Eco-restoration of a high-sulphur coal mine overburden dumping site in northeast India: A case study

Eco-restoration of mine overburden (OB) or abandoned mine sites is a major environmental concern. In the present investigation, an integrated approach was used to rejuvenate a high-sulphur mine OB dumping site in the Tirap Collieries, Assam, India, which is situated in the Indo-Burma mega-biodiversity hotspot. A mine OB is devoid of true soil character with poor macro and micronutrient content and contains elevated concentrations of trace and heavy metals. Planting of herbs, shrubs, cover crops and tree species at close proximity leads to primary and secondary sere state succession within a period of 3 to 5 years. A variety of plant species were screened for potential use in restoration: herbs, including Sccharum spontaneum, Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt (citronella), and Cymbopogon flexuosus (lemon grass) cover plants, including Mimosa strigillosa, M. striata, and M. pigra; shrubs, including Sesbania rostrata (dhaincha) and Cassia streata (cassia); and tree species, including Gmelina arborea (gomari) and Dalbergia sissoo (sissoo). Amendment with unmined soil and bio-organic matter was required for primary establishment of some plant species. Management of these plant species at the site will ensure long term sustainable eco-restoration of the coal mine-degraded land.     

Detection and delineation of coal mine fire in Jharia coal field,India using geophysical approach: A case study

Coal mine fire is a serious problem in Jharia coal field, India. The coal mine fire can be detected with different techniques such as borehole temperature measurement, thermo-compositional analysis, remote sensing techniques, thermo-graphic measurement and geophysical methods. In this study, various geophysical methods were used to detect the surface and subsurface coal mine fires. Geophysical techniques used in the present study are apparent resistivity, self-potential (SP), magnetic method and thermography. Geophysical anomalies such as low SP value of \(-60\hbox { mV}\), high negative magnetic response and low apparent resistivity value helped us to detect and delineate the fire and non-fire areas laterally as well as depthwise. Furthermore, the thermography survey was carried out in the coal field using thermal imaging camera in order to substantiate the geophysical methods. This integrated approach was found to be more advantageous for the detection and delineation of surface and subsurface fire with respect to use of any specific techniques. Moreover, the level of threat towards the locality, national railway line was also assessed unambiguously using the above techniques. Hence, proper planning and implementation towards the mitigation of hazard can be achieved on the basis of the reported results.     

Levels, seasonal variations, and health risks assessment of ambient air pollutants in the residential areas

People living in the urban area and the surrounding suburban area have disparities in exposure and health risks due to different levels of ambient air pollutants. The main objective of this study is to investigate the concentrations, seasonal variations, and related health risks of ambient air pollutants (PM₁₀, NO₂, and SO₂) in urban and suburban areas of Ningbo, China. The results showed that the average PM₁₀, NO₂, and SO₂ concentrations in the urban area were 85.2, 49.3, and 37.4 μg/m³, which were 1.13, 1.25, and 1.41 times the values of the suburban area during the period of March 2009 to February 2010. For the potential health risk analysis, the residents have been divided into four age categories namely, infants, children (1 year), children (8–10 years), and adults. The analysis took into account age-specific breathing rates, body weights for different age categories. The results showed that the potential health risks to respiratory disease for all age categories living in urban area were higher than those in suburban area.     

Aquifer system response to intensive pumping in urban areas of the Gangetic plains,India: the case study of Patna

