Day 1 :
Keynote Forum
Peter Hoeppe
Munich Re, Germany
Keynote: Increasing losses caused by extreme weather events: What are the drivers and what is the role of climate change?
Time : 9:30-10:15
Biography:
Peter Hoeppe is the Chairman of the Munich Climate Insurance Initiative, which he founded in 2005 and had been appointed as Climate Change Advisor of the Bavarian State Government. He has completed his Masters and PhD in Meteorology and Human Biology.
Abstract:
Losses caused by natural disasters are a major factor influencing the balance sheet of insurers, especially reinsurers. Such events have a high potential of creating extreme accumulation losses. This is why the insurance industry has built up a lot of expertise in analyses and assessment of trends of losses caused by natural perils. Such losses have increased tremendously worldwide in the last decades. In order to detect the drivers of this trend the losses have to be adjusted for changes in exposed values. Munich Re just recently has developed a very sophisticated method for such a normalization of losses. After this normalization a still residual loss trend can be either driven by changes in the vulnerability of assets or on the hazard side. The results of such analyses with data of the Munich Re Nat Cat SERVICE database clearly show that in the last decades the main drivers of the loss trend have been changes in the exposure of values, i.e., growth of population and wealth in affected regions. Also a shift of population into more hazardous regions, especially to the coasts is increasing the losses. On the other side a clear signal of prevention measures, e.g., investment into flood protection, already can be detected in decreasing normalized losses caused by river floods, even though the number of intense precipitation events has increased. For thunderstorm related loss events the number of events as well as the normalized losses has increased significantly in North America and Europe. There is a suggestion that these increases are driven by an increase in the humidity of the lower atmosphere and thus, that this is a secondary effect of climate change. As global warming will continue in the coming decades, its contribution to increasing natural catastrophe losses will become more prominent, a projection also given by the 5th assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Keynote Forum
Ji Whan Ahn
Korea Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources, South Korea
Keynote: Feasibility study of in situ precipitated calcium carbonates (PCC) synthesis technology for paper recycling by the capture and direct utilization of low concentration CO2
Time : 10:15-11:00
Biography:
Ji Whan Ahn has completed her BS, MS and PhD degree in Mining and Minerals Engineering from Inha University and she has completed Master’s degree in Resources Environmental Economics from Yonsei University. Currently she is working as an Executive Director in Carbon Resource Recycling Appropriate Technology Center, Korea Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources, President for Korea Institute of Limestone & Advanced Materials, Chairperson and Vice President of Korea Institute of Resources and Recycling. She has published more than 175 papers, 716 proceedings papers/conference presentations and 71 patents. She has received many awards for her research excellence.
Abstract:
Feasibility study of in situ PCC synthesis technology for paper recycling in the Phong Khe Paper Craft Village of Vietnam has a green manufacture model and solution for environmental remediation. In situ PCC synthesis technology is a recycling technique of waste paper and capture and direct utilization of low concentration of CO2 with PCC filler which improves whiteness and machinery lifetime of paper. This paper recycling with in situ PCC synthesis has been developed and popularized in other countries. It is featured by a process of mixing waste pulp with PCC formed by quick lime (CaO) and CO2 in an in situ PCC Reactor. In general, PCC synthesis processes are divided into the two following steps in paper recycling process: (1) CaO is turned into slaked lime (calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2) through its reaction with water, which is called hydraulic process and (2) PCC is synthesized by the reaction between Ca(OH)2 and carbonate ions (CO32-). The technology has several advantages. It reduces overall manufacture costs and needs fewer corrosive chemicals, thus extending machinery lifetime. Most of all, the process is more environmentally friendly due to following reasons: Easier recycling CO2 generated from paper industry, wood consumption reduction, less wastewater and byproduct production from the process and less energy consumption owing to shorter refining and drying times. It is calculated that recycling one ton of waste paper can reduce 937 kg CO2, 3.22 KWh energy, 42,465 L water and 340 kg waste. In order to apply the paper recycling technology, an action plan which collects waste papers is required as a climate change adaptation. To spread the collection of waste papers, the system which transfers the collected waste papers to cashable mileage needs to be introduced in Phong Khe village and extend to entire of Vietnam. The system needs to be started with students and citizens as an education to sustainable paper recycling.
