Monitoring the changing position of coastlines using aerial and satellite image data: an example from the eastern coast of Trabzon, Turkey

Coastline mapping and coastline change detection are critical issues for safe navigation, coastal resource management, coastal environmental protection, and sustainable coastal development and planning. Changes in the shape of coastline may fundamentally affect the environment of the coastal zone. This may be caused by natural processes and/or human activities. Over the past 30 years, the coastal sites in Turkey have been under an intensive restraint associated with a population press due to the internal and external touristic demand. In addition, urbanization on the filled up areas, settlements, and the highways constructed to overcome the traffic problems and the other applications in the coastal region clearly confirm an intensive restraint. Aerial photos with medium spatial resolution and high resolution satellite imagery are ideal data sources for mapping coastal land use and monitoring their changes for a large area. This study introduces an efficient method to monitor coastline and coastal land use changes using time series aerial photos (1973 and 2002) and satellite imagery (2005) covering the same geographical area. Results show the effectiveness of the use of digital photogrammetry and remote sensing data on monitoring large area of coastal land use status. This study also showed that over 161 ha areas were filled up in the research area and along the coastal land 12.2 ha of coastal erosion is determined for the period of 1973 to 2005. Consequently, monitoring of coastal land use is thus necessary for coastal area planning in order to protecting the coastal areas from climate changes and other coastal processes.     

Currently used organophosphate and brominated flame retardants in the environment of China and other developing countries (2000–2016)

This review summarizes the environmental occurrence of new brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) and organophosphate compounds (OPs) in the environment of developing countries since 2000. The ban on the production and use of commercial formulations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have paved the way for the high use of NBFRs and OPs in consumer products to fulfill the fire safety regulations. Recent studies have shown that the ever increasing production volumes and extensive use of these chemicals as additive FRs and plasticizers have resulted into their ubiquitous occurrence in all environmental compartments. Although presumed to be safe for use and the environment, recent studies on their occurrence and persistence in the environment have raised questions. Due to the lack of awareness, research interest, and availability of technical facilities, limited scientific data is available on the occurrence of these chemicals in developing countries. In this study, we collected reported data and provide an overview of environmental occurrence of NBFRs and OPs in abiotic and biotic matrices of different developing countries. Finally, research gaps were identified with recommendations for future research work and would be useful towards the environmental management of these toxic chemicals.     

Effects of organic amendments and irrigation waters on the physical and chemical properties of two calcareous soils in Bahrain

The present investigation studies the effects of cow and chicken manure and sewage sludge at different rates of addition and with two irrigation waters of different salinities on two major calcareous soils in Bahrain. The aim was to quantify potential improvements in soil quality, the accumulation of trace metals, and quality of leachates.From the pot experiments it was found that soil waterholding capacity did not change significantly after addition of organic amendments, except in the case of sewage sludge. Total organic carbon and total Kjeldhal nitrogen content increased in the 0–5 cm layer. Low salinity water and sewage applications improved aggregate stability. Extractable phosphorus was enhanced by the chicken manure treatment more than others. Addition of different organic amendments did not affect exchangeable cations. pH values did not show appreciable changes and soils were neutral. Trace metals studied were present at non-toxic levels in the 0–5 cm layer. Zinc and copper were the only metal showing a tendency to leach to the lower soil layer. In all cases metal levels in the surface layer were proportional to the quantities added in the amendments and their levels in the leachate were very low.     

Effect of zinc fertilization on cadmium toxicity in durum and bread wheat grown in zinc-deficient soil

