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Eldon hole ice

Pitlamp

Well-known member
Toby.w wrote:

"Ahhh interesting, so it will probably be gone quite soon then given this week's weather"

It depends to what extent the cave draughts, I guess.
I don't remember noticing much of a draught when I've been there but if my own visits coincided with the temperature outside being similar to cave temperature, there would be no reason for there to be a draught. (Unless it was barometric [i.e. related to atmospheric pressure changes] rather than convectional.)
 

Fulk

Well-known member
It seems counter intuitive to suppose that warm air descends, but I guess the explanation is that if there is a lower entrance, cold air (further down the system) will tend to flow out of the bottom as it sinks, dragging warm air down with it . . . which implies that there must be a lower entrance to Eldon Hole – ?
 

Cantclimbtom

Active member
It seems counter intuitive to suppose that warm air descends, but I guess the explanation is that if there is a lower entrance, cold air (further down the system) will tend to flow out of the bottom as it sinks, dragging warm air down with it . . . which implies that there must be a lower entrance to Eldon Hole – ?
There must be.. but it's blocked.
The water cutting that slot had to have gone somewhere.. but WHERE?? 🤔
 

Pitlamp

Well-known member
It seems counter intuitive to suppose that warm air descends, but I guess the explanation is that if there is a lower entrance, cold air (further down the system) will tend to flow out of the bottom as it sinks, dragging warm air down with it . . . which implies that there must be a lower entrance to Eldon Hole – ?

Yes - quite possibly Peak Cavern, although there is no known cavers' connection at present.
But air can get through chokes of course.

I know what you mean about warm air generally ascending but your explanation here of why it can sink down a shaft seems fine to me. It's a reversed chimney effect, as air in the chimney / shaft is cooler than the air ouside the house / cave system.

It's the same reason why people with wood burning stoves may notice a sooty smell inside the house in really hot weather.
 

pwhole

Well-known member
Windle and Rush Mine, on the eastern edge of Eldon Quarry (shaft gone sadly), went down over 200m from the surface, apparently to flowing water, possibly the P8-Speedwell stream/sump route, reputed to pass under, or close to the pothole. I was at the top of a deep shaft (but inside a chamber rather than surface) two weeks ago and the air was most definitely going down that.
 
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