South Africa is facing enormous financial, environmental and social challenges posed by abandoned mines. This investigation focused on field verification of 850 abandoned mines and associated rehabilitation challenges...South Africa is facing enormous financial, environmental and social challenges posed by abandoned mines. This investigation focused on field verification of 850 abandoned mines and associated rehabilitation challenges in the Limpopo Province. The investigations included desktop studies, standardised field-based ranking system and sampling. The waste material samples were analysed using XRF （X-ray fluorescence spectrometry） at the Council for Geoscience Laboratory. Approximately 5% of 850 abandoned mines in the Limpopo Province require urgent rehabilitation either due to high concentrations of metals from mine dumps or presence of open shafts. For example, copper concentrations at Messina and Spoedwel were 9,719 ppm and 56,160 ppm, respectively. Birthday Gold Mine in Giyani area is characterised by un-safe open shafts and un-stable grounds which poses safety problems and limits the future land-use. Although these investigations have been conducted, it is not possible to rehabilitate all abandoned mines mainly due to limited financial resources. The abandoned mines close to human settlement are given priority due to their immediate threat to people. This study recommends that rehabilitation of abandoned mines should take cognisance of the sustainable future land use that will favour the creation of jobs and nature conservation.展开更多
It is known that the building sector consumes about 40% of earth＇s resources in their process of commissioning, erection and subsequent operation. As a consequence there is significant amount of CO2 emission to the a...It is known that the building sector consumes about 40% of earth＇s resources in their process of commissioning, erection and subsequent operation. As a consequence there is significant amount of CO2 emission to the atmosphere. Assessment of environmental performances of buildings has assumed immense significance in such backdrop and calls for assessing the ＂Carbon Footprint＂ of building systems for estimating their environmental compatibility. The present paper discusses a case specific environmental evaluation exercise by estimating the Carbon Footprint of a conventionally constructed tourist accommodation by tracking its resource consumption pattern during both the execution and operational phases in the hot and humid climatic zone of Indian sea-side. The result of the analysis is compared against the average carrying capacity of Earth to develop a method of measuring and quantifying the building＇s environmental performance with respect to Earth＇s reported threshold of tolerance and check the extent of failure or success, as the case may be. This process also leads to a tool named ＇Sustainability Quotient＇. The method of quantification is simple and can be adopted for environmental assessment of both new and old buildings.展开更多
Vegetation is an important ecosystem on earth. It influences the earth system in many ways. Any influences on this fragile variable should be investigated, especially in a changing climate. Humans can have a positive ...Vegetation is an important ecosystem on earth. It influences the earth system in many ways. Any influences on this fragile variable should be investigated, especially in a changing climate. Humans can have a positive or a negative influence on plants. This paper investigates the possible impact of tourism development and economic growth on vegetation health using cointegration and causality for Aruba. The proposed framework contributes to a better understanding on the use of remote sensing of vegetation response to tourism development and economic growth. Thereby, provide opportunities for improving the overall strategy for achieving sustainable development on a small island state. The calculations showed that there were relationships between the tourism demand and economic growth on the vegetation health on Aruba for the western part of the island. On the other hand, for the central part of the island, no relationships were found.展开更多
Exponential increase of anthropogenic impact （human population number, some technological parameters） becomes menacing for biosphere functioning. Anyway, we should be able to estimate quantitatively limits of our im...Exponential increase of anthropogenic impact （human population number, some technological parameters） becomes menacing for biosphere functioning. Anyway, we should be able to estimate quantitatively limits of our impact on functional parameters of the biosphere. Considering biosphere as a natural life-support system （LSS）, we can receive the helpful information for working out and creation of artificial LSS of various types. Big biotic cycle induced with flows of a solar energy, is a basis of functioning of the biosphere and its basic cells-ecosystems. It＇s possible to summarize briefly the main functional and structural properties of the biosphere： integrity, closure, substance cycling, steady state, energy dependence and biodiversity. These properties of the biosphere, as a LSS, ensure potentially everlasting life under the conditions of a limited quantity of substrate suitable for the life on the planet. Ecological Footprint （EF） as a quantitative measure of anthropogenic impact on biosphere functioning is discussed in the paper. The index of the ecological reliability （IER） is introduced as a quantitative ecological indicator of different territories. The comparative dynamics of the United Nations＇ Human Development Index （HDI） and EF is discussed. The vital goal of sustainable human development： all humans can have opportunity to fulfill their lives without degrading the biosphere. To support sustainability, we should try to develop each nation and the mankind as a whole with a high HDI and a low ecological footprint. It means to have high level of HDI at low level of EF. But current tendency of economical and social development shows that the higher HDI is, the bigger EF is. EF of mankind is growing menacingly. Now actual pressure of the human civilization of our planet （2010） upon 50% exceeds its potential possibilities biological capacity （BC）, measured on the area ＂global＂ green hectares）. It means that we need 1.5 planets of the Earth＇s type. It leads to ecological incident in the scale of biosphere. Our biosphere is the large, multilevel, hierarchically organized system, and our civilization is only a part of it. This part is not central; it can disappear for ever, if we do not cope to be included in the biosphere as a great system.展开更多
Sustainable development and continued prosperity of humanity hinge on the availability of renewable energy sources on a terawatts scale. In the long run, solar energy is the only source that can meet this daunting dem...Sustainable development and continued prosperity of humanity hinge on the availability of renewable energy sources on a terawatts scale. In the long run, solar energy is the only source that can meet this daunting demand. Widespread utilization of solar energy faces challenges as a result of its diffusive （hence low energy density） and intermittent nature. How to effectively harvest, concentrate, store and redistribute solar energy constitutes a fundamental challenge that the scientific community needs to address. Photoelectrochemical （PEC） water splitting is a process that can directly convert solar energy into chemical energy and store it in chemical bonds, by producing hydrogen as a clean fuel source. It has received significant research attention lately. Here we provide a concise review of the key issues encountered in carrying out PEC water splitting. Our focus is on the balance of considerations such as stability, earth abundance, and efficiency. Particular attention is paid to the combination of photoelectrodes with electrocatalysts, especially on the interfaces between different components.展开更多
文摘South Africa is facing enormous financial, environmental and social challenges posed by abandoned mines. This investigation focused on field verification of 850 abandoned mines and associated rehabilitation challenges in the Limpopo Province. The investigations included desktop studies, standardised field-based ranking system and sampling. The waste material samples were analysed using XRF （X-ray fluorescence spectrometry） at the Council for Geoscience Laboratory. Approximately 5% of 850 abandoned mines in the Limpopo Province require urgent rehabilitation either due to high concentrations of metals from mine dumps or presence of open shafts. For example, copper concentrations at Messina and Spoedwel were 9,719 ppm and 56,160 ppm, respectively. Birthday Gold Mine in Giyani area is characterised by un-safe open shafts and un-stable grounds which poses safety problems and limits the future land-use. Although these investigations have been conducted, it is not possible to rehabilitate all abandoned mines mainly due to limited financial resources. The abandoned mines close to human settlement are given priority due to their immediate threat to people. This study recommends that rehabilitation of abandoned mines should take cognisance of the sustainable future land use that will favour the creation of jobs and nature conservation.
