Expo 2007 (Cambridge Austrian Cave Science Expedition): mission statement

Expo 2007 (Cambridge Austrian Cave Science Expedition) seeks to build on decades of expeditions by incorporating scientific research aims while maintaining a high standard of original exploration and survey. Below is a provisional outline of our major exploration and research goals. For additional descriptions, please see the grant and institution application page. The gear requirements page addresses rope lengths required and other gear that needs to be budgeted.

Note that numbers given by cave names are those of the Austrian Kataster for our area.

Exploration Goals

Steinbrückenhöhle

• Push Razordance until it breaks through its current level or sumps. This is the highest exploration priority of the 2007 expedition, and will probably require three rigging trips and three derigging. Plan to accomplish a minimum of 10 pushing trips.
• Attempt to find alternate route to Subsoil and / or Underworld levels which provides for shorter trips than the Gaffered to the Walls route. Possibilities to be explored in the following order
1. Drop the "eleven second rattle" off of CSB, 01-34A, in hopes that it will connect with aven 05-70X in Hippocratic Oath, which is directly below.
2. Continue exploration of Gösser Streamway, which leads in the correct general direction. Drop 06-7A.
3. Continue exploration of Riverdance, which leads in the correct general direction. Drop 06-8A.
• Explore "wares" leads in Subsoil.
• And many others - see the Steinbrückenhöhle question mark list for details.

Tunnockschacht

• 19A
• 35A

Surface and shallow work near Steinbrückenhöhle bivvy

• There are dozens of holes in the vicinity of 204 that have been marked but never descended, or marked and partially descended but never properly explored or surveyed; these should be properly explored, and properly documented (ideally before we go and find yet more of them) – see section 2d of the Prospecting Guide.
• The area around the 204G/H/I entrances is interesting, and should be more thoroughly examined.
• Rock'n'Roll Höhle (239): Open lead over blind pit leading 204-wards.

Eislufthöhle

• Brave New World:
• Descend A* pitch to look at a couple of promising leads (04-57B (Ramp) and 04-38B (Pendulum to slanting pitch)) and re-read a clearly bogus compass reading in "Forward to the Past" rift.
• Drop Canyon pitch (with a long enough rope this time) and check if the main passage leads back to Nexus pitch as the direction suggests it will. Also check the apparent lead in the opposite direction.
• Drop Nexus pitch - it seems to be in an interesting position.
• Drop the pitch beyond the pitch into "Pretty but Pointless".
• Push leads in the Boiling Tubes.
• Leads in the shallower parts of the 1970's route:
• Look for bypass to the current Boulder Chamber route (somewhat awkward with tackle). For example, traversing over the top of Saved Shaft.
• Investigate the pitch reached by swinging into the window on the first pitch of Keg Series.
• Swing into windows near the top of Follow Through Shaft.
• Traverse round from "The Ledge" to check if there is an inlet or not.

Surface and shallow work near 76 bivvy

• See the separate file for a rather lengthy list of things to do.

Research Goals

Caver stress physiology (paper to be published, Djuke Veldhuis)

• Since novel ecology, temperature gradients and sustained exercise encountered underground also influence stress physiology (see e.g. Ronsen, et al., 2001; Rhind et al., 2004) the dataloggers provide a control background to the inter-individual variation (behavioural or physiological) of the stress response. We will explore a) caver variability in stress-hormone levels; b) what underground stressors (e.g. high humidity, darkness) are dominant and c) stress-coping mechanisms (e.g. flight or fight response). Understanding responses to the stresses of the subterranean environment is limited (e.g. Stenner et-al. 2006) and this project aims to increase awareness.

Condensation and cave microclimates (undergraduate dissertation to be completed, Aaron Curtis)

• We aim to produce a dataset of cave atmospheric data using datalogged climatic sensors placed throughout caves. An investigation of cave microclimates and specifically their interaction with condensation will employ the data to predict and quantify the geographical distribution of condensation. Implications for phenomena such as cave thermal inertia, cave breathing, speleogenesis, karst water balance, and ultimately the response of caves to climate change will be considered. Various techniques for condensation prediction and theories of microclimates will be evaluated. Climactic overlays for surveys will be produced.

Testing of a shorter exposure radon detection method (Mark Dougherty)

• Radon detection using inexpensive, lightweight film detectors normally require the detectors to be left in the test area for several weeks. We plan to test a new processing method which could decrease this exposure time dramatically, making the procedure more suitable for expedition use and for the observation of short term radon level dynamics. The technology is sourced from Sweden.