Collection

Advances in Environmental and Hydrogeological Studies in Coal Basins

Submission status
Closed
Widespread concerns of adverse impacts on water resources and the environment have been associated with coal mining and coal-seam gas developments in coal basins of the world, especially those in ecologically fragile areas. Comprehensive baseline knowledge of the regional hydrogeology and groundwater resources in the coal-bearing geological basins is critical for understanding these impacts to ensure sustainable development in these regions. Major advances have been made over the past three decades in better understanding of the hydrogeology and groundwater resources of these coal-bearing basins and responses of hydrogeological systems to mining activities. The thematic issue will present the latest research results and practices on these environmental and hydrogeological studies in major coal basins in ecologically fragile areas. The group of guest editors encompasses multiple geographic regions representing China, USA, and South Africa,. All submitted papers will be peer-reviewed by subject matter experts.

We propose including 15-20 papers from both invitation and solicitation in this thematic issue. The papers must report an aspect of coal basins from ecologically fragile areas as follows:

• Hydrogeological investigations

• New environmental evaluation methods and technologies

• Evolutions of groundwater resource and circulation in response to mining activities

• Innovative technologies in investigating and characterizing hydrogeological conditions

• Geochemical fate and transport study and groundwater contamination Evaluation approaches and proactive prevention and mitigation measures of natural or human-induced geohazards

• Ecological hydrogeology and proactive measures to protect the geological environment

• Vegetation change and water movement in vadose zone under influence of mining

• Best mining practices

Editors

  • Xiangquan Li Xiangquan Li , 

    Xiangquan Li

    Dr. Xiangquan Li is a professor of the Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences with over 30 years’ research experiences in mine environment and engineering hydrogeology. He has completed more than 30 research projects sponsored by Natural Science Foundation, China Geological Surveys, and other scientific organizations and led the nation-wide investigation on hydrogeology and environmental geology of key energy bases in China. He is a recognized expert by Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources on geological disaster prevention and control.

  • Wanfang Zhou Wanfang Zhou , 

    Wanfang Zhou

    Dr. Wanfang Zhou has more than 30 years’ experience in hydrogeology. His research interest includes water resource management in coal basins, prevention and mitigation of mining-induced hazards, development of eco-friendly coal mining method, and remediation of contaminated land. He authored or co-authored eight professional books, six topical journal issues, and more than 80 peer-reviewed articles.

  • Vetrimurugan Elumalai Vetrimurugan Elumalai , 

    Vetrimurugan Elumalai

    Dr. Vetrimurugan Elumalai is a full Professor and Head of the department of Hydrology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Zululand, South Africa. He has more than 15 years of experience in groundwater and surface water studies including hydrological modeling, groundwater and surface water quality assessment, groundwater and surface water contamination, monitoring and management, groundwater modeling for sustainable water resources and environmental geochemistry. He is involved in research collaboration with various countries, including Mexico, Brazil, Russia, India, Germany, China and Saudi Arabia. He serves as an editorial boa

  • Pingping Sun Pingping Sun  &

    Pingping Sun

    Dr. Pingping Sun is a Senior Engineer of Xian Center of Geological Survey, China Geological Survey and Deputy Director of the Key Laboratory of Loess Geological Disasters, Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR). As a leader of Gansu Group for Flood Season Geological Disaster Emergency Response, she has long been engaged in the research of monitoring and mechanism for water-induced loess landslides. She has completed international cooperative research on China-Norwegian landslides risks mitigation, China-US loess water sensitivity, and China-UK landslides early warning. She has published more than 40 peer-reviewed papers.

  • Zhenxing Wang Zhenxing Wang

    Zhenxing Wang

    Dr. Zhenxing Wang is a senior engineer of the Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences and deputy director of Engineering Geology Department. His research interest includes geological safety and risk evaluations of large-scale engineering projects, studies on geological environment and carrying capacity of large energy bases, groundwater circulation in alpine permafrost regions, and impact of permafrost degradation on regional groundwater circulation. His research results led, inter alia, to participation in the preparation of a national standard, an industry standard and five patents.

Articles (19 in this collection)