Day 1 :
Keynote Forum
Ahn Ji Whan
Korea Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources, Korea
Keynote: The grand challenges of emerging environmental issues
Time : 09:00-09-45
Biography:
Ahn Ji Whan has received her BS, MS and PhD degree in Mining and Minerals Engineering during the years 1986-1997 from Inha University and she hasrnanother Master’s degree in Resources Environmental Economics from Yonsei University. Presently she is working as a Principal Researcher in Korea Instituternof Geosciences and Mineral Resources, Director for Resources, Environment and Materials R&D Center, KIGAM, President for Korea Institute of Limestone &rnAdvanced Materials (KILAM), Chairperson, Japan/Korea International Symposium on Resources Recycling and Materials Science, Vice President of KoreanrnSociety for Geosystem Engineering and Vice President of Korea Institute of Resources and Recycling. She is an Advisory Member for Ministry of Environment consulting committee of waste treatment technology (ME-CCWTT) and she is Representative for ISO 102 (Iron Ore) from South Korea. In KIGAM, she has 20 yearsrnresearch experience and she started the multidisciplinary research areas and developed new novel technologies. She has published more than 154 papers, 716rnproceedings papers/conference presentations and 71 patents. She has received many awards, National Science Merit (Presidential Citation Award), The ExcellentrnResearch award from Ministry of Knowledge Economy and The First Women Ceramist award etc., for her research excellence.
Abstract:
Over the several years, population growth, water pollution, air pollution, climate change and global warming are thernmost discussing and emerging environmental issues. Greenhouse gas emissions are caused to global warming and itrnwas a serious problem that should be one of the primary challenges for governments. The above mentioned issues are allrninterrelated to each one. Prevention of CO2 emissions from all sectors is the primary solution of the global warming issue andrnsimultaneously we can control the climate change. In the 21st century, water scarcity, water quality and pollution are expected tornbecome more acute as population growth. Currently 600 million people face water scarcity and nearly 3.2 billion people may bernliving in either water scarce or water stressed conditions by 2025. In developing countries, many areas are serious contaminatedrnof natural resources and serious effects on human health. The transmission of pathogens through tap water and drinkingrnwater remains a significant problem. Worldwide, nearly 10 to 20 million deaths occur a year due to the water borne bacterialrnpathogens diseases. The other biggest issue is air pollution. Particulate matter is released from various industrial processes viarnstack emissions to air. Particulate matter can cause long term effects on people’s health and reduce life expectancy; particularlyrnthose are suffering with pre-existing heart and lung disease. PM 2.5 is an emerging priority pollutant in global. The solutions ofrnthese major problems are CO2 emissions prevention and CO2 utilization. Accelerated carbonation is a multipurpose techniquernfor water purification, heavy metals stabilization which is presented in water and improving the CO2 capturing capacity. CO2rncapture, utilization (CCU) is a promising technology where in CO2 is captured and stored in solid form for further utilizationrninstead of being released into the atmosphere. The new advanced process called accelerated carbonation has been widelyrnresearched and developed.
Keynote Forum
David Crookall
Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, France
Keynote: Learning experience and geoethics for human and natural sustainability
Time : 09:45-10:30
Biography:
David Crookall, PhD, has taught at several universities in several countries (France, Singapore, Thailand, USA, etc.). For many years, he was Editor-in-chief ofrnSimulation & Gaming (Sage), and is on the editorial board of several scientific journals. He has published several books and many articles in top journals. He isrnoften invited to run workshops and seminars.
