title: Non-anthropogenic sources of carbon dioxide in the Glowworm Cave, Waitomo

authors: Miedema, Natalie Margaret

subjects: carbon dioxide

abstract: The Waitomo Caves attract approximately 500 000 tourists each year. A requirement of tourist cave management is that the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO₂) is kept below levels that are: hazardous to the health of visitors, hazardous to the glowworms and other natural inhabitants, or potentially corrosive to speleothems. For the Glowworm Cave at Waitomo, the maximum permissible PCO₂ level is 2400 ppm. When exceeded, the tourist operators are required to close the cave. Ten years of monitoring data at the Glowworm Cave was analysed. Most of the variation in PCO₂ could be attributed to CO₂ respired by tourists, and the mixing of cave air with lower PCO₂ outside air. Occasionally, there were periods with high PCO₂ levels while the cave was closed to tourists. The main objective of this study was to investigate the potential role of the Waitomo Stream in contributing CO₂ to the Glowworm Cave atmosphere. 
Analysis of ten years of Glowworm Cave monitoring data showed that the 2400 ppm PCO₂ limit was, on average, exceeded five times each year, with a total of 48 events between 1998 and 2007. Of the PCO₂ limit exceedences, approximately 31% of events were largely driven by high tourist numbers; 27% of PCO₂ limit exceedences were mainly driven by increased discharge, rainfall, and/or a low temperature gradient between the cave and outside air, whilst 29% of the PCO₂ limit exceedences were due to a combination of tourists and increased discharge, rainfall, and/or a low temperature gradient. The remaining 13% of exceedences were unexplained by tourists or the factors investigated. It may be that the unexplained exceedences were due to the night time closure of the cave door, restricting air exchange. 

The PCO₂ of the Waitomo Stream was measured by equilibrating air with the streamwater within a closed loop. The air was passed continuously through an infrared gas analyser (IRGA). The streamwater PCO₂ typically ranged between 600 - 1200 ppm. Fluctuations in the PCO₂ of the Waitomo Stream coincided with PCO₂ fluctuations in the Glowworm Cave air, and under most conditions, the stream probably acted as a sink for cave air CO₂. However, following rainfall events, the stream PCO₂ increased, exceeding cave air PCO₂, thus acting as a source of CO₂ to the cave air. High stream PCO₂ often occurred at times when air flow through the cave was restricted, e.g. when the temperature gradient between the cave air and outside air was low, or stream levels were high, thus limiting air movement. The combination of high stream PCO₂ and a low temperature gradient increased the likelihood of high cave air PCO₂. 

Dripwater was measured to determine whether an increase in dripwater PCO₂ occurred in response to rainfall events. When rainfall events resulted in increased discharge, the dripwater PCO₂ sometimes increased (occasionally exceeding 5000 ppm), however the pattern was not consistent. 

The chemistry of the Waitomo and Okohua (Ruakuri) Streams was monitored with daily samples collected and analysed for major ions: HCO₃ -, Ca²⁺, Na⁺ and Mg²⁺, and δ¹³C stable isotope. The HCO₃ -, Ca²⁺, Na⁺ and Mg²⁺ concentrations in the streamwater decreased with increased discharge, presumably due to dilution. Increased discharge following rainfall events correlated with increasing PCO₂ in the Waitomo Stream, suggesting that soil atmosphere CO₂ dissolved in soil waters, and carried to the stream by saturated flow, was responsible for the streamwater PCO₂ increase. Ca in the stream showed both an increase and a decrease with respect to rainfall. Increased Ca in the stream occurred at times when the discharged waters were coming from the phreatic zone, and thus sufficient time had lapsed for CO₂ in the discharge waters to react with the limestone (carbonate dissolution reaction). Decreased Ca occurred when the infiltration and percolation of rainwater was rapid, and thus the streamwater was characterised by a higher PCO₂ and a lower Ca concentration, as insufficient time had lapsed for the discharge waters to equilibrate with the limestone. 

