ian J. Fairchild School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT, Birmingham
  • Rosa M. Carraasco Departamento de Ingeniería Geológica y Minera, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Av. Carlos III s/n, 45071, Toledo
  • Javier Pedraza Departamento de Geodinámica, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, C/ José García Novais 4, Ciudad Universitaria
  • Andy Baker Connected Waters Initiative, Water Research Laboratory, University of New South Wales, 110 King St, Manly Vale, 2093, NSW, Australia; affiliated to the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3986/ac.v39i3.78

Abstract

Temperature in Eagle Cave, central Spain, was measured over a year to determine the effect of tourists on the natural environ­ment. The mean cave temperature was 15.6°C in 2009, witha seasonal amplitude of <0.4°C. Access of tourists to the cavern produces thermal anomalies of <0.15°C, whichare recovered overnight in most cases. During days withhighvisitor num­bers, cumulative thermal anomalies may persist from one day to the next, causing an increase of cave temperature for longer periods. However, this anthropogenic effect disappears soon after the number of tourists reduces, lasting less than a week in most cases. Cumulative thermal anomalies are <0.02°C dur­ing most of the year and <0.1°C in periods withlarge number of visitors. The anthropogenic effect on cave temperature is non-persistent and has a small magnitude in comparison withnatural oscillations. Thus, long-term absolute temperatures ob­tained from Eagle Cave are not affected by visitors. The input of thermal energy caused by tourists is absorbed as latent heat by the cave (causing evaporation), whichprevents the increase of baseline temperatures in the environment. A condensation process occurs over cave walls and speleothems. This is the re­sult of cooling the atmosphere during the thermal equilibra­tion withcave walls once visitors leave. Althoughcondensation is found in Eagle Cave, the magnitude of the process is not enoughto cause any significant condensation corrosion that could damage speleothems as a result of the tourist visits. The cave is in thermal equilibrium withsurface temperatures, and calibration studies will produce suitable results for palaeocli­mate studies despite being a tourist cavern.

 

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Published

2012-10-09

How to Cite

Dominguez-Villar, D., Fairchild, I. J., Carraasco, R. M., Pedraza, J., & Baker, A. (2012). The effect of visitors in a touristic cave and the resulting constraints on natural thermal conditions for palaeoclimate studies (Eagle Cave, central Spain). Acta Carsologica, 39(3). https://doi.org/10.3986/ac.v39i3.78

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Section

Original papers