Inorganic deterioration affecting the Altamira Cave, N Spain: quantitativeapproach to wall-corrosion (solutional etching) processes induced by visitors
S. Sanchez-moral et al., Inorganic deterioration affecting the Altamira Cave, N Spain: quantitativeapproach to wall-corrosion (solutional etching) processes induced by visitors, SCI TOTAL E, 244, 1999, pp. 67-84
In order to study the wall corrosion processes induced by visitors in the A
ltamira Cave (northern Spain), a multidisciplinary study was conducted in t
he cave. For a period of 1 year, a microclimate monitoring system, measurin
g the temperature, relative humidity, CO2 and Rn-222 concentrations was ope
rated. Host rock samples were collected as well as indoor and outdoor atmos
pheric particulate matter. These data are used for a quantitative assessmen
t of the wall corrosion processes. The presence of visitors was found to en
hance the corrosion processes up to 78 times in comparison with the natural
processes. Outdoor air pollution did not have a significant affect. (C) 19
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