Evaluating rock decay:

A regular evaluation of rock weathering (before cracking, weight loss or any visible change) is assessed for rock pieces exposed to the natural environment using as a criteria the dynamic Young's modulus. These non-destructive measurements are carried out using a Grindosonic device and will indicate which duration of exposure to the Svalbard environment is necessary for the weathering process to be initiated.

Crack enlargement is electronically assessed with a BCD-5B device on an hourly basis in the field and will be correlated to temperature measurements and rock fall activity.

View of one of the crack extensiometers Kyowa BCD-5B set at the research site (Hanne Christiansen's picture, 18.10.2001).

Scaling of the sandstone surface is assessed regularly with digital pictures in a particular part of the cliff. The local sandstone includes some salt deposits and taffonis are present in the Longyearbyen area; their formation is usually explained by salt weathering processes. As visible on this picture, rock desquamation takes place on the cliff, close to salt outbursts.

Example of desquamation by salt weathering on the studied cliff. The length of the picture covers a distance of 1 meter (Ole Humlum’s picture; 17.08.2001).

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