Natural Resources, 2005, No.4

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 4; 2005

CONTENTS

Climatic Resources

V. F. Loginov, A. A. Volchek, G. V. Volobuyeva
WIND REGIME CHANGE ON THE TERRITORY OF BELARUS IN THE XX-th CENTURY. pp. 5-12

Summary: The article deals with the questions of wind speed change on the territory of Belarus on at the turn of centu-ries. The all-round statistical analysis of time series of wind speed for various periods of averaging has been performed. Reduction of the wind speed is fixed by the prevailing majority of meteorological stations of Belarus. It was approxi-mately the same on the whole territory of Belarus. At the beginning of 70s there was a sharp reduction in the wind speed and then stabilization of the process. Stronger reduction of the wind speed occurred in the middle of 90s. The analysis of the data of meteorological stations operating since the beginning of the 20-th century has shown that similar long periods of wind speed decrease was already observed. Reduction of the wind speed approximately by the same level was observed from 1906 to 1928. It took place during the epoch of the western form of circulation (according to G. J. Vangengeim). The greatest changes of the wind speed took place in the central part of Belarus (meteorological stations Naroch and Minsk). Reduction of the wind speed goes faster in Polotsk lowland, than in Polesie. Besides, attention should be paid to the axis: meteorological station Polesskaya - Volkovysk, where the wind speed does not only remains constant but also tends to grow. The main reason of the wind speed change during the last century is the change of the general circulation of the atmosphere. Wind speed reduction on the territory of Belarus is connected to the growth of intensity of North Atlantic fluc-tuation and increase in repeatability of deep baric formations, which are taking place over the territory of Europe. Similar decrease of the wind speed was already observed in 1906-1929. It coincided with high values of index NAF in those years.

Water Resources

G. Zaborovskaya, A. Kovalyova
HYDROGEODINAMIC CONDITIONS OF THE RIVER VEDRICH DRAINAGE BASIN AS A FACTOR OF UNDERGROUND WATER PROTECTION FROM SURFACE SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION. pp. 13-20

Summary: The main regularities of the underground water motion in the zone of intensive waterchange of the river Vedrich basin were studied. According to the results of the geofiltration and geomigration numerical modeling, a set of specialized maps has been created. The horizontal velocity of subterranean and interstratal waters as well as lateral filtration flow extension (along the rock stratification) that characterizes relative intensity of vertical and horizontal water circulation in stratified system are considered as a vulnerability factor of these waters. According to the intensity of interstratal waterchange and the extension of the lateral filtration flows in the river Vedrich basin, two hydrodynamic subzones were singled out: the upper and the lower one. In the upper hydrodynamic subzone all aquifers have direct hydraulic links with the present-day surface; and the vertical water filtration prevails greatly over the horizontal one. This subzone includes subterranean, Early Middle Pleistocene and Paleogene aquifers. The lateral flow extension of subterranean aquifer doesn't exceed 500 meters and increases up to 1...5 km only in the river Vedrich valley. The lower hydrodynamic subzone consists of Turon-Maastrich and Jurassic-Early Cenomanian aquifers separated from the present-day surface by several weakly permeable layers. Their lateral flow extension reaches 30 km and increases up to 100 km and more at the ascending and descending filtration borders. To confirm the noted peculiarities of the underground water flow structure and set the regularities of the pollution migration in the zone of intensive waterchange of the river Vedrich basin we carried out numerical modeling of pollution migration in underground waters. The obtained regularities of the underground waters motion in the zone of intensive waterchange of the river Vedrich basin are of great importance for the estimation of the subterranean and interstratal water vulnerability. The created set of maps of velocity and extension of the lateral underground water flows can be used for choosing the places for industrial waste storage under the given level of influence on the underground waters.