Increased negativity in the δ¹³C of the Waitomo and Ruakuri Streams coincided with increased discharge. During summer low flow, the δ¹³C of Waitomo Stream waters was -11.3‰, whereas during high stream discharge events, the δ¹³C dropped to -12 - -14‰. The δ¹³C of limestone is 0‰, the atmosphere is -7‰, and the soil atmosphere is reported to be about -24‰, thus the decrease in δ¹³C during high flow events supports the contention that soil atmosphere CO₂ is a likely source of the increased CO₂ in flood waters.

text: Non-anthropogenic sources of carbon dioxide in the Glowworm Cave, Waitomo The Waitomo Caves attract approximately 500 000 tourists each year. A requirement of tourist cave management is that the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO₂) is kept below levels that are: hazardous to the health of visitors, hazardous to the glowworms and other natural inhabitants, or potentially corrosive to speleothems. For the Glowworm Cave at Waitomo, the maximum permissible PCO₂ level is 2400 ppm. When exceeded, the tourist operators are required to close the cave. Ten years of monitoring data at the Glowworm Cave was analysed. Most of the variation in PCO₂ could be attributed to CO₂ respired by tourists, and the mixing of cave air with lower PCO₂ outside air. Occasionally, there were periods with high PCO₂ levels while the cave was closed to tourists. The main objective of this study was to investigate the potential role of the Waitomo Stream in contributing CO₂ to the Glowworm Cave atmosphere. 
Analysis of ten years of Glowworm Cave monitoring data showed that the 2400 ppm PCO₂ limit was, on average, exceeded five times each year, with a total of 48 events between 1998 and 2007. Of the PCO₂ limit exceedences, approximately 31% of events were largely driven by high tourist numbers; 27% of PCO₂ limit exceedences were mainly driven by increased discharge, rainfall, and/or a low temperature gradient between the cave and outside air, whilst 29% of the PCO₂ limit exceedences were due to a combination of tourists and increased discharge, rainfall, and/or a low temperature gradient. The remaining 13% of exceedences were unexplained by tourists or the factors investigated. It may be that the unexplained exceedences were due to the night time closure of the cave door, restricting air exchange. 

The PCO₂ of the Waitomo Stream was measured by equilibrating air with the streamwater within a closed loop. The air was passed continuously through an infrared gas analyser (IRGA). The streamwater PCO₂ typically ranged between 600 - 1200 ppm. Fluctuations in the PCO₂ of the Waitomo Stream coincided with PCO₂ fluctuations in the Glowworm Cave air, and under most conditions, the stream probably acted as a sink for cave air CO₂. However, following rainfall events, the stream PCO₂ increased, exceeding cave air PCO₂, thus acting as a source of CO₂ to the cave air. High stream PCO₂ often occurred at times when air flow through the cave was restricted, e.g. when the temperature gradient between the cave air and outside air was low, or stream levels were high, thus limiting air movement. The combination of high stream PCO₂ and a low temperature gradient increased the likelihood of high cave air PCO₂. 

Dripwater was measured to determine whether an increase in dripwater PCO₂ occurred in response to rainfall events. When rainfall events resulted in increased discharge, the dripwater PCO₂ sometimes increased (occasionally exceeding 5000 ppm), however the pattern was not consistent. 

The chemistry of the Waitomo and Okohua (Ruakuri) Streams was monitored with daily samples collected and analysed for major ions: HCO₃ -, Ca²⁺, Na⁺ and Mg²⁺, and δ¹³C stable isotope. The HCO₃ -, Ca²⁺, Na⁺ and Mg²⁺ concentrations in the streamwater decreased with increased discharge, presumably due to dilution. Increased discharge following rainfall events correlated with increasing PCO₂ in the Waitomo Stream, suggesting that soil atmosphere CO₂ dissolved in soil waters, and carried to the stream by saturated flow, was responsible for the streamwater PCO₂ increase. Ca in the stream showed both an increase and a decrease with respect to rainfall. Increased Ca in the stream occurred at times when the discharged waters were coming from the phreatic zone, and thus sufficient time had lapsed for CO₂ in the discharge waters to react with the limestone (carbonate dissolution reaction). Decreased Ca occurred when the infiltration and percolation of rainwater was rapid, and thus the streamwater was characterised by a higher PCO₂ and a lower Ca concentration, as insufficient time had lapsed for the discharge waters to equilibrate with the limestone. 