Keynote Forum
Jean Sciare
The Cyprus Institute, Cyprus
Keynote: Monitoring air pollution and climate change in the eastern Mediterranean Middle East (EMME) region: Challenges and opportunities
Time : 11:15-12:00
Biography:
Jean Sciare is the Director of the Energy Environment and Water Research Center of the Cyprus Institute, Cyprus. His main expertise covers the experimental characterization of atmospheric pollutants; addressing issues related their impacts on air quality, health and climate. He is currently leading the development of several major research infrastructures in Cyprus, contributing to the long-term observation of key climate forcers in the Eastern Mediterranean Middle East region. He has co-authored more than 100 international refereed publications and more than 200 presentations at international conferences devoted to atmospheric chemistry and physics.
Abstract:
Almost 400 million people live in the Eastern Mediterranean Middle East (EMME); a region where climate change is already evident (the number of extremely hot days has doubled in the region since 1970). In the near future, this region could become so hot that human habitability is compromised. The goal of limiting global warming to less than 2 °C, agreed at the 2015 Conference of Parties (COP21) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris will not be sufficient to prevent this scenario. In combination with increasing air pollution and windblown desert dust, the environmental conditions could become intolerable and may force people to migrate. The lack of constrains by accurate in-situ atmospheric data of key climate forcers has been identified as a major limitation for the validation/performance of climate models over the EMME. This may have a strong impact in the design of efficient regional/national Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation strategies, which are usually fed by high-resolution regional climate projections. In this context, the rapid implementation of a regional atmospheric network with high quality data following international standards appears as a high priority for the entire EMME region. With the support of the ACTRIS pan-European Research Infrastructure, the Cyprus Institute is currently putting unprecedented efforts to establish the first ever long-term observations of climate forcers (greenhouse gases, aerosols, clouds, reactive gases) in the EMME region. This infrastructure gathers a ground-based supersite and a fleet of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles equipped with miniaturized sensors to scrutinize the vertical distribution of air pollutants in the first 5 km of the atmosphere. This infrastructure is seen as the first step towards a regional coordinated atmospheric network that is still missing in the Middle East.
- Climate Hazards | Climate Policy | Climate Refugees | Climate Solutions | Disaster Risk Reduction | Green House Gases
Location: Salon B
Chair
Peter Hoeppe
Munich Re, Germany
Co-Chair
Jean Sciare
The Cyprus Institute, Cyprus
Session Introduction
Inas M AlNashef
Khalifa University of Science and Technology, UAE
Title: Synthesis and characterization of novel amine-based deep eutectic solvents for CO2 capturing
Time : 13:45-14:15
Biography:
Inas M AlNashef has joined King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after obtaining his PhD degree from the University of South Carolina and further promoted to Associate Professor. He was very active in research related to green engineering and sustainability and established collaboration with the University of Malaya, Malaysia, where he was a Co-Advisor. Later, he moved to Abu Dhabi, UAE where he is presently working as an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Masdar Institute. He has also co-authored more than 80 peer-reviewed journal publications. In addition, he received 7 patents from US and EU patent offices. He is also a recipient of several prestigious awards including King Abdullah Award for best invention in 2013.
Abstract:
In this study, we have reported a new experimental measurement of the density, viscosity, conductivity, pH, surface tension and thermal stability of three different deep eutectic solvents- DES, Choline chloride+Monoethanolamine and ChCl-MEA; Choline chloride+Diethanolamine, ChCl-DEA; and Choline chloride+Methyldiethanolamine, ChCl-MDEA, representing the primary, secondary and tertiary amines, respectively. The experimental data was obtained at temperature from 293.15-353.15 K and for three different choline chloride:amine molar ratios of 1:6, 1:8 and 1:10. Results revealed that amine-based DESs are more thermally stable as compared to stand-alone amine solvents. The density and viscosity showed a negative relationship with temperature in the linear regression model based on the least square approach. On the other hand, the conductivity increased linearly with increasing the temperature. The density, viscosity, stability and conductivity increased with decreasing molar ratio of the amine in the DESs. However, there was no clear trend in the pH with molar ratio. The prepared DESs showed very promising results in CO2 capturing.
Edgar Ricardo Monroy Vargas
Pilot University of Colombia, Colombia
Title: Systemic model for assessing the vulnerability of an aquifer associated with the effects of climate change
Time : 14:15-14:45
Biography:
Edgar Ricardo Monroy Vargas has 20 years of professional experience. He has worked in the public and private sector and held positions at the management level such as: Secretary General of the Assembly of Deputies of Boyaca, Manager and he has worked in oil sector with the Multinational TECHINT and Consultant in the area of hydro-environmental for Regional Autonomous Corporations.
