Spatial variability of depth and salinity of groundwater under irrigated ustifluvents in the Middle Black Sea Region of Turkey

Information on the potential risk for soil salinity buildup can be very helpful for soil salinity management in irrigated areas. We evaluated the spatial and temporal variability of groundwater salinity (GWS) and groundwater depth (GWD), which are two of the most important indicators of soil salinity, by indicator kriging technique in a large irrigated area in northern Turkey. GWS and GWD were measured on a monthly basis from irrigation season (August 2003) to rainy season (April 2004) at 60 observation wells in the 8,187-ha irrigated area. Five indicator thresholds were used for GWS and GWD. The semivariogram for each of the thresholds for both variables was analyzed then used together with experimental data to interpolate and map the corresponding conditional cumulative distribution functions (CCDF). Risk for soil salinity buildup was greater in the irrigation season compared to that in the rainy season. The greatest risk for soil salinity buildup occurred in the eastern part of the study area, suffering from poor drainage problem due to malfunctioning drainage infrastructure, as indicated by the CCDF of GWS and GWD obtained in both seasons. It was concluded that a combination of mechanical and cultural measures should be taken in high-risk locations to avoid further salinity problems.     

Quantitative SWOT analysis for prioritizing ecotourism-planning decisions in protected areas: Igneada case

As environmental problems and pressures on natural resources escalate, awareness building and efforts to protect natural areas have also became a major goal to ensure sustainability. Ecotourism is one of the major activities to protect natural and cultural resources, while also providing economic benefits to both local people and government. Successful ecotourism planning is a function of establishing sound goals and criteria. In this paper, we have presented the example of Igneada, Turkey, as a case to elaborate this point. Igneada a coastal town, located on the north-west Black Sea region of Turkey, was declared a national park in 2007. The park is well known for its longos forests (flooded), lagoons, endemic and endangered species, and wildlife. However, currently, unsustainable economic activities, overgrazing, and urbanization cause threats to its sensitive ecosystems. Promoting ecotourism is a sustainable approach to balance economic, social, and environmental aspects in the development of Igneada.

The aim of this study is to define a set of ecotourism criteria and propose an ecotourism vision for Igneada. The methodology in this research involves field observations and a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis with an Analytical Hierarchy Process. A survey study is conducted with both local people and experts to define a framework to generate a priority ranking for ecotourism-planning decision. The research generated 5 main criteria and 14 subcriteria, among which ‘Proposal of Igneada in Turkey’s 2023 Tourism Strategy Plan’ was the highest ranked opportunity for ecotourism planning and development in the town.     

Landscape Metrics for Assessment of Landscape Destruction and Rehabilitation

This investigation tested the usefulness of geometry-based landscape metrics for monitoring landscapes in a heavily disturbed environment. Research was carried out in a 75 sq km study area in Saxony, eastern Germany, where the landscape has been affected by surface mining and agricultural intensification. Landscape metrics were calculated from digital maps (1912, 1944, 1973, 1989) for the entire study area and for subregions (river valleys, plains), which were defined using the original geology and topography of the region. Correlation and factor analyses were used to select a set of landscape metrics suitable for landscape monitoring. Little land-use change occurred in the first half of the century, but political decisions and technological developments led to considerable change later. Metrics showed a similar pattern with almost no change between 1912 and 1944, but dramatic changes after 1944. Nonparametric statistical methods were used to test whether metrics differed between river valleys and plains. Significant differences in the metrics for these regions were found in the early maps (1912, 1944), but these differences were not significant in 1973 or 1989. These findings indicate that anthropogenic influences created a more homogeneous landscape.     

An assessment of metal contamination in the shelf sediments at the southern exit of Bosphorus Strait,Turkey

Concentrations and areal distribution of Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn were determined in the surficial sea bottom sediments along the coastal areas of Istanbul at the southern exit of the Bosphorus Strait, ?stanbul, Turkey. The pollution status of shelf sediments was evaluated by employing pollution indicators (enrichment factors, geo-accumulation, and ecological risk indexes) and sediment quality guidelines (threshold effect level/probable effect level, effect range median (ERM)/effect range low). The results demonstrated that Cd, Cr, Zn, Cu, and Pb were enriched minor to moderate. The net sediment transport patterns show terrestrial inputs in front of the short streams. Another polluted region is at the western margin of the southern Bosphorus exit, where sediment transport is mainly controlled by the secondary currents driven by the Bosphorus jet, and depending on a sand ridge extending offshore. Based on the sediment quality guidelines, Cu, Pb, As, and Cr were likely the most dangerous chemicals to pose environmental risk, and may show toxic biological results. The areal distribution of ecotoxicological index (m-ERM-Q) suggested that 20% of the sediment sample sites fall in the medium–high priority zone and scattered at some specific areas along the coast.     

