Examining the Data
The Dynamics of Land Cover in Nigeria Using Remotely Sensed Data
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Esther Oluwafunmilayo Makinde
The Nigerian environment changes from time to time. This change is attributed to man’s anthropogenic activities of utilizing nature’s resources to meet his needs and climate variation. This study assesses the land cover dynamics and the impact of climate between 1986 and 2018 in North-East and South-West of Nigeria. Aqua MODIS NDVI C6 on a geographical mapping grid at approximately 250m and LANDSAT imageries (30m) from the U.S. Geological Survey to assess land cover change were used while the climate data was derived from CHIRPS (0.05o). Based on the spectral characteristics analysis of the MODIS images, five distinct eco-regions for Nigeria were established and land cover change detected. Subsequently, two hotspots were identified and selected for further analysis. The Landsat images were used to characterise land cover change in these hotspots. Findings show that in Nigeria (2003-2017), there is a decrease in the Desert (3.3%) in the dry season and further decreased (3.5%) in the rainy season, while in the North-East of Nigeria (1987-2018), there is an increase in the Woodland/Gallery Forest (3.51%) and a decrease in Sand Dunes (3.42%). In the South West (1986-2016), there is a decrease in the Open Forest (33.8%) and an increase in the Built-up area (22.8%).
Water Shortages Supply Fuel to Raging Middle East Wars
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Ashraf Ghaly
Variations in weather patterns have recently intensified as can be seen in the extreme events the whole world is witnessing, including the Middle East. In addition to these changes in weather patterns, the Middle East experienced man-made factors that aggravated the effects of changing weather. Wars have been raging in Syria and Iraq for many years. Iraq’s share of rainfall is very negligible and the country is almost entirely dependent on both the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers for its water needs. Syria receives some rain but the agriculture communities in the eastern part of the country are very much dependent on the waters of the Euphrates River to irrigate their crops. Coupled with decreased amount of rainfall was decisions made by Turkey, where both the Tigris and Euphrates originate, to heavily dam the rivers. Gigantic dams were constructed north of the borders of Syria and Iraq resulted in depriving the rivers of significant amount of their flow. The Ilisu Dam was constructed on the Tigris near the border with Iraq, and the Birecik Dam was erected on the Euphrates just north of the border with Syria. Furthermore, several other dams are presently under construction as part of the Southeastern Anatolia Project, which includes the building of 22 dams and 19 power plants that could cut water flow into Syria and Iraq by fifty percent. This paper aims to show how water shortage sparked conflicts that have been burning for years, and will probably keep burning for some time.
Carbon Reduction by Novel Triple-/Quadruple-Cycles for Electric Power Generation
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Sen Nieh, Mariella Leporini, Francesco Corvaro, Barbara Marchetti
The United States consumed 38% of its total primary energy of 97.7 quadrillion Btu on its largest energy sector, the electric power generation in 2017. Adverse environmental impacts, carbon-induced global warming, and climate change and natural disasters from fossil-fuel fired electric utility power plants have caused much increased concerns in the past two decades. Performance improvement becoming a major need of the power sector aims at increasing energy efficiency, lowering air pollutants and CO 2 emission, and reducing costs for electricity. This paper explores different natural gas fueled triple- and quadruple-cycle for stationary electric power generation. The novel design can consist of a hybrid of modern gas turbine (GT) - steam turbine (ST) combined cycle integrated with pressurized solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and/or waste heat recovery organic Rankine cycle (ORC), totaling to three or four cycles (SOFC-GT- ST-ORC). A math model and numerical simulation of different design configurations of novel triple-/quadruple-cycle power plants are performed, optimized and assessed. Parametric studies for optimal efficiency and power output under different design/operation of major components and ORC fluids were conducted. Encouraging results of 70%-75% overall system efficiency can be obtained, which exceeds the current coal-fired ST power plants of 30%-45%, the modern ST-GT combined cycle power plants of 45% - 60%, and many proposed novel power plants of 55% - 65%. Effects and benefits of highly efficient power plants on fuel saving, carbon reduction, global warming and climate change will also be discussed.
