Assessment of Extremely Cold Subarctic Climate Environment Destruction of the Basalt Fiber Reinforced Epoxy (BFRE) Rebar Using Its Moisture Uptake Kinetics

A quite simple method is proposed for the assessment of extremely cold subarctic climate environment destruction of the basalt fiber reinforced epoxy (BFRE) rebar. The method involves the comparison of experimentally obtained long-term moisture uptake kinetic curves of unexposed and exposed BFRP rebars. A moisture uptake test was carried out at the temperature of 60 °C and relative humidity of 98 ± 2% for 306 days. The plasticization can be neglected because of low-level moisture saturation (<0.41% wt.); the swelling and structural relaxation of the polymer network can be neglected due to the high fiber content of BFRP rebar; moisture diffusion into the basalt fibers can be neglected since it is a much lesser amount than in the epoxy binder. These assumptions made it possible to build a three-stage diffusion model. It is observed that an increase in the density of defects with an increase in the diameter of the BFRP rebar is the result of the technology of manufacturing a periodic profile. The diffusion coefficient of the BFRP rebar with a 6, 10, or 18 mm diameter increased at an average of 82.7%, 56.7%, and 30%, respectively, after exposure to the climate of Yakutsk during 28 months, whereas it was known that the strength indicators had been increased.

Talvivaara Sotkamo Mine – Bioleaching of a polymetallic nickel ore in subarctic climate

The main activity of the Talvivaara Mining Company Plc. is the development and exploitation ofthe Talvivaara deposits in Sotkamo, Finland using bioheapleaching. The Talvivaara deposits comprise one of the largest known sulphide nickel resources in Europe with 1004 million tonnes of ore, sufficient to support anticipated production for a minimum of 45 years. The mine started in late 2008 and will have an annual nickel output of approximately 50,000 tons when it reaches full production. In addition, the mine will also produce zinc (approximately 90,000 tpa), copper (approximately 15,000 tpa) and cobalt (approximately 1,800 tpa) as by-products of the process. The viability of bioheapleaching technology for the extraction of nickel has been demonstrated in a large on-site pilot trial using Talvivaara ore. The three year pilot has shown that the leaching process also works well in the subarctic climatic conditions of Eastern Finland.

Long-term dynamics of thermal comfort in the territories of the Krasnoyarsk region climate belts

Health risk assessment in the general population in different climate zones of the Krasnoyarsk Territory by the equivalent effective temperature (EET). The average monthly EET according to Missenard was calculated, their dynamics and health risk were assessed within two periods of determining climate norms for the last 10 years of each period (1961–1990 and 1991–2020). Within the period of 1991–2020 compared with the previous period in the subarctic climate in the summer months, EET had positive values (in opposition of 2 months in 1961–1990), increased in April by 7.87 °С (p = 0.0004), in June by 5.56 °С (p = 0.019) and October by 3.2 °С (p = 0.038); in continental climate zone — in April at 5.23 °С (p = 0.0001), in June at 3.88 °С (p = 0.0009) and in August at 1.32 °С (p = 0.023). Living conditions of the population have become more favorable, the nature of the health risk has changed. In the subarctic climate, the changes in uncomfortable conditions occurred according to the criteria of «frostbite threat» — «cold» (5 months against 6 months in the first period), «cool» — «moderately cool» (2 months against 3 months), «comfort, moderately warm. «In the continental climate zone, the changes were noted according to the criteria of «moderately warm» — «very cool» (7 months against 5 months). In both climate zones, positive changes have caused a decrease in health risk according to two criteria («the threat of frostbite»; «very cold»); there was a shift from the risk assessed as «cold»towards «comfort, moderately warm».

The 2018 heatwave and its implications on ozone induced damage on vegetation in a subarctic climate

&lt;p&gt;An increased occurrence of persistent heatwaves, as one possible future scenario, generates favorable conditions for the formation of ambient air ozone. Vegetation highly specialized to sub-arctic climate is vulnerable to rapid environmental changes inflicted by global warming and might become more susceptible to ozone in the future. Over large parts of Europe the summer 2018 had been extraordinarily hot and dry and caused large wildfires in northern Sweden in particular. This can be regarded as a test case for such a future scenario. In both 2018 and 2019, we have monitored ambient air ozone concentrations at the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO) Environment Centre Svanhovd in Northern Norway. Due to&lt;br&gt;data acquisition problems, ozone concentrations for two weeks in July 2018 were missing from our record. We present a reconstruction based on probability density function with respect to the Swedish and Finnish atmospheric monitoring sites in the region. Over all, ozone concentrations did not differ significantly between the two years. While temperatures and global irradiance diverged significantly from multi annual mean, precipitation varied only to some extend. Coincidentally, we have observed ozone-induced visible injuries on clovers in the ozone garden at Svanhovd in 2018, but not in 2019. We investigate the difference in uptake of ozone using the DO3SE model, with respect to the typical vegetation (e.g., birch and conifers) at&lt;br&gt;the location. We assess whether critical levels on POD1 for these species were breached. We find that an unadjusted transfer of currently used standard parameters and methodes on ozone damage assessment (IPC Mapping Manual) to vegetation in the subarctics will result in an missinterpretation of POD1 values.&lt;/p&gt;

Assessment of health risk by wind chill factor in the Krasnoyarsk Krai

Wind affects functional state and health of human beings. Physical activity mitigates the risk of hypothermia, but not the discomfort felt in cold winds. Moreover, there appears a risk of body cooling and frostbite. This study aimed to assess the risk to health of a human being associated with the wind chill factor index in the various climatic zones of a Russian region. The calculation relied on the mean monthly daily temperature and wind speed values, minimum temperature and maximum wind values registered in the subarctic and continental climate zones during the two climatological normals determination observation periods, 19611990 (second period) and 1991–2020 (third period). In the third period, a significant decrease in wind strength was registered in the subarctic (8 months) and temperate continental (9 months) climates. The mean monthly temperatures increased in April by 3.5 °C (p = 0.006), April–June by 4.05 °C (p = 0.001) and 3.9 °C (p = 0.001). The maximum wind in the subarctic climate did not change, in the temperate continental zone it decreased within 9 months; the minimum temperature increased in 4 and 1 months. In the subarctic zone, the mean temperature and wind values made the ambient conditions uncomfortable for 6 months (versus 7), with one characterized as "extremely cold"; the cold exposure risk decreased during the "very cold" period; in the temperate climate zone, the potentially uncomfortable conditions period lasted for 4 months (versus 6). With wind at the maximum and temperature at the minimum, in the subarctic climate, the weather remained severe for 8 months a year in each of the determination periods ("uncomfortable, chilly" — 2 months, "cold, skin surface hypothermia" — 1 month, "extremely cold, possible hypothermia of the exposed parts of the body in 10 minutes" — 5 months); in the temperate continental climate zone, it was severe for 5 months of each year ("uncomfortable, chilly" — 2 months, "cold, skin surface hypothermia" — 3 month).