Will the river Irtysh survive the year 2030? Impact of long-term unsuitable land use and water management of the upper stretch of the river catchment (North Kazakhstan)

The Irtysh river basin all the way from river spring in China across Kazakhstan as far as the Russian part of Siberia is among the most ecologically endangered and affected regions on our planet. The study provides a summary of the historical reasons for anthropological interventions in this area, which began with the construction of plants of the military—industrial complexes in the forties of the last century during World War II. These plants have a major share in extreme high concentrations of heavy metals in surface as well in groundwaters locally. The Semipalatinsk nuclear polygon plays a specific role as a source of contamination of local waters. The release of top secret data enabled us to gain knowledge about serious problems related to high radioactivity of groundwaters, which should spread uncontrollably through a system of secondary fissures activated by nuclear blasts. Another serious problem in this region is the quantitative aspect of contamination. Model simulations of water balance indicate that large industrial development in the spring area in China and continuously increasing water consumption in Kazakhstan may lead to desiccation of the lower stretch of this large river in Siberia during the summer months of 2030.     

Brackish groundwater as an alternative source of cooling water for nuclear power plants in Israel

Because of a high population density in the coastal plain, any future nuclear power plants will be located in the sparsely settled Negev desert Since this part of Israel has no surface water, the only alternatives to cooling water are piped-in Mediterranean. Water and local, brackish groundwater One particular aquifier was examined for its potential to provide the required amount of cooling water over the lifetime of the plant, without causing a drastic lowering of the regional water table It was concluded that given the assumed range of aquifer properties, extraction of brackish water for cooling purposes will not result in large changes in the regional water table, furthermore, it could possibly halt the gradual deterioration of the quality of the water supply of the city of Beer Sheva     

Supportive elements to the decision-making process in the emergency planning of the Angra dos Reis Nuclear Power Complex,Brazil

Accidents in nuclear power plants are problems of great complexity, mainly due to their consequences, such as the population evacuation from the enterprise influence area. The decision-making and emergency plans must be well articulated and require good local geographic space knowledge and the interactions of their environments. This study is a contribution to the emergency plans for the Almirante Álvaro Alberto Nuclear Power Plant, currently the only nuclear complex in Brazil, located in Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro. The study confirmed the region’s main geoenvironmental aspects as winds and rainfall, landslides and population density were evaluated as important elements in the local emergency process. Their integrated analysis supported scenario identification and critical regional points and highlighted population evacuation escape routes. These important results characterized the support to local emergency management actions and guidelines. Furthermore, the geographic information systems was configured as an integrated spatial and temporal analysis platform to associate meteorological, geological/geomorphological and socio-economic data, playing a key role to support the evacuation planning in the event of nuclear power plant accidents.     

Ground freezing for support of open excavations

A practical discussion of critical factors for designing and constructing temporary frozen earth ground support and groundwater control systems for large open excavations is reported. Many construction projects require extensive subsurface work which can best be completed in a large open excavation, shaped to accommodate the subsurface structure. Frequently, lateral ground support of adjoining property and groundwater control within the excavation are major problems for completion of subsurface work. Construction ground freezing has now become an economically competitive solution for many such applications, particularly in bad ground.

The general experience gained from completing ground freezing for numerous open excavation projects over the past ten years is reported to assist in the evaluation, design and construction of future projects. The principal emphasis of this report is the practical construction and field instrumentation procedures necessary successfully to complete ground freezing for a project. Examples from past projects ranging from large nuclear power plants to small sewerage pumping stations are employed to emphasize important points.     

Climate change-induced hazards and local adaptations in agriculture: a study from Koshi River Basin,Nepal

Natural Hazards - Changes in climate, associated hazards, local adaptations in agriculture, and socioeconomic factors affecting adaptation were investigated using data from a large survey of 2310...     

聚合物凝胶堵漏剂在大裂隙溶洞地层中的研究及应用

广东河源地区地质条件复杂,溶洞、裂隙十分发育。钻探生产中施工难度大,导致在钻孔施工中冲洗液漏失严重,施工周期长,成本高。针对该地区大裂隙溶洞地层研制的一种新型聚合物凝胶堵漏剂,从理论上探讨该新型凝胶堵漏剂的基本性能和作用机理,还通过室内试验与现场测试对凝胶堵漏剂进行研究,测试了凝胶堵漏剂的成胶时间、承压能力、破胶性能等。并针对凝胶堵漏材料的配方进行了对比试验,得出了现场的最佳应用配方,对漏失地层进行堵漏,取得了良好的效果,降低了钻井液的消耗,提高了钻井效率。广东河源地区的应用表明,所研制新型凝胶堵漏剂具有良好的流动性且成胶时间较短,符合生产需要,同时还具有很强的承压堵漏能力,破胶性能显著,不会卡住钻具。该新型堵漏剂对广东河源地区的堵漏施工效果较好,易于配制、调整,不需要特殊设备,对大裂隙溶洞地区的堵漏具有很好的推广应用前景。     