文摘It is known that the building sector consumes about 40% of earth＇s resources in their process of commissioning, erection and subsequent operation. As a consequence there is significant amount of CO2 emission to the atmosphere. Assessment of environmental performances of buildings has assumed immense significance in such backdrop and calls for assessing the ＂Carbon Footprint＂ of building systems for estimating their environmental compatibility. The present paper discusses a case specific environmental evaluation exercise by estimating the Carbon Footprint of a conventionally constructed tourist accommodation by tracking its resource consumption pattern during both the execution and operational phases in the hot and humid climatic zone of Indian sea-side. The result of the analysis is compared against the average carrying capacity of Earth to develop a method of measuring and quantifying the building＇s environmental performance with respect to Earth＇s reported threshold of tolerance and check the extent of failure or success, as the case may be. This process also leads to a tool named ＇Sustainability Quotient＇. The method of quantification is simple and can be adopted for environmental assessment of both new and old buildings.
文摘Vegetation is an important ecosystem on earth. It influences the earth system in many ways. Any influences on this fragile variable should be investigated, especially in a changing climate. Humans can have a positive or a negative influence on plants. This paper investigates the possible impact of tourism development and economic growth on vegetation health using cointegration and causality for Aruba. The proposed framework contributes to a better understanding on the use of remote sensing of vegetation response to tourism development and economic growth. Thereby, provide opportunities for improving the overall strategy for achieving sustainable development on a small island state. The calculations showed that there were relationships between the tourism demand and economic growth on the vegetation health on Aruba for the western part of the island. On the other hand, for the central part of the island, no relationships were found.
文摘Exponential increase of anthropogenic impact （human population number, some technological parameters） becomes menacing for biosphere functioning. Anyway, we should be able to estimate quantitatively limits of our impact on functional parameters of the biosphere. Considering biosphere as a natural life-support system （LSS）, we can receive the helpful information for working out and creation of artificial LSS of various types. Big biotic cycle induced with flows of a solar energy, is a basis of functioning of the biosphere and its basic cells-ecosystems. It＇s possible to summarize briefly the main functional and structural properties of the biosphere： integrity, closure, substance cycling, steady state, energy dependence and biodiversity. These properties of the biosphere, as a LSS, ensure potentially everlasting life under the conditions of a limited quantity of substrate suitable for the life on the planet. Ecological Footprint （EF） as a quantitative measure of anthropogenic impact on biosphere functioning is discussed in the paper. The index of the ecological reliability （IER） is introduced as a quantitative ecological indicator of different territories. The comparative dynamics of the United Nations＇ Human Development Index （HDI） and EF is discussed. The vital goal of sustainable human development： all humans can have opportunity to fulfill their lives without degrading the biosphere. To support sustainability, we should try to develop each nation and the mankind as a whole with a high HDI and a low ecological footprint. It means to have high level of HDI at low level of EF. But current tendency of economical and social development shows that the higher HDI is, the bigger EF is. EF of mankind is growing menacingly. Now actual pressure of the human civilization of our planet （2010） upon 50% exceeds its potential possibilities biological capacity （BC）, measured on the area ＂global＂ green hectares）. It means that we need 1.5 planets of the Earth＇s type. It leads to ecological incident in the scale of biosphere. Our biosphere is the large, multilevel, hierarchically organized system, and our civilization is only a part of it. This part is not central; it can disappear for ever, if we do not cope to be included in the biosphere as a great system.
文摘Sustainable development and continued prosperity of humanity hinge on the availability of renewable energy sources on a terawatts scale. In the long run, solar energy is the only source that can meet this daunting demand. Widespread utilization of solar energy faces challenges as a result of its diffusive （hence low energy density） and intermittent nature. How to effectively harvest, concentrate, store and redistribute solar energy constitutes a fundamental challenge that the scientific community needs to address. Photoelectrochemical （PEC） water splitting is a process that can directly convert solar energy into chemical energy and store it in chemical bonds, by producing hydrogen as a clean fuel source. It has received significant research attention lately. Here we provide a concise review of the key issues encountered in carrying out PEC water splitting. Our focus is on the balance of considerations such as stability, earth abundance, and efficiency. Particular attention is paid to the combination of photoelectrodes with electrocatalysts, especially on the interfaces between different components.