Abstract:
Environmental management and land use planning are difficult issues for all government authorities. The author in his doctoral work called Systemic Model for Environmental Impact Assessment at River Basin Level, proposed a methodology to quantitatively assess the environmental impact at the level of a river basin. In the same work an indicator called EVI was proposed, which includes the result of the environmental impact value with other macroeconomic variables, with the support of the Fuzzy Logic. It is important to note that the estimated environmental impact at the Basin level is quantitative and the EVI is an important and innovative contribution to environmental assessment and management. This methodology can be extrapolated for the assessment of the vulnerability of aquifers such as Puerto Boyaca, Colombia, allowing a better decision making on its use and environmental management.
Akihiro Nakamura
Meiji University, Japan
Title: Optimizing ownership scenarios for commercializing carbon capture and storage in Japan
Time : 14:45-15:15
Biography:
Akihiro Nakamura is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Environmental Law, Meiji University, Japan and Adjunct Researcher at University of Tasmania, Australia. He has graduated with a PhD in Public Policy from the University of Tasmania and has also built considerable experience in these fields both in Australia and Japan. His research expertise is in the field of policy instrument analysis in relation to climate change policy.
Abstract:
This article is a part of our Japanese Government funded research project, which is to develop a comprehensive policy and legal framework for commercializing Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in Japan. The Paris Agreement of 4 November 2016 for the first time brought all nations together to share the responsibility of combatting climate change and adapting to its effects. There has been wide discussion about CCS considered as one of the significant approaches to greatly reduce CO2 from the global atmosphere. The Japanese government submitted Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2015. Japan decided on the GHG reduction target of 26% by 2030 below 2013 level. The government also targets an 80% reduction of GHG emissions by 2050 and has acknowledged CCS can potentially contribute to reducing 7.1 billion tons of CO2 by 2050, resulting in approximately 21% of potential contribution to reducing CO2. Thus, the future CCS deployment associated with an appropriate legislative framework will allow potential benefits and meet Japan’s climate policy goals. In this regard, this article offers a strategic framework for optimizing different ownership systems for the future CCS deployment in Japan. Throughout this study, it proposes three different scenarios in terms of developing CCS deployment in Japan, they are: Private ownership, private associated with government/public ownership and government/public ownership for CCS. The degree of cost and risk sharing will be differentiated, depending on the development stage and scenarios. Accessing relevant literature, we have proposed three potential scenarios for addressing the best legal framework for the future CCS operation in Japan.
Cotek Temitayo
Indian Academy Centre for Research & PG Studies, India
Title: Tobacco, a platform for efficient biofuel production: Pre-treatment to bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass of tobacco
Time : 15:15-15:45
Biography:
Cotek Temitayo has completed his Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Genetics and Biochemistry. He has done research projects on few topics such as isolation and enumeration of endophytic fungus from medicinal plants, antibiotic resistance of pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and population genetics study on diabetes mellitus.
Abstract:
Statement of the Problem: The escalating industrial and domestic demands on non-renewable energy resources have led to the rapid depletion of fossil fuels. This has resulted in the emergence of bioethanol derived from fermentation of food crops such as maize and corn which has increased the prices of food commodities. Second generation bioethanol based on raw materials rich in complex carbohydrates such as cellulose reduces the competition with the food industry. Tobacco is grown in large fields all over the world and generates multiple harvests per year, thus producing large amounts of inexpensive green biomass. The process to obtain second generation bioethanol involves four basic steps: pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, sugar fermentation and ethanol recovery.
Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: The dried tobacco leaves and stalk were pretreated with water, buffer (0.1 M Citrate buffer) and dilute acids (H2SO4, HCl and HNO3 at 1%, 4% and 6%) at different temperatures (60 oC, autoclave-121 oC and 130 oC) and microwave treatment (700 W, 2 min). The percentage of cellulose in the pre and post treated biomass was estimated by the method of Updegraff. The pretreated biomass was subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis using cellulose from Trichoderma reesei (~700 U/g of substrate) and β-glucosidase (60 U/g of substrate). The total yield of glucose and ethanol produced for each pretreated biomass was assayed by standard procedures.
Findings: A considerable loss of biomass was observed after pretreatment with dilute acids compared to pretreatment with steam in water or citrate buffer. The highest glucose and ethanol yield was obtained in the pre-treated stalk with steam at 121 oC in citrate buffer.
