Hex code-based geological cross-sections describing landscape dynamics in the Jeju Geomunoreum lava tube system

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The Geomunoreum Lava Tube System (GLTS) is both vast and culturally valuable. The Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes, which are partly composed of the GLTS, have been declared as a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site. Exploration of the caves is strictly regulated to conserve these vulnerable environments. Photographs provide limited information and do not describe the entire environment comprehensively. Therefore, we created several illustrations of the lava tubes to display their environmental features. METHODS AND RESULTS: We explored six lava caves (upstream and downstream) in the GLTS and photographed their geological features and yellow walls, the colors of which are influenced by microbial mats. We compared the hex codes of the wall colors using the Clip Studio v1.10.5 software and created illustrations that accurately represent the scale and features of the caves. CONCLUSION(S): Upstream and downstream caves of the GLTS differ in scale and volcanic features. We illustrated various characteristics of the caves including lava cave features, vegetation, and microbial mats. We also described the internal and external cave environments.