Carlsbad Caverns National Park

World Heritage Research

Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Carlsbad Caverns National Park from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.

• Geologic Map of the Carlsbad 30 x 60-Minute Quadrangle, Eddy and Otero Counties, New Mexico; and Culberson, Hudspeth, and Reeves Counties, Texas

  A comprehensive geologic map of the Carlsbad 30x60-minute quadrangle, spanning parts of New Mexico and Texas, reveals the complex geological history and diverse landscapes of this region. This area, home to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, features significant Permian Basin sediments, late Cenozoic fluvial systems, and extensive eolian deposits on the Mescalero Plain. The map integrates decades of geologic data, highlighting the transition from the Guadalupe Mountains' shelf and reef sediments to the Rio Grande rift and Salt Basin. It also documents subsurface stratigraphy ranging from Permian through Cambrian-aged rocks, providing critical insights into the geological provinces that support major infrastructure for potash mining, oil, and gas extraction.

  Krupnick, M. J., Askin, T., Allen, B. D., Gavel, M. M., & Polyak, V. J. (2026). Geologic Map of the Carlsbad 30 x 60-Minute Quadrangle, Eddy and Otero Counties, New Mexico; and Culberson, Hudspeth, and Reeves Counties, Texas (, Ed.). New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources. https://doi.org/10.58799/gm-82

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• Climate and Water Monitoring at Carlsbad Caverns National Park: Water Year 2024

  In the third consecutive year of below-average rainfall, Carlsbad Caverns National Park's climate and water monitoring for Water Year 2024 revealed significant drought conditions, with temperatures also above normal. Notably, Oak Spring experienced a dramatic reduction in its springbrook length and complete dryness of its plunge pool, while Upper Lowe Ranch Spring remained wet year-round despite one orifice drying up during the study period. The research, conducted by the Chihuahuan Desert Inventory and Monitoring Network, assessed six springs through measurements of discharge, wetted extent, water quality, and environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling to track rare species, invasive species, and pathogens. While no target eDNA species were detected, invasive plants such as Rabbitsfoot grass and Lehmann lovegrass were observed for the first time at Iron Pipe Seep and three other springs, respectively. The study continues to build a baseline reference of natural water quality variance in New Mexico's diverse spring ecosystems.

  Fahey, K., Raymond, K., & Hubbard, T. (2026). Climate and Water Monitoring at Carlsbad Caverns National Park: Water Year 2024 (, Ed.). National Park Service. https://doi.org/10.36967/2318793

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• Examining Ozone Production in the Permian Oil and Gas Basin Using Carlsbad Caverns National Park Measurements and Satellite Data

  A study reveals that ozone production at Carlsbad Caverns National Park is highly sensitive to nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from the Permian Basin's oil and gas (O&G) activity, with satellite data confirming a parallel increase in regional NO2 levels. Analysis of 2021 measurements showed O&G emissions as the dominant source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), alongside aged biomass burning smoke. Modeling indicated that reducing NOx emissions would more effectively decrease ozone levels than targeting VOCs, though both measures could mitigate exceedances of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). Satellite observations also highlighted a decline in the formaldehyde-to-NO2 ratio, further supporting NOx-sensitive ozone production linked to O&G activity.

  Marsavin, A., Pan, D., Zhou, Y., Pollack, I. B., Sullivan, A. P., Sive, B. C., Prenni, A. J., Schichtel, B., Fischer, E. V., & Collett, J. L. (2026). Examining Ozone Production in the Permian Oil and Gas Basin Using Carlsbad Caverns National Park Measurements and Satellite Data. ACS ES&T Air, 3(9), 2348–2365. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestair.6c00159

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• Carlsbad Caverns National Park southwestern willow flycatcher surveys and intensive point count surveys at Rattlesnake Springs, 2022 and 2023: Final report

  A critical survey of the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher in Carlsbad Caverns National Park and adjacent Rattlesnake Springs Preserve yielded no detections in 2022 but recorded positive sightings in 2023, highlighting a potential recovery trend. In 2022, 165 standardized point counts using the USFWS protocol detected zero flycatchers, while intensive surveys identified 34 bird species. By contrast, 519 point counts in 2023 documented at least seven flycatchers across three survey dates, including likely pairs, alongside 61 total species. Conducted by trained Tucson Audubon staff under USFWS protocols, these surveys employed rigorous call-back and 10-minute intensive point count methods to assess biodiversity and track the flycatcher's presence in this UNESCO-listed site.

