Natural Resources, 2005, No.2

PRIRODNYE RESURSY (Natural Resources) Published by The National Academy of Sciences of Belarus & The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Protection of the Republic of Belarus, Minsk, Belarus

Number 2; 2005

CONTENTS

Water Resources

E. P. Ovcharova
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE SURFACE RUNOFF FROM MINSK AREA. pp. 5-13

Summary: In the article the data of the surface runoff chemical composition from Minsk area are described. An explora-tory study of the surface runoff contamination was undertaken in different functional zones: green, transport and resi-dential (areas with different land use). Two periods of storm runoff forming (winter-spring and summer-fall) were ana-lyzed. The chemical composition of runoff was determined for such water quality constituents as suspended solids, pH, main ions, heavy metals and oil products. The main factor of the surface runoff contamination is the type of functional zone in a snow melting period and duration of rainfalls period - in summer-fall period. The maximum content of pollutants is revealed in water samples of winter-spring period. Surface runoff from transport zone contains high concentrations of suspended solids (140...9 699 mg/L) and has high solute content (1587...24 888 mg/L). During this period storm water runoff contains a lot of chlorides (805...14 595 mg/L), sodium (610...9 600 mg/L) and nitrites (0,04...1,78 mg/L), as a result of application of deicing agents in winter period (mixture of salt and sand). The solute content of the surface runoff from residential zone reaches 4 667,8 mg/L. Oil products are prevailing pollutants of the surface runoff from transport and residential zones (11,7...42,5 mg/L). Concentrations of such heavy metals as zinc and copper reach 0,095…0,375 and 0,008…0,09 mg/L. Such pollution level and large volume of surface runoff result in water quality deterioration of receiving waters and may cause numerous adverse consequences. The solute content of the surface runoff from transport and residential zones in summer-fall period significantly decreased (97...105 mg/L) as a result of reduction of chlorides (9,4...11,6 mg/L) and sodium (4,9...5,4 mg/L) concentration. The concentrations of other ions remain at the same level.

A. Kolmakova
EVALUATION OF POLLUTANTS DRIFT BY RIVER FLOW FROM NON-POINT SOURCES. pp. 14-22

Summary: The results of investigation of pollutants drift by river flow from non-point sources are presented in the article. The evaluation has been made for the case study of Neman drainage basin, where water and chemical flow is formed without participation of transit water. The dynamics of chlorides, sulphates, nitrites, phosphates, oil products flow during 1965-2001 has been considered. The change of the amount of diffuse input pollutants downstream the river Neman has been analyzed as well. The evaluation of pollutants input from non-point sources is carried out using the method which is based on the equa-tion of the material mass balance in the watercourse. In accordance with the method, pollutants emission from diffuse sources is calculated as the difference between overall chemical flow and natural flow plus pollutants flow from point sources. The data of natural background period was used to calculate flow from natural sources. Urban areas are con-sidered to be the main point sources of pollution. It has been determined that in the conditions of human impact on the Neman catchment the diffuse emission of the main pollutants (except phosphates) will increase. At present, according to the data of lower stream of the Neman river, more than 2/3 anthropogenic ion flow (including 3/4 chlorides, 4/5 sulphates), 1/4 phosphates, about 3/4 nitrites, 2/3 oil products come into the river water just from non-point sources. The diffuse input part in overall pollutants flow can increase in the upstream of main rivers and small watercourses, where there are no large industrial centers.

Mineral Resources

N. S. Petrova, E. A. Vysotsky, V. P. Dashkevish, V. S. Plutenko
CARNALLITE AS A PROMISING SOURCE OF RAW MATERIALS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF POTASSIUM PROCESSING INDUSTRY IN BELARUS. pp. 23-36

