Search Results (185)

The problem of urban surface runoff (USR) treatment is associated with the presence of high concentrations of specific pollutants. One of these pollutants is petroleum product (PP), whose concentration depends on the season and the location of the formation of snow masses, meltwater, and rainwater. For USR treatment, it is possible to use very environmentally friendly and inexpensive technologies. The article discusses natural sorbents based on wood materials, which effectively remove dissolved petroleum products from water. Pine sawdust and shredded branches of maple, birch, and poplar are used as raw materials, which are waste products from the city’s woodworking enterprise and utilities. These materials were pre-microwave (MW) treated to improve their sorption properties. As a result of the experiment, it turned out that modified pine sawdust and crushed maple pinwheels proved to be the most effective sorbents. The maximum sorption capacity values were 0.689 mg/g and 0.952 mg/g for pine and maple sorbents, respectively. This article proposes schemes for filtering devices that can be used in practice in an urban environment. Full article

An ongoing challenge in pelagic oceanography and limnology is to quantify and understand the distribution of suspended particles and particle aggregates with sufficient temporal and spatial fidelity to understand their dynamics. These particles include biotic (mesoplankton, organic fragments, fecal pellets, etc.) and abiotic (dusts, precipitates, sediments and flocks, anthropogenic materials, etc.) matter and their aggregates (i.e., marine snow), which form a large part of the total particulate matter > 200 μm in size in the ocean. The transport of organic material from surface waters to the deep-sea floor is of particular interest, as it is recognized as a key factor controlling the global carbon cycle and hence, a critical process influencing the sequestration of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Here we describe the development of an oceanographic instrument, the Pelagic Laser Tomographer (PLT), that uses high-resolution optical technology, coupled with post-processing analysis, to scan the 3D content of the water column to detect and quantify 3D distributions of small particles. Existing optical instruments typically trade sampling volume for spatial resolution or require large, complex platforms. The PLT addresses this gap by combining high-resolution laser-sheet imaging with large effective sampling volumes in a compact, deployable system. The PLT can generate spatial distributions of small particles (~100 µm and larger) across large water volumes (order 100–1000 m³) during a typical deployment, and allow measurements of particle patchiness over spatial scales to less than 1 mm. The instrument’s small size (6 kg), high resolution (~100 µm in each 3000 cm² tomographic image slice), and analysis software provide a tool for pelagic studies that have typically been limited by high cost, data storage, resolution, and mechanical constraints, all usually necessitating bulky instrumentation and infrequent deployment, typically requiring a large research vessel. Full article

Strawberry is widely cultivated due to its short growth cycle, high yield, and significant profits. In high-latitude cold regions, the planting area of overwintering strawberry has expanded rapidly in recent years. However, although daytime temperatures inside solar greenhouses rise quickly with solar radiation, plants are frequently subjected to persistent nocturnal low-temperature stress (nocturnal temperature below 10 °C). This stress restricts photosynthesis, delays growth, and markedly reduces yield. Therefore, accurately evaluating the tolerance of strawberry varieties to low nocturnal temperatures is crucial for unheated overwintering production in cold regions. This study selected Snow White, Benihoppe, and Kaorino as experimental materials for overwintering cultivation trials in a typical cold-region solar greenhouse. We measured and analyzed growth and development, photosynthetic characteristics, phenological traits, and fruit yield. Based on photosynthetic physiology and phenotypic traits, we constructed the Photosynthesis–Fluorescence Index (PFI), the Production–Phenotype Index (PPI), and the Nocturnal Cold Tolerance Index (NCTI). The results showed that Kaorino exhibited significantly higher values in all three indices compared with Benihoppe and Snow White. After exposure to low night temperatures, Kaorino exhibited rapid photosynthetic induction, strong maintenance of PSII activity, vigorous growth, early maturation, and high yield. Moreover, all three composite indices were strongly and positively correlated with total yield (R² > 0.97), demonstrating their effectiveness in distinguishing the nocturnal low-temperature tolerance of strawberry cultivars. These composite indices provide a scientifically robust method for selecting suitable cultivars for unheated overwinter strawberry production in high-latitude cold regions. Full article

