Ferromagnetic, dia-/paramagnetic and superparamagnetic components of Aral Sea sediments: significance for paleoenvironmental reconstruction

Lina R. Kosareva, Danis K. Nourgaliev, Dilyara M. Kuzina, Simo Spassov1, and Artur V. Fattakhov

This article presents a new method to discriminate and to quantify the contribution of dia- and paramagnetic, ferromagnetic and superparamagnetic components to the measured bulk magnetic low-field susceptibility in order to better understand and to interpret environmental changes. This new method is based on data obtained with a rotation coercivity spectrometer. Lacustrine sediments from the Aral Sea were taken to demonstrate the potential of this new method. It is shown that the terrigenous input is strongly related to changes in the paramagnetic susceptibility.

Renewable energy provision in Africa

Stephen Enyinnaya Eluwa, Ho Chin Siong and Kilanko Oluwaseun

This paper reviews the renewable energy situation in Africa and how it fits in as a solution for combating energy poverty in the continent. Despite the abundant renewable and non-renewable energy resources the continent is endowed with, millions of people do not have access to modern energy services. The level of renewable energy development varied among the various regions of the continent. The crude oil rich North African region seems to be ahead of other regions in solar energy development while East African region leads in large and small scale hydropower. In West African region, potential sites of small scale hydropower have been identified with some functioning already. In addition, solar PV projects have been embarked upon by some countries in West Africa. Countries in Southern Africa region especially South Africa and Mozambique have embarked on projects aimed at integrating wind and hydropower into their energy supply mix.