Cold Winter Period Research Articles

Impact of Ambient Temperature, Passenger Load, and Delay on the Consumption of Battery Electric Buses

The operation of state-of-the-art battery electric buses (BEBs) has started recently, and their consumption model is unknown. Therefore, the service providers are lenient regarding the energy used. Our aim was to reveal the effects of ambient temperature and bus service characteristics, such as passenger load and delay, on the energy consumption. Real-time consumption data of BEBs were analyzed in Nyíregyháza, Hungary, and the functional relationships among the aforementioned variables were revealed. We found that while ambient temperature is negatively correlated with consumption in the cold winter periods, the consumption surplus is positively correlated with passenger load and generally positively correlated with the delay on the trip because of road traffic. In the case of delay, the consumption increase is caused by more frequent acceleration and the greater consumption of auxiliary systems due to longer running times. Accordingly, the energy consumption can be estimated if the characteristics data are available. The results can be used by bus service operators to plan the daily schedule and predict the energy consumption of a BEB.

Productive qualities of bees of the Central Russian and Carpathian breeds

The study evaluates the winter hardiness, spring development, and honey production of Central Russian honey bees (Apis mellifera mellifera) and Carpathian honey bees (Apis mellifera carpatica) in the Chelyabinsk region. The research analyzes key parameters of wintering bee colonies, including colony strength in autumn, food consumption, level of chalkbrood disease, and varroa mite resistance. Results indicate that Central Russian honeybees exhibit high winter hardiness and disease resistance, contributing to their resilience during cold winter periods. Despite originating from warmer climates, Carpathian honey bees also demonstrated good winter hardiness, albeit with some susceptibility to chalkbrood disease. Both bee breeds showed comparable spring development, directly influencing overall honey production. Comparing honey productivity data revealed that Central Russian honey bees significantly outperformed Carpathian bees in terms of honey yield per harvesting period. Thus, the study underscores the importance of selecting appropriate bee breeds to ensure successful wintering and high honey productivity in harsh climates, crucial for effective beekeeping in the Chelyabinsk region and similar environments.

РЕКУПЕРАЦИЯ ТЕПЛОТЫ ИЗ ВОЗДУХА, УДАЛЯЕМОГО ИЗ ЖИВОТНОВОДЧЕСКОГО ПОМЕЩЕНИЯ

The air removed from the livestock premises by the forced ventilation system contains a significant amount of heat, that can be usefully used, for example, the supply air heating. Currently this energy saving area in the literature is being actively considered. The amount of heat air had being recovered from the indoor rooms depends on the area’s latitude where the livestock farm is located. The influence of cattle farm area’s latitude location saving heat from the air removed from the livestock premises is analyzed. The calculations for three regions of the Russian Federation’s European part located at different latitudes (Rostov, Tambov and Arkhangelsk), in relation to a 280-head cattle farm were performed. To determine the thermal power extracted from the exhaust air, these rooms thermal and material balances (the latter in terms of moisture and carbon dioxide) for the cold (winter) period of the year were compiled and the exhaust air consumption was calculated. In the calculations, a scheme of intermediate coolant, propylene glycol was considered, that circulates between two heating units, the first -on supply air, the second one - on the removed one were installed. It is shown that the farm’s location area latitude gives a significant impact on the energysaving effect: the more northerly the farm is located, the greater the effect, explaining by different indicators of the regions’ heating period under consideration. An payback period’s assessment for capital expenditures and installation work of this system implementation was carried out. The cost of three KSk3-11 brand heaters, a Grundfos UPS 32-80 F 220 circulation pump, 50 liters of propylene glycol aqueous solution, and 100 m of mounting pipes to material costs are attributed. This assessment showed considered heat recovery system’s expediency using. The numerical calculations of obtained results for country’s specified regions can be used economic effect magnitude estimate resulting.

