Irina V. Priputina

Evaluation of Geo-Environmental Risks in the Impacted Zones of Oil and Gas Industry in the Russian Arctic

The article deals with evaluation of geo-environmental risks (GER) in the impacted zones of oil and gas industry in the Russian Arctic. Much attention is given to GER analysis concept using acidifying pollutant critical load (CL) methodology. It is described GER review concept algorithm for acid-forming deposition in areas affected by oil and gas industry sites in the Russian Arctic. It’s especially advisable for the preparation of environmental study for oil and gas projects in areas with low information availability and high degree of uncertainty.

Evidence of Plant Biodiversity Changes as a Result of Nitrogen Deposition in Permanent Pine Forest Plots in Central Russia

Abstract: This study examines the influence of the increased atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition observed in central Russia between 1960 and 2010 (with a peak in 1990) on biodiversity and the availability of N in soil in pine forests. Shifts in N availability in soils of 3 pine plots were analyzed using presence/absence chronosequence records of the dynamics of ground vegetation plants and a set of specialist plant species with a narrow range of tolerance as bioindicators of soil richness. We assumed that changes in plant communities might be caused by increased atmospheric N input. To examine this assumption, (i) the species composition of forest ground vegetation was analyzed using the Ellenberg N scale and the Tsyganov N scale, which was developed for forest vegetation in European Russia, and (ii) the dynamics of the main N pools were examined using simulation models of forest growth and elements cycling in the forest—soil system. Our results confirm that changes in the ground vegetation communities experiencing eutrophication occurred in all plots. The number of indicators of N-rich conditions for these plots reached a maximum in 1990, the year N deposition reached its maximum in this area. The decline in the number of oligotrophic species indicated that N-poor soils decreased over the monitoring period. Model simulations showed an increase in labile N compounds in the soil and in the total N pool in forest ecosystems. Our results demonstrate an acceleration of natural succession due to atmospheric nitrogen deposition in this region.

Retrospective assessment of the dynamics of nitrogen availability in pine forests of the near-Moscow region based on the data of phytoindication

Earlier published data on the long-term geobotanic monitoring in permanent pilot plots have been used to analyze changes in trophic conditions and estimate nitrogen nutrition availability to pine forests of the Serebryanyi Bor Forestry located in the Moscow oblast. The assessments of habitats based on the ecological scales of soil richness with nitrogen, which were developed by D.N. Tsyganov and G. Ellenberg, and analysis of the dynamics of stenobiont species have revealed the properties of changes in the species composition and conditions of nitrogen availability to forests for the period from 1957–1961 to 2003. The results indicate increased nitrogen availability to forests in the studied period for all permanent plots, but reflect different intensities of the trend of eutrophication in different monitoring stages. A more intense growth in soil richness with nitrogen in all permanent plots was in the period since 1957–1961 to 1989–1990. In the next years, the level of nitrogen availability to phytocenoses almost did not change. The improvement in the trophic conditions was accompanied by the growth in total species richness and increase in the number of stenobionts with high requirements to nitrogen nutrition. The results from analyzing the dynamics of stenobionts confirm the division of the period under consideration into two stages. From 1957–1961 to 1989–1990, changes in the species composition of plant communities in the pine forests under consideration were similar but differed in intensity. From 1989–1990 to 2003 (against the background of total deceleration of the eutrophication trend), the similarity of species dynamics in the communities was disturbed. The impact of air pollution by NOx on nitrogen nutrition availability to forests was examined with consideration for the fact that the studied area is within the capital agglomeration. The dynamics of the intensity of air nitrogen deposition is in good agreement with the revealed changes in the species composition of phytocenoses and nitrogen soil richness. It gives reasons to suppose that the trend of forest eutrophication in the 1960s–1980s was strengthened by the impact of increased levels of atmospheric nitrogen deposition.

Possible Indicators for Assessing Geo-Environmental Risk in Polar Ecosystems of the Yamal Peninsula in Relation to Pollutant Emission During Gas Production

The methodologies of risk analysis and critical loads (CLs) have been used to assess the influence of anthropogenic emission of NOx on terrestrial ecosystems of the Yamal Peninsula in the impacted zone of Bovanenkovo gas condensate field (BGCF). Depending on dominant plant communities, the calculated values of CLs of nutrient nitrogen were equal in average 210–350 eq ha−1 yr−1 (or 3–5 kg N ha−1 yr−1). Mean values of CLs of acidity were lower (100–200 eq ha−1 yr−1). Additional N deposition, associated with emission of NOx, is estimated at the center of 30-km zone under impact in 35–140 eq ha−1 yr−1 (or 0.5–2 kg N ha−1 yr−1) at the initial stage, and more than 2000 eq ha−1 yr−1 (or 25–30 kg N ha−1 yr−1) at maximum gas production. But even at high exposure, exceedance of CLs in most ecosystems of this territory will not be higher than 1.5–2 kg N ha−1 yr−1 that corresponds to low risks of eutrophication.

Biogeochemical Cycling and SMB Model to Assess Critical Loads of Nitrogen and Acidity for Terrestrial Ecosystems in the Russian Arctic

The article presents the results of evaluation of critical loads (CLs) of acidity and nutrient nitrogen for terrestrial ecosystems of the Yamal Peninsula, which is the region of largest gas fields in Russia. CLs calculation was carried out using SMB model widely applied for the calculation of CLs and their exceedances in the framework of the Convention on LRTAP. The calculations have been performed using three temperature scenarios: current climate, warming and cooling. The calculated values of CLs for acidifying effects of atmospheric deposition in conservative scenario were ranged from less than 100 up to 600 eq ha−1 yr−1, mean values were equal to 200–400 eq ha−1 yr−1. The values of CLs of nutrient nitrogen were in average 140–350 eq ha−1 yr−1 or 2–5 kg N ha−1 yr−1. According to our estimation, the decrease an annual temperature on 2 °C may lead to reducing CLs nutrient nitrogen in the north of the peninsula, and CLs acidity in the southern part. The temperature increase on 1 °C may have a positive influence on values of CLs acidity in northern, and CLs nutrient nitrogen in central and southern part of the Yamal Peninsula.

Biogeochemical Standards for Environmental Managing Polar Ecosystems

The article describes the methodological issues of using critical loads to assess environmental risks in the areas of gas production in the Arctic region. The threats and risks for terrestrial ecosystems owing to air pollution by nitrogen compounds as the result of technogenic NOx emission have been analyzed. The ecological situations in northern ecosystems in connection with anthropogenic NOx emission were ranged on the risk criteria.