Journal of Geography, Environment and Earth Science International

Humanity Lives on the Cosmic Microwave

Vitaly A. Prisyazhniuk — 2023-03-04

Seismologists and volcanologists have no answer to the question of what is the source of energy for volcanoes and earthquakes. A hypothesis is proposed and substantiated that the energy supplier is the Sun. Microwave and induction ovens are a public example of the transformation of high-frequency radiation energy into heat. The filtering of certain frequencies of radiation by a metal grid raised into the stratosphere can dampen the destructive effect of earthquakes and erupting volcanoes.

Spatio-temporal Dynamics of the Aquatic Plant Colonisation of Lake Dang in the Sudano-Guinean Zone (Adamaoua-Cameroon)

Ali Ahmed Davy — 2023-03-10

Very little information exist on lake environment in Northern Cameroon. The objective of this study is to determine the colonisation plant of Lake Dang using field and remote sensing data from LM, Landsat5, Landsat7 and Landsat8 images, over a 45-year period (1975-2020), spaced 15 years apart (1975; 1990; 2005; 2020). The method of diachronic analysis of satellite data was used and the supervised classification approach based on colour compositions and bands were chosen for class discrimination. The overall accuracies obtained ranged from 96.35 to 89.28%, followed by Kappa indices of 74.43 to 90.18% for the years 1975 and 2020 respectively. The results on the spatio-temporal dynamics of water bodies from 1975 to 2020 show an average annual rate of regression of the water surface of -1.35%/year, i.e. 0.099 km²/year, in favour of vegetation. The period from 1987 to 2002 shows a more marked evolution, with a rate of plant colonisation of 1.98%/year, i.e. 0.145 km²/year, compared to the periods from 1975 to 1990 (rate of plant colonisation of 0.85%/year, i.e. 0.062 km²/year) and 2005-2020 (1.23%/year, i.e. 0.090 km²/year). Today, 73% (5.376 km²) of the total surface area (7.365 km²) of the water body is colonised by vegetation. Moreover, bathymetry shows a maximum depth of 2.70 to 2.80 m, which is discriminating for a lake ecosystem in the Sudano-Guinean zone. Consequently, the preliminary results of this study shows that Lake Dang is marked by a strong eutrophication due to anthropic activities caused by agriculture, urbanization and non-rational deforestation which have strongly affected the occupation of the lake banks.

Heavy Metals, Profile of the Proposed Dump-Site at Ntak-Inyang Itam, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

U. U. Ubong — 2023-03-11

Levels of trace metals (Cr, Cd, Mn, Fe, Cu, Co, Ni, V, Zn and Pb) in soil from Ntak-Inyang Itam, Itu Local Government Area were determined using standard analytical procedures involving the use of atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results of the analysis shows that at the debt of 0-15cm at five locations distributed in the area, Cr at sample sites B and E had a mean value of 5.00± 0.55µg/kg which is lower when compared to sample sites A, C and D. Also Cr in the study area had a coefficient of variation (C.V) of 3.14% which signifies stability. Cd in the four sampling points (A, B, C and E) seems to maintain a constant mean value of 0.14± 0.01µg/g except for point D (Esuk in Ntak-Inyang) which has a mean concentration of 0.19± 0.02µg/g. Mn exhibited different mean value at different (five) sampling points and a C.V of 1.99% which was the least and the most stable in the area among the ten metals analysed. Fe exhibited the highest concentration in all the sampling points, with a C.V of 4.99%. The result of analysis of copper (Cu) shows a total mean concentration of 8.29± 0.67µg/g while Cobalt (Co) in the four sampling points had the same mean value of 0.11± 0.1µg/g except in sample point A (sloping area of AKRUBEL) which increases to a value of 0.22± 0.6µg/g. Nickel (Ni) in sampling point C and D exhibited the same mean value of 0.83± 0.9µg/g while other sampling points (A, B, D and E) the mean varies. Vanadium (V) in the samples were generally low, sample point A and D had a mean concentration of 0.10± 0.01µg/g. Sample point C, D and E had 0.05± 0.01µg/g each. Zinc (Zn) had a mean concentration of 2.72± 0.60µg/g and a C.V of 10.4% while Lead (Pb) stood at a C.V of 3.2%. The results were compared with various National and International standards, on the whole the area was not found to be polluted by these metals. Hence the area is suitable for sitting the dump-site, with intermittent monitoring.

Application of Geoelectric Technique in Groundwater Protection of Quaternary Aquifer in Wadi El Natrun, Egypt

Mohamed F. Bedair — 2023-03-14

Qualitative and quantitative interpretations of the accessible geoelectrical resistivity data were conducted in the area located to the west of Nile Delta on both sides of the Cairo-Alexandria desert road, between latitudes 30.190816° and 30.745892° N and longitudes 29.797607° and 30.702070° E, in the northern Western Desert of Egypt. The study area is covered by thick sedimentary exposures ranging from the Miocene to the Quaternary period. Geological factors such as lithology and geological structures significantly influence the groundwater in the study area. The Quaternary, Pliocene, and Miocene eras make up the majority of strata in the study region that require water.

The study conducted twenty-three vertical electrical resistivity soundings using the Schlumberger array to define the shallow subsurface geological inferences and investigate the possibilities of finding underground water accumulations and its contamination with clay lenses. The examination of the obtained electric resistivity values revealed the segmentation of the examined section into five geoelectrical units with lateral variations in thicknesses, lithologies, and features. The five geoelectrical units had different compositions, with the first surface unit consisting of silt clay and relatively high resistivity sands and gravels that have been altered laterally. After the surface unit, resistivity ranges from relatively modest to high. Intercalation of sand and clay occurs in the second unit, followed by lenses of relatively medium-resistance coarse sand and clay in the third and fourth units, possibly forming an aquifer, and finally relatively low-resistance sand and clay in the fifth unit.

Due to the haphazard drilling of hundreds of water wells, significant hydrogeological and environmental issues, such as soil salinization, water head decline, and groundwater salinity deterioration, have occurred. These issues have attracted significant expenditures in the field of land reclamation, both on small and large-scale projects. The study area is divided into five main geoelectrical layers observed along this cross area, as follows:

The first surface geoelectrical layer (layer A) is characterized by relatively high resistivity ranging from 8.21 to 595.3 Ohm.m. The thickness of this layer varies from 2.1 to 8.86 m. This layer represents the dry surface cover of the area and consists of gravel, sand, and silt clay.

The second geoelectrical layer (layer B) represents the dry layer lying above the water-bearing formation. It generally consists of sand and clay intercalation. The resistivity of this layer varies from 3.49 to 91.18 Ohm.m, and the thickness of this layer ranges from 17.13 to 38.3 m.

The third geoelectrical layer (layer C1) is the water-bearing formation that generally consists of coarse sand and clay. The resistivity of this layer varies from 4.41 to 37.5 Ohm.m, and the thickness ranges from 10.38 to 54 m.

The fourth geoelectric layer (layer C2) represents the lower part of the water-bearing formation. It consists of clayey sand and clay. The resistivity of this layer varies from 1.83 to 30.1 Ohm.m, and the thickness ranges from 17.78 to 31.35 m.

The last geoelectric layer (layer D) represents the lower layer of investigation, consisting mainly of clay. The resistivity of this layer is generally low, varying within a narrow range of 26.7-39.8 Ohm.m.

Finally the current study highlights the necessity of conducting in-depth geomorphological assessment studies before developing new reclamation projects, in addition to soil and water assessment.