Influence of blue-green roofs on surface and indoor temperatures over a building scale

Blue-green roofs have been utilized and studied for their enhanced water storage capacity compared to conventional roofs or extensive green roofs. Nonetheless, research about the thermal effect of blue-green roofs is lacking. The goal of this research is to study the thermal effect of blue-green roofs in order to assess their potential for shielding the indoor environment from outdoor temperature extremes (cold- and heat-waves). In this field study, we examined the differences between blue-green roofs and conventional gravel roofs from the perspective of the roof surface temperatures and the indoor temperatures in the city of Amsterdam for late 20th century buildings. Temperature sensor (iButtons) values indicate that outside surface temperatures for blue-green roofs are lower in summer and fluctuate less during the whole year than temperatures of conventional roofs. Results show that for three warm periods during summer in 2021, surface substrate temperatures peaked on average 5°C higher for gravel roofs than for blue-green roofs. Second, during both warm and cold periods, the temperature inside the water crate layer was more stable than the roof surface temperatures. During a cold period in winter, minimum water crate layer temperatures remained 3.0o C higher than other outdoor surface temperatures. Finally, also the variation of the indoor temperature fluctuations of locations with and without blue-green roofs have been studied. Locations with blue-green roofs are less sensitive to outside air temperature changes, as daily temperature fluctuations (standard deviations) were systematically lower compared to conventional roofs for both warm and cold periods.

Composition for Complementary Feeding and Deworming of Wild Boars

The study of the parasite fauna in wild boars from various natural biotopes of the Republic of Moldova allowed revealing that wild boars have a vast parasitic load, most frequently represented by polyparasitic associations. According to the invention, the supplementary feeding and deworming of the wild boars is envisaged during the cold winter period, coinciding with their reproduction period (December-February) when they face nutritional deficiency and need supplementary feeding. To deworm and compensate physiological needs of the boars during the cold period of the year (December-February) with vitamins, trace elements, and assimilable concentrated minerals will determine a new qualitative effect and allow them to survive, increase their reproductive potential in naturally conditions, and reduce the risk of their capture by predators. To accomplish this need, complementary briquette food is provided for each wild boar in two seasonal installments: December and February, and 1600 g (4 briquettes of 400 g each). A precisely defined dose per specimen in the form of briquettes (4 pieces of 400.0g), a total of 1600.0g/boar/day, has been administered in two halves of 14 days by use of the feeders.

Estimation of Carbonaceous Aerosol Sources under Extremely Cold Weather Conditions in an Urban Environment

The present study investigated the characteristics of carbonaceous species in an urban background site. Real-time measurements of inorganic (sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, chloride, and black carbon [BC]) and organic submicron aerosols (OA) were carried out at the urban background site of Vilnius, Lithuania, during January–February 2014. An aerosol chemical speciation monitor (ACSM, Aerodyne Research Inc., Billerica, MA, USA) and co-located 7-λ aethalometer (AE-31, Magee Scientific, Berkeley, CA, USA) were used to analyze the chemical compositions, sources, and extinction characteristics of the PM1. Extremely contrasting meteorological conditions were observed during the studied period due to the transition from moderately cold (~2 °C) conditions to extremely cold conditions with a lowest temperature of −25 °C; therefore, three investigation episodes were considered. The identified periods corresponded to the transition time from the moderately cold to the extremely cold winter period, which was traced by the change in the average temperature for the study days of 1–13 January, with T = −5 °C and RH = 92%, in contrast to the period of 14–31 January, with T = −14 °C and RH = 74%, and the very short third period of 1–3 February, with T = −8 °C and RH = 35%. On average, organics accounted for the major part (53%) of the non-refractory submicron aerosols (NR-PM1), followed by nitrate (18%) and sulfate (9%). The source apportionment results showed the five most common OA components, such as traffic and heating, to be related to hydrocarbon-like organic aerosols (HOAtraffic and HOAheating, respectively), biomass-burning organic aerosols (BBOA), local organic aerosol (LOA), and secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Traffic emissions contributed 53% and biomass burning 47% to the BC concentration level. The highest BC and OA concentrations were, on average, associated with air masses originating from the southwest and east–southeast. Furthermore, the results of the PSCF and CWT methods indicated the main source regions that contributed the most to the BC concentration in Vilnius to be the following: central–southwestern and northeastern Poland, northwestern–southwestern and eastern Belarus, northwestern Ukraine, and western Russia. However, the potential sources of OA were widely distributed.

