Speleothem paleoclimate records

I am advising and working with undergraduate students on a paleoclimate project based on samples and data from Cathedral Caverns (Alabama). Currently, we are studying freshly precipitated calcite from sand-blasted watch glasses that were placed under active drips in the cave. We are determining if a seasonal bias (winter vs. summer) exists for the calcite precipitation rates and speleothem isotopic composition (δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O) due to changes in cave air pCO₂. The ultimate goal of this research is to improve interpretation of proxy records archived in the cave’s stalagmites.