Cave aerosols: identification, distribution, and contribution to speleothem geochemistry
Abstract
There is developing interest in cave aerosols due to the increasing awareness of their impacts on the cave environment and speleothem. This paper explores the processes controlling the distribution of cave aerosols and aerosol contributions to speleothem geochemistry. The identification of aerosols in speleothem is discussed through the combination of aerosol monitoring and speleothem geochemistry. Key issues of specific aerosol processes, involving distribution and production as well as cave location and morphology effects are highlighted through the presentation of preliminary monitoring data. This study identifies the strong relationship between cave ventilation, cave aerosols and their consequent spatial distribution. Due to the sensitivity of aerosols to environmental conditions, aerosol monitoring has the potential to be used in cave ventilation studies alongside, or in place of existing CO2 and temperature work. The contribution of cave aerosol deposition to speleothem geochemistry is modelled and evaluated using a mass balance framework. As an example, speleothem trace element data from Obir Cave (Austria) are compared with aerosol inputs to evaluate their significance. The mass balance study demonstrates that generally, under normal continuous growth and environmental conditions, aerosol deposition will be of only minor importance. However, modelling highlights specific scenarios in which aerosol contributions will be significant: speleothem hiatuses (or slow growth), high aerosol deposition, and secondary microbiological feedback. Aerosol deposition and incorporation as a potential palaeoenvironmental indicator is explored and data is presented from several cave locations through the combination of cave air monitoring and speleothem geochemical data.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2012
- Bibcode:
- 2012AGUFMPP13B2082D
- Keywords:
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- 1000 GEOCHEMISTRY;
- 1065 GEOCHEMISTRY / Major and trace element geochemistry