Mineral Resources

V. V. Slysh
THE INFLUENCE OF PEAT DECOMPOSITION DEGREE ON THE BALANCE OF ORGANIC SUBSTANCE IN A DEPOSIT. pp. 21-25

Summary: World peat bogs occupy an area of 3 985 000 kms2 and contain from 5 000...6 000 Gt peat. About 2 428 000 kms2 of bogs holding the accumulated peat and other organic substances are not investigated. They give us an idea about fundamental processes of vital activity and biogeochemical cycles. In the article various parameters of organic substance losses are considered, as well as the relationship of peat decomposition degree to the quantity of the accumulated carbon is shown. As a result of peat deposit properties modelling, dependence of losses of an organic substance on the degree of decomposition is shown. Based on the assessment of deposition and consumption, curves of balance ratios are built and quotients taking into account these losses are specified.

Land Resources

A. S. Antonyuk, A. L. Yefremov
BIOGENIC RESOURCES IN SODDY-GLAY SOILS OF BREST POLESIE. pp. 26-36

Summary: Due to prevalence of sandy-marsh plains, dry climate, wind activity, wind erosion of soils of Brest Polesie is revealed in mineral soddy-glay soils of easy mechanical structure and in drained peat beds. Wind erosion is a physical process occurring as a result of air stream contact with soil cover surface. The origin and development of wind erosion depend on cumulative action of climate, relief, soil cover and vegetation. The main reason is the wind which causes deflation. It has critical speed, which is sufficient for separation of mineral particles from the ground surface. Wind erosion gets maximum development in spring when big spaces become open and unprotected by forest belts while meteorological conditions are rather favorable for the development of erosion processes. Negative influence of erosion processes consists not only in degradation of soil cover and reduction of productive ability of soils, but also in significant deterioration of the ecological situation. Potential biogenic resources of agrophitocenosis on soddy-glay soils of water-glacial nature in the Brest Polesie are the following: humus - 9...14...19 kg/m², nitrogen - 1,20...1,50 kg/m², phosphorus - 300...560 g/m², where mobile phosphorus is 18...40 % from the total, K2O - 53...80 g/m², and microelements: Zn - 3...7 g/m², Cu - 2...4 g/m², B - 0,5...1,0 g/m² in a meter layer. The microbe biomass of these soils is: 96...120...188 g/m², with a maximum in carbonate variant of soddy-glay soils. The bacterial biomass makes up 10...30 % of the total biomass of microorganisms, the potential biomass of microbiota makes up 5...7 % from the weight of organic substance, stocks of organic chemistry within the lim-its of 0,6...1,4 % from the weight of soil. The content of the restored and oxidized forms of ascorbic acid makes up 0,0003...0,0005 % and 0,0004...0,0007 % from the weight of organic substance.

Biological Resources

Z. A. Rupasova, V. A. Ignatenko, T. I. Vasilevskaya, N. N. Ruban, A. P. Yakovlev
THE QUALITY OF HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRY FRUITS AT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF MINERAL NUTRITION IN BELARUS. pp. 37-43

Summary: The results of a comparative study of parameters of accumulation of phenolic compounds in fruits of early-, moderate- and late-maturing modelling species of highbush blueberry in austral, central and boreal agroclimatic areas of Belarus in field experiments with the identical 8-alternative scheme of addition N60, P60, K60 are given. It has been found that on the background of variety differences of plants response on the change of geographical position of the study area, with advance into boreal direction accumulation of anthocyan pigments in fruits increased by 17...21 %, mainly at the expense of essentially anthocyanins, tanning agents by 19...37 % and lignines by 26...69 %, at the absence of inter-regional differences in the contents of catechins, and in early- and moderate-maturing species also flavonol, for which its decrease by 12 % only in late-maturing species is shown. Thus, the most significant variety differences in accumulation in fruits of blueberry of anthocyan pigments, bioflavon-oids as a whole and tanning agents (in limens of 6...59 %) is fixed in the central area of study, catechins (up to 10 %) - in boreal, flavonoid (up to 7...9 %) - in austral.