Summary: The paper discusses the distribution of carnallite ore deposits in the section of the Late-Famennian potassium-bearing subformation and over the area of the Pripyat Trough. Carnallite (KC1 MgCl2 6H2O) is one of the main rock-forming minerals composing potassium horizons of halogenic formations. It occurs in a close paragenetic association with sylvite and halite. Almost all potassium accumulation stages in the Earth's history, except the Silurian and Vendian, were marked by carnallite formation. Carnallite had been deposited most intensively and universally in the Early Cambrian (East Siberian basin), Late Devonian (Pripyat basin), Early Permian (Dnieper-Donets, Caspian, Upper Kama and Up-per Pechora basins), Late Permian (Central European basin), Late Triassic, as well as during the Early and Late-Cretaceous epochs. Carnallite occurs as independent beds in the section of potassium horizons and as a component of mixed salts in potassium horizons in, respectively, northern and central zones of the Pripyat Trough. Carnallite rocks form in plan three isolated areas. Types of facies relationships are evident in the rock distribution over the area. Carnallite rocks were discovered in the composition of ten potassium horizons. These are unevenly distributed in the section of the potassium-bearing subforma-tion and form three floors. Carnallite rocks are mostly abundant on the third floor (VIII-X rhythmic units). In the section of some potassium horizons (VIII-p, II-7, III, 0-7, 0-15, etc.) carnallite rock forms up to 5…8 m thick beds. Thick deposits of high quality carnallite are widespread in the potassium horizon 0…7 within the Starobin synclinal zone. Structure and tex-ture features, as well as geochemical properties of carnallites from horizons of the red and variegated rock associations are discussed.

Ecologically Safe and Resource Saving Technologies

A. A. Autko, G. V. Naumova, N. L. Makarova, N. A. Zhmakova, T. F. Ovchinnikova, V. F. Stepura
RESOURCE-SAVING TECHNOLOGIES OF MAKING PEAT-VEGETATION GROUNDS. pp. 37-42

Summary: Weakly decomposed sphagnum peat is usually used as a basis of GH grounds. Taking into account that its deposits are being intensively worked out, an attempt has been made to replace peat raw material by vegetation waste. Buckwheat or flax husk was used as additives to peat ground which were added to peat mass in various ratios. A component composition of peat organic matter, vegetation waste and grounds on their basis has been studied when growing tomatoes in winter GH from May to August. The highest outcome of water soluble and easy-hydrolyzed substances were found in buckwheat husk (shell) (6,1 and 36,7 %) and peat (5,3 and 28,2 %). Peat also had high outcome of alkali-soluble humic substances (37,8 %), while in vegetation raw material alkali-soluble products were at the level of 12,5...3,9 %. In the process of plants vegetation noticeable changes occur in the component composition of grounds organic part. At the end of May, a great amount of water-soluble substances be well absorbed by a root system remained in soil. Biologically active humic like substances in substrate in this period increase by 6,5...9,7%. At the same time a reduction of hemi-cellulose and cellulose content is observed under partial micro organism destruction. The selected in June and August substrates are characterized by less acute changes of the component composition. All fractions of water- and alkali-soluble substances extracted from grounds increased sprout capacity and energy of barley seeds. As to the biological level activity, water extracts were not much weaker than alkali-soluble fractions. Thus, the process of grounds exploitation is characterized by high-molecular components destruction, increase of water and alkali-soluble matters content, such as amino-acids, carbonic ones, melanoidins and humic matters. Tests of peat-vegetation grounds in winter GH of "Minsk Vegetable Production" ("Ovoshchnaya fabrica") when calculating cucumber and tomato in a small-volume crop showed that their application has enhanced tomato gross yield from 24 t/ha to 259...283 t/ha, and cucumber yield from 34,4 to 40,0...43,1 t/ha. Besides, irrigation water and mineral nutri-tion elements consumption has decreased.

