Results from a Multi-disciplinary Sedimentary Pilot Study of Tectonic Lake Iznik (NW Turkey) – Geochemistry and Paleolimnology of the Recent Past

A limnogeological reconnaissance study was carried out on Lake Iznik, located in the southeast of the Marmara region of Turkey, involving a seismic survey and collection of short sediment cores. This lake is located on the middle branch of the North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ), a transform plate boundary between the Eurasian and Anatolian Plates. It is, therefore, tectonically active and offers an opportunity to investigate the interplay of sedimentary and seismo-tectonic processes, as well as climate change and human impact in the region. Short cores of the three sub-basins, maximum length of 35.5 cm, recovered non-laminated, blackish clays and silts with varying amounts of biogenic and minerogenic (allochthonous, autochthonous) material, which documented almost the last 80 years of deposition and environmental history. High sedimentation rates in the deeper core sections are accompanied by changes in land use (conversion of woodland to farmland) in the northern areas of Lake Iznik, which caused the deposition of more weathered material (high K/Na ratios) and higher contents of Mn in the lake. A tendency towards eutrophic conditions within the last 20 years is indicated by high nutrient content (N, TOC, P), decreasing C/N-ratios, and characteristic diatom and cladoceran associations. Also increased pollution is revealed by higher Pb, Cu, and Zn contents and increased supply of human and animal faeces (high coprostanol content) during the last two decades. But simultaneous lower sedimentation rates towards the core tops complicate the reconstruction of recent and past eutrophication and pollution states of Lake Iznik. This requires an extension of the pilot study and deeper sediment cores, to recover non-anthropogenic influenced sediment levels.     

Gold mining in Ghana's forest reserves: a report on the current debate

This paper examines the debate surrounding a recent decision made by the Ghanaian government to permit gold exploration – and potentially, mining – in 'protected' forest reserves. In 2001, four mining companies were awarded mineral exploration concessions in forested regions of the country, and have since put forward applications to mine for gold. Notwithstanding the sharp divide in opinion on the issue, the continued uncertainty surrounding the implications of the proposed activities makes further research on the ground imperative in the short term. Work aiming to elicit indigenous perspectives on the projects, as well as research that facilitates dialogue between and/or among stakeholder parties, should be prioritized.     

Canada's environmental farm plans: transatlantic perspectives on agri-environmental schemes

Evaluation of Ontario's Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) scheme, launched in 1993, provides an opportunity for comparisons with agri-environmental measures instituted in the European Union and other parts of North America. The EFP has a strong 'bottom-up' dimension in that it is farmers' organizations that have been central both to the scheme's instigation and to its ongoing management. This has affected the nature of the actions taken by individual farmers participating in the scheme. These actions are reviewed, especially in terms of the participants' attitudes towards stewardship of the land, environmental outcomes, cross-compliance measures, barriers to participation and the role of statutory regulation. Some contrasts are drawn with the greater 'top-down' controls exerted in several EU agri-environment schemes, with the latter's promotion of extensification and the changing role of farmers as 'producers of countryside' in a multi-functional agricultural system. The diffusion of EFP schemes throughout Canada is noted and is cited as confirming the maintenance of fundamentally different attitudes to the development of farm-based environmental actions compared with those adopted in the EU.     

Environmental impacts of bench blasting at Hisarcik Boron open pit mine in Turkey

This paper presents the results of ground vibration measurements carried out in Hisarcik Boron open pit mine located on the west side of central Anatolia near Kütahya province in Turkey. Within the scope of this study to predict peak particle velocity (PPV) level for this site, ground vibration components were measured for 304 shots during bench blasting. In blasting operations, ANFO (blasting agent), gelatin dynamite (priming), and delay electric detonators (firing) were used as explosives. Parameters of scaled distance (charge quantity per delay and the distance between the source and the station) were recorded carefully and the ground vibration components were measured for all blast events using two different types of vibration monitors (one White Mini-Seis and one Instantel Minimate Plus Model). The absolute distances between shot points and monitor stations were determined using GPS. The equation of square root scaled distance extensively used in the literature was taken into consideration for the prediction of PPV. Then, the data pairs of scaled distance and particle velocity obtained from the 565 event records were analyzed statistically. At the end of statistical evaluation of the data pairs, an empirical relation which gives 50% prediction line with a reasonable correlation coefficient was established between PPV and scaled distance.     

油页岩综合利用对周围环境的影响——以抚顺矿区为例

世界能源日益减少的局面为油页岩的开发应用带来广阔的前景，但油页岩工业所带来的环境影响亦不容忽视。以抚顺油页岩为例，从油页岩综合利用和油页岩工业对环境的影响等方面系统讨论了在我国发展油页岩工业时，如何本着节约能源、保护环境、实现可持续发展的观念，利用现有先进技术，科学发展油页岩工业，降低生产过程中的固、液、气污染物对环境的危害。     

区域大气环境质量灰关联评价方法探讨

针对区域中大气环境质量的特点，采用对数主成分分析方法获得各环境指标的权重及各监测点的横向排名，再用适宜的灰度关联方法进行了评价。整个过程在MATLAB6．5中实现，计算简便易行，与传统的综合指数法相比较，其评价结果更符合客观实际。     

论运城市地下水超采与保护策略

本文论述了2002年运城市地下水超采状况及其引起的环境地质等一系列问题.并遵循可持续发展的思想,提出了地下水资源保护的几点意见.     

水环境容量的影响因素及分析研究

本文采用流量级频率分析和统计分析方法,对黄河下游流量及泥沙含量对水环境容量的影响进行了研究分析.分析结果:河流在平滩流量时不仅输沙能力最大[8],而且输运污染物能力也最大,黄河下游水环境容量萎缩是平滩流量降低的必然结果.     

矿业开发与环境保护关系综述

笔者介绍了我国矿业发展经历的3个阶段，归纳出我国矿业开发带来的矿山环境问题主要有：地面塌陷、占压破坏土地、改变地质构造、破坏水资源、污染水、污染土壤、污染大气、瓦斯爆炸及河床抬高等。分析了环境恶化的原因主要与区域地质环境条件、历史、经济技术、矿山企业和地方保护主义等因素有关。最后提出了防治矿山环境恶化的对策，对难以治理的地区以预防、避让为主，历史问题由政府和企业共同解决，落实“谁开发、谁保护；谁受益、谁治理；谁破坏、谁恢复”的生态环境保护新机制，加强监管，加强防治对策研究，走综合勘探、综合评价、综合开发、综合利用的发展道路。     

城市土壤环境地球化学研究--以苏州市为例

通过苏州城市环境地球化学调查工作的实施，对城市土壤环境地球化学研究的工作方法进行了初步研究。结果显示。苏州城市土壤的主要污染区域分布于东南居民生活区、西部工业区、东部木材加工厂集中区及公路干线一带；主要污染物为重金属、有机污染物多环芳烃、有机氯农药等。根据城市自然地理环境、功能分区特点和分布面积大小，确定土壤环境地球化学采样密度和测试项目是城市土壤环境地球化学研究的关键技术。