Volume of Abstracts - Università degli Studi di Milano

IWIC - V 

5 th INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP 

ON ICE CAVES 

Barzio (LC), Valsassina, Grigna and Milano, Italy 

September 16 –23, 2012 

VOLUME OF ABSTRACTS 

Edited by 

STEFANO TURRI, ANDREA STRINI, FERRUCCIO TOMASI 

GeoSFerA Studio Associato di Geologia, Varese, Italy 

UNIVERSITA' DEGLI STUDI DI 

MILANO 

Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra 

"Ardito Desio" 

UNIVERSITA' DEGLI STUDI DI 

MILANO - BICOCCA 

Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Ambiente 

e del Territorio

5 th Int. Workshop on Ice Caves (IWIC – V) 

Barzio (LC), Valsassina, Grigna and Milano, September 16 – 23, 2012 

Volume of Abstracts 

Photo: LO LC 1650 “Abisso sul margine dell‟alto Bregai” ice cave by C. Mangiagalli 

2

President 




SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE 

PROF. ALFREDO BINI, Department of Earth Sciences “Ardito Desio”, 

University of Milan, Italy 

Members 

DR. ZOLTÀN KERN, Climate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, 

University of Bern, Switzerland 

PROF. VALTER MAGGI, Environmental Sciences Department, University of 

Milano Bicocca, Italy 

DR. AUREL PERŞOIU, Geography Department, University of Suceava, 

Romania 

PROF. ANDREAS PFLITSCH, Geography Department, Ruhr-University of 

Bochum, Germany 

DR. STEFANO TURRI, GeoSFerA - Studio Associato di Geologia, Varese, 

Italy 

PROF. GEORGE VENI - National Cave and Karst Research Institute, USA 

Workshop Secretariat 

DR. STEFANO TURRI, GeoSFerA - Studio Associato di Geologia, Varese, 

Italy 

HOST INSTITUTIONS 

Parco Regionale della Grigna Settentrionale (Grigna Regional Park) 

Comunità Montana Valsassina Valvarrone Val d'Esino e Riviera 

POST-MEETING CONTACTS 

E-mail: iwic_v@unimi.it 

IWIC-V website http://users.unimi.it/icecaves/IWIC-V 

3




PATRONAGE 

IWIC-V is organized under the auspices of UIS-GLACKIPR, the Glacial 

Caves and Cryokarst in Polar and High Mountain Regions Commission of 

the International Union of Speleology, Comitato Glaciologico 

Italiano (Italian Glaciological Committee), Regione Lombardia and 

Provincia di Lecco. 

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SPONSORIZED BY 

Servizi Territorio s.r.l. 

Via Garibaldi 21 

20092 Cinisello Balsamo 

Italy 

http://www.serviziterritorio.it 

AND SUPPORTED BY 

GeoSFerA 

Studio Associato 

di Geologia 

Via Rossini 18 

21100 Varese 

Italy 

http://www.studiogeosfera.it 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 

7 

Page 

Foreword 11 

Oral presentations 13 

TURRI S., BINI A. & MAGGI V. - Ice caves scientific research history: 

from Leonardo da Vinci to the end of 1800 

MENICHETTI M., SALVATORI F. & PODERINI L. - Ice caves in Central Italy 15 

GREBE C. & PFLITSCH A. - Ice cave research - from a phenomenon to 

modern research 

COLUCCI R. R., FORTE E. & GUGLIELMIN M. - Underground cryosphere in 

the Monte Canin Massif, Alpi Giulie (Italy) 

PFLITSCH A., SCHÖRGHOFER N. & SMITH S. - Exploration of Ice Caves on 

Mauna Loa, Hawaii 

ROJŠEK D. - Cave Ice in Velika ledena jama v Paradani, Slovenija 19 

PFLITSCH A., GREBE C. & GRUDZIELANEK M. - About the use of thermal 

cameras in cave micrometeorological studies 

YANG S. & SHI Y. - The numerical simulation of a saving mechanism of 

Ice Cave in Ningwu, China 

STEPANOV Y. I., KICHIGIN A. V. & TAINITSKY A. A. - Investigation of ice 

thickness in the Urals caves using Georadar 

TOGNINI P. - Role of subglacial caves in the evolution of glacier in the 

snout area: two examples on the Forni Glacier (Valtellina, I) and 

Morteratsch Glacier (CH) 

MAVLYUDOV B. R. - Glacial caves of the Bellingshausen Dome and 

adjacent areas, King George Island, South Shetland Islands, 

Antarctica 

FERRARIO A. - A new register for the glacial caves 25 

TOGNINI P. - Evidence of a subglacial lake in a contact cave on the 26 

15 

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20 

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22 

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Forni Glacier (Valtellina, I) 


BÖCKLER D., PFLITSCH A. & KILLING-HEINZE M. - A comparison of 

temperature data loggers and measuring sensors of different price 

levels and construction types to test their reaction time, accuracy and 

applicability in cave research 

KOSUTNIK J. - Temperature monitoring in Slovene Ice Caves examples, 

results and discussion 

HOLMGREN D. & PFLITSCH A. - Talus & Gorge Glacier past to present - A 

historical and microclimatological research in the Northeastern United 

States 

KORZYSTKA M., PIASECKI J., SAWIŃSKI T. & ZELINKA J. - “Chimney effect” 

and its influence on the thermal conditions of the Dobšinská Ice Cave 

MORARD S., BOCHUD M. & DELALOYE R. - Ice mass and frozen ground in 

permeable ventilated systems: comparison between a dynamic ice 

cave and overcooled talus slopes in western Switzerland 

MIHEVC A. - The influence of the ice caves on climate of karst 

depressions – case of low altitude permafrost at Smrekova draga, 

Trnovski gozd, Slovenia 

KALININA T. A., TCHAIKOVSKIY I. I. & KADEBSKAYA O. I. - Mineral crusts at 

the surface of lakes of warm and cold zones in the Kungur Ice Cave 

KADEBSKAYA O. I. - Cryogenic minerals of some ice caves of the Urals 35 

PERŞOIU A. & BOJAR A.-V. - δ 13 C in cave ice: a new proxy for 

palaeoprecipitation reconstructions 

SHU L., JIN S., HUANG S., ZHANG Q. & WU Z. - China’s anti-season ice 

caves 

MAGGI V., TURRI S., BINI A., PERŞOIU A., ONAC B., STENNI B. & UDISTI R. - 

Two millennia of natural to antropogenic effects in Transylvania from 

Focul Viu ice core 

KERN Z., SZÉLES É. & BOŢIŠ N. - Lead concentrations and stable lead 

isotopes from a Croatian cave ice profile 

SATTLER B., STANDHARTINGER B., HOOVER R., WENDLINGER C., SPÖTL C. & 

PSENNER R. - Microbiology in Alpine and Antarctic Ice and Glacier Cave 

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27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

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36 

37 

38 

39 

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TRUSHKOVA N. - Research of air ion composition of Kungur Ice cave 

atmosphere 

BYUN H.-R. - Advanced use of ice caves as water storage 42 

KORZYSTKA M., PIASECKI J., SAWIŃSKI T. & ZELINKA J. - Human impact on 

the ice cave climatic environment - case study from entrance area of 

the Dobšinská Ice Cave 

FAVARON M., ALBERICI A. - Measuring airflow, turbulence and microclimate 

in glacier caves: a technology and data processing 

experience. 

Poster Presentations 45 

BELMONTE A., BARTOLOMÉ M., SANCHO C., MORENO A. & LÓPEZ-MARTÍNEZ J. 

- Assessing the palaeoclimate potential of the A294 ice cave (Central 

Pyrenees, Northern Spain) 

HOFFMANN H., MAY B., LEINFELDER D., BUSAM J., STEIER P. & WAGENBACH 

D. - Dating perspective of old ice contained in dynamic caves of the 

Alps 

KOŠUTNIK J. & RAVBAR N. - Air temperature variability and ice cave 

microclimate characteristics observed in Županova jama, Slovenia 

HILLEBRAND A., RUSU A., PERŞOIU A., BRAD T., POPA E., ONAC B. P. & 

PURCAREA C. - Microbial biodiversity in ice sediments from Scarisoara 

Ice Cave (Romania) 

COHEN S. M. & CHRISTIANSEN H. H. - The interaction of permafrost and 

karst features as seen at a small lake system at Kapp Linné, west 

central Spitsbergen 

GÓMEZ LENDE M. & SERRANO CAÑADAS E. - First thermal, morphological 

and ice types studies in the Peña Castil Ice Cave (Picos de Europa, 

Cantabrian Mountains. Northern Spain) 

ONAC B. P., WYNN J. G. & CITTERIO M.- Ikaite in the Scărisoara Ice Cave 

(Romania): origin and significance 

NOVOMESKÝ J.- What caused the leds in cave lighting? 55 

FERRARIO A., INGLESE M., TESTA P. & TOGNINI P. - Glacial karst on the 56 

9 

41 

43 

44 

47 

48 

49 

50 

51 

52 

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Forni Glacier (Valtellina, I) 


FERRARIO A., INGLESE M., TESTA P. & TOGNINI P. - Glacial karst on the 

Morteratsch Glacier (CH) 

BEARZOT F., COLUCCI R. R., FINOCCHIARO F., FORTE E., GUGLIELMIN M. & 

POTLECA M. - First surveys in an ice cave of the Monte Canin Massif, 

Alpi Giulie (Italy) 

KERN Z. & THOMAS S. - Ice level changes from seasonal to decadal 

time-scale at Lava Beds National Monument, NE California, USA 

ALBERICI A., FAVARON M. & FRATERNALI D. - Technical Experience made 

Instrumenting LO LC 1650 Ice Cave (“Abisso sul margine dell’Alto 

Bregai”) 

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56 

57 

58 

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FOREWORD 

Dear Participants, 

As decided in 2010 during IWIC-IV in Austria, we are glad to host you in 

Italy at the fifth International Workshop on Ice Caves. 

IWIC-V is focused on all aspects of ice cave research and particularly: cave 

glaciology and ice dynamics, cave meteorology and climatology, cryomineralogy 

and cryo-crystallography, paleoclimatology and global change, 

chemistry and geochemistry of ice caves, and ice cave management and 

technologies. 

IWIC-V will include many oral and poster presentations, and also a two-day 

field excursion to the Moncodeno karst area on the northern side of Grigna 

Mountain, which is the principal location of ice caves in this area. 

With your participation, we expect IWIC-V will be a successful and 

important event for the scientific community interested in wide-ranging 

topics of ice caves. 

We wish you a pleasant stay in Italy 

Sincerely yours, 

11 

Prof. Alfredo Bini 

Dr. Zoltàn Kern 

Prof. Valter Maggi 

Dr. Aurel Persoiu 

Prof. Andreas Pflitsch 

Dr. Stefano Turri 

Prof. George Veni


we are very pleasured to welcome to the Fifth International Workshop on 

Ice Cave (IWIC-V). The Comunità Montana Valssassina, Valvarrone, Val 

d'Esino e Riviera is honoured to receive delegations of scientists coming 

from several nations around the world involved in the study of the ice 

caves; these cavities are precious and fragile archives of climatic and 

environmental data and can be also an important geo-touristic resource. In 

this period of economic crisis and dramatic climate changes, we are 

conscious that scientific research in environmental themes is one of the 

most important investments. We want also underline that this workshop is 

a link with the history of Valsassina, because the ice caves of this area 

were described by Leonardo da Vinci and one century ago a field trip of the 

XXX Congress of the Italian Geological Society was performed in this area. 

We are conscious that this international congress will be also an occasion 

to show the natural beauties of this region and the culture and hospitality 

of the Valsassina communities. 

President of Comunità Montana 

Alberto Denti 


the importance of the studies about ice deposits is well documented from 

several years and the fifth edition of an International Congress devoted to 

a so specialized theme confirms this fact. We are particularly impressed for 

the number and the quality of the participants; more than 40 presentations 

from 15 countries show that the scientific research still lives and the 

enthusiastic work of researchers, professors and students can survive in 

this difficult period. IWIC-V is a unique occasion for the Parco Regionale 

della Grigna Settentrionale to demonstrate its vocation to the preservation 

of the environment and to the scientific research. More than ten years ago, 

before the creation of the Parco, in the same territory an ice core was 

drilled in the cave LoLC 1650 by the staff of the Università degli Studi di 

Milano, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra Ardito Desio and Università 

degli Studi di Milano Bicocca, Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Ambiente e del 

Territorio. From this year lots of activities were performed in order to 

promote scientific activities, environmental protection and the diffusion of 

the scientific and basic knowledge, because the only way to develop a 

sustainable future is understand in toto the mechanisms that control our 

world. The Parco Regionale della Grigna Settentrionale can offer to 

congress members an intriguing setting for their works; different themes of 

geosciences are present, like karstic features both superficial and 

hypogean, paleontological sites, glacial morphologies and, naturally, ice 

cave deposits. We hope that during the field excursion all these features 

can be observed and can be a spur for future researches. 