Landscape Configuration Effects on Outdoor Thermal Comfort across Campus—A Case Study

As a main place for student activities on campus, outdoor spaces have positive impacts on students’ physical and mental health. Namely, outdoor heat and comfort are of great significance to improve activity quality. Here, four unique outdoor spaces were studied to explore the varying effects on human thermal comfort during hot-summer and cold-winter periods. Distinct outdoor spaces (fully open, semi-open, semi-enclosed, and fully enclosed areas) from the southern campus of Anhui Jianzhu University were chosen. The PET was used as a metric for measuring thermal comfort and analyzing correlated spatiotemporal distributions. The results showed that outdoor thermal comfort was derived from multiple factors, including vegetation, underlying surface materials, building presence, and wind-heat environment. Notably, high correlations between Tmrt and thermal comfort were revealed, where such temperatures of places with trees or building shade were low; thus, PET was low. Further, Ws showed a significantly negative correlation with PET. Of the four outdoor space forms, the fully enclosed location had the lowest thermal comfort level, while the semi-enclosed spaces showed the highest level of body comfort. Therefore, semi-enclosed space (U-shaped) is recommended in campus planning and construction. Accordingly, an improved strategy was proposed based on experimental transformation for fully enclosed spaces. The thermal comfort after optimization was simulated to provide references for outdoor space thermal comfort improvement during seasonal extremes.

Drivers of 2015–2021 trends in cold winter surface PM2.5 in the Harbin-Changchun megalopolis in China: Meteorology vs. anthropogenic emission

Harbin-Changchun megalopolis (HCM) is a typical representative of the cold urban agglomeration region in China. Although the average annual PM2.5 concentration has experienced an evolutionary process continuous deterioration to gradual improvement in the past decade, but severe haze episodes still occur during cold winter periods. WRF-CMAQ model and observed dataset of surface PM2.5 concentration were conducted in this study to identify the drivers of 2015–2021 trends in cold winter surface PM2.5 in the HCM by separating contributions from anthropogenic emissions and meteorology changes. Meteorological condition change was the dominant driver of 2015–2021 trends in cold winter surface PM2.5 in the HCM. The years with most unfavorable, typical, and most favorable meteorological conditions for PM2.5 concentration reduction during January from 2015 to 2021 for the whole HCM region were 2020, 2017, and 2018, respectively. The major controlling meteorological factors that affect the surface PM2.5 concentration change were relative humidity, maximum wind direction and speed in cold winter in the HCM. In addition, we found that the emission cut policy began to play a practical role in the air quality improvement in the HCM from year of 2018. The emission reduction during the 2017–2021 resulted in an approximately 19% (15.7 μg/m3) decrease of PM2.5 concentrations in January. Furthermore, sensitivity experiments demonstrated that residential emission cut was the key measures for future air quality improvement in cold winter in the HCM.

Simulation of IAQ and thermal comfort of a classroom at various ventilation strategies

It has been reported that there is a large issue regarding the IEQ in schools and classrooms as they often do not have a mechanical ventilation system or do not operate it to save on electricity bills. However, the measurements and reports from existing research indicate that the indoor air temperatures and CO2 levels are often way outside the recommended values and manual venting by opening windows during brakes is not sufficient. This has become especially alarming during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the virus can spread through the air and under-ventilated classrooms pose a great risk for the pupils located in them. In the scope of this paper, a classroom was simulated concerning IAQ and thermal comfort at various ventilation strategies. The simulation was used to determine the predicted thermal comfort at various locations in the classroom at different window opening areas and orientations. Based on the simulation results potential control strategies for window ventilation were developed. They take into account the changing location of persons and the threshold level of allowed deviation from optimal thermal comfort level to achieve the optimal IAQ as a compromise during the cold winter periods must be made. The results indicated that after 50-second-long natural ventilation at an outside air temperature of -3°C the thermal comfort level will be very low in most of the points of the classroom. None of the various window-opening strategies influences this much. The lowest achieved average PPD was 62.5% and it was in the case when one open window was open at 90° but in the case when two windows were open at 15 cm the average PPD was 98.7%.

