| 1. |
- Ahlmér, Anna Klara, et al.
(författare)
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Soil moisture remote-sensing applications for identification of flood-prone areas along transport infrastructure
- 2018
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Ingår i: Environmental Earth Sciences. - : Springer. - 1866-6280 .- 1866-6299. ; 77:14
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The expected increase in precipitation and temperature in Scandinavia, and especially short-time heavy precipitation, will increase the frequency of flooding. Urban areas are the most vulnerable, and specifically, the road infrastructure. The accumulation of large volumes of water and sediments on road-stream intersections gets severe consequences for the road drainage structures. This study integrates the spatial and temporal soil moisture properties into the research about flood prediction methods by a case study of two areas in Sweden, Vastra Gotaland and Varmland, which was affected by severe flooding in August 2014. Soil moisture data are derived from remote-sensing techniques, with a focus on the soil moisture-specific satellites ASCAT and SMOS. Furthermore, several physical catchments descriptors (PCDs) are analyzed and the result shows that larger slopes and drainage density, in general, mean a higher risk of flooding. The precipitation is the same; however, it can be concluded that more precipitation in most cases gives higher soil moisture values. The lack, or the dimensioning, of road drainage structures seems to have a large impact on the flood risk as more sediment and water can be accumulated at the road-stream intersection. The results show that the method implementing soil moisture satellite data is promising for improving the reliability of flooding.
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| 2. |
- Al Maliki, Ali, et al.
(författare)
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Comparison between inductively coupled plasma and X-ray fluorescence performance for Pb analysis in environmental soil samples
- 2017
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Ingår i: Environmental Earth Sciences. - : Springer. - 1866-6280 .- 1866-6299. ; 76:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Comparison of two conventional analytical techniques such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for measuring Pb concentrations in soil samples was achieved using field and laboratory work. Seventy-three samples were collected from urban areas surrounding the large lead smelter at South Australia, as an indicator of the environment impact of smelter activity. Soil Pb concentrations were determined using hand-held XRF analyser under laboratory conditions. ICP-MS analysis on digested soils (using a microwave-assisted nitric acid digestion-extraction) was applied to validate p-XRF data. The analysis showed that Pb concentrations determined by XRF correlated with high linearity with Pb concentrations determined by ICP-MS measurements (R2 = 0.89). Statistical test (t test) was applied to the data of both methods applied without any significant difference between the two techniques. These results indicated that ICP-MS corroborated XRF for Pb soil measurements and suggests that XRF was a reliable and quick alternative to traditional analytical methods in studies of environmental health risk assessment, allowing for much larger sampling regimes in relatively shorter times and could be applied in the field.
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| 3. |
- Amano, Hiroki, et al.
(författare)
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Groundwater geochemistry of a nitrate-contaminated agricultural site
- 2016
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Ingår i: Environmental Earth Sciences. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1866-6280 .- 1866-6299. ; 75:15
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Groundwater samples were collected from several soil depths down to 50 m below soil surface to investigate vertical profiles of NO3 − and hydrogeochemical characteristics of the experimental site. The experimental site is located in the Shimabara City, Nagasaki, Japan, where nitrate contamination in groundwater is severe due to intensive agricultural production. A transition zone regarding dissolved ions was found between specific depths caused by differences in the permeability of soil layers. Though NO3 − concentration decreased significantly in the transition zone, the entire soil depth exceeded permissible levels (50 mg L−1) for drinking purposes. Comparing the temporal NO3 − fluctuation above the transition zone with that of the below, distinct fluctuations were observed depending on sampling campaign. High rainfall amounts typically lead to initial decrease in NO3 − concentration for the shallow groundwater. After some time, however, increase in NO3 − concentration occurred due to leaching of accumulated NO3 − in the soil matrix. This indicated that temporal NO3 − fluctuation is mainly controlled by natural impact and occurring crop system. Results of principal component analysis suggested that application of chemical fertilizers [(NH4)2SO4, NH4NO3, and KCl], dissolution of minerals (feldspar, calcite, and dolomite), and ion exchange are the predominant factors resulting in the observed vertical groundwater chemistry. The relative magnitude of these three principal component scores changed across the transition zone. Below the transition zone, groundwater geochemistry reflected application of NH4NO3 and KCl fertilizer and dissolution of albite and orthoclase.
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| 4. |
- Amano, Hiroki, et al.
(författare)
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Surface water chemistry and nitrate pollution in Shimabara, Nagasaki, Japan
- 2018
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Ingår i: Environmental Earth Sciences. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1866-6280 .- 1866-6299. ; 77:9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Groundwater is a finite resource that is threatened by pollution all over the world. Shimabara City, Nagasaki, Japan, uses groundwater for its main water supply. During recent years, the city has experienced severe nitrate pollution in its groundwater. For better understanding of origin and impact of the pollution, chemical effects and surface–groundwater interactions need to be examined. For this purpose, we developed a methodology that builds on joint geochemical analyses and advanced statistical treatment. Water samples were collected at 42 sampling points in Shimabara including a part of Unzen City. Spatial distribution of water chemistry constituents was assessed by describing Stiff and Piper diagrams using major ions concentrations. The nitrate (NO3 + NO2–N) concentration in 45% of water samples exceeded permissible Japanese drinking level of 10 mg L− 1. Most of the samples showed Ca–HCO3 or Ca–(NO3 + SO4) water types. Some samples were classified into characteristic water types such as Na–Cl, (Na + K)–HCO3, (Na + K)–(SO4 + NO3), and Ca–Cl. Thus, results indicated salt water intrusion from the sea and anthropogenic pollution. At the upstream of Nishi River, although water chemistry was characterized as Ca–HCO3, ion concentrations were higher than those of other rivers. This is probably an effect of disinfection in livestock farming using slaked lime. Positive correlation between NO3 − and SO4 2−, Mg2+, Ca2+, Na+, K+, and Cl− (r = 0.32–0.64) is evidence that nitrate pollution sources are chemical fertilizers and livestock waste. Principal component analysis showed that chemistry of water samples can be explained by three main components (PCs). PC1 depicts general ion concentration. PC2 and PC3 share influence from chemical fertilizer and livestock waste. Cluster analyses grouped water samples into four main clusters. One of these is the general river chemistry mainly affected by PC1. The others reflect anthropogenic activities and are identified by the combination of the three PCs.
