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Local characteristics of Postojna Cave climate, air temperature, and pressure monitoring

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Abstract

In Postojna Cave, air temperature and pressure monitoring has been conducted since July 21, 2008. 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.

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Acknowledgments

The study was performed within the projects Expert control and recommendations for management of cave systems and Climatic and biologic monitoring of cave systems financed by Turizem KRAS Destinacijski management d.d. It is also part of Karst Research Programme (P6-0119) and project Monitoring and analysis of selected climatic parameters in karst caves: The case of Postojna Cave system (L6-2156) both financed by Slovenian Research Agency. Ira D. Sasowsky (University of Akron, OH, USA) is thanked for comments of the manuscript. Suggestions of reviewers significantly improved the original manuscript.

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  1. ZRC SAZU Karst Research Institute, Titov trg 2, 6230, Postojna, Slovenia

    Stanka Šebela & Janez Turk

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  1. Stanka Šebela
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  2. Janez Turk
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Correspondence to Stanka Šebela.

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Šebela, S., Turk, J. Local characteristics of Postojna Cave climate, air temperature, and pressure monitoring. Theor Appl Climatol 105, 371–386 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-011-0397-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-011-0397-9

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