Community and Ecology

Climate change impact on infrastructure resilience: A chemical and geotechnical perspective on soft clay soils

Mosharof Al Alim, Shoma Hore — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0800

Climate change poses significant challenges to infrastructure systems, particularly those constructed on soft clay soils, which are inherently sensitive to environmental conditions. From a chemical and geotechnical engineering perspective, climate-induced factors such as rising temperatures, fluctuating groundwater levels, and extreme weather events can alter the chemical properties of soft clay soils, leading to changes in their structural behavior and stability. This review explores the critical role of chemical processes in soil stabilization, mineralogical transformations, and chemical erosion under changing climatic conditions. It synthesizes findings on chemical additives, including lime and cement treatments, for enhancing soil strength and mitigating deformation risks. The paper also highlights recent advancements in understanding ion exchange processes, pH variations, and salinity effects on soft clay properties. By bridging chemical insights with geotechnical solutions, the study provides practical recommendations for the development of climate-resilient infrastructure. This chemical-centric review contributes to advancing sustainable engineering practices in vulnerable regions.

First report of Sciobia (Thliptoblemmus) caliendrum caliendrum (Fischer, 1853) in Algeria (Orthoptera, Gryllidae)

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 10:19:11 +0800

The Sciobia Burmeister, 1838 genus, one of the family Gryllidae, didn't receive many studies in Algeria, although there are 13 known species. This study presents the first observation of a further species of Sciobia in the Ouarsenis region, Tissemsilt (Northwest Algeria), during the study period (2019–2022). These results led to the counting of six adult individuals (five males and one female), and the species was identified as Sciobia (Thliptoblemmus) caliendrum caliendrum (Fischer, 1853). It is considered as the first report in Algeria and the second in North Africa after it was limited to Morocco.

Modeling gasoline dispersion and risks in soil after the 2019 spill in Tlahuelilpan, Hidalgo, using the HSSM and ChemCAN software

Mabel Vaca Mier, Raymundo Lopez, Zaira Miranda, Araceli Lara, Georgina Guzmán — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 14:02:06 +0800

The dispersion of gasoline from the spill due to illegal fuel extraction activities from pipelines that occurred in Tlahuelilpan, Hidalgo, in 2019, was modelled. We used the HSSM software (vertical profile of gasoline saturation, profiles in the vadose zone, and radial profile of the light non-aqueous phase liquid lens), and prediction of its concentration in different media was obtained using the ChemCAN program. Gasoline infiltration would reach 7.5 meters deep at a rate of 0.30 mg/day in 10 days. Assuming that the vadose zone was at 10 m, the underground body of water would not be reached by the hydrocarbon. It was estimated that the maximum concentration of gasoline for the light fraction present in the soil was 2,200 mg/kg, ten times above the maximum permissible regulated limits. Benzene, a characteristic compound of gasoline, was studied in air-water-soil-sediment system, and it was observed that it would preferably accumulate in the sediments (84.9%) and the soil (11.8%), being the systems in greater contact with gasoline. The greatest risk due to the spillage during three subsequent years was related to the surface of the soil, affecting the flora, fauna, and population with exposure by inhalation and dermal contact, and the flammable danger of gasoline.