Biogeochemical assessment of changes in water composition after a large landslide in winter

Впервые в декабре 2018 г. при температуре –32 оС произошел оползень с крутого берега Бурейского водохранилища (Дальний Восток России), на водосборе которого встречаются островная, прерывистая и сплошная многолетняя мерзлота. Оползень общим объемом 24.5 млн. м3 полностью перекрыл бывшее русло реки Бурея, создав угрозу работе Бурейской ГЭС и затопления населенных пунктов. Для решения проблемы восстановления проточности были проведены крупномасштабные взрывные работы с использованием тротила, а также кумулятивных зарядов с гексогеном. Взрывные работы повлияли на спектр органических веществ и миграционную способность многих элементов в воде вокруг оползня. Методом газовой хроматографии в воде обнаружены метанол и метилированные производные бензола, их концентрация увеличивалась после дренажа воды сквозь тело оползня. Среди летучих органических веществ значительную долю составляли продукты трансформации высокомолекулярных природных соединений, которые принимают участие в процессах метаногенеза и метанотрофии (метанол, ацетаты, ксилолы) и толуол, основной продукт деструкции тротила. Исследования элементного состава воды в зоне влияния оползня до и после проведения взрывных работ были проведены методом масс-спектрометрии с индуктивно связанной плазмой на ICP-MS ELAN-9000 (Perkin Elmer). Ниже тела оползня отмечено увеличение содержания Al, Fe, W, Cr и Pb. Наиболее существенные изменения качества воды произошли после проведения взрывных работ. В воде искусственного канала отмечено резкое снижение содержания элементов (Fe, Cu, Zn и Pb) и увеличение концентрации ртути. For the first time in December 2018, at a temperature of 32°C below zero, on the steep bank of the Bureiskoe Reservoir (Far East, Russia) a landslide occurred. Insular, discontinuous, and continuous permafrost on the catchment basin of the reservoir is recorded. A landslide with a total volume of 24.5 million m3 completely blocked the former channel of the Bureya River. It created a threat to the operation of the Bureya Hydro-electric Power Station and flooding of settlements. Blasting operations with use of trinitrotoluene and shaped charges with hexogen were carried out for restoring the flow. Methanol and methylated benzene derivatives were detected in water by gas chromatography; its concentration increased after the water was drained through the landslide body. In the water of the artificial channel, decrease in the lithogenic elements (Fe, Cu, Zn, and Pb) content and an increase in the mercury concentration were recorded. Among the volatile organic substances, a significant portion belonged to the products of transformation of high molecular natural compounds that take part in the processes of methanogenesis and methanotrophy (methanol, acetates, and xylenes) and toluene, the main intermediate of trinitrotoluene. The studies of the elemental composition of water in the zone of influence of the landslide before and after the blasting operations were carried out by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry on an ICP-MS ELAN-9000 (Perkin Elmer). Below the landslide body, an increase in the content of Al, Fe, W, Cr and Pb is noted. The most significant changes in water quality occurred after the blasting operations. In the water of the artificial channel, a sharp decrease in the content of elements (Fe, Cu, Zn and Pb) and an increase in the concentration of mercury have been recorded.

Determination of Stomatic Density, Index, and Area as Exposition Biomarkers of Pollution in Deschampsia Antárctica Desv. (Poaceae)

Deschampsia antarctica Desv. (Poaceae) is the only native grass described so far for Antarctica, with a distribution mainly centered on the Antarctic Peninsula. The plants were collected at Argentinian Scientific Station Carlini, 25 de Mayo (King George) Island, to determine and evaluate in their leaves: the stomatic index (SI), density (SD), and area (SA) as pollution biomarkers. Samples were taken within the Station's influence area: (A) Supply Area (loading and unloading of fuel and supplies), (B) the area adjacent to the Electric Power Station, and (C) area of Fuel Tanks. Besides, other samples were taken from a pristine area called Peñon 7 (D). The results of SD showed significant differences only on the leaf abaxial face from the plants of the 4 studied sites: Peñón 7 (57.36 ± 2.03), Supply Area (61.30 ± 2.32), Electric Power Station adjacent area (69.56 ± 2.23) and Fuel Tanks area (80.11 ± 2.42). The SI as well as the SA did not have significant differences (p > 0.05) for all the analyzed sites. However, correlation analyses between SD and SI showed a positive and significant association only for the leaf adaxial face from all sites. From the obtained results, we could suggest that the correlation (SD-SI) on the adaxial side of the leaves was a good biomarker to estimate the degree of anthropogenic impact in each studied area.