Abstract:
Our early life experience has a strong influence on our actions in later life. Humans today are starting to re-learn, collectively,rnhow to treat Earth with the respect that it deserves and that is needed for our offspring to inherit a decent home. However,rnwe still have far to go to instill in people at large the ethics, knowledge and skills necessary to ensure a healthy journey forrnhumanity on spaceship. The experience of early upbringing, schooling and everyday life is probably the only sustainable pathrnfor people to develop a strong desire for ethical behaviour towards their environment. The problem is that the developmentrnof geoethical behaviours is woefully inadequate. My presentation will suggest some practical ways to help communities buildrngeoethical frameworks and strategies to generate tools that guide young people toward more ethical behaviours regardingrntheir environment and their communities. Examples might include: 1. Developing geoethical dimensions of internships, in allrnareas; 2. Designing and testing simulation/games+debriefing, providing a rich affective-cognitive context for grappling withrngeoethical problems; 3. Pressuring governments to make geoethics a central components of all educational programs (in, e.g.,rnhistory, language, business, law, medicine, etc.); 4. Subsidizing environmental-care summer schools for families and teachersrnat all levels; 5. Introducing an academic journal in the area, with my experience of 26 years at the helm of another prestigiousrnjournal. We have an ethical obligation to science and our offspring (future generations), to help the planetary passengers learnrnabout safety on spaceship earth.
Keynote Forum
David Crookall
Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, France
Keynote: Learning experience and geoethics for human and natural sustainability
Time : 09:45-10:30
Biography:
David Crookall, PhD, has taught at several universities in several countries (France, Singapore, Thailand, USA, etc.). For many years, he was Editor-in-chief of Simulation & Gaming (Sage), and is on the editorial board of several scientific journals. He has published several books and many articles in top journals. He is often invited to run workshops and seminars.
Abstract:
Our early life experience has a strong influence on our actions in later life. Humans today are starting to re-learn, collectively,rnhow to treat Earth with the respect that it deserves and that is needed for our offspring to inherit a decent home. However,rnwe still have far to go to instill in people at large the ethics, knowledge and skills necessary to ensure a healthy journey forrnhumanity on spaceship. The experience of early upbringing, schooling and everyday life is probably the only sustainable pathrnfor people to develop a strong desire for ethical behaviour towards their environment. The problem is that the developmentrnof geoethical behaviours is woefully inadequate. My presentation will suggest some practical ways to help communities build geoethical frameworks and strategies to generate tools that guide young people toward more ethical behaviours regardingrntheir environment and their communities. Examples might include: 1. Developing geoethical dimensions of internships, in allrnareas; 2. Designing and testing simulation/games+debriefing, providing a rich affective-cognitive context for grappling withrngeoethical problems; 3. Pressuring governments to make geoethics a central components of all educational programs (in, e.g.,rnhistory, language, business, law, medicine, etc.); 4. Subsidizing environmental-care summer schools for families and teachersrnat all levels; 5. Introducing an academic journal in the area, with my experience of 26 years at the helm of another prestigiousrnjournal. We have an ethical obligation to science and our offspring (future generations), to help the planetary passengers learnrnabout safety on spaceship earth.
- Soil Science | Geoethics | Environmental Issues | Remote Sensing and GIS
Location: Busarakam Ballroom 1
Biography:
Judith M Tisdall is experienced in basic and applied research in soils. She was awarded JK Taylor Medal for excellence in research and communication (2012). Her 52 papers have been cited 3487 times in the scientific literature (HI =18). She was the first to recognize the mycorrhizal effect on soil aggregation. She led a project on soil management for crops in Indonesia that enabled farmers to double their incomes. She contributed to new soil management for fruit trees on Tatura Trellis. She is Editor-in- Chief of Soil & Tillage Research, and is a member of Editorial Board of Agronomy.
Abstract:
Models are used to predict climate change, and its effect on soil, water and plants. These models depend heavily on their inputs. Some models predict that rainfall will be more variable, but higher and more intense, and temperatures, solar radiation and concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide will be higher. These may increase the length of the growing season of plants, plant growth, concentration of organic matter in soil, and protective cover on the soil, with fewer nutrients lost in runoff and erosion. However, increased microbial activity in the wetter and warmer soils will decompose more organic matter, and the soil will become structurally unstable. Such soils will become denser and more susceptible to erosion, with increased runoff removing water and nutrients. The water-holding capacity of the soil will decrease, with the soil more easily waterlogged, and poorly aerated, and the soil will set hard when dry. Waterlogged seals of low permeability will restrict emergence of seedlings, less organic matter added to the soil. New land-use by farmers in the new climate will probably also increase erosion. On the other hand, increased concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide may decrease stomatal aperture, photosynthesis and transpiration and all the benefits of increased plant growth. Higher rainfall may increase the number of cloudy days, and decrease light interception by plants and photosynthesis. Lower rainfall may lead to more irrigation, subsequent saline water-tables and soil, and decreased plant growth. Soil pH will decrease when basic cations are removed in harvested crops, or are leached deeper into the profile. The lower pH will make some nutrients, e.g. manganese, more available and toxic to plants, whereas other nutrients e.g. phosphorus, will be less available.
