• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.53 no.1
• /
• pp.52-63
• /
• 2020

This study was conducted in order to evaluate the characteristics of air temperature fluctuation inside the Daegeumgul, Ondaldonggul, and Seongnyugul Caves, which are the most representative limestone caves in Korea, and also to assess the effects of air temperature on cave temperature. Temperature was measured hourly at three sites in Daegeumgul, Ondaldonggul, and Seongnyugul Caves from April 13 to June 25, 2019. Additionally, air temperature data for the areas around the caves was provided by the Meteorological Administration. Using this collected data, the basic statistical measure of fluctuation characteristics over time was ascertained, and time series analyses were performed. Wide variation of temperature was exhibited in the order of the cave entrance, the cave water inflow point, and the midpoint. Cave temperature was observed to increase gradually during the study period. There was a vast range in temperature at the Daegeumgul station located approximately 150 m outside the cave, but it remained nearly constant beyond the midpoint. Although the effect of air temperature was not significant due to the influence of visitors, the effect of air temperature on cave temperature gradually decreased from the entrance to the interior. At Ondaldonggul, there was a wide range in temperature recorded at the entrance due to the influence of air temperature, but it stayed almost constant in the interior. However, at the site where cave water flows into the cave, temperature was influenced by the cave water temperature. At Seongnyugul, there was a distinct fluctuation in temperature recorded at the cave entrance, while the middle of the cave remained nearly constant. Temperature fluctuated due to the air temperature at the entrance, while at the middle of the cave, measurements were expected to be affected to a greater extent by the lake water temperature than by the air temperature. However, this pattern was not observed. According to the time series analysis results, in all caves, fluctuations of air temperature affected cave temperature after approximately one hour. Cave size and structure, water presence, the entrance's size and shape, air flow, and visitor patterns can all influence cave temperature. Therefore, consideration of these factors is very important in the pursuit to clearly understand cave temperature characteristics.