The problem of historicity in physical geography

Historicity forms for logic the direct antithesis of regularity. In recognition of this dialectical premise physical geography has attempted to remove the historical contingent element of its phenomena in order to emphasise the regularity, and by so doing legimitise its status as a scientific discipline. This has resulted in a schism between empirical knowledge and the accepted theoretical structures. The regularity of geodynamic processes is apparent only on the basis of contingent clusters that in their essential characteristics are subject to historical change. Analysis becomes therefore a question of attribution, reconstructing individual clusters of causal determinants, each cluster being described as an individual outcome rather than the embodiment of necessary laws. The concept of the historical within geography must be clearly separated from the pseudo-historical development concept, as employed in relation to the theory of deterministic chaos. The scientific methodological problem, present in geography because of the incongruence between the logical assessment and the empirical subject matter, is here considered as the basis for the application of the evolutionary epistomological theory which not only recognises this incongruence but also clarifies and makes explicable its origin.The authors gratefully acknowledge the translation of this paper rendered by Prof. Dr. E. M. Yates, King's College, London.     

An outline of physical geography including Pleistocene glacial landforms of Eastern Tibet (provinces Sichuan and Qinghai)

The relief of the expedition area in NW-Sichuan and SE-Qinghai can simply be separated into two main areas: the catchment area of the Yangtze with deeply incised rivers in narrow V-shaped valleys up to about 3,000 m and the plateau area with old peneplains in the Huang He catchment with meandering rivers up to more than 4,000 m. Precipitation and temperature decrease towards the NW. All zonal boundaries, eg the vegetation boundaries or the snowline, are ascending in elevation towards the interior of the plateau. The natural vegetation, especially the forests, are modified by anthropo-zoogenic influences. Within the zone of alpine meadows and the uppermost region of natural forest as well as in the Red Basin evidence of pasture and agriculture goes back by at least 2,000 years. During the last 20 years within the transition zone of the deeply incised valleys towards the plateau one third of the forests have been cut down.The main investigation area of Nianbaoyeze is built up by a granite-dome being about 500 to 800 m higher than the surrounding peneplains. The extent of Pleistocene glaciations can be mapped by the distribution of terminal and lateral moraines and erratic granite boulders on the slopes of the surrounding schists. The altitude of terminal moraines indicates a snowline of the last glaciation at about 4,300 m, which is about 800 m below the present snowline. Three main Pleistocene glaciations can be separated due to palaeosols, the overlying stratum being either aeolian sandy silt or solifluction debris. The ice free areas shows several Pleistocene terraces and in addition loess deposits with palaeosols in the deeper basins. In summary there is a rising of the snowline of the last glaciation at the E margin of the Tibetan Plateau from about 4,000 m in the E (Minshan) to 4,300 m at Nianbaoyeze and to about 4,700 m in the W (Bayan Har Shan). The hypothesis of an extensive plateau glaciation could not be verified for this region.     

On the role of evidence in physical and human geography

While physical geographers are united in a commitment to the scientific method with its emphasis on quantitative evidence, human geographers face a dilemma in deciding whether to adopt a scientific or humanistic approach in their research. The scientific approach offers a more secure, objective knowledge, but limits the scholar to a relatively narrow range of topics. The humanistic approach allows the scholar to explore a wide range of human experiences, but it lacks rigorous procedures of objective verification. The difficulty of the application of theoretical ideas to human societies can, to some extent, be avoided by adopting an historical approach, with an emphasis on the empirical investigation of human activity as a reflection of ideas. As long as human geographers have a commitment to basing their interpretations of geographical phenomena on objective evidence the possibility of a profitable co-operation exists among proponents of different philosophical approaches. A unified human geography embracing scholars of diverse views depends for its success on the identification of geographical problems that transcend philosophical and theoretical points of view.     

The geography of defence — developing themes of study

Greater access to information after the Post-Cold War period gives researchers new opportunities to study the environmental, economic and social impacts of military defence. Changing political and economic circumstances are influencing the distribution of military facilities and defence industries in developed countries. The paper illustrates these developments and looks at the contribution to change made by pressure groups end at examples from the UK defence sector. Defence forces are reacting to criticism about negative impacts through a variety of measures including environmental training, site remediation and the use of simulation technology. A framework for further research is presented and many references cited.     