Shovonlal Roy
University of Reading, UK
Title: Remote sensing for marine autotrophic dynamics and diversity: Recent advances and opportunities
Biography:
Shovonlal Roy is a Lecturer in Remote Sensing in Ecosystem Sciences, at the Department of Geography and Environmental Science & Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, UK. He did a Master’s in Mathematics and PhD in Mathematical Biology. He worked as a researcher at the University of Manchester, the Bedford Institute of Oceanography, the University of Oxford, and the Plymouth Marine Laboratory. He has published more than 20 research articles and an edited book. He is a regular reviewer of more than 10 index journals. He is a Review Editor of Frontiers in Marine Science and Associate Editor of Remote Sensing for Ecology and Conservation.
Abstract:
Recent advances in ocean remote sensing have made it possible to study various aspects of ocean biogeochemistry from satellite data. This presentation will deal with the applications of remote sensing for understanding the biomass and dynamics of the marine autotrophs, which are responsible for almost half of the annual global carbon fixation, and is fundamental to the global carbon cycle. The presentation will include recent results on developing ocean-colour algorithms, and implementation of data assimilation using biogeochemical models towards accurate estimation of autotrophic biomass stocks, and for better understanding of the autotrophic dynamics on a global scale. Limitations of the current approaches and opportunities for future development will be discussed in the context of minimising uncertainties in satellite-derived estimates, through algorithms and marine ecosystem models.
Biography:
Dr Shadung Moja is currently serving as a chief scientist in air quality within the Sustainable Resources and Environment Competency at the Council for Geoscience in South Africa. His master’s and doctoral degrees are in Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Management respectively. He has served the academia for more than 16 years. He also has 4 years of industrial chemistry experience and more than 3 years of consulting in air quality. He has published more than 15 peer reviewed articles
Abstract:
Asbestos mining was banned in South Africa because of the health effects that are linked to the inhalation of asbestos dust / fibres. Most of asbestos mine tailingsin Mpumalanga Province are not rehabilitated and dust / fibres could easily be lifted and transported by wind, and then settle in sensitive areas like human settlements. Surface and trapped dust samples were collected around human settlements thatare in the vicinity of five abandoned and ownerless asbestos mine tailingsin October 2015. After collection, surface dust samples weresieved with a 100 µm pore size stainless steel sieve to remove large dust particles. Trapped dust material was collected around the window panesin houses, surfaces of furniture and on windscreens of old cars. Surface and trapped dust samples were treated in the laboratory in preparation of Scanning Electron Microscope – Energy Dispersive X- ray (SEM – EDX), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD)and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF)analyses. Both, the amphibole and serpentine asbestos mineral groups were detected in most indoor and outdoor dust samples. Other dominant minerals detected include the quartz, chlorites, plagioclase, calcite, talc, pyroxene, dolomite, mica, feldspar, clay and iron oxide. Industrial and biological materials that include fly ash particles, organic fibre and fibre glass were detected. The morphological and elemental composition results will also be covered in the paper. But, the continued presence of the dangerous asbestos minerals where humans live is of concern.
Seung-Chang Hong
National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Korea
Title: Carbon and nitrogen changes affected by elevated temperature and CO2 under the open top chamber environment in rice paddy
Biography:
Seung-Chang Hong has completed his PhD from Chungbuk National University of South Korea. He has been serving as an Agricultural Researcher at National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, RDA, Republic of Korea. He works in response to climate change and agricultural environment.
