Volume 13 - 2011

The effect of temperature increase and more specifically its upper and low level correlates on soil
microbial biomass, activity and N-cycle variables was studied in a Mediterranean shrubland.
Experimental manipulation succeeded in establishing three treatments which, in comparison with the
monthly ambient temperature, displayed an increase in mean monthly temperature by 2.1, 4.9 and
7.4 oC respectively. Also the upper limit temperature values (Tmax), but not the low limit counterparts
(Tmin), differed significantly among the three treatments. Tmax changes seemed to affect directly only
the microbial biomass, while it exerted an indirect effect on the majority of the other soil variables.
With increased Tmax the values of the estimated soil microbial variables (microbial biomass and
activity) increased, while other soil chemical variables, such as the inorganic forms of N, were found
reducing. Organic N was the only variable remaining independent from changing Tmax at any
treatment. The results of this paper indicate that the level of Tmax increase could be crucial for the
structure of the microbial community. A Tmax increase up to 7 oC induced by climate change could
favour the dominance of the soil bacterial populations, while larger increases could be in favour of
the fungal populations.

The effects of different mixture ratios of sewage sludge (SS), organic fraction of municipal solid
waste (OFMSW) and yard trimmings (YT) on the performance of composting process were
investigated in this study. The high water content and the proper carbon/nitrogen ratio make sludge
ideal for this procedure, improving the characteristics of the initial composting mixture. OFMSW and
YT enable the production of a quality product that may be used as a soil conditioner. Therefore, piles
of about 1 m3 were prepared by mixing OFMSW, SS and YT in four different ratios (w/w) [only
OFMSW, OFMSW:SS = 2:1, OFMSW:SS:YT = 3:1:2, and OFMSW:SS:YT = 4:1:2]. The piles were
kept in controlled aerobic conditions for 10 weeks. The temperature of the piles was measured daily
(for the first 4 weeks) and ranged between 60-70 oC, while air was provided to the piles by
mechanical turning. Results showed that the pile OFMSW:SS:GW = 3:1:2 was most beneficial in
composting, since its ability to accumulate and retain heat and achieve high organic matter
degradation. The final compost products contained C/N ratio less than 15 indicating that achieved
mature and stable products. The heavy metal contents in the final composts were several times
lower than regulation limits.

The last few decades we have witnessed an enormous rise in awareness of the importance of
wetlands. Mathura beel1 has been assumed to take the attention in recent years because of its
ecological significance in terms of flood control, water purification, aquatic productivity, and microclimatic
regulation etc. The aim of this paper is to present a complete scenario of Mathura beel
through different analyses. To materialize the main objective, the water quality monitoring, socioeconomic
analyses, and a perception study on wetland use and wetland threat are considered
separately. In this study, the objective was extended to observe the complete socio-economic status,
and a detailed perceptional study on wetland use, and wetland threat. At the end of the study,
detailed management options have been given to protect and to conserve the economy and the ecosystem
of Mathura beel.

To describe the tourism potential of an area, not only single meteorological parameters have to be
taken into account, but also thermal sensation and people’s thermal comfort. The latter can be
estimated by the use of human energy balance models and the derived thermal indices, which
comprise all relevant meteorological parameters like air temperature, air humidity, wind speed, and
short and long wave radiation fluxes.
This paper makes an attempt to assess and analyze climatological parameters and the thermal
comfort of Crete, its variations and trends for the period of time 1955-2001. In addition, a definition
and quantification of the island’s tourism potential is carried out.
Long term data from several stations are used from the existing climatic and synoptic network of
Crete, including daily mean, maximum and minimum temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and
cloud cover over the whole island, in order to derive the daily Physiologically Equivalent
Temperature (PET) and precipitation. In addition, possible trends of thermal comfort and
precipitation on an annual and seasonal basis are analyzed.
Additionally, data of the 10-minutes climatology of the Climate Research Unit of the University of
Norwich have been processed in order to create high resolution (1 km) mean monthly maps for
climatological parameters such as air temperature, precipitation and Physiologically Equivalent
Temperature.