Impact of Seasonal Changes of Precipitation and Air Temperature on Clay Excavation

Denis Težak,Nikola Kranjčić,Bojan Đurin,Božo Soldo

doi:10.3390/su11226368

Denis Težak, Nikola Kranjčić + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su11226368

Copy DOI

Abstract

Excavation of clay soil is one of the most important economic branches in the northern part of Croatia. The impact of clay soil in Croatia compared to the global exploitation fields of clay soil is negligible. Modern methods of clay excavation during winter months due to negligible amounts are not profitable. Therefore, it is important to optimize clay soil excavation throughout the year to increase the efficiency of exploitation and increase profits. In the case of large amounts of precipitation (rain), clay absorbs water and becomes grain. For this reason, access to the exploitation field and excavation itself becomes impossible. Air temperature also plays an important role in excavation. Long-lasting low air temperatures below 0 °C during the winter months result in clay frost. As a result, excavation cannot occur at that time. The paper describes a new method of modeling the precipitation and air temperature on the exploitation fields of clay in Northwest Croatia on the exploitation fields of Cukavec and Cukavec II. The method involves the calculation of the drought index and use of the rescaled adjusted partial sums (RAPS) statistical method and its application on a time series of total daily precipitation and average daily temperatures as a climatic indicator of any observed area. Using this process, it is possible to determine the time period of the year when clay soil can be excavated.

Highlights

The excavation of clay soil for use as a construction material is an important economic resource in the northern part of Croatia, as well as many other regions in the world
The paper describes a new method of modeling the precipitation and air temperature on the exploitation fields of clay in Northwest Croatia on the exploitation fields of Cukavec and Cukavec II
The method involves the calculation of the drought index and use of the rescaled adjusted partial sums (RAPS) statistical method and its application on a time series of total daily precipitation and average daily temperatures as a climatic indicator of any observed area

Summary

Introduction

The excavation of clay soil for use as a construction material is an important economic resource in the northern part of Croatia, as well as many other regions in the world. This is the motivation for developing a model that will define periods when conditions for clay excavation are favorable For this purpose, calculation of a drought index (J) and RAPSk values, i.e., application of a rescaled adjusted partial sums (RAPS) method, will be applied to the time series of annual total precipitation and average daily air temperature. The drought index (J) is planned to be used for the purpose of identifying and monitoring drought periods during the analyzed years and months, with regard to the total precipitation and average daily temperatures This defines the climate of the observed area [5,6,7,8], as well as the possibility for clay excavation. The abovementioned methods have not been applied to the described problem so far and are presented and described below

Methods

Methodology

Location

Conclusions