V. F. Baginsky
POTENTIAL OF WOODPULP USE FOR ENERGY IN BELARUS. pp. 44-51

Summary: To fulfill the tasks of the energy industry development on local types of fuel set by President Alexander Lu-kashenko, it is necessary that the whole potential of the Republic's woodlands be included in timber management activities. At present only firewood and sawmill waste are utilized as fuels. Our analysis has shown that logging residues (cut off but-ends, stumps, lop and top), unmarketable timber (brush wood) and dead wood could also be offered for the energy industry. An estimated 8.3 million cu m of firewood could be harvested in Belarus from all timber felling operations in the near- and medium-term prospects. Logging residues will comprise 2 to 3 million cu m; use could be made of 70 percent of their mass. Sawmill waste (2 million cu m) is to be completely utilized. Dead wood amounts to about 9...10 million cu m, harvesting of 10 to 50 percent of the stock being economically warranted. Hence, even in the medium-term outlook the total potential of wood pulp supplies for the energy industry will amount to 19...20 million cu m, which is equivalent to 3...5 million t of conventional fuel. However, logging residues and dead wood being uncalled, their estimate is approximate. Therefore it is necessary that in the coming 2 to 3 years, techniques be developed for assessing wood pulp stock for the energy industry both in the regions and plausible biofuel plants.

Ecologically Safe and Resource Saving Technologies

S. L. Shimanovich, O. V. Shimanovich, V. M. Krasnitsky, L. M. Lyudchik
OZONE TECHNOLOGIES FOR WATER PURIFICATION. pp. 52-58

Summary: The end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21th one are characterized by the increasing attention of mankind to environment preservation. Comprehension of the threat of nature thin balance destruction as a result of human activity and the threat of creation of adverse conditions for life puts forward the task of the environment conservation in the conditions of rising industrial and agricultural productivity and growing population of the planet. The problems of preventing harmful emissions, conservation of fertility and maintenance of food safety, living conditions get paramount importance. Development and introduction of ozone technologies in industry, agriculture, storing, clearing and processing of food products, medicine and other areas of human activity mark a new stage of technological revolution. First of all, it is explained by the ecological safety of these methods. Ozone is, perhaps, a unique agent for clearing, disinfecting and keeping because final products of interaction with ozone are practically safe, and unused active substance in natural condi-tions is quickly decomposed, producing harmless molecular oxygen. The important circumstance is that introduction of ozone technologies does not require significant capital investment, the expenses for operation of installations are insig-nificant, and the expenses for transporting, storing and recycling of active substance are absent. In the paper modern techniques of ozone application for clearing, disinfection and decoloration of drinking water and for clearing industrial and agricultural waste water are described.

Nature Management

A. S. Senko, N. A. Lysukha, V. S. Zubritski, O. N. Pozhakh
MAIN RESULTS OF CALCULATION AND MAPPING OF CRITICAL LOADS OF NITROGEN AND SULFUR ON THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ECOSYSTEMS FOR THE WHOLE TERRITORY OF BELARUS. pp. 59-71