This study examines how farm workers working with cattle talk to and interact with these non-human animals. This study presents linguistic animal studies and multi-species pragmatics, and it is based on fieldwork, interviews, and video recordings from several types of Finnish dairy farms. This study concentrates especially on one facet of human–cattle interaction: how humans use dung pushers and other sticks when communicating with cows. Thus, it draws on the materiality of language. It is shown how objects, bodies, and spaces, as well as words and linguistic constructions, are meaningful in human–animal interaction. Videoed recordings are analysed with multimodal conversation analysis. It is shown how dung pushers and snow stakes are used when steering cows, making them stand up, and pointing at things. It is then shown how these objects become ‘meaning-carriers’ for humans and for cows. For example, the dung pusher acquires four different meaning qualities for the human participants in the cattle barns: floor-cleaner quality, shepherd’s-crook quality, pointer quality, and weapon quality. The study examines how the cows’ and humans’ Umwelts, the subjective meaning universes of these species and their constituent individuals, influence interaction on farms and how and why the dung pusher becomes a semiotic resource. Full article

Accurate assessment of compacted snow strength is critical for ensuring the safety and performance of snow runways in cold environments. The Russian Snow Penetrometer (RSP) is widely used in snow science and engineering due to its simplicity, portability, and capability for rapid field measurements under extreme conditions. Conversely, the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test remains the benchmark for evaluating the load-bearing capacity of conventional granular materials but is seldom applied to snow because of logistical constraints and the material’s complex mechanical behavior. The relationship between these two pavement evaluation tools remains poorly defined. This work investigates how RSP strength indices relate to CBR measurements to determine whether the RSP can serve as a practical proxy for snow pavement load-bearing capacity. Side-by-side field measurements of snow pavement strength were collected over a 30 h period at two test section locations. Both methods captured temporal strength increases and spatial variability, with consistently higher values at the second site attributed to extended sintering. A moderate linear correlation (R² = 0.44) between RSP and CBR results supports a quantifiable relationship between the two methods. These findings begin to bridge the gap between conventional pavement testing and snow-specific strength evaluation, demonstrating the potential of the RSP for rapid assessment of snow runways. Continued data collection and analysis will refine this relationship and strengthen its applicability for operational use. Full article

Snow construction plays a crucial role in military operations in cold regions, providing tactical fortifications, thermal insulation, and emergency infrastructure in environments where conventional building materials are scarce or require extensive infrastructure for support. Current snow construction methods, including manual piling and compaction, are labor-intensive and inconsistent, limiting their use in large-scale or time-sensitive operations. This study explores the feasibility of adapting a compressed earth block (CEB) machine to produce compressed snow blocks (CSBs) as modular, uniform building units for cold-region applications. Using an AECT Impact 2001A hydraulic press, naturally occurring snow was processed with a snowblower and compacted at maximum operating pressure (i.e., 20,684 kPa) to evaluate block formation, dimensional consistency, and density. The machine successfully produced relatively consistent CSBs, but the initial 3–4 blocks following block height adjustment were generally unsuccessful (e.g., incorrect block height or collapsed/broke) while the machine reached its steady state cyclic condition. These blocks were discarded and excluded from the dataset. The successful CSBs had mean block heights of 7.76 ± 0.56 cm and densities comparable to ice (i.e., 0.83 g/cm³). Variations in block height and mass may be attributed to manual snow loading and minor material impurities. While the dataset is limited, the results warrant further investigation into this technology, particularly regarding CSB strength (i.e., hardness and compressive strength) and performance under variable snow and environmental conditions. Mechanized snow compaction using existing CEB technology is technically feasible and capable of producing uniform, structurally stable CSBs but requires further investigation and modifications to reach its full potential. With design improvements such as automated snow feeding, cold-resistant components, and system winterization, this approach could enable scalable CSB production for rapid, on-site construction of snow-based structures in Arctic environments, supporting the military and civilian needs. Full article

