Measurements of radon concentration were performed at three geomorphologically different locations in Postojna Cave, Slovenia. In the part of the cave open to visitors, annual average radon activity concentrations of 3255 ± 1190 Bq m−3 and 2315 ± 1019 Bq m−3 were found at the lowest point (LP) and in the Lepe jame (Beautiful Caves, BC), respectively. A much higher average of 25 020 ± 12 653 Bq m−3 was characteristic of the dead-end passage Pisani rov (Gaily Coloured Corridor, GC), in which CO2concentration also reached very high values of 4689 ± 294 ppm in summer. Seasonal variations of radon and CO2 levels in the cave are governed by convective airflow, controlled mainly by the temperature difference between the cave and the outside atmosphere. The following additional sources of radon and CO2 were considered: (i) flux of geogas from the Earth's crust through fractured rocks (radon and CO2 source), (ii) clay sediments inside the passage (radon source) and (iii) the soil layer above the cave (radon and CO2source).
COBISS.SI-ID: 26528295
Cave air temperature, carbon dioxide concentrations in the cave air and external air temperature were analysed at several locations in Postojna Cave over the course of six holiday periods in 2009–2011. The results show that a 1-day increase in visitor numbers from 200 to 3,500 raised the cave air temperature by a maximum of 0.5 °C. The air temperature increases are within the annual range of cave air temperature variations. A fivefold increase in visitor numbers resulted in a carbon dioxide concentration that was at least twice as high as normal. The carbon dioxide concentration increased from 450 to 1,750 ppm (December 2009–January 2010). After 10 days of peak period visits, both the CO2 concentration and the temperature returned almost to the pre-holiday values. The gradual increase in mean annual air temperature in the cave (2004–2010) is not related to the number of visitors but to outside climate conditions.
COBISS.SI-ID: 33991981
Monitoring of air temperature takes place at five locations in two cave systems. At monitoring location Velika gora (Postojna 1), mean air temperature for the time period 2009–2010 was 11.10 °C. Of three monitoring locations Velika gora is situated at the highest absolute height. Mean air temperature in the same period was 10.66 °C in the central part of the Lepe jame cave (Postojna 3) and 10.30 °C in the side passage (Postojna 2). Temperature difference between outside and cave temperature is the highest at Postojna 2 monitoring location, due to the inflow of the air currents from the unknown parts, especially in winter time. Manual temperature measurements (2004–2010) exhibit slight increase of air temperature at Postojna 1 and Postojna 2 monitoring sites. In the Predjama cave system, the air temperature in Velika dvorana is much more stable than in Konjski hlev passage, which is more subject to external influences.
COBISS.SI-ID: 33522989
Temperature and pressure monitoring in Postojnska jama is compared to outside conditions. Air pressure in the cave at three monitoring sites fluctuates synchronically with outside air pressure. Temperature data for Postojna 1 and 3 show good correlation with outside climate conditions for the period 2009–2010. The temperature at Postojna 1 was increasing constantly from March to May 2009, while at Postojna 2, it was decreasing. Postojna 1 has a seasonal trend in accordance with outer trend, while seasonal trend at Postojna 2 is just contrary to outside trend. Microclimate studies at Postojna 2 show local variability, especially in winter, and exhibit special microclimate conditions that may be due to ventilation of unknown passages in the back.
COBISS.SI-ID: 32213037
We ave developed a high performance data carrier for use in delay and disruption tolearant networks.
COBISS.SI-ID: 24047399