Director of Parco Regionale della Grigna Settentrionale 

Giacomo Camozzini




ORAL PRESENTATIONS 

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ICE CAVES SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH HISTORY: FROM LEONARDO DA 

VINCI TO THE END OF 1800 

Turri S. 1 , Bini A. 2 & Maggi V. 3 

1 GeoSFerA Studio Associato di Geologia, Via Rossini 18, 21100 Varese, Italy 

2 Dept. of Earth Sciences “Ardito Desio”, University of Milano. Via Mangiagalli 34, 20133 Milan, Italy 

3 Environmental and Territorial Sciences Dept., University of Milano-Bicocca. P.zza della Scienza 1, 

20126 Milan, Italy 

One of the first descriptive notes of ice caves appeared in the note books of 

Leonardo da Vinci. 

The occurrence of hypogean ice deposits has always attracted famous 

scientists and illustrious travellers, which usually were informed by 

shepherds or local inhabitants, that rushed with curiosity to the ice caves 

to describe and to explain the hypogean glacial phenomena. In this work, 

references of some of the most outstanding observations between the 

period of Leonardo da Vinci and the end of 1800 A.D. are cited. Stenone 

(1671) wrote two letters after his visits to two ice caves in the Northern 

Italy; they are reported here in their original versions. 

ICE CAVES IN CENTRAL ITALY 

Menichetti M. 1,2 , Salvatori F. 2 & Poderini L. 2 

1 Università di Urbino – Disteva; 

2 Centro Escursionistico Naturalistico Speleologico Costacciaro (PG) 

In Abruzzo National Park in Central Italy, extensive outcrops of Mesozoic 

carbonate sequence display many superficial karst features with doline 

fields and polje associated with a few caves, shafts and resurgences. The 

region is at an altitude of between 1500 and 1900 m above sea level and is 

covered by deciduous mesophile woods and montane grasslands in the 

highest area. The town of Pescasseroli (altitude 1150 m), located a few km 

SE of the karstic area, is characterized by a temperate cold climate 

(Köppen type D) with an annual average temperature of +8°C, rainfall of 

1577 mm/y, an average of 131 icy days/y and a snow cover that persists 

for many months. 

Several caves in the region, locally called “Nevera” (snow reserve), 

preserve ice deposits of a few tens of cubic meters and, being located at a 

lat of 42°N, probably represent the southernmost ice caves in Europe. 

These caves are large shafts a few tens of meters deep with branches and 

galleries extending for a hundred meters. Important underground air fluxes 

15




have been detected in many passages, with opposite seasonal directions 

and with discharge that can reach cubic meters/sec. 

The ice is localized close to the cave entrance and is the result of the 

freezing of seepage water and accumulation of snow during the winter 

season. The ice covers the cave floor and consists of roughly laminated 

layers deriving from melting and refreezing processes reflecting the annual 

cycle of mass variations. The ice contains a lot of organic matter, mainly 

leafs, that during the summer season form a carpet of a few centimetres 

thick close to the cave entrance that prevents the ice melting. 

In order to study the cave microclimates, an air temperature monitoring 

system was recently installed inside the caves and integrated with 

measurements of climatic parameters at the surface. The temperature 

inside the caves varies from a maximum of +2,5°C in the summer season 

to a minimum of -10 °C in the winter. The record data show near constant 

values during the summer and significant variations in the winter time. The 

shift is strictly linked to the external temperature: below +2,5°C the caves 

breathe in, introducing freezing winter air, while above such temperature, 

the air flux blows out of the cave. The cold air coming from the deeper part 

of the cave, where the temperature is a constant +2,5°C, is controlled by 

heat exchange with the cave walls and groundwater. 

These air fluxes permit the seepage water to freeze and snow to 

accumulate inside the cave, and maintain the ice volume in a dynamic 

equilibrium during the warm season. Historical information shows that over 

the last decades the ice volume has markedly decreased. 

ICE CAVE RESEARCH - FROM A PHENOMENON TO MODERN 

RESEARCH 

Grebe C. 1 & Pflitsch A. 1 

1 Working Group Cave & Subway Climatology, Geography Department, Ruhr-University of Bochum, 

Universitätsstraße 150 / Gebäude NA, 44780 Bochum, Germany 

(christiane_grebe@gmx.de, andreas.pflitsch@rub.de) 

The phenomenon ice caves was known long before modern science started 

to investigate this unique climate archive. Due to the amount of 

information that was collected during the last years we will present an 

overview of the history of ice cave research over the last centuries. Beside 

the historical analysis the main focus of this work was to make unknown 

historical publications available and to examine them regarding their 

information content useful for current scientific research. Most of the ice 

cave publications until the 19th century had a predominant descriptive 

character, however they provide information about historical ice cave sites 

16




and thus general hints for the geographical distribution of ice caves. In the 

presentation we will also show examples for historical measurements in 

caves as well as historical descriptions regarding ice cave morphology and 

dynamics. Beside that the most important facts about the history of theory, 

regularities and systematic investigations in the past will be illustrated. 

UNDERGROUND CRYOSPHERE IN THE MONTE CANIN MASSIF, ALPI 

GIULIE (ITALY) 

Colucci R.R. 1, 2 , Forte E. 1 & Guglielmin M. 3 

1 University of Trieste, Department of Geoscience – via Weiss 2, 34128 Trieste, Italy 

2 National Research Council (CNR), ISMAR Trieste – Viale R. Gessi 2, 34123 Trieste, Italy 

3 Insubria University, BICOM Varese – via HJ Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy 

In the Natural Park of the Prealpi Giulie, stands the massif of Monte Canin 

which represents a particular case study in terms of relationships between 

climate and environment. The massif is characterized by glacial and 

periglacial environment with heavy snowfalls (6.80 m at 1800 m ASL, from 

dec 1st to apr 30th) and cold temperature (MAAT 2000-09 = 3.8 +/- 0.6°C 

at 1800 m ASL) that allow to find cryospheric conditions normally found in 

much higher elevations in the Alps. The whole area, for lithological and 

structural features that characterize it, is affected by a large number of 

karst caves. Within the area, in a great number of cavities it was reported 

the presence of snow and ice, and in many of these cases permanent and 

layered ice was detected. Although the area is affected since several 

decades of intense research caving, the study of the underground 

cryosphere started at the end of summer 2010 when a karst cave filled by 

a permanent ice deposit has been identified to be suitable for a systematic 

monitoring. The cave entrance, which roughly correspond with the 

beginning of ice deposits, is located at an elevation of 2285 m a.s.l. 

representing the most elevated cave filled by ice actually known both in 

Alpi Carniche and Alpi Giulie (the northeastern most part of Italian Alps). 

During summer 2011 the cave was instrumented by several temperature 

probes in rock, air and ice. Actually 14 monitoring sites were overall 

activated both outside and inside the cave. 

Two fixed reference marks, in order to detect the spatial and temporal 

changes of the ice body height, were also installed and are actually 

measured at every visit. In order to quantify the thickness, the 

stratigraphy and the internal structure of ice body, the ice mass have been 

scanned by using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) techniques. We acquired 

9 profiles using a ZOND instrument equipped with 500 and 800 MHz 

17




bistatic shielded antennas. Profile spacing was 1m, while trace interval was 

0.02cm in order to obtain a very high lateral resolution. GPR sections were 

combined in order to obtain a volume allowing a pseudo 3D interpretation. 

We processed the whole dataset adopting a standard processing flow (DC 

removal, drift correction, background removal, spectral analysis and 

filtering, amplitude recovery, velocity analysis based on diffraction 

hyperbolas, time migration and depth conversion), integrated by specific 

algorithms like adaptive deconvolution to increase vertical resolution and 

make easier the identification of thin layers and attributes analyses to 

highlight both vertical and lateral discontinuities. We found a mean EM 

velocity close to 22cm/ns, which is typical for fresh ice and we imaged 

several intra ice horizons and the contact between ice and rocks reaching a 

maximum depth of about 5m below the actual frozen surface. 

Moreover, the acquired data show an air-filled cave (during the survey 

reachable also by direct inspection) characterised by the tipical EM phase 

inversion due to the contact between ice and air. In the central part of the 

cave, below the ice, a possible debris- filled zone was also tentatively 

interpreted. 

EXPLORATION OF ICE CAVES ON MAUNA LOA, HAWAII 

Pflitsch A. 1 , Schörghofer N. 2 & Smith S. 3 

1 Department of Geography, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany 

(andreas.pflitsch@rub.de) 

2 NASA Astrobiology Institute, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA 

(norbert@hawaii.edu) 

3 Cave Conservancy of Hawaii, Hilo, Hawaii, USA (amygdala1881@yahoo.com) 

The Mauna Loa shield volcano, one of two high summits on the Big Island 

of Hawaii (20°N), has a high density of lava tubes and mean annual 

temperatures are well above freezing. We have visited and surveyed two 

ice caves on the north flank of Mauna Loa. 

One of the caves is known as “Mauna Loa Ice Cave” since at least 1979. 

We re-located and visited this cave in November 2011 and found that the 

ice is still present, but has retreated. 

Another ice cave has been discovered in 2009 by Stephen Smith, and is 

named “Arsia Cave”. Two side passages within this lava tube have frozen 

lakes. One of the ice chambers has a ~2m high ice stalagmite. Water drips 

from the ceiling and freezes in the ponds, which contain large bubbles. The 

discrete levels of the bubbles suggest the ice is layered. Although we could 

not directly measure the depth of the ice lakes, we estimate it to be up to 

several meters. 

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All of the ice caves are of “ice cellar” type; the lava tube leads downward 

from a single entrance. The caves are at ~3,400m and ~3,600m elevation, 

respectively, still ~700m below the summit. The lava flows they are in are 

0.2 ka–1.5 ka old, which represents a maximum age for the ice. 

The massive ice lakes may contain a climate record, and, given the lack of 

other century-scale paleoclimate records in the Pacific, they are potentially 

extremely valuable scientifically. Moreover, the ice caves on Mauna Loa are 

the world's most isolated ice caves, and thus interesting in terms of 

microbial communities. We have begun monitoring air temperature and 

humidity and will continue to characterize the field sites physically and 

climatologically in upcoming field work. 

CAVE ICE IN VELIKA LEDENA JAMA V PARADANI, SLOVENIJA 

Rojšek D. 

Zavod Republike Slovenije za varstvo narave, Obmoţna enota Nova Gorica Delpinova 16, SI-5000 

Nova Gorica, Slovenija 

(DaR@ZRSVN.SI) http://dar.zrsvn.si/index_en.html 

The Velika Ledena Jama v Paradani is the main cave in the cave system in 

the Paradana Nature Reserve. The system is composed by three caves: 

Velika Ledena jama (650 m deep, more than 4 km long), Mala Ledena 

Jama (65 m deep and 125 m long) and so-called Jama pri Mali Ledeni jami 

(25 m deep and 235 m long, all data abut cave lenghts and depths are 

from Miran Nagode, 2002). The connection among them is not yet 

discovered, and the final bottoms were not yet reached by cavers. The 

entrance part of the main cave is locus classicus of temperature and 

vegetation inversions from 1906 (V. M. Beck). 

Permanent ice field occurs at entrance parts of the Velika and Mala Ledena 

Jama (big and small ice cave). Both caves were a source of cave ice from 

the second half of the 19th to 6th decade of the 20th century. Ice was used 

for drinking water of people from and nearby villages in very dry years and 

was extracted for cooling beer and other beverages and meat. It was 

exported even to Egypt. 

Oscillation of the ice at the entrance part is about 2 m. Passage to the 

deeper parts of the cave was choked with ice, in the second half of 80ies of 

the 20th century, but surface of the ice in the lowest part of Vhodna 

dvorana lowered for about a 1.4 m in the last 7 years. 

The ice was studied with georadar in December 2004 and January 2008. 

The main results of this study will be presented in the 5th workshop. 

Are oscillations of ice quantity in caves real indicators for climatic changes? 

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ABOUT THE USE OF THERMAL CAMERAS IN CAVE 

MICROMETEOROLOGICAL STUDIES 

Pflitsch A. 1 , Grebe C. 1 & Grudzielanek M. 1 

1 Workgroup Cave & Subway Climatology, Department of Geography, Ruhr-University Bochum 

Universitätsstr. 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany (andreas.pflitsch@rub.de) 

Cave micrometeorological studies are so far mostly based on short-term 

data measured with hand held instruments or else on long-term data 

measured by sensors connected to data loggers or PCs. 

In both cases the acquired data resembles only singular points or at best 

has line character. What is missing however is the coverage of complete 

surfaces or 3D data, which would provide much more comprehensive 

information on the different measurement parameters. 

At least regarding the two dimensional measurement of the surface 

temperature of cave walls, ceilings and floors, thermal imaging is a method 

for a wide range of applications. Indirectly it allows conclusions about 

different processes and the cave air temperature and provides data for the 

study of several micrometeorological aspects such as the thermal 

differentiation of the cave, the influence of touristic use and infrastructure, 

the diagnosis of the air flow regime and the assessment of the impacts of 

air flow. 

Measurements at Carlsbad Caverns (NM), as well as Jewel Cave and Wind 

Cave (SD) and Schellenberger Ice Cave (Germany) have resulted in 

interesting findings, which will be presented here in a talk. 

