Study of the water saving potential of an irrigation area based on a remote sensing evapotranspiration model

To estimate the water saving potential of an irrigation area and create a scientific water saving plan, the irrigation water use efficiency and water productivity of the Hulanhe irrigation area for 2007–2014 were calculated, and the water saving potentials of different water saving plans were determined from the perspectives of engineering and crop water saving. The results showed that the evapotranspiration calculated from the surface energy balance algorithm for land model (SEBAL) agreed well with the measured results. The irrigation water use efficiency in the Hulanhe irrigation area was positively correlated with precipitation of irrigated land and was negatively correlated with the net irrigation water volume. The engineering water saving potential ranges for periods of 5, 8, 11, and 15 years were (1.702?×?10⁸, 5.103?×?10⁸) m³, (1.783?×?10⁸, 5.184?×?10⁸) m³, (1.865?×?10⁸, 5.266?×?10⁸) m³, and (2.301?×?10⁸, 5.702?×?10⁸) m³, respectively, and the water saving potential increased year over year. Low amounts of precipitation of irrigated land corresponded with small amounts of net irrigation water and greater water saving potential. Based on the cumulative frequency of the water productivity calculated for the Hulanhe irrigation area from 2007 to 2014, the target water productivity for short (50% of the multi-year average cumulative water productivity) and long (70% of the multi-year average cumulative water productivity) terms were 1.03 kg/m³ and 1.22 kg/m³, respectively, and the cumulative crop water saving potentials for short and long terms were 1.18?×?10⁸ and 2.74?×?10⁸ m³, respectively. These results provided a theoretical reference for creating water saving plans for irrigation areas.     

基于生态经济功能区划的玛纳斯河流域生态服务价值评价

利用遥感和GIS技术, 对玛纳斯河流域及不同生态经济功能区1958-2006年的土地利用变化进行了分析, 并借助Costanza评估模型探讨了研究区及不同生态经济功能区的生态服务价值变化特征.结果表明: 在1958-2006年期间, 流域生态服务价值从22 130.86×10⁶元下降到16 050.45×10⁶元, 净损失6 080.41×10⁶元.研究区各土地利用类型的生态服务价值系数接近于区域真实值, 结果可信.流域不同生态经济功能区的生态服务价值存在明显的时空变化; 基于不同生态经济功能区的生态经济特点和生态问题, 提出相应的生态恢复策略以提高流域总的生态服务价值, 对实现该区的可持续发展具有重要意义.     

基于地形梯度的陕西省生态系统服务价值评估

为评估陕西省生态系统服务价值在地形梯度上的分布及变化趋势,利用2000、2010年土地利用DEM数据,定量探讨了陕西省生态系统服务价值的时序变化和空间分布特征,并对陕西省整体生态经济协调度进行分析.结果表明：2000-2010年,陕西省生态系统服务价值增加了10.92亿元,其中林地和草地生态系统服务价值分别增加21.40亿元和23.16亿元,耕地生态系统服务价值减少34.16亿元;在地形梯度上,生态系统服务价值呈中间高、南北低的分布特征,且主要集中于坡度为0°~14.6°,高程为1 067~1 380 m的地形梯度单元内.单项生态系统服务价值中,废料处理和食物生产生态系统服务价值因耕地减少而损失严重,共减少6.08亿元.生态经济协调度评估结果表明：区域生态经济的发展整体趋于不协调,建议在经济发展的同时加强对生态环境的保护力度.     