A significant component of domestic demand for water of urban areas located in the Gangetic plains is met by heavy pumping of groundwater. The present study is focused on the Patna municipal area, inhabited by 17 million people and spanning over 134 km², where entire urban water demand is catered from pumping by wells of various capacities and designs. The present study examines the nature of the aquifer system within the urban area, the temporal changes in the water/piezometric level and the recharge mechanism of the deeper aquifers. The aquifer system is made up of medium-to-coarse unconsolidated sand, lying under a ~40-m-thick predominantly argillaceous unit holding 8- to 13-m-thick localised sand layers and continues up to 220 m below ground. Groundwater occurs under semi-confined condition, with transmissivity of aquifers in 5,500–9,200 m² day^?1 range. Hydraulic head of the deeper aquifer remains in 9–19 m range below ground, in contrast to 1–9 m range of that of the upper aquitard zone. The estimated annual groundwater extraction from the deeper aquifer is ~212.0 million m³, which has created a decline of 3.9 m in the piezometric level of the deeper aquifer during the past 30 years. Unregulated construction of deep tube wells with mushrooming of apartment culture may further exacerbate the problem. The sand layers within the aquitard zone are experiencing an annual extraction of 14.5 million m³ and have exhibited stable water level trend for past one and half decades. This unit is recharged from monsoon rainfall, besides contribution from water supply pipe line leakage and seepage from unlined storm water drains.     

Evaluation of spatial variations in groundwater quality by WQI and GIS technique: a case study of Virudunagar District, Tamil Nadu, India

Groundwater plays a major life support to mankind. It is the major source to meet the domestic, irrigation and industrial water demands. The depletion of groundwater through excessive consumption and less recharge in the study area has detoriated the quality of groundwater. The present study has analyzed the pre- and post-monsoon physicochemical data of groundwater samples from 49 different bore wells in Virudunagar district. Spatial distribution maps were prepared for various physicochemical parameters using geographic information system. These maps are further classified according to highest desirable, maximum permissible and not permissible prescribed by the World Health Organization. Furthermore, a water quality index (WQI) map was also generated to understand the groundwater quality in the study area. It was observed that the groundwater in the area is hard and alkaline in nature and the WQI reveals that most part of the study area fall under fair water quality class. Also, the effect of recharge during monsoon period has diluted the geochemistry of the groundwater. The application of GIS and WQI in the study area is a promising tool to understand the spatial pattern of groundwater quality and its management.     

Radioactivity monitoring in the vicinity of Jawalamukhi thrust NW Himalaya,India for tectonic study

Natural Hazards - This work reports radon-thoron monitoring at two depths (60 and 90 cm) and at 82 sites around Jawalamukhi thrust of NW Himalaya, India using Solid State Nuclear Track...     

Paleozoic Amphibolites,Kreuzeck Mountains,Austria: Geochemical variations in the vicinity of mineralization

Strata-bound antimony, mercury, tungsten and massive sulfide mineralization occurs within a metamorphosed Paleozoic volcanosedimentary sequence in the Kreuzeck Mountains, Austria. Amphibolites are a significant constituent of that sequence; on the basis of stable trace element data, they can be classified as metamorphic equivalents of recent olivine tholeiites. In the ore environment of strata-bound mineralization, intensive alteration associated with submarine hydrothermal activity has affected the wall rocks. This includes depletion in SiO₂, a change in the oxidation stage of iron and pronounced enrichment in Na, Sr, Ba and CO₂. Microprobe analyses reveal lower MgO content in chlorites and higher Na₂O content in feldspars in rocks from the ore environment. Hydrothermal halos are thus documented by changes in mineral and whole-rock compositions and represent guides to exploration.     

生态环境脆弱区煤炭资源开发诱发的环境地质问题——以陕西省神木县大柳塔煤矿区为例

为揭示大柳塔地区大规模煤炭资源开发诱发的生态环境地质问题及其效应,进行了1：5万矿山地质环境调查。研究表明,大柳塔煤矿区地面塌陷影响面积达47.12～53.36 km2,范围大,但对农业生产的影响较轻。煤矿开发对水资源的破坏尤为严重。20年来大柳塔地区及主要采煤塌陷区土地沙漠化呈现逐年好转的趋势,主要河流受到了硫化物、氟化物、总磷的普遍污染,河流底泥受到了重金属元素较严重的累积污染,土壤尚有较大的环境容量,但重金属元素的累积污染不容忽视。神东公司实施生态功能圈建设、煤矸石堆场复垦、露天矿复垦、矿井水综合利用等措施,明显地改善了矿区的生态环境,探索出生态环境脆弱区在煤炭资源开发过程中保护生态地质环境的新模式。依据该区煤炭资源开发中生态环境保护的成功经验与教训,统筹规划,提出制定生态环境脆弱区煤炭资源开发的环境保护规划、建立矿山公园、加强采煤塌陷区生态环境变化研究等建议。     

