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Ensuring reliable cave temperature data for climate change research
Alice Cimenti1,2, Lorenzo Cresi3, Marco Isaia2,4
1Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Torino, Torino, Italy.
Scientific Reports
|January 16, 2026
Summary
A new quality control protocol, Cave Air Temperature Quality Control (CAT-QC), ensures reliable cave temperature data. This method addresses challenges in subterranean climate monitoring for better research and conservation.
Area of Science:
- Speleology
- Environmental Science
- Climate Science
Background:
- Caves offer unique insights into climate change impacts due to stable microclimates.
- High humidity and stable conditions in caves complicate accurate air temperature monitoring.
- Reliable data collection necessitates specialized equipment and rigorous protocols.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a standardized quality control procedure for cave air temperature data.
- To enhance the reliability and comparability of climate data from subterranean environments.
- To support climate change research and conservation efforts in caves.
Main Methods:
- Developed the Cave Air Temperature Quality Control (CAT-QC) protocol.
- Implemented a four-step process: data completeness, implausible value identification, statistical outlier detection, and manual review.
- Tested the protocol on iButton temperature data from 19 caves in Northwest Italy.
Main Results:
- The CAT-QC protocol successfully identified data gaps, physically impossible readings, and abrupt temperature shifts.
- Detected issues often stemmed from human interference or sensor malfunctions.
- The protocol demonstrated effectiveness in flagging unreliable data for further investigation.
Conclusions:
- CAT-QC provides a robust framework for ensuring the quality and comparability of cave climate data.
- The protocol is adaptable to various subterranean environments and data characteristics.
- Improved data quality supports more accurate climate change studies and conservation strategies in caves.
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