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| 5. |
- Bellopede, Rossana, et al.
(författare)
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Assessment of the European Standard for the determination of resistance of marble to thermal and moisture cycles : recommendations for improvements
- 2016
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Ingår i: Environmental Earth Sciences. - : Springer Berlin/Heidelberg. - 1866-6280 .- 1866-6299. ; 75:11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The bowing phenomenon is so relevant that two projects, EU funded, from 1999 studied it and a European Standard to assess the resistance to thermal and moisture cycles (influencing bowing) has been recently adopted. In particular, according EN 16306: 2013, measurements of bowing and flexural strength should be performed before and at the end of the ageing cycles. Additional non-destructive tests are recommended, but are not compulsory for the standard. Moreover, Annex A of EN 16306 contains guidance on the limit values for the selection of marble types suitable for outdoor uses, especially façade applications. Eleven varieties of marble have been tested by means of this laboratory ageing test. Non-destructive tests such as the measurements of ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), adjacent grains analysis, open porosity, and water absorption have been executed together with the conventional flexural strength test. The results obtained from image analysis on thin sections indicate that the AGA index may not always be correlated with the other tests: amount of bowing, loss of flexural strength, or loss of UPV. Some consideration of the decrease in mechanical resistance and the bowing in relation to the variety of marble tested and the limit values indicated in Annex A of EN 16306 can be noted. It is known that bowing and rapid strength loss occur in some varieties of marble when used as exterior cladding and other exterior applications. Additional conclusions have been drawn: bowing and flexural strength correlate well and can be used to assess the suitability of the marble to be employed in outdoors.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Bond, Alexander E., et al.
(författare)
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A synthesis of approaches for modelling coupled thermal-hydraulic-mechanical-chemical processes in a single novaculite fracture experiment
- 2017
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Ingår i: Environmental Earth Sciences. - : Springer. - 1866-6280 .- 1866-6299. ; 76:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The geological formation immediately surrounding a nuclear waste disposal facility has the potential to undergo a complex set of physical and chemical processes starting from construction and continuing many years after closure. The DECOVALEX project (DEvelopment of COupled models and their VALidation against EXperiments) was established and maintained by a variety of waste management organisations, regulators and research organisations to help improve capabilities in experimental interpretation, numerical modelling and blind prediction of complex coupled systems. In the present round of DECOVALEX (D-2015), one component of Task C1 has considered the detailed experimental work of Yasuhara et al. (Earth Planet Sci Lett 244: 186-200, 2006), wherein a single artificial fracture in novaculite (micro-or crypto-crystalline quartz) is subject to variable fluid flows, mechanical confining pressure and different applied temperatures. This paper presents a synthesis of the completed work of six separate research teams. A range of approaches are presented including 2D and 3D high-resolution coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical models. The results of the work show that while good, physically plausible representations of the experiment can be obtained using a range of approaches, there is considerable uncertainty in the relative importance of the various processes, and that the parameterisation of these processes can be closely linked to the interpretation of the fracture surface topography at different spatial scales.
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| 9. |
- Bond, A. E., et al.
(författare)
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Development of approaches for modelling coupled thermal–hydraulic–mechanical–chemical processes in single granite fracture experiments
- 2016
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Ingår i: Environmental Earth Sciences. - : Springer. - 1866-6280 .- 1866-6299. ; 75:19
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The geological formation immediately surrounding a nuclear waste disposal facility has the potential to undergo a complex set of physical and chemical processes starting from construction and continuing many years after closure. The DECOVALEX project (DEvelopment of COupled models and their VALidation against EXperiments) was established and maintained by a variety of waste management organizations, regulators and research organizations to help improve capabilities in experimental interpretation, numerical modelling and blind prediction of complex coupled systems. In the present round of DECOVALEX (D-2015), one component of Task C1 has considered the detailed experimental work of Yasuhara et al. (Appl Geochem 26:2074–2088, 2011), wherein three natural fractures in Mizunami granite are subject to variable fluid flows, mechanical confining pressure and different applied temperatures. This paper presents a synthesis of the completed work of six separate research teams, building on work considering a single synthetic fracture in novaculite. A range of approaches are presented including full geochemical reactive transport modelling and 2D and 3D high-resolution coupled thermo–hydro–mechanical–chemical (THMC) models. The work shows that reasonable fits can be obtained to the experimental data using a variety of approaches, but considerable uncertainty remains as to the relative importance of competing process sets. The work also illustrates that a good understanding of fracture topography, interaction with the granite matrix, a good understanding of the geochemistry and the associated multi-scale THMC process behaviours is a necessary pre-cursor to considering predictive models of such a system.
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| 10. |
- Buck, Brenda J., et al.
(författare)
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The emerging field of medical geology in brief : some examples
- 2016
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Ingår i: Environmental Earth Sciences. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1866-6280 .- 1866-6299. ; 75:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Emerging medical problems present medical practitioners with many difficult challenges. Emergent disciplines may offer the medical community new opportunities to address a range of these diseases. One such emerging discipline is medical geology, a science that is dealing with the influence of natural environmental factors on the geographical distribution of health in humans and animals. It involves the study of the processes and causes of diseases and also the use research findings to present solutions to health problems.
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