Mapping groundwater storage variations with GRACE: a case study in Alberta,Canada

The applicability of the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) to adequately represent broad-scale patterns of groundwater storage (GWS) variations and observed trends in groundwater-monitoring well levels (GWWL) is examined in the Canadian province of Alberta. GWS variations are derived over Alberta for the period 2002–2014 using the Release 05 (RL05) monthly GRACE gravity models and the Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) land-surface models. Twelve mean monthly GWS variation maps are generated from the 139 monthly GWS variation grids to characterize the annual GWS variation pattern. These maps show that, overall, GWS increases from February to June, and decreases from July to October, and slightly increases from November to December. For 2002–2014, the GWS showed a positive trend which increases from west to east with a mean value of 12 mm/year over the province. The resulting GWS variations are validated using GWWLs in the province. For the purpose of validation, a GRACE total water storage (TWS)-based correlation criterion is introduced to identify groundwater wells which adequately represent the regional GWS variations. GWWLs at 36 wells were found to correlate with both the GRACE TWS and GWS variations. A factor f is defined to up-scale the GWWL variations at the identified wells to the GRACE-scale GWS variations. It is concluded that the GWS variations can be mapped by GRACE and the GLDAS models in some situations, thus demonstrating the conditions where GWS variations can be detected by GRACE in Alberta.     

Groundwater quality in a coastal area: a case study from Andhra Pradesh, India

Over-exploitation of groundwater results in decline of water levels, leading to intrusion of salt water along the coastal region, which is a natural phenomenon. A groundwater quality survey has been carried out to assess such phenomena along the coast of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. Brackish groundwaters are observed in most of the wells. The rest of the wells show a fresh water environment. The factors responsible for the brackish groundwater quality with respect to the influence of seawater are assessed, using the standard ionic ratios, such as Ca²⁺:Mg²⁺, TA:TH and Cl⁻:HCO⁻ ₃. Results suggest that the brackish nature in most of the groundwaters is not due to the seawater influence, but is caused by the hydrogeochemical process. Some influence of seawater on the groundwater quality is observed along the rock fractures. The combined effect of seawater and urban wastewaters is due to the inferior quality of groundwater in a few wells, where they are at topographic lows close to the coast.     

Discharge areas as a useful tool for understanding recharge areas, study case: Mexico Catchment

At present, demographic growth is a significant issue related to environmental damage due to an excessive use of water and forest. Governments are now interested in formulating new strategies that might help to reach a sustainable development. Thus, the Mexican Federal Government initiated an Environmental Hydrological Services Payment Programme in 2003 to preserve its forest territory, specifically to keep its groundwater recharge potential. However, the application of this programme was not supported by hydrogeological studies defining the physical media, rainwater and groundwater flows through proper identification of recharge areas as well as probable impacts to groundwater or to other components of the environment. Wide-view system studies still need to be incorporated. This work highlights the importance of including groundwater flow system investigations as a basis to support environmental projects where a clear understanding of groundwater functioning in relation to a zone receiving payment for hydrological environmental services is required. Stable isotopes and chemical characteristics of non-evaporated groundwater in discharge areas allow the computation of the altitude of recharging precipitation from where possible recharge area location is proposed. Finally, this paper puts forward groundwater flow system definition as a basic tool to support recommendation for an adequate water and environmental management.     

Development and application of a new drought severity index for categorizing drought-prone areas: a case study of undivided Andhra Pradesh state,India

Natural Hazards - The state of undivided Andhra Pradesh, India, spent around US$ 20 million per annum on drought relief programs during the period 1998–2008. However, till date, no long-term...     

Slope stability assessment and design of remedial measures for Tungnath Temple at Uttarakhand,India: a case study

Natural Hazards - The present paper assesses the slope stability of the Tungnath Temple at Rudraprayag District, in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, and suggests the remedial measures. The...     