Carp Breeding in the Carpathian Basin with a Sustainable Utilization of Renewable Natural Resources.

In the Central European region, there is a long tradition of breeding fish in artificially constructed ponds. As the area belongs to the temperate zone, farmed fish need to survive cold winter periods. Common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.), which is an omnivorous, bioturbating species, is well adapted to warm and cold periods and the alluvial water environment. Since the Middle Ages, a large scale, efficient carp farming methodology has been developed in the region, where production is based on natural resources (protein and fatty acid sources) of renewable water ecosystems. This summary aims to present this well-developed breedi:ng method through discussing aspects of hydrobiology and energy transfer through the food chain as well. Capabilities and effects of agro-technical treatments such as liming and organic manuring, zooplankton management and possible supplementary feedings are also reviewed. Analysing chemical processes of waters uncovers that biological production has no carbon footprint; no carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. In contrast, gaseous carbon dioxide diffuses into pond water containing calcium and/or magnesium, then it accumulates in algae production and, through energy migration to upper trophic levels, increases carp production. Thus, it can be declared that pond-farmed carp provides an environmentally friendly, delicious meat among products of animal origin.

The Influence of Alkali-Free Shotcrete Accelerators on Early Age Hydration and Property Development within Cement Systems.

Fluoride-containing alkali-free setting accelerators are a common type of admixture used in tunnel shotcrete but few studies in the literature focus on the effect of their fluoride compounds on the setting and hardening properties of accelerated cement paste under low environment temperatures. Tunnel shotcrete in cold regions or winter construction periods would be obviously influenced by low environment temperatures, especially for its fast setting and quick support applications. The objective of this work is to evaluate the early age hydration behavior of different accelerated cement pastes under 20 °C and 5 °C environment temperatures. In this study, setting time measurement, early age strength development, hydration ion leaching concentration, isothermal calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and ESEM were performed on cement systems prepared with a non-fluoride alkali-free accelerator (aluminum sulfate solution with over 60% solid content) and a designed fluoride-containing alkali-free setting accelerator (aluminum sulfate and fluoride compound). The results showed that the fluorides obtained in alkali-free accelerators promote C3S dissolution and massive ettringite needles together with monosulfoaluminate (AFm) hydrate formation, thus leading to a quicker setting effect and low sensitivity to low environment temperatures than in non- fluoride groups. However, the rate of mechanical strength development of cement pastes hydrated within 24 h was decreased obviously when fluorine-containing alkali-free accelerator was used. This phenomenon is mainly related to the crystallization of thin-plate shape calcium fluoride (CaF2) formations and promoted conversion of ettringite to monosulfoaluminate hydrate in the accelerating period, thus weakening the denseness of C-S-H gel and inhibiting alite further hydration.

Time series analysis of the air pollution around Ploiesti oil refining complex, one of the most polluted regions in Romania

Refineries and petrochemical industries are known to be the principal sources of emissions for a number of air pollutants, such as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), greenhouse gases and particulate matter, which negatively affect the air quality. The primary goal of this research was the time series analysis of PM2.5, PM10, As, Cd, Ni, Pb, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, m-xylene, p-xylene, CO, NO, NO2, NOx, SO2 and O3 over an eleven-year period (2009–2019) and the connection between air pollution and meteorological parameters (air temperature, precipitation quantity and relative humidity). Regarding the pollution level of the major pollutants, the minimum pollution levels, except SO2 and O3, were recorded during warmer periods, meanwhile increased levels, were detected during the cold period (in winter). The air pollutants’ concentration and distribution are affected by meteorological parameters, such as wind speed and direction, rainfall or even relative humidity. Therefore, the highest concentrations in the winter season were 1.25 times higher than in autumn, 1.3 times higher than the average annual value, 1.57 times higher than in spring and 1.79 times higher than in summer. Monthly variation of O3 showed lower concentration during winter (27.62 µg/m3) and higher in summer (46.42 µg/m3). Based on the statistical analysis, a significant Spearman correlation was detected between the studied air pollutants and meteorological parameters, and according to the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis, some common sources were also detected.

