Environmental and Earth Sciences

Sort by

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Sustainable Science and Technology

Abderraouf Ahmed Mtiraoui,

Leila Chemli,

Abdelmonem Snoussi

Abstract:

This study explores the impact of the energy transition on sustainable development in developing countries, focusing on pollution reduction, climate adaptation, and resilience. From 2000 to 2022, international funding, incentive policies, and capacity-building initiatives enabled the deployment of solar panels and small wind turbines, fostering job creation, reducing emissions, and improving energy access. A simultaneous equations model is used to examine the interactions between economic, institutional, social, and environmental factors. The research highlights the role of renewable energy, innovative policies, and localized initiatives in driving sustainable progress. Findings demonstrate how clean energy reduces greenhouse gases, strengthens institutional frameworks, and improves living conditions for vulnerable groups. Special attention is given to rural and isolated areas, where renewable energy fosters socio-economic and environmental benefits.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Ecology

Robin Precey

Abstract: This article postulates that social, emotional and environmental intelligences are interconnected as well as inextricably linked to the principle of relationships. It defines these and goes deeper into explaining the elements of Environmental Intelligence providing real life examples as well as provocative questions. It offers practical and positive examples of how the climate change Titanic may be turned around. Education is seen as the core component of change.
Review
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Waste Management and Disposal

Casper Boongaling Agaton,

Marween Joshua A. Santos

Abstract: Waste-to-energy (WtE) are clean technologies that support a circular economy by providing solutions to managing non-recyclable waste while generating alternative energy sources. Despite the promising benefits, technology adoption is challenged by financing constraints, technical maturity, environmental impacts, supporting policies, and public acceptance. A growing number of studies analyzed the acceptability of WtE and identified the factors affecting the adoption of WtE technologies. This study aims to analyze these research hotspots, technologies, and acceptability factors by combining bibliometric and systematic analyses. Initial search from Web of Science and Scopus databases identified 1328 unique documents, and the refinement resulted in 109 for data analysis. The results present a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art, providing researchers bases for future research directions. Among the WtE technologies in the reviewed literature are incineration, anaerobic digestion, gasification, and pyrolysis, with limited studies about refuse-derived fuel and landfilling with gas recovery. The identified common factors include perceived risks, trust, attitudes, perceived benefits, ‘Not-In-My-BackYard’ (NIMBY), awareness, and knowledge. Moreover, the findings present valuable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and WtE project planners to support WtE adoption while achieving sustainable, circular, and low-carbon economies.
Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Environmental Science

Sheriff Ceesay,

Fatima Lambarraa-Lehnhardt,

Mohamed Ben Omar Ndiaye,

Diatou Thiaw,

Mamma Sawaneh,

Johannes Schuler

Abstract:

Agricultural systems face increasing challenges due to climate change, necessitating effective adaptation and mitigation strategies. This study investigates smallholder farmers' perceptions of the efficacy of these strategies in The Gambia, employing a mixed-method approach that includes a Perception Index (PI), Effectiveness Score (ES), Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) and statistical analysis. A structured survey was conducted among 420 smallholder farmers across three agricultural regions. Farmers rated adaptation and mitigation strategies using a Likert scale, and a PI was developed to quantify their responses. The index was 0.66, indicating a moderate level of perceived effectiveness. Additionally, ES was calculated to assess the performance of various strategies, while IPA categorized strategies based on their adoption and perceived impact. Chi-square tests and factor analysis were applied to explore differences in perceptions. Findings reveal that strategies such as crop diversification, pesticide application, irrigation, and use of inorganic fertilizers are widely adopted and perceived as effective. The IPA matrix identified key strategies needing improvement, particularly those with high importance but low performance. Barriers to adoption include limited financial resources (77%), lack of government support (64%), and insufficient knowledge (52%), with no significant gender-based differences in perceptions. The study underscores the need for policy interventions that integrate farmers' perceptions to enhance climate resilience. Targeted investments in adaptive technologies, financial support, and knowledge-sharing platforms can improve adoption and effectiveness. This research provides valuable insights into the interplay between farmer perceptions, adaptation strategies, and agricultural sustainability in The Gambia.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Sustainable Science and Technology

