Landslide hazard mapping in the Constantine city,Northeast Algeria using frequency ratio,weighting factor,logistic regression,weights of evidence,and analytical hierarchy process methods

Landslides constitute the most widespread and damaging natural hazards in the Constantine city. They represent a significant constraint to development and urban planning. In order to reduce the risk related to potential landslide, there is a need to develop a comprehensive landslide hazard map (LHM) of the area for an efficient disaster management and for planning development activities. The purpose of this research is to prepare and compare the LHMs of the Constantine city, by applying frequency ratio (FR), weighting factor (Wf), logistic regression (LR), weights of evidence (WOE), and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) methods used in a framework of the geographical information system (GIS). Firstly, a landslide inventory map has been prepared based on the interpretation of aerial photographs, high resolution satellite images, fieldwork, and available literature. Secondly, eight landslide-conditioning factors such as lithology, slope, exposure, rainfall, land use, distance to drainage, distance to road, and distance to fault have been considered to establish LHMs using the FR, Wf, LR, WOE, and AHP models in GIS. For verification, the obtained LHMs have been validated comparing the LHMs with the known landslide locations using the receiver operating characteristics curves (ROC). The validated results indicate that the FR method provides more accurate prediction (86.59 %) of LHMs than the WOE (82.38 %), AHP (77.86 %), Wf (77.58 %), and LR (70.45 %) models. On the other hand, the obtained results showed that all the used models in this study provided a good accuracy in predicting landslide hazard in Constantine city. The established maps can be used as useful tools for risk prevention and land use planning in the Constantine region.     

A Miocene-restricted platform of the Zibane zone (Saharan Atlas,Algeria), depositional sequences and paleogeographic reconstruction

Depositional sequences and paleogeographic evolution of the Miocene deposits have been studied in the Zibane zone (Saharan Atlas, Algeria) located at the north of the African platform. During the Miocene, this region corresponded to a fault-bounded collapse area and filled by diversified deposits, showing important lateral facies and thicknesses variations. The studied deposits are divided into five depositional sequences separated by major unconformities. These depositional sequences are well developed in the whole basin and testify a paleogeographic differentiation from E–W, induced by a set of NW-SE-trending old faults inherited from the Atlasic orogeny. The organization and the development of those sequences make it possible to correlate them better to the basin scale, which is integrated in a model of restricted platform intersected by NW-SE faults where the tectonic-sedimentation duality is predominant. These new data point to a paleogeographic evolution different from the one usually admitted environment for this region during Miocene time and plead in favour of a reconsideration of the depositional environments of the post-Burdigalian formations in the Zibane zone of the Algerian Atlasic domain.     

Factors controlling the changes and spatial variability of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Junipers phoenicea</Emphasis> in Jabal Al Akhdar,Libya, using remote sensing and GIS

The Junipers phoenicea, which covers 70 % of the Jabal Al Akhdar (Green Mountain) in Cyrene on the northeast coast of Libya, has deteriorated over large scales. To deal with this problem, the images of the Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) and Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) in conjunction with the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) digital elevation model (DEM) were used to map factors controlling the J. phoenicea mortality using a set of automated algorithms and tools. These factors include altitude, slope, aspect, curvature, drainage pattern, seawater intrusion, and land cover. As a first step, changes of J. phoenicea and land cover during the period from the year 2000 to 2015 were mapped. The results showed a sharp decline in J. phoenicea covering an area of 396 km² (22 %) of the total area. The result also showed that areas at a lower elevation with steep slope and faced to the south and southeast directions have a higher probability of J. phoenicea distribution. The spatial analysis showed a positive correlation between wetness and the intensity of J. phoenicea mortality. The results also show that altitude and slope have the most influencing power on the J. phoenicea morality. This study is of great help for decision makers and agriculture engineers and permits a better understanding of ecological and biomass changes in the Jabal Al Akhdar, Libya, over a regional scale.     

Groundwater resources evaluation in calcareous limestone using geoelectrical and VLF-EM surveys (El Salloum Basin,Egypt)

Understanding and developing groundwater resources in arid regions such as El Salloum basin, along the northwestern coast of Egypt, remains a challenging issue. One-dimensional (1D) electrical sounding (ES), two-dimensional (2D) electrical resistivity imaging (ERI), and very low frequency electromagnetic (VLF-EM) measurements were used to investigate the hydrogeological framework of El Salloum basin with the aim of determining the potential for extraction of potable water. 1D resistivity sounding models were used to delineate geoelectric sections and water-bearing layers. 2D ERI highlighted decreases in resistivity with depth, attributed to clay-rich limestone combined with seawater intrusion towards the coast. A depth of investigation (DOI) index was used to constrain the information content of the images at depths up to 100 m. The VLF-EM survey identified likely faults/fractured zones across the study area. A combined analysis of the datasets of the 1D ES, 2D ERI, and VLF-EM methods identified potential zones of groundwater, the extent of seawater intrusion, and major hydrogeological structures (fracture zones) in El Salloum basin. The equivalent geologic layers suggest that the main aquifer in the basin is the fractured chalky limestone middle Miocene) south of the coastal plain of the study area. Sites likely to provide significant volumes of potable water were identified based on relatively high resistivity and thickness of laterally extensive layers. The most promising locations for drilling productive wells are in the south and southeastern parts of the region, where the potential for potable groundwater increases substantially.