Conclusion & Significance: Results from the presented experimental work indicate that leaves and stalk of tobacco have a vast potential for the production of sugars that eventually can be used for producing bio-ethanol. Despite declining cigarette sales worldwide, the use of tobacco to produce bio-ethanol can be an alternative approach to save tobacco farmers. As tobacco is not a food source it will not drive up food prices.
Shah Jiten J
Indian Academy Centre for Research & PG Studies, India
Title: Bio-surfactant production by naphthalene degrading bacteria from oil contaminated soil samples
Time : 16:00-16:30
Biography:
Shah Jiten J is currently working as a Research Fellow at Indian Academy Centre for Research & PG Studies in India after completing his Masters in Microbiology. His research interest lies in the field of environmental microbiology, biotechnology, cancer biology, genetics and molecular biology.
Abstract:
Introduction & Aim: The major environmental pollution of soil and water is due to hydrocarbon contamination resulting by the petrochemical industrial activities. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as naphthalene are hazardous class of organic compounds produced as a result of pyrolysis of fossil fuels or other organic matter. Soil microorganisms have the ability to utilize hydrocarbons as a carbon source. The present study was aimed at isolating bio-surfactant producing bacterial strains capable of degrading naphthalene.
Methodology: Fifteen (15) oil contaminated soil samples collected from four wheeler garages and petrol stations of North Bangalore, Karnataka, India were enriched in Bushnell Haas (BH) medium with naphthalene as a sole carbon source for 7 days followed by spread plate on BH Agar (BHA) medium. Naphthalene degrading colonies obtained on BHA were purified and maintained in nutrient agar slants. The isolates were characterized up to genera by morphological and biochemical characters. Bio-surfactant production was tested in the isolates by various screening methods such as drop collapse method, emulsification activity, etc. Most efficient isolates were identified up to species by molecular characterization and analyzed for bio-surfactant production using cheap carbon sources.
Results: Fifteen naphthalene degraders were isolated from oil contaminated soil samples and were identified as members of genera Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Enterobacter, Stenotrophomonas and Klebsiella. Two most efficient bio-surfactant producers were identified as Staphylococcus arlettae and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Considerable amount of bio-surfactant production was observed by these isolates in BH medium supplemented with cheap carbon sources.
Conclusion: Naphthalene degrading isolates capable of bio-surfactant production could pave a way for effective bioremediation of oil contaminated soil and water environments.
Sayantan Chatterjee
Indian Academy Centre for Research & PG Studies, India
Title: Prevalence and characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from normal working places
Time : 16:30-17:00
Biography:
Sayantan Chatterjee has completed his Bachelor’s degree of Science in Microbiology, Genetics and Biochemistry. His research interest lies in environmental microbiology, health, cancer biology, plant biotechnology, molecular biology and immunology.
Abstract:
Statement of the Problem: Substantial amounts of pharmaceuticals are used in human and veterinary medicine. The inherent biological activity of these non-regulated pollutants turns their occurrence in the aquatic systems into an environmental concern and leads to the selection of antibiotic resistant bacteria in the environment. Therefore, emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria, such as Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), has become major hurdle in treatment of various deadly diseases.
Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: The present study was aimed at determining the prevalence of MIRSA in restroom and classroom door handles of the college. 12 locations were selected in the college campus and 21 samples from both the restrooms and classroom handles were collected using sterile cotton swabs dipped in buffered peptone water and transported to the lab. Isolation of S. aureus was carried out in mannitol salt agar and the isolates were identified by Gram staining and biochemical tests. Antibiotic susceptibility of these isolates was done by disk diffusion method. Genomic DNA was isolated and purified and is being studied further for coa and spa genes.
Findings: Four MRSA isolates were obtained and identified. Coagulase tests were found to be negative and their antibiotic sensitivity revealed that the isolates were resistant to ampicillin, amoxycillin, cefoxitin and cefixime. Further sequencing work is being carried out.
Conclusions: In this study, we have the presence of MRSA in different areas of a normal working place. The presence of MRSA in the study emphasizes the need to formulate hygiene measures to prevent possible spread of MRSA and the other transmissible pathogens to students and faculties in the college.
