A Study on the Changes of Air Quality the Baekryong Cave in Pyeonchang (Natural Monument Number 260)

Abstract

This study focused on the changes of air quality in the cave prior and after the public viewing. For this study, Baekryong Cave in Pyeonchang (Natural Monument Number 260) was selected, which has recently been opened to the public, and the main elements that influence air quality, such as temperature, humidity, and the amount of carbon dioxide, were divided into before and after public viewing. The results of the study show that the cave's temperature, relative humidity, and the amount of carbon dioxide are influenced by the visitors and the seasons. The temperature of the cave was influenced by the seasons closer to the entrance. However, the deeper the area was, the less the visitors significantly influenced the temperature of the cave. Changes to relative humidity were only affected by the seasons near the entrance of the cave, showing that it was maintained regularly by the underground water within the cave. Although the amount of carbon dioxide inside the cave seems to be affected by several factors such as its topography and continental phenomenon, vapors, temperature, etc., it is considered that it is most influenced by the visitors amongst all other environmental factors. As results from this study show, caves open to the public needs to be a continued monitoring of the amount of carbon dioxide. Moreover, there needs to be additional researches regarding the influence of carbon dioxide amounts towards environmental changes in the cave.