     

Heavy metal exposure from co-processing of hazardous wastes for cement production and associated human risk assessment

This study was carried out to determine the concentration of heavy metals (Cd, Ni, Pb, Cr, Ni and Zn) in ordinary Portland cement (OPC) produced from the co-processing with hazardous waste in comparison with OPC produced using natural raw materials. The results showed that the concentration of heavy metals in cement produced from natural raw material was in the order of Zn > Pb > Cr > Ni > Cu > Cd. Zn and Cd were the highest and the lowest concentrations, respectively, in cements produced from the co-processing activity. The difference between heavy metals concentrations in OPC produced with and without co-processing was found to be statistically significant. The concentration of heavy metals in the cement produced is generally factory dependent. The human risk assessment associated with the heavy metals for non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks has been evaluated. The calculated hazard index (HI) and total lifetime cancer risks (LCR) were lower than the acceptable threshold reference values, HI < 1 and LCR < 1 × 10^?4, respectively. Thus, it is anticipated that there is no potential of non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks for both adult and children. However, the findings indicated that there is a need for regulatory monitoring. The exposure pathway for both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks are both in the order of ingestion > dermal > inhalation.     

Short-term greenhouse emission lowering effect of biochars from solid organic municipal wastes

Qatar economy has been growing rapidly during the last two decades during which waste generation and greenhouse gas emissions increased exponentially making them among the main environmental challenges facing the country. Production of biochar from municipal solid organic wastes (SOWs) for soil application may offer a sustainable waste management strategy while improving crop productivity and sequestering carbon. This study was conducted to (1) investigate the physicochemical parameters of biochars for SOW, (2) select the best-performing biochars for soil fertility, and (3) evaluate the potential benefits of these biochars in lowering greenhouse gases (GHGs) during soil incubation. Biochars were produced from SOW at pyrolysis temperatures of 300–750 °C and residence times of 2–6 h. Biochars were characterized before use in soil incubation to select the best-performing treatment and evaluation of potential GHG-lowering effect using CO₂ emission as proxy. Here, soil–biochar mixtures (0–2%w/w) were incubated in greenhouse settings for 120 days at 10% soil moisture. Soil properties, such as pH, EC, TC, and WHC, were significantly improved after soil amendment with biochar. Two biochars produced from mixed materials at 300–500 °C for 2 h and used at 0.5–1% application rate performed the best in enhancing soil fertility parameters. A significant decrease in CO₂ emission was observed in vials with soil–biochar mixtures, especially for biochars produced at 500 °C compared the corresponding raw materials which exhibited an exponential increase in the CO₂ emission. Hence, application of biochar to agricultural soils could be beneficial for simultaneously improving soil fertility/crop productivity while sequestering carbon, thereby reducing anthropogenic emissions of GHGs.     

Hydrochemical characterization and geospatial analysis of groundwater quality in Cap Bon region,northeastern Tunisia

The hydrogeochemical characteristics of shallow groundwater in the Grombalia region, northeastern Tunisia, were investigated to evaluate suitability for irrigation and other uses and to determine the main processes that control its chemical composition. A total of 21 groundwater samples were collected from existing wells in January–February 2015 and were analyzed for the major cations and anions concentrations. Conductivity, pH, T°, O₂ and salinity were also measured. Interrelationships between chemical parameters were determined by using the scatter matrix method. The suitability of groundwater for irrigation and other uses was assessed by determining the sodium adsorption ratio, soluble-sodium percentage, total dissolved solids, total hardness, Kelly’s index and permeability index values of water samples. The spatial distribution of key parameters was assessed using a GIS-based spatial gridding technique. This analysis indicated that the chemical composition of groundwater in the study area is of Cl–SO₄–Na–Ca mixed facies with concentrations of many chemical constituents exceeding known guideline values for irrigation. The salinity of groundwater is controlled by most dominant cation and anion (Na–Cl). A correlation analysis shows that Na⁺ is the dominant cation and that reverse ion exchange is a dominant process that controls the hydrogeochemical evolution of groundwater in the area. Geospatial mapping of hydrochemical parameters and indices analyzed with the USSL and Wilcox diagrams show distinctive areas of irrigation suitability. In contrast, 76.2% of samples fall in the highly doubtful to unsuitable category and indicate that the central and north-eastern parts of the study area are unsuitable for irrigation due to a high salinity and alkalinity.     

Developing a seismic source model for the Arabian Plate

A seismic source model is developed for the entire Arabian Plate, which has been affected by a number of earthquakes in the past and in recent times. Delineation and characterization of the sources responsible for these seismic activities are crucial inputs for any seismic hazard study. Available earthquake data and installation of local seismic networks in most of the Arabian Plate countries made it feasible to delineate the seismic sources that have a hazardous potential on the region. Boundaries of the seismic zones are essentially identified based upon the seismicity, available data on active faults and their potential to generate effective earthquakes, prevailing focal mechanism, available geophysical maps, and the volcanic activity in the Arabian Shield. Variations in the characteristics given by the above datasets provide the bases for delineating individual seismic zones. The present model consists of 57 seismic zones extending along the Makran Subduction Zone, Zagros Fold-Thrust Belt, Eastern Anatolian Fault, Aqaba-Dead Sea Fault, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Owen Fracture Zone, Arabian Intraplate, and a background seismic zone, which models the floating seismicity that is unrelated to any of the distinctly identified seismic zones. The features of the newly developed model make the seismic hazard results likely be more realistic.