Soil Organic Carbon Storage Changes in Coastal Wetlands of the Liaohe Delta,China, Based on Landscape Patterns

Growing wetland loss along a coastal area in China was examined through shoreline recession and land use changes. Carbon storage or sequestration in coastal wetland soils was based on vertical marsh accretion and aerial change data. Marshes sequester significant amounts of carbon through vertical accretion; however, large amounts of carbon previously sequestered in the soil profile are lost through rapid land use changes and shoreline recessions. The Liaohe Delta (LHD) was divided into nine landscape types based on Landsat TM digital images from 1991 to 2011. The distributed areas and transfer matrices of each landscape type were calculated. Combined with the organic carbon content and bulk density of 202 soil surface samples from field investigations in 2012, the soil organic carbon pools and stocks were estimated. Results showed that the soil organic carbon pools varied from 0.58 to 9.75 kg m^?2, and organic carbon storage in the upper 20 cm of soil was 1935.92 × 10⁴ and 1863.87 × 10⁴ t in 1991 and 2011, respectively. We attributed these large losses of carbon to rapid land use changes. The construction of levees along the shoreline has triggered large instantaneous losses of previously sequestered carbon through the destruction of 278.06 km² of tidal flats. Our results reveal that the LHD wetlands might not serve as a desired sink of carbon if maladministration practices are applied. These results can provide scientific guidance for decision makers in determining an effective way to maintain the soil carbon pool in the wetlands of the LHD.     

基于能值理论的采煤沉陷区土地复垦行为分析

利用能值分析方法揭示采煤沉陷区土地复垦行为特征,为采煤沉陷区土地复垦决策和土地利用导向提供科学依据。以徐州城北矿区复垦区为例,采用野外试验与能值理论分析相结合的方法,对采煤沉陷区土地复垦前后能值变化进行分析。结果表明:土地复垦是以人的价值行为为导向、自然资源为依托、生态系统流为骨架,来实现和提升采煤沉陷区生态经济系统功能;以恢复和提高区域生产力为价值导向的土地复垦行为可有效提高区域和产品服务功能,年净增加能值361.61×1016 sej;复垦后土地用途增加一定面积的鱼塘和储水区,在满足生产需求的同时,可提高区域水分涵养功能,年净增加能值4.6×1016 sej;土地复垦行为是通过调整采煤沉陷区土地利用结构、土地利用布局和土地利用行为,以实现生态经济系统能量流动与转换来增加区域生态经济系统能值。      

岩溶石漠化地区生态系统服务价值评价

为建立针对于岩溶区生态服务价值的评价方法,进而为国家石漠化综合治理工程效益评价提供数据参考,在大量阅读国内外关于岩溶区生态服务价值文献的基础上,以金沙县为例,构建了岩溶地区生态服务价值评估体系,并以林地生态系统、耕地生态系统、草地生态系统和未利用地生态系统为研究对象,选取生产有机质、固碳释氧、保持水土和景观游憩文化4个主导功能来估算区域的生态服务价值。研究结果显示:金沙县2005年到2010年4大生态系统总服务价值平均每平方公里减少1.62万元,总减少量3 607万元（占全县2010年GDP的0.42 %）。其中生产有机质服务功能减少3 232万元,固碳释氧功能减少2 325万元,保持水土功能增加1 615万元,景观游憩文化功能增加335万元。      

Estimation of soil losses by USLE model using GIS at Mashhad plain, Northeast of Iran

The Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) is an erosion estimation model to assess the soil losses that would generally result from splash, sheet, and rill erosion. At the present study, spatial distribution of different erosion prone areas were identified by USLE model to determine the average annual soil losses at Mashhad plain, northeast of Iran. Soil losses were estimated on a 100?×?100 m cell basis resolution by overlaying the five digital parameter layers (R, K, LS, C, P). To determine the critical soil loss regions at the plain, cell-based USLE parameters were multiplied by Arc-GIS ver.9.3. The estimated annual soil losses values were subsequently grouped into five classes ranging from 0 to 0.25 t/h/year around the trough line of the plain at Kashaf-rud River to 2–10 t/ha/year at the hills and pediment plains. Our results indicated a good correlation between land units of hills and pediment plains with the values of soil losses at the study area (R ² ?=?0.72), also the statistical analysis exhibited a high correlation between land use/cover of dry farming and soil losses (R ² ?=?0.78).     

