Temperature variations in caves induced by atmospheric pressure variations—Part 1: Transfer functions and their interpretation

Atmospheric pressure variations (APV) induce measurable temperature changes in cave environments, offering new insights into underground thermodynamics. This study reveals that the relationship between APV and air temperature—captured through transfer functions (TFs)—varies significantly with frequency, with modulus values ranging from 2 to 14 × 10⁻³°C/hPa at the barometric tide (S2, 12 h). Analysis of four French caves, including the UNESCO-listed Grotte Chauvet-Pont d'Arc with its prehistoric wall paintings, shows that while TFs exhibit pluriannual stability, seasonal variations can occur. An improved analytical model explains these TFs by incorporating factors like gas adiabatic compressibility, heat exchange with rock, and barometric pumping motion. The findings highlight the potential of APV-induced temperature variations as a tool for characterizing underground environments, relevant for cave heritage preservation and understanding coupled processes in the Critical Zone.

Perrier, F., Bourges, F., Girault, F., Mouël, J.-L. L., Genty, D., Lartiges, B., Losno, R., & Bonnet, S. (2023). Temperature variations in caves induced by atmospheric pressure variations—Part 1: Transfer functions and their interpretation. Geosystems and Geoenvironment, 2(2), 100145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geogeo.2022.100145