Antarctica, largely free from geopolitical borders, serves as a critical site for scientific research, environmental monitoring and climate studies. The continent’s ice cap holds over 60% of the Earth’s freshwater and provides a stable climatological record spanning 800,000 years. In this study, the relationship between changes in atmospheric CO₂ levels over the past century and the microstructural characteristics of Antarctic ice was investigated. While it is well-documented that CO₂ fluctuations have driven the periodic expansion and retreat of ice sheets, no research to this day has explored how variations in CO₂ concentrations influence the physical integrity of ice at the microscopic scale. To address this, grain size, anisotropy, irregularity, and solidity of surface and near-surface ice samples collected over the past 70 years were analyzed. These microstructural features were compared against historical atmospheric greenhouse gas data from multiple Antarctic research stations, including records from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition, and the NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory. Results reveal a correlation between rising CO₂ levels and changes in ice microstructure, particularly an increase in the grain size as well as the reduction in the grain aspect ratio and in the morphological solidity. The study remains limited by significant sources of variability, including differences in sampling depths, geographical locations, seasonal effects, and inconsistencies in analytical tools and methodologies reported across the literature. Despite these limitations, this proof-of-concept study elicits the need for continued meta-analyses of existing climate datasets. Such efforts could provide deeper insights into the role of greenhouse gas concentrations in defining the microstructural stability of Antarctic ice, which is critical for predicting ice sheet integrity and its contribution to sea level rise. Full article

Adverse weather events have a negative impact on the productivity of construction site activities. Understanding these effects is essential for developing realistic construction schedules. The influence of weather is shaped by both environmental factors (climate, geography, topography) and construction-related aspects such as technologies, materials, equipment, and site exposure. This paper proposes a model to quantify the influence of adverse weather by estimating monthly intervals of expected days with reduced construction productivity, based on data regarding specific weather events, including precipitation, wind, extreme temperatures, snow cover, fog, and high humidity. Data analysis employs the inclusion–exclusion principle, a combinatorial technique, alongside confidence interval estimation, a standard statistical approach. The model was applied in three Croatian cities to demonstrate its practicality and accuracy. Contractors with extensive on-site experience reviewed the results, providing insights into weather-sensitive activities and organizational practices. Full article

Cloud cover can delay landslide detection in optical satellite imagery for weeks, complicating disaster response. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) backscatter imagery, which is widely used for monitoring floods and avalanches, remains underutilised for landslide detection due to a limited understanding of landslide signatures in SAR data. We developed a conceptual model of landslide expression in SAR backscatter (σ°) change images through iterative investigation of over 1000 landslides across 30 diverse study areas. Using multi-temporal composites and dense time series Sentinel-1 C-band SAR data, we identified characteristic patterns linked to land cover, terrain, and landslide material. The results showed either increased or decreased backscatter depending on environmental conditions, with reduced visibility in urban or mixed vegetation areas. Detection was also hindered by geometric distortions and snow cover. The diversity of landslide expression illustrates the need to consider local variability and multi-track (ascending and descending) satellite data in designing representative training datasets for automated detection models. The conceptual model was applied to three recent disaster events using the first post-event Sentinel-1 image, successfully identifying previously unknown landslides before optical imagery became available in two cases. This study provides a theoretical foundation for interpreting landslides in SAR imagery and demonstrates its utility for rapid landslide detection. The findings support further exploration of rapid landslides in SAR backscatter data and future development of automated detection models, offering a valuable tool for disaster response. Full article

This study examined how different lighting characteristics of conventional and eco-friendly lighting and environmental conditions, particularly snow cover, influenced the luminous environment and, in relation to that, pedestrian perception of faces on footpaths. The analysis was based on a dataset comprising both subjective evaluations and objective measurements. The spatial and directional light field above a footpath was measured for the two types of road lighting, of which the “eco-centric” luminaire had a lumen output of 4820 lm and reduced blue-light component (correlated color temperature (CCT) of 2200 K) compared to the conventional luminaire with 14,000 lm and 4000 K. The luminaires were analyzed under snowy and non-snowy conditions. Snow cover significantly increased light diffuseness and density (directionally averaged illuminance at a point), resulting in more uniform light and higher subjective ratings. Also, face visibility ratings were generally higher and more uniform, while non-snowy conditions led to more pronounced differences between positions and luminaire types. Regression analysis revealed that vertical illuminance at eye height was the strongest predictor of perceived facial friendliness and well-lighted-ness and contributed to more favorable ratings for the environment lighting too. The eco-centric luminaire was found to positively influence face lighting ratings but received lower ratings for environmental visibility. Increased horizontal illuminance did not consistently result in enhanced subjective evaluations, which points to limitations of traditional illuminance-based lighting standards, often considering horizontal illuminance at ground level as one of the main metrics. The “social light field” concept emphasizes a holistic approach to urban lighting design that integrates social perception and environmental sustainability by considering the distribution of the actual, resulting light throughout the urban space, especially vertical illuminance at the face and its effects on visual appearance, as well as contributing interactions with the environment and materials in it. Full article