Abstract:
Elevated temperature and CO2 concentration of atmosphere can change the cycle of carbon and nitrogen in rice paddy. To understand the changes of carbon and nitrogen, as an agricultural resource, forced by climate change are important to develop the adapting technology in agricultural sector. The change of carbon and nitrogen were evaluated by elevated temperature and CO2 concentration in rice paddy of South Korea. In order to control the elevated temperature and elevated CO2 concentration, we set up the open top chamber (OTC) facility of 2m(W)×2.5m(H) with three replication and rice seedlings were transplanted inside its plot. The treatments consisted of elevated temperature (ambient+1~3°), elevated temperature plus elevated CO2, and open paddy as a control. Concentrations of TOC, COD and the COD/TOC ratio of flooded surface water (oxidation layer) increased by elevated temperature. On the other hand, the concentrations of TOC, COD, and the COD/TOC ratio of percolating water of soil depth of 50 cm (reduction layer) showed decreasing trend. Furthermore, elevated temperature and CO2 treatment increased the concentration of TOC in surface water. The content of soil T-N and TOC were higher than those of the control. Elevated temperature significantly increased the culm length, culm weight of rice plant but the panicle number, panicle weight of rice did not show significant differences. These results imply that elevated temperature and elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration can increase carbon and nitrogen export from rice paddy. Therefore, the carbon and nitrogen cycle of rice paddy could be changed under future climate change environment.
Pennan Chinnasamy
International Water Management Institute, Sri Lanka
Title: Incorporating remote sensing data for high spatiotemporal groundwater management in data limited regions: A case study in India
Biography:
Pennan Chinnasamy is a Researcher in Hydrology and Remote Sensing at the International Water Management Institution, which is water based think tank/NGO under the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers (CGIAR). After obtaining Master’s in Physics from Wesleyan University, CT, USA in 2009, he got his PhD from University of Missouri, USA, in 2012. His current work focuses on water availability, water risk and water futures for Asia, Africa, Australia and USA regions. He has published more than 25 papers in international journals.
Abstract:
Groundwater is a common-pool resource with no ownership, hence taken for granted and depleted recklessly by human societies across continents over millennia. India is one among the highest consumer of groundwater in the world with an estimated annual withdrawal exceeding over 230 km3. Besides, agriculture sector consumes over 60% of the groundwater, however methods to assess and regulate groundwater are limited. The government agencies monitor only shallow groundwater levels, while the extraction is mostly from the deep aquifer. In this data limited regions in India, use of remote sensing methods (e.g. Landsat imagery, GRACE, MODIS) to aid groundwater assessment and develop new methods to regulate groundwater use for a sustainable future are warranted. In this talk, the author will showcase groundwater assessment studies conducted in four distinct states in India, in which agricultural groundwater use is of paramount importance. The author will also discuss, with the aid of results from remote sensing analysis, sustainable methods to engage Village Level Groundwater Co-operatives that can operate with limited external guidance, but still provide sustainable groundwater use plans. In addition, groundwater recharge methods that were successful in one region (e.g. Gujarat) have failed in another region (e.g. Rajasthan, which is a neighboring state to Gujarat). The underlying hydrological regime will be analyzed using remote sensing methods and available observation data, and recommendations provided to the central government agencies. In one study in Tamil Nadu (southern State of India), the results show groundwater depletion at the rate of 21.4 km3yr−1, this is 8% more than the annual recharge rate (19.81 km3yr−1) owing to the total rainfall of 1016 mm km3yr−1. More results will be discussed that can increase confidence in remote sensing methods for India, as currently there is no observation data for large scale analysis of groundwater depletion for the nation.
Nonilona Daquiado
Central Mindanao University, Philippines
Title: Controlling methane emissions in a vermicompost-applied maapag paddy soil during rice cultivation
Biography:
Nonilona P Daquiado has completed her MS in Soil Science at the University of the Philippines at Los Baños, College, Los Baños, Laguna, Phillippines and her PhD in Soil Science at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and is currently, a Professor of the Department of Soil Science, Central Mindanao University.