Spatial analysis of land use change effect on soil organic carbon stocks in the eastern regions of China between 1980 and 2000

Spatial distributions of 0-20 cm soil carbon sources/sinks caused by land use changes from the year 1980 to 2000 in an area of 2.97 × 10~6 km~2 in eastern China were investigated using a land use dataset from a recent soil geochemical survey.A map of soil carbon sources/sinks has been prepared based on a spatial analysis scheme with GIS.Spatial statistics showed that land use changes had caused 30.7 ± 13.64 Tg of surface soil organic carbon loss,which accounts for 0.33%of the total carbon storage of 9.22 Pg.The net effect of the carbon source was estimated to be ~ 71.49 Tg soil carbon decrease and ~40.80 Tg increase.Land use changes in Northeast China(NE) have the largest impact on soil organic carbon storage compared with other regions.Paddy fields,which were mainly transformed into dry farmland in NE,and constructed land in other regions,were the largest carbon sources among the land use types.Swamp land in NE was also another large soil carbon source when it was transformed into dry farmland or paddy fields.Dry farmland in the NE region formed the largest soil organic carbon sink,as some were transformed into paddy fields,forested land,and other land use types with high SOCD.     

Influence of bare soil and cultivated land use types upstream of a bank gully on soil erosion rates and energy consumption for different gully erosion zones in the dry-hot valley region,Southwest China

This study assessed temporal variation in soil erosion rates in response to energy consumption of flow (ΔE). It employed an in situ bank gully field flume experiment with upstream catchment areas with bare (BLG) or cultivated land (CLG) that drained down to bare gully headcuts. Water discharge treatments ranged from 30 to 120 L Min⁻¹. Concentrated flow discharge clearly affected bank gully soil erosion rates. Excluding minimal discharge in the CLG upstream catchment area (30 L min⁻¹), a declining power function trend (p ≤ 0.1) was observed with time in soil erosion rates for both BLG and CLG upstream catchment areas and downstream gully beds. Non-steady state soil erosion rates were observed after an abrupt collapse along the headcut slope after prolonged scouring treatments. However, as the experiment progressed, ΔE and energy consumption of flow per unit soil loss (ΔEu) exhibited a logarithmic growth trend (p < 0.1) at each BLG and CLG position. Although similar temporal trends in soil erosion and infiltration rates were observed, values clearly differed between BLG and CLG upstream catchment areas. Furthermore, Darcy–Weisbach friction factor (f) values in the CLG upstream catchment area were higher than the corresponding BLG area. In contrast to the BLG upstream catchment area, lower ΔEu and higher soil erosion rates were observed in the CLG upstream catchment area as a result of soil disturbances. This indicated that intensive land use changes accelerate soil erosion rates in upstream catchment areas of bank gullies and increase soil sediment transport to downstream gullies. Accordingly, reducing tillage disturbances and increasing vegetation cover in upstream catchment areas of bank gullies are essential in the dry-hot valley region of Southwest China.

     

Spatiotemporal dynamics of land cover and their impacts on potential dust source regions in the Tarim Basin,NW China

Human-driven dynamics of land cover types in the Tarim Basin are able to affect potential dust source regions and provide particles for dust storms. Analyses about dynamics of potential dust source regions are useful for understanding the effects of human activities on the fragile ecosystem in the extremely arid zone and also provide scientific evidence for the rational land development in the future. This paper therefore selected the Tarim Basin, NW China, as a representative study area to reveal spatiotemporal dynamics of land cover and their impacts on potential dust source regions. The results showed that farmland, desert and forest increased by 28.63, 0.64 and 29.27%, while grassland decreased by 10.29% during 1990–2010. The largest reclamation, grassland loss and desertification were 639.17 × 10³, 2350.42 × 10³ and 1605.86 × 10³ ha during 1995–2000. The relationship between reclamation and grassland loss was a positive correlation, while a highly positive correlation was 0.993 between the desertification and grassland loss at different stages. The most serious dust source region was the desertification during 1990–2010 (1614.58 thousand ha), and the serious region was stable desert (40,631.21 thousand ha). The area of the medium and low dust source region was 499.08 × 10³ and 2667.27 × 10³ ha. Dramatic reclamation resulted in the desertification by destroying natural vegetation and breaking the balance of water allocation in various regions.     