Nature Management

V. S. Homich
SOIL CONTAMINATION BY PETROLEUM PRODUCT IN BELARUS. pp. 43-57

Summary: Wide spread and high values of soil contamination by petroleum products in Belarus were revealed as a re-sult of geochemical and landscape studies, which were carried out near the sources of contamination in Belarus. The content of petroleum products has considerable variability from background (< 5 mg/kg) to terrific values (> 100 000 mg/kg), such values are typical for point leakages. Thus the contents above 5 000 mg/kg were found near petroleum production, filling (service) stations, petroleum storage depots and lubricating/fuel material storages, domestic waste storages and industrial waste storages, former military bases, motor roads (highways) and others. The spatial pattern of contamination is not uniform and depends on the source of contamination, functionality of the ter-ritory and the landscape conditions. Small content of petroleum product is typical for municipal warehouse and transport zones. The landscape conditions influence special distribution of the petroleum products, which accumulate in the bottom of sallow gullies and ravines, closed valleys and flood-plains of the rivers. The following scale of soil contamination by petroleum products that is based on geochemical studies and data from literature can be used: 1. < 5 mg/kg - natural background; 2. 5...50 mg/kg - regional background; 3. 50...250 mg/kg - weakly contaminated; 4. 250...1 000 mg/kg - moderate contaminated; 5. 1 000...5 000 mg/kg - strongly contaminated; 6. > 5 000 mg/kg - terrifically contaminated. The first level is natural background, it can be found on considerable distance from cities and highways. The second level is formed under the influence of regional contamination. It is typical for the major part of the territory of Belarus and corresponds to cities and old-arable lands. The third level is more particularly met in cities, the fourth on waysides, peripheries of soil and geochemical anomalies caused by local sources of contamination. The last places are associated with the fifth and sixth levels of contamination.

L. A. Kravchuk, I. P. Samsonenko, N. M. Bazhenova
ESTIMATION OF FUNCTIONAL ORGANIZATION OF MINSK PARKLANDS. pp. 58-64

Summary: The main criteria for the estimation of functional organization of the community landscapes are the following: relative ratio of green areas (% of city area) within the function zones; the provision of the population with the greenery planting of different value (local, district and municipal), the structure of plantings, the state of plantings and their sustainability. The relative ratio of green areas within the function zones has been estimated by means of topographic interpretation of the aerial images and the departmental inventory materials. The index of providing the population with the greenery has been calculated for the residential area of Minsk. The urbanized territory has been divided into cartographical cells, which corresponded to main architectural unity - a block of buildings. The following function zones have been selected within each block: the residential zone, the industrial zone, the community zone, the special zone, the transport zone, and the recreational zone. Thus the specifications of urban forestation have been taken into account. Green areas within the blocks of buildings (with different function zones) vary from 0,1 % up to 87,5 %. Its index differs mostly within the special and community zones. Within some function zones of urbanized territory the areas of greenery do not reach the normative requirements. The index of providing the population with the greenery planting of local value also differs. It considerably exceeds the normative requirements in the blocks of cottages, the blocks of mixed buildings, the blocks of low-density buildings and the blocks of middle-density buildings. In some new residential areas with the blocks of high-density buildings it is lower than the standard allows.

I. Derevyago, D. Nevdakh
ECOLOGICAL RISKS MANAGEMENT FOR THE SUSTAINABLE NATURE USE. pp. 65-75

Summary: In modern conditions growth of the quantity of various extreme situations and increase of losses as a result of ecological risks is observed. Ecological risk as an object of management is considered as an opportunity of realization of adverse events of natural and technical character. The former are connected to natural acts of nature - flooding, hurricanes, earthquakes and so on; the latter are the result of industrial activity, failures and accidents on objects of the national economy. The priority of the ecological risks management is to determine its acceptable level. In modern conditions methodological basis for the solution of this problem should become the concept of sustainable nature use. In the economic practice determination of the acceptable risk level is realized with the help of ecological normative system. Transition to sustainable development assumes revision of the ecological normative system as well as the mecha-nism of definition of an accident size. As a whole, the control system of ecological risks needs to be considered as a component of the general control system of the national economy. First of all it assumes that acceptance of this or that decision concerning ecological risks should be justified according to optimum values of social and economic efficiency criterion. It is possible to allocate three groups of actions related to ecological risks management: liquidation of consequences, the prevention of danger, development of ecologically safe technologies. As the analysis shows, the most effective from the position of sustainable development is the last group of measures. At the same time, the impossibility of complete pre-vention of acts of nature makes us develop a flexible system of consequences decrease and liquidation. One of the major tools in this case is insurance since its effective organization allows us to achieve desirable results with the minimum costs.