Abstract:
Vermicompost application is important for increasing rice productivity and minimizing methane (CH4) emissions in paddy soil. However, its effect on CH4 emissions in the Philippines have not been thoroughly evaluated. This study aimed to assess the effect of vermicompost at rate of 2 tons ha-1 applied alone or in combination with recommended rate of inorganic fertilizers (RRIF) at 80-40-60 N-P2O5-K2O kg ha-1 on CH4 emission and productivity in a typical mono-rice Maapag clay in Northern Mindanao. The treatments included: Control (no fertilizer), full RRIF, vermicompost alone, ½ RRIF, ½ RRIF + vermicompost and RRIF + vermicompost. Rice productivity increased significantly with inorganic NPK fertilizer application and more with combined inorganic NPK and vermicompost. Methane emission rates, which were measured by closed-chamber method, increased significantly with vermicompost applications but the total CH4 flux per grain yield did not significantly differ between inorganic NPK fertilization alone and inorganic fertilization + vermicompost. Similarly, total CH4 flux per grain yield was the highest in the full recommended rate of inorganic fertilizers + vermicompost but did not significantly differ with ½ RRIF + vermicompost and 2 tons vermicompost alone treatments. Our findings revealed that vermicompost application can be an effective organic amendment to increase rice productivity without significantly increasing CH4 emission, which is comparable to the CH4 flux per grain yield of inorganic fertilization alone in a Philippine mono-rice cultivation systems.
Chavalit Ratanatamskul
Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
Title: Converting of rubber-latex processing wastewater to biogas production using the Anaerobic Baffled Reactor (ABR)
Biography:
Chavalit Ratanatamskul is the Director of Research Unit on Waste Treatment, Faculty of Engineering and the Vice Director of Technopreneurship and Innovation Management Program, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. He received PhD and Master’s degree of Engineering in Environmental Engineering from The University of Tokyo, Japan in 1996 and 1993, respectively, and BEng degree in Environmental Engineering from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand in 1991. Moreover, he is presently the Chairman of Project Committee and the Vice Chairman of Environmental Engineering Committee at The Engineering Institute of Thailand (EIT) under the King’s Patronage.
Abstract:
Rubber-latex processing industry is recognized to cause significant environmental problems and can pose public health risk, leading to water pollution and consequently affects global environmental eco-system. Rubber-latex processing wastewater containing high organic and sulphate was studied in order to know the feasibility of organic and sulfate removal using anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) system. The ABR configuration was adjusted with different compartment of baffles (3, 5, 7 baffles). The ABR system was operated at the same HRT 5 days with varying organic loading rate to 1, 2 and 3 kgCOD/m3-day. It was found that high efficiency of sulfate reduction of more than 98%, suspended solid removal efficiency nearly 90% could be achieved with all ABR configurations with different organic loading rates from 1 to 3 kgCOD/m3-day and baffle number of 3, 5 and 7. However, COD conversion performance is declined significantly to approximately 78% when increasing OLR up to 3 kgCOD/m3-day. An increase in number of baffles resulted in a slight improvement of system performance in terms of COD and suspended solid removal. This was due to the fact that more biomass could be maintained inside the ABR system with more baffle plates. Furthermore, methane contents in biogas produced from the ABR systems at OLR 2-3 kgCOD/m3-day with 5 and 7 baffles were found higher than 60%, which is in suitable range for biogas utilization.
Hailong Yin
Tongji Univeresity, China
Title: Characteristics of the overflow pollution of storm drains with inappropriate sewage entry
Biography:
Zuxin Xu has completed her PhD from Hohai University and Post-doctoral studies from Tongji University. She is Vice Chairman of Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government. Her main research interests are integrated catchment management and rehabilitation, urban drainage pollution control, ecological wastewater treatment, hydrodynamics and water quality modeling. She was the Director of Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau from 2003 to 2007. She has published more than 200 papers in peer-reviewed journals and international conferences. Also, she has been serving as an Executive Editorial Board Member of Journal of Hydrodynamics.
