Comparative Analysis of Soil Elements Mining by Water Erosion and Bush Burning

Soil samples taken from soil affected and unaffected by bush burning and water erosion sites were subjected to standard laboratory analysis. The results showed bush burning and water erosion are capable of mining and replenishing soil elements from-and- to the soil at different quantities. Comparatively, eroded soil has most soil elements removal and burnt site has the most soil elements replenished. Burning decreased the soils’ pH by (1.3%), carbon was removed from the soil by (37%), organic matter (35%) and nitrogen (35%). Similarly water erosion mined carbon at (64%), organic matter (64.1%) and nitrogen (63%) from the soil at greater percentages except pH (21.6%), which was increased. The basic cations exchange of Na+ (9.5%), K+ (52.9%), Ca++ (42.2%) and Mg++ (31.8%) were replenished on burnt site. While Na+ (26%), K + (28%), Ca + + (50%), Mg++ (32%) were mined from the soil by water erosion. Also heavy metals of Pb++, Ni+, Fe ++, and V+ were added to the soil by both burning and water erosion. The student parametric t- test and F-test  analyzed on soil elements data at P= 0.05 significant levels revealed non-significance variation in mean and variance between the soil elements of pH, OC, OM,, ON, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, P4-, Al4+, Pb3+, Fe2+, Ni+ and V+ for both sites. This suggests similarity among all soil elements inherently found in soil of same environment of deposition and geochemical sources. Key word: soil elements, mining, erosion, bush burning, organic matte

Radar echo characteristics at Ny-Alesund, Svalbard and Arctic storms over the Norwegian Sea

This paper is a preliminary report on radar echo characteristics and Arctic storms near Svalbard. Using an X-band vertically pointing radar data at Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Norway and synoptic weather charts, the radar echo characteristics are investigated for one year between April 1994 and March 1995. Radar echoes have distinct seasonal variations with respect to height. Taking account of synoptic conditions, each series of radar echoes is classified into four patterns and it is found that they have strong seasonal variations. The low pressure system echo patterns appear throughout the year; their appearance frequencies exceed 50 of all radar echo appearances and increase in early summer and early winter. The appearance frequencies of low pressure systems over the Norwegian Sea have also characteristic strong seasonal variations. These low pressure activities appear to be related to precipitation behavior at Ny-Alesund and vapor transportation to the high Arctic from lower latitudes

Leachate Characterization and Assessment of Groundwater and Surface Water Qualities Near Municipal Solid Waste Dump Site in Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria

Leachate, groundwater and surface water samples were collected from trenches dug into refuse dump site, hand dug water wells and borehole as well as surface water in the vicinity of the Effurun refuse dump site.  Some physico- chemical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS) were determined in-situ. While other such as chloride (Cl-), sulphate (SO4), nitrates (No3), ammonia-N (NH3-N), Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, K, Na, Mg and Ca, COD and BOD were analyzed in the laboratory in accordance with standard laboratory procedures. The ratio of BOD5/ COD is less than 0.5mg/l for leachates from shallow trenches and 0.1mg/l from deeper trenches, an indication of the impact of depth on the landfill stabilization. The leachate has no significant impact on groundwater quality as all parameters analyzed were below the WHO and Nigerian standard for drinking water quality (NSDWQ), except the concentration of NH3- N that is above the WHO standard but less than the NDWWQ, also the influence of landfill leachate on groundwater quality is dependent on the distance and depth of water wells. There was increase in the amount of the parameters analyzed for surface water, a reflection of pollution. The study concludes that in spite of absence of pollution, the Groundwater beneath the landfill has the tendency of being polluted in the distant future except the refuse dump site is upgraded to a well engineered standard landfill which is lacking in the whole of the delta state of Nigeria. Key words: leachate, landfill, groundwater, surface water and pollutio

Strategic Extension and Perceived Usefulness of Emerging Technologies in the North Indian Banks: An Empirical Analysis

Technology advancement has changed the way banking business is done globally, where data Diasporas has become a great concern for management and operations of the financial service industry. This paper is an attempt to investigate the current innovation trends in banks with reference to technology-tailored services. All the services newly introduced in banks have been considered in the discussion. Primary survey has been considered to know the opinions of150 bank employees regarding the implementation of self-services in banks. For data analysis, statistical techniques such as weighted average score, cross tabulation and percentage analysis have been used. The results show that e-channels in the banking industry are gaining acceptance of recent past and growth trends are promising as the world over is heading to paperless, borderless and timeless economies. Key words: Technology, e-channels, Services, e-banking

Investigation of Seawater Intrusion into Coastal Groundwater Aquifers of Escravos, Western Niger Delta, Nigeria

In coastal regimes groundwater aquifers are often vulnerable to saltwater intrusion. Saltwater intrusion is often precipitated by natural hydrodynamic processes and overpumping of groundwater resource. Saltwater intrusion is presumed to have significant effect on quality of groundwater and accountable for lack of access to freshwater in the areas under study. The objective of this study is to use resistivity data obtained from vertical electrical sounding to ascertain the salinity of shallow aquifers, determine depth and thickness of freshwater aquifers. The Schlumberger array configuration was employed in acquisition of data. The maximum and minimum spacing between electrodes (AB/2) ranged from 2m to 250m. Resistivity values ranged from 0.24Ωm to 427Ωm, Values which ranged from 0.2Ωm to 4Ωm was construed to be aquifer saturated with saltwater, brackish water was inferred from resistivity values which vary between 7Ωm and 11Ωm, and clay was assigned to resistivity values that ranged from 17Ωm to 29Ωm. Effect of tide contributes to salinity of shallow aquifer around the seashore area. Aquifers saturated with saltwater are found at the depths of 10.5m, brackish water at 4m to 9m, while freshwater can be located from the depth of 19-46m. The study is able to reveal that groundwater quality has been compromised by intrusion of saltwater. We conclude that there is potential of saltwater intrusion into the freshwater lenses, which may be enhanced in the future by over- development of groundwater. Key words: Escravos, Vertical electrical sounding, Saltwater Intrusion, freshwater lenses, Aquifer, groundwate

