Volume 5, Issue 4 (2009) | American Journal of Environmental Sciences

Investigation of Vegetation Dynamics using Long-Term Normalized Difference Vegetation Index Time-Series

Tamara Bellone — 2009-08-31

American Journal of Environmental Sciences, Published online: 31 August 2009; doi:10.3844/ajessp.2009.461.467

Problem statement: The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is the most extensively used satellite-derived index of vegetation health and density. Since climate is one of the most important f...

An Assessment of Blasting Vibrations: A Case Study on Quarry Operation

Alessandro Giraudi — 2009-08-31

American Journal of Environmental Sciences, Published online: 31 August 2009; doi:10.3844/ajessp.2009.468.474

Problem statement: One of the major environmental concerns related to blasting operation in mining and civil engineering projects is ground vibration. Approach: This study presented an assessment of g...

In situ Shear Tests of Soil Samples with Grass Roots in Alpine Environment

E. Comino — 2009-08-31

American Journal of Environmental Sciences, Published online: 31 August 2009; doi:10.3844/ajessp.2009.475.486

Problem statement: The presence of vegetation increases the soil burden stability along slopes and reduces soil erosion. Its contribution is due to mechanical (reinforcing soil shear resistance) and h...

Pore Water Pressure Contribution to Debris Flow Mobility

Chiara Deangeli — 2009-08-31

American Journal of Environmental Sciences, Published online: 31 August 2009; doi:10.3844/ajessp.2009.487.493

Problem statement: Debris flows are very to extremely rapid flows of saturated granular soils. Two main types of debris flow are generally recognized: Open slope debris flows and channelized debris fl...

Groundwater in the Urban Environment: Management Needs and Planning Strategies

Stefano Lo Russo — 2009-08-31

American Journal of Environmental Sciences, Published online: 31 August 2009; doi:10.3844/ajessp.2009.494.500

Problem statement: Over the past thirty years urban transformations, such as urbanization, suburbanization, dis-urbanization and re-urbanization processes, have modified the subsurface conditions of T...

Rocks with Asbestos: Risk Evaluation by Means of an Abrasion Test

Bellopede Rossana — 2009-10-31

American Journal of Environmental Sciences, Published online: 31 October 2009; doi:10.3844/ajessp.2009.501.507

Naturally occurring asbestos and asbestiform minerals can be found in metamorphic rocks and in the soil of the alluvial plains. Problem statement: The definition of the "free-asbestos rock" and the li...

Adsorption Study of Several Hydrophobic Organic Contaminants on an Aquifer Material

Barbara Ruffino — 2009-08-31

American Journal of Environmental Sciences, Published online: 31 August 2009; doi:10.3844/ajessp.2009.508.516

Problem statement: Aim of the present research was to determine coefficient of partition KD between soil and groundwater for five hydrophobic organic pollutants (benzene, chlorobenzene, trichloroethyl...

MNM1D: A Numerical Code for Colloid Transport in Porous Media: Implementation and Validation

Tiziana Tosco — 2009-08-31

American Journal of Environmental Sciences, Published online: 31 August 2009; doi:10.3844/ajessp.2009.517.525

Problem statement: Understanding the mechanisms that control the transport and fate of colloidal particles in subsurface environments is a crucial issue faced by several researchers in the last years....

Implementation of Environmental Management Systems in the Extraction of Construction Aggregates from Gravel Pit Lakes

Serena Botta — 2009-08-31

American Journal of Environmental Sciences, Published online: 31 August 2009; doi:10.3844/ajessp.2009.526.535

Problem statement: Mining operations are strategic and essential industrial activities which rely on the use of non renewable natural resources, causing several relevant interactions with the environm...

The Influence of Soil Characteristics in Low Flows Regionalization

Paolo Vezza — 2009-08-31

American Journal of Environmental Sciences, Published online: 31 August 2009; doi:10.3844/ajessp.2009.536.546

Problem statement: For the purpose of low flows regionalization, relevant issue for water resources management like environmental flows requirements definition, this study focused on the controls on t...

Sorption of Phenols: Influence of Groundwater pH and of Soil Organic Carbon Content

Silvia Fiore — 2009-08-31

American Journal of Environmental Sciences, Published online: 31 August 2009; doi:10.3844/ajessp.2009.547.555

Problem statement: Physical and chemical properties of soil, groundwater and pollutants deeply influenced the type and the strength of sorption phenomena involving hydrophobic organic contaminants: So...

Preliminary Tests Concerning Zero-Valent Iron Efficiency in Inorganic Pollutants Remediation

Silvia Fiore — 2009-08-31

American Journal of Environmental Sciences, Published online: 31 August 2009; doi:10.3844/ajessp.2009.556.561

Problem statement: This study was aimed to a preliminary evaluation of the applicability of granular Zero-Valent Iron (ZVI) to the on site remediation of groundwater polluted by inorganic contaminants...

Integration of Electrical and Electromagnetic Investigation for Contaminated Site

Alberto Godio — 2009-08-31

American Journal of Environmental Sciences, Published online: 31 August 2009; doi:10.3844/ajessp.2009.562.569

Problem statement: The environmental assessment of industrial areas is required to minimize the risk of soil and groundwater contamination. The survey of wide areas (e.g., some hectares) provides a hi...

Full Scale Tests of Short-Term Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Bottom Ash Weathering Before Landfill Disposal

Franco Marchese — 2009-08-31

American Journal of Environmental Sciences, Published online: 31 August 2009; doi:10.3844/ajessp.2009.570.577

Problem statement: Natural weathering is the most economic method of treatment in order to reduce the release of heavy metals present in the residue. Approach: The aim of the study was to optimize the...

The Groundwater Resources of the Morainic Amphitheatre: A Case Study in Piedmont

Massimo Vincenzo Civita — 2009-08-31

American Journal of Environmental Sciences, Published online: 31 August 2009; doi:10.3844/ajessp.2009.578.587

Problem statement: The risk of groundwater pollution and preservation of groundwater quality of these resources are extremely important topics, particularly at the present time in which water is becom...