Anthropogenic impacts on the Glowworm Cave, Waitomo, New Zealand: a microclimate management approach

Authors

Chris Hendy, University of Waikato, New ZealandFollow
David J. Merritt, University of Queensland, AustraliaFollow
Shannon Corkill, Tourism Holdings Limited, Waitomo, New ZealandFollow

Highlights

• Waitomo Glowworm Cave is prone to anthropogenic carbon dioxide build-up
• Climatic monitoring has led to an understanding of the cave ventilation process
• Chimney-effect ventilation is managed by opening or closing an upper-level door
• Ventilation is promoted when visitors are in the cave
• Ventilation is suppressed when cool, dry external air could negatively impact the glowworms

Abstract

Waitomo Glowworm Cave is a highly visited cave where the highlight is viewing the bioluminescence display of a large colony of glowworms. The visitation levels result in the build-up of anthropogenic CO₂, to the extent that it could cause corrosion of speleothems. The cave experiences chimney-effect ventilation with air flowing either upward or downward through the main cave chambers depending on air density differences between the cave and the outside environment. Lack of airflow leads to CO₂ build-up; however, unrestricted airflow can draw in cool, dry air which is harmful to the glowworms. Consequently, airflow is managed by controlling the opening and closing of a door that seals the upper-most entrance, preventing ventilation under drying conditions and promoting ventilation when it is necessary to clear CO₂ and when inflowing air has high relative humidity. A network of microclimate sensors in the cave allows prediction and management of the ventilation pattern. Management leads to asymmetric airflow through the year, which has a flow-on effect on cave temperature. Microclimate monitoring supports the current management practices that use door control to enhance cave ventilation when people are in the cave. Suppressing airflow, especially in winter, reduces the introduction of dry air.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5038/1827-806X.51.1.2411

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Hendy, C.H., Merritt, D.J., Corkill, S., 2022. Anthropogenic impacts on the Glowworm Cave, Waitomo, New Zealand: a microclimate management approach. International Journal of Speleology, 51(1), 59-68. https://doi.org/10.5038/1827-806X.51.1.2411