Natural gas main pipeline Yamal-West Europe

NATURAL GAS MAIN PIPELINE YAMAL-WEST EUROPE  

Our previous research has shown that application of the critical load technique allows the researcher to carried out the quantitative estimate of potential loading of atmotechnogenic pollutants due to gas pipeline work at different ecosystems in the boundaries of vast areas in north and central Eurasia (Bashkin et al., 1999, 2002). 

This study aims to calculate the critical loads of acidity, eutrophication and heavy metal (Pb, Cd) compounds in the vast area of Eurasia along the natural gas pipeline Yamal-West and quantitatively estimate the environmental risk at the surrounding ecosystems. The relevant research was conducted during 1994-2000 for total pipeline length ( 3,000 km) including 21 gas pumping stations, from the northernmost part at the Yamal peninsula (north of West Siberia) up to the central western part of European Russia. 

The area of potential impact due to pollutants emission from gas pumping stations (GPS) was determined using the relevant models (Bashkin et al., 1999). This area is about 900,000 km2 for each station in the region. However, due to the relatively close placement of neighboring GPSs, the impacted areas are subject to emissions of at least two or even more stations. Such an overload is accompanied by enforced inputs of airborne pollutants on ecosystems and human health. 

The technical approach to calculate critical loads used in this research was similar to that described earlier (Posch et al., 1999 Bashkin et al., 2001a). Different biogeochemical data were used for the calculation and mapping of critical loads for acid forming and eutrophication compounds (SO2, NO ). These data were monitored 

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