D. Kurlovich
ESTIMATION OF GEOMORPHOLOGICAL RISK AND HUMAN IMPACT ON LANDFORMS OF THE BELARUSIAN POOZERIE. pp. 76-81

Summary: The main idea of the work is to examine ecological aspects of the Belarusian Poozerie Province and to real-ize methodical estimation of the geomorphologic areas from the position of ecological-geomorphologic analysis. In the course of investigation, positive and negative ecological factors of the geomorphologic complex are determined. The estimation of geomorphologic areas of the Belarusian Poozerje Province is given. It is based on the determination of functions of landforms in the system of "nature - economy - population". The estimation is divided into two parts: the determination of human impact on landforms and the determination of the role of external geomorphologic phe-nomena as a factor of influence of natural landforms on man and his activities. Within the limits of either part of the system diagnostic parameters are worked out. For the first part they are as follows: coefficient of technogenic transfor-mation of landforms, the area of building zone, safety of forests and the area of mining works. Within the limits of the second part the role of external geomorphologic phenomena (plane washing, linear erosion, mortification of river-bed, gravitational processes, active fault, potential seismological danger) are analyzed. As a result of the estimation of the system of diagnostic parameters using modern geographic informational systems and cluster analysis integral schemes of human impact on landforms and the role of external geomorphologic phenomena were established. The results of the investigation allow us to approach to rationalization of nature management, planning and designing new buildings, forecasting unfavorable geomorphologic phenomena for man and his activities more effectively. Modern geographical informational systems (GIS) are of great importance for this work. They allow us to visualize, analyze, model and forecast geomorphologic conditions. All spatial data of the estimation of geomorphologic areas are integrated into GIS-project. This modern geoinformation system includes vector figures and databases.

Protected Objects of Nature

Summary: The necessity of organization of nature protected areas is grounded in the article. The specific features of their forming in the limits of Minsk upland are stressed. The description of nature conditions (relief, lithology, hydrol-ogy, soil and plant covers and landscape) and the information about nature protected areas organized on the territory of Minsk upland with the assistance of the authors are given. The nature features of "Treskovschina" nature reserve which represents the biological and landscape diversity of Minsk upland, "Kupalovsky" reserve which combines nature diver-sity with the historical and cultural heritage connected with the life and creative work of Y. Kupala, the territory of sport complex "Raubichy" which status of protection has not been determined yet are illustrated in detail. Special atten-tion is devoted to the characteristic of floristic structure of the objects. There are 475 species of vascular plants, 12 categories of valuable and outstanding plant communities including 5 plots of aboriginal oak forests on the territory of "Treskovschina" reserve. 568 species of vascular plants on the territory of "Kupalovsky" reserve and 428 on the territory of sport complex "Raubichy" were registered. The unique and rare plants and mushrooms included into the Na-tional Red book and also economically useful species (food, forage, industrial, herbal, wild growing, decorative) requir-ing prophylactic protection are described in the article. Special attention is given to the role of nature protected areas as centers and guarantors of conservation and maintenance of biological and landscape diversity of the region. These objects are considered as most important link of the ecological network of the region and country.

V. S. Aderikho, G. V. Vynaev, A. V. Puchilo, A. N. Skuratovich, L. N. Voznyachuk
ABOUT THE NECESSITY OF REORGANIZATION OF THE STATE LANDSCAPE RESERVE "NOVOGRUDSKI". pp. 95-106