Complex impact assessment of coastal development in the United Arab Emirates using GIS: a case study of Wurayah Biosphere Reserve

Wadi Wurayah area is one of the major wadis originating and running on the Oman Mountains and drains into the Oman Gulf. These wadis in general and Wadi Wurayah in particular are characterized with a rich diversity of rare and mountainous and freshwater habitats and species. These wadis contain unequal, representative, and sensitive areas of the dry lands ecosystem with natural, outstanding landscapes and cultural heritage, while the socioeconomic situation indicates that it has enough socioeconomic infrastructures to develop new alternatives ecologically and economically sustainable. As most of the United Arab Emirates and the region, the study area is undergoing dramatic changes linked to economic diversification and promotion of tourism. Established under the UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Program, Wurayah Biosphere Reserve represents protected areas intended to demonstrate well-balanced relationship between conservation of biodiversity and an appropriate local development. The main objectives of this study are to develop an environmental information system to understand the dynamics of human activities associated to land use in the study area, highlight the threats to the environment, educate people about the basic environmental issues and positive traditional practices, and promote tourism. Based on the gained results, the concept of biosphere reserve as a model is to implement ideas of sustainable land use in practice.     

Bridge construction and river channel morphology—A comprehensive study of flow behavior and sediment size alteration of the River Chel,India

Human has always modified its surroundings for better adaptation which include the building of urban landscapes, dams, and engineering constructions like bridges and other infrastructures. It has been unveiled from the study of River Chel that when the rail bridge was constructed before 1913, the natural width of the river was nevertheless maintained but the problem was initiated and after the road bridge construction in 1970s when the river width was minimized,the morphological changes started in a large scale. Such modifications have affected nature as well as human communities both positively and negatively. This paper will try to portray the evolution of channel shifting and changes of sediment size regime that the River Chel is experiencing due to the construction of bridges across the middle part of its course. So, this study is concerned about the changes in channel pathway since last 100 years and field-based hydrological parameters and sediment size analysis reveals some distinct changes in the channel planform with alteration of sediment size regime. Simulation of the hydraulic modeling in HEC-RAS specifies the probable affected area with bridges and without bridges in both upstream and downstream of the river course. Hence, the study unveils the alteration of the river hydrology and sediment size caused due to anthropogenic effects and impact of such flow analysis has been evaluated through the bridge scour calculation by CUS method. The discussion concludes that the Odlabari road bridge construction (after 1970) has modified the normal hydrological behavior of the river with a higher probability of bank erosion in downstream and floods in upstream resulting river bottleneck condition.     

喀斯特地区大直径人工挖孔桩设计及技术难点

简要分析大直径嵌岩灌注桩的承载机理，根据国家现行规范，结合地方实践经验。对岩溶地区大直径人工挖孔桩设计与施工中的若干难点技术作初步探讨。     

基于核磁共振的脆硬性泥页岩水化损伤演化研究

为研究脆硬性泥页岩水化后细观结构的损伤演化特征,利用核磁共振技术对不同浸泡时间的脆硬性泥页岩试样进行测量,得到不同浸泡时间的试样质量变化、横向弛豫时间T2谱分布以及核磁共振成像。结果表明：水化作用会对岩石内部产生损伤,岩样吸水率在最初的8 h内变化相对较大,1 d后相对接近稳定,之后变化不明显。随着浸泡时间的延长,微裂缝在水化的作用下快速扩展、贯通使岩样表面产生明显裂纹。核磁共振T2谱图和成像结果表明,水化作用使岩样微观结构重新分布,T2曲线信号幅度发生明显的变化,并随着浸泡时间的延长而增加。整个水化损伤分为3个阶段：大尺寸孔隙裂纹发展阶段;小孔隙产生、大尺寸孔隙裂纹加剧扩展;小孔隙加剧产生扩展、大尺寸孔隙裂纹归并贯通至水化破坏阶段。核磁共振图像显示同一块岩样在不同浸泡时间的内部微观结构分布,动态地显示岩石的水化损伤过程。     

