CURRENT KNOWLEDGE ON UNDERGROUND CLIMATE
CURRENT KNOWLEDGE ON UNDERGROUND CLIMATE
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Cave temperature depends primarily on the latitude and altitude at which the cave is located. It decreases moving from the equator towards the poles and with increasing elevation above sea level, with a gradient that depends on both quantity and velocity of water flowing through the rock mass. Over a very long time horizon (centuries), the average temperature of a cave tends, in fact, to assume the mean value of the temperature of the flowing water. Hypothetically, the lower karst networks are affected by water circulation, the greater will be the temperature increase with depth compared to the surface.
Cave temperature depends primarily on the latitude and altitude at which the cave is located. It decreases moving from the equator towards the poles and with increasing elevation above sea level, with a gradient that depends on both quantity and velocity of water flowing through the rock mass. Over a very long time horizon (centuries), the average temperature of a cave tends, in fact, to assume the mean value of the temperature of the flowing water. Hypothetically, the lower karst networks are affected by water circulation, the greater will be the temperature increase with depth compared to the surface.
In areas closest to the outside, and particularly near entrances affected by air circulation, cave temperature is significantly influenced by variations in external temperature, whilst in those sectors far from the surface it presents poor seasonal variability due to the high thermal capacity of rock masses.
In areas closest to the outside, and particularly near entrances affected by air circulation, cave temperature is significantly influenced by variations in external temperature, whilst in those sectors far from the surface it presents poor seasonal variability due to the high thermal capacity of rock masses.
Studies on underground climate have been ongoing for some time, but only in recent years investigation were started to explore the effects of climate change in karst systems. From the comparison between data relating to current annual averages of outside air temperatures and measurements carried out in cavities, it emerges that in depth values slightly lower than the current averages at the surface at the same elevations above sea level are recorded. The internal temperature of mountains therefore does not appear to be in equilibrium with the outer environment because the thermal inertia of karst massifs determines a delay and attenuation in the transfer of the climate warming signal inside karst systems, as hypothesised by Badino in 2004.
Studies on underground climate have been ongoing for some time, but only in recent years investigation were started to explore the effects of climate change in karst systems. From the comparison between data relating to current annual averages of outside air temperatures and measurements carried out in cavities, it emerges that in depth values slightly lower than the current averages at the surface at the same elevations above sea level are recorded. The internal temperature of mountains therefore does not appear to be in equilibrium with the outer environment because the thermal inertia of karst massifs determines a delay and attenuation in the transfer of the climate warming signal inside karst systems, as hypothesised by Badino in 2004.
In September 2024, researchers from the University of Innsbruck published a study conducted on four Alpine caves, where between 2000 and 2020 a temperature increase of 0.2 °C per decade was recorded.
In September 2024, researchers from the University of Innsbruck published a study conducted on four Alpine caves, where between 2000 and 2020 a temperature increase of 0.2 °C per decade was recorded.
The palaeoclimatologist Dominique Genty, for example, studying the Villars cave in Dordogne, recorded an increase of 0.4 °C from 1997 to 2007, equal to 0.04 °C per year, in agreement with the increase in temperature values recorded at the surface. Dominguez-Villar et al., on the other hand, detected a temperature increase in Postojna cave (Slovenia) of 0.015 °C per year. In Italy, on going research, not yet published, appears to confirm a temperature increase for Italian caves as well.
The palaeoclimatologist Dominique Genty, for example, studying the Villars cave in Dordogne, recorded an increase of 0.4 °C from 1997 to 2007, equal to 0.04 °C per year, in agreement with the increase in temperature values recorded at the surface. Dominguez-Villar et al., on the other hand, detected a temperature increase in Postojna cave (Slovenia) of 0.015 °C per year. In Italy, on going research, not yet published, appears to confirm a temperature increase for Italian caves as well.
As regards the impacts on underground ecosystems, Professor Danilo Russo of the Federico II University has documented a response of chiropterans (bats) to ongoing climate warming characterised by an increase in body proportions, migrations to caves located at higher altitudes and increased mortality.
As regards the impacts on underground ecosystems, Professor Danilo Russo of the Federico II University has documented a response of chiropterans (bats) to ongoing climate warming characterised by an increase in body proportions, migrations to caves located at higher altitudes and increased mortality.
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