The importance of hydrogeological and hydrological investigations in the residential area: a case study in Burdur,Turkey

Water resources in residential areas are negatively affected by floods. In addition, many aquifers are contaminated as a result of urbanization. Great damage caused during earthquakes are partly attributed to the residential pattern which ignores the potential effect of groundwater. Hydrogeological and hydrological surveys must be carried out in the residential areas to determine the interaction between water and residential development of all types.Recent hydrogeological and hydrological investigations regarding the impact of urbanization were made for the city of Burdur (Turkey). To evaluate the effect of earthquakes on groundwater, groundwater isohypse and groundwater isopach maps were prepared showing most of the buildings within the Burdur city boundaries, which are in the areas where groundwater depth is less than 10 m. This is considered a critical depth for liquefaction during an earthquake. Lowering of the groundwater table has to be considered as one of the alternatives in reducing earthquake hazards. The chemical makeup of groundwater was also determined to consider its relationship to contamination and possible effects upon the foundations. Streams flowing across the Burdur residential area formed a flooding risk. Results of the peak flow analysis can be used to design improvements for the city. Maps of the best residential development areas have been prepared by using hydrological and hydrogeological results.     

Data-driven mapping of avalanche release areas: a case study in South Tyrol, Italy

Avalanche hazard and risk mapping is of utmost importance in mountain areas in Europe and elsewhere. Advanced methods have been developed to describe several aspects of avalanche hazard assessment, such as the dynamics of snow avalanches or the intensity of snowfall to assume as a reference meteorological forcing. However, relatively little research has been conducted on the identification of potential avalanche release areas. In this paper, we present a probabilistic assessment of potential avalanche release areas in the Italian Autonomous Province of Bolzano, eastern Alps, using the Weights of Evidence and Logistic Regression methods with commonly available GIS datasets. We show that a data-driven statistical model performs better than simple, although widely adopted, screening criteria that were proposed in the past, although the complexity of observed release areas is only partly captured by the model. In the best case, the model enables predicting about 70 % of avalanches in the 20 % of area classified at highest hazard. Based on our results, we suggest that probabilistic identification of potential release areas could provide a useful aid in the screening of sites for subsequent, more detailed hazard assessment.     

Flood prediction and mitigation in coastal tourism areas,a case study: Hurghada,Egypt

Flood mitigation involves the management and control of floodwater movement, such as redirecting flood runoff through the use of floodwalls and flood gates, rather than trying to prevent floods altogether. The prevention and mitigation of flooding can be studied on three levels: on individual properties, small communities, and whole towns or cities. The current study area is located in Hurghada on the Red Sea, which is considered an important area for coastal tourism. The study area is located at distance 7.50 km from El Gouna city along the Red Sea and east of Hurghada–Al Ismaileya road. The aim of this research is to derive the runoff flow paths across the study area and their flow magnitudes under different rainfall events of 10, 25, 50, and 100 year return periods in order to design the flood mitigation measures to protect such important areas. Field data (e.g., topographic data and rainfall intensities) were collected for the study area. The results indicated that the site is exposed to high flash flood risk and protection work is required. In order to protect the area from flood risks, locations of number of drainage channels and dams were selected and designed based on flood quantity and direction. The proposed mitigation system is capable of protecting this crucial area from flood risks and increases the national income from tourism. This study can be applied in different areas of Egypt and the world.     

Aquifer development planning to supply a seaside resort: a case study in Goa,India

Using the hydrogeological and socio-economic data derived from a European Commission research project on the measurement, monitoring and sustainability of the coastal environment, two optimization models have been applied to satisfy the future water resources needs of the coastal zone of Bardez in Goa, India. The number of tourists visiting Goa since the 1970s has risen considerably, and roughly a third of them go to Bardez taluka, prompting growth in the tourist-related infrastructure in the region. The optimization models are non-linear mixed integer models that have been solved using GAMS/DICOPT++ commercial software. Optimization models were used, firstly, to indicate the most suitable zones for building seaside resorts and wells to supply the tourist industry with an adequate amount of water, and secondly, to indicate the best location for wells to adequately supply pre-existing hotels. The models presented will help to define the optimal locations for the wells and the hydraulic infrastructures needed to satisfy demand at minimum cost, taking into account environmental constraints such as the risk of saline intrusion.