Assessment of Shallow Aquifers Contamination by Failure of on-Site Sewage Disposal System in Ughelli, Western Niger Delta, Nigeria

Hydrochemical quality of shallow groundwater aquifers was investigated to assess the potential of contamination by on-site sewage disposal systems in Ughelli. The results are; pH(5.47 – 7.45 ), Ec (105-483.2µscm), TDS( 58.95-294.7mg/l), Na+(1.8-10.95mg/l ), K+(2.64-9.87mg/l ), Mg2+( 2.40-9.89mg/l), Ca2+(3.01-14.90mg/l) and Fe2+ ( 0.02-0.87mg/l). Others include NO3 (0.04-31.24mg/l), NH3+ (0.015-6.98 mg/l), Cl- (8.5 - 104mg/l), SO4-(2.24-45.75mg/l), PO4-(0.21-2.25mg/l). The quality of most groundwater samples from shallow aquifers falls within the tolerance limits stipulated by the WHO and NSDWQ. However, some groundwater samples revealed the presence of high microbial population including total coliform bacteria count (1.78 – 25MNP/100ml) and Escherichia coli (1.35-9.66 MNP/100ml) above the WHO and NSDWQ standards.  Interaction between on-site sewage disposal systems and shallow groundwater aquifers was established  by the presence of microbial population, high concentration of NH3+ and slightly elevated concentration  of NO3, electrical conductivity and TDS in some the groundwater samples. The extent of contamination of groundwater is strongly influenced by depth of the aquifers, high recharge rate during the wet seasons and availability of permeable soil beneath on-site sewage disposal systems. Consequently the paper recommends that groundwater should be sourced from deeper aquifers and those sourced from shallow aquifer in the area should be disinfected before being used. Key words; Groundwater, aquifer, coliform, contamination, on-site disposal systems, WHO and NSDW

An approach to estimate total dissolved solids in groundwater using electrical resistivity sounding and geochemical methods

Electrical resistivity method gives somewhat reliable results in hydrogeophysical deductions, in which the disposition of aquifers can be suitably deciphered. The present study was conducted to validate the use of geoelectric sounding in estimating total dissolved solids (TDS) in groundwater. Twenty (20) resistivity measurements obtained have been interpreted by curve matching and computer iteration and converted to formation resistivities and thicknesses. The resistivities of the aquifer delineated were subsequently used to estimate TDS in groundwater which was correlated with those derived from previous geochemical analyses of ten (10) groundwater samples taken near sounding locations. The result shows a strong correlation (R2 > 0.8) indicating that the TDS determined by geoelectric sounding and geochemical method give similar results.KEYWORDS: Total dissolved solid; groundwater; geoelectric; geochemical; aquife

Characterization of Groundwater Quality from Surface Geoelectrics: The Case of the Sombreiro – Warri Deltaic Plain Aquifer, Western Niger Delta, Nigeria

The vertical and aerial distribution of total dissolved solids (TDS) in groundwater from the predominantly unconfined aquifer in the Sombreiro - Warri Deltaic Plain deposits at Orerokpe in the western Niger Delta have been inferred from geoelectric survey data. Results reveal a dominant trend of decreasing TDS with depth. Specifically, TDS values at 5 m are in the range of 11.2 ppm to 1914.9 ppm (mean value of 451.6 ppm) and thus indicative of the fact that the quality of water at this depth may have been compromised. However at 20m below ground level, TDS are in the range of 44.1 ppm to 151.7 ppm (mean value of 85.7 ppm) which is predominantly below 500 ppm and thus well within the range recommended by the Standards Organization of Nigeria and the USEPA for drinking water supply. The inferred TDS from geoelectric data are in agreement with results obtained from chemical analyses of groundwater samples obtained in previous studies in the area and thus confirm that geoelectric surveys can be helpful in evaluating total dissolved solids (TDS) in the absence of water samples. Keywords: Resistivity, Total dissolved solids, Aquifer, Contaminants, Maximum contamination limit

Characteristics of the ice pellets observed in mid-winter in the Arctic region

In mid-winter ice pellets were observed at Inuvik, Canada and Kiruna, Sweden in the Arctic region. The size distribution, morphology and crystalline nature were examined from the photomicrographs. Moreover, meteorological conditions in which the ice pellets could form were examined from the sounding data at Inuvik. The following results were obtained. (1) The sizes of ice pellets in the Arctic regions were considerably smaller than those in temperate regions. (2) The ice pellets simultaneously fell with the snow crystals with frozen small raindrops. (3) The morphology of ice pellets with a bulge or a spike was qualitatively similar to the results of laboratory experiments. (4) The rate of shattering was smaller than the results of laboratory experiments. (5) Single crystalline ice pellets were abundant in the size < 200μm. (6) Ice pellets in the Arctic are formed through the freezing of supercooled drizzle drops, which are formed by condensation-coalescence process below the freezing temperature