CO2SINK—From site characterisation and risk assessment to monitoring and verification: One year of operational experience with the field laboratory for CO2 storage at Ketzin, Germany

The CO₂SINK pilot project at Ketzin is aimed at a better understanding of geological CO₂ storage operation in a saline aquifer. The reservoir consists of fluvial deposits with average permeability ranging between 50 and 100 mDarcy. The main focus of CO₂SINK is developing and testing of monitoring and verification technologies. All wells, one for injection and two for observation, are equipped with smart casings (sensors behind casing, facing the rocks) containing a Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) and electrodes for Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT). The in-hole Gas Membrane Sensors (GMS) observed the arrival of tracers and CO₂ with high temporal resolution. Geophysical monitoring includes Moving Source Profiling (MSP), Vertical Seismic Profiling (VSP), crosshole, star and 4-D seismic experiments. Numerical models are benchmarked via the monitoring results indicating a sufficient match between observation and prediction, at least for the arrival of CO₂ at the first observation well. Downhole samples of brine showed changes in the fluid composition and biocenosis. First monitoring results indicate anisotropic flow of CO₂ coinciding with the “on-time” arrival of CO₂ at observation well one (Ktzi 200) and the later arrival at observation well two (Ktzi 202). A risk assessment was performed prior to the start of injection. After one year of operations about 18,000 t of CO₂ were injected safely.     

Environmental technological education in a developing country—Libya

Summary The environmental education needs of a currently wealthy developing country, Libya, are outlined. Because of specific local requirements, the data presented clearly shows how such educational requirements differ in many respects from the various Western-style environmental sciences curricula. The aim is to produce graduates capable of comprehending environmental problems as they arise in the different regions of Libya. This involves not only dealing with the effects of new developments but also with peoples who must adapt to new life-styles.Since most of what has to be learned is communicated originally in English to Arabic-speaking students via lectures, visits and books, special emphasis is laid upon the added importance oflocally produced bilingual audio-visual teaching aids supported by spoken commentaries, printed texts and glossaries of technical terms used in both languages. A technique for producing such aids has been evolved at the Higher Institute of Technology, Brack, Libya.     

Influence of MBBR carrier geometrical properties and biofilm thickness restraint on biofilm properties, effluent particle size distribution, settling velocity distribution, and settling behaviour

The relatively poor settling characteristics of particles produced in moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) outline the importance of developing a fundamental understanding of the characterization and settleability of MBBR-produced solids. The influence of carrier geometric properties and different levels of biofilm thickness on biofilm characteristics, solids production, particle size distribution (PSD), and particle settling velocity distribution (PSVD) is evaluated in this study. The analytical ViCAs method is applied to the MBBR effluent to assess the distribution of particle settling velocities. This method is combined with microscopy imaging to relate particle size distribution to settling velocity. Three conventionally loaded MBBR systems are studied at a similar loading rate of 6.0 g/(m² •day) and with different carrier types. The AnoxK™ K5 carrier, a commonly used carrier, is compared to so-called thickness-restraint carriers, AnoxK™ Z-carriers that are newly designed carriers to limit the biofilm thickness. Moreover, two levels of biofilm thickness, 200 μm and 400 μm, are studied using AnoxK™ Z-200 and Z-400 carriers. Statistical analysis confirms that K5 carriers demonstrated a significantly different biofilm mass, thickness, and density, in addition to distinct trends in PSD and PSVD in comparison with Z-carriers. However, in comparison of thickness-restraint carriers, Z-200 carrier results did not vary significantly compared to the Z-400 carrier. The K5 carriers showed the lowest production of suspended solids (0.7 ± 0.3 g-TSS/day), thickest biofilm (281.1 ± 8.7 µm) and lowest biofilm density (65.0 ± 1.5 kg/m³). The K5 effluent solids also showed enhanced settling behaviour, consisting of larger particles with faster settling velocities.     

Exporting dams: China's hydropower industry goes global

In line with China's "going out" strategy, China's dam industry has in recent years significantly expanded its involvement in overseas markets. The Chinese Export-Import Bank and other Chinese financial institutions, state-owned enterprises, and private firms are now involved in at least 93 major dam projects overseas. The Chinese government sees the new global role played by China's dam industry as a "win-win" situation for China and host countries involved. But evidence from project sites such as the Merowe Dam in Sudan demonstrates that these dams have unrecognized social and environmental costs for host communities. Chinese dam builders have yet to adopt internationally accepted social and environmental standards for large infrastructure development that can assure these costs are adequately taken into account. But the Chinese government is becoming increasingly aware of the challenge and the necessity of promoting environmentally and socially sound investments overseas.     