Kuwaiti national assembly — 1992 a study in electoral geography

The study of electoral geography in Kuwait has proven to be an interesting field for its reflection of a regional and national democratic approach in governing the state. The first consultative council was established in 1920, to be followed by the first legislative council in 1938 formed by means of elections. These two councils gave way to the first formation of a state parliament in 1963. Its history was faltered a number of times firstly in 1976 and secondly in 1986.Following the liberation, Kuwait restored its parliamentary life and elections took place on October, 5th 1992. Elections results were different to those of the previous ones where tribalism and sectarianism (Sunnis vis-a-vis Shiites) had little effect on the final results of the votes. Nevertheless, religious fundamentalist movements succeeded in winning more seats than in the past.Kuwaitis in general have become convinced that democracy is the right path for ruling the country, therefore Kuwaitis are very eager to see the success of their parliamentary experience not just for them but for the sake of the entire Gulf region.     

硅酸盐-盐（硫酸盐）流体不混溶：蒙古南部Mushugai-Khuduk含火成碳酸岩杂岩体矿物中的熔体包裹体研究

Crystalline and melt inclusions were studied in garnet,diopside,potassium feldspar,and sphene from the garnet syenite porphyry of the carbonatite-bearing complex Mushugai-Khuduk,southern Mongolia.Phlogopite,clinopyroxene,albite,potassium feldspar,spheric,wollastonite,magnetite,Ca and Sr sulfates,fluorite,and apatite were identified among the crystalline inclusions. The melt inclusions were homogenized at 1010～1080℃and analyzed on an electron microprobe.Silicate,salt,and combined silicate- salt melt inclusions were found.Silicate melts show considerable variations in SiO_2 concentration(56 to 66wt% ),high Na_2O K_2O (up to 17wt% ),and elevated Zr,F,and C1 contents.In terms of bulk rock chemistry,the silicate melts are alkali syenites.During thermometric experiments,salt melt inclusions quenched into homogeneous glasses of predominantly sulfate compositions containing no more than 1.3wt% SiO_2.These melts are enriched in alkalis,Ba,Sr,P,F,and C1.The investigation of the silicate and salt melt inclusions in minerals of the garnet syenite porphyries indicate that these rocks were formed under influence of the processes of crystallization differentiation and magma separation into immiscible silicate and salt(sulfate)liquids.     

IGU study group historical geography of global environmental change

The International Geographical Union Reports

IGU study group historical geography of global environmental change     

Modeling complex aquifer systems: a case study in Baton Rouge,Louisiana (USA)

Hydrogeology Journal - This study targets two challenges in groundwater model development: grid generation and model calibration for aquifer systems that are fluvial in origin. Realistic...     

Progress in the study of the geography of retailing and wholesaling in Britain

Geographers have devoted a considerable amount of attention to the distributive sector. In part this has arisen because this sector provides an excellent testing ground for techniques. Substantive research, despite the needs of decision makers in both the public and private sectors, has been inbalanced. It has tended to focus on shoppers' behaviour and the factors controlling supply, at least equally important, have been relatively neglected. The paper indicates the significance of these factors and demonstrates how they need to be integrated into different modelling and theoretical approaches if research is to provide really useful insights for decision makers. It outlines how the focus of geographical study has shifted from examining the distributive trades as indicators of other facts of urban systems to the examination of spatial variations which are of substantial operational significance. Such studies do, however, fit readily into a wider frame-work of a geographical environment which is continuous but partitioned, limited but expanding and organised but diversified. Fruitful research can thus adopt both a spatial and an ecological perspective. The importance of the sector in the economy is sufficient reason for such research to be conducted.     

Beyond geography: The geography of the beyond in ancient Japan

This paper is a review of the literature on the world-view of the ancient cosmography of Japan. It explores the structure of cosmographical space as it was conceived, through archaeological evidence, historical written records and comparative study of primitive religion. It then goes on to examine in some detail the landscape of that world-view, which reflected the actual physiography of Japan, only in mirror-image. It is argued that several aspects of the ancient world-view continue to influence not only some Japanese customs, but also play an underestimated role in determining some important aspects of land use in modern Japan, particularly that associated with mountains and Shint shrines.     

Zeolites in volcanic-igneous hydrothermal systems: a case study of Pauzhetka geothermal field (Kamchatka) and Oligocene Smrekovec volcanic complex (Slovenia)

Production from geothermal reservoirs in volcanic-igneous hydrothermal systems may be disturbed owing to the formation of authigenic minerals that reduce primary porosity and infill fissure systems. Crystallization may be induced by natural processes or human activity related to the reservoir exploitation. In volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks, zeolites and related authigenic silicate minerals commonly develop. Two selected study sites