Processes affecting aerosol concentrations in Gough's Cave, Cheddar Gorge, UK

Results are presented from environmental monitoring over seasonal timescales in Gough's Cave, Cheddar Gorge, UK as a component of cave process research. Pronounced diurnal cycles in cave air pCO₂, temperature and aerosols are observed in summer (15/08/12- ∼12/09/12) and are attributed to the dominance of anthropogenic influences. The cycles diminish in the winter (end-September onwards) when the combination of reduced visitor numbers and increased cave ventilation allows natural processes to dominate. The reversal of the internal-external thermal gradient during mid-September coincides with an increase in the baseline concentration of aerosols. Aerosol baseline data allow the identification of distinct seasonal modes providing a greater insight into environmental processes within the cave than more established metrics such as pCO₂ and temperature alone.