NORCE Research Archive
Not a member yet
3811 research outputs found
Sort by
The role of collaboration in the renewal of Arctic waste management
Full text linkThis paper aims to investigate the possibilities of renewal of the waste management sector in the Arctic through increased regional collaboration. The theoretical part of our article focuses on collaboration in the foundational sector. The empirical study analyzes municipal waste management in Northern Norway, which is characterized by low diversity, large distances between settlements and recycling facilities, and relatively small internal markets. Despite the relatively thin regional structures, we identify a strong capability for performing regional collaboration and joint renewal initiatives among the waste management actors in North Norway. We argue that in the foundational sector, research can highlight innovative firms in the periphery that contradict the mainstream narrative in the literature and give attention to the regions outside the most innovative and propelling cities.publishedVersio
Gytefisktelling i Suldalslågen høsten 2023
Full text linkVed drivtelling i Suldalslågen 16.-17. november 2023 ble det registrert 926 laks, fordelt på 210 smålaks, 457 mellomlaks og 259 storlaks, samt 968 aure. Det var mulig å observere merkestatus for 575 laks, hvorav 313 var fettfinneklippet (dvs. 54 %), og stammer dermed fra smoltutsettigner fra klekkeriet. Som i tidligere drivtellinger var det en klar oppkonsentrering av fettfinneklippet fisk på elvestrekningen i nærheten av klekkeriet, men det var også en høyere andel fettfinneklippet laks i nedre del av vassdraget enn i øvre del. Tellingene ble gjennomført med fire observatører parallelt i elveprofilen, og observasjonsforholdene var gode. På generell basis vil drivtelling representere et minimumsestimat av gytebestanden, ettersom noe fisk vil kunne unngå tellemannskapet eller kan stå skjult på steder hvor de ikke blir observert. Vi anslår at tellingen fanger opp minimum 80-90 % av gytebestanden i elva ved undersøkelsestidspunktet.
Det registrerte antallet laks i drivtellingene tilsier at gytebestanden besto av mer enn 3000 kg hunnfisk høsten 2023. Dette tilsier at gytebestandsmålet, som for Suldalslågen er satt til 2318 kg hunnfisk, dermed ble oppnådd. Både gytebestand og det samlede innsiget av laks i Suldalslågen var noe lavere i 2023 enn i de foregående årene; noe som også synes å være tilfellet for mange laksebestander på Vestlandet dette året. Antall gytefisk i Suldalslågen er også lavt i forhold til elvearealet, sammenliknet med andre laksebestander i Ryfylke. Gytebestanden består i tillegg av en betydelig andel fettfinneklippet laks med opphav fra smoltutsettinger. Dette tilsier at bestanden av naturlig rekruttert laks er svakere enn i de øvrige laksevassdragene i regionen.publishedVersio
Evaluering av assistansebestemmelsen i valgloven
Full text linkDenne rapporten evaluerer praktiseringen av assistansebestemmelsen i valgloven, etter lovendringen i 2021. Hovedtemaer er valgmedarbeidernes og velgernes kjennskap til og erfaringer med assistansebestemmelsen. Datamaterialet består av en spørreundersøkelse til valgansvarlige for lokalvalget 2023 og kvalitative intervjuer med valgmedarbeidere og velgere, samt kommunale råd og nasjonale organisasjoner som representerer ulike grupper med nedsatt funksjonsevne. Intervjuene våre tyder på at lovendringen ennå ikke er godt kjent blant velgere med behov for assistanse. Hovedinntrykket er at assistansebestemmelsen er godt kjent i kommunene, men våre funn viser at det fremdeles er tilfeller hvor regelendringen ikke er kjent og praktiseres rett. Det er fortsatt behov for å informere velgere og valgmedarbeiderne om retten til selvvalgt hjelper.Evaluering av assistansebestemmelsen i valglovenpublishedVersio
Future Perspectives - where do we go from here?