Summary: A characteristic is given of the relief, climatic and soil conditions, vegetative cover (projected on the territory of Novogrudskaya upland) of the state landscape reserve. A great variety of forms of the relief dismembered by a dense network of river valleys into separate parts, high fertility of sod-podsolic soils resulted in the formation of the vegetative cover with rich specific structure. The list of flora of the preserve makes up 485 species of higher vascular plants. Among them there is a significant amount of economically useful and technical species, rare, dangerous and protected are 31, from them protected - 14.The basic forest-making breeds and some species (oak northern, a poplar silvery, a nut manchurian) comprise forest vegetation. Pine, fur-tree and birch forests can be found almost everywhere and are char-acterized by a wide spectrum of forest types. An ecological niche of broad-leaved forests has considerably decreased. Oak forests prevail among broad-leaved forests. They considerably exceed other formations in the area and have well defined structure of spruce-hornbeam phytocenosis with an ash, an elm, a maple, a linden in the structure of forest stand, well advanced shrubby and grassy cover. The analysis of dynamics of the grounds covered by forests for a 10-year period shows that the area of coniferous plant-ings has increased by 1,1 % basically due to spruce forest stands, and broad-leaved forests have decreased by 1,3 %. The area of broad-leaved forests reduced owing to cuttings of the main use and competition with other tree breeds, especially spruce. The expediency of this territory protection by the state with the purpose of preservation of natural complexes, the existing biological variety of florae and fauna, reconstruction and maintenance of effective functioning of natural migration channels of florae and faunae has been justified.

Economics of Nature Management

N. Dankova
ENVIRONMENTAL & ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVES OF BELARUS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF RATIFICATION OF THE KYOTO PROTOCOL. pp. 107-114

Summary: Global climate change has been one of the most contentious issues in international negotiations since the 1980s. At the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment & Development in Rio de Janeiro - popularly known as the Earth Summit - most countries of the world adopted the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which obligates them to work together to achieve the aim of stabilizing the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases (GHG) regardless of their level of development. The UNFCCC, however, did not contain specific plans to achieve this objective. That is why 158 countries reached a historical agreement on limiting GHG emissions in December 1997 in Kyoto (Japan). So-called Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC sets legally binding emissions targets for a basket of six greenhouse gases & schedule for Annex B countries. Annex B includes developed countries & countries with economies in transition. Together Annex B countries must reduce their emissions of GHG by 5.2 percent below 1990 levels over the commitment period 2008-2012. The Protocol will enter into force when it has been ratified by at least 55 parties whose GHG emissions represent at least 55 percent of the total emissions from all Annex B countries in the year 1990. It establishes three mechanisms - joint implementation (JI), the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) & international emissions trading, which enable countries to meet their commitments at lower cost. Under JI Annex B countries (developed country & country with economy in transition) can jointly implement emissions reduction or sinks enhancement projects. The investor of the project is a developed country. After the realization of the project the investor can use "emission reduction units" (ERUs) for implementing his "kyoto" commitments. The project helps the host project country (country with economy in transition) to attract foreign investments. Through the CDM Annex B countries will be able to obtain the "certified emissions reductions" (CERs) from clean development projects implemented in non-Annex B countries (developing countries) & use them for the fulfillment of their commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. In addition to the two project-based mechanisms, the Protocol accepts the concept of emissions trading, under which one Annex B country or its juridical bodies would be allowed to purchase the rights to emit GHG from other An-nex B countries or their regulated entities that are able to cut GHG emissions below their assigned amounts or their tar-gets. Belarus is a Party of UNFCCC & now it is preparing to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. The Belarusian government supposes that GHG emissions quota, as for other countries with economies in transition, will be fixed on the level of 1990. It is approximately 120 million tons of carbon (MtC). The volume of GHG emission in 2000 was 52.3 MtC 0 because of economic decline of 1990s. It allows us to make a conclusion that Belarus will implement its responsibilities by Kyoto Protocol. Moreover, according to the forecast worked out within the framework of The First National Report on green-house gases inventory, GHG emissions will be 58...98 MtC in 2010. Thus, the country will be able to offer for sale 22...62 MtC annually on the international GHG offset market. Experts forecast that the price of 1 t dioxide carbon will be 5...50 USD. That is the volume of assets obtained from the sale can be about 3 billion USD. But most countries with economies in transition such as Russia & Ukraine prefer to take part in joint implementation projects. These projects create additional possibilities for modernization of the economy, especially technical modernization of power engineer-ing, introduction of modern energy/resource saving technologies & for attraction of foreign investments. Moreover Bel-arus can keep discharge permits for the next period of Kyoto Protocol (2013-2017). Besides, participation in the Proto-col can bring environmental benefits because reduction of GHG emissions leads to reduction of emissions of other pol-lutants.

