Statistical analysis of the spatial and temporal distribution of acid deposition in the West Midlands, England, United Kingdom.

Abstract

The burning of high sulfur coal during the Industrial Revolution of England resulted in air quality deterioration. Anthropogenic emissions are linked to health problems and environmental degradation. The implementation of environmental emission control legislation of the 1970s resulted in a significant decrease in sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. Acid deposition, as a result of industrialization, spatially and temporally varies throughout the West Midlands of England. This study seeks to quantify the effects of acid deposition as a result of the Industrial Revolution of the West Midlands using leadlettered marble gravestone corrosion as a proxy for environmental degradation. Prior to the implementation of environmental legislation corrosion values were 0.78 mm/100yrs and following legislation values decreased to 0.54 mm/100yrs indicating the efficacy of environmental clean-up efforts. Within individual cemeteries considerable variability exists. Factors that may contribute to this variability include: tree cover, orientation of stones, algae/lichen cover, gravestone texture, and local elevation differences. Statistical analysis of cemetery variables indentified tree cover, gravestone texture, gravestone color (algae/lichen cover), and local elevations differences to be significant with p-values ≤ 0.5. Tree cover and gravestone texture were used to adjust corrosion measurements. Adjusted cemetery corrosion rates mapped in ArcGIS® suggest spatial and temporal variability across the study area. Areas associated with high industrial and/or residential activity correlate to high corrosion rates.