|
|
Tujchneider, O., Christelis, G., & Gun, J. V. der. (2013). Towards scientific and methodological innovation in transboundary aquifer resource management. Environmental Development, 7, 6–16.
Abstract: Groundwater is both an invaluable and a vulnerable resource. Aquifer resources management, aiming at the responsible exploitation and adequate protection of the groundwater resources, is therefore of key importance and has to be based on sound hydrological, environmental, economic and social principles. Aquifer-wide groundwater projects are carried out to collect the required area-specific information, to understand ongoing processes, to identify the management issues to be addressed and to develop an adequate management strategy and action plan. The quality of the project results depends to a large extent on the science and methodologies adopted in the design and used during the implementation of the projects. In this context, a project was carried out recently to analyse the scientific aspects of—among others—the transboundary aquifer projects within the IW: Portfolio of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and to make recommendations for scientific strengthening and innovation. This paper presents the main outcomes of this analysis. In order to accomplish groundwater resources management goals in the case of transboundary aquifers, a balanced joint strategy is needed. Analysis of documentation on completed and on-going transboundary aquifer projects has shown a wide range of scientific activities that contribute positively to the development of such strategies. This analysis has also identified options for increasing the positive impacts of science on strategy development; some of these options have been pioneered already and deserve wider application other ones are relatively new. Important options are: integrating transboundary aquifer resource management in a wider environmental–socio-economical context (holistic approach); exploring causal chains to better understand the processes of change of groundwater resources; using this improved understanding for optimising groundwater assessment and monitoring programmes; and adaptive management. In addition, to obtain maximum benefit of the scientific results there is a general need to promote effective communication at all levels, between the scientific community and policy-/decision makers, as well as with the local community who have a major role to play in the use and conservation of the resources. All of this should be accompanied by the harmonisation of the legal instruments and co-operation agreements between countries and the communities involved. Two case studies, one in South America and one in Southern Africa, are added as examples of the setting and approach of the analysed transboundary aquifer projects.
|
|
|
|
Brutsaert, W. (2017). Global land surface evaporation trend during the past half century: Corroboration by Clausius-Clapeyron scaling. Advances in Water Resources, 106, 3–5.
Abstract: Analyses of satellite data mainly over the world’s ocean surfaces have shown that during 1986–2006 global average values of atmospheric water vapor, precipitation and evaporation have increased at a relative rate of 0.0013a−1; this is roughly in accordance with the Clausius-Clapeyron equation for the average temperature trend during this period, and amounts to 0.065K−1 at the average temperature of T=14∘C. Application of this concept over the world’s land surfaces yields an average global evaporation trend during the past half century of around 0.4 to 0.5 mma−2; this confirms the values obtained in previous studies with totally different methods.
|
|
|
|
Androvitsanea, A., Fawzy, M., Fuchs, J., Külls, C., Fahlbusch, H., & Heiden, J. (2018). Hydrologische Bedingungen im Heraion von Samos vom 12. bis 8. Jh. v. Chr. und ihre Bedeutung für die wasserbauliche Infrastruktur. Environmental Water Engineering, 1(1), 1–21.
|
|
|
|
Alvarado, J. A. C., Balsiger, B., Röllin, S., Jakob, A., & Burger, M. (2014). Radioactive and chemical contamination of the water resources in the former uranium mining and milling sites of Mailuu Suu (Kyrgyzstan). Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 138, 1–10.
Abstract: An assessment of the radioactive and chemical contamination of the water resources at the former uranium mines and processing sites of Mailuu-Suu, in Kyrgyzstan, was carried out. A large number of water samples were collected from the drinking water distribution system (DWDS), rivers, shallow aquifers and drainage water from the mine tailings. Radionuclides and trace metal contents in water from the DWDS were low in general, but were extremely high for Fe, Al and Mn. These elements were associated with the particle fractions in the water and strongly correlated with high turbidity levels. Overall, these results suggest that water from the DWDS does not represent a serious radiological hazard to the Mailuu Suu population. However, due to the high turbidities and contents of some elements, this water is not good quality drinking water. Water from artesian and dug wells were characterized by elevated levels of U (up to 10 μg/L) and some trace elements (e.g. As, Se, Cr, V and F) and anions (e.g. Cl−, NO3−, SO42−). In two artesian wells, the WHO guideline value of 10 μg/L for As in water was exceeded. As the artesian wells are used as a source of drinking water by a large number of households, special care should be taken in order to stay within the WHO recommended guidelines. Drainage water from the mine tailings was as expected highly contaminated with many chemicals (e.g. As) and radioactive contaminants (e.g. U). The concentrations of U were more than 200 times the WHO guideline value of 30 μg/L for U in drinking water. A large variation in 234U/238U isotopic ratios in water was observed, with values near equilibrium at the mine tailings and far from equilibrium outside this area (reaching ratios of 2.3 in the artesian well). This result highlights the potential use of this ratio as an indicator of the origin of U contamination in Mailuu Suu.
|
|
|
|
Salbu, B. (2013). Preface: uranium mining legacy issue in Central Asia. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 123, 1–2.
|
|