Bifacial photovoltaic panels are preferred over monofacial panels due to the ability of their back surfaces to absorb radiation and generate electricity. However, optimizing the rear-side energy contribution remains a critical area of research. This study systematically investigates how four key parameters (albedo, tilt angle, panel height, and mounting configuration) affect rear-side energy generation and overall panel efficiency. In the first scenario, the impact of surface reflectivity was evaluated. High-reflectivity materials such as aluminum (21.2%) and fresh snow (20.5%) significantly increased rear-side energy yield. The second scenario examined tilt angle, showing that increasing the tilt up to 50° enhanced back-side generation, reaching a gain of 5.5%. The third scenario focused on the effect of panel height, revealing a linear relationship with energy generation. The fourth assessed orientation, comparing horizontal and vertical installations. Horizontal mounting provided a higher rear-side energy yield (4.5%) due to increased exposure to ground-reflected radiation. The findings of this study provide important information for the optimization of bifacial photovoltaic panels and the information will provide guidance for easier and more efficient installation of solar power plants. Full article

Snow and ice accumulation on transportation infrastructure presents significant safety and maintenance challenges in cold regions, while conventional removal methods are both energy-intensive and environmentally detrimental. This study proposes a passive Heat Pipe–Coupled Geothermal Snow Melting System (HP-GSMS) that harnesses shallow geothermal energy to maintain snow-free surfaces without external energy input. Using Fluent-based CFD simulations, the system’s thermal performance was evaluated under various working fluids (ammonia, carbon dioxide, water) and pipe materials (stainless steel, aluminum). A one-dimensional thermal resistance model validated the CFD results under ammonia–stainless steel conditions, predicting a heat flux of 358.6 W/m² compared to 361.0 W/m² from the simulation, with a deviation of only 0.66%, confirming model accuracy. Ammonia demonstrated superior phase-change efficiency, with the aluminum–ammonia configuration yielding the highest heat flux (up to 677 W/m²), surpassing typical snow-melting thresholds. Aluminum pipes enhanced radial heat conduction without compromising phase stability, while water exhibited poor phase-change performance and CO₂ showed moderate but stable behavior. Additionally, a dynamic three-node RC thermal network was employed to assess transient performance under realistic diurnal temperature variations, revealing surface heat fluxes ranging from 230 to 460 W/m², with a daily average of approximately 340 W/m². These findings demonstrate the HP-GSMS’s practical viability in cold climates and underscore the importance of selecting low-boiling-point fluids and high-conductivity materials for scalable, energy-efficient, and low-carbon snow-melting applications in urban infrastructure. Full article

This study analyzes the evolution of hydrometeorological risks and severe weather events in Catalonia through an extensive review of 21,312 news reports aired by Televisió de Catalunya (TVC) between 1984 and 2019, 10,686 (50.1%) of which focused on events within Catalonia. The reports are categorized by the type of phenomenon, geographic location, and reported impact, enabling the identification of temporal trends. The results indicate a general increase in the frequency of news coverage of hydrometeorological and severe weather events—particularly floods and heavy rainfall—both in Catalonia and the broader Mediterranean region. This rise is attributed not only to a potential increase in such events, but also to the expansion and evolution of media coverage over time. In the Catalan context, the most frequently reported hazards are snowfalls and cold waves (3203 reports), followed by rainfall and flooding (3065), agrometeorological risks (2589), and wind or sea storms (1456). The study highlights that rainfall and flooding pose the most significant risks in Catalonia, as they account for the majority of the reports involving serious impacts—1273 cases of material damage and 150 involving fatalities. The normalized data reveal a growing proportion of reports on violent weather and floods, and a relative decline in snow-related events. Full article