THE NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF A SAVING MECHANISM OF ICE 

CAVE IN NINGWU, CHINA 

Yang S. 1,2 & Shi Y. 1,2 

1 Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China 

2 Key Laboratory of Computational Geodynamics, Beijing 100049, China 

1. Introduction - There are more than 10 ice caves have been found in 

China. Among them, the Ningwu ice cave is the largest one. The ice cave is 

located in the Guancen Mountains in Shanxi Province. Geographical 

coordinates: 38°57' north latitude, 112°10' east longitude, and 2120m 

altitude. The average temperature is about 14.6°C outside of the ice cave 

from June to September, and about 2.3°C over a year. Obviously, the 

20




climate condition of the outside world cannot save ice. It is external 

environment that cannot directly save the ice, thus, to reveal the 

mechanism of the ice preservation become a difficult scientific question. So 

far, several scholars have proposed their qualitative realizations. There are 

three opinions. (1) Due to negative geothermal gradient, the ice in cave 

could not be melted. (2) There is negative geothermal anomaly in the area, 

maintaining the ice. (3) Due to many factors, the ice in cave can be 

preserved. Both view (1) and view (2) emphasize that there is a „cold 

source‟ in the area. In this context, we focus on the outside temperature‟s 

influence with the internal temperature of the ice cave. We utilized Finite 

element method (FEM) to deal with the question. 

2. The Principle of modeling - We consider two kinds of heat transfer 

mechanisms, that is, conduction and convection. In spring, summer or 

autumn, the external temperature is higher than the internal temperature 

of the ice cave. Air density increases in the direction of gravity. Thus, there 

is no convection. In this case, energy is transferred from outside world to 

the ice cave by conduction. In winter, the external temperature is lower 

than the internal temperature of the ice cave. The air density decreases in 

the direction of gravity. Thus, energy is transferred from the ice cave to 

inside world by convection. 

There are two points playing an important role in modeling. The one is that 

heat transfer efficiency of convection is much higher than the efficiency of 

conduction. Another point is that phase change processes are accompanied 

by either absorption or release of thermal energy. In the context, 

approximately, we consider the shape of the ice cave as a vertical tube. 

According to the experimental relationship of a vertical tube with natural 

convection, we determine the relationship between temperature difference 

and the Nusselt number. And then, we utilize Finite element method (FEM) 

to solve heat conduction equation. 

3. Conclusion - We obtained the following three conclusions: 

(1) The ice cave can be maintained. The control factors are natural 

convection heat transfer and ice-water phase change. 

(2) In quasi-steady state, the ice cave temperature fluctuates in the range 

of (-3.9, -2.9)°C. 

(3) Without regard to air convective heat transfer, the ice in cave will all 

melt after 37 years. 

21




INVESTIGATION OF ICE THICKNESS IN THE URALS CAVES USING 

GEORADAR 

Stepanov Y.I. 1 , Kichigin A.V. 1 & Tainitsky A.A. 1 

1 Mining Institute of Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia (stepanov@mi-perm.ru) 

The staff of the Mining Institute has been studying caves of the Urals with 

perennial ice accumulations for some years. In February 2008, we used 

"Oko-M1" georadar to estimate the volume of such accumulations in the 

Kungur Ice Cave. The findings allowed us to estimate ice thickness and also 

develop the site model. 

Satisfactory experience of the georadar application enabled us to make 

conclusions about the possibility of more complete ice body geometry 

analysis in the Urals‟ caves with Ground Penetrating Radar. 

During 2010-2011 investigations in the Usvenskaya, Badyinskaya (Perm 

Region), Pobeda (Flying Dutchman glacier) and Askinskaya 

(Bashkortostan) Caves were carried out and the main geometrical 

characteristics of glaciers were studied. 

The most ice thickness variation is noted in the Pobeda Cave, from a few 

centimeters to 11 m (at dielectric permeability of ice ε=4). The glacier is 

characterized by a complex structure of bed with a ledge of about 4 m in 

height. 

The next in ice thickness is the Badyinskaya Ice Cave, where depth marks 

range from several centimeters to 4 m (at dielectric permeability of ice 

ε=3.5). 

In the Askinskaya Cave, ice thickness increases evenly from the distant 

part to its entrance from 0 to 0.5 m (at dielectric permeability of ice ε=4). 

Near the entrance we registered a sharp increase of “ice-rock” boundary 

depth in the form of clough that extends from entrance to the western wall 

(from 1.5 to 2 m) ending with a wall opening covered by a stalagmite. The 

maps of ice thickness and a 3-D glacier model were constructed based on 

the investigation as well as approximate volume of ice (without stalagmites 

ice) was estimated. 

In the Usvinskaya Cave, ice thickness is about 20 cm. Radagrams are 

characterized by poor quality that is caused by presence of numerous 

inclusions in the glacier body (rock fragments, wood garbage, etc.). 

Thus, the study gave information about ice body geometry in some Ural 

caves. 

22




ROLE OF SUBGLACIAL CAVES IN THE EVOLUTION OF GLACIER IN 

THE SNOUT AREA: TWO EXAMPLES ON THE FORNI GLACIER 

(VALTELLINA, I) AND MORTERATSCH GLACIER (CH) 

Tognini P. 1 

1 Gruppo Grotte Milano CAI-SEM, Progetto Speleologia Glaciale, Via Santuario inferiore, 33/D- 

23890 Barzago (Italy) (paolatognini@iol.it) 

After an advance in the early 80‟s, during the last 30 years all alpine 

glaciers are reacting to the recent growing of summer medium temperature 

and to poor snow falls with huge ice mass losses (with conspicuous 

reduction in volume and retreating of the glacier snout). 

Ice volume reduction goes together with changing in morphology, strain 

distribution and subsequent jointing. 

Constant monitoring and observations through time of the glacial caves 

point out as recent glacier changing are affecting also on the evolution of 

endoglacial caves systems and on the formation of contact caves. 

It is in fact well demonstrated that glacial caves strictly depend on the 

distribution of strain through the ice mass and on the water flow entering 

the caves: every change in one of these factors causes a change in the 

morphology of caves. On the other hand, the existence of glacial caves vice 

versa has a control on the evolution of the glaciers themselves. 

Expeditions on the largest glaciers all over the world allowed researchers to 

have an idea about the often spectacular morphologies glacial caves may 

display, but the smaller and relatively modest alpine glaciers offer us the 

opportunity to study continuously and systematically, over years, the 

evolution of these caves and to relate it with the evolution of the glaciers. 

Some examples of what is happening on Forni Glacier (Valfurva, Northern 

Italy) and on Morteratsch Glacier (Southern Switzerland) show the 

contribution cavers and speleologists can give with the simple and cheap 

methods of surface and cave survey, and photographic documentation they 

generally use in karst caves, without any expensive or complicate scientific 

instruments. 

On these two big glaciers it has been observed, from 2000 on, the way the 

evolution of very large contact caves is leading to the collapse of large 

areas at the snout during the last few years. 

The recent hot summer seasons enhanced ablation, enlarging subglacial 

discharge, together with sublimation processes due to air flow, thus 

creating contact caves much larger than in the past. This causes the snout 

stability to be compromised: thanks to the breakdown of large glacial 

galleries, at the snout huge ice masses are suddenly lost, together with a 

considerable reduction in length. The collapse of huge subglacial caves thus 

dramatically changes the morphology at the snout in a minute. 

23




The formation of huge contact caves as a prelude to dramatic breaking 

down and subsequent rapid evolution of the snout has been reported also 

on other alpine glaciers, such as the Scalino Glacier and Vedretta di Fellaria 

(both in Valmalenco, Northern Italy) or Gorner Glacier (Southern 

Switzerland). It therefore evident that contact glacial caves at the snout 

play a significant role in the evolution of the snout itself, thus being 

responsible for rapid and spectacular retreats: information given by the 

study of endo-and subglacial caves may thus help in forecasting glacier 

evolution in the very next future. 

GLACIAL CAVES OF THE BELLINGSHAUSEN DOME AND ADJACENT 

AREAS, KING GEORGE ISLAND, SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS, 

ANTARCTICA 

Mavlyudov B.R. 1 

1 Institute of geography RAS, Staromonetny 29, Moscow, 119017, Russia 

Researches during summer seasons of 2007-2012 at Bellingshausen Dome 

have shown presence of glacial caves of 4 types: 1) usual; 2) the buried 

ice canyons; 3) in a shadow of rocky ledges; 4) marine. Usual glacial caves 

meet within the limits of glaciers of Island very seldom as here conditions 

for their formation very often are not observed (not present crevasses and 

there is no internal drainage or on the contrary many crevasses and there 

is no sufficient concentration of water streams for cavities origin). 

Therefore moulins here are not usually formed, but it is possible to meet 

glacial caves at the places of water outputs on a surface. All observed 

caves were englacial. Such caves have been met in the western part of the 

Dome and outside of the Dome near to its northern boundary. Separately 

stay cave which is formed under nunatak in northern part of a glacial dome 

which has been generated by melt water which got warm at their current 

on a rocky surface of nunatak up to 6°С. Length of the investigated cavity 

was about 70 m. The buried ice canyons are enough widely widespread and 

basically they are formed where the concentrated stream of melt water 

from the Dome flows along a moraine surrounding the Dome on perimeter. 

Permanent lowering of ice surface conducts to occurrence of the new ice 

canyons which are settling down further from boundary of glacier. The 

canyons abandoned by water are closed by snow, ice and moraine 

sediments forming glacial caves. There are canyons from several meters up 

to 15 m depth in southern, western and northern parts of the Dome. All 

founded moulins was connected with the buried canyons. Cavities in a 

shadow of rocky ledges are formed apparently everywhere in places where 

24




movement of a glacier is existed. However only caves at glacier boundary 

are accessible to research. Similar caves have been found out in southern 

and east parts of a glacial dome, and also on outlet the glaciers located to 

the north and northeast from a glacial dome. The caves length change 

from 10 to 30 m. Marine caves can be formed in sea wave-cut zone on the 

base of crevasse. The cavity represents a vaulted hall about 20 m in 

diameter and height up to 5 m. Formation of a cavity occurred by roof 

collapse with subsequent melting and carrying out of ice fragments by sea 

water. Analysis of available data shows that channels inside ice participate 

in drainage from the glacier but part of this drainage consist smaller part of 

common drainage from glacial dome. Climate warming can lead to 

increasing of internal glacier drainage and climate cooling can lead to 

reducing of internal glacier drainage. 

A NEW REGISTER FOR THE GLACIAL CAVES 

Ferrario A. 1 

1 Gruppo Gruppo Grotte CAI Saronno, Progetto Speleologia Glaciale (aiaweie@hotmail.it) 

Explorations in glacial caves have been accomplished for many years, but a 

definitive method for their storage in a register has not yet been developed 

. The fact that these caves are inside moving glacial masses greatly 

complicates the methodologies for the creation of a register of them. In 

fact, they constantly shift and change over time, creating, developing and 

dying within a few years. But the possibility of identify these caves in space 

and time is of paramount importance to better understand their evolution 

and the correlation between them and the health of glaciers, being 

notoriously undergoing a strong reduction in recent years. 

The “Progetto Speleologia Glaciale” is developing a method of classification 

of glacial caves for the creation of a register of alpine glacial caves. The 

experience started in 2009 is demonstrating to be functional for the 

proposed aims, allowing us to follow year to year the evolution of each 

cave and then to study the mode of evolution. If applied to all the glaciers 

where glacial karst can be observed, this method makes it possible to 

obtain detailed knowledge of this phenomenon, in most cases not 

considered in classic glaciological studies. 

25




EVIDENCE OF A SUBGLACIAL LAKE IN A CONTACT CAVE ON THE 

FORNI GLACIER (VALTELLINA, I) 

Tognini P. 1 

1 Gruppo Grotte Milano CAI-SEM, Progetto Speleologia Glaciale, Via Santuario inferiore, 33/D- 

23890 Barzago (Italy);(paolatognini@iol.it) 

The Forni Glacier (Valfurva, Northern Italy) is the longest glacier in the 

Italian Alps: since 1995 a group of speleologists has been monitoring and 

studying its glacial caves over years. 

In 2009 it was therefore possible to observe the formation of a subglacial 

lake inside a cave. In the Eastern portion of the glacier in 2007 a contact 

cave was observed being created, fed by an alloctonous run off from the 

overhanging rock walls. The cave got larger and larger and in August 2009 

a small lake was spotted inside, at the very end of a large subglacial 

contact gallery: soon after a breakdown caused two large parallel galleries 

to merge in one, creating an enormous chamber, where a large lake was 

formed on the bedrock. 

The existence of subglacial lakes on the glaciers bedrock is well established 

and confirmed by many field evidences, but they have rarely been directly 

observed: as far as we know, endo-and subglacial lakes have never been 

reported in Italian glaciers (and very few in the world), so that the lake 

below the Forni Glacier is the first evidence of a subglacial water basin. 

Unfortunately, the period during which it was possible to study the lake has 

been very short: contemporary to the formation of the huge chamber with 

the lake at its bottom, on the surface the opening of sets of circular 

crevasses was observed, as a prelude of a very next collapse: this 

happened in October of the same year, causing the almost total closure of 

the cave, although the lake was probably still there. In summer 2010 only 

a crevassed depression was left: both cave and subglacial lake had 

disappeared 

Thanks to the very rapid breakdown of the cave, it is probable that also the 

disappear of the lake should have been fast and sudden, presumably 

causing a water flow of GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Flow) type. The flow 

poured its waters into a surface contact lake down-flow, which, in its turn, 

was formed in 2006 and disappeared in 2010, because of the opening of a 

contact cave on the bottom (unfortunately, it was not possible to explore 

this cave because it was filled with big mud covered ice blocks). 

