David E. Searle

Stone deterioration in polluted urban environments

Stone Weathering and Urban Particulate Pollution in the UK: David E. Searle and David J. Mitchell Urban Pollution and Stone Weathering in the Black Country: David E. Searle and David J. Mitchell Potential for Building Stone Soiling from Vehicle-related Pollutants Along-side a Busy Road: Paul Giess and Vaughan Shilton Weathering of Rocks by Lichens with Special Reference to Stonework: A Review: M.J. Wilson Experimental Studies of Rock Weathering by Plant Roots: Updating the Work of Julius Sachs (1832-1897): D.N. Mottershead and H.A. Viles Comparison of the Process of Decay of Two Limestones in a Polluted Urban Environment: A. T r k Initial Stages of Sandstone Decay in a Polluted Urban Environment: Alice V. Turkington Role of NO2 and SO2 on the Degradation of Limestone: G.C. Allen et al. Dry Deposition of SO2 on Carbonate Stone: An Overview of Laboratory Studies: Elizabeth A. Bede Development and Potential Uses of Computer Simulation Techniques in the Study of Rock Weathering: Sarah Antill an

Application of mineral magnetic concentration measurements as a particle-size proxy for urban road deposited sediments

Reviewed papers accepted for the Seventeenth International Conference on Modelling, Monitoring and Management of Air Pollution held in Tallinn, Estonia in July 2009

The effects of coal and diesel particulates on the weathering loss of two major building stones in the United Kingdom—A comparative microcatchment study

Publisher Summary Coal derived particulates in the UK urban atmosphere have been significantly reduced because of reductions in domestic usage, legislation, and changes in fuel use. Majority of particulate in the urban atmosphere originate from vehicle exhausts because of increase in road usage and an expansion in the use of diesel engines. Particulate matter, resulting from coal combustion, has been recorded as being present in black patinas on some historic stone buildings and monuments, and it has been associated with accelerated weathering of stone surfaces as a result of enhanced gypsum formation. Some recent researches show the role of diesel particulates as a potential catalyst for the promotion of sulfation. This chapter describes the comparative study conducted to study the effects of coal and diesel particulates on the weathering of stones by using the technique of microcatchments under ambient atmospheric conditions. Slabs of Hollington sandstone and Portland limestone were artificially loaded with coal and diesel particulates, both separately and in various combinations. These slabs were then exposed to atmospheric conditions utilizing the microcatchment technique. All the chemical changes occurring as a result of the treatments were determined by comparison with an untreated stone control. The chapter provides tables and graphs to illustrate the results of analyses. It was found that diesel coated Portland limestone samples showed a significant reduction in both the rate of weathering loss and the volume of precipitation run-off when, compared to untreated samples. The samples treated with a combination of both particulate types demonstrated a highly significant increase in the volume of precipitation run-off from the sandstone microcatchments.

The influence of building orientation on climate weathering cycles in Staffordshire, UK

Publisher Summary Climate or meteorological induced cycles are associated with weathering processes of building stone for a long time. Freeze-thaw cycles have severe effects on stone disintegration. Other cycles such as heating-cooling and wetting- drying creates similar stresses in stone. During certain synoptic conditions, building orientation has a great influence on climatic extremes of different facades. The use of sensors and data loggers has opened up the potential for in-depth investigations of general climatic monitoring of the exterior of buildings and effect of cyclic changes in temperature and moisture on stone. The chapter describes the study conducted to evaluate the frequency of heating-cooling, wetting-drying, and freeze-thaw cycles on the four cardinal faces of the tower of Lichfield Cathedral, Staffordshire, UK by using temperature and humidity sensors located on them.. It focuses on the assessment of the influence of orientation of building on the frequency of climatic cycles. The west and south faces have the highest frequency, whereas the north and east have the lowest values, with the north having the least. These could be loosely termed the “maritime” and “continental” faces, respectively. In a parallel study of 30 sandstone churches in the West Midlands, the occurrences of 18 forms of weathering were recorded. Granular disintegration, spalling, multiple flaking, total case hardened stone, and total autotrophic stone were found to be the greatest on the north; and relief weathering and total blackened stone were the greatest on south and west aspects.

The use of mineral magnetic measurements as a particulate matter (PM) proxy for road deposited sediments (RDS): Marylebone Road, London

Road deposited sediments (RDS) are a recognised pollution problem and a worrying public health concern of many urban environments. Linkages between the magneto characteristics of RDS and their particle size properties have been explored to determine the extent to which magnetic technologies can be utilised as a proxy for proffering insights to address pollution challenges. Samples (n = 60) were collected (May, 2008) along both sides of a busy urban road (Marylebone Road) in central London, UK. Magnetic concentration parameters (LF, χARM and SIRM) reveal high levels of magnetic material, when compared to previous urban RDS studies. Correlation analysis between the magnetic parameters and textural parameters (LF, χARM, SIRM and PM1.0, PM2.5, PM10) show significantly strong relationships but, unlike earlier studies, the trends display negative correlations. Despite this kinship not adhering to previously identified trends, this does not mean that mineral magnetic measurements cannot be used as a proxy. Moreover, it simply implies that the nature of any trends needs to be established for specific places before it can be reliably applied as a proxy.