Joshua Zeunert,

Scott Hawken,

Josh Gowers

Abstract: Loss of a city’s agricultural lands due to land use change through urban development is a global problem, as local food production is an essential green infrastructure for intergenerational sustainability. Like many cities, much of Sydney’s rapid urban development occurs on land previously used for food production. Sydney has one of the highest rates of urban growth among Western cities and a planning strategy that marginalises its agricultural productivity. To better understand and advocate for Sydney’s capacity for food production we explore the best available datasets containing agricultural capacity using a critical GIS approach. Employing various spatial-data visualisations to contextualise agricultural production, we examine agricultural capacity in Sydney and comparable regions along the eastern coast of NSW. Through this approach we interrogate the notion that Sydney’s metropolitan landscape is unsuited to agriculture, thereby challenging current development and planning orthodoxy and policy. In doing so we ask the question “what is Sydney’s inherent capacity for agriculture?”. We find that despite current arguments, Sydney is well suited for agriculture and comparable with other coastal regions in the state. While acknowledging the complexities of metropolitan land use dynamics, we argue for better use and promotion of existing agricultural datasets to guide future planning policy and to advance food security in the region and to ensure long term sustainability.
Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Soil Science

Zhiping Fan,

Litao Lin,

Xuekai Sun,

Guiyan Ai,

Guiyan Ai,

Jie Bai,

Jiawen Shi,

Wendi Shi

Abstract:

Vegetation restorations are crucial strategies for combating land degradation, yet their mechanisms on improving soil quality, especially from perspective of soil fertility, remain far from clear. Sparse trees in semi-arid savanna grasslands (i.e., climate communities) offer a provoking reference for vegetation restoration. Here, taking advantage of Ulmus macrocarpa Hance fertile islands of the savanna ecosystem in the Daqinggou National Nature Reserve, this study aimed to investigate the vertical and horizontal distribution patterns of soil physicochemical properties and DOC fluorescence spectral characteristics. Results showed that soil organic carbon (SOC) and DOC were significantly decreased with both the increasing distance from tree and increasing soil depth. Horizontal and vertical treatments significantly enhanced fluorescence intensities of DOC. Additionally, the soil under canopy exhibited slightly richer concentrations of NH4+–N, NO3––N, TN, and TP at topsoil compared with deep soils. The SOC, TN, TP, NH4+–N, and NO3––N showed significantly positive relationships with the DOC. The study provides evidence that trees can form fertile island effects and enhance soil nutrients and DOC. These results are vital for guiding vegetation restoration degraded ecosystem in semi-arid area.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Sustainable Science and Technology

Ioannis Adamopoulos,

Antonios Valamontes,

John Karantonis,

Niki Syrou,

Ioanna Damikouka,

George Dounias

Abstract: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent organic pollutants used in everyday products. They pose a significant threat to global agricultural sustainability and food security, particularly in European farmlands. Contamination occurs through industrial discharges, biosolid applications, and contaminated irrigation water. PFAS contamination affects soil fertility, water quality, and food safety, and has broader implications for Europe's food security. This research explores the scale of PFAS contamination, its implications for food security, and innovative remediation solutions. A multi-faceted strategy integrating detection tools, advanced remediation technologies, and policy initiatives is proposed to mitigate PFAS contamination while ensuring sustainable agricultural practices. A significant threat to global agricultural, public health, and food security the AI technologies revolutionizing environmental sustainability by developing machine learning algorithms, predictive statistics, and data analysis tools. Technologies are enhancing ecosystem management, advancing environmental research, providing digital solutions to complex environmental problems, and generative and using AI in Sustainability Environmental Education.
Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Remote Sensing