The effect of increasing application of zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) on shoot dry weight and shoot concentrations of Zn and Cd was studied in bread and durum wheat cultivars. Plants were grown in severely Zn-deficient calcareous soil treated with increasing Zn (0 and 10 mg kg(-1) soil) and Cd (0, 10 and 25 mg kg(-1) soil) and harvested after 35 and 65 days of growth under greenhouse conditions. Growing plants without Zn fertilization caused severe depression in shoot growth, especially in durum wheat and at high Cd treatment. Cadmium treatments resulted in rapid development of necrotic patches on the base and sheath parts of the oldest leaves of both wheat cultivars, but symptoms were more severe in durum wheat and under Zn deficiency. Decreases in shoot dry weight from increasing Cd application were more severe in Zn-deficient plants. Severity of Cd toxicity symptoms in durum and bread wheat at different Zn treatments did not show any relation to the Cd concentrations in shoot. Increasing Cd application to Zn-deficient plants tended to decrease Zn concentrations in Zn-deficient plants, whereas in plants with adequate Zn, concentrations of Zn were either not affected or increased by Cd. The results show that durum wheat was more sensitive to both Zn deficiency and Cd toxicity as compared to bread wheat. Cadmium toxicity in the shoot was alleviated by Zn treatment, but this was not accompanied by a corresponding decrease in shoot concentrations of Cd. Our results are compatible with the hypothesis that Zn protects plants from Cd toxicity by improving plant defense against Cd-induced oxidative stress and by competing with Cd for binding to critical cell constituents such as enzymes and membrane protein and lipids.     

Non-migratory breeding by isolated green sea turtles (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Chelonia mydas</Emphasis>) in the Indian Ocean: biological and conservation implications

Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) are renowned for their long-distance migrations but have less fame for short-distance migrations or non-migratory behavior. We present satellite telemetric evidence from Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Indian Ocean for the first predominantly non-migratory green sea turtle (C. mydas) population. The mean migration distance from the nesting beach to the foraging grounds was 35.5 km with a maximum mean transit time of 3.4 days. The behavior of this population has major implications for our general understanding of green turtle behavior and their life cycle and for conservation. Firstly, these results indicate a level of juvenile or adult non-breeding homing behavior from the open ocean to foraging grounds adjacent to their natal nesting beach. Secondly, a non-migratory breeding phase reduces the consumption of reproductive energy utilized, potentially resulting in higher fecundity for this population. Thirdly, the close proximity of the nesting and foraging habitats allows for uniformity in management and conservation strategies rarely possible for wide-ranging green turtle populations.     

Effect of pH values on the solubility of some elements in different soil samples

The purpose of this study is to know the concentrations of some heavy-metal elements (Zn, Pb and Cd) in different types of soil and the effect of pH values on their solubility. Two types of soil were selected from area adjacent to the sewage treatment plant, as well as from an agricultural area in the city of Al-Rass, Qassim, KSA for this purpose. The results showed high concentrations of elements in the acidic medium at pH 2, while concentrations decreased as the pH increased to reach the neutral medium. The decrease in concentrations was very clear in the alkaline medium and reached the lowest values at pH10. On the other hand, the highest concentrations were detected in soil adjacent to the sewage treatment specially for Pb and Cd in comparison with agricultural soil. The previous results show the urgent need for wastewater treatment and checking for pH values at standard limits before use in irrigation or discharge it on soil surface, as well as soil analysis prior to the planting and selection of appropriate plants by specialists for the health of citizens, where each plant characterise by its absorption for specific elements.     

Continuous adsorptive removal of glimepiride using multi-walled carbon nanotubes in fixed-bed column

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Water pollution by emerging pollutants such as pharmaceutical and personal care products is one of today’s biggest challenges. The presence of...     

Long-range potential source contributions of episodic aerosol events to PM10 profile of a megacity

This paper evaluates possible long-range source contributions to the PM₁₀ profile of Istanbul, Turkey. A novel method for classifying PM₁₀ episodic events resulting from long-range transport, as opposed to local ones, was implemented. Hourly PM₁₀ mass concentrations from ten stations distributed throughout Istanbul during the year 2008 were used for this purpose. Hourly backward trajectories for the arrival of air masses to the center of Istanbul for the year 2008 were calculated using the HYSPLIT (Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory) model. Significant episodes from these backward trajectories were selected and employed in Potential Source Contribution Function (PSCF) analysis to estimate the possible contribution of long-range PM₁₀ transport (LRPMT) to observed PM₁₀ concentrations. The PSCF results showed significant seasonal variations. Based on the results obtained, PM₁₀ concentrations observed in Istanbul during summer and autumn are not heavily affected by LRPMT. Mediterranean countries, especially those of the central part of northern Africa (northern Algeria and Libya) are the most significant potential PM₁₀ contributors to Istanbul's atmosphere during springtime. During winter, Balkan countries, including the Aegean part of Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Croatia, as well as northern Italy, eastern France, southern Germany, Austria and the eastern part of Russia, were the most important LRPMT source regions for high PSCF values.