Geology, Geophysics & Environment
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ISSN 2299-8004
e-ISSN: 2353-0790
Issue Date
2019
Volume
Vol. 45
Number
No 4
Description
Journal Volume
Geology, Geophysics & Environment
Vol. 45 (2019)
Projects
Pages
Articles
Effectiveness of domestic rural wastewater treatment in soil-plant system
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2019) Strzelczyk, Maria; Steihoff-Wrześniewska, Aleksandra
The characteristics of Polish rural agglomerations indicate that only 32% of these areas are villages typified by compact buildings where the use of a collective sewage system is economically justified. In other areas, it is necessary to apply solutions that allow for the sewage utilization in place of their creation and safe discharge into the environment, e.g. in the form of home systems based on biological processes, e.g. in soil-plant systems. The purpose of the work was to determine the soil-plant efficiency of wastewater treatment with the use of so-called energy plants. The experiment was conducted in 2012–2014 in lysimeters at a depth of 130 cm and 100 cm in diameter. These were submerged in the ground, filled with sand clay and equipped with installations enabling the drainage of gravity water in the form of lysimeter effluents. Two species of plants were used: <i>Miscanthu giganteus</i> and <i>Sida hermaphrodita</i> (L.) Rusby. They were irrigated with pretreated domestic sewage (variant I - 1200 mm year$^-{1}$ and variant II - 1600 mm year$^-{1}$). For irrigation, sewage from a group of buildings inhabited by six families was used. Raw domestic sewage was discharged into the tank, consisting of four chambers, which constituted a relatively good level of pre-cleaning. For the irrigation of plants in the experiment, pre-treated sewage was used. In order to determine the effectiveness of wastewater treatment in the soil-plant environment, the concentrations of the following components were determined in the effluents: TSS, BOD$_{5}$, COD, N$_{tot}$. The quantities of pollutants contained in the sewage were characterized by considerable variability, especially in relation to COD (390.6-1583.0 mg O$_{2} \cdot$ dm$^{-3}$) and Ntot (47.0–250.2 mg N $\cdot$ dm$^{-3}$).
Complex analysis of GPR signals for the delineation of subsurface subtle features
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2019) Akinsunmade, Akinniyi; Tomecka-Suchoń, Sylwia; Pysz, Paweł
In this paper, complex signal analyses of ground penetrating radar (GPR) field data over an area of farmland in Krakow were interpreted alongside the basic filtered field data. The farmland was simulated with varying degrees of soil compaction induced by tractor movement. The focus of the study was the delineation of inherent characteristics of media through which the electromagnetic energy travelled. Fourteen GPR profiles were acquired from the area. The field data were subjected to pre- and post-processing prior to its the presentation and interpretation. Advance analysis operations on the field data which resorted in different attributes reveal more about the effects of the compaction on the soil than indicated by the basic filtered field data. Better resolution of subsurface layers boundary and lateral variation in the physical properties of the traversing media were well elucidated. The results have demonstrated that an advanced signal processing such as used in the study has ability to depict subtle characteristics of the propagating media.
The impact of calcination on changes in the physical and mechanical properties of the diatomites of the Leszczawka Member (the Outer Carpathians, Poland)
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2019) Figarska-Warchoł, Beata; Rembiś, Marek; Stańczak, Grażyna
The work concerned the effects of the thermal treatment of diatomites from the Jawornik deposit (an example of the diatomites of the Leszczawka Member of the Polish Outer Carpathians). Five distinct lithological varieties were subjected to calcination at 600°C in ambient air. The thermal impact induced the following changes to the rocks. Their overall rock porosity increased, most distinctly in the initially softer varieties, and the internal pores of the siliceous frustules themselves usually became larger due to the initial melting of the silica phases. Most of the diatoms, quartz and feldspars cracked as a result of their brittle fracturing under compressive strain resulting from substantial and differing size changes of growing grains. Clay minerals were thermally transferred, changing their volume. The organic matter dispersed throughout the diatomites was partly oxidized and removed. At the same time, the structure of the rocks was strengthened, as confirmed by an increase in their microhardness. The microhardness of soft and porous diatomite varieties increased considerably on heating, but that of the hard and compact variety changed to a smaller degree. The increase is directly related to the content of the clay minerals. The impact of other mineral components was not detected. The calcination of lithologically diversified diatomites provided the mineral with raw material with deicing and antisliding properties. The technology of its production has been determined by the authors and submitted as a patent.
Impact of air pollution on forest stands in the vicinity of Wodzisław Śląski and Rybnik, Poland
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2019) Barniak, Joanna; Jureczko, Agnieszka
Tree-ring analysis was used to investigate the impact of air pollution on forest stands in southern part of the Upper Silesia region of southern Poland. Four about 120 years old Scots pine stands located near Wodzisław Śląski and Rybnik were selected for study and 20 increment core samples from each stand were taken. All study stands were selected based upon their considerable exposure to air and dust pollution. The results of dendrochronological analysis showed strong and significant reductions in tree ring growth especially during the period from 1960 to 1990. A significant number of trees with reductions (85%) was observed in two Scots pine stands both of which are directly exposed to air pollution from mine-owned coking plant and power and heating plants. Since 1990s the improved growth of these pines was clearly noted. A comparison for the period 1970 to 1990 for stands located west from the main emitters’ versus stands east and directly exposed found fewer trees with growth reductions (ca. 40%). At the beginning of the 21$^{st}$ century, a large number of trees in these western stands were observed with growth reductions between 50 and 60%. Probably, these trees were affected by air pollution from a nearby power plant located immediately across the border in the Czech Republic. Relationships between periods of severe reductions in ring width growth or missing rings were noted in a large percentage of pine trees in all four stands, these cross-stand relationships suggested common weather related impacts. Missing rings were noted in 1956, 1963, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1976 and 1979.
Channel characteristics and planform dynamics of the lower Niger River, Niger Delta Basin (1985–2015)
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2019) Akana, Tombra; Adeigbe, Olubunmi
This study used repeat satellite imagery and Geographic Information System analysis to assess the planform dynamics along the length of the lower Niger River Valley from Onitsha city to the coast between 1985 and 2015. The aim is to understand the altered dynamics and its plausible causes in this data-poor region. Analyses revealed that the Niger River has undergone change corresponding to enhanced instability in terms of an increased rate of erosion. In the study area, a change was observed from 3.7% of deposition in the first 10 years (1985–1995) to 3.9% of erosion in the next 10 years (1995–2005) and 4.7% of erosion in the last 10 years (2005–2015). Total erosion over the 30-year period (1985–2015) in the delta was calculated on 4.8%. The river channel has migrated toward the east in the upper and lower reaches while the mid-section of the channel is migrating towards the west. The east river bank is observed to be more unstable compared to west bank line through the study period. The maximum shifts identified were 3.35 km of deposition in 10 years (1985–1995), 3.31 km of erosion in the next 10 years (1995–2005), and another substantial erosional shift of 3.35 km in the next 10 years (2005–2015). Avulsion rates gradually moved from −42.1 m $\cdot$ year$^{-1}$ (1985–2005, segment F) to 100.2 m $\cdot$ year$^{-1}$ (1985–1995, segment D), large deposition in the first 10 years. Total avulsion rates of the delta in the last 30 years (1985–2015) has pointed on erosion (−2.2 m $\cdot$ year$^{-1}$). The altered dynamics observed would likely threaten the future of the fragile lower river system environment and raise concerns for operators with infrastructure within the Niger Delta.