Search

The current research project focuses on geological mapping and groundwater quality analysis of domestic wells in and around Kampung Panglima Bayu, in Tanah Merah district, Kelantan. The objective of this research is to produce an updated geological map of the study area at a scale of 1:25000 and to conduct groundwater quality analysis in the research region. Groundwater samples were obtained from 12 domestic wells for the analysis of physicochemical parameters. Temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, and total dissolved solids were measured using a multiparameter and turbidity meter on site. Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) was used to analyse major trace elements such as potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and manganese, while the titration method was used to analyse bicarbonate and chloride. While spectrophotometer methods were used to analyse fluoride, sulphate, and nitrate. Based on the data analysis of the geology of Kampung Panglima Bayu, three rock units can be found: granite is the most common kind of rock detected in the research region, followed by schist and alluvium. Furthermore, the geomorphology of the study area revealed elevation differences consisting of low land to high hills. The petrographic analysis revealed principle minerals like quartz, alkali feldspar, plagioclase and biotite with the granitic rocks identified as ‘biotite granite porphyry’ due to the high amount of biotite mineral present in the thin section. In addition, the results of our analysis for groundwater quality were compared to World Health Organization (WHO) and Ministry of Health Malaysia (MoHM) standards values. It was observed that 7 of the 12 wells were contaminated because the pH values were below the normal level. Turbidity was high in wells 4, 5, and 11, and sodium ion levels surpassed the standard allowable limit in well 11.

In this study, an alternative approach was applied for the characterization of the subsurface geological conditions to estimate the hydrological parameters in the absence of subsurface soil data. The study revealed that the hydrological parameters, estimated from the Transient Electromagnetic (TEM) and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), were significantly correlated with in situ data. Overall estimated infiltration rate (below 20 inches/h) predicted fine-grained soil was also associated with in situ data. A high correlation among the bulk electrical resistivity, porosity, and the resistivity of the pore fluid thereby confirmed the relevance of Archie's law used in this study. Furthermore, results showed that both TEM and ERT are vital tools for hydrological parameter estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pneumonia outbreak was primarily reported in the fall of 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, with the identity SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus. It quickly grew from a local epidemic to a global pandemic and was declared a public health emergency by the WHO. A total of three prominent waves were identified across the globe, with a slight temporal variability as per the geographical locations, and has impacted several sectors which connect the world. By March 2022, the coronavirus had infected 444.12 million people and claimed 6.01 million human lives worldwide, and these numbers have not yet stabilized. Our paper enlightens readers on the seven strains of human coronaviruses, with special emphasis on the three severe deadliest outbreaks (SARS-2002, MERS-2012, and COVID-19). This work attempts a comprehensive understanding of the coronavirus and its impact on the possible sectors that link the world through the economic chain, climate conditions, SDGs, recycling of the event, and mitigations. There are many points that are raised by the authors in the possible sectors, which are emerging or are as yet unnoticed and thus have not been taken into consideration. This comprehension will leave sets of new challenges and opportunities for the researchers in various streams, especially in earth sciences. Science-integrated research may help to prevent upcoming disasters as a by-product of (existing) epidemics in the form of coronavirus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]