Ecosystem Impacts of Geoengineering: A Review for Developing a Science Plan

Geoengineering methods are intended to reduce climate change, which is already having demonstrable effects on ecosystem structure and functioning in some regions. Two types of geoengineering activities that have been proposed are: carbon dioxide (CO(2)) removal (CDR), which removes CO(2) from the atmosphere, and solar radiation management (SRM, or sunlight reflection methods), which reflects a small percentage of sunlight back into space to offset warming from greenhouse gases (GHGs). Current research suggests that SRM or CDR might diminish the impacts of climate change on ecosystems by reducing changes in temperature and precipitation. However, sudden cessation of SRM would exacerbate the climate effects on ecosystems, and some CDR might interfere with oceanic and terrestrial ecosystem processes. The many risks and uncertainties associated with these new kinds of purposeful perturbations to the Earth system are not well understood and require cautious and comprehensive research.     

Permafrost and infrastructure in the usa Basin (Northeast European Russia): possible impacts of global warming

The relationship between permafrost conditions and the distribution of infrastructure in the Usa Basin, Northeast European Russia, is analyzed. About 75% of the Basin is underlain by permafrost terrain with various degrees of continuity (isolated patches to continuous permafrost). The region has a high level of urban and industrial development (e.g., towns, coal mines, hydrocarbon extraction sites, railway, pipelines). GIS-analyses indicate that about 60% of all infrastructure is located in the 'high risk' permafrost area, here defined as the zones of isolated to discontinuous permafrost (3-90% coverage) with 'warm' ground temperatures (0 to -2 degrees C). Ground monitoring, aerial photo interpretation, and permafrost modeling suggest a differential response to future global warming. Most of the permafrost-affected terrain will likely start to thaw within a few decades to a century. This forecast poses serious challenges to permafrost engineering and calls for long-term investments in adequate infrastructure that will pay back overtime.     

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in human milk from Australia

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are flame retardants added to a multitude of products to reduce flammability. PBDEs have been widely detected and quantified in biota and humans in many industrialised countries from the Northern Hemisphere. However data concerning the levels of these compounds in the Australian population and environment remain limited. The objectives of this study were to determine PBDE concentrations and congener profiles in Australian human milk and compare this to concentrations found in other countries. Pooled human milk samples obtained from mothers residing in 12 regions of Australia were analysed by HRGC/HRMS for 18 PBDE congeners. In total, 157 human milk samples collected in 2002 and 2003 were divided into 17 regional pools. PBDEs were detected in all pools of human milk from Australia. The mean+/-standard deviation and median summation operatorPBDE concentrations were 11.1+/-3.2 and 11.0 ng g(-1) lipid, respectively with a range of 6.1-18.7 ng g(-1) lipid. The congener profile was dominated by BDE-47 followed by BDE-99, -100, -153, -154 and -183. Regional differences were evaluated, but no trends were observed. The data suggest regional differences are likely to be small if they exist at all. The concentrations of PBDEs found in Australian human milk were lower than those reported from North America but higher than those reported from Europe and Asia. Our results suggest that the exposure pathways which contribute to the PBDE body burden in the Australian population require a better understanding in order to determine future policy regarding their use and disposal.     

Effects of fly ash, Pseudomonas striata and Rhizobium on the reproduction of nematode Meloidogyne incognita and on the growth and transpiration of pea

Glasshouse experiments were conducted twice to assess the ash amendments (0, 20, and 40% with soil), a phosphate solubilizing microorganism Pseudomonas striata and a root-nodule bacterium Rhizobium sp on the reproduction of root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita and on the growth and transpiration of pea. Amendments of fly ash with soil had no effect on transpiration. However, M. incognita reduced the rate of transpiration from 1st week onward after inoculation while inoculation of Rhizobium sp and P. striata increased transpiration from 1st week onward after their inoculation both in nematode inoculated and uninoculated plants. Increase in transpiration was greater when both organisms were inoculated together. Addition of 20 and 40% fly ash with soil was beneficial for plant growth both in nematode inoculated and uninoculated plants. Inoculation of above organisms also increases plant growth of nematode inoculated and uninoculated plants in different fly ash soil mixture but increase in growth was greater when both organisms were inoculated together. Use of 20% fly ash increased galling and nematode multiplication over plants grown in without fly ash while 40% fly ash had adverse effect on galling and nematode multiplication. Rhizobium sp had greater adverse effect on galling and nematode multiplication than P. striata. Use of both organisms together had greater adverse effect on galling and nematode multiplication than caused by either of them alone. Highest reduction in galling and nematode multiplication was observed when both organisms were used in 40% fly ash amended soil. However, highest transpiration was observed in plants without nematodes and inoculated with both organisms together both in with or without fly ash amended soil.