scholarly journals Linking remotely sensed vegetation structure and soil contamination data to monitor oil spill driven degradation in the Niger Delta Mangrove

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Brolly ◽  
Isa Kwabe ◽  
Raymond Ward ◽  
Christopher Joyce
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Soil Contamination ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Vegetation Structure ◽  
Niger Delta ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Remotely Sensed ◽  
Soil Sampling ◽  
Mangrove Forests ◽  
Area Index

<p>In this study, soil sampling, vegetation analysis, and remotely sensed indices are used to devise a framework for monitoring impact of oil pollution on Mangrove forests. Mangroves are under threat from resource extraction and associated degradation. As a result of their inter-tidal location, Mangroves provide habitat for terrestrial and aquatic organisms and are important components of coastal ecosystems, providing a range of naturally available ecosystem services. Despite the widely accepted and documented range of ecosystem services provided by mangroves, they have nevertheless, experienced a worldwide degradation resulting from various anthropogenic activities including oil exploitation.</p><p>This research is conducted in the Niger Delta where the largest spatial extent of Mangrove forests in Africa is located, consisting of 7% of global stock. Hydrocarbon exploitation in the Niger Delta region is one of several resource extractions undertaken in the area and as a result associated environmental pollution has caused a drastic decline in the region’s biodiversity and ecological resources. Of interest to this study is the effect of associated oil spills on the Mangrove forest ecosystem and their detection.</p><p>This study undertook a detailed field exercise over three seasons across the Niger Delta within close proximity to recorded oil spills; as noted in the NOSDRA (National Oil Spill Detection & Response Agency) archive. Soil sampling and laboratory analyses were conducted to establish the level and nature of contamination and supported by complementary vegetation structure analysis evaluating Leaf Area Index (LAI) from ground (LAI2200C) and spaceborne (Landsat archive) systems. Levels of soil contamination were significant with respect to control areas regarding both presence and concentration of heavy metal pollutants (Cr, Mn, Fe, Zn, Pb, Al and Hg). Additionally, negative structural impacts were detected on the local soil via Bulk Density reductions, known to impact soil function, as high as 0.566 g/cm<sup>3</sup> when comparing control Estuarine with high polluted locations, and Soil Organic Matter (SOM) reductions indicated by a mean percentage difference to the control of 11% for high polluted Fringing locations. These results highlight the immediate harm from spills, with degraded areas visually recorded and validated via ground measurements with mean LAI in high polluted Estuarine locations recording 1.8 higher. Linking vegetation structure in the Mangrove system with soil contamination allows the use of remote sensing to identify areas of degradation and subsequently to model the level and nature of contamination. The correlation between  ground and spaceborne measurements of LAI (eg. r=0.62 p<0.005 for fringing low pollution locations), allows machine learning approaches to be used to model LAI given the presence of contaminants and to provide a framework for supporting the detection and recording of areas at risk. Success will be expanded upon through use of GEDI lidar waveforms in the near future to improve the remotely derived description of forest structure.</p>

scholarly journals Natural and Anthropogenic Variation of Stand Structure and Aboveground Biomass in Niger Delta Mangrove Forests

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chukwuebuka J. Nwobi ◽  
Mathew Williams
Keyword(s):  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Niger Delta ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Oil Pollution ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Forest Degradation ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Mangrove Forests ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Nipa Palm