Advance in Pollen Source Area

The conception of pollen source area has attracted broadly attention since it was proposed in the 1960s. In this paper,it can be subdivided into Normal Source Area of Pollen (NSAP) and Relevant Source Area of Pollen (RSAP) based on reviewing former studies and our recent work of vegetation survey and pollen analysis in the Northern China. The NSAP means a source area of pollen input a sedimentary basin,indicating a distance area beyond where the pollen contents of major pollen types do not show evident increase with increased distance. The RSAP means a source area of pollen assemblages in a basin has the closest relationship with surrounding plants,indicating a distance area beyond where the relationship between pollen assemblage and surrounding vegetation do not show obvious increase with increased distance. The changes of sedimentary basins radii and pollen grain size influence the NSAP and RSAP evidently. Wind speed also changes the NSAP, but does not significantly affect RSAP. The pollen of a sedimentary basin is composed of local pollen,regional pollen and extra regional pollen,which usually account for 30%~45%,25%~60% and 10%~30%,respectively. Local pollen which refers to the pollen coming within the RSAP range,is a reflection of the surrounding vegetation,and has important implications to the reconstruction and succession of local vegetation. Regional pollen which refers to the pollen coming from within the range of NSAP and excluding the range of local pollen,is the important carrier of studies for vegetation restoration and climate change. The pollen that comes outside the range of NSAP is called Extra regional pollen,which is mainly from greater distance by upper air flow,and has no indicator significance to the regional vegetation.     

Logistic regression model for sinkhole susceptibility due to damaged sewer pipes

The occurrence of anthropogenic sinkholes in urban areas can lead to severe socioeconomic losses. A damaged underground sewer pipe is regarded as one of the primary causes of such a phenomenon. This study adopted the best subsets regression method to produce a logistic regression model that evaluates the susceptibility for sinkholes induced by damaged sewer pipes. The model was developed by analyzing the sewer pipe network as well as cases of sinkholes in Seoul, South Korea. Among numerous sewer pipe characteristics tested as explanatory variables, the length, age, elevation, burial depth, size, slope, and materials of the sewer pipe were found to influence the occurrence of sinkhole. The proposed model reasonably estimated the sinkhole susceptibility in the area studied, with an area value under the receiver-operating characteristics curve of 0.753. The proposed methodology will serve as a useful tool that can help local governments to choose a cavity inspection regime, and to prevent sinkholes induced by damaged sewer pipes.     

Piezomagnetic effect of ground loading by Lake Gordon, Tasmania

A series of precisely repeated magnetic surveys has been carried out over a five year period, during the filling of Lake Gordon, Tasmania, following construction of a dam. After subtraction of the secular variation gradient over the region, a mean decrease of 1.6 nT in total field intensity is found over the survey area, which exceeds 600 km², corresponding to the expected form of a tectonomagnetic anomaly due to ground loading. During the survey period there were several local magnetic events, coinciding with more rapid, local changes in benchmark levels, that may be attributed to aseismic movements on faults in the area.     

Product changes in multi-plant enterprises

Product change is a neglected form of locational adjustment. This exploratory study examines the changes that 64 multi-plant enterprises in the United Kingdom textile and clothing industries made to the products manufactured in their plants during a six year period. Transfers of products to and from plants and the introduction of products new to the enterprise were the most common types of change. The extension of manufacture of products to other plants and product abandonments occurred less frequently. Product change decisions were relatively important in comparison with the frequency of occurrence of other types of locational change. Altering the use made of particular locations gave an important flexibility to the operations of the companies. The most important reasons affecting the product changes were a desire to expand production of products already manufactured by the company, to introduce closely related products and to reorganise the location of products between plants. The degree of diversification, the investment strategy, the size, and the profitability of the enterprises were the most important characteristics of the companies influencing the frequencies with which the various types of product change occurred. Some types of plant were also found more likely to experience product changes than others: notably, the head office plants of parent companies, large plants, plants producing in declining industries, and recently opened plants.     

Soil sealing,population structure and the socioeconomic context: a local-scale assessment

In the most recent decades European urban regions underwent functional changes reflecting heterogeneous land-use patterns and specific urban footprints. Several mono-centric cities shifted towards a scattered development with impact on the socio-spatial structure. Discontinuous expansion determined, in some cases, a net increase in land consumption. Using a multivariate exploratory approach, the present study analyzes the spatial relationships between 14 morphological variables and 22 socioeconomic indicators in Rome’s province. The aim of this study was to identify the demographic and socioeconomic indicators most associated to the transition from a mono-centric and semi-compact morphology towards a more dispersed settlement structure based on different sealing profiles observed at the local scale. Four groups of socioeconomic indicators (population structure, job market, economic specialization and settlement characteristics) associated to different sealing profiles (low, medium and high imperviousness) were identified and local municipalities classified accordingly. Although the urban–rural axis maintains an important role in the spatial organization of Rome’s province, other variables were found associated to areas with moderately low imperviousness, evidencing a specific demographic structure and persisting socioeconomic disparities at the base of the settlement model observed at the regional scale.     

