A study on thermal dynamics inside Carlsbad Cavern, New Mexico, USA.

The climatic conditions of Carlsbad Cavern, New Mexico, are particularly complex. Its variety of large, as well as very narrow chambers, tunnels, and remote areas is the reason for its diversity of microclimates and special climatic features that are the subject of this paper, which can be seen as accompanying the article "The importance of air temperature as a key parameter to identify climatic processes inside Carlsbad Cavern, New Mexico, USA" by Killing-Heinze et al. (this issue). Two studies measured the trends of temperature through much of the cave during March-April 2011 and February 2013. One of the studies also assessed airflow directions using puffs of smoke. The main result was the detection of the flow of cold outside air from the entrance down the floor of the Main Passage and into the Big Room, especially along its west side. Temperatures increased along the route from the entrance to the Big Room, but some locations in the Big Room showed temperature ranges as great as those in the Main Corridor.