Assessment of the physicochemical characteristics of surface waterbodies in a region earmarked for shale gas exploration (Eastern Cape Karoo, South Africa)

2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (9) ◽  
pp. 1626 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annah Mabidi ◽  
Matthew S. Bird ◽  
Renzo Perissinotto
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Shale Gas ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Physicochemical Characteristics ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Depression Wetlands ◽  
Water Scarce ◽  
Term Monitoring

The proposed drilling for shale gas resources in the Eastern Cape Karoo region of South Africa has triggered much debate over the potential effects of hydraulic fracturing on water resources. Herein we present results on some limnological aspects of surface waterbodies in this water-scarce region before shale gas exploration. Thirty-three waterbodies (nine dams, 13 depression wetlands and 11 rivers) were sampled in November 2014 and April 2015. Principal component analysis revealed that depression wetlands and rivers had distinct physicochemical signatures, whereas dams were highly variable in their physicochemical attributes and exhibited characteristics similar to those of either rivers or depression wetlands. Non-parametric multivariate regressions and permutational multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) indicated that landscape variables such as underlying geology, altitude and land use poorly explained the physicochemical characteristics of the sampled waterbodies. Waterbody type was the only factor that explained a significant amount of the variation in physicochemistry during both sampling events. These data need to be supplemented by water quality information from additional sites and over longer time periods, as well as supporting data relating to other aspects, such as algae and invertebrates, before they can be used as a baseline for the long-term monitoring of freshwater ecosystems in the region.

scholarly journals Continuation of long-term global SO<sub>2</sub> pollution monitoring from OMI to OMPS

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 1495-1509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Zhang ◽  
Can Li ◽  
Nickolay A. Krotkov ◽  
Joanna Joiner ◽  
Vitali Fioletov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Atmospheric Chemistry ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Pollution Monitoring ◽  
Lookup Table ◽  
Ozone Monitoring Instrument ◽  
Chemistry Research

Abstract. Over the past 20 years, advances in satellite remote sensing of pollution-relevant species have made space-borne observations an increasingly important part of atmospheric chemistry research and air quality management. This progress has been facilitated by advanced UV–vis spectrometers, such as the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) on board the NASA Earth Observing System (EOS) Aura satellite, and continues with new instruments, such as the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) on board the NASA–NOAA Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) satellite. In this study, we demonstrate that it is possible, using our state-of-the-art principal component analysis (PCA) retrieval technique, to continue the long-term global SO2 pollution monitoring started by OMI with the current and future OMPS instruments that will fly on the NOAA Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) 1, 2, 3, and 4 satellites in addition to SNPP, with a very good consistency of retrievals from these instruments. Since OMI SO2 data have been primarily used for (1) providing regional context on air pollution and long-range transport on a daily basis and (2) providing information on point emission sources on an annual basis after data averaging, we focused on these two aspects in our OMI–OMPS comparisons. Four years of retrievals (2012–2015) have been compared for three regions: eastern China, Mexico, and South Africa. In general, the comparisons show relatively high correlations (r = 0. 79–0.96) of daily regional averaged SO2 mass between the two instruments and near-unity regression slopes (0.76–0.97). The annual averaged SO2 loading differences between OMI and OMPS are small (< 0.03 Dobson unit (DU) over South Africa and up to 0.1 DU over eastern China). We also found a very good correlation (r = 0. 92–0.97) in the spatial distribution of annual averaged SO2 between OMI and OMPS over the three regions during 2012–2015. The emissions from ∼ 400 SO2 sources calculated with the two instruments also show a very good correlation (r = ∼ 0.9) in each year during 2012–2015. OMPS-detected SO2 point source emissions are slightly lower than those from OMI, but OMI–OMPS differences decrease with increasing strength of source. The OMI–OMPS SO2 mass differences on a pixel by pixel (daily) basis in each region can show substantial differences. The two instruments have a spatial correlation coefficient of 0.7 or better on < ∼ 50 % of the days. It is worth noting that consistent SO2 retrievals were achieved without any explicit adjustments to OMI or OMPS radiance data and that the retrieval agreement may be further improved by introducing a more comprehensive Jacobian lookup table than is currently used.