Estimation of soil erosion using RUSLE in Caijiamiao watershed,China

Soil erosion is a serious environmental and production problem in China. In particular, natural conditions and human impact have made the Chinese Loess Plateau particularly prone to intense soil erosion area. To decrease the risk on environmental impacts, there is an increasing demand for sound, and readily applicable techniques for soil conservation planning in this area. This work aims at the assessment of soil erosion and its spatial distribution in hilly Loess Plateau watershed (northwestern China) with a surface area of approximately 416.31 km². This study was conducted at the Caijiamiao watershed to determine the erosion hazard in the area and target locations for appropriate initiation of conservation measures using the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE). The erosion factors of RUSLE were collected and processed through a geographic information system (GIS)-based approach. The soil erosion parameters were evaluated in different ways: The R-factor map was developed from the rainfall data, the K-factor map was obtained from the soil map, the C-factor map was generated based on Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper image and spectral mixture analysis, and a digital elevation model with a spatial resolution of 25 m was derived from topographic map at the scale of 1:50,000 to develop the LS-factor map. Support practice P factor was from terraces that exist on slopes where crops are grown. By integrating the six-factor maps in GIS through pixel-based computing, the spatial distribution of soil loss in the study area was obtained by the RUSLE model. The results showed that spatial average soil erosion at the watershed was 78.78 ton ha^?1 year^?1 in 2002 and 70.58 ton ha^?1 year^?1 in 2010, while the estimated sediment yield was found to be 327.96 × 10⁴ and 293.85 × 10⁴ ton, respectively. Soil erosion is serious, respectively, from 15 to 35 of slope degree, elevation area from 1,126 to 1,395 m, in the particular area of soil and water loss prevention. As far as land use is concerned, soil losses are highest in barren land and those in waste grassland areas are second. The results of the study provide useful information for decision maker and planners to take appropriate land management measures in the area. It thus indicates the RUSLE–GIS model is a useful tool for evaluating and mapping soil erosion quantitatively and spatially at a river watershed scale on a cell basis in Chinese Loess Plateau and for planning of conservation practices.     

Sedimentation and Organic Carbon Burial in the Yangtze River and Hudson River Estuaries: Implications for the Global Carbon Budget

One of the most important challenges in global climate change research is balancing the carbon budget within the global carbon cycle. Carbon burial in sediments at the land–ocean interface has been difficult to quantify and model because it represents non-steady-state boundary conditions that are also affected by human activities. In this study, we document carbon burial rates in the Yangtze River (1.6–4.9 × 10¹² gC year^?1) and Hudson River (1.8–3.6 × 10¹⁰ gC year^?1) estuaries and integrate our results with carbon burial rates determined by others in the world’s 25 largest river-estuarine systems (6–11 × 10¹³ gC year^?1). Our results indicate that carbon burial in estuaries, bays, coves, lagoons, mud flats, marshes, mangroves, and other highly productive or protected low-energy areas at the land–ocean interface along the entirety of the world’s coastlines may serve as an unrecognized sink within the global carbon budget.     