Full text linkThis book chapter offers an insightful exploration into the diverse landscape of renewable energy technologies, with a specific focus on the pivotal role played by microorganisms in influencing their efficiency and sustainability. It provides a comprehensive evaluation of various renewable energy sources, including hydropower, biofuel, biogas, hydrogen storage, geothermal energy, solar power, and wind power, while highlighting the role of microorganisms in the renewable energy sector by drawing similarities from petroleum sectors.publishedVersio
(Mal)Coping and Adaptation Strategies in the Socio-Environmental System of the Mtendeli Refugee Camp, Tanzania
Full text linkThe study conducts a systems analysis of coping and adaptation strategies in Tanzanian refugee camps, focusing on the Mtendeli camp as a case study. It explores the environmental changes during the stages of the camp’s establishment, development, and closure, along with the responses of local actors. Employing qualitative interviews and remote-sensing data analysis, the research reveals a spectrum of strategies employed by the camp management, host community, and refugees. The findings highlight the interdependence of these strategies and stress the need to address both structural limitations and individual agency, considering the concepts of structural ambivalence and temporal dynamics. Notably, the concept of ‘(mal)coping’ is introduced to describe coping strategies that have short-term benefits but contribute to long-term environmental degradation. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of coping and adaptation dynamics in refugee camp environments.publishedVersio
To what extent are wastewater treatment systems a gateway for microplastic particles in the aquatic and terrestrial environments?
Full text linkSewage treatment plants are designed to handle wastes that include several types of pollutants, including microplastics (MPs), which are synthetic polymer materials fragmented to sizes < 5 mm. Investigating the abundance and removal efficiency rates of MPs in wastewater treatment plants is important because the water body to which plant effluents are discharged may be adversely affected by the released MPs. Therefore, the abundance, characteristics, and removal of MPs at two sewage treatment plants located on the southwest coast of Norway are studied. Twenty-four samples were collected across two sampling sessions by using an ad hoc-designed plastic-free water sampling device, which was improved by applying a cascade of certified stainless-steel sieves. A combined sequence of enzymatic and strong oxidative incubations was performed for sample preparation. The obtained samples were chemically characterized and quantified using thermoanalytical techniques. The overall amounts of polymers in the inlet wastewater and outlet water were 366-616 μg/L and 34-57 μg/L, respectively, indicating an approximate MPs removal efficiency of 78%-85%. Polyethylene (≈ 36%-68%), polypropylene (≈ 7%-48%), polystyrene (≈ 5%-6%), polyvinyl chloride (≈ 15%-26%), polyamide (≈ 2%), polymethacrylate (≈ 3%-4%), polycarbonate (≈ 2%), and polyethylene terephthalate (≈ 9%-32%) were detected in the investigated samples. In biosolids, the overall quantity of MPs was 3.8-5.5 mg/g dry weight across the two investigated sewage treatment plants. Polyethylene (≈ 24%-44%), followed by polyvinyl chloride (PVC) (≈ 11%-16%), and polyamide (≈ 2%-22%) were the most commonly recurring polymer types. The outcomes of this study indicate that MPs are removed efficiently from wastewaters. However, large amounts of MPs accumulate in biosolids. Therefore, sludge dumping management procedures need to be improved to lower the amount of MPs released into the environment through effluents and biosolids.publishedVersio
Quantifying sedimentary ’blue carbon’ in relation to canopy cover in the seagrass meadows of Turneffe Atoll, Belize
Full text linkIntroduction: Seagrass sediments are important ‘blue carbon’ reservoirs which store climatically significant quantities of organic carbon (Corg) at the global scale. Seagrass meadows that overly these sediments also provide a range of critical ecosystem services including shoreline stabilization, storm surge protection, and fisheries nursery grounds. However, the controls over accumulation and the sources of organic C to these sediments beds are highly variable and poorly understood with the relative importance of hydrodynamic setting, species composition and canopy density being unclear.
Methods: Here we address these questions using the first observation-based estimates of Corg stocks and provenance on Turneffe Atoll, Belize, made via remotely-sensed habitat extent, local Corg data and isotopic data. Sedimentary Corg was highest in sediments underlying the most sheltered meadows and decreased with increasing exposure to wind and wave energy with the seagrass meadows in the central lagoon containing an extensive deposit of mangrove derived organic carbon, stabilized and protected by the overlying seagrass meadow.
Results: The influence of species composition appeared weak with the ubiquitous species T. testudinum occurring across a wide range of hydrodynamic regimes ranging from the most sheltered to the most energetic and being associated with a wide range of sedimentary organic C concentrations. Importantly from the perspective of remote sensing, org C concentrations were unrelated to canopy density. We hypothesize that this decoupling of organic C concentration from seagrass canopy cover reflects a much longer timescale for carbon storage in the sediments than the lifespan of the seagrass plants themselves and/or a substantial non seagrass derived organic C burden in seagrass sediments. Overall, we conservatively estimate that the top 30cm of sediments underlying the seagrass meadows overlying carbonate sediments on the atoll exterior store 0.58 x 106 Mg Corg, most of which is seagrass-derived, whilst the sediments underlying the meadows within the central lagoon store an additional 1.28 x 106 Mg Corg. When the maximum possible extent of seagrass is considered, this estimate increases to 3.54 x 106 Mg Corg. Substantial Corg stocks extending >1m depth were observed across all sites, and so these inventories are considered conservative.