- Climate Hazards | Climate Policy | Climate Refugees | Climate Solutions | Disaster Risk Reduction | Green House Gases
Location: Salon B
Chair
Peter Hoeppe
Munich Re, Germany
Co-Chair
Jean Sciare
The Cyprus Institute, Cyprus
- Special Session
Location: Salon B
Session Introduction
Stanley D Brunn
University of Kentucky, USA
Title: Visualizing climate change through the eyes of newspaper cartoonists: Five seconds to educate the reader of long term environmental problems
Biography:
Stanley D Brunn has wide ranging research interests in human/environmental intersections including political, social, religion, language, urbanization, cyberspace, geographic futures, innovative cartography and creativity. He has published 20 books and written more than 100 articles and chapters over 50 years.
Abstract:
In an increasing global and interdependent world, the visual is assuming greater importance in public opinion and policy decisions than traditional words or text. This perspective is apparent in global audiences observing political conflicts, pandemic diseases, refugee migrations, natural and human-induced disasters, Google, the WWW and social media are playing key roles in informing leaders and citizens worldwide. Global environmental news reports and commentators regularly inform local, regional and global media audiences using photographs about major earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, disease outbreaks and anomalous weather events on all continents. Underlying many of the reports are ongoing and unexpected changes in weather and climate. Scientists, government policy groups, and NGOs are among those alerting local and global audiences about these changes and their impacts. Books, articles, conferences and legislation are products of these ongoing discussions and presentations. The geopolitics of the visual is an important dimension in understanding environmental change. Another professional group informing wide groups of informed citizens and leaders are newspaper cartoonists. Their task is to capture the essence of a problem or situation in a single frame or drawing that can be understood in less than five seconds. Their use of familiar images, few or no words are critical in capturing their message and informing viewers. I examined the content (subject matter, themes and images) of 607 international and national cartoons about climate change from 2010-2017 to illustrate both how they graphically depict under problems, assess the current state of the environment and look at resolving persistent problems. A skillful political and environmental cartoonist is able to assess a tangled and complex problem easily and assess how to move forward.
- Carbon Sequestration | Climatology and Meteorology | Climate Change and Global Warming Evidences | Pollution and Climate Change | Climate Change and Health | Sustainability and Climate Change
Location: Salon B
Chair
Wendy Lynne Lee
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, USA
Co-Chair
Hans J Mueller
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany
Session Introduction
Stanley D Brunn
University of Kentucky, USA
Title: Visualizing climate change through the eyes of newspaper cartoonists: Five seconds to educate the reader of long term environmental problems
Time : 12:00-13:00
Biography:
Stanley D Brunn has wide ranging research interests in human/environmental intersections including political, social, religion, language, urbanization, cyberspace, geographic futures, innovative cartography and creativity. He has published 20 books and written more than 100 articles and chapters over 50 years.
Abstract:
In an increasing global and interdependent world, the visual is assuming greater importance in public opinion and policy decisions than traditional words or text. This perspective is apparent in global audiences observing political conflicts, pandemic diseases, refugee migrations, natural and human-induced disasters, Google, the WWW and social media are playing key roles in informing leaders and citizens worldwide. Global environmental news reports and commentators regularly inform local, regional and global media audiences using photographs about major earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, disease outbreaks and anomalous weather events on all continents. Underlying many of the reports are ongoing and unexpected changes in weather and climate. Scientists, government policy groups, and NGOs are among those alerting local and global audiences about these changes and their impacts. Books, articles, conferences and legislation are products of these ongoing discussions and presentations. The geopolitics of the visual is an important dimension in understanding environmental change. Another professional group informing wide groups of informed citizens and leaders are newspaper cartoonists. Their task is to capture the essence of a problem or situation in a single frame or drawing that can be understood in less than five seconds. Their use of familiar images, few or no words are critical in capturing their message and informing viewers. I examined the content (subject matter, themes and images) of 607 international and national cartoons about climate change from 2010-2017 to illustrate both how they graphically depict under problems, assess the current state of the environment and look at resolving persistent problems. A skillful political and environmental cartoonist is able to assess a tangled and complex problem easily and assess how to move forward.
Sarath Premalal Nissanka
University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Title: Modeling the climate change impact of rice yield towards climate resilient future in Sri Lanka
Time : 14:00-14:30
Biography:
Sarath Premalal Nissanka is a Professor in Crop Science at the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya. He has graduated with a PhD in Agronomy from the University of Guelph, Canada. He has his expertise on agronomy, crop physiology and climate change and its impacts on agriculture and forest ecosystems.