Xingyu Chen,

Xiuyu Zhang,

Changwei Zhuang,

Xuejiao Dai,

Lingling Kong,

Zixia Xie,

Xibang Hu

Abstract: Mangrove ecosystems are important in tropical and subtropical coastal zones, contributing to marine biodiversity and maintaining marine ecological balance. It is cru-cial to develop more efficient, intelligent, and accurate monitoring methods for mangroves to understand better and protect mangrove ecosystems. This study promoted a novel model, MangroveNet, for integrating multi-scale spectral and spatial information and de-tecting mangrove area. In addition, we also presented an improved model—AttCloudNet+ to identify distribution of mangroves species based on high-resolution multispectral drone images. These models incorporate spectral and spatial attention mechanisms and have been shown to effectively address the limitations of traditional methods, which have been prone to inaccuracy and low efficiency in mangrove species identification. In this study, we compare the results from MangroveNet with the SegNet, UNet, and DeepUNet models. The findings demonstrate that the MangroveNet exhibits superior generalization learning capabilities and more accurate extraction outcomes than other deep learning models. The accuracy, F1_Score, mIoU, and precision of MangroveNet were 99.13%, 98.84%, 98.11%, and 99.14%, respectively. In terms of identifying mangrove species, the prediction results from AttCloudNet+ were compared with those obtained from traditional supervised and unsupervised classifications and various machine learning and deep learning methods. These included K-means clustering, ISODATA cluster analysis, random forest (RF), sup-port vector machines (SVM), and others. The comparison demonstrated that the mangrove species identification results obtained using AttCloudNet+ exhibited the most optimal performance in terms of the Kappa coefficient and the overall accuracy (OA) index, reach-ing 0.81 and 0.87, respectively. The two comparison results confirm the effectiveness of the two models developed in this study for identifying mangroves and their species. Overall, we provided an efficient solution based on deep learning with a dual attention mecha-nism in the acceptable real-time monitoring of mangroves and their species using high-resolution multispectral drone imagery.
Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Environmental Science

Natalia Konstantinovna Belisheva,

Natalia Leonidovna Solovyevskaya,

Tatiana Andreevna Yusubova,

Ramiz Ragimogly Ysubov

Abstract:

The purpose of the study was to estimate the capabilities of the Gas Dis-charge Visualization (GDV) method for detection of effects of geophysical agents (GA) on the human body and to compare it's advantage with Galvanic Skin Response (GSR), usually applied for detection stress. The studies were conducted in 2017 and 2018 years on the Spitsbergen archipelago, and in 2023-2024 - in Apatity, Murmansk region, where daily the GDV and GSR indices were detected along of recruited participants of the study. For the first time, the daily covariations of GA and the GDV indices, mani-festing the physicochemical properties of the skin, were revealed in these studies. It was found, that correlations and their signs between the GA and GDV indices were determined by the intensity of the neutron flux at the Earth's surface, and the variabil-ity of the Solar Wind (SW). The correlations between the GDV and GA indices were reproduced in different years, in the case of comparability of the neutron level at the Earth's surface in the study period. The advantage of the GDV method, in comparing with the GSR was shown. The finding evident that GDV indices are indicators of ef-fects of GA on the human body.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Remote Sensing

