Effect of abnormal weather on the microenvironment of Mogao Cave 285, Dunhuang

Extreme weather events, particularly abnormal humidity and temperature shifts, significantly threaten the preservation of cultural heritage sites such as the Mogao Caves. A 30-year meteorological analysis of Dunhuang, combined with a one-year monitoring cycle of Cave 285, revealed that prolonged high humidity—even in summer—can push cave relative humidity to unsafe levels above 80%, posing risks to the murals. Modeling confirmed that while abnormally high temperatures do not worsen conditions, sustained low temperatures or high humidity disrupt microclimate stability. Critical findings indicate that dehumidification measures are essential when humidity exceeds thresholds for more than a week, as recovery to safe levels can take up to four days. This study underscores the urgent need for adaptive conservation strategies in response to climate-induced environmental fluctuations.

Jiang, X. Y., Xie, H. R., Zhang, R. H., Luo, Z. H., Zhang, Z. M., & Li, Y. H. (2023). Effect of abnormal weather on the microenvironment of Mogao Cave 285, Dunhuang. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 2654(1), 12007. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/2654/1/012007