Mangrove forests are important coastal wetlands because of the ecosystem services they provide especially their carbon potential. Mangrove forests productivity in the Niger Delta are poorly quantified and at risk of loss from oil pollution, deforestation, and invasive species. Here, we report the most extensive stem girth survey yet of mangrove plots for stand and canopy structure in the Niger Delta, across tidal and disturbance gradients. We established twenty-five geo-referenced 0.25-ha plots across two estuarine basins. We estimated aboveground biomass (AGB) from established allometric equations based on stem surveys. Leaf area index (LAI) was recorded using hemispherical photos. We estimated a mean AGB of 83.7 Mg ha–1 with an order of magnitude range, from 11 to 241 Mg ha–1. We found significantly higher plot biomass in close proximity to a protected site and tidal channels, and the lowest in the sites where urbanization and wood exploitation was actively taking place. The mean LAI was 1.45 and ranged fivefold from 0.46 to 2.41 and there was a significant positive correlation between AGB and LAI (R2 = 0.31). We divided the plots into two disturbance regimes and three nipa palm (Nypa fruticans) invasion levels. Lower stem diameter (5–15 cm) accounted for 70% of the total biomass in disturbed plots, while undisturbed regimes had a more even (∼25%) contribution of different diameter at breast height (DBH) size classes to AGB. Nipa palm invasion also showed a significant link to larger variations in LAI and the proportion of basal area removed from plots. We conclude that mangrove forest degradation and exploitation is removing larger stems (>15 cm DBH), preferentially from these mangroves forests and creates an avenue for nipa palm colonization. This research identifies opportunities to manage the utilization of mangrove resources and reduce any negative impact. Our data can be used with remote sensing to estimate biomass in the Niger Delta and the inclusion of soil, leaf properties and demographic rates can analyze mangrove-nipa competition in the region.

OIL SPILLS IN NIGERIA: ARE THERE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS?

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 (1) ◽  
pp. 300289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eloamaka Carol Okonkwo
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Niger Delta ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Economic Impacts ◽  
Social Impacts ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Comparative Approach ◽  
Tourism And Hospitality ◽  
Economic And Social Impacts

Oil exploration and production results in various problems ranging from oil spills, gas flaring, habitat destruction, air and water pollution as well as land degradation. In this work oil spill will be singled out as main topic of discussion as it is one of the area in the oil industry that is been affecting the industry seriously in recent years. Oil spill can cause colossal damage which includes destruction of economic and social activities. The problems culminates into several impacts which include health, environmental, economic and social impacts. Over the years, so much attention is been given to the environmental and health impact of these spills. This work is going to go beyond this environmental and health impacts to the economic and social impacts. Economic impacts of oil spills generally include cost of clean-up and compensation, damage to agricultural lands, fishery and wildlife. Social impact on the other hand includes community conflicts, violence and frustration which leads to militancy, reduction in tourism and hospitality industries. The social and economic impacts actually go together in the sense that social impacts most times affects the economy. For instance, social impacts on tourism and hospitality industries causes reduction in jobs, poverty and revenue. In Nigeria, the impacts of oil spill appear more devastating owing to the fact that it is a developing country and that there is always political crisis in the country. Spills have caused deaths, destruction of farmlands, destruction of fishing industry, destruction of tourism facilities and cultural areas. In the Niger Delta Region, one can say that the impacts take different dimensions are many as spill and subsequent pollution is believed to be one of the main causes of militancy in the Niger Delta. This work looks at the socio-economic impacts of spills holistically and socio-economic impact specifically on the Niger Deltans and proffer solutions. A comparative approach will be used to analyse how socio-economic impacts of oil spills is being dealt with in some selected jurisdictions and the lessons Nigeria can learn from it putting into consideration the socio-economic and political situations. In doing that, formidable options available to Niger Deltans who are victims of oil spills will be explored. This will include options that will make the spillers accountable and responsible.

scholarly journals SPATIAL DATABASE DEVELOPMENT FOR OIL SPILLS POLLUTION AFFECTING WATER QUALITY SYSTEM IN NIGER DELTA

2019 ◽  
Vol XLII-4/W16 ◽  
pp. 645-657
Author(s):  
H. A. Umar ◽  
M. F. Abdul Khanan ◽  
A. Ahmad ◽  
M. J. Sani ◽  
M. Z. Abd Rahman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Data Base ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Niger Delta ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Oil Pollution ◽  
Kernel Density ◽  
Data Base Design ◽  
Entity Relationship ◽  
Er Diagram