Isadora Rezende,

Christophe Fatras,

Hind Oubanas,

Igor Gejadze,

P.-O. Malaterre,

Santiago Peña-Luque,

Alessio Domeneghetti

Abstract: Knowledge of river bathymetry is crucial for accurately simulating river flows and floodplain inundation. However, field data are scarce, and the depth and shape of the river channels cannot be systematically observed via remote sensing. Therefore, an efficient methodology is necessary to define effective river bathymetry. This research reconstructs the bathymetry from existing global digital elevation models (DEMs) and water surface elevation observations with minimum human intervention. The methodology can be considered a 1D geometric inverse problem, and it can potentially be used in gauged or ungauged basins worldwide. Nine global DEMs and two sources of water surface elevation (in situ and remotely sensed) were analyzed across two study areas. Results highlighted the importance of preprocessing cross-sections to align with water surface elevations, significantly improving discharge estimates. Among the techniques tested, one that combines the slope-break concept with the principles of mass conservation consistently provided robust discharge estimates for the different DEMs, achieving good performance in both study areas. Copernicus and FABDEM emerged as the most reliable DEMs for accurately representing river geometry. Overall, the proposed methodology offers a scalable and efficient solution for cross-section reconstruction, supporting global hydraulic modeling in data-scarce regions.
Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Environmental Science

Victor N Nwugha,

Kenneth O Amanze,

Pamela Ify Okeke,

Glory J Okore,

Chinedum M Nwokoma,

Felix I Chinyem

Abstract: The investigation of solid waste around Port Harcourt, Rivers State Nigeria was carried out to acquire information on the condition of the soil and the types of waste as well as the nature of leachates produced within the environment. It aims at predicting hydrogeologic site conditions and contaminating transport potential. Samples were collected at three locations using hand auger at depths of 1 m, 2 m and 3 m and laboratory analyses conducted. Results of the soil analyses revealed medium grained sands with average permeability of 10-3mm3/s while the chemical analyses of leachates indicated high concentration of the waste derivates which have been degraded. Among the parameters measured, the average values of pH, 8.8; conductivities 1750 mS/cm and total dissolved solids (TDS)1150 mg/L of the boreholes (BHI, BH2 and BH3) are above the world health organization (WHO) standards of 8.0, 1500 mS/cm and 450 mg/L respectively. The government of Rivers State and Port Harcourt municipality should design, construct and control dumpsites and their associated leachates.
Technical Note
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Remote Sensing

Saskia Esselborn,

Tilo Schöne,

Henryk Dobslaw,

Roman Sulzbach

Abstract: The Baltic Sea is an intercontinental marginal sea that is vertically stratified with a strong halocline isolating the saline bottom layer from the brackish surface layer. The surface layer is eutrophic and abiotic zones lacking oxygen are common in the deeper regions. While freshwater is constantly flowing into the North Sea, oxygen-rich bottom waters can only occasionally enter the Baltic following a special sequence of transient weather conditions. These so-called Major Baltic Inflow events can be monitored via the sea level gradients between the Kattegat and the western Baltic Sea. Innovative interferometric altimetry from the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission give us the first opportunity to directly observe the sea level signal associated with the inflow in December 2023. In addition, we use observations from recent high-rate multi-mission nadir altimetry. For scales larger than 50 km, SWOT and nadir altimetry are in very good agreement. The SWOT observations are compared to the simulations with the regional 3D HBMnoku ocean circulation model operated by the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH). Both agree very well for most aspects. The north-south gradients of the two data sets differ by about 10% of the total value. Comparison with tide gauges suggests that there may be model deficiencies on daily to sub-daily time scales. In addition, the SWOT data have many fine scale structures such as eddies and fronts that cannot be modelled adequately.
Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Pollution