Post-flood land use damage estimation using improved Normalized Difference Flood Index (NDFI<Subscript>3</Subscript>) on Landsat 8 datasets: December 2014 floods,Kelantan, Malaysia

Floods in Malaysia have been increasing in frequency and magnitude as reflected in the Kelantan Flood event in 2014 that resulted in a huge loss of lives and properties. Whereas remote sensing (RS) and geographical information system (GIS) tools have been extensively applied in flood disaster management, there are few reports and studies on the impact of floods on the land use/land cover environment in a post-disaster assessment. In this study, an integrated modelling approach was developed that used Landsat 8 OLI TIRS (Operational Land Imager (OLI) and Thermal Infrared Sensor) data, flood indexing and classification processes to estimate the impact of flood on the environment. The Normalized Difference Flood Index-3 (NDFI₃) is an improvement on NDFI₂ that takes into account the effects of cloud shadow in the images when extracting flood index areas. The flood model developed showed good agreement when compared with flooded areas shown in SAR (synthetic-aperture radar) image. The results of the flood extent as a proxy for damage estimation showed that the total flooded area was 502.34 km² for the Kelantan Flood event in 2014, with plantation and built-up area accounting for 43 and 34.6% respectively. The least affected land uses/land covers were deforested area and forest, which accounted for 12.2 and 10.2% respectively. The RS and GIS technique developed in this post-disaster damage assessment is effective, relatively inexpensive and simple to implement by local authorities in support of post-flood disaster planning and decision-making.     

Erratum to: Assessment of coastal communities’ vulnerability to floods using indicator-based approach: a case study of Greater Accra Metropolitan Area,Ghana

In this paper, the extent to which the potentially transit-dependent portion of the population is vulnerable to the effects of a hurricane is estimated. The vulnerability of an area is defined as a composite measure of the proportion of disadvantaged persons, distance to transit, and flooding potential of people within an area. Unlike past studies which have focused on the vulnerability of the population in relatively large geographic areas, this study estimates the vulnerability of the population in 30 m × 30 m areas as defined in the National Land Cover Database. Population estimates from the national census at block level are disaggregated to the 30 m × 30 m units using a modified dasymetric mapping method in ArcGIS. The modified mapping method assigns population to each small areal unit using weights estimated by regressing the area of each land use in a census block against the population in that block. The coefficients in the regression analysis are “weights” associating population with each land use, and are used to distribute the population in each census block to the small geographic units based on their land use. In a case study of New Orleans, the results show that some areas are not well served by the existing transit pickup locations, as evidenced by their high vulnerability scores. Reassignment of pickup point locations to cover higher vulnerability score areas was investigated using integer linear programming. The results show that the optimally located pickup points serve areas with a larger average vulnerability score than the current pickup points in the study area. The method appears to be helpful in identifying vulnerable areas that, subsequently, could receive improved hurricane evacuation service in the future.     

Effects of glacier melting on socioeconomic development in the Manas River basin, China

This study used 46 years of recent data, including glacial area, temperature, precipitation, and runoff data, to examine the glacier melting and its possible socioeconomic effects in the Manas River basin in western China. The average yearly change in the glaciated area in the Manas River basin for the entire study period was 0.41 %, and the glacier mass balance mainly keeps negative in the last 46 years. The negative glacial mass balance observed between 1986 and 2006 was 2.8 times greater than that for the period 1960–1985. Additionally, the amount of meltwater runoff was 78 % greater in 1986–2006 than in 1960–1985, with a mean depth of 478 mm year^?1.Glacier melting and runoff in the Manas River basin during the late twentieth century were higher than at present. Annual meltwater volumes can reach 1 × 10⁸ m³, providing beneficial water resources to downstream areas. However, as the climate becomes warmer, the risk of meltwater flooding will also increase. Our calculations indicate that after the 2030s, the level of flooding risk will increase substantially.     