Abstract:
As compared to the overflow pollution of a combined sewer system, little attention has been paid to the overflow pollution of separate storm drains, especially a storm drainage system with inappropriate sewage entry. With one separate storm drainage system in the Shanghai downtown area as the study site (374 ha), the monitoring activities for inappropriate dry-weather sewage outflow and storm pumping discharge on dry-weather and wet-weather days were conducted, according to which the overflow pollution characteristics of storm drains with inappropriate sewage entry were probed. The following findings were obtained. (1) Whether for storm pumping discharge on dry-weather days or on wet-weather days, the induced overflow concentrations were high, exhibiting 8.2–15.5 times the receiving water use objective on dry-weather days and 7.3–10.4 times the level on wet-weather days for the pollutants considered, including suspended solids (SS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), five-day biological oxygen demand (BOD5), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP). (2) Till the end of the storm pumping discharge, the overflow concentrations of SS, COD, BOD5 and TP could still be higher than the concentration of inappropriate dryweather sewage outflow, especially for the pumping discharge under dry-weather and medium rain scenarios. This means that the first flush effect was insignificant, and the flush effect occurs consistently throughout the pumping discharge event. (3) Under the wet-weather pumping discharge, the event-mean concentrations of SS, COD and BOD5 of separate storm drains were close to those of combined sewers in the old downtown areas of Shanghai, and the event-mean concentrations of NH3-N from the separate storm drains were significantly higher. Such phenomena are related to serious sewage connections in the storm drains, resulting in dryweather sediment deposition within the storm pipes and the following sediment flush when the storm pumps start, and to a low in-line storm water storage capacity. Therefore, the measures to abate the overflow pollution of the storm drainage system include correcting the inappropriate sewage entries into the storm drains, strengthening the maintenance of the pipe network (e.g., dredging the in-pipe sediments regularly) and employing on-line treatment-type units like continuous water detention tank-enhanced sedimentation tanks and vortex separators.
Wu Da-fang
Guangzhou University, China
Title: Evaluation and grade partition of urban village fire risk: A case study of NanTing village, Guangzhou
Biography:
Wu Da-fang has completed his PhD in Physical Geography from Sun Yat-sen University in Centre of Land Use Research, Geography Science and Planning School and now is a Senior Research Assistant at City University of Hong Kong, Department of Public Policy. He is the Associate Department Chairman of School of Geographical Sciences. He has published more than 20 papers in Chinese core journals, now his research area of interest is protection and utilization of land resources and application of GIS.
Abstract:
With the rapid development of Chinese economy, the process of industrialization and urbanization is gradually accelerated. Meanwhile, the fire accidents happening in city, especially in city villages have been raising, which result in the loss with over billion Yuan, and pose severe threats to personal safety as well as property safety. Taking the example of NanTing village located in Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center. This paper carries out field investigation about different aspects-fire hydrant, fire road, housing structure and usage, fire water supply, and then establishes assessment model about the ability of urban village fire protection by GIS and Analytic Hierarchy Process to evaluate level of the ability of fire protection ability. Fire protection ability of NanTing village is divided into four levels. More specifically, the areas of four different types of fire protection ability (that are bad, weak, fine and best) are 823.52 m2, 13458.92 m2, 60318.27 m2 and 196972.99 m2 respectively. The total area of the bad and the weak are 14282.44 m2, accounting for 5.263% of NanTing village’s total land area, out of which the fire danger area with serious and dangerous level are altogether 18.18% of total construction area. Finally, we analyze the reason why part of NanTing village is weak in stopping fire.This proposed method can be used to analyze fire risk and to make up reconstruction planning for City Village, and the conclusions are also of value for the safety management for NanTing village.
Maphuti Kwata
Council for Geosciences, South Africa
Title: A geochemical study of settleable dust samples collected near some old and abandoned asbestos mine dumps in Limpopo province, South Africa
Biography:
Maphuti Kwata has completed her MSc at the age 33 years from University of Pretoria and she is currently studying for her PhD in the Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of South Africa. She is a Junior Scientist in the field of Air Quality Management at the Council for Geosciences. Maphuti has publised three peer reviewed articles and has also presented at both national and international conferences.
