The impact of fire on the geochemistry of speleothem-forming drip water in a sub-alpine cave

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dc.contributor.authorColeborn, Ken_AU
dc.contributor.authorBaker, AAen_AU
dc.contributor.authorTreble, Pauline Cen_AU
dc.contributor.authorAndersen, MSen_AU
dc.contributor.authorBaker, ACen_AU
dc.contributor.authorTadros, CVen_AU
dc.contributor.authorTozer, MGen_AU
dc.contributor.authorFairchild, IJen_AU
dc.contributor.authorSpate, Aen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMeehan, Sen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2024-10-04T05:57:50Zen_AU
dc.date.available2024-10-04T05:57:50Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2018-11en_AU
dc.date.statistics2024-10-04en_AU
dc.description.abstractFire dramatically modifies the surface environment by combusting vegetation and changing soil properties. Despite this well-documented impact on the surface environment, there has been limited research into the impact of fire events on karst, caves and speleothems. Here we report the first experiment designed to investigate the short-term impacts of a prescribed fire on speleothem-forming cave drip water geochemistry. Before and after the fire, water was collected on a bi-monthly basis from 18 drip sites in South Glory Cave, New South Wales, Australia. Two months post-fire, there was an increase in B, Si, Na, Fe and Pb concentrations at all drip sites. We conclude that this response is most likely due to the transport of soluble ash-derived elements from the surface to the cave drip water below. A significant deviation in stable water isotopic composition from the local meteoric water line was also observed at six of the sites. We hypothesise that this was due to partial evaporation of soil water resulting in isotopic enrichment of drip waters. Our results demonstrate that even low-severity prescribed fires can have an impact on speleothem-forming cave drip water geochemistry. These findings are significant because firstly, fires need to be considered when interpreting past climate from speleothem δ18O isotope and trace element records, particularly in fire prone regions such as Australia, North America, south west Europe, Russia and China. Secondly, it supports research that demonstrates speleothems could be potential proxy records for past fires. © 2018 Elsevier B.V.en_AU
dc.description.sponsorshipThis research was supported by the Australian Research Council (LP130100177). The authors would like to thank AINSE Limited for providing financial assistance (Award - PGRA) to enable work on this research. We would also like to thank the National Parks and Wildlife Service staff at Yarrangobilly Caves and Stuart Hankin for allowing us access to the weather station data. Finally, we thank the two anonymous reviewers who provided insightful comments to improve the manuscript.en_AU
dc.format.mediumPrint-Electronicen_AU
dc.identifier.citationColeborn, K., Baker, A., Treble, P. C., Andersen, M. S., Baker, A., Tadros, C. V., Tozer, M., Fairchild, I. J., Spate, A., & Meehan, S. (2018). The impact of fire on the geochemistry of speleothem-forming drip water in a sub-alpine cave. Science of the Total Environment, 642, 408-420. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.310en_AU
dc.identifier.issn0048-9697en_AU
dc.identifier.issn1879-1026en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleThe Science of The Total Environmenten_AU
dc.identifier.pagination408-420en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.310en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/handle/10238/15741en_AU
dc.identifier.volume642en_AU
dc.languageEnglishen_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherElsevieren_AU
dc.subjectIsotopesen_AU
dc.subjectCavesen_AU
dc.subjectTracer techniquesen_AU
dc.subjectFiresen_AU
dc.subjectAshesen_AU
dc.subjectSurface watersen_AU
dc.subjectEnvironmenten_AU
dc.subjectAquatic ecosystemsen_AU
dc.subjectAustraliaen_AU
dc.titleThe impact of fire on the geochemistry of speleothem-forming drip water in a sub-alpine caveen_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
dcterms.dateAccepted2018-05-24en_AU
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