  MacFarland, J. (2025). Carlsbad Caverns National Park southwestern willow flycatcher surveys and intensive point count surveys at Rattlesnake Springs, 2022 and 2023: Final report (, Ed.). National Park Service. https://doi.org/10.36967/2306229

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• National Park Service cave paleontology: 2002-2023

  A groundbreaking inventory of paleontological resources within Carlsbad Caverns National Park, part of the National Park Service (NPS), has uncovered significant Permian fossils embedded in cavern bedrock and bones of Quaternary megafauna. This study builds on a 2001 NPS report by expanding documentation across multiple parks, including notable discoveries such as mummified Pleistocene–Holocene bats in Grand Canyon NP and an American cheetah skull from Rampart Cave. The research also highlights the use of photogrammetry to study in situ specimens, addressing challenges posed by cave environments. Additionally, it reassesses Quaternary fossils, particularly avifauna, and documents extinct or locally extirpated taxa, contributing to a broader understanding of paleontological resources across NPS units.

  Santucci, V., Hodnett, J.-P., Seiser, P., Tweet, J., & Wood, J. “. (2025). National Park Service cave paleontology: 2002-2023. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, 87(4), 108–116. https://doi.org/10.4311/2024pa0119

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• Summertime Ozone Production at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico: Influence of Oil and Natural Gas Development

  A significant rise in summertime ozone (O₃) levels at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, exceeding 70 ppbv, is linked to the rapid expansion of oil and natural gas (O&G) development in southeastern New Mexico. The study reveals that O₃ production is highly responsive to reductions in both nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) and O&G-related volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with NOₓ reductions proving most effective. Using a constrained F0AM box model, researchers analyzed VOC reactivity and radical budgets, demonstrating that morning O₃ levels are primarily controlled by local photochemistry, while afternoon levels become sensitive to NOₓ loss. A high-O₃ episode was found to be influenced by aged O&G emissions, as indicated by back-trajectory analysis and low i-/n-pentane ratios, suggesting significant nonlocal O₃ formation.

  Marsavin, A., Pan, D., Pollack, I. B., Zhou, Y., Sullivan, A. P., Naimie, L. E., Benedict, K. B., Juncosa Calahoranno, J. F., Fischer, E. V., Prenni, A. J., Schichtel, B. A., Sive, B. C., & Collett, J. L. (2024). Summertime Ozone Production at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico: Influence of Oil and Natural Gas Development. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 129(14). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024jd040877

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• Carlsbad Caverns National Park: Acoustic monitoring report, 2019

  Carlsbad Caverns National Park exhibits exceptionally low ambient sound levels, with median daytime noise at 21.0 dB and nighttime noise at 20.1 dB, reflecting its quiet wilderness character. The study, conducted by the Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division from late October to mid-December 2019, found that higher noise thresholds (e.g., 35 dB) were exceeded less than 4% of the day and just 0.81% at night, with even louder levels (45 dB+) rarely detected. A geospatial sound model estimated existing ambient noise at 32.3 dBA and natural conditions at 29.8 dBA, indicating localized anthropogenic impacts. The research aimed to establish a baseline for evaluating potential acoustic disruptions from overflights.

  Olstad, T., & Meyer, E. (2024). Carlsbad Caverns National Park: Acoustic monitoring report, 2019 (, Ed.). National Park Service. https://doi.org/10.36967/2305265

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