Impact of biologized crop rotations on infestation of crops in arid steppe conditions of Trans-Ural region of Bashkortostan

Relevance. The influence of crop rotations on the infestation of crops has been little studied. А goal was to investigate the influence of biologized crop rotations on infestation of crops in the arid steppe of the Trans-Ural region of Bashkortostan.Methods. The relief of the experimental field is flat, represented by the foothill steppe of the Southern Urals. The soil is black soil, common medium-coal. The climate is arid, with periodically hot summer and moderately cold and little snow winter periods. During the years of experiments (2019–2021), the amount of precipitation for the vegetation period, May — August, averaged 88 mm. Over the past 10–15 years, the aridity and unevenness of the distribution of atmospheric precipitation has noticeably increased, which led to the oppression of field crops and the complication of the fight against weeds.The method of field experimentswas applied. Accounting of infestation was carried by quantitative and weight method. The effect of biologized crop rotations with cereals and alfalfa on the degree ofinfestation of crops compared to traditional grainfallow rotation was evaluated.Results. The infestation of crops in experimental crop rotations depended on the strength of the development of cultivated crops and suppression of weed plants. In the favorable conditions of 2019, weeds developed poorly in well-developed crops, with an amount of 8–10 piece /m2 in biologized crop rotation. In grain-fallow crop rotation, the infestation was 1.2–1.9 times greater. On average over three years at the beginning of the field crop vegetation there are 14–19 piece /m2 weeds in biologized crop rotations, which is 45–56% less than in grain-fallow crop rotation. Before harvesting, the difference in infestation between crop rotations is reduced to 12–29%, but the advantage in reducing infestation in biologized crop rotations remains. In more humidi fied years, fertilizers contribute to a decrease in infestation compared to a back ground without fertilizer. In especially dry years, fertilizers lead to some increase of infestation of crops. Thus, it was found that biologized crop rotations effectively reduce the infestation of crops, regardless of the background of fertilizer.

СОВРЕМЕННОЕ СОСТОЯНИЕ МЕЛИОРИРОВАННЫХ ЗЕМЕЛЬ В АРКТИЧЕСКОЙ ЗОНЕ ЯКУТИИ В УСЛОВИЯХ МЕНЯЮЩЕГОСЯ КЛИМАТА

On the example of the estuary irrigation system «Bolshaya Polyana» of the Verkhoyansk region, the current state of reclaimed lands in the Arctic zone of Yakutia in a changing climate is considered. Research methods included reconnaissance and topographic surveys of the study area, analysis and processing of research materials previously obtained by the author. An analysis of natural and climatic conditions showed that due to climate change, there is a reduction in the cold winter period, catastrophic amounts of winter precipitation, abnormal heat in summer periods and an increase in the average annual temperature over the past 15 years by 1.2°С, which affected the shift in the start date of irrigation of estuary meadows for early periods up to 9 days. The heterogeneity of the relief of estuary meadows and the overgrowth (cluttering) of irrigation canals were revealed, in connection with which the irrigation period reaches 25-30 days, as a result of which waterlogging of the soil occurs. Agrochemical studies determined the type of soils, frozen peat-gley soil in the hay area of estuary irrigation and frozen humus-gley soil in the natural area. Measurements of the seasonal thaw layer in the natural area show deeper thawing of soils than in the hayfi elds of the estuary irrigation system. Also, measurements at different flood depths show that the greater the flood depth, the smaller the thawing layer. These phenomena, in our opinion, are due to the type of soils and may be associated with the influence of the layer of irrigated waters on the thawing of soils. The results of the studies carried out require further measures and studies to create an optimal irrigation regime, improve the water-physical properties of soils, for which it is proposed to improve irrigation methods by building a double-regulation reclamation network and subsequent study of its effect on the thermal and moisture conditions of irrigated haylands and agrochemical indicators of soils.