Increased negativity in the δ¹³C of the Waitomo and Ruakuri Streams coincided with increased discharge. During summer low flow, the δ¹³C of Waitomo Stream waters was -11.3‰, whereas during high stream discharge events, the δ¹³C dropped to -12 - -14‰. The δ¹³C of limestone is 0‰, the atmosphere is -7‰, and the soil atmosphere is reported to be about -24‰, thus the decrease in δ¹³C during high flow events supports the contention that soil atmosphere CO₂ is a likely source of the increased CO₂ in flood waters.

year: 2009

title: Financial contagion among COVID-19 concept-related stocks in China

authors: Corbet, Shaen

subjects: Social Sciences

abstract: This paper investigates, for the first time, the presence of financial contagion among several important Chinese coronavirus concept-based stock indices during the recent COVID-19 global pandemic. We utilize a regime-switching skew-normal (RSSN) methodology to test for contagion through the correlation and coskewness channels while considering structural breaks in the different moments. Our results present evidence of contagion effects, which are robust across identified crisis and non-crisis periods, including that of the Wuhan lockdown. Our empirical results offer investors and policy-makers an additional layer of information when evaluating response mechanisms to major crises through the use of concept-based indices.

text: Financial contagion among COVID-19 concept-related stocks in China This paper investigates, for the first time, the presence of financial contagion among several important Chinese coronavirus concept-based stock indices during the recent COVID-19 global pandemic. We utilize a regime-switching skew-normal (RSSN) methodology to test for contagion through the correlation and coskewness channels while considering structural breaks in the different moments. Our results present evidence of contagion effects, which are robust across identified crisis and non-crisis periods, including that of the Wuhan lockdown. Our empirical results offer investors and policy-makers an additional layer of information when evaluating response mechanisms to major crises through the use of concept-based indices.

year: 2021-10-18

title: Ani Jane Lipsey and Alexander Watson Edwards

authors: Hart, Philip

abstract: Ani Lipsey, the eldest daughter of George and Ema, was well educated. Her Scottish husband, who settled in Te Aroha in the 1880s, had been apprenticed as a draper, an occupation he followed in both Australia and then New Zealand. In addition, for a couple of decades he owned dairy farms in the Te Aroha district. He was a successful merchant with a steadily expanding and profitable business. 
Ani received a good income for a while from goldfields revenue, and put the land she inherited to profitable use. In the early twentieth century she convinced officials that she should be permitted to sell land within the township because the proceeds went to assist her husband’s business and because, over time, the government had decided to acquire all the Maori interests in Te Aroha. To assist in selling her land, in 1911 she had it declared European land, she herself being regarded as ‘practically a European’.
Both were active in the social life of the township, Ani being a competent pianist, and participated in sporting activities. Both owned racehorses, and Edwards assisted in organizing many race meetings. As part of his efforts to assist the community, for a while he was a member of the borough council. Both were popular, and were fondly remembered.

text: Ani Jane Lipsey and Alexander Watson Edwards Ani Lipsey, the eldest daughter of George and Ema, was well educated. Her Scottish husband, who settled in Te Aroha in the 1880s, had been apprenticed as a draper, an occupation he followed in both Australia and then New Zealand. In addition, for a couple of decades he owned dairy farms in the Te Aroha district. He was a successful merchant with a steadily expanding and profitable business. 
Ani received a good income for a while from goldfields revenue, and put the land she inherited to profitable use. In the early twentieth century she convinced officials that she should be permitted to sell land within the township because the proceeds went to assist her husband’s business and because, over time, the government had decided to acquire all the Maori interests in Te Aroha. To assist in selling her land, in 1911 she had it declared European land, she herself being regarded as ‘practically a European’.
Both were active in the social life of the township, Ani being a competent pianist, and participated in sporting activities. Both owned racehorses, and Edwards assisted in organizing many race meetings. As part of his efforts to assist the community, for a while he was a member of the borough council. Both were popular, and were fondly remembered.

year: 2016