Brigita Popović,

Zdenko Lončarić,

Nada Parađiković,

Mihaela Blažinkov,

Nataša Romanjek Fajdetić

Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of heavy metals Cd, Pb, and essential trace elements Zn, Fe in the button mushroom fruits depending to the growing substrate quality (substrate A and B) and time of picking (mushroom picking stages). Be-side that based on the results obtained, the accumulation coefficient of the studied ele-ments from the substrate into the mushroom fruiting bodies was determined. The meas-urement results for Fe, Zn, and Pb concentrations in mushrooms grown on substrate A indicated an increase in their levels toward the end of the production cycle, while Cd con-centrations remained unchanged. In mushrooms cultivated on substrate B, the concentra-tions of Fe, Zn, and Pb increased toward the end of the production cycle, while the con-centration of Cd decreased. The highest accumulation coefficient in mushrooms grown on substrate A was recorded for Zn, with a value of 0.66. The lowest accumulation coefficient in mushrooms from substrate A was recorded for Fe at 0.04, while the coefficients for Pb and Cd were 0.14 and 0.30, respectively. In mushrooms grown on substrate B, the accu-mulation coefficient was highest for Cd at 1.45, while the lowest was observed for Fe at 0.06. The coefficients for Pb and Zn were 0.08 and 0.78, respectively. It can be concluded that concentrations of heavy metals significantly depended on the substrate origin. Alt-hough the accumulation of Cd in button mushroom fruit from substrate B was almost five times higher than from the substrate A all determined values were below the RDA limits set by the European Commission Regulations EC No. 466/2001.
Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Geophysics and Geology

Mbuotidem Dick,

Andy Bery,

Adedibu Akingboye,

Mfoniso Aka,

Joseph Gnapragasan,

Gabriel Bala,

Erukaa Moses,

Nsidibe Okonna

Abstract:

Subsurface geological formations are vital for validating deep engineering design assumptions, particularly in weathered terrains where unstable ground conditions pose risks. Geophysical investigations often face challenges due to inverse problem uncertainties and inadequate subsurface data. While resistivity and seismic P-wave velocity (Vp) imaging offer valuable insights, subsurface complexity necessitates integrated approaches for reliable characterization. This study introduces a machine learning-assisted geophysical–geotechnical framework combining electrical resistivity tomography, seismic refraction tomography, and borehole-based standard penetration tests (SPT-N). ML optimization metrics, including k-means clustering, PCA, Silhouette, elbow, and supervised linear regression, enhance analytical precision. A field survey over an 800 m segment in Kabota-Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia, utilized 490 collocated resistivity–Vp datasets to optimize cluster identification and interpretation accuracy. The analysis delineated four lithological units based on resistivity and Vp variations correlating with surface-subsurface properties. Clustering demonstrated strong performance, with an R² value approaching 1, a Silhouette score of 0.78, and an 88% reduction in the sum of square errors. Vulnerable zones, including weathered layers, fractures, and faults, were identified as critical for geotechnical consideration. In contrast, relatively weathered bedrock with hard-to-very-hard properties was deemed optimal for deep structural foundations requiring minimal reinforcement. This non-invasive approach enhances subsurface characterization, offering a reliable framework for construction site suitability and groundwater resource identification. It provides significant value for sedimentary regions with similar geological settings, advancing geotechnical and environmental planning.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Soil Science

He Huang,

Yaolin Liu,

Yanfang Liu,

Zhaomin Tong,

Zhouqiao Ren,

Yifan Xie

Abstract: Studying the spatial variation patterns and influencing factors of soil organic matter (SOM) in hilly and basin areas is of great significance for guiding agricultural production practices. This study takes Lanxi City as an example and comprehensively considers soil formation factors such as climate, vegetation, and terrain. Based on the genetic algorithm, 47 environmental variables are combined and optimized to construct a random forest (RF) model and an improved version—a random forest model based on genetic algorithm variable combination optimization (RF-GA). At the same time, the SHAP interpretation method is used to quantitatively analyze the spatial distribution characteristics of the SOM content and further identify the main driving factors. Compared with the ordinary Kriging (OK) and random forest (RF) methods, the random forest model (RF-GA) based on genetic algorithm variable combination optimization demonstrates a significantly improved prediction accuracy (R² = 0.49; RMSE = 3.49 g·kg⁻¹), with an MAE = 3.019 and LCCC = 0.67. Among the three models, the R² of the RF-GA model increases by 87.84% and 56.29%. The model prediction results indicate that the SOM content in the study area ranges from 12.11 to 31.38 g · kg ⁻¹, showing spatial distribution characteristics of a higher content in mountainous areas and a lower content in plains. A further SHAP analysis shows that terrain, climate, and biological factors are key environmental factors affecting the spatial differentiation of the SOM, with the CNBL and DEM playing particularly significant roles. By regulating moisture, erosion deposition, vegetation distribution, and microclimate conditions, they significantly affect the spatial distribution of the SOM. In summary, the RF-GA and its interpretable prediction model constructed in this study not only effectively reveal the spatial and driving mechanisms of SOM in hilly and basin areas but also provide a solid theoretical basis and practical guidance for accurate mapping, the formulation of sustainable utilization strategies for soil resources, and ensuring national food security.
Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Ecology