GIS-based lake sediment budget estimation taking into consideration land use change in an urbanizing catchment area

The objective of this study was to assess the lake sediment budget of land use changes using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), sediment delivery ratio (SDR), and trap efficiency (TE). The geographic information system was combined with the USLE to estimate the soil erosion of the Lake Asan watershed. Spatial data for each of the USLE factors were obtained from the land use, soil, and 1/25,000 scale digital contour maps. Landsat-5 TM images were selected for analyzing soil erosion changes due to land use changes. The sediment yield to Lake Asan was estimated using the SDR and TE. The estimated sediment budget was compared with observed data from the Lake Asan watershed between 1974 and 2003. The total estimated annual mean sediment budgets from Lake Asan in 1986, 1992, and 2000 were 0.267, 0.301, and 0.339 × 10⁶ ton, respectively, with an average of 0.302 × 10⁶ ton. The average measured sediment budget was 3.15 × 10⁶ ton year^?1. The average estimated value shows reasonable agreement with the observed sediment balance. The average estimated and measured sediment budgets contain uncertainties due to both the methods and the approach used by the observers. The simulated results indicated that soil erosion in the Lake Asan watershed increased at a rate of approximately 2 % per year from 1986 to 2000 due to land use change. This study may be useful for managers to identify reservoir rehabilitation management methods for stable irrigation water supply.     

Hydrogeochemistry and possible sulfate sources in karst groundwater in Chongqing, China

Groundwater from karst subterranean streams is among the world’s most important sources of drinking water supplies, and the hydrochemical characteristics of karst water are affected by both natural environment and people. Therefore, the study of karst groundwater hydrochemistry and its solutes’ sources is very important to ensure the normal function of life support systems. This paper focused on the major ion chemistry and sulfate isotope of karst groundwater in Chongqing for tracing the sulfate sources and related hydrochemical processes. Hydrochemical types of karst groundwater in Chongqing were mainly of the Ca-HCO₃ type or Ca(Mg)-HCO₃ type. However, some hydrochemical types were the K + Na + Ca-SO₄ type (G25 site) or Ca-HCO₃ + SO₄ type (G26 and G14 sites), indicating that the hydrochemistry of these sites may be strongly influenced by anthropogenic activities or unique geological characteristics. The δ³⁴S-SO₄ ^2? of collected karst groundwater sample fell into a range of ?6.8 to 21.5 ‰, with a mean value of 5.6 ‰. In dolomite aquifer, the δ³⁴S-SO₄ ^2? value ranges from ?4.3 to 11.0 ‰, and in limestone aquifer, it ranged from ?6.8 to 21.5 ‰. The groundwater samples from different land use types showed distinctive δ³⁴S-SO₄ ^2? value. The δ³⁴S-SO₄ ^2? value of groundwater samples had range of ?6.8 to 16.7 ‰ (mean 4.0 ‰, n = 11) in cultivated land areas, 1.5–21.5 ‰ (mean 7.2 ‰, n = 20) in forested land areas, and ?4.3 to 0.8 ‰ (mean ?1.7 ‰, n = 2) in coalmine areas. The δ³⁴S-SO₄ ^2? values of groundwater samples collected from factory area and town area were 2.2 and 9.9 ‰, respectively. According to the δ³⁴S information of potential sulfate sources, this paper discussed the possible sulfate sources of collected karst groundwater samples in Chongqing. The variations of both δ³⁴S and 1/SO₄ ^2? values of the groundwater samples indicated that the atmospheric acid deposition (AAD), dissolution of gypsum (GD), oxidation of sulfide mineral (OS) or anthropogenic inputs (SF: sewage or fertilizer) contributed to sulfate in karst groundwater. The influence of oxidation of sulfide mineral, atmospheric acid deposit and anthropogenic inputs to groundwater in Chongqing karst areas was much widespread. For protecting, sustaining, and utilizing the groundwater resources, the sewage possibly originating from urban, mine or industrial area must be controlled and treated, and the use of fertilizer should be limited.     