Experimental definition of microclimatic conditions based on water transfer and porous media properties for the conservation of prehistoric constructions: Cueva Pintada at Galdar,Gran Canaria,Spain

Microclimatic parameters and natural materials were studied in order to assess conservation of the cave complex at Galdar, Gran Canaria. Based on the microclimatic data, experimental simulations were carried out to quantify water retention capacity and water vapour transport kinetics under continuously changing extreme temperatures and relative humidity values. The behaviour of natural construction materials is greatly influenced by changes in thermo-hygrometric conditions and is linked to pore structure. The host rock has a complex porous media: high porosity and polymodal pore size distribution, where the smallest pores contribute to water condensation, whilst large pores lead to high water absorption rates. The axial compressive strength of the host-rock decreases between 30 and 70% at water saturation. Stuccos covering cave wall paintings are formed by clay minerals, mainly smectites. These clay minerals cover a large specific surface area, which leads to a high capacity for water condensation and retention. It is also shown that neither water condensation nor vapour transport are noticeably modified by the presence of stucco on the host-rock when rapid, highly variable changes occur in environmental conditions if large shrinkage cracks are present. Results show that safe threshold microclimatic conditions can be found below 75% RH in the natural temperature range and that slight variations in temperature and relative humidity do not modify durability properties.     

广州夏茅村岩溶地面塌陷成因机理与塌陷过程分析

研究区内已发岩溶地面塌陷灾害严重,地质环境条件极其复杂,第四系覆盖土层厚度大,底部粉质黏土层土洞发育、隐伏基岩为壶天群灰岩,溶洞及断层破碎带发育,单个溶洞、土洞规模较大,溶洞与溶洞、土洞与溶洞之间连通性能较好。岩溶地面塌陷是以覆盖层粉质黏土层或砂类土层的扰动和土洞的形成为起点的,根据勘查区上覆盖层二元结构的特征,区内地面塌陷及土洞的发育过程可分为"下黏上砂"二元结构塌陷模式和"下黏上砂、软土"多元结构塌陷模式,塌陷区的岩溶塌陷致塌机制主要为机械贯穿作用,塌陷发育大约经历了四个阶段,建议今后不宜在勘查区及其周边一定范围进行地下工程建设活动及抽、排岩溶地下水行为,避免地下水动力条件发生改变,再次发生岩溶地面塌陷。     

福建大唐宁德电厂海堤施工期岩土监测实例分析

在沿海滩涂地带进行大型海堤建设,项目难度大,施工风险较高。为了使项目工程建设安全可靠地进行,必须开展施工期现场岩土监测工作。综合介绍省重点建设项目——福建大唐宁德电厂的海堤施工现场采用多种岩土监测手段,总结和分析各种监测成果,为工程建设提供可靠的科学依据。确保海堤施工顺利进展。     

泉州市晋江下游地区工程地质条件评价

从地形地貌、地下水、岩土体和地震地质环境等方面入手，分析和评价晋江下游地区的工程地质条件，为城乡建设、规划和社会经济发展提供地质背景资料。     

Socioeconomic impact of oil in Nigeria

Taxes and royalties from the oil industry in Nigeria have made possible massive infrastructural and social development throughout the country; this single industry continues to be the most important contributor to the national treasury. Along with oil, however, have come environmental and social problems, some severe and, in the social sector, possibly of long duration. Questionnaires were employed to solicit environmental and socioeconomic information from residents in the oil-impacted area as well as to ascertain the views of the oil companies with respect to their Nigerian operations, in particular to their socio-economic responsibilities to the local residents. Responses point to serious discontent on the part of the impacted population, especially in the most important southern (Niger Delta) oil producing region. These negative attitudes in part are based upon the impacted population’s inability to secure for itself a sufficiently large number of oil industry jobs and in part to the presence in the local community of ethnic strangers who do have such employment. There is evidence of serious environmental damage, but its biological dimension has been overshadowed by claims for monetary compensation at the local level. Data derived from these investigations might well be applicable in the wider field of trans-national mining and petroleum extraction operations in developing countries, especially to the unwritten social obligations of the expatriate firm to local residents.