CaveCalc: a new model for speleothem chemistry and isotopes

CaveCalc is a PHREEQC-based numerical model for cave dripwater and speleothem chemistry, designed to aid in the interpretation of speleothem palaeoclimate records and cave monitoring datasets. CaveCalc forward-models dripwater and carbonate chemistry and isotopes through a variety of soil, karst and cave processes. Such processes include soil water and gas equilibration, carbonate bedrock dissolution, secondary carbonate precipitation and CO2 degassing. CaveCalc is able to quantitatively model bedrock dissolution under semi-open conditions — a feature necessary to accurately simulate the gas chemistry occurring in real cave environments. The model allows coupled modelling of multiple proxy systems, including δ18O, δ13C, a14C, δ44/40Ca and trace-elements (Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, Ba/Ca), within a single framework. Additional proxy systems, chemical processes and calibration data may be added to the model as required