We are pleased to announce that a scientific paper resulting from the CARDIKARST project has been published in the international journal International Journal of Speleology. The article, entitled Monitoring strategies in cave microclimate studies, authored by Nenad Buzjak, Dalibor Paar, Aurel Perşoiu, Christos Pennos, Franci Gabrovšek, and Valerija Rossi, represents our methodological contribution to cave microclimate research.
The paper develops a conceptual and methodological framework for investigating cave microclimates, including a clear distinction between the concepts of cave climate, cave microclimate, and cave meteorology, as well as a structured typology of measurement approaches that integrates both temporal and spatial dimensions. Particular emphasis is placed on the importance of long-term, spatially resolved observations, which are essential for understanding ventilation dynamics, thermal stratification, and CO₂ distribution in cave environments, as well as for the proper interpretation of palaeoclimate records, geomorphological processes, and subterranean ecosystem functioning.
The significance of this publication is further enhanced by the fact that the article appears in a special thematic issue of the journal dedicated to cave monitoring. The initiative to establish this thematic issue was proposed by members of the CARDIKARST project team Aurel Perşoiu, Nenad Buzjak, and Christos Pennos (Guest Editors) and supported by the editor-in-chief Bogdan P. Onac. Its acceptance by the journal’s editorial board represents international recognition of both the scientific relevance of this research field and the contributions made within the CARDIKARST project.
This work has been supported by Hrvatska zaklada za znanost – Croatian Science Foundation under the project “Dynamics and distribution of CO2 in karst vadose and epiphreatic zone (CARDIKARST)” (IPS-2022-02-2260).