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Résumé A l’aide de données hydrogéologiques et socio-économiques, dérivées d’un projet de recherche de la Commission Européenne sur l’étude, la surveillance et la durabilité de l’environnement c?tier, deux modèles d’optimisation ont été appliqués en vue de satisfaire les besoins futurs en ressources en eau de la zone c?tière de Bardez au Goa en Inde. Le nombre de touristes qui visitent le Goa depuis les années 70 a considérablement augmenté et environ un tiers d’entre eux se rend à Bardez taluka, ce qui encourage la croissance des infrastructures liées au tourisme dans la région. Les modèles d’optimisation sont des modèles non linéaires mixtes en nombres entiers qui ont été résolus en utilisant le logiciel commercial GAMS/DICOPT++. Les modèles d’optimisation ont été utilisés pour indiquer premièrement les zones les plus appropriées pour construire des stations balnéaires et des puits pour approvisionner en quantité d’eau suffisante l’industrie touristique, et deuxièmement pour indiquer la meilleure localisation de puits pour l’alimentation des h?tels préexistants. Les modèles présentés aideront à définir les localisations optimales des puits et des infrastructures hydrauliques nécessaires à la satisfaction de la demande à un co?t minimum, tout en prenant en compte les contraintes environnementales, tel que le risque d’intrusion saline.

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Resumen Se han aplicado dos modelos de optimización en base a datos socio-económicos e hidrogeológicos derivados de un proyecto de investigación de la Comisión Europea sobre medición, monitoreo y sostenibilidad del ambiente costero para satisfacer las necesidades futuras de recursos hídricos de la zona costera de Bardez en Goa, India. El número de turistas que visita Goa desde la década de 1970′s ha subido considerablemente y cerca de un tercio de ellos van a Bardez taluka impulsando el crecimiento en la infraestructura turística de la región. Los modelos de optimización son modelos de números enteros mixtos no-lineales que se han resuelto usando el programa comercial GAMS/DICOPT++. Los modelos de optimización se usaron, primero para indicar las zonas más adecuadas para la construcción de centros de diversión en las márgenes del océano y pozos para abastecer la industria turística con una adecuada cantidad de agua, y segundo, para indicar la mejor localización de pozos para el abastecimiento de hoteles pre-existentes. Los modelos que se presentan ayudarán a definir las localizaciones óptimas para los pozos y las infraestructuras hidráulicas necesarias para satisfacer la demanda al mínimo costo, tomando en consideración restricciones ambientales tal como el riesgo de intrusión salina.

     

GIS-based flood risk assessment in suburban areas: a case study of the Fangshan District,Beijing

Suburban areas have become rapid development zones during China’s current urbanization. Generally, these areas are also regional precipitation centers that are prone to flood disasters. Therefore, it is important to assess the flood risk in suburban areas. In this study, flood risk was defined as the product of hazard and vulnerability based on disaster risk theory. A risk assessment index system was established, and the analytic hierarchy process method was used to determine the index weight. The Fangshan District in Beijing, China, which is an example of a typical suburban area undergoing rapid urbanization, was selected for this study. Six factors were considered in relation to hazard, and three factors were considered for vulnerability. Each indicator was discretized, standardized, weighted, and then combined to obtain the final flood risk map in a geographical information system environment. The results showed that the high and very high risk zones in the Fangshan District were primarily concentrated on Yingfeng Street, Xingcheng Street, Xincheng Street, and Chengguanzhen Street. The comparison to an actual flood disaster suggested that the method was effective and practical. The method can quantitatively reflect the relative magnitude and spatial distribution patterns of flood risk in a region. The method can be applied easily to most suburban areas in China for land use planning and flood risk management.