Climate warming detected in caves of the European Alps.

ABSTRACT: Cave air temperatures in four caves in the European Alps show statistically significant warming trends of about 0.2 °C per decade over the last two decades (2000-2020). These trends are about half as large as those observed outside and are characterized by a remarkable spatial and temporal consistency. The investigated caves represent different types in terms of their ventilation regime and one of them also hosts perennial ice. Key observation sites are located in cave sections where the temporal variability of air temperature is strongly attenuated compared to outside conditions and data from different cave sections show that the main results are valid for large parts of the investigated caves. Continued warming will lead to broad changes in alpine cave environments, including changes in

SUBMITTER: Obleitner F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11551203 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature