Climate change impacts and fungal decay in vulnerable historie buildings at Svalbard
Peer reviewed, Journal article
Published version
Åpne
Permanent lenke
https://hdl.handle.net/11250/2673642Utgivelsesdato
2020Metadata
Vis full innførselSamlinger
Sammendrag
This paper emphasises on degradation of wood in cultural heritage structures at Svalbard. Nowhere
else does global heating occur faster. Negative impacts of climate change will increase the strain on wooden
structures and can daily be observed at Svalbard. The severe changes affect the degradation rate of wooden
constructions, including cultural heritage. Certain microclimates, also in Polar areas, are favourable to fungal
growth and decay. The probable enhancing effects climate change have on fungal degradation in wooden
structures are however alarming. The paper displays findings of measurements from four different case study
projects at Svalbard between 2009 and 2019. The results have been analysed separately, compiled and
discussed in context, and towards relevant literature. We claim that impacts of climate change may not be
generalized in order to predict effects in building materials. Further, that with extended knowledge on how
climate change affects natural development of fungal decay, negative impacts may be reduced. Lessons
learned from high Arctic areas might add longevity and sustainability to wooden cultural heritage
constructions, also in different areas and environments. The paper is part of two of the authors' PhD work at
the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.