Visual Impact Assessment of Wind Turbines and Their Farms on Landscape of Kretinga Region (Lithuania) and Grobina Townscape (Latvia)

Abstract

Trinitrotoluene (TNT), a commonly used explosive for military and industrial applications, can cause serious environmental pollution. 28-day laboratory pot experiment was carried out applying bioaugmentation using laboratory selected bacterial strains as inoculum, biostimulation with molasses and cabbage leaf extract, and phytoremediation using rye and blue fenugreek to study the effect of these treatments on TNT removal and changes in soil microbial community responsible for contaminant degradation. Chemical analyses revealed significant decreases in TNT concentrations, including reduction of some of the TNT to its amino derivates during the 28-day tests. The combination of bioaugmentation-biostimulation approach coupled with rye cultivation had the most profound effect on TNT degradation. Although plants enhanced the total microbial community abundance, blue fenugreek cultivation did not significantly affect the TNT degradation rate. The results from molecular analyses suggested the survival and elevation of the introduced bacterial strains throughout the experiment. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Nõ lvak, H.; Truu, J.; Limane, B.; Truu, M.; Cepurnieks, G.; Bartkevičs, V.; Juhanson, J.; Muter, O. 2013. Microbial community changes in TNT spiked soil bioremediation trial using biostimulation, phytoremediation and bioaugmentation, Journal of Environmental Engineering and Landscape Management 21(3): 153Á162. http://dx. abstract.Early in 2013 as many as 5 wind farms were in operation in Kretinga region and the sixth was under construction. The wind farms are concentrated within two territories, i.e. in the south-west part of the region (between Kretinga and Palanga towns) and in the north-west (between Darbėnai and the Senoji Įpiltis villages). The region also houses seven individual wind turbines, the total number being 58 units. In seeking to assess the impact of wind turbines based in Kretinga region on the landscape and the villages, the analysis of cartography material was carried out and the inventory of all wind turbines was made (GIS data base). On assessing the importance of the roads with regard to the intensity of traffic and tourist flows, the observation places were established and photo fixation was performed. The impact was assessed from eleven observation places (all the places were close to the roads). During the study, the nature, importance and degree of contrast of the visual impact of wind turbines were assessed. In assessing the visual impact of wind turbines on the landscape, it was found that woodlands and villages make a significant impact on the visibility of turbines. The wind turbines seen on the axis of the road perspective are not only observed for some length of time, but often serve as a landmark. The investigation results were compared with the situation in western Latvia region (Grobina case).Keywords: wind turbines, environmental impact assessment, the influence of wind turbines on environment.Jonas aBroMas. PhD student at Kaunas University of Technology. Depart...

Visual Impact and Potential Visibility Assessment of Wind Turbines Installed in Turkey

“…Lothian [41] conducted a research on the visual impact and public acceptance of wind farms in Australia. Abromas et al [42] discussed the importance, nature, and degree of contrast of the visual impact of wind turbines in Kretinga area by evaluating the impact of the wind turbines on the landscape when observing them from the selected observation place.…”