Abstract. The effects of oil spills in the Niger Delta has caused unending menace to the quality of drinking water in most wells and boreholes of the area as most of the wells are shallow and are susceptible to contamination due to the nature of its Geology. The aim of this paper is to develop a database on how oil spills affects water quality which is one of the most crucial resources in the Niger Delta. The study uses existing oil spills data to show the areas and extent of oil pollution in the Niger Delta. Geospatial analysis was used to design an oil spill data base comprising the logical, physical, and conceptual data base design. Visio was used for the design of the entity relationship (ER) diagram of the study. The Kernel density and Getis-Ord G* statistic were used in GIS to map the oil spill areas in the region. Results of spatial spill distribution from the Kernel density and Getis-Ord G* statistic revealed that three states of the Niger Delta namely, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Delta states are the hottest spots for oil spill occurrences and distribution. The ER chart showed the relationships between the pollution sources, their pathways, and the receptors. The ER diagram developed could be of significance to environmentalists and other stakeholders in understanding the processes through which contaminants get to the various compartments of the earth system.

THE EFFECTS OF OIL SPILLS ON MANGROVE FORESTS: A COMPARISON OF FIVE OIL SPILL SITES IN THE GULF OF MEXICO AND THE CARIBBEAN SEA

1981 ◽  
Vol 1981 (1) ◽  
pp. 535-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles D. Getter ◽  
Geoffrey I. Scott ◽  
Jacqueline Michel
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Mangrove Forest ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Florida Keys ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Sensitivity Index ◽  
Mangrove Forests ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Mangrove Communities

ABSTRACT Recent field studies at five oil spill sites where mangroves were affected provide a broad base of information on the response of mangrove communities to oiling. Three study sites in Florida (two in the Florida Keys, one in Tampa Bay) and two in eastern Puerto Rico were visted in 1978, 1979, and 1980. At each site, impacts on mangroves were assessed by the compartmental method, which uses statistical comparisons of ecological parameters between impacted and comparison stations and produces an array of biological and geomorphic data sets that allows spill sites to be compared. Despite many differences in the size of the spills and the spill sites, the responses of the oiled-mangrove communities were similar in terms of tree mortality; leaf defoliation, deformation, and stunting; seedling deformation and mortality; lenticel expansion; adventitious growth of pneumatophores; and changes in the density and distribution of plants and animals. Each spill site differed mainly in the magnitude of the stress response. Observations of the spills showed that differences in the physical environment, such as the degree of exposure to waves and currents and geomorphic features like the terrain, greatly influence the distribution and persistence of oil within different mangrove forest types. From these studies, mangrove forest types can be ranked by their predicted sensitivity to oil. This differentiation in ranking increases the value of the Environmental Sensitivity Index, especially where it is desirable to assign priorities in a campaign to protect oil-sensitive habitats from oil spills along mangrove-dominated coastlines.

OIL SPILL PROBLEMS AND MANAGEMENT IN THE NIGER DELTA

2005 ◽  
Vol 2005 (1) ◽  
pp. 567-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.C. Nwilo ◽  
O.T. Badejo
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Niger Delta ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Oil Pollution ◽  
Political Process ◽  
Sensitivity Index ◽  
Oil Companies ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Oil Tankers

