Microclimate for Cultural Heritage

This is a useful microphysics handbook for conservators and specialists in physics, chemistry, architecture, engineering, geology and biology dealing with the environment and works of art. A rigourous treatment and a background familiarity with the underlying physics behind mathematics are covered, giving a detailed description and interpretation of the main microphysical phenomena, removing unsound popular beliefs. The basis are given for non-destructive diagnostics to evaluate causes of damage determined by atmoshpheric factors, as well as negative consequences of the unsound use of technology and mass tourism. To this aim, suggestions are given on the fundamental principles in designing heating, air conditioning, lighting and in reducing the deposition of pollutants on works of art. Theory and experience are coupled to describe the complex condensation mechanisms and the fundamental role played by water in the stone deterioration and the formation of crusts on monuments. Urban meteorology, air-surface interactions, atmospheric stability, dispersion and deposition of airborne pollutants are also key topics of this book, for which the main aim has been to make comprehensible to a wider audience a matter that is only familiar to a few specialists.This book combines a theoretical background with many years of accurate laboratory research, field surveys and practice. The first part, devoted to applied theory, is a concise treatise on microphysics, which includes a survey on the basic ideas which are necessary for environmental diagnostic and conservation. The second part of the book focuses on the practical utilisation and shows in detail how field surveys should be performed, with many suggestions and examples and the indication of some common errors that should be avoided.

This is a useful microphysics handbook for conservators and specialists in physics, chemistry, architecture, engineering, geology and biology dealing with the environment and works of art. A rigourous treatment and a background familiarity with the underlying physics behind mathematics are covered, giving a detailed description and interpretation of the main microphysical phenomena, removing unsound popular beliefs. The basis are given for non-destructive diagnostics to evaluate causes of damage determined by atmoshpheric factors, as well as negative consequences of the unsound use of technology and mass tourism. To this aim, suggestions are given on the fundamental principles in designing heating, air conditioning, lighting and in reducing the deposition of pollutants on works of art. Theory and experience are coupled to describe the complex condensation mechanisms and the fundamental role played by water in the stone deterioration and the formation of crusts on monuments. Urban meteorology, air-surface interactions, atmospheric stability, dispersion and deposition of airborne pollutants are also key topics of this book, for which the main aim has been to make comprehensible to a wider audience a matter that is only familiar to a few specialists.This book combines a theoretical background with many years of accurate laboratory research, field surveys and practice. The first part, devoted to applied theory, is a concise treatise on microphysics, which includes a survey on the basic ideas which are necessary for environmental diagnostic and conservation. The second part of the book focuses on the practical utilisation and shows in detail how field surveys should be performed, with many suggestions and examples and the indication of some common errors that should be avoided.

1;Cover;12;Contents;123;Foreword;64;Preface;85;Acknowledgements;96;PART I: ATMOSPHERIC PHYSICS APPLIED TO MICROCLIMATE ANALYSIS AND CONSERVATION;166.1;Chapter 1. Microclimate, Air and Temperature;186.1.1;1.1. The microclimate;186.1.2;1.2. Air, water vapour and perfect gases;226.1.3;1.3. Temperature;246.1.4;1.4. Mechanisms of temperature degradation;256.1.5;1.5. The temperature in a building, a room;296.1.6;1.6. The temperature in a showcase;366.1.7;1.7. Is it possible to combine people comfort, conservation needs and low cost?;396.1.8;1.8. Monitoring air temperature to study air-surface interactions and for microclimate diagnostics;456.1.9;1.9. Drawing air temperature and other isolines;536.2;Chapter 2. Humidity;576.2.1;2.1. Partial pressure of the water vapour;576.2.2;2.2. Derivation of the latent heats;596.2.3;2.3. Mixing ratio of dry air and water vapour;636.2.4;2.4. Monitoring mixing ratio to study air-surface interactions and for environmental diagnostics;666.2.5;2.5. Specific humidity;696.2.6;2.6. Absolute humidity;706.2.7;2.7. Relative humidity;736.2.8;2.8. The equilibrium moisture content;766.2.9;2.9. Mechanisms of humidity degradation;796.2.10;2.10. What is the best type of microclimate for conservation?;836.2.11;2.11. Keeping constant relative humidity in rooms and showcases;856.2.12;2.12. Dew point: the temperature of condensation;896.2.13;2.13. Frost point: the temperature of freezing;946.2.14;2.14. Wet bulb temperature: the temperature of evaporation;946.2.15;2.15. the psychrometric chart;986.3;Chapter 3. Parameters for Describing Air Masses and Vertical Motions;1066.3.1;3.1. Equivalent temperature;1076.3.2;3.2. Adiabatic gradient in the troposphere;1086.3.3;3.3. Potential temperature;1116.3.4;3.4. Equivalent-potential temperature;1146.3.5;3.5. Virtual temperature;1166.4;Chapter 4. Radiation and Light;1186.4.1;4.1. The emission of radiation from bodies and the effects of the absorbed energy;1186.4.2;4.2. Radiometric temperature;1206.4.3;4.3. Angular distribution of radiant emission of bodies;1226.4.4;4.4. Attenuation of light in the atmosphere;1236.4.5;4.5. Daily and seasonal cycles of solar radiation on a surface;1246.4.6;4.6. What is the colour of natural light?;1306.4.7;4.7. Artificial lighting, optical filters and optical fibres;1316.4.8;4.8. Deterioration to works of art caused by light;1376.5;Chapter 5. Physics of Drop Formation and Micropore Condensation;1446.5.1;5.1. How a curved water meniscus changes the equilibrium vapour tension;1446.5.2;5.2. Derivation of the kelvin equation for droplets formation and micropore condensation;1466.5.3;5.3. The formation of droplets in the atmosphere: homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation;1536.5.4;5.4. Bubbles;1586.5.5;5.5. Micropore condensation and stone weathering;1616.5.6;5.6. Adsorption isotherms;1666.5.7;5.7. Freezing-thawing cycles;1716.6;Chapter 6. Atmospheric Water and Stone Weathering;1766.6.1;6.1. Acid rain, rainfall and crusts;1766.6.2;6.2. Mechanisms of penetration of rain water and evaporation;1876.6.3;6.3. Evaporation from a damp monument;1896.6.4;6.4. Capillary suction;1906.6.5;6.5. Lowering of the equilibrium vapour tension over a solution;1946.6.6;6.6. Climate cycles, sea spray and salt damage;1966.6.7;6.7. Some common errors that should be avoided;2016.7;Chapter 7. Atmospheric Stability and Pollutant Dispersion;2106.7.1;7.1. Introduction;2106.7.2;7.2. The vertical temperature gradient and plume behaviour;2136.7.3;7.3. Effects due to topographic horizontal inhomogeneity;2206.7.4;7.4. The urban climate: heat island and aerodynamic disturbance;2226.7.5;7.5. Dispersion and transportation of pollutants in a city;2236.7.6;7.6. Wind friction near a surface;2256.7.7;7.7. The vertical fluxes of heat, moisture and momentum;2286.7.8;7.8. Heat balance at the soil or the monument surface;2306.7.9;7.9. Main parameters used in measuring atmospheric stability and turbulence;2346.7.10;7.10. Plu