This chain of facts shows that the existence of large subglacial caves 

played a fundamental role in the glacier evolution, together with subglacial 

water circulation. The danger due to subglacial lakes is also evident: the 

pressure wave created by the sudden outburst after the destruction of the 

subglacial lake might be responsible for the opening of the cave that 

26




caused the surface contact lake to dry (but this is actually only an 

hypothesis, because it was not possible to observe directly none of the two 

facts). 

A COMPARISON OF TEMPERATURE DATA LOGGERS AND 

MEASURING SENSORS OF DIFFERENT PRICE LEVELS AND 

CONSTRUCTION TYPES TO TEST THEIR REACTION TIME, ACCURACY 

AND APPLICABILITY IN CAVE RESEARCH 

Böckler D. 1 , Pflitsch A 2 , Killing-Heinze M. 2 

1 Ruhr-University Bochum, Department of Geography, Universitätsstr. 150, 44801 Bochum, 

Germany 


Universitätsstr. 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany 

For the continuous recording of temperatures at various points in an 

investigated area, as for instance inside a cave, the market offers a variety 

of measuring sensors of different price levels and accuracy. The number of 

automatically recording temperature sensors used in a measurement 

campaign is often limited by financial means and their acquisition often 

involves severe financial investments, so that often a compromise is made 

between quantity and quality of these measuring devices. 

Since, with regard to accuracy and construction type, the types of data 

loggers are a very similar to those used in foodstuffs control and the 

controlling of industrial plants, they must be compared to that type of data 

loggers, which are usually less expensive. Therefore, it will be examined 

whether or not the low-price data loggers can be used in measuring 

temperatures in the field of cave climatology. 

The period over which the continuous temperature measurements are 

made plays a vital role here as it may extend over a few days or even over 

several years. Due to the, at times extreme, climatic conditions the 

construction type of the equipment is important as well. 

For our analysis, we conducted several different tests, in which we 

compared the data recorded by low-price data loggers and those from a 

higher price range. The study included outside measurements on open land 

in conditions with no wind, measurements in a climatic chamber, as well as 

a collection of data in a cave, the Dechenhöhle in Iserlohn, Germany. The 

focus of the test series lay on reaction times of the different types of data 

loggers, which is especially important for alternating or short-spanned 

conditions. 

It will be shown how to conduct such a test series with a small equipment 

over a short period of time. This is important as the number of devices 

27




available on the market is huge but the producers only ever indicate an 

approximate resolution, exactitude and operating temperature but do not 

indicate the exact response time. Moreover, there is no information 

provided for the performance under real conditions or the handling of the 

devices. A first analysis has shown that some data loggers from the lower 

price range perform just as well as those from the higher price range. 

TEMPERATURE MONITORING IN SLOVENE ICE CAVES EXAMPLES, 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 

Kosutnik J. 1 

1 Cesta Ceneta Stuparja 148, 1231 Ljubljana, Slovenia 

In 2009 a project of systematic temperature measurements in Slovene ice 

and cold caves was launched. The aim of the project is to determine the 

general temperature characteristics of the caves. Approach of our work 

consist of temperature measurements in 15 caves, all below 1500 meters 

above sea level, with cold thermal anomaly and ice occurrence long into 

the worm part of the year. 

Some investigated caves contain various amounts of perennial ice deposits 

and other, the so called cold caves (Slovene: ledenica), are significant from 

the historic point of view as older literature suggest they once held 

perennial ice deposits. Although each cave is unique in its physical 

characteristics, the attempt was made to see if temperatures correlate with 

the cave‟s dynamics. Temperature monitoring along with mass balance and 

periglacial processes in ice caves were the core of our investigations. In the 

meeting some interesting Slovene ice caves and temperature 

measurements are going to be presented. 

28




TALUS & GORGE GLACIER PAST TO PRESENT - A HISTORICAL AND 

MICROCLIMATOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN THE NORTHEASTERN 

UNITED STATES 

Holmgren D. 1 & Pflitsch A. 1 


Universitätsstr. 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany 

On the North American continent, especially in the United States of 

America, natural and anthropogenic ice caves are scattered all over the 

country. Due to climate changes, most of these climate archives have been 

forgotten or don‟t exist anymore. Literary sources of the 19th and mid- 

20th century identify the large number of ice caves known at that time of 

that territory [including Balch (1898); Halliday (1954)]. This presentation 

will outline a possible research potential in the underexplored North 

American ice caves and present the latest research results in Talus & Gorge 

Glaciers of the northern Appalachian Mountains. Alongside periodical 

fieldwork at the potential ice minimum, high-resolution temperature data 

loggers are measuring the air temperature in and near the talus since more 

than three years. 

The group of Talus & Gorge Glaciers is a type of ice cave with year-round 

ice bodies in hollow spaces. Regardless of the insolation conditions, like sun 

exposed hillsides or sun reduced gorges, ice can persist in these types of 

locations the whole year. The cave sizes of these ice caves are determined 

by the size of the talus accumulation; in most cases, the entire talus area 

is connected through little crevices and fissures and forms a complex 

interactive system. The occurrence of Talus & Gorge Glaciers is restricted 

to two regions in the USA. On the one hand they are found along the entire 

northeast coast and the other hand on the northwest coast, there 

exclusively in the state of Washington. 

In the context of the Talus & Gorge Glacier-Project in the Northeastern 

United States of America the development of the existence of ice caves 

from the 19th century up to now was determined. Mapping and exploration 

with the aid of local guides and older records form a map of the current 

situation in the Appalachian Mountains. 

Besides the mapping of all ice carrying debris accumulations in the USA, a 

microclimatological research of selected Talus & Gorge Glaciers, Ice Gulch, 

Cannon Cliff (both New Hampshire) and Mahoosuc Notch (Maine), was 

conducted. In the last years, ice level variability was observed through 

regular ice level measurements in these selected study areas. The 

observation of seasonal changes from the ice-buildup phase to the icedepletion 

phase over several years can serve as an outstanding climate 

indicator for short-term and long-term changes of the climate of the 

29




respective region. A comparison of the collected data with data of nearby 

reference stations results in important knowledge about the interaction of 

the climatological between the caves and the external environment. Yearround 

temperature measurements in the debris showed the strong 

influence of other climate elements. Typical climatic conditions for all 

seasons and for special seasonal events, such as a closed snow cover or a 

passing hurricane, were explored. The combination of ice level 

measurements with year-round temperature measurements yielded 

important information about favorable and unfavorable climatic conditions 

for the ice growth, which are also applicable to all other types of ice caves 

in the United States and all around the world. 

“CHIMNEY EFFECT” AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE THERMAL 

CONDITIONS OF THE DOBŠINSKÁ ICE CAVE 

Korzystka M. 1 , Piasecki J. 1 , Sawiński T. 1 & Zelinka J. 2 

1 University of Wroclaw, Institute of Geography and Regional Developnent, Dep. Of Climatology and 

Atmosphere Protection, ul. Kosiby 6/8, 51-621 Wrocław, Poland 

2 Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic, Slovak Caves Administration, Hodţova 11, 031 

01 Liptovský Mikulaš, Slovak Republic 

(magdalena.korzystka@uni.wroc.pl, jacek.piasecki@uni.wroc.pl, tymoteusz.sawinski@uni.wroc.pl, 

zelinka@ssj.sk) 

The studies on the air exchange processes, conducted in the Dobšinská Ice 

Cave since 2002 have shown, that the cave ventilation is caused by the 

“chimney effect”. The driving force responsible for the course of the air 

exchange is differentiation between external air temperature (TEXT), air 

temperature inside ice-filled part of the cave (TCave) and air temperature 

inside its “chimney” part (TChimney), which probably is ice-free. Analysis of 

the course of these values allows to distinguish three main characteristic 

situations covering more than 95% of the year. In the first situation, which 

occurs in winter, TEXT < TCave < TChimney, in the second one, typical for spring 

and summer, TCave < TChimney < TEXT and in the third one, which occurs 

primarily in autumn, during slight cooling episodes, TCave < TEXT < TChimney. 

Observed relations between TEXT, TCave i TChimney as well as duration of 

characteristic situations mentioned above determine the temporal and 

spatial variability of air exchange in the cave and also affect the difference 

of energy balance between its individual parts. Direct effects of these 

interactions manifest themselves by seasonal and short-term variability of 

air temperature fluctuations observed in the cave, changes in spatial 

distribution of air temperature changes in thermal stratification of cave 

30




rooms and passages as well as seasonal and short-term changes in the 

cave icing processes. 

ICE MASS AND FROZEN GROUND IN PERMEABLE VENTILATED 

SYSTEMS: COMPARISON BETWEEN A DYNAMIC ICE CAVE AND 

OVERCOOLED TALUS SLOPES IN WESTERN SWITZERLAND 

Morard S. 1 , Bochud M. 2 & Delaloye R. 1 

1 Alpine Cryosphere and Geomorphology, Geography Unit, University of Fribourg, Switzerland 

2 GeoAzimut Sàrl, CH-1700 Fribourg 

Both ice cave and talus slopes are open mediums inside which air can flow, 

and where ice mass and frozen ground are encountered even at location 

where the mean annual external air temperature (MAAT) is largely positive. 

Air circulation is known to be a major process determining both the cave 

climate and the thermal regime of ventilated talus slopes - a frequent 

landform in alpine and peri-alpine environments. Dynamic ice cave could 

be seen as a simple talus slope with one wind channel and two entrances 

located at different elevation. The first main objective of this presentation 

is to compare the ground air temperature measured inside several 

windholes in the lower part of talus slopes with the cave air temperature at 

the lower entrance of the small dynamic Diablotins ice cave. The second 

main objective is to present the thermal regime evolution of several low 

elevation talus slopes located in western Switzerland. 

The same thermal regime was recorded between 2009 and 2011 in the 

lower part of these two kinds of ventilated systems: during wintertime, 

cold and dry air is aspirated in the lower parts with a quite similar and 

synchronous thermal regime with the outside air temperature. During 

summertime, the short-term variations of air temperatures are almost 

perfectly the same between the windholes and the cave entrance, with 

Pearson coefficient of correlation from +0.735. Moreover a clear inverse 

relationship could be seen with the outside air temperature. Knowledge 

about heat exchange into cave system could also be extrapolated with a 

high degree of confidence to ventilated talus slopes. 

The thermal monitoring conducted at the ground surface in several low 

elevation talus slopes has shown that the key factor of evolution is the 

temperature of the outside air during winter. Periods of prolonged and very 

intense cold weather in winter promote a deep freezing of the ground. A 

part of the heat advected by the airflow is transmitted by conduction to the 

rock debris and the finer sediments located below the porous debris 

accumulation. A well-defined relationship is also recorded between the 

31




winter cooling of the talus slope and the ground thermal conditions 

prevailing in summertime. It may be noted that a particularly mild winter 

with limited freezing of the ground as in 2006/2007 causes a significant 

increase in ground surface temperatures during summer and fall. The 

growth of temperate permafrost below the porous talus slope of 

Dreveneuse d'en Bas has been reported in two boreholes in 2004-2006. 

Following the mild winter 2006-2007, this frozen ground disappeared and 

finally reformed in 2010 consecutively to the very cold winter 2009-2010. 

On the other hand the outside air temperature in summer and the 

thickness of snowcover contribute very modestly to changes in the thermal 

regime. This particular thermal behaviour significantly differs from 

conventional permafrost situations (eg. rock glacier) at high altitude. On 

the other hand, processes inside talus slope are very close from those 

which are encountered in the lower entrance zone of the dynamic ice cave. 

THE INFLUENCE OF THE ICE CAVES ON CLIMATE OF KARST 

DEPRESSIONS – CASE OF LOW ALTITUDE PERMAFROST AT 

SMREKOVA DRAGA, TRNOVSKI GOZD, SLOVENIA 

Mihevc A. 1 

1Karst research institute ZRC SAZU, Titov trg 2, SL-6230 Postojna, Slovenia (Mihevc@zrc-sazu.si) 

Perennial ice in low latitude and low altitude caves, where mean air 

temperature on the surface is above zero, forms due to the winter air 

circulation and cooling of the caves. In most cases the summer circulation 

is less intensive and that makes the perennial ice possible. Most ice cave 

studies are devoted to factors of cave and surface morphology that 

enhance formation and duration of the cave ice. Les is known the influence 

of the caves, especially influence of ice caves or caves in general on the 

topoclimate of the karst surface, especially karst depressions. 

Trnovski gozd is high Dinaric karst plateau in altitude mostly between 800 

– 1200 m a.s.l., only the central part to reach height 1400 m. Surface of 

the plateau is dissected by numerous large and deep dolines. Mean annual 

temperature on the plateau about 7º C, January (-3º C) is the coldest and 

July (13º C) is the warmest month. Besides several ice caves, the largest 

is Velika Paradana, there are numerous deep dolines where temperature 

inversion is important phenomena. This phenomenon was first studied at 

Velika Paradana entrance and later in Smrekova draga. 

Smrekova draga is about 1 km wide, and more than 150 m deep closed 

depression, a large composed dolina. The dolina is well known for its 

extreme vegetation inversion. This phenomenon was first attributed to 

32




temperature inversion; later it was explained that cold air is coming from 

the empty spaces between slope boulders and rubble that cooled down 

during the winter. 

