Relationship between environmental conditions and algal growth on the exterior walls at Kusyo Myojin Shrine, Ninna-Ji Temple

Abstract

Building facades are often discolored by the airborne algae. The algal growth is strongly influenced by the water supply. In this study, the environmental conditions and the discoloration of walls were measured on the existing building walls on which the algae grew, and the relationship between them was examined. The ambient air humidity was high at the surveyed building mainly because of the topography and trees. Visual evaluations and the Lvalues of the wall sections that received the direct solar radiation were not discolored because the algae could not grow on wall sections that became high temperatures.