The micro-erosion meter: Use and limitations

Detection of anomalies in measurements of low rates of limestone surface lowering with a traversing micro-erosion meter (MEM) led to temperature-controlled laboratory and field investigations of some sources of error in the method. Regressions for the correction of temperature change in the instrument and in the stud-rock interface were obtained. Probe erosion tests permitted a correction to be devised and also provided information whereby a measure of operational irregularity was adopted. Corrections and error terms were applied to field measurements from two southern New South Wales karsts and a collection of Australian limestone slabs exposed at one site. Examination of these results and of published MEM rates from other parts of the world validated the MEM method. Marine platforms are lowered at such gross rates that these error sources may be neglected there. However limestone lowering in terrestrial environments cannot be assumed to proceed at rates which permit this and recommendations are made about procedures to ensure that investigations are prosecuted within the limitations of the method.