Scientific Communications

V. F. Loginov, M. I. Struk
THE FORECAST OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES IN BELARUS FOR THE PERIOD OF 2010-2020. pp. 115-118

Summary: The research was executed according to the scheme: "pressures - changes - responses". Pressures on the environment are characterized by means of economic, demographic and climate forecasts. Environmental changes include an evaluation of future state of the air, water, land, soil, minerals, wild animals, vegetation and protected areas as well as forecasts of wastes utilization, radioactive contamination of territories and population morbidity. Responses are presented by means of principal measures for environmental protection and rational use of natural resources.

V. F. Loginov, V. A. Prokopenya, V. S. Khomich
ANALYSIS OF THE ENVIRONMENT STATE IN BELARUS. pp. 118-120

Summary: This article gives an overview of the contents of Ecological Bulletin which characterizes the state of the environment and nature resources use in Belarus in 2003.

V. E. Savenok, V. K. Lipski, G. P. Brovka
DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGY AND METHOD OF ELIMINATION OF OIL SPILLAGE IN WINTER CONDITIONS ON WATER BODIES. pp. 120-123

Summary: Ecological and safety ways of trapping, localization and gathering of oil pollution on the ice-covered water bodies are developed. These ways take into account specificity of ice-covered water bodies, ice conditions, as well as climatic factor and are intended for pollution abatement in case of major accident in the process of oil extraction and transportation with oil pollution of water bodies.

M. A. Gatikh, S. I. Obraztsov
AUTOMATED SYSTEM OF COMPLEX ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS. pp. 124-127

Summary: The automated information system for the state ecological assessment of projects on the basis of the subject complex qualifier of problems and algorithmic schemes of their achievement for each of the complexes and taking well-founded decisions was developed for the agencies of the Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Natural Resources of Belarus. The software, intended for automation of such functions as: determination of ecological conditions, control and analysis of the structure of the projects ecological passports, preparation of intermediate and final conclusions on industrial enterprises and other objects, drawing up reports and creating corresponding databases, has been already developed.

А. N. Kolobayev, A. M. Penkovskaya, S. A. Dubenok, E. M. Minchenko, L. L. Gonchar, K. M. Mukina, E. L. Gribko
SUBSTANTIATION OF DIFFERENTIATED ON BASINS OF THE RIVERS AND THEIR SITES OF THE RATES OF ECOLOGICAL TAX FOR THE WASTE DISCHARGE. pp. 128-129

Summary: Within the framework of the research new systematic approaches to charging ecological tax for the waste discharge were developed. A draft resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus was developed on determination of the charge for the pollutant discharge and a draft instruction on the ecological tax for the pollutant discharge.

H. Mohammadi Domirchi, K. Solaimani, M. Z. Ahmadi
FLOOD OCCURRENCE HAZARD FORECASTING BASED ON GIS. pp. 129-138

Резюме: Паводки являются причиной человеческого и экономического ущерба в различных частях мира. В Иране убытки велики, поскольку ливни не являются обычным явлением. Большинство иранских речных бассейнов не имеет гидрологических постов или недостаточно оборудованы. Установление систем паводкового предупреждения в этих бассейнах может уменьшить потери, вызванные паводками. Использование геоинформационных систем (ГИС) с их высокими возможностями получения оперативной информации по речным бассейнам и предварительной оценки моделирования параметров было недавно предложено для оперативного прогнозирования паводков с получением данных в режиме реального времени. Основной целью этой публикации является рассмотрение возможности взаимосвязи между ГИС со всесторонней гидрологической моделью, особенно HMS. Использование ГИС может создать нужное соотношение между результатами наблюдения с просчитанными результатами гидрологической модели. Получены результаты моделирования ливнестокового процесса модели, предложенной в данном исследовании, показало, что затопление основного бассейна реки не зависит от отдельных речных бассейнов. Модель хорошо показывает характеристики потока во времени и пространстве на всех створах системы каналов.