Canonical Biplot as a tool to detect microclimates in the inner and outer parts of El Salvador Church in Seville, Spain

Abstract

The present study was carried out on the Salvador Church (Seville, Spain) during its last restoration intervention. Relative humidity and temperature data from the sensors located on the inner and outer parts of the church were analyzed to characterize different microenvironments. The church was built mainly of calcarenite from the Puerto de Santa Maria and the crypts, vaults, and upper parts of the walls were made of adobe bricks partially covered in plaster. In order to monitor the climatic variances between different locations, Canonical Biplot has been applied. The results obtained showed that in all seasons there were differences between the external climate and the internal microclimates. In the interior sites there were dissimilarities between the sensors located in different positions, which were greater during the summer months and less obvious in winter, autumn and spring. The differences observed explain, to a large extent, the deterioration of the different materials, depending on their location.