ВОЗДЕЙСТИЕ МЕХАНИЧЕСКИХ КОЛЕБАНИЙ НА ОБЛЕДЕНЕНИЕ ИСПАРИТЕЛЕЙ ВОЗДУШНОГО ТЕПЛОВОГО НАСОСА

The analysis of the reasons for the insignificant spread of air heat pumps in countries with a cold winter period is carried out. Problems arising in the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit of the heat pump during operation in heating mode are indicated. The existing methods of anti-icing of outdoor units are considered, and their effectiveness is demonstrated, taking into account the cost of electricity and the problem of utilizing condensate. The possibility of removing ice from evaporators of air heat pumps using the method of high-frequency mechanical vibrations has been investigated. Laboratory equipment has been designed and tested for experimental research of high-frequency oscillations in the structures of evaporators manufactured by an industrial method. The possibility of their use in heat pumps, where the fight against frostbite is carried out by the method of mechanical vibrations, is considered. Investigations of evaporators of air heat pumps with different types of coolant for removing ice by means of mechanical vibrations on the surface of the heat exchanger have been carried out. Methods of fastening piezoceramic emitters to evaporators of various designs are considered. A comparative analysis of the materials used in the design of evaporators, a comparison of their acoustic properties and thermal conductivity, and recommendations on the selection of material for further research to improve the efficiency of ice destruction from the surface of evaporators are given. Ways of increasing the degree of cleaning of evaporators from ice are identified, recommendations are given for further research on the use of mechanical vibrations to combat frostbite of heat exchangers in air heat pumps under conditions of operation at low ambient temperatures

Pre- and post-partum variation in wool cortisol and wool micron in Australian Merino ewe sheep (Ovis aries).

An individual merino sheep’s output of wool production is influenced by synergistic interactions of sheep genetics, climate, farm management, and nutrition available to the whole flock. The price paid to the producer for this wool commodity is determined via numerous tested parameters and /or subjective appraisal of the raw greasy wool. This research investigated the level of variation in wool cortisol (a physiological stress biomarker) and wool micron (MIC) in Merino ewes (Ovis aries), pre-partum and post-lambing (lactation/lambs at foot), using maiden ewe (n = 38) managed in an outdoor paddock in a commercial farm. The key findings of this study are; (1) wool quality indicators showed a significant variation between pre- and post- parturition including significant reduction in MIC and (2) there was a negative correlation between wool cortisol levels and wool micron pre-parturition (rs = − 0.179, p < 0.05). This relationship between wool cortisol and wool micron was positive (rs = + 0.29, p < 0.05) during post-parturition suggesting that ewes with lambs at foot ended up with finer wool (reduction in fibre diameter) but they also maintained high levels of wool cortisol. Furthermore, the comfort factor, curvature, standard deviation and spin fineness of the wool were also significantly reduced post-parturition. The results of this study show that metabolic resources partitioning in ewe associated with pregnancy and lambing can result in a reduction in wool quality indices. The activity of the HPA-axis is attenuated during late gestation and parturition as a maternal adaptation; however, the results of our study show that wool cortisol remained similar between pre- and post- lambing. This result indicates that environmental stressors that may have been operating on farm (e.g., cold winter period) could influence on maternal physiological stress response however the exact level of influence of environment conditions on ewe stress levels and productivity traits (e.g., lambing success and wool quality) warrants further investigation. In conclusion, the use of top-knot wool sampling in combination with wool cortisol analysis provides researchers with a convenient method to quantify wool quality and physiological stress simultaneously under commercial sheep production.

Succession of Microbial Community in a Small Water Body within the Alluvial Aquifer of a Large River

Nitrogen is one of the essential elements limiting growth in aquatic environments. Being primarily of anthropogenic origin, it exerts negative impacts on freshwater ecosystems. The present study was carried out at the nitrate-vulnerable zone within the alluvial aquifer of the large lowland Drava River. The main aim was to investigate the ecosystem’s functionality by characterizing the bacterial and phytoplankton diversity of a small inactive gravel pit by using interdisciplinary approaches. The phytoplankton community was investigated via traditional microscopy analyses and environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding, while the bacterial community was investigated by a molecular approach (eDNA). Variations in the algal and bacterial community structure indicated a strong correlation with nitrogen compounds. Summer samples were characterized by a high abundance of bloom-forming Cyanobacteria. Following the cyanobacterial breakdown in the colder winter period, Bacillariophyceae and Actinobacteriota became dominant groups. Changes in microbial composition indicated a strong correlation between N forms and algal and bacterial communities. According to the nitrogen dynamics in the alluvial aquifer, we emphasize the importance of small water bodies as potential buffer zones to anthropogenic nitrogen pressures and sentinels of the disturbances displayed as algal blooms within larger freshwater systems.