Our observations and measurements on several spots showed, that the 

phenomena is result of the strong “springs” of cold air with stable 

temperature 2-3º C during summer. The air is coming from holes between 

rubble on some spots on the slopes of dolina. The same temperature of the 

air we observe in most of the ice caves during summer. The currents 

inverse directions during winter, which indicates the existence of a large 

cave system below the rubble that masks the entrances. 

The combination of winter cold climate and summer advection of cold air to 

the dolina created unique type of climate which resulted in formation of 

permafrost. It exists only in vicinity of this blowholes in altitude 1125 m, 

the largest areas is about 1 ha large. But permafrost is missing at the 

bottom of Smrekova draga, indicating, that the lowest temperatures of this 

dolina are not connected to relief form but to inflow of very cold cave air. 

Similar observations and measurements were made in some other deep 

dolines where strong temperature inversions were also observed. They 

may be all connected with advection of cold air from the cooled caves that 

are exist parallel or above in the karst massive. 

MINERAL CRUSTS AT THE SURFACE OF LAKES OF WARM AND COLD 

ZONES IN THE KUNGUR ICE CAVE 

Kalinina T. A. 1 , Tchaikovskiy I. I. 1 & Kadebskaya O. I. 1 

1 Mining Institute of Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia (tatyanaak89@mail.ru) 

Investigation of the mineral pellicles formed at the surface of ponds in the 

Kungur Ice Cave showed that their structure and the formation mechanism 

depend on the location in a cold or warm microclimatic zone. 

Mineral pellicles of a cold zone. Studying of morphology and composition of 

pellicles from the surface of perennial icings showed that they represent 

drusy-like aggregates of accomplished gypsum and calcite crystals which 

grew down from the water-table. On the upper surface there are 

recognized prints of air bubbles, and also inclusions of allophane spherules 

and calcite clastic grains. Gypsum is presented by plate crystals (up to 100 

microns), combined both with table-cut individuals and those complicated 

by growth elements: box-shaped and skeletal crystals. 

Calcite in the form of both separate crystals and split crystal-jams fills 

openings between gypsum crystal aggregates and also moulds on their 

surface. Its composition includes isomorphic impurities of magnesium, 

33




strontium and sodium. Noted was also a singular crystal of gaylussite, the 

chemical composition of which corresponds to the calculated formula 

Na1,98Ca1,02 (CO3)2∙5H2O. 

Mineral pellicles of a warm zone. Studying of mineral pellicles from the lake 

surface in the Bleznitsy Grotto from a warm part of the cave showed that 

they are the drusy-like aggregates of sharp calcite rhombohedrons. It is 

noted that larger crystals compose both separate crystal-jams at the druse 

surface and marginal parts of mineral crusts. Both small and large 

individuals are split. Noted were also other minerals (celestine, dolomite, 

gypsum, halite) which were recognized on the outer side of mineral 

pellicles in the nests between calcite crystals. Investigation of chemical 

composition of carbonates and sulfates showed absence of isomorphic 

impurities. 

Conclusions. Thus, two various types of mineral pellicles floating on the 

pond surface are formed in the Kungur Ice Cave. In the cold zone, in the 

time of water frosting from below there appear essentially gypsum pellicles 

later covered by calcite. Presence of box-shaped forms on gypsum crystals 

and various isomorphic impurities in calcite composition (Mg, Sr, Na) 

reflect the fast disordered crystallization connected with a strong 

supersaturation caused by water frosting and salts accumulation in a liquid 

phase. Gaylussite appearance reflects mineralization conditions close to the 

cryogenic ones. 

Calcite pellicles crystallize on lakes‟ surface of the warm zone. Their 

formation is connected with carbon dioxide evaporation and the calcium 

carbonate supersaturation zone formation in the near-surface water layer. 

Formation of the dense calcite crust promotes appearance of 

microreservoirs on its irregular surface where water evaporation and 

mineral deposition take place just as salt precipitation in the conditions of 

arid climate. 

In spite of the identical initial chemical composition of the solutions 

infiltrated through the carbonate and sulfate massif, different climatic 

zones are characterized by specific order of mineral crystallization on the 

water surface. The revealed difference is connected with different climatic 

conditions and solution supersaturation mechanisms. The described 

gypsum crusts form in more comfortable conditions on a smooth surface of 

the reservoirs. Noted were mineral climate indicators, such as thermophile 

dolomite, gypsum and halite, as well as cryophilic gaylussite. 

34




CRYOGENIC MINERALS OF SOME ICE CAVES OF THE URALS 

Kadebskaya O.I. 1 

1 Mining Institute of Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia (icecave@bk.ru) 

The aim of this investigation was to characterise cryogenic minerals of the 

Urals‟ carbonate caves. We selected some caves with the greatest 

perennial glaciation in the territory of the Northern (Medeo and Eranka 

(Perm Krai)), Middle (Mariinskaya (Perm Krai) and the Southern Urals 

(Askinskaya and Pobeda (Bashkortostan)). Minerals were sampled from the 

surface and body of perennial icing (depth of up to 1 m), walls and clay 

soils. The mineral component was filtered from the unfrozen water and 

studied (morphology and chemical composition) with a scanning electronic 

microscope VEGA 3 LMH with a system of the x-ray energy-dispersive 

microanalysis INCA Energy 350/X-max 20. 

The caves have two types of mineral forming conditions: 1) icings where 

minerals were met both in the massif and on its surface and 2) a plane 

flowing surface subjacent glaciation zone with peculiar „soft‟ gurs and also 

accumulations of „moon milk‟ and calcite „fur hair‟ located on vertical and 

negative wall sections and on clay soil. 

The main authigenic minerals of icings are calcite and, rarer, ikaite (the 

Medeo, Eranka, Mariinskaya Caves). We reconstructed their morphological 

ranks that reflect the degree of solution supersaturation. Ikaite was 

recognized only in caves of the Northern and Middle Urals, which is 

connected with lower average annual temperature in these regions. The 

greatest variety of ikaite‟s morphotypes was noted in the Eranka Cave. The 

observed morphological variety of mineral phases located both on the 

surface and in the thickness of icing reflects a sudden change in the degree 

of solution supersaturation manifested in the formation of both greatly split 

units (corallites and concretions) and crystals with smooth faces. The latter 

are typical for large individuals of the regelation nature that are formed in 

water pellicle at the icing surface through dispersive cryogenic material 

enlargement. In the framework of this study, large (up to 7 mm) cryogenic 

concretions were found in the Pobeda Cave (the Southern Urals) for the 

first time in Russia. Similar formations were recently described in caves of 

Europe as cryogenic pearl (Ţák, 2008). 

The described mineral formations enabled us to expand the current 

cryogenesis conception. Along with previously described minerals formed at 

shock crystallization during sudden freezing (powder) and at regelation, a 

new group of minerals can be identified, which were deposited from water 

undergoing concentration in the course of partial freezing-out. During this 

process there occurs supersaturation of solutions, which leads to 

sedimentation of ultradisperse fibrous calcite in the form of „soft‟ gurs at 

35




the inclined plane flowing surface and formation of thin lathlike crystal 

suspension („moon milk‟) on vertical and negative wall sections and calcite 

„fur hair‟ on clay soil 

δ 13 C IN CAVE ICE: A NEW PROXY FOR PALAEOPRECIPITATION 

RECONSTRUCTIONS 

Perşoiu A. 1 & Bojar A.-V. 2 

1 Department of Geography, University of Suceava, Universitatii 13, Suceava 720229, Romania 

(aurel.persoiu@gmail.com) 

2 Salzburg University, Geographie und Geologie, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, Salzburg , Austria 

Over the last few years scientific interest in ice caves has been rejuvenated 

by the possible use of the perennial ice deposits they host in palaeoclimatic 

and palaeoenvironmental studies. Oxygen and hydrogen stable isotopes, 

pollen and trace elements in ice, in combination with radiometric and 

indirect dating methods, have been used to infer past changes in air 

temperature, moisture sources, vegetation changes and pollution. Although 

studied in some detailed, the cryogenic cave calcite (CCC) has not been 

used thus far as a proxy for climatic and environmental elements. In this 

study we have investigated the palaeoclimatic potential preserved by the 

stable isotope composition of CCC from Scărişoara Ice Cave (SIC), Bihor 

Mountains, Romania. A number of 42 calcite samples from impurity-rich 

layers exposed on the lateral side of the ice block in SIC have been 

analyzed for their O and C isotope values. Twenty-five samples were 

recovered from a section of the ice block that formed during the Medieval 

Warm Period (MWP, prior to 1300 AD), and seventeen samples came from 

ice that accumulated during the Little Ice Age (LIA, between ca. 1300 and 

1700 AD). All calcite samples are composed of CCC with δ 18 O values 

ranging between -2 and -8 ‰VPDB, and δ 13 C values ranging between 0 and 

+10 ‰VSMOW. These high δ 13 C values are specific for calcite formed during 

freezing of water accompanied by rapid degassing of CO2 and strong kinetic 

fractionation. While the δ 18 O values are evenly distributed through the 

entire sequence, the δ 13 C values form two distinct groups, with more 

positive values (with an average of +6 ‰) for samples from the MWP 

section of the ice block, and less positive values (with an average of +2 

‰) for samples formed during the LIA. We tentatively suggest that, 

despite strong kinetic fractionation during CCC formation, the heavier δ 13 C 

values in CCC samples from the MWP are reflecting warmer and/or dryer 

climates, while during the colder LIA, lower δ 13 C values in soil CO2 led to 

more depleted δ 13 C values in CCC. Pollen analyses in ice has shown that 

36




the MWP was indeed dryer, while the subsequent LIA was colder and 

wetter, thus confirming that δ 13 C in cave ice can be used as a valuable 

proxy for past precipitation changes. 

CHINA’S ANTI-SEASON ICE CAVES 

Shu L. 1, 2 , Jin S. 1, 2 , Huang S. 1 , Zhang Q. 1 & Wu Z. 1 

1 School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, 1037 

Luoyu Road, Wuhan, China 

2 Innovation Research Institute , Huazhong University of Science & Technology, 1037 Luoyu Road, 

Wuhan, China 

An anti-season ice cave (ASIC) is an anomalous and infrequent natural 

phenomenon: the ice in the caves freezes in midsummer or late spring 

rather than in winter. It is a miracle created by the unique local geological 

structure. In zones of anti-season ice cave, the special local climate creates 

special plant communities which are different from the surrounding plant 

distribution. These ASICs and their plant communities have high sensitivity 

to climate change, so they can be used as characteristic markers in the 

study of climate change. On the other hand, they are also 

important tourism resources; actually during recent years, they have been 

developed in varying degrees. Due to tourism exploitation or other 

unknown factors, some ASICs of China are suffering a recession. To reveal 

the mechanism of ASICs‟ operation can not only interpret a 

natural mystery, but also help their protection and save them from 

destructive exploitation. Therefore, it is a significant work in both scientific 

and practical areas. In this paper, the geographical distribution of China‟s 

anti-season ice caves is given in the first part, followed by description of 

each ASIC and the current situation of study on ASIC. Finally, considering 

the defects of current descriptive studies, a new model based on 

thermodynamics is proposed in the last part. This model can give 

explanations of the power of air circulation, energy budget and transition 

mechanism of ASIC. 

37




TWO MILLENNIA OF NATURAL TO ANTROPOGENIC EFFECTS IN 

TRANSYLVANIA FROM FOCUL VIU ICE CORE 

Maggi V. 1 , Turri S. 2 , Bini A. 3 , Perşoiu A. 4 , Onac B. 4 , Stenni B. 5 & Udisti R. 6 

1 Environmental Sciences Dept., University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy 

2 GeoSFerA Studio Associato di Geologia, Varese, Italy 

3 Earth Sciences Dept., University of Milano, Italy 

4 Dept. of Geology, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, SCA 528, Tampa, 33620, Fl, 

USA 

5 Geosciences Dept., University of Trieste, Italy 

6 Chemistry Dept., University of Florence, Italy 

The 8.26 m of ice core drilled in Focul Viu Ice Cave (Apuseni Mountains, 

Romania) represent one of the longest records from hypogean ice deposits. 

A set of 8 radiocarbon dates was done on organic materials found in the ice 

cores at different depth, and estimate of the age at 6.84 m depth, the 

bottommost samples, is of 1752±66 B.P. (calibrated date). Major ions were 

measured for atmospheric composition record reconstructions. Some huge 

nss-SO4 2- (no-sea-salt sulphates) spikes were preliminary related with 

historical well-known explosive volcanic events, with an improve of 

age/depth time scale. Using both 14 C dates and volcanic spikes, was 

evaluates the variability of the accumulation rate of ice deposits, that show 

a mean value for the entire ice core of 34,8 cm/century of ice. A detailed 

behaviour was observed among different stratigraphic periods, with special 

emphasis to the Middle Age period with a huge accumulation, 3 time the 

following period 1400-1800. The last 2 centuries were characterized by the 

industrial impact on the atmospheric composition. Using the record of 

Ammonia, that can be related to biomass burning from forest clearance or 

agriculture practise, will describe the influences of the anthropogenic 

activities in the Transylvania during the last two millennia. Interpolating 

the accumulation rate of the deeper part of the ice core, below the 6,84 m 

depth, was estimated the age of the bottom ice at 8,26 m depth of at 

around the 2600 B.P. (V century A.C.), at the beginning of Roman period. 

