Publication details
Continuous monitoring of the hydrogeochemical properties of the Amatérská cave waters
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| Year of publication | 2022 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
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| Description | In the period from June 2020 to June 2022, continuous monitoring of the cave environment parameters was carried out in the AmatérskáCave (Moravian Karst, Czech Republic) to assess the risk factors associated mainly with the surface above the cave. The research was carried out by monthly sampling of the cave water, but also in the period from May 2021 using instruments specially designed to monitor the hydrogeochemical properties of dripwaters(discharge, conductivity, pH, temperature). The obtained data were compared with microclimatic parameters (air temperature, air CO2) and surface parameters (precipitation, temperature, soil CO2). Monitored drips were selected with respect to their position in the cave system and the situation on the surface above the cave at four sites – E (under mixed forest), K (transition between forest and grassed area), M (grassed area) and N (former arable land). A comparison of the monthly and continuous discharge monitoring shows that the repetitive measurements usually register the main trends, nevertheless, very large variations can occur in the intermediate period. Continuous monitoring also registers seasonal variations in parameters showing differences between the monitored sites. In terms of discharge, most drip waters showed a relatively high variability – while the discharge was high at the beginning (1-2.5 l/hr), the overall trend was diminishing, with values between 0.01-1 l/hr towards the end. While E showed the highest and most stable values, while M (which temporarily completely dried up) and N had the greatest decline. The situation is probably influenced by the above-average rainfall/infiltration year 2020(in the context of recent droughts). In addition, there is a clear trend in conductivity (with max. in summer and min. in winter), which is also usually positively correlated with discharge. The pH is very stable in some waters(e.g., E), while in others, it shows strong seasonality(e.g., M shows a difference of up to 0.6 between summer and winter), which is most probably tied to CO2 variations. In terms of the response of water properties to surface conditions, most drips show no direct correlation with precipitation, with only one (N) showing a very weak correlation (corr. coeff. 0.11). It can be inferred from cross-correlations that the hydrological response in drips lags 2-3 days after rainfall. All drip-sites show seasonal variations in supersaturation with respect to calcite (max. in winter, min. in summer). Sites K and M showed long periods when water can be significantly aggressive. |
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