“Shezing” a low cost chow-chow [Sechium edule (Jacq) Swartz] storage by Meyor tribes in Anjaw district, Arunachal Pradesh

Since ancient time, different methods of storage for locally produced goods have been practised using traditional methods in India. Although, difference in techniques of storage are result of difference in knowledge of cultures, their attentiveness to geographic and climatic conditions. &#8220;Shezing&#8221; is the local storage method for Chow Chow in Anjaw-district of Arunachal Pradesh and is borne to meet the need and requirements during cold winter periods as well as lean period. Chow Chow is highly perishable vegetables with a very short shelf life. Through &#8220;shezing&#8221; the vegetables are stored in square shaped underground pit near to the household. This storage method is cost effective way of preservation and storage at the same time, it helps in increasing farmer income with absolute no expenditure in power supply, easy construction, maintenance environment friendly and fresh availability of vegetables for 56 months in cold winter and lean periods. This cumbersome practice of storage is still practised and prefer by the farmers of Anjaw-district for earning extra income during off season. This paper highlighted the methods and farmer friendly cost-effective practices of &#8220;Shezing&#8221;.

Snow as an Important Natural Reservoir for Runoff and Soil Moisture in Northeast China

AbstractAs one of the major agricultural regions in the world, water scarcity problems in Northeast China have drawn much attention recently. Because of cold and long winter period, snow is an important component in the hydrological system. Yet few studies have been conducted to systematically assess its role. This study quantified the effects of snow on runoff and soil moisture in the entire region in a 30‐year time period (1982–2011) for the first time. A water and energy budget‐based distributed biosphere hydrological model with improved snow physics after calibration and validation is employed. A Standardized Snow depth Index (SSdI) is also proposed to quantify snow variations. Result shows that snow contributes 11% to runoff annually on average and 66% and 33% in April and May (main months for crop planting). Soil moisture could decrease by at least 20% in March–May if there would be no snow, and the major agriculture area suffers more than other regions. We also found that SSdI is indicative of standardized soil moisture index and standardized runoff index in spring, particularly useful for supporting water management in agriculture. These results indicate that snow performs like an important reservoir: redistribute water resources among months. This study provides unique insights into the importance of snow in the entire region. The results improve the awareness of the importance of snow to water resources management and indicate that it is worth paying attention to snow in water resources management in this region.

Street design scenarios using vegetation for sustainable thermal comfort in Erzurum, Turkey.

Urbanization models that do not comply with the planning criteria are affecting human lives. In urban areas, street trees have positive contributions to the ecosystem and human thermal comfort. In this study, the thermal comfort of the main streets that connect people to each other and provide access and transportation has been thermally explored. Cumhuriyet Street, which is one of the vibrant streets in Erzurum, was selected as a case study scenario in the winter and summer periods in 2018 by using the ENVI-met V. 4.4.2 winter model. A different green scenario is proposed, and the best thermal comfort scenario in both seasons is determined. The results show that, in the summer period, the air temperature of the greener street scenario is about 1.0 °C cooler than the existing condition and about 2.0 °C warmer in the winter period. Physiological equivalent temperature (PET) value was better in narrow canyon streets in winter months, but in wide canyon streets in summer months. The green scenarios of wide canyon streets positively affect the outdoor thermal comfort in both seasons. These results clearly imply that green streets are an appropriate strategy for city streets that suffer from discomfort levels in cold winter and hot summer periods. It has been concluded that it is possible to increase thermal comfort through improvement in the open space in street and more suitable plant preferences for livable urbanization. Planning streets in a new city characterized by summer and winter seasons should take into consideration an accurate decision for providing a thermal comfort level and healthy urbanization.