ABSTRACT The coastal area of the Niger Delta is the home to oil explorations and exploitations in Nigeria. Oil spill incidents are common along the Nigeria. The main sources of oil spill on the Niger Delta are: vandalisation of the oil pipelines by the local inhabitants; ageing of the pipelines; oil blow outs from the flow stations; cleaning of oil tankers on the high sea and disposal of used oil into the drains by the road side mechanics. By far the most serious source of oil spill is through the vandalisation of pipelines either as a result of civil disaffection with the political process or as a criminal activity. To reduce the rate of oil incidents along the Nigerian Coast particularly as a result of vandalisation, the Federal Government through an act of the National Assembly created the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Part of the responsibilities of the commission is to develop a master plan for the development of the Niger Delta, provide infrastructure and create an enabling environment for industrialisation and employment. There are also several other laws dealing with issues related to oil pollution in the environment. Also, standards for the development of the environmental sensitivity index maps for the coast of Nigeria have been developed by the Environmental Systems Research institute (ESRI). These standards are to be used by all the oil companies to prepare ESI maps for their areas of operations in Nigeria. Furthermore, apart from the mechanical and chemical oil spill cleaning methods that have been used in managing oil spill problems, oil spill models have on several occasions being used to manage oil spills on the Nigerian Coast. A number of Federal and state agencies deal with the problems of oil spill in Nigeria. The agencies include: the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the Federal Ministry of Environment, the State Ministries of Environment and the National Maritime Authority. There is also the “Clean Nigeria Associates” which is an umbrella through which the Oil companies tackle major oil spills. There is a need to create serious awareness among the populace on the implications of oil spill incidents on the environment. Governments must assist the rural communities in claiming their rights on oil spills and ensure that digital ESI maps are readily available for managing oil spill maps. Government should have strict rules for local oil tankers that would ply our coastal and inland waters as a result of the new cabotage law that is just being passed into law in the country.

scholarly journals Geospatialization of Spilling Facility From Spdc 2015 Oil Spill Reports of The Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 160-165
Author(s):  
Moses Dolapo Apata ◽  
Diepiriye Chenaboso Okujagu ◽  
Francis Thomas Beka
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Niger Delta ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Production Facility ◽  
Delta Region ◽  
Convenient Tool ◽  
Niger Delta Region ◽  
Digital Format ◽  
Production Facilities

A hundred and thirty two (132) Oil spill Incidents that occurred in year 2015 based on the existing SPDC Oil Spill JIV Reports were studied using GIS. The JIV reports were downloaded and the requisite information was acquired and incorporated into ArcMap10.2 and they were analysed to produce different maps. Result shows that about 18,233.04bbl of Oil was spilled and an area of 1,718,091.88m2 was impacted in year 2015.Pipelines account for 65.15% (86) of the spills, followed by flowlines 14.39% (19), Wellheads 13.63% (18) while others account for the rest. Pipelines are the most sabotaged Production Facility with 73.63 %( 81) of the Sabotage that occurred followed by wellhead13.63 % (15) and, flowline 10 % (11) while other Production Facilities account for the rest. This Study also shows that JIV Reports to an extent are a good and convenient tool for characterising Oil spills and the JIV culture should be encouraged. This study should be carried out on all JIV so that they are put in a Digital Format where they can be easily queried to produce the necessary information as needed.

DIGITAL MODEL OF THE OIL SPILL PROCESS OM THE EARTH’S SURFACE

2021 ◽  
Vol 115 ◽  
pp. 92-98
Author(s):  
Georgy Alekseevich Dorrer ◽  
◽  
Sergey Victorovich Yarovoy ◽  
Anton Yurievich Komarov ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Contamination ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Water Body ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Digital Model ◽  
Moving Grids ◽  
Adjacent Water ◽  
Significant Damage ◽  
Northern Regions

The possibility of creating a digital model of the process of oil spills with their penetration into the ground and the adjacent water body, which causes significant damage to the environment and the economy, especially in the northern regions, is being considered. An approach to solving this problem is proposed, based on the representation of the soil contamination area in the form of a set of flat layers, each of which is calculated by the method of moving grids.

scholarly journals SWAT-CUP for Calibration of Spatially Distributed Hydrological Processes and Ecosystem Services in a Vietnamese River Basin Using Remote Sensing

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lan T. Ha ◽  
Wim G. M. Bastiaanssen ◽  
Ann van Griensven ◽  
Albert I. J. M. van Dijk ◽  
Gabriel B. Senay
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Remotely Sensed ◽  
Red River ◽  
Hydrological Processes ◽  
Hydrological Models ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Calibration Process ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Spatially Distributed