Landfill development in the urban fringe of Metro Manila

In low-lying areas of urban and suburban regions in Asia, the use of landfill has allowed urban land use to encroach onto watery landforms, such as back marshes, which were formerly used as rice fields. To improve understanding of the associations between land-use patterns and landfill development, we carried out a case study in the urban fringe of Metro Manila in the Philippines. We examined landfill volume derived from land-use change using GIS, and field surveyed qualitative aspects of the landfill used. We calculated the rate of application of landfill in low-lying housing development areas to be 5.0 × 10³ m³ km^?2 year^?1, most of which consisted of offsite disposal of construction waste or crushed rock produced by urban development and renewal on the adjoining uplands. The flow of fill material from offsite sources to onsite landfill development areas was on the basis of individual agreements between suppliers and developers.     

Magnetic,geochemical and mineralogical properties of sediments from karstic and flysch rivers of Croatia and Slovenia

The aim of the present work was to investigate links between the low-field magnetic susceptibility (MS) and chemical and mineral composition of sediments from several Croatian and Slovenian rivers, as well as to determine possible anthropogenic influence on these sediments. MS measurements are a fast and simple method, which serves as a proxy for the estimation of pollution in different environmental systems. The investigated rivers are predominantly unpolluted rivers from Croatian and Slovenian karstic and flysch areas, which belong to the Adriatic or the Black Sea watersheds: the Dragonja, the Mirna, the Ra?a, the Ri?ana, the Reka, the Rak, the Cerkni?nica, the Unec and the Ljubljanica rivers. It was assumed that, due to their mostly unpolluted status, they could serve as a database for natural MS background values for this region. For comparison, several rivers and a lake from the Celje old metallurgic industrial area (Slovenia) were also investigated: the Savinja, the Hudinja, the Voglajna rivers and Slivni?ko Lake. They form a sub-basin of the Sava River drainage basin. Sediments of the clean karstic and flysch rivers showed extremely low MS values, with mass susceptibility values ranging from 0.58 × 10^?7 to 5.11 × 10^?7 m³/kg, and isothermal remanent magnetism (IRM) values ranging from 0.71 to 7.88 A/m. In the Celje industrial area, river sediments showed much higher MS values, with mass susceptibility values ranging from 1.31 × 10^?7 to 38.3 × 10^?7 m³/kg, and IRM values ranging from 0.91 to 100.42 A/m. The highest MS value was found in the Voglajna River at Teharje-?tore, a point which showed a significant number of anomalies of toxic metals in earlier investigations. Semiquantitative determination of relations between grain size and concentration of magnetite was performed using the Thompson-Oldfield method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) mineralogical analysis showed that sediments of the Celje area have mostly quartz as major mineral, with relatively small amount of carbonate minerals, while in sediments of karstic rivers carbonate minerals prevail. Statistically significant correlations were obtained between MS and Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Ba in the Slovenian karstic region and between MS and Cr, Fe, Co, Ni and Zn in flysch drainage basins. On the contrary, no correlation of MS and Hg content was obtained.     

Siting MSW landfills by combining AHP with GIS in Hamedan province, western Iran

In most large and fast growing urban areas, finding suitable lands for construction of landfill is one of the serious problems in environmental management. Land fill site selection process depends on different factors, regulations and constraints. Ignoring each of these parameters may cause miscalculations and lead to selection of an inappropriate landfill site which could have negative environmental, economical, and ecological impacts. Therefore, this process must be accomplished by taking into account all of the related criterions and variables. In this study, landfill site selection is performed by combining geographic information system (GIS) and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) in Hamedan province, west of Iran. In relation to landfill site selection, ten different criteria including Geology, surface water, aquifer, land use, elevation, slope, and distance to main roads, residential areas, faults and sinkholes were investigated. Using AHP each criterion was weighted, then geographic information system (Arc GIS 9.3 software) was used to manipulate and present spatial data. Finally, suitability map was prepared by overlay analyses and most suitable and suitable areas were identified and checked in field. The results indicate that 60.4 % of the area in the Hamedan province (11,631 km²) is unsuitable, 33 % (6,257.7 km²) moderately suitable and 6.6 % (1,344 km²) most suitable for construction of landfill.