Weathering at the Cathedral in Kirkjubøur, The Faroe Islands

• Main Author: Poul Klenz Larsen
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: Faroe Islands; Kirkjubøur; The Cathedral; The Monument; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.1048.568; http://elearn.hawk-hhg.de/projekte/salzwiki/media/E-Publication/Larsen-SWBSS-2008.pdf

Abstract This paper presents a study of the microclimate at the ruins of the Cathedral in Kirkjubøur. The purpose was to identify the environmental conditions at the monument and to test the performance of two types of shelters For centuries the 8 m high walls had been exposed to the very humid and saline north Atlantic environment. Various types of decay affected the basalt blocks, a local volcanic rock used for both the wall structure and the decorations, and the mortar joints suffered severe damage. Climate records stated that frost was rare and did not seem to play an important role. Salt decay was likely to be the reason for the decay of the basalt and mortar, but it was not possible to identify any significant salt contamination. Monitoring at the wall surface revealed a complicated sequence of variations in temperature, relative humidity, salt deposition and rain showers. Sea salt was deposited from aeroles at all surfaces at irregular intervals, but frequent rain showers soon washed the salt away. The solid shelter protected the structure against driving rain and solar heating, but the surface was still exposed to salt decay. Without the rinsing effect of the rain, the deterioration could actually worsen. The perforated shelter was safer, beause it allowed some driving rain to flush the façade. The study concluded that the walls would best be preserved without a shelter, and traditional maintenance of the mortar joints would ensure mechanical stability of the structure.