Abstract:
Statement of the Problem: The climate projections for Sri Lanka indicate a further warming trend and rainfall variability to become more pronounced in the future. Implications of climate change will be more severe on the rice farming since it requires more water and cultivating areas already exposed to upper limit of maximum temperature. Therefore, this study was initiated to quantitatively assess the impact of climate change on productivity of rice varieties by means of crop-climate modeling and to identify adaptation measures.
Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: A leading representative rice farming district (Kurunegala) was used. Yield performances of commonly growing rice cultivars (Bg-300, Bg-357, Bg-358, At-308) were assessed using systematically calibrated DSSAT version 4.5 model for baseline (1980-2010), downscaled 20 Global Climate Models (GCMs, CMIP5-RCP8.5) for mid-century (2040-2069) and for climate sensitivities (AgMIP-C3MP) across three locations of Rajangane, Nikawaratiya and Btalagoda in the district. Randomly selected 104 farmer survey data collected for the two growing seasons (major [October-February] and minor [April-September]) was used for the simulation.
Findings: Cultivation seasons of minor and major showed diverse yield performances with diverse sensitivities to climate. Overall, major cultivation season reported that comparatively lower reduction in rice yields compared to minor season for the actually observed climate over baseline period. According to 20 GCMs of CIMP5- RCP 8.5 climate predictions for the study sites showed the yield drop of up to 16% in major season and it was up to 30% during minor season. Out of three sites Rjangane reported the lowest reduction (10%) in major season compared to Nikaweratriya (19%) and Batalagoda (18%). In Contrast, Batalagoda showed the lowest drop (24%) relatively to Rajnagane (30%) and Nikaweratiya (33%) in minor season.
Conclusion: According to C3MP results two rice cultivar (Bg 300 and Bg 357) reported diverse yield performances with diverse sensitivities to climate for Batalagoda.
Sergey A Piontkovski
Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Title: Atmospheric anomalies, mesoscale eddies and algal blooms in Arabian waters
Time : 14:30-15:00
Biography:
Sergey Piontkovski is currently an Associate Professor, Department of Marine Science and Fisheries, Sultan Qaboos University. He is the author and co-author of 60 peer-reviewed research papers, 3 books, 8 book chapters and 50 conference presentations. His research interests have ranged from physical oceanography to marine ecology and mesoscale physical-biological interactions. His recent research studies have focused on climate-related variability of physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the Arabian Sea.
Abstract:
Shelf waters of Oman and other countries around the Gulf and the northwestern Arabian Sea are subjected to periodic algal blooms which led to huge economic losses because of their impact on fisheries, desalination plants and recreational activities. Remotely sensed and directly sampled seasonal algal blooms of the Gulf and the western Arabian Sea were analyzed with regard to seasonal and inter-annual changes of spatial-temporal characteristics of mesoscale (cyclonic and anticyclonic) eddies observed in both regions. Satellite derived (4 to 9-km spatial resolution MODIS Aqua and VIRS) daily Level-3 data for the sea surface heights, sea surface temperature and chlorophyll-a concentration were used to retrieve weekly time series of parameters and images of their spatial distribution covering 16 years (2000-2016). Data on phytoplankton taxonomy came from the sampling carried out on board research vessels (including ships of opportunity). In the Gulf of Oman and the northwestern Arabian Sea, the dinoflagellate algae Noctiluca scintillans dominated the biomass of phytoplankton during winter blooms. The location of chlorophyll-a maxima was associated with centers of cyclonic and peripheries of anticyclonic eddies which had the size of 100-200km. Both exhibited a bimodal seasonal pattern of their occurrence. In terms of eddy footprints at sea surface, positive and negative sea surface height anomalies matching the range of 10-20 cm were the most numerous. The frequency of eddy occurrence and algal blooms exhibited inter-annual variations. The relationship between atmospheric anomalies (in the form of El-Niňo Southern Oscillation and Indian Ocean Dipole), eddies and algal blooms is discussed.
Kikuro Tomine
National Defense Academy, Japan
Title: Effects of multiple glaciogenic artificial cloud seeding in summer
Time : 15:00-15:30
Biography:
Kikuro Tomine is a Professor in National Defense Academy, Japan, studying aviation weather such as turbulence, thunder, fog, gust and artificial cloud seeding.
