Study and analysis of transfers of water and carbon-based materials (2013–2016)
Following on from Benjamin Lopez’s thesis on "Water and Carbon Dioxide Transfer Processes in the Epikarst", which he defended in 2009, a new doctoral thesis on the study of the transfer of water, gas and matter into the cave began in 2013. Carried out by Nicolas Houillon under the supervision of Roland Lastennet and Alain Denis at the University of Bordeaux’s I2M laboratory, this thesis aims to provide answers to complex but essential questions about the distribution of carbon dioxide in the massif and inside the cave. This work also enabled us to study the equilibrium conditions of the water in the walls under natural and anthropogenic conditions (pumping of carbon dioxide). The aim is to clarify the possible effects of air extraction in the Puits du Sorcier on the hydro-climatic parameters of the cave and therefore its conservation.
To aid the studies being carried out as part of this thesis, in January 2015 the Scientific Advisory Board approved the shutdown of the carbon dioxide extraction system in the lower network, which is used under the continuous supervision of scientists.