Summary: In this article the authors presented the results of the work that has been done under the program GSTP "Ecological safety". Brief description of the concept of critical load which is the unique scientifically-grounded quantitative method of estimation of ecosystem stability to anthropological influences and is recognized at the international level is given. Calculation and mapping approaches of critical loads within the UN/ECE Convention on Long-range Trans-boundary Air Pollution, adapted for the conditions of Belarus, are considered. The review of the initial information is given, as well as applied technical instruments are described. Some generalized results of calculations for natural ecosystems (forests, grasslands and peat lands) are presented in the form of tables and maps of critical loads according to considered methodology. Stability of ecosystems to atmospheric pollution is estimated in accordance with critical loads of sulfur and nutrient nitrogen values, which are compared to values of sulfur and nitrogen deposition. The maximum critical load of sulfur defines the greatest possible level of receipt atmospheric-technical sulfur on the ecosystems. The minimum values of critical loads of nitrogen (CLminN) can be determined as a level of atmospheric-technical deposition of nitrogen which is absorbed by soil microorganisms and plants, is included into the structure of humus and nitrificate. The level of 95 % protection is not available for the most of squares of EMEP grid on the territory of Belarus. It means that ecosystems having low production and being under poor ground are influenced negatively by sulfur and nitrogen deposition and transform their structure. As a result, sta-bility to anthropological influence decreases. These results can be used for the development of biogeochemical standards for estimation of natural complex stability as an alternative to traditional ones. Excess of critical loads signals about the excess of allowable levels of anthropological influence within a specific ecosystem. The algorithm of calculation allows us to allocate a component (vegeta-tion or ground) which is under the greatest influence. The methodology of critical loads can be also applied for estima-tion of city territories in accordance to multifunctional use of their grounds; in this case the calculated values of critical loads can be used as background standards.

E. V. Kvasnikova, E. D. Stukin †, О. Mih. Zhukova, М. G. Germenchuk, О. Мitr. Zhukova, E. D. Shagalova, Zh. V. Bakarykava, N. V. Kirienko
FEATURES OF PRESENT-DAY 137Cs CONTAMINATION OF BRYANSK-BELARUSIAN POLESIE. pp. 72-80

Summary: This article is devoted to estimation of changes of the area of radioactive pollution in Bryansk-Belarusian Polesie due to intensity of landscape factors influence. Research of influence of geochemical conditions on transformation of soil pollution with 137Cs was carried out on the catchments of small and medium size rivers: the Besed` river (Bryansk-Belarusian caesium spot), the Nesvich river (the territory of exclusion zone of ChNPP) (Belarus), the Moskovka river and the Oleshnya river (Russia) of Dnieper basin (Bryansk-Belarusian caesium spot). Investigation results have shown that soddy-podsolic sandy soil under a pine forest resist 137Cs migration, strongly fixing this radionuclide in a thin layer of the humus horizon lying under forest litter. In the processes of redistribution of 137Cs in hydromorphous landscapes of Bryansk woodlands, vertical migration prevails above lateral one. In soils with redundant humidification 137Cs significant transfer from the top 5-cm layer of soil occurs in comparison with automorphous soils. On arable lands there is an appreciable 137Cs transfer in a horizontal direction and its accumulation on negative elements of relief.

A. V. Ipatiev
DAMAGING FACTORS OF FOREST AND PEAT FIRES. pp. 81-86

Summary: Actions which are directed to the prevention and minimization of consequences as a result of emergencies are planned and developed depending on the character of damaging factors influence on people and material assets. Planning and development of the actions directed to the prevention and minimization of consequences from extreme emergencies is defined, on the one hand, by the forecast of character and degree of influence of their damaging factors for people and material assets and, on the other hand, by battle readiness and fighting capacity of corresponding emergency and saving services. Despite on introduction of more perfect means and methods of preventive maintenance, detection and liquidation of fires in the last decade in forestry, it was not possible to warn a significant amount of their occurrence and distribution on significant areas in some years with extreme weather conditions (1992, 1994-1996, 1999). The analysis of the data allows us to establish features of influence of the basic damaging factors of fires in natural ecological systems on people and material assets: 1. Open flame and sparks, increased ambient temperature can damage people and material assets only in immediate proximity from a zone of burning. 2. Toxicity of burning products and lack of oxygen which are characteristic of natural fires (unlimited access of oxygen and low danger of toxicity of combustible natural materials) renders the influence also only near a zone of burning. 3. Influence of above mentioned damaging factors on urban population and material assets which are as a rule far from the center of a fire is insignificant. 4. Damaging factors of natural fires most actively influencing population and territories are the following: 4.1. Smoke. Formation of smog leads to inhalation damage of the people who are in the immediate proximity from a zone of burning and at significant distance from it. 4.2. Radionuclides are transferred from radiation polluted areas to adjoining territories by streams of smoke during fires.