38




LEAD CONCENTRATIONS AND STABLE LEAD ISOTOPES FROM A 

CROATIAN CAVE ICE PROFILE 

Kern Z. 1,2 , Széles, É. 3 & Boţiš N. 4 

1 Climate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern and Oeschger Center for 

Climate Change, Bern, Switzerland 

2 MTA CSFK, Institute for Geological and Geochemical Research, Budapest, Hungary 

3 Centre for Energy Research, Department of Nuclear Security, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 

Budapest, Hungary 

4 Department of Geography, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia 

Vukušiš Ice Cave (Vukušiš snijeţnica, 44.8N, 14.98E 1490 m asl) is located 

near the Zaviţan Peak in the northern Velebit Mountains. Thickness of its 

ice deposit is estimated to be more than 10 m. 

Lead concentration and stable lead isotopes were analysed on 36 samples 

of a 2 m long ice core extracted from the ice deposit on 28.10.2008. 

Pb concentration record is characterized by an overall increasing trend 

toward the surface. Topmost sample showed the highest Pb concentration, 

while an interesting secondary maximum emerged between 0.59 and 0.81 

m depth. 

206 Pb/ 207 Pb ratio is characteristically below the expected regional geogenic 

background (1.202-1.245). Samples from the 1.34-1.49 m depth range, 

with highly elevated mud content in the ice profile, provided the best 

agreement (mean 206 Pb/ 207 Pb: 1.235) with the expected geogenic 

background. 

The rest of the profile showed a slightly decreasing trend towards the 

surface. The minimum was found in the topmost sample ( 206 Pb/ 207 Pb: 

1.069). Ternary plot of 206 Pb/ 207 Pb/ 208 Pb shows a gradual shift from a 

dominantly geogenic composition toward the Broken Hill galena used as 

antiknock additive in European petrol during the second half of the 20 th 

century. 

Cave ice record documented an increasing lead contamination being in line 

with the regional 20 th century lead contamination history. Lead isotope 

ratios provide evidence that increased lead concentrations are due to the 

increased anthropogenic contribution. 

The estimated age of the 2 m cave ice core (c. 1950-1980) based on lead 

concentration and lead isotopes agrees with earlier tritium measurements 

and the expected lost of most recent accumulation due to negative surface 

ice mass balance observed in the first decade of the 21th century. 

39




MICROBIOLOGY IN ALPINE AND ANTARCTIC ICE AND GLACIER 

CAVES 

Sattler B 1 ., Standhartinger B. 2 , Hoover R. 3 , Wendlinger C. 3 , Spötl C. 4 & 

Psenner R. 1 

1 University of Innsbruck, Institute of Ecology, Technikerstrasse 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria 

2 Wasser Tirol,Gewerbestraße 4, 6430 Ötztal-Bahnhof, Austria 

3 NASA/NSSTC, Huntsville, Alabama 35802, USA 

4 University of Innsbruck, Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Innrain 52, 6020 Innsbruck, 

Austria (birgit.sattler@uibk.ac.at) 

Ice and glacier caves in alpine and polar regions have been lately 

recognized as microbial habitats. They consist truncated food webs 

consisting of viruses, fungi, bacteria and autotrophic organisms such as 

cyanobacteria and (snow) algae) exerting photosynthesis which is mostly 

limited to the cave entrance. Ice caves in general are understood as rock 

caves with remaining permanent ice with a seasonal change of thickness 

providing a relatively stable environment. Contrary to the relatively stable 

environment of this type glacier caves do not provide a rock bed and are 

highly dynamic due to the plasticity and movement of the glacier. Hence, 

caves in glaciers can as well disappear for a while or close up. However, 

due to limited but still existing transparency of the overlying ice 

cyanobacteria can still thrive and provide carbon for heterotrophic bacteria. 

Here we present the comparison of the two types located in the Austrian 

Alps (Grubsteinhöhle and Hintertuxer Eispalast) and glacier caves from 

Antarctica (Novolazarewskaya and Dumar glacier cave) based on chemical 

characterization of the ice and the consisting bacterial communities. 

Molecular biological results from the ice cave revealed largely different 

microbial communities in ice cores, sediment and air. Ice cores of all 

habitats contained Actino-, Cyano- and Proteobacteria whereas 

Acidobacteria and Deinococcus-Thermus have only been found in Antarctic 

caves. Ice caves are also understood as a refuge for microbial cells and are 

hence model habitats for astrobiological hypotheses. 

40




RESEARCH OF AIR ION COMPOSITION OF KUNGUR ICE CAVE 

ATMOSPHERE 

Trushkova N. 1 

1 Mining Institute of Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences 

Concentration of light air ions was measured in the Kungur Ice cave 

throughout a year. The measurements revealed diurnal, seasonal and 

annual dynamics of the concentration of air ions in the atmosphere of the 

cave, as well as the dependence of the concentration on the concentration 

of radon. 

The natural radioactive substances containing in the rocks of the Kungur 

Ice Cave are very interesting for investigations. Previous air composition 

research showed radon (gas) is present in cave atmosphere. This radon 

radioisotope occurrence promotes to the creation of a specific radiating and 

aeroionizating background in the Kungur Ice Cave. 

Thus it is found that air ion concentration in the cave atmosphere is much 

higher than the background level and reachs from 15000 to 50000 ions per 

cubic centimeter during the spring-and-summer period and from 7000 to 

10000 – for the autumn-and-winter period. The airion concentration 

background level in atmosphere air ranges from 20 to 500 particle in cubic 

centimeter of air. 

Data analysis testified the easy airion concentration in the cave not only 

exceeds similar parameters in atmosphere, but is more stable. 

The presence of ions in air is important for various processes in the 

biosphere. Studies have shown that the Kungur Ice cave possesses an 

important factor necessary for speleotherapy - high concentration of light 

ions. 

41




ADVANCED USE OF ICE CAVES AS WATER STORAGE 

Byun H.-R. 1 

1 Dept. of Environmental Atmospheric Sciences Pukyong National University Busan Korea. 

(windbig@hanmail.net) 

This study offers the way to use the ice cave and the abandoned mine cave 

as a water storage. When the ice in cave meets colder air, the sublimation 

occurs and colder air is regenerated that can freeze more water, which is 

called the positive feedback mechanism of cold air generation. Therefore, 

we can store more ice without using additional electric energy in cave in 

winter time. The downward slanted topography of cave keeps downward 

cold air flow that also helps the positive feedback. 

After freezing, because caves isolate the ice from sunshine and wind, and 

keep it from easy unnecessary thawing, water can be stored until summer 

when water demand is the highest. Moreover, when ice melts in summer, 4 

% increasing effect in total amount of water resources that is the result of 

condensation are measured. 

Other merits are found also. Firstly, no water in cave penetrates into soil 

but is stored in to be used as water resources. Secondly, water with heavy 

metals from abandoned mine cave can be prevented. Thirdly, ice molten 

water keeps water quality from algae. 

For easy freezing and easy use of water in ice cave, a few equipments are 

proposed as figure. 

42




HUMAN IMPACT ON THE ICE CAVE CLIMATIC ENVIRONMENT - CASE 

STUDY FROM ENTRANCE AREA OF THE DOBŠINSKÁ ICE CAVE 

Korzystka M. 1 , Piasecki J. 1 , Sawiński T. 1 , Zelinka J. 2 

1 University of Wroclaw, Institute of Geography and Regional Developnent, Dep. Of Climatology and 

Atmosphere Protection, ul. Kosiby 6/8, 51-621 Wrocław, Poland 

2 Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic, Slovak Caves Administration, Hodţova 11, 031 

01 Liptovský Mikulaš, Slovak Republic 

(magdalena.korzystka@uni.wroc.pl, jacek.piasecki@uni.wroc.pl, tymoteusz.sawinski@uni.wroc.pl, 

zelinka@ssj.sk) 

Reconstruction and modernization of touristic infrastructure in the 

Dobšinská Ice Cave, which were conducted in 2010 resulted in significant 

changes in the near-entrance area of the cave. From the environmental 

point of view, the most important modifications included: reconstruction of 

the fence surrounding the entrance hollow of the cave and enlargement of 

the terrace in front of the cave office building. This led to a cut out of a 

large number of trees which had shaded the entrance area from the west 

and north. Large openings in the fence were also made, which allowed 

unrestricted outflow of air from the entrance hollow. In consequence 

sunlight penetration into the hollow increased and clear boundary between 

external air and cool air in the entrance hollow vanished. These factors led 

to changes of thermal and humidity conditions in the entrance area of the 

cave. As a result we observe disappearance of cryophilic plants which used 

to grow in the upper part of the entrance hollow, progressive melting of 

permafrost in its bottom part and formation of new openings which lead 

from the hollow into the cave. The changes in the ice conditions in the 

near-entrance part of the cave are also visible. 

A survey focused on recognition of thermal stratification and spatial 

distribution of air temperature inside the entrance hollow of the Dobšinská 

Ice Cave was carried out to define the degree of microclimate 

transformation in the hollow. Comparison of the obtained results with 

results of similar survey carried out by authors in the years 2003 – 2005 

allowed to perform quantitative and qualitative characteristics of observed 

changes. 

43




MEASURING AIRFLOW, TURBULENCE AND MICRO-CLIMATE IN 

GLACIER CAVES: A TECHNOLOGY AND DATA PROCESSING 

EXPERIENCE 

1 Servizi Territorio srl (info@serviziterritorio.it) 

Favaron M. 1 , Alberici A. 1 

Glacier caves are renown for a complex physical environment evolving at a 

rate much slower than in Planetary Boundary Layer. Some of the slow-rate 

processes occurring in glacier caves are directly relevant to deposition or 

ablation of ice deposits, particularly the deepest. Taking measurements 

aimed at making sense of glacier caves dynamics poses special challenges 

related to data accuracy and overall dependability, which cannot be 

addressed using conventional measurement technology. This work 

illustrates the experiences made in the Moncodeno measurement 

campaign, with emphasis on using three-axial ultrasonic anemometers to 

measure airflow and turbulent fluxes, and building a measurement chain 

able to operate on tight energy budget at reasonable cost. 

44

POSTER PRESENTATIONS




ASSESSING THE PALAEOCLIMATE POTENTIAL OF THE A294 ICE 

CAVE (CENTRAL PYRENEES, NORTHERN SPAIN) 

Belmonte, A. 1 , Bartolomé, M. 1,2 , Sancho, C. 1 , Moreno, A. 2 & López- 

Martínez, J. 3 

1 Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Zaragoza, Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 

Zaragoza, Spain. (anchelbr@unizar.es, csancho@unizar.es, mbartolomeucar@hotmail.com) 

2 Departamento de Procesos Geoambientales y Cambio Global, Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología, 

C.S.I.C., Avda. Montañana 1005, 50059 Zaragoza, Spain. (amoreno@ipe.csic.es) 

3 Departamento de Geología y Geoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 

28049 Madrid, Spain. (jeronimo.lopez@uam.es) 

Occurrence of perennial ice in limestone caves from the southern side of 

the Pyrenees is not uncommon. However, although ice caves in this 

mountain range were explored many decades ago, sparse attention has 

been paid to the study of the ice records. The aim of this work is to assess 

the palaeoclimate potential of the A294 ice cave, a small ice cave located 

at 2238 m a.s.l. in the Cotiella karstic massif in the Spanish Central 

Pyrenees. Temperature monitoring indicates an input of cold air during the 

winter, while there is no air circulation in summer. General melting 

conditions prevail during summer season. The bottom of the cave houses 

an ice deposit almost 10 meters thick and 125 m 3 in volume. Most of the 

ice comes from freezing of the snow that enters the cave through the 

entrance. Ice body shows a stratified structure with several inner debris 

layers including many vegetal remnants. A precise chronological model of 

the ice section, based on radiocarbon calibrated ages, has been 

established, demonstrating a very high stratigraphic consistence covering 

from 6208-5992 cal. yr BP at the bottom, to 2060-1895 cal. yr BP at the 

top. As a consequence, it is one of the oldest subsurface ice deposits 

known so far in Europe. A cycle of 500-yr in the ice accumulation rate is 

observed, reaching maximum values of 0.34 cm/year and minimum of 0.04 

cm/year. On the other hand, preliminary stable isotopic data (δ 18 O and δ 2 D 

measured in the ice) fit closely to the global meteoric water line confirming 

the origin of the ice. The δ 18 OVSMOW values range from -12.93 to -8.01 ‰ 

showing a high variability during the intervals with high ice accumulation 

rates, such as the Middle Holocene, that correspond to cold palaeoclimatic 

conditions. In addition, isotopic data oscillations provide information of 

temperature variations at a centennial/decadal scale. Summarizing, after 

this preliminary study, A294 ice caves is revealed as an extraordinary high 

resolution archive of recent climate change in the Pyrenees. 

47




DATING PERSPECTIVE OF OLD ICE CONTAINED IN DYNAMIC CAVES 

OF THE ALPS 

Hoffmann H. 1 , May B. 1 , Leinfelder D. 1 , Busam J. 1 , Steier P. 2 & 

Wagenbach D. 1 

1 Institut für Umweltphysik, Universityt Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 229, 69120 Heidelberg, 

Germany 

2 Vienna Environmental Research Accelerator (VERA), Fakultät für Physik – Isotopenforschung, 

Universität Wien, Währinger Str. 17, 1090 Wien, Austria 

The evaluation of long term mass balance changes and their paleo-climate 

significance constitute a key question in glaciological ice cave research. 

