Modificaciones de los parámetros ambientales de la Cueva de Nerja provocadas por la entrada de visitantes

Abstract

In Nerja Cave, since 7 993 to present time, the values of underground atmosphere parameters (air and rock temperature, relative humidity, C02 concentration and number of visits) have been controlled to verify the anthropogenic modifications that suffer the cave due to the tourist visits. A variation in the environmental parameters related to the opening and closure of the cave to visits is observed every day of the year. During some days on July, and coinciding with the Music and Dance Festival, a different evolution of measured parameters have been verified in one of the chamber, due to the high number of spectators inside the cave (~ 800 persons). This affection happens during a period of time when the cave is normally dosed, and in which a total recovery of the background is reached previously to the daily opening of the cave. Anthropogenic modifications produced during the Festival have a temporal cumulative effect, but totally disappear within one week