Abstract. Distributed hydrological models are usually calibrated against the measured outflow of a certain drainage area, provided flow data is available. A close match with flow does however not mean that the spatially distributed hydrological processes are properly understood and simulated. In this paper, remotely sensed precipitation, evapotranspiration (ET) and leaf area index (LAI) from open access data sources were used to calibrate the SWAT model for the Day Basin, a tributary of the Red River in Vietnam. The efficacy of the SWAT-CUP parameter sensitivity and optimization model developed by Abbaspour (2015) was tested with spatial remote sensing input parameters. The innovation is that the parameters of the soil-vegetation processes were optimized for every Hydrological Response Unit for which remotely sensed monthly ET and LAI values were available. Such level of detail cannot be achieved from flow measurements, which are the integrated result of many processes over large areas. A total of 15 soil-vegetation process parameters were calibrated. The SUFI2 algorithm in SWAT-CUP appeared to be an adequate practical tool for the calibration process. Simulated monthly ET correlations with remote sensing estimates showed an R2 = 0.71 and NSE = 0.65 while monthly LAI showed correlations of R2 = 0.59 and NSE = 0.57 over a five year validation period. Accumulated modelled ET over the 5-year calibration period amounted to 5713 mm compared to 6015 mm of remotely sensed ET: a non-significant difference of 302 mm (5.3 %). Because river flow was not optimized during the calibration process, it could be used as an independent validation of the calibrated model simulations. The monthly flow at two flow measurement stations were adequately estimated (R2 = 0.78 and 0.55, NSE = 0.71 and 0.63 for Phu Ly and Ninh Binh, respectively). The estimated total water withdrawal from the Red River was 1.934 billion m3/yr with a peak flow of approximately 200 m3/s during the months of February and July. The availability of a reliable set of parameters will make SWAT a useful tool for optimizing water conservation, agricultural outputs, and ecosystem services such as reduced soil erosion, better water quality standards, carbon sequestration, micro-climate cooling amongst others. Such calibrated distributed eco-hydrological models can be used for appraising scenarios of green growth.

scholarly journals Causes of Discrepancies in Value Estimates on Compensation for Oil Spill Damages in the Niger Delta

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 42-55
Author(s):  
Michael Ayodele Olukolajo ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Niger Delta ◽  
Total Population ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Weighted Mean ◽  
Professional Misconduct ◽  
Code Of Practice ◽  
Codes Of Practice ◽  
Monetary Compensation ◽  
Legal Frameworks

This study examines causes of discrepancies in valuers’ opinion when determining monetary compensation payable to claimants for oil spill related damages in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. The study elicited data on factors responsible for differences in opinion of compensation values from valuers in practicing firms in Niger Delta using survey questionnaire. Eighty-three (83) Estate Surveying and Valuation (ESV) firms participated in the survey. The sample was selected from the total population of 190 ESV firms in the region based on the evidence of their experience with oil spill compensation valuation. Weighted mean score and factor analysis were employed in the data analysis. Results indicated that the factors causing discrepancies are: weak standards/codes of practice, inadequate legal frameworks, gaps in valuers’ knowledge, and professional misconduct. It was recommended that a specific code of practice for compensation for oil spill damage be developed by the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON) in collaboration with the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) to guide valuers when undertaking valuation for compensation for damages arising from oil spills.

ECOLOGICAL AND GEOMORPHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE VULNERABILITY OF THE COASTS OF THE KARA SEA TO THE OIL SPILL

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Ermolov ◽  
Alexander Ermolov
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
International System ◽  
Kara Sea ◽  
Coastal Protection ◽  
Sensitivity Index ◽  
Oil Spill Response ◽  
Expert Assessments ◽  
International Systems

International experience of oil spill response in the sea defines the priority of coastal protection and the need to identify as most valuable in ecological terms and the most vulnerable areas. Methodological approaches to the assessing the vulnerability of Arctic coasts to oil spills based on international systems of Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) and geomorphological zoning are considered in the article. The comprehensive environmental and geomorphological approach allowed us to form the morphodynamic basis for the classification of seacoasts and try to adapt the international system of indexes to the shores of the Kara Sea taking into account the specific natural conditions. This work has improved the expert assessments of the vulnerability and resilience of the seacoasts.

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