Research on the issue of using the heat of combustion products for heat supply of greenhouses

Cultivation of agricultural crops in winter season is carried out in special greenhouses. For heating greenhouses, a huge amount of heat energy is consumed. In the conditions of Turkmenistan, up to 1500 tons of standard fuel per year is consumed to heat the greenhouse with an area 1 hectare. The increase in heating costs leads to an increase in the prices of grown products. Therefore, saving fuel energy in the greenhouses is one of the most important economic factors. Possibilities of using the heat of the combustion products of steam boilers at the Mary State Electric Power Station (Turkmenistan) for heating greenhouses are discussed in the article. For this purpose, a special contact heat exchanger is installed on the line of the outgoing combustion products of steam boilers. In the experimental facilities, water is injected from top to bottom, and combustion products move in the opposite direction. In this case, the temperature of the combustion products decreases from 120-150 °C to 30-40 °C. The temperature of the cooling water of the combustion products rises from 10-20 °C to 40-45 °C. To increase the contact surface of water and gas in a contact heat exchanger, spray-type layer conductor is used. A distinctive feature of the experimental facility is the use of local materials as a spray-type layer with a conductor. For subsoil heating of greenhouses, water is supplied with the temperature of 40 °C, and for the raise of the vegetables grown in them water is supplied with the temperature of 22-25 °C. The use of the heat of combustion products to heat greenhouses is of great importance both for saving fuel and for purifying the environment from harmful emissions.

Natural Disasters Versus Anthropogenic Activities in Nepal Himalayas: Case Study from Ghatte Khola , Myagdi

In the Himalayas, geo-hazards are natural events occurring more or less frequently and of a greater or lesser magnitude. But when natural hazards affect people and property, then it becomes disasters. It’s believed that natural disasters as such do not exist. Everything is just natural hazard and anything can turn into disasters due to anthropogenic activities. Thus, natural phenomenons are hazards while disasters are anthropogenic. In this regard, a case study was being conducted in the Ghatte Khola (Dana) of Myagdi District in Western Central Nepal, where in a context of growing population and haphazard construction of infrastructures, natural dynamics have turned into disasters. The Ghatte Khola is an intermittent, right bank tributary of the Kali Gandaki, which behaves occasionally as a debris flow, in relation with slope instabilities that affect its upstream catchment. The debris flows are usually triggered during heavy cloudbursts, and can cause damages and losses downstream, along the wide alluvial fan built at the tributary junction and upon which Dana village (Myagdi District) is settled. Inhabitants are aware of this ephemeral, yet threatening behaviour of the stream that may also affect the Kali Gandaki valley upstream from the confluence (Lat. 28°32'22" N and Long. 83°39'03" E). The Ghatte Khola is often affected by debris flows bringing sediment fluxes that are eroding its banks every year. A motor bridge was being built over Ghatte Khola near the confluence with Kali Gandaki and further, a large electric power station is being built on the right bank of Ghatte Khola. Sadly, the bridge was washed away by the flash flood in Ghattekhola on 25th May 2019. This study was focused on vulnerability of these man made infrastructures and their future on Ghatte Khola debris flow dynamics, with hazard that might occasionally transform into disaster.

COMBINE COMMUNICATIONS OPTICAL NETWORK OF SCADA OF ELECTRIC POWER STATION AND SUBSTATION

The article discusses an economical way to deploy diagnostic monitoring systems for high-voltage electrical units through a combination of passive fiber-optic systems for collecting and transmitting technological information of SCADA with diagnostic information transmission systems of systems for continuous technical diagnostics in them. The usage of existing communication network of SCADA will increase economy and expand the scope of continuous diagnostic systems.