Evidently, this task relies on appropriate ice dating tools. Currently, 

however, the radiocarbon analysis of englacial organic matter offers the 

only instrumental tool for constraining the age of cave ice on the multicentennial 

to millennium scale. In contrast to ice from static ice caves, 

where organic macro plant remains are frequently found, ice bodies in 

deep, dynamic caves of the Alpes (like the Eisriesenwelt cave and similar 

ones) are virtually free of such internally deposited organic material 

(except, perhaps, rare cases of faunal remains). Thus, the radiocarbon 

analysis of ice from such caves and its interpretation in terms of ice age 

since deposition are still a challenge. Previous radiocarbon analyses we 

made on an ice core from Eisriesenwelt cave were not immediately useful 

in view of dating. This shortfall has been mainly due to severe 

contamination problems which mainly arose from the need to use an 

organic drilling fluid and from the generally poor core quality. Here, we 

outline the perspective for radiocarbon dating of such ice based on its 

minor organic impurity content (being made up by particulate (POC) and 

dissolved (DOC) organic matter, respectively). This attempt includes 

assessing the relevance of associated reservoir effects and the typical level 

of the POC and DOC impurities fractions in the ERW ice. Finally, current 

explorations of novel analytical techniques in radiocarbon sample 

preparation and analysis are addressed in view of their potential to improve 

the dating of cave ice via trace levels of organic impurities. 

48




AIR TEMPERATURE VARIABILITY AND ICE CAVE MICROCLIMATE 

CHARACTERISTICS OBSERVED IN ŽUPANOVA JAMA, SLOVENIA 

Košutnik J. 1 & Ravbar N. 2 

1 Cesta Ceneta Stuparja 148, 1231 Ljubljana 

2 Karst Research Institute ZRC SAZU, Titov trg 2, 6230 Postojna 

Detailed monitoring of cave air temperature is being carried out in a show 

cave of Ţupanova jama (Mayor‟s cave) in order to reconstruct its temporal 

and spatial variability patterns. The cave is located at the northern rim of 

the Dinaric karst in central Slovenia. It has two entrances at the elevations 

of 442 m and 477 m a.s.l. respectively. The known parts of the cave 

consist of eight collapse chambers sited relatively close to surface – max. 

thickness of the ceiling is 45 m. Since February 2009 monitoring was being 

set up on six different locations within the cave and outside the cave. 

Continuous measurements with a resolution of 30 and 60 min respectively 

have been made using BaroDiver (Eijkelkamp) and T-buttons 22L. The 

study focuses on two cave chambers that are opened to surface and most 

influenced by the external temperature; Ledenica (Ice cave) and 

Permetova dvorana (Mayor's hall). Ledenica is a lower lying chamber and 

has a pocket-shaped morphology with steep descending walls. On one side 

the chamber opens to the surface and on the other is connected to the 

Permetova dvorana. This is a bell shaped chamber with the entrance on the 

top. In Ledenica the results of air temperature time series analyses show 

seasonal and daily patterns that are characteristic for ice caves. Air 

temperature gradient and seasonal effect on heat exchange has been 

observed. When the outside air is cooler and thus denser than the cave air, 

it intrudes the cave through the lower entrance and sinks under the 

warmer air by displacing it. The warmer cave air rises and flows towards 

and then through the upper entrance. This upward flow is referred to as 

“winter flow” which results in cooling of the cave air and rock. When cave 

air is cooler than the air outside the cave, it flows from the upper entrance 

down through the cave and out the lower entrance. This downward flow is 

referred to as “summer flow”, leaving the lake of cold air at the bottom of 

the pocket-shaped chamber isolated and stagnant. The study shows that 

not only caves at higher elevations and with the presence of perennial ice, 

but also special conditions, such as cave morphology can contribute to ice 

cave climatic conditions. 

49




MICROBIAL BIODIVERSITY IN ICE SEDIMENTS FROM SCARISOARA 

ICE CAVE (ROMANIA) 

Hillebrand A. 1 , Itcus C. 2 Rusu A. 2 , Perşoiu A. 3 , Brad T. 4 , Popa E. 2 , 

Onac B. P. 4 & Purcarea C. 2 

1 Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology, Bucharest, Romania 

2 Institute of Biology Bucharest of the Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania 

3 Stefan cel Mare University, Suceava, Romania 

4 Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania 

The microbial diversity of cold environments was investigated from a large 

variety of exposed ice habitats. However, very little is known about 

microorganisms living in ice deposits from caves, an isolated and light 

deprived cold environment that ensures advanced species‟ conservation. 

Scarisoara Ice Cave hosts the oldest and largest underground perennial ice 

deposit worldwide. The underground ice block from Little Reserve presents 

a regular, well marked, horizontal stratification recently dated with stable 

isotopes. The profile of the exposed surface of the ice block contains 

chronological ice deposits. Our study focuses on determining the microbial 

biodiversity and its chronological distribution in ice sediments from 

Scarisoara Cave by culture-dependent and independent approaches. 

This study comprises (1) ice sampling of various ages and locations, (2) 

microbial cultivation on various substrates and at different temperatures, 

(3) total DNA extraction from liquid cultures and ice samples, (4) PCR 

amplification of bacterial 16S-rRNA genes and gene library construction, 

(5) ARDRA and DGGE analyses, (6) 16S-rRNA gene sequencing, and (7) 

phylogenetic analysis. 

Samples were prelevated under sterile conditions from recent ice 

sediments from Great Hall and from the oldest exposed layer 

corresponding to 900 years old ice containing or not organic matter from 

the Little Reserve, as well as an intermediate sample of 400 years old. 

Cultivation of ice-contained microorganisms at 4°C and 15°C, performed in 

various liquid and solid media revealed a different growth rate and number 

of colonies as a function of cultivation conditions. Accordingly, a higher 

number of colonies resulted at 15°C than that obtained at 4°C, 

independently from the ice age, suggesting the prevalence of moderate 

psychrophiles in this habitat. The substrate preference of the microbial 

communities, analyzed with the Biolog Ecoplates system, varies with the 

temperature and sample location. 

Light exposed ice samples were analyzed for assessing the presence of 

cyanobacteria in recent ice deposits. 

Total DNA was extracted from ice originating microorganisms cultivated 

under various conditions, generated 16S-rRNA genes libraries by PCR 

amplification using both bacterial and archaeal specific primers. ARDRA 

analysis was carried out using digestion with RsaI, HaeIII and HinfI of the 

50




PCR amplified inserts, identifying various restriction patterns, and the 

selected clones were sequenced. In progress sequence identification and 

phylogenetic analysis of the bacterial species present in this 900 years old 

ice revealed some yet unidentified species, several species present in other 

cold habitats and others common to mesophilic environments. 

The total DNA was extracted from ice samples of various locations, and 

16S/18S-rRNA pyrosequencing of total DNA from and DGGE analysis of 

SSU-rRNA amplicons are currently underway for identifying the microbial 

biodiversity and its chronological distribution in ice sediments from 

Scarisoara cave 

THE INTERACTION OF PERMAFROST AND KARST FEATURES AS 

SEEN AT A SMALL LAKE SYSTEM AT KAPP LINNÉ, WEST CENTRAL 

SPITSBERGEN 

Cohen S. M. 1,2 & Christiansen H. H. 1,2 

1 Arctic Geology Department, University Centre in Svalbard, Norway 

2 Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway 

Traditionally the permafrost in high arctic Svalbard is thought to be 

continuous, however, at Kapp Linné in western Spitsbergen, 

geomorphologically distinct geologically determined karst landforms exist, 

pointing to the existence of holes in the permafrost. One aspect of 

permafrost which has not been discussed heavily in literature, particularly 

since the 1980s, is the interaction of permafrost and karst systems. This 

study focuses on the dual presence of karst features, as well as permafrost 

and periglacial features, encountered at Kapp Linné. 

The study of karst formations and processes in Arctic and High-Arctic 

permafrost environments is limited to few studies. Ford and Williams 

(2007) established a model for karst development in permafrost areas 

based on studies in the Canadian Arctic. The model is general and limits 

karst development to the seasonal active layer, or to shallow taliks, 

unfrozen zones within permafrost, directly beneath bodies of water. 

Aim: The purpose of this study is to investigate the dynamics occurring due 

to the interaction of periglacial and karst features. This unique pairing is 

encountered at Kapp Linné. Here, a set of small lakes is situated on raised 

beach terraces above the coast line. Previous studies present evidence of 

water draining into the subsurface of a permafrost zone, presumably into 

normally impermeable areas, below the melt-season induced active layer. 

With significant technological improvements in the last 30 years, new 

monitoring techniques lend themselves to establishing an up-to-date 

understanding of the controls on the development of this special landscape. 

Due to a growing interest regarding permafrost monitoring, this study will 

investigate a specific aspect of permafrost interaction and dependence on 

51




the surrounding climatic, topographic, geomorphological and geological 

conditions. 

Methods: Field campaigns are planned for spring and summer 2012. These 

include: geomorphological mapping, establishing ground and water 

temperature records, conductivity testing with a conductivity temperature 

depth (CTD) monitor, ground penetrating radar (GPR) transects to study 

the subsurface, analyzing ground temperature records, and analyzing 

satellite images of the area. 

Results : Results from a preliminary 2010 geomorphological mapping study 

conclude that lake water is actively draining into the subsurface during the 

melt season. The amount of water loss cannot be accounted for by surface 

drainage or evaporation loss alone, leaving the subsurface as the only 

option for the distinct lowering of water levels. Shallow active layer ground 

temperature records are available for some locations around the lake 

system. The records shows that ground temperature from locations around 

the lakes are higher than in all other periglacial landforms with continuous 

permafrost in Svalbard. Results from the 2010 study and the temperature 

evidence established an interest to continue the project. Initial results from 

the 2012 field campaigns will be available by fall 2012. 

Preliminary Conclusions: Current results conclude that a karst system 

allows water to actively drain into a permafrost zone in the subsurface at 

Kapp Linné. The planned field measurements from 2012 will incorporate 

the earlier mentioned methods to draw further conclusions of the status of 

the processes occurring both on the surface and subsurface at the karst 

lakes. 

FIRST THERMAL, MORPHOLOGICAL AND ICE TYPES STUDIES IN 

THE PEÑA CASTIL ICE CAVE (PICOS DE EUROPA, CANTABRIAN 

MOUNTAINS. NORTHERN SPAIN) 

Gómez Lende M. 1 & Serrano Cañadas E. 2 

1 Dpto. Geografía. Universidad de Cantabria. Santander, Spain. (manuelglende@hotmail.com) 

2 Dpto. Geografía. Universidad de Valladolid, Valaldolid, Spain 

The Picos de Europa is the highest massif in the Atlantic Mountain of 

Southwestern Europe. It reaches the high mountain belt (between 1800- 

2650 m a.s.l) and it is characterized by a nivoperiglacial morphodymanic 

and a periglacial one above 2200 m.a.s.l, where the snow and cold shape 

inherited glaciokarstic landscape. Present day there are not glaciers, but 

stil remain three ice-patches. The topography, climatic conditions, thick 

carboniferous limestones and significant altitude differences make possible 

an important endokarstic development, mainly vertical, in which some of 

52




the deepest caves in the world are located. In this context are common the 

ice caves. 

The Peña Castil ice cave is located in the central massif of Picos de Europa 

in a glacial cirque under the Peña Castil summit (2444 m) and hung on the 

Duje valley. The principal entrance is at 2010 m a.s.l with an eastern 

orientation without others remarkable entrances. The horizontal 

development is aprox. 65 m length and the vertical one is unknown. The 

cave is organised in an access sloping ramp, two main principal rooms in 

which the ice block is located, and a terminal room, the smallest. The ice 

perennial deposit surface is 448 m 2 and its depth, till now known, is at 

least -15 m. It involves an estimated ice filling at least 6700 m 3 . 

First climate results obtained by continuum dattaloggers inside the cave 

and exterior meteorological stations, attached to karst morphology, show 

us a static behaviour for the cave. Two main thermal periods can be 

differentiate: the open period, between November and February, 

characterised by the influence of external conditions (heterothermal regime 

predominance); and the closed period, gets free of external influences and 

with stable temperatures closed to freezing point (homothermal regime 

predominance), is developed between May and September. Also, two 

secondary periods, transitional ones, are been detected. In these cases the 

temperatures are increasing or descending progressively up to adjusting to 

the principal periods. The mean annual temperatures don‟t overcome 0ºC 

in any zone of the cave during the control time, recording -4ºC for absolute 

minimum and exceptionally +2ºC for absolute maximum temperature only 

reach the terminal room some days in autumn. The distribution of 

temperatures shows different behaviour in the cave directed by the 

influence of the ice body. When the influence of the ice decrease, minor 

means annual temperature, major maximal values, or more days over the 

freezing point are registered. 

Can be distinguished a principal ice accumulation period linked mainly to 

the melt of the snow cover (top time at the beginning of June), 

characterized by largest cryoespeleothems and a visible refreezing cap in 

the ice block surface in the established closed period. In the rest of the 

year the melting processes predominate, reaching the highest melt in 

winter season. Likewise we identified different ice structures and 

cryospeleothems depending on the origin and crystallization, highlighting 

some of them not appreciated in the others investigated ice caves in Picos 

de Europa, case of the radicular crystallization hoarfrost. 

