Analysis on anthropogenic and physical influencing factors of CO2 concentration in Karst cave systems: A case study of Xingwen World Geopark

The hand-held Carbon Dioxide Meter GM70 was used to measure CO₂ concentration in Tianquan cave of Xingwen World Geopark. The study was done in Tianquan cave in August, 2008. Data sources include the human and physical influence factors of distribution of CO₂: tourists, wide of the cave and distance from main cave to lateral cave. Results indicated tourists have strong impacts on the CO₂ concentration in the lateral unventilated cave, while no significant differences could be found in the ventilated main cave. Furthermore, significant correlation could be found between the distance from main cave and the CO₂ concentration in the lateral unventilated cave. Results also indicate that the CO₂ concentration in the Tianquan cave has no threat to the health of tourists and deterioration of speleothems. However, more attention should also be paid to the change of CO₂ concentration in the narrow and unventilated cave when it opens to tourists to insure tourists´ health and speleothems development.