Aleksandar Šobot,

Diana Bilić-Šobot

Abstract: Slovenia is one of the few countries where the species Proteus anguinus lives. This species' habitat is mainly in the Natura 2000 area of Slovenia. The agricultural industry developed in this area, including local farms and dairies. One of them is the Krepko dairy, strategically located directly in the habitat of the Proteus anguinus. According to current Slovenian legislation, directly releasing wastewater from the dairy industry into the environment is prohibited. For this reason, the dairy is obliged to clean wastewater before releasing into the environment. The Proteus anguinus has a very narrow ecological tolerance regarding its habitat. Because of that, the Krepko dairy wastewater treatment plant has three phases: primary, secondary, and tertiary. The primary phase involves chemical treatment, a process that this paper thoroughly investigates. The process of neutralization, coagulation, and flocculation will be examined, and the impact of this chemical phase on the cleaning process will be analyzed using on-site jar tests and pH measuring instruments. The quality of the chemical treatment will be evaluated based on visual and time data for neutralization, coagulation, and flocculation. The data for chemical oxygen demand will be taken in laboratory analysis as control data for the effectiveness of new chemicals. The primary data of the research will relate to the secondary literature on Proteus anguinus habitat protection ecology. The discussion will link primary and secondary data, highlighting the potential impact on the habitat of Proteus anguinus. The conclusions will outline the main challenges and provide recommendations for better environmental protection of Proteus anguinus, emphasizing the need for immediate action to prevent potential harm.
Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Sustainable Science and Technology

Oluwatosin Oginni

Abstract:

Pyrolysis is a major thermochemical conversion technology utilized in converting biomass to liquid fuel and bioproducts. A major process in this technology is the thermal decomposition of biomass which determines the pyrolysis products distribution. In order to optimize the distribution of these pyrolysis products, it is imperative to understand the thermal decomposition behaviors of the biomass feedstocks. The objective of this study was to investigate the thermal decomposition behaviors of Public Miscanthus and Kanlow Switchgrass using isoconversional methods. Thermogravimetric analysis was carried out by heating the biomass samples from room temperature to 700 ⁰C in an inert condition at heating rates of 5, 15, and 25 ºC/min. Three isoconversional methods (Friedman, Ozawa-Flynn-Wall, and Kissinger-Akhira-Sunrose) were used in estimating the kinetic parameters. The thermal decomposition process for the biomass samples was divided into three broad stages based on the temperature range, namely, moisture & light volatile release (< 200 ℃), devolatilization & biochar formation (200 – 400 ℃), and poly-condensation & biochar aromatization (> 400 ℃). The estimated activation energy values were influenced by the fractional conversion. There was a variation in the activation energy values estimated by the isoconversional methods, which is due to the difference in their estimation approach.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Oceanography

Samuel Kakambi Mafwila,

Evans Simasiku,

Johannes Angala Iitembu,

Greg Mbaimbai,

Anna-Marie Nambonga,

Kudakwashe Hove

Abstract:

Bottom trawling is not selective fishing method, resulting in the capture of many bycatch species. This study aimed to examine the distribution of bycatch species in the hake-directed bottom fishery and to determine their potential for bycatch management and mitigation. Observer data from a hake-directed bottom trawl fishery in Namibia from 1997 to 2014 was analysed. About 23 bycatch species, weighing 9,031,480 tonnes, were recorded. Trachurus capensis, Trachipterus trachypterus, Helicolenus dactylopterus, Lophius vomerinus, and Genypterus capensis were the dominant species, comprising 63.09% of the total catch by weight. Analysis of Similarities (ANOSIM) (R = 0.88, P< 0.05) revealed significant differences in catch composition based on sampling site. The Similarity Percentage (SIMPER) showed that three bycatch species contributed the most to the dissimilarity in groups for spatial distribution. Widespread distribution of bycatch species, with high densities in the central and southern regions, suggests that hake-directed bottom trawling could have negative effects on these species. Species with a higher proportion of their population removed as bycatch, are considered the most vulnerable and may be nearly exterminated. To avoid the risk of species extinction, the fishery must be managed through spatial exclusion and fishing seasons.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Geochemistry and Petrology

Balz Samuel Kamber,

Marco Andres Acevedo Zamora,

Rodrigo Freitas Rodrigues,

Ming Li,

Gregory Yaxley,

Matthew Ng

Abstract: High pressure and temperature (PT) experimental charges are valuable systems made of minerals, often with quenched melt, and/or a fluid. They are synthesized to inform petrological solid-state, melt-forming and/or fluid-assisted processes occurring deep within the Earth. Here we explored the utility of phase mapping for analysis of high PT charges. We compared phase maps obtained with automated mineralogy software of scanning-electron-microscopes and developed an open-source software workflow. This generates phase maps from combined back-scattered-electron and 4-element maps. Phase maps were constructed for a sub-solidus assemblage, a charge containing a small percentage of melt, and a melting experiment that failed to reach thermal equilibrium. For the sub-solidus experiment, the phase map returned an accurate modal mineralogy. For the quenched melt experiments, the phase map located low abundance phases and identified best-suited targets for chemical analysis. Using modal mineralogy of sub-regions on maps and mutual neighboring relationships, the phase maps helped to establish equilibrium conditions and verify melting reactions inferred from mass balance. We propose phase maps as a valuable additional documentation tool for publishing high PT experiments, as they can help identify rare phases and discover reactions. We conclude with a set of recommended instrument settings for high-quality phase maps on small experimental charges.
Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Waste Management and Disposal

Simone C Streitenberger,

Estevão L Romão,

Fabricio A Almeida,

Antonio Carlos Zambroni de Souza,

Aloisio E Orlando Jr.,

Pedro Paulo Balestrassi

Abstract: The presence of oil films in the ocean poses a significant environmental challenge for companies engaged in primary oil processing on offshore platforms. During crude oil treatment, residual water containing oils and greases (TOG) is discharged back into the ocean, potentially leading to the formation of oil films. The interaction between TOG levels and meteoceanographic variables — including wind direction (WD), wind speed (WS), current direction (CD), current speed (CS), wind wave direction (WWD), and peak period (PP) — influences the formation and satellite detection of these films. This study investigates the impact of these factors on the occurrence, detection, and extent of oil films using various statistical classifiers. Key findings reveal that Random Forest outperformed other classifiers, achieving an area under the ROC curve of 0.93. The combined use of classifiers, multivariate techniques, desirability analysis, and Design of Experiments (DOE) proved highly effective. Higher values of WS, WD, and CS were associated with a lower likelihood of oil film occurrence and detection, whereas higher TOG, PP, WWD, and CD values increased this probability. CS and TOG positively contributed to the extent of oil films, while high WS values reduced it. These results provide a robust decision-support framework for monitoring and mitigating the environmental impacts of offshore oil processing operations.

of 317

Prerpints.org logo

Preprints.org is a free preprint server supported by MDPI in Basel, Switzerland.

Subscribe

© 2025 MDPI (Basel, Switzerland) unless otherwise stated