Monitoring climatological, hydrological and geochemical parameters in the Pere Noel cave (Belgium): implication for the interpretation of speleothem isotopic and geochemical time-series

Pe?re Noe?l cave climatology (air and water temperature, PCO2), hydrology (drip rate, conductivity) and geochemistry of water and calcite deposits (18O, 13C, MgCa and SrCa) where studied to better interpret stable isotopic and trace element variations of speleothems. Results of an automated monitoring station and of manual sampling between 1991 and 1998 have demonstrated the highly seasonal signal of drip rate, its control by water excess and rainfall, and, at a shorter scale to air pressure changes.