The gracilarioids in South Africa: long-term monitoring of a declining resource

2008 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D. Rothman ◽  
R. J. Anderson ◽  
C. J. T. Boothroyd ◽  
F. A. Kemp ◽  
J. J. Bolton
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Long Term Monitoring ◽  
Term Monitoring

scholarly journals Long-term monitoring of an earth masonry shell house in Johannesburg, South Africa: Thermal performance

◽  
2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Bradley ◽  
◽  
Mitchell Gohnert ◽  
Anne Fitchett ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Thermal Performance ◽  
Long Term Monitoring ◽  
Term Monitoring

scholarly journals Shale Gas Characteristics of Permian Black Shales in South Africa: Results from Recent Drilling in the Ecca Group (Eastern Cape)

2013 ◽  
Vol 40 ◽  
pp. 256-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Geel ◽  
Hans-Martin Schulz ◽  
Peter Booth ◽  
Maarten deWit ◽  
Brian Horsfield
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Shale Gas ◽  
Black Shales ◽  
Eastern Cape

scholarly journals Long Term Monitoring (2014–2018) of Multi-Mycotoxins in South African Commercial Maize and Wheat with a Locally Developed and Validated LC-MS/MS Method

Toxins ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannalien Meyer ◽  
Zanele Diana Skhosana ◽  
Mamsy Motlanthe ◽  
Wiana Louw ◽  
Egmont Rohwer
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Food And Feed ◽  
Main Production ◽  
Fit For Purpose ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Term Monitoring

Mycotoxins occur worldwide in the major grains, and producers, traders and processors are all challenged to prevent serious health problems for consumers. The challenges originate with pre-harvest fungi infections in the grain fields, increased contamination during improper storage and, finally, the mycotoxin accumulation in commercial food and feed products. Little is known about the multi-mycotoxin occurrence in maize and wheat commercially produced in South Africa. This is the first comprehensive study that reports on the multi-mycotoxin occurrence in South African produced maize and wheat crops after harvest, over four production seasons, in all the production regions of the country. The study was made possible with the development of a fit-for-purpose, cost-effective LC-MS/MS multi-mycotoxin method, validated for 13 “regulated” mycotoxins. A low mycotoxin risk was found in South African produced wheat, with only deoxynivalenol (DON) in 12.5% of the 160 samples at levels well below the 2000 µg/kg South African (SA) regulatory level. It was concluded that aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is seldom present in South African produced commercial maize. The concentrations, regional variation and seasonal trends of deoxynivalenol and fumonisins, the two most prevalent mycotoxins, and of zearalenone (ZON), are reported for white and yellow maize in all the production provinces, based on the analytical results of 1400 maize samples. A threefold to eightfold increase in deoxynivalenol mean concentrations in white maize was observed in the main production regions in the fourth season, with 8.9% samples above 2000 µg/kg. A strong correlation was found between higher deoxynivalenol concentrations and the presence of 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (15-ADON). The mean fumonisin concentrations were well below the 4000 µg/kg South African regulatory value. A possible shift in the incidence and severity of mycotoxigenic Fusarium spp. in the provinces must be investigated. The variations and trends highlight the importance of a continuous monitoring of multi-mycotoxins in South Africa along the grain value chain.

Geochemical Evaluation of the Permian Ecca Shale in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa: Implications for Shale Gas Potential

2018 ◽  
Vol 92 (3) ◽  
pp. 1193-1217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher BAIYEGUNHI ◽  
Kuiwu LIU ◽  
Nicola WAGNER ◽  
Oswald GWAVAVA ◽  
Temitope L. OLONINIYI
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Shale Gas ◽  
Eastern Cape Province ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Geochemical Evaluation ◽  
Gas Potential

Capture of Planktonic Microbial Diversity in Fractures by Long-Term Monitoring of Flowing Boreholes, Evander Basin, South Africa

2011 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 275-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark M. Davidson ◽  
Bianca J. Silver ◽  
T. C. Onstott ◽  
Duane P. Moser ◽  
Thomas M. Gihring ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Microbial Diversity ◽  
Long Term Monitoring ◽  
Term Monitoring
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