53




IKAITE IN THE SCĂRISOARA ICE CAVE (ROMANIA): ORIGIN AND 

SIGNIFICANCE 

Onac B. P. 1 , Wynn J. G. 1 & Citterio M. 2 

1 University of South Florida, Department of Geology, Tampa, USA (bonac@usf.edu) 

2 Department of Marine Geology and Glaciology, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, 

Copenhagen, Denmark 

Ikaite, CaCO3·6H2O, is a rare, metastable carbonate mineral first identified 

in submarine reef-like columns growing from the bottom of Ikka Fjord (SW 

Greenland) at temperatures between -1.9 and 7ºC. Inactive tufa towers 

found along the shore of Mono and Pyramid lakes in western US are 

believed to represent former ikaite structures that were converted to 

calcite. These sites, along with two others in Japan and Patagonia are so 

far the only terrestrial occurrences of ikaite. Notes reporting its presence in 

ice accumulations and icicles around some saline springs from Shiowakka 

(Japan), prompted us to search for ikaite in the perennial ice deposit of the 

Scărisoara Ice Cave. 

A reconnaissance mineralogical study undertaken between 1996 and 2000 

pointed out the presence in the glacial and periglacial sectors of the cave of 

large surfaces covered with thousands of micro-pearls (< 400 µm), pearl 

conglomerates, fibrous efflorescent calcite (var. lublinite) as well as 

monohydrocalcite. Except for monohydrocalcite, the deposition of all the 

other mineral phases are triggered by freezing of dripping and seeping 

water. In addition, phosphate minerals and abundant organic material 

(leaves, branches, logs) are common in many parts of the cave. 

Two types of ikaite were positively identified by XRD and environmental 

scanning electron microscope studies: 1) various crystal shapes (< 670 µm 

across) forming white-light cream patchy accumulations within certain ice 

layers and at the surface of ice stalagmites/domes, and 2) glendonite 

(calcite pseudomorphs after ikaite), typically shaped as rosettes (up to 4.7 

cm). Glendonite samples were found protruding out from the ice tongue in 

the Great Reservation. Considering the particular cave settings and 

microclimate (temperature is always below 2ºC) in which the two types of 

ikaite occur, it appears that they were cryogenically precipitated. This 

preliminary conclusion is largely based on similarities between the stable 

isotope signature in cryogenic calcites and two glendonite samples 

recovered from the Great Reservation in Scărisoara Ice Cave. 

The high δ 13 C (0 to 10‰) and δ 18 O (-1 to -10‰) values, typical for 

cryogenic carbonates in Scărisoara Ice Cave, are due to rapid water 

freezing that is accompanied by swift kinetic CO2 degassing. In comparison 

to the cryogenic calcite samples, the very low δ 13 C values (-14‰) found 

for the ikaite precursor of glendonite, implicate biogenic CO2, as the main 

carbon source for its precipitation. Therefore, glendonites may be 

54




considered useful indicators of warm/wet conditions outside the cave, time 

when biogenic-derived CO2-rich waters seeped into the cave. 

Future work on these carbonate precipitates may shed light on the 

relationship between the oxygen isotope values in the ice layers and 

ikaite‟s temperature-restricted field of formation. The aim of this study is 

1) to infer the δ 18 O from hydration water of ikaite and cross-calibrate it 

against the δ 18 O obtained from ice layers that contain ikaite and 2) better 

understand the precipitation of ikaite and its transformation into anhydrous 

carbonate. The results can serve as basis to further explore other 

paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental implications the presence of ikaite in 

perennial ice cave accumulations might have. 

WHAT CAUSED THE LEDS IN CAVE LIGHTING? 

Novomeský J. 1 

1 COMLUX sro – lighting studio, SK–82104 Bratislava, Kopanice 5, Slovakia (COMLUX@COMLUX.SK) 

The LED are suitable for use in cave lighting equipments (CLE) since about 

5 years. But some of the newest CLE do not perform as well as expected 

for these modern lamps. It seems that many planers and users don‟t have 

enough technical and practical knowledge and experience about it and its 

application. Some new, no properly designed LED CLE, produce too much 

or not enough light in the cave, cause quite strange unnatural colors and 

the feeling of space deformation. And in the worst case help to intensive 

grow of lamp flora. 

To avoid some of the mistakes that can happen from improper use of this 

new light source, experimentation with possible LED white light colors and 

comparison with previous incandescent lamps found, that there is 

necessary to suit the color temperature of used LED with the main color of 

cave walls, to use only LED of the best quality with efficiency of more than 

50 lm/W and color rendering index better than 80. Further is to avoid any 

violent experiments with the light effects and to install the properly 

quantity light into the cave. Only on this way is it possible to guarantee the 

best visual impression for the visitors and good cave protection. 

White LED have already reached luminous efficacies of 100-150 lm/W and 

a color rendering index of 80. Target value for warm white LED in the next 

10 years are more than 200 lm/W efficacy and a CRI of over 90. They are 

immediately switchable, dimmable and have the technical life 30000-50000 

hours mostly limited only through the drivers life. We don‟t need more life 

in the usual lighting installations. It is more than 10 service years by the 

3000 burning hours in a year. And what kind of lamp will we use after 10 

years? They are 10 times better than incandescent and halogen lamps and 

55




2 times better than discharge lamps today. Only their price seems to be 

quite high, but the serious cost calculation show us that the high initial 

costs are compensated by the low running costs and that the pay back 

times are acceptable. 

From the applications in the color illuminations on the beginning, they are 

more and more used in the common lighting - in the shops, offices, 

working places, industry, streets, sport places and why not in the caves? 

But effective design, possible simple installation, control, and operation of 

LED CLE require a much more technical knowledge and feeling for the 

nature as were needed for the lighting installation in the past. 

GLACIAL KARST ON THE FORNI GLACIER (VALTELLINA, I) 

Ferrario A. 1 , Inglese M. 2 , Testa P. 3 & Tognini P. 2 

1 Gruppo Gruppo Grotte CAI Saronno, Progetto Speleologia Glaciale; (aiaweie@hotmail.it) 

2 Gruppo Grotte Milano CAI-SEM, Progetto Speleologia Glaciale; (paolatognini@iol.it; 

mauro.ingle@iol.it) 

3 Gruppo Speleologico CAI Varallo, Progetto Speleologia Glaciale; (speleopaolo@hotmali.com) 

The Forni Glacier (Valfurva, Valtellina, Northern Italy) is the longest glacier 

in the Italian Alps (although it has considerably reduced in length during 

the last two decades) and it has been being studied since 1995 by a group 

of Italian cavers. 

This poster shows the main karst features observed on this glacier during a 

period of 17 years, both on surface and endo- and subglacially. The 

relation of the evolution of glacial karst with the evolution of the glacier, 

and the effects of recent ice volume reduction on karst morphologies, 

mainly on endo- and subglacial caves, are pointed out. 

GLACIAL KARST ON THE MORTERATSCH GLACIER (CH) 

Ferrario A. 1 , Inglese M. 2 , Testa P. 3 & Tognini P. 2 

1 Gruppo Gruppo Grotte CAI Saronno, Progetto Speleologia Glaciale; (aiaweie@hotmail.it) 

2 Gruppo Grotte Milano CAI-SEM, Progetto Speleologia Glaciale; (paolatognini@iol.it; 

mauro.ingle@iol.it) 

3 Gruppo Speleologico CAI Varallo, Progetto Speleologia Glaciale; (speleopaolo@hotmali.com) 

The Morteratsch Glacier is found in the Southern Switzerland Alps: fed by 

the highest peaks of the Bernina Massif, it is one of the largest glaciers in 

Switzerland. 

56




This poster shows the main karst features recently observed on this 

glacier: moulins with deep en-glacial canyons at their base are common, 

but there are some peculiarities, such as big subglacial caves at the snout, 

a surprisingly stable subglacial cave in a dead ice mass, and moulins 

reaching the bedrock. The evolution of glacial caves, mainly contact caves 

at the snout, is strictly related with the evolution of the glacier morphology. 

FIRST SURVEYS IN AN ICE CAVE OF THE MONTE CANIN MASSIF, 

ALPI GIULIE (ITALY) 

Bearzot F. 1 , Colucci R.R. 1,2 , Finocchiaro F. 1 , Forte E. 1 , Guglielmin M. 3 & 

Potleca M. 4 

1 University of Trieste, Department of Mathematic and Geoscience (DMG) – via Weiss 2, 34128 

Trieste, Italy 

2 National Research Council (CNR), ISMAR Trieste – Viale R. Gessi 2, 34123 Trieste, Italy 

3 Insubria University, BICOM Varese – via HJ Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy 

4 Regione Friuli Venezia Giulia – via Natisone 43, 33057 Palmanova, Italy 

The Monte Canin massif host a large number of karst caves and for this 

reason an intense research caving activity is here very well developed since 

several decades. Although in a certain number of these cavities the 

presence of snow and ice is reported, and in some of them permanent and 

layered ice is well recognizable, the study of the underground cryosphere 

has never been undertaken. At the end of summer 2010 a karst cave filled 

by a permanent ice deposit has been identified to be suitable for a 

systematic monitoring. During summer 2011 started the investigation of 

this ipogea environment by installing of several monitoring stations. 

Actually 14 temperature probes are recording air, rock and ice temperature 

every 30 minutes using Tynitag data-loggers. Rock temperature probes are 

inserted at three different depths (2 cm, 30 cm and 100 cm) and in three 

sites (inside and outside the cave), while ice temperature is detected at 30 

cm and 100 cm of depth, at the top of the ice body. Air temperature is 

detected at the bottom of the cave (underneath the ice body), in the main 

cavern and outside the cave. Two fixed reference marks were installed at 

the top of the ice body and are periodically measured in order to detect 

possible spatial and temporal changes of the ice mass. Moreover several 

GPR profiles have been acquired within the cave using 500 and 800MHz 

shielded antennas to define the ice thickness variations and possible ice 

layering. 

During summer 2012 a new topographic survey has been realized in order 

to geo-referencing the cave in GIS environment and to draw the most 

peculiar sections. A complete stratigraphy of the ice layers is now also 

available to be used as calibration for the GPR sections as well. 

57




Despite of the gap of knowledge on the frozen karst caves in the area, all 

this instrumental and direct observations could provide a useful key to 

understand the permafrost distribution and its connections with the 

underground cryosphere and the glaciological evolution of the landscape 

ICE LEVEL CHANGES FROM SEASONAL TO DECADAL TIME-SCALE AT 

LAVA BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT, NE CALIFORNIA, USA 

Kern Z. 1,2 & Thomas, S. 3 

1 Climate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern and Oeschger Center for 

Climate Change, Bern, Switzerland 

2 MTA CSFK, Institute for Geological and Geochemical Research, Budapest, Hungary 

3 Lava Beds National Monument, California, USA 

Numerous lava tube caves host seasonal or perennial ice accumulation in 

the Lava Beds region (41.5°N, 121.5°W). Regular ice level monitoring has 

been conducted for eight ice caves since 1990, and additional five caves 

were also included into the monitoring network during recent years. 

Monitoring data reveal that the seasonal cave ice phenology can be 

characterized by autumnal ice level low-stands. Regarding the multiannual 

evolution, both positive and negative ice mass balance periods were 

detected during the past 23 years. 

Positive mass balances were reported for many caves from the late 1990s. 

Ice level is still stable in Skull Ice Cave, B-020 and U-200. However severe 

ice loss has characterized the evolution of the other caves. Major ice loss 

started in 1998-99 in the Merrill, C-270 and M-470 ice caves, while not 

until 2003 in L-800. 

The recent rapid ice melt was fatal for some caves. Perennial ice 

disappeared from M-470 and M-475 by 2005 and from Merrill Ice Cave by 

2006, for instance. 

TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE MADE INSTRUMENTING LO LC 1650 ICE 

CAVE (“ABISSO SUL MARGINE DELL’ALTO BREGAI”) 

1 Servizi Territorio srl (info@serviziterritorio.it) 

Alberici A. 1 , Favaron M. 1 & Fraternali D. 1 

The poster presents the technical challenges found in deploying a complex 

measurement and data acquisition system at LO LC 1650 site, 

58




characterized by an ultrasonic anemometer in the depth of the glacier 

cave, various air, ground and ice temperature measurement point, and a 

conventional meteorological-climatological station, and how they have 

been overcome. From a system design point of view, performing 

continuous measurements at ice cave adds the usual requirements of 

remote sites to specific problems, among which the large size of 

measurement field (from one to two orders of magnitude larger than 

conventional meteorological stations), the frequent to continuous 

occurrence of temperature below 0 °C in part of the measurement field, 

and the limited availability of solar energy due to shadowing effects and 

thickness of snow cover. Last, but not least, the necessity to interfere the 

less possible with site‟s environment. The solution to these problems at LO 

LC 1650 site involved selection and customization of special equipment, 

defining a suitable architecture, and devise proper installation and 

maintenance practices. The specific methods adopted are presented in the 

poster, to the benefit of anyone who would like to repeat the experience 

somewhere else. 

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NOTES 

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Volume of Abstracts - Università degli Studi di Milano

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