S. V. Savchenko, S. E. Golovaty, N. S. Shevtsova, A. A. Taratunin, Y. V. Khovrin
FEATURES OF HEAVY METAL POLLUTED WATER OBJECT IN CITY CONDITIONS (ON THE EXAMPLE OF DEDNO-LAKE IN GOMEL). pp. 87-91

Summary: Dedno-lake which is located in the city of Gomel was taken as an object for this study. Field investigations related to water and bottom sediment sampling were carried out in autumn of 2004. Heavy metals analysis was performed by atomic-absorption method. As the basic characteristics for estimation of the content of heavy metals in samples of water, bottom sediment and soil, their absolute content, comparison of absolute meanings with the background one and extreme allowable concentration were used, as well as the total factor of Zc pollution which is calculated in case of pollution by a number of elements. Investigation results have shown that in Dedno-lake water the content of heavy metals considerably exceed background values for all investigated elements and forms the following line: Zn78 > Pb30 > > Ni20 > Cd16 > Cu8,8. Thus, the content of Cd, Mn and Pb reach or exceed extreme allowable concentrations that allows to relate this reservoir water to the category with a dangerous level of pollution and characterize the ecological condition as critical, Mn and Pb - to the allowable level of pollution and consider the ecological conditions as satisfactory. Basic contaminants of bottom sediment of Dedno-lake are Cd, Pb and Cr. The association of elements - contaminants forms the following line: Cd12,8 > Pb3,2 > Cr2,9. The average total factor of Zc pollution makes up 17,8, that allows to characterize the level of pollution of bottom sediment as moderately dangerous and ecological conditions as intense. Basic contaminants of soil are also Cd, Cr and Pb, forming a line: Cd5,5 > Cr2,6 > Pb2,4. The total factor of pollution makes up 8,5, that allows to relate soil to the category with the allowable level of pollution and characterize ecological conditions as rather satisfactory.

L. N. Ryabova, S. N. Veremchuk
GEOCHEMICAL MAPPING AS AN ASSESSMENT OF THE ECOLOGICAL STATE OF THE DNIEPER RIVER VALLEY. pp. 92-99

Summary: An ecological and geochemical map of the Dnieper river valley of the scale 1:25,000 was made and a detailed explication was prepared where topographic features, soil and vegetative cover types, natural moisture conditions, groundwater level, soil and rock granulometric composition, humus horizon thickness, organic matter content medium pH were specified for each of the distinguished geochemical landscapes. Geochemical barriers and associations of concentrating elements were revealed for each type of the landscapes. A fragment of the map representing Rogachev district of Gomel region is demonstrated as an example. A quantitative assessment of the ecological conditions of land-scapes was based on the summary contamination index. The content of elements-contaminants in humus horizons of the soils from the Dnieper river valley upstream from the town of Rogachev were taken as background concentrations for this site of the valley. Analysis of the ecological and geochemical environment in the Dnieper river valley of Rogachev district, Gomel region suggests non-uniform ecological conditions. The most favorable conditions are created on terraces built by sandy deposits while waterlogged near-terrace floodplains are the most dangerous sites in ecological respect. These sites of the valley are less resistant to chemical contamination, and Cu, V and Cr accumulations there are 11,3, 3,3 and 2 times higher than their background values, respectively.

