CaveCalc: A new model for speleothem chemistry & 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 & 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 delta O-18, delta C-13, a(14)C, delta Ca-44/40 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.