Effective Removing of Remazol Black B by the Polyacrylamide Cryogels Modified with Polyethyleneimine

In this study, modified polyacrylamide (PAAm) cryogels with high dye holding capacity were synthesized with an easily and cheaply process and adsorption of Remazol Black B (RBB) with the synthesized materials was investigated. Firstly, PAAm cryogels were synthesized with free radical cryo-copolymerization method and they were modified with Hofmann reaction to form amine groups in the structure of the cyrogels. Then, to increase the removal efficiency of cryogels, polyethylenimine (PEI) molecules were crosslinked onto the cryogels via NH₂ groups present in the PAAm gels modified by the Hofmann reaction. The original and modified cryogels were characterized with fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The point of zero charge (pH_pzc) of the modified cryogels was found to be 7.13 and RBB removing capabilities of PEI-modified PAAm cryogels were investigated at pH between 2 and 7. In addition, the adsorption treatments were performed at different process time, incubation temperature, initial dye concentration and adsorbent amount to find maximum removal capacity of the adsorbent. The modified cryogels adsorbed maximum amount of RBB at pH 2 and the sorption process reached equilibrium in 6 h. It was observed that the adsorption efficiency did not change much with the increase in temperature. The maximum RBB removal capacity of the modified cyrogels was determined to be 201 mg/g when the initial RBB concentration was 200 mg/L, treatment time was 6 h at pH 2. Moreover, the adsorption of RBB dye with the modified cryogels takes place with a second order kinetic and RBB dye adsorption data showed compliance with the Langmuir isotherm. The findings of the study expose that the obtained PEI-modified PAAm cryogels are a hopeful material for RBB removal in aqueous environment.

     

淹水和干湿交替对修复后土壤铬的稳定性影响研究

采用固化/稳定化技术修复后的场地和土壤因其污染物未彻底清除而备受关注，外界环境胁迫下重金属存在再活化的风险，但再活化的速率和形式尚不明确. 我国华南地区高温多雨，水热交换频繁剧烈，固化/稳定化后修复场地的安全利用面临更大的潜在风险. 以珠三角地区2个典型固化/稳定化修复后场地土壤为研究对象，开展淹水和干湿交替对土壤重金属铬(Cr)的释放、形态转化及其影响机制研究. 结果表明:①淹水和干湿交替可提高已固化/稳定化土壤中Cr的浸出浓度. 场地A和B土壤Cr的浸出浓度较淹水前分别上升了1.32和8.72倍，干湿交替后场地A土壤Cr的浸出浓度略有下降，场地B土壤Cr的浸出浓度则增加了4.32倍. ②淹水和干湿交替促使已固化/稳定化的Cr从酸可提取态向相对稳定的可氧化态等转化. 场地A和B土壤中酸可提取态Cr含量较淹水前的变化率分别为?60.17%和?14.34%，可氧化态Cr含量的变化率分别为2.71%和13.30%；干湿交替后土壤可提取态Cr含量的变化率分别为?28.78%和?2.13%，可氧化态Cr含量的变化率分别为5.48%和10.22%. ③淹水通过降低土壤氧化还原点位(E_h)、pH和无定形氧化铁等影响Cr的稳定性，促使Mn4+、Fe3+的还原和Cr的重新释放；干湿交替较淹水处理对固化/稳定化体系的影响相对较小. 研究显示，水分胁迫可提高固化/稳定化修复后土壤Cr的浸出浓度、改变赋存形态，但其浸出浓度远低于GB 5085.3—2007《危险废物鉴别标准 浸出毒性鉴别》和HJ/T 301—2007《铬渣污染治理环境保护技术规范(暂行)》规定的浸出液浓度限值；鉴于外界环境胁迫的长期性和复杂性，以及当前“一评定终身”的效果评估管理模式对未彻底清除污染物场地后期监管的无力性，持续关注和系统管控是实现固化/稳定化修复后场地可持续安全利用的必要途径.