Abstract:
Old and abandoned asbestos mine dumps have left major health problems to nearby communities. Since these asbestos mine dumps are not rehabilitated, it is now the government’s priority to urgently rehabilitate these dumps to avoid major liability from the local communities. Wind may blow the dust away from the dumps towards the nearby communities and cause respiratory diseases when inhaled. The aim of this research is to monitor measure and characterize settleable dust samples collected around human settlements in the vicinity of abandoned and ownerless asbestos mine dumps. The standard method for collection and analysis of settleable dust advocated by the National Dust Control Regulations (NDC R 827, 2013), South Africa National Standards (SANS 1929, 2011) and American Standard Test Method (ASTM D-1739, 1970) is used in this research. Settleable dust samples were collected from November 2015 till May 2016 in Limpopo Province at the following five sampling sites: Cork, Baviaankop, Kromellenboog, Penge 1 and Streatham 1. Samples were prepared for analysis with X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy - Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) techniques. The preliminary data confirm presence of amphibole group (amosite) and serpentine group (chrysotile) in Limpopo Province. Settleable dust rates and the mineralogy results will also be presented during the conference.
Pranomkorn Choosri
Silpakorn University, Thailand
Title: The model for estimating diffuse fraction of global solar erythemal ultraviolet radiation in Thailand
Biography:
Pranomkorn Choosri is currently pursuing her PhD from the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Silpakorn University in Thailand, supervised by Associate Professor Dr. Serm Janjai. Her study is focused on the estimation of diffuse solar radiation in different wavelength bands using satellite data.
Abstract:
The surface solar erythemal ultraviolet (EUV) radiation which affects human skin consists of direct and diffuse components. The sum of both components is called global EUV radiation. As Thailand is located in the tropics with a lot of cloudy days and clouds effectively create diffuse EUV, information on diffuse EUV is very important for protecting human skin from harmful effects of EUV. Due to the lack of the routine measurements of diffuse EUV, a model for estimating EUV diffuse fraction of global EUV daily dose was developed in this work. In developing the model, diffuse EUV and global EUV was simultaneously measured at two solar radiation monitoring stations in Thailand, namely Ubon Ratchathani (15.25oN, 104.87oE) and Nakhon Pathom (13.82oN, 100.04oE). A three year period (April, 2011-March, 2014) of EUV data from these stations was used for formulating the model. This model expresses the EUV diffuse fraction as an empirical function of EUV clearness index (kt,EUV) and aerosol optical depth (AOD340). To investigate its performance, the model was used to calculate diffuse EUV daily dose at these stations for the period: April, 2014-March, 2015. It was found that diffuse EUV calculated from the model and that obtained from the measurement are in good agreement, with the root mean square difference of 8.2%.
Ammar M G Gaber
Chiang Mai University, Thailand
Title: Simulation of PM10concentrations over Upper Northern Thailand during dry season using CMAQ model
Biography:
Ammar M G Gaber is a Senior Meteorologist at Sudan Meteorological Authority, with more than 10 years of experience in weather forecast, climate perdition and climate services. He completed his MBA in 2011 and now he is doing his MSc in Environmental Science in Chiang Mai University. His area of interest is air pollution modeling using both statistical and numerical methods.