I. M. Malakhov
IRREVERSIBLE TRANSFORMATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ITS MANAGEMENT. pp. 100-105

Summary: Top managers of different countries accumulated specific experience in different branches of human activi-ties. They must recognize the limits of practical activities in biosphere. Any perfect technology is based on nature resource. Unfortunately, the progress of civilization in using nature resource including minerals is not significant today comparing to one during the Paleolithic. Essentially, business activities in this case are similar to those of a Paleolithic hunter-gatherer. So, any modern high technology is rooted in "take for one's own" economy type. We believe that the result of technological activities of mankind in a contemporary world can be characterized by the following three situations: The first situation describes those territories where islets of virgin nature still remain. In this case we should focus our efforts on protecting the territory against anthropogenic load. Such territories in developed countries occupy now from 1 to 6 % of the total area. The second situation we can observe on territories where environment is degraded due to human activity, and natural processes have been disturbed. Such territories cover about 50 % of the area of developed countries. The third situation is characteristic of modern urban conglomerates such as New York, Tokyo, and Moscow. Regions of long-time intensive extraction and processing of mineral fossils (Ruhr, Silesia, Kryvey Rig Basin, Donetsk Basin, etc.) also fall into this category. Such urban and mining territories cover from 15 to 18 % of the world land. In fact, the technogenic ecosystem has specific processes of development. The question is: what are main ways of the environment preservation in these regions? This is the focus of this article. The object for discussion is Krivoy Rog mining region. After a long investigation we came to the conclusion that the state of relief, hydrosphere, entrails of the earth and the atmospheric air, gravitational and electromagnetic fields should also be mentioned, and the geochemistry of both surface and underground soils has changed. The return of the parameters to their natural state is practically impossible. That is, we observe irreversible transfer of the environment from natural to a technogenic state. In other words it is technogenic ecosystem.

Protected Objects of Nature

Summary: The original concept of ecological frame of forest territory was proposed by the authors on the basis of analysis of the existing practice of biological diversity protection in the forestry of Belarus and countries of Europe, study of composition and structure of flora and fauna of Belarus forests and their limitation factors. It combines principles of "key biotopes", "ecological corridors" and landscape planning of forestry actions. The concept of ecological frame of forest territory is theoretical basis for organization of ecologically focused forestry. The purpose of the concept is to provide safety of biological diversity and ecological functions of forests in nature-territorial complexes without considerable restriction of forest utilization volume. Practical method of the concept realization is distribution of forest fund sites to categories depending on their ecological value, place in landscape and assignment for its corresponding models of managing. It provides creation of conditions for preservation of the basic values of a biodiversity and protective functions of forest. This project was realized in a particular site of Smorgon pilot forest enterprise in Grodno region (104,7 thousand hectares). Continuous field inspection and zoning of the territory of forest enterprise by categories of area according to the concept of ecological frame was carried out. The project of forestry actions directed to creation of conditions for preser-vation of flora, fauna and landscape diversity was developed. The methods of definition of forest plots value for main-tenance of flora and fauna diversity on the basis of an estimation of biotop variety were advanced and adapted for the conditions of Belarus. Features of forests of different age and different specific structure for maintenance of animals and plants diversity are shown. Introduction of this project in forestry will enable to keep and increase biological and landscape diversity, increase stability, strengthen protective properties of forests and combine effective preservation of biodiversity with exploitation of forest resources. It will enable forest enterprises to pass procedures of forest certification.

Scientific Communications

I. P. Voznyachuk, N. L. Voznyachuk, A. V. Sudnik
FEATURES OF SPECIES STRUCTURE FORMATION OF LOW LAYERS OF FOREST CANOPY COVER IN DIFFERENT LIGHT CONDITIONS. pp. 119-123

Summary: The analysis of species organization dependence of the ground layers of forest vegetation on solar radiation was carried out. The structure of micro groups is a certain indicator of illumination conditions and community state. Disturbance of communities is accompanied by change of a light mode under forest canopy. It is expressed in intensification of domination of species not characteristic for these places of growth. The conditional groups of plants with different response to the amount of acting light are allocated.

Chronicle

A. P. Likhatsevich, A. S. Meyerovskiy
FLAGSHIP OF AMELIORATIVE BELARUS LANDS TRANSFORMATION - 75 YEARS. pp. 124-125

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF INTERDEPARTMENTAL BULLETIN "NATURAL RESOURCES" FOR 1996-2005. pp. 126-140