Diurnal Temperature Changes in Sandstone Columns as an Indicator of Thermal Weathering in Angkor Wat

Abstract

Rock surface temperature measurements using a radiant temperature machine were carried out for sandstone columns of the first gallery of Angkor Wat on 25 August 2005. In the morning and afternoon of the day, large maximum temperatures (50 degree C) were observed on column surfaces facing to east and west. Maximum temperature differences between the morning and afternoon reached approximately 18 Degree C on the column surfaces. Although there is a small possibility of thermal stress fatigue at sandstone columns, small temperature rate (2.5 degree C h^-1) suggests that thermal shock of columns is improbable.