Abstract:
Daily PM10 concentrations were simulated over Upper Northern Thailand during the dry season (January-April, 2015) with high resolution (4 km) using CMAQ model. Meteorological and emission data were prepared using WRF and SMOKE models, respectively. Emission Inventory (EI), especially developed for this study, includes four criteria pollutants (PM10, CO, SO2, NO2) from three types of biomass (Rice Straw, Maize Residue and Leaf Litter). Temporal variations of PM10 concentrations showed that the peaks occurred in April with concentrations exceed AQI, because of increased biomass open burning activities and the effect of prevailing meteorological conditions that support pollutants’ suspension for several days. Daily fluctuations of PM10 concentrations were captured by the model and the daily maximum concentrations were identified. The spatial variations of PM10 concentrations were found to be mainly due to the topographical influences although the other parameters have their own effects. CMAQ model performance evaluation showed some discrepancies with observations. Mean bias, mean errors, normalized mean bias and correlation coefficient showed good agreement between the model and the observations in some stations. While the model tended to underestimate the PM10 concentration levels in some parts of the simulating domain, this can be attributed to the topography influence, EI quality, uncertainty in meteorological data, and trans-boundaries pollution effects. Improving the model performance can be achieved by including more pollutants in EI and expanding the simulating domain. Forecasting air quality in this region using this model is one of the potential applications of this study besides providing reliable and near-time information to aid decision-making process for better air quality management.
Yuting Liang
Institute of Soil Science - CAS, China
Title: Soil microbial succession and changes of functional genes in response to climate change with latitude simulated by long-term soil transplant
Biography:
Yuting Liang has completed her PhD from Tsinghua University, China and Post-doctoral research from University of Oklahoma, USA. Focusing on the research area of the stabilizing mechanism of soil microbial diversity, she has published more than 30 papers in reputed journals, and has been authorized 3 invention patents. She has been selected as the member of Youth Innovation Promotion Association, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and “333 High Level Talent Training Project” in Jiangsu Province.
Abstract:
To understand soil microbial community stability and temporal turnover in response to climate change, a long-term soil transplant experiment was conducted in three agricultural experiment stations over large transects from a warm temperate zone (Fengqiu station in Central China) to a subtropical zone (Yingtan station in southern China) and a cold temperate zone (Hailun station in northern China). Annual soil samples were collected from these three stations from 2005 to 2011, and microbial communities were analyzed by sequencing microbial 16S rRNA gene amplicons using Illumina MiSeq technology. Our results revealed a distinctly differential pattern of microbial communities in both northward and southward transplantations, along with an increase in microbial richness with climate cooling and a corresponding decrease with climate warming. The microbial succession rate was estimated by the slopes (w values) of linear regression of a log-transformed microbial community similarity with time (time–decay relationship). Compared with the low turnover rate of microbial communities in situ (w=0.046, p < 0.001), the succession rate at the community level was significantly higher in the northward transplant (w=0.058, p < 0.001) and highest in the southward transplant (w=0.094, p < 0.001). Climate warming leads to a faster succession rate of microbial communities as well as lower species richness, and compositional changes compared to in situ and climate cooling, which may be related to the high metabolic rates and intense competition under higher temperature. This study provides new insights into the impacts of climate change on the fundamental temporal scaling of soil microbial communities and microbial phylogenetic biodiversity.
Biography:
Yufu Jia is currently pursuing his PhD at China Agricultural University, Beijing, China. He focuses on climate and environment changes using stable carbon isotope and radiocarbon isotope in plants and soil. He is working in Guoan Wang’s team now.
Abstract:
Carbon isotope composition (δ13C) of bulk organic matter in sediments has been widely used to reconstruct past climate changes. However, the influence of temperature on soil organic carbon isotope has been poorly constrained; this impedes the reconstructions of paleoclimate and paleoecology using δ13C records derived from sediments. With a considerable temperature gradient along the 400 mm isoline of mean annual precipitation (MAP) in China, the isoline provides ideal experimental sites for studying the influence of temperature on soil organic carbon isotope. In this study, the effect of temperature on surface soil δ13C was assessed by a comprehensive investigation from 27 sites across a temperature gradient along the isoline. No significant relationships are found between surface soil δ13C and mean annual temperature (MAT) and summer mean temperature (SMT) across the gradient; this suggests that temperature did not play a role in soil δ13C. Although latitude and longitude are related to soil δ13C, environmental factors including temperature, precipitation, altitude, latitude, longitude in total account for only 9% variability in soil δ13C. Based on the finding obtained in this present study, we evaluated 2 samples of the previous paleoprecipitation reconstructions, and conducted a sample reconstruction of paleoprecipitation at the western Chinese Loess Plateau during the Last Glaciation.