Aiming at the problems of serious pavement temperature diseases, low efficiency and high loss of ice-breaking methods, high occupancy rate of waste tires and the low utilization rate and insufficient durability of rubber particles, this paper aims to improve the service level of roads and ensure the safety of winter pavements. A pavement material with high efficiency, low carbon and environmental friendliness for active snow melting and ice breaking is developed. Firstly, NaOH, NaClO and KH550 were used to optimize the treatment of rubber particles. The hydrophilic properties, surface morphology and phase composition of rubber particles before and after optimization were studied, and the optimal treatment method of rubber particles was determined. Then, the optimized rubber particles were used to replace the natural aggregate in the polyurethane gel mixture by the volume substitution method, and the optimum polyurethane gel dosages and molding and curing processes were determined. Finally, the influence law of the road performance of RPGM was compared and analyzed by means of an indoor test, and the ice-breaking effect of RPGM was explored. The results showed that the contact angles of rubber particles treated with three solutions were reduced by 22.5%, 30.2% and 36.7%, respectively. The surface energy was improved, the element types on the surface of rubber particles were reduced and the surface impurities were effectively removed. Among them, the improvement effect of the KH550 solution was the most significant. With the increase in rubber particle content from 0% to 15%, the dynamic stability of the mixture gradually increases, with a maximum increase of 23.5%. The maximum bending strain increases with the increase in its content. The residual stability increases first and then decreases with the increase in rubber particle content, and the increase ranges are 1.4%, 3.3% and 0.5%, respectively. The anti-scattering performance increases with the increase in rubber content, and an excessive amount will lead to an increase in the scattering loss rate, but it can still be maintained below 5%. The fatigue life of polyurethane gel mixtures with 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% rubber particles is 2.9 times, 3.8 times, 4.3 times and 4.0 times higher than that of the AC-13 asphalt mixture, respectively, showing excellent anti-fatigue performance. The friction coefficient of the mixture increases with an increase in the rubber particle content, which can be increased by 22.3% compared with the ordinary asphalt mixture. RPGM shows better de-icing performance than traditional asphalt mixtures, and with an increase in rubber particle content, the ice-breaking ability is effectively improved. When the thickness of the ice layer exceeds 9 mm, the ice-breaking ability of the mixture is significantly weakened. Mainly through the synergistic effect of stress coupling, thermal effect and interface failure, the bonding performance of the ice–pavement interface is weakened under the action of driving load cycle, and the ice layer is loosened, broken and peeled off, achieving efficient de-icing. Full article

The aim of the work is to analyze the survival strategy of Taxus baccata L., one of the promising plants for landscaping and the creation of woodlands, in the changing ecological conditions of the steppe zone of the Donetsk ridge. In order to achieve this goal, we used biomechanics methods, which help to understand the relationship between the physical and mechanical properties of living tissues and the overall stability of trees during interactions with environmental factors such as temperature, snow and ice storms, cyclic freeze–thaw processes, wind loads, and others. The work was based both on experimental studies on the estimation of the tissue elasticity modulus in response to temperature changes, the mechanical stability of plants, the field collection of materials, and studies on the modeling of forest stand conditions of English yew. As a result of the conducted experiments, it was established for the first time that at the absolute wood moisture content of 77 ± 5.1%, the density of wood tissues in the conditions of Donetsk is 907 ± 43 kg m⁻³. The modulus of elasticity of living tissues depending on the temperature factor varied in the following range: 8.8 ± 0.31 GN m⁻² (T = 288 K), 11.5 ± 0.55 GN m⁻² (T = 255 K) and 6.9 ± 0.47 GN m⁻² (t = 308 K). It was revealed that during the local thawing of skeletal branches and tables, the mechanical resistance of T. baccata is reduced by 20–22% and this critically affects the overall plant resistance. It was established for the first time that T. baccata in the conditions of the steppe zone has an adaptive strategy of preserving the integrity of the organism under the action of environmental factors with limited loads. The secret lies in the formation of the shape memory effect, under the influence of critical loads. The plant, thus, chooses not migration, not death, but adaptation to changes in environmental conditions, which can become a serious factor in the use of T. baccata in the landscaping of urban areas and the creation of artificial forests. Full article