Discussion: A preliminary ‘cost of loss’ for sedimentary Corg in the top 30 cm of Turneffe Atoll’s seagrass meadows, based on a carbon trading value of €60 tCO2 (eq), is estimated at €42 million for the outer atoll, increasing to €136 million when the mangrove-derived sediments of the central atoll are considered and €260 million when turbid areas are assumed to contain seagrass.publishedVersio
Experiences from targeted removal of farmed Atlantic salmon from Norwegian rivers
Full text linkFarmed salmon escaping from aquaculture and interbreeding with wild conspecifics pose a significant threat to the genetic integrity of natural salmon populations. Despite advancements in aquaculture security, escape incidents persist, prompting the need for effective mitigation strategies. This study summarizes experiences from efforts to remove escaped farmed salmon over a 12-year period in 63 western Norwegian rivers, using either (1) spearfishing during snorkelling by trained personnel or (2) traditional fishing methods employed by local groups. Recaptured farmed salmon ranged widely in size and included both spawners as well as immature fish, demonstrating that farmed fish entering rivers comprise fish of different ages and escape histories. Traditional fishing by locals recaptured the highest number of farmed fish, while removal during snorkelling in general captured larger and mature fish. On average, 53% of the farmed salmon observed during snorkelling were recaptured. This efficacy was influenced by the number of farmed fish present and the size of the farmed fish. In addition, efficacy increased over time, indicating that the removal team became more efficient. The study underscores that active removal, when executed judiciously, contributes to reducing the ecological risks associated with escaped farmed fish, complementing broader strategies for sustainable aquaculture.publishedVersio
The Role of the Mineralogical Composition on Wettability via Flotation Test and Surface Complexation Modeling (SCM)
Full text linkMinerals are the chief constituents of rocks and have varied properties, such as the surface area, surface charge, site density, etc. Hence, numerous interactions are bound to occur in a reservoir during rock–fluid (i.e., rock, crude oil and brine) interactions. This study seeks to assess the role of the mineralogical composition in the wettability of sandstone rocks (SRs) and mineral mixture (MM) using both surface complexation modeling (SCM) and a flotation test. From the considered sandstone rocks, both the experimental results and the simulated counterparts revealed that the SRs were preferentially hydrophilic. For the MM, when the mass fraction of the hydrophobic mineral was increased, the affinity of the MM became slightly hydrophobic, and vice versa. For the dominant sandstone reservoir rock minerals with predominantly negatively charged surfaces, negligible oil adsorption took place due to the interfacial repulsive forces at the oil–brine and mineral–brine interfaces. For the MM with low calcite content, the wetting preference was influenced by the mineral with a prominent surface area. Our developed model portrayed that the main mechanism of oil adhesion onto sandstone minerals was divalent cation bridging. Nonetheless, adhesion of carboxylate (>COO−) onto the illite, montmorillonite and calcite sites also took place, with the latter being more pronounced.publishedVersio
Sleep characteristics and changes in sleep patterns among infants in Bhaktapur, Nepal
Full text linkObjective Sleep undergoes major changes during the first year of life, but the characteristics of sleep among infants in low and middle-income countries are not well documented. This study describes sleep characteristics and changes in sleep patterns in infants at 6 and 12 months of age from Bhaktapur, Nepal. Methods This was a community-based longitudinal study comprising 735 infants. Sleep characteristics were obtained by interview with the mother using the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaires. The stability of sleep duration and night awakenings were estimated by logistic regression analysis. Results Cosleeping in the parent’s bed at 6 and 12 months of age was almost universal (>97%). At 6 months of age, 254 (35%) and at 12 months of age, 341 (46%) infants had a total 24-hour sleep duration 3 times per night were common (65%) both at 6 and 12 months of age. Infants with frequent nightly awakenings at 6 months had increased odds of frequent nightly awakenings at 12 months (OR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.6, 2.9). Very few (<3%) mothers reported sleep problems in their infants at 6 and 12 months of age. Conclusions Cosleeping was almost universal among Nepalese infants, and very few of the mothers reported sleep problems in their infants. Infants at 6 and 12 months had similar patterns for both sleep duration and nocturnal awakenings. For infants, there were increased odds of having similar sleep duration and nocturnal awakening at 6 and 12 months.publishedVersio