Abstract:
Numerical experiments of glaciogenic seeding method are conducted on a cloudy day with weak rain in summer. Released latent heat of freezing has been supposed to play a role to enhance rainfall amount in the method through stimulated convection in a cloud warmed by the released latent heat and the process is not included in the hygroscopic seeding method. Therefore, effects of the released latent heat are, also, investigated. A seeding area is settled about 72 km upwind of a catchment area of a dam. Four kinds of seeding methods are investigated. In the first case, cloud portion upper than the -8 oC level is seeded to estimate seeding effects with AgI. The second is a case with 1 kg dry ice seeding in the seeding area. The third is a massively seeded case with 15 kg dry ice. And the fourth is a multiply seeded case with 15 times seeding of 1 kg dry ice at 5 minute intervals tracking the seeded cloud. Accumulated rainfall amount and increasing ratio at the catchment area for 90 minutes in the four seeded and the control cases (without seeding case). The increasing ratio in the multiply seeded case is the largest. Differences of vertical velocity and atmospheric temperature distributions between the multiply seeded and the control cases at 60 minutes after the seeding, 20 minutes before the cloud reaches over the catchment area are shown. An area of 0.55 g kg-1 snow mixing ratio, which is about 8 times larger than that in the control case, is formed over 139.3°. The snow is supported by the upward flow of 0.2 or 0.4 ms-1. The upward flow is caused by warmed atmosphere by the released latent heat between 5 and 7 km levels.
Geetika Pant
Indian Academy Centre for Research & PG Studies, India
Title: An exploratory field survey of 12 lakes of Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Time : 15:30-16:00
Biography:
Geetika Pant has more than 14 years of experience in teaching and research in various environmental issues and its impact on the society. Her research work areas are on various environmental models like microbial fuel cells, bio-conservation, biodegradation by microbial analysis and stress response mechanisms in plants.
Abstract:
Statement of the Problem: Bangalore city, Karnataka, India used to be known as “The City of Lakesâ€. The rapid urbanization and influx of people has made this city as “Silicon Valley of Indiaâ€. This intense and rapid increase of urban sprawl has resulted in disappearance of wetlands and sharp decline in the number of water bodies. The amalgamation of physical, biological and anthropogenic activities have affected the physiochemical properties of the lakes in the city leading to drastic imbalance in the aquatic life and overall ecological quality. Therefore, there is a need for continuous assessment and monitoring of lake water qualities.
Methodology: The water samples from 12 different lakes in and around Bangalore city were collected and analyzed for various physiochemical parameters (pH, Conductivity, DO, COD, total hardness, alkalinity, phosphate, ammonium and sulfate) by following APHA (2005). The CFU and colony morphology were determined by standard microbiological techniques. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was carried out on the scaled data for classification of lake samples based on their physiochemical parameters in R (Hierarchical cluster analysis).
Findings: The ranges of the physiochemical parameters of the 12 lake water samples were as follows: pH (7 to 10), conductivity (550 to 1830 mmho/cm), DO (0.4 to 2.0 mg/l), COD (30 to 94 mg/l), total hardness (228 to 791 mg/l), phenolphthalein alkalinity (absent in all the lake samples except for Ulsoor Lake), methyl orange alkalinity (100 to 425 mg/l). There were 4 lakes whose ammonium concentration was higher than 300 mg/l. Levels of phosphate were negligible in all the samples except 3 lakes at a range of 141 to 169 mg/l. PCA showed clustering of samples based on the physiochemical parameters into three groups with one exception (Ulsoor Lake).
Conclusion & Significance: The comparison of physiochemical parameters of 12 lakes with the standard values of WHO guidelines revealed that most of the parameters analyzed were greater than the acceptable limits. This poses a dangerous threat to both aquatic and human lives. The information provided through this study could aid in sustainable governance of lakes of Bangalore, a critical but severely threatened ecosystem.
Akihiro Nakamura
Meiji University, Japan
Title: Toward a legal and policy framework for carbon capture and storage in Japan: Optimizing policy mix approach
Time : 16:15-16:45
Biography:
Akihiro Nakamura is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Environmental Law, Meiji University, Japan and Adjunct Researcher at University of Tasmania in Australia. He has completed his PhD in Public Policy from the University of Tasmania. His research expertise is in the field of policy instrument analysis in relation to climate change policy.
Abstract:
The Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology deployment has been widely considered as a crucial tool to contribute to reducing the large amount of the global carbon dioxide emissions created by the human society. In order to encourage large-scale deployment and/or commercial uses of CCS, it is essential to consider policy mix options and the best selections, especially for making greater cost efficiency and scaling up the further facilities for CCS deployment. The need for CCS is also varied depending on country and region. Despite the fact that there are many existing discussions about best selection of policy mix associated with selecting effective policy instruments in general, to date there has been little discussion on CCS specifically, due to the lack of experience in the field of industry. In this regard, this article specifically offers a potential analytical framework for policy mix approach to the future CCS deployment in Japan. Throughout this study, we have addressed a number of key instruments, which are considered and implemented in various countries, including the European Union, Canada, the UK, the US and Norway. This study also identified existing and potential policy instruments relevant to Japan, although commercialized CCS has not yet been enacted to date. Accessing relevant literature, we have proposed two major models for policy mix options, which are “Regulatory model for enterprises” and “Public works model for the relevant authorities”. Our project further takes responsibility to conduct analyses for best policy and legal developments for this country.
Iman Rousta
Yazd University, Iran
Title: The Black Sea SST fluctuations in association with temperature and precipitation of West and Northwest of Iran
Time : 16:45-17:15
Biography:
Iman Rousta has completed his PhD from Tehran University, Iran. His PhD thesis is in Climate Change and Atmospheric Blocking. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Climatology at the Department of Geography, Yazd University. He has published more than 20 papers in reputed journals.
Abstract:
In recent years, global warming has come to the fore as one of the world’s most serious environmental problems. The interaction of the ocean and atmosphere plays an important role in shaping the climate and its variations. Meanwhile, SST fluctuations have diverse effects on climate variability. The purpose of this study was to investigate and analyze the effects of Black Sea SST anomalies on the temperature and precipitation of west and northwest of Iran. For this purpose, the SST of Black Sea has been obtained from the NCEP/NCAR database. After extraction of Black Sea SST, daily temperature and precipitation data of 80 stations were retrieved for the west and northwest of the Iran from IRIMO during the period of 1960 to 2010. Then, by using Pearson correlation coefficient, the relationship between temperature and precipitation in the West and northwest of Iran with the positive and negative anomalies of the SST of Black Sea were calculated. The results of this study showed that the positive anomalies of the SST of Black Sea are more affected by the temperature of the west part of study region, so that the spatial variation of the temperature during the negative anomalies of Black Sea SST in this region was higher. However, the temperature in the northwest of the study region is more associated with negative anomalies. In the case of precipitation, the situation is different, so that precipitation in the study area is more associated with negative anomalies of SST of Black Sea, which is more affected the western provinces. At the time of positive anomalies, only the provinces of Ardabil, East and West Azerbaijan are weakly influenced.
Waqas Ahmed Khan
The University of Lahore, Pakistan
Title: Monitoring and analysis of formaldehyde concentration over Rawalpindi-Islamabad Pakistan using MAX-DOAS and satellite observation
Time : 17:15-17:45
Biography:
Waqas Ahmed khan is serving as a lecturer in University of Lahore, Pakistan in the department of Environmental sciences.
Abstract:
Formaldehyde (HCHO) is an intermediate product in the oxidation paths of non-methane hydrocarbons produced through biogenic activities and anthropogenic sources. Formaldehyde is a flammable, colorless, strong-smelling chemical that is use to produce numerous domestic products and medical preservatives. Formaldehyde is also present naturally in the environment and produced in lesser amounts by most organisms as part of normal metabolic processes. Pakistan lacks the monitoring facilities on a larger scale to measure the atmospheric gasses on regular basis. The study presents the result of atmospheric Formaldehyde vertical column densities (VCDs) obtained from ground-based and satellite observations over Pakistan during the time period of 2014-2015. In order to explore the spatial distribution of Formaldehyde, various field campaigns were conducted by using Car MAX-DOAS instrument in which international scientists were also involved. Level 2 data product of satellite; Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) retrieved by differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) technique was also compared with ground-based observations. Spatio-temporal distribution of Formaldehyde (HCHO) column densities over main cities and region of Pakistan are discussed. The results show that high Formaldehyde (HCHO) column densities 108 ppm exceeding permissible limit of WHO 83 ppm, were found over twin cities Rawalpindi-Islamabad of Pakistan. The highest VCDs were around 1.0×1016 to 8.5 ×1016 molecules/cm2 higher than WHO guide lines, while in Pir-Sohawa valley where there is less population and vehicular emission; HCHO VCDs were found within WHO permissible limits. Similarly, areas with major industrial activity and high population densities showed high amount of HCHO concentrations.