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Reconstructing past atmospheric pollution levels using gravestone erosion rates
Author(s) -
Inkpen Rob
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
area
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1475-4762
pISSN - 0004-0894
DOI - 10.1111/area.12035
Subject(s) - atmospheric pollution , pollution , erosion , environmental science , physical geography , period (music) , lag , air pollution , atmospheric sciences , hydrology (agriculture) , geology , geography , geomorphology , chemistry , geotechnical engineering , ecology , computer network , physics , organic chemistry , computer science , acoustics , biology
Converting the erosion rates derived from gravestones into erosion rates for specific time periods is possible by averaging loss data for gravestones for that time period. This information can be used with Lipfert's damage function to postdict levels of atmospheric pollution for specific locations for specific time periods. A correction factor for stone type, derived from the literature, needs to be applied to the damage function. The derived sulphur dioxide ( SO 2 ) levels are likely to represent atmospheric pollution conditions 20 years after the time period to which the erosion rates refer, because there is a lag in the response of the gravestone erosion to environmental conditions. With these correction factors applied, distinct temporal trends can be identified in both O xford and Swansea, specifically a rapid increase in atmospheric SO 2 in the early 20th century, a distinct dip in levels during the 1940s and a dramatic rise in the 1950s. In addition, there is a clear urban/rural difference in derived SO 2 levels, with levels in urban O xford being significantly higher than those in rural O xford throughout the period of data availability. The significance of industrial activity is clearly illustrated by the very high levels of derived SO 2 in Swansea throughout the early to mid 20th century.