Microclimate and weathering in the central Namib Desert, Namibia

Data on rock surface microclimates at four sites (Kleinberg, Vogelfederberg, Gobabeb, and Ganab) along a transect across the central Namib Desert over a 3-year period have been collected, alongside some shorter term data sets. Rock surface temperature (RST), air temperature, wind, relative humidity, and surface wetness data are presented here. Weathering of exposure blocks of local marble and granite has also been monitored over the 3-year period, with change observed visually and with scanning electron microscopy. Complex temporal patterns of rock temperature fluctuations are observed over the 3 years, although the four sites show very similar overall trends, suggesting spatial homogeneity in the rock surface temperature regime. Relative humidity and surface wetness data show clear differences between the four sites, related to the frequency of fogs. Granite blocks show no visible changes after 2 years of weathering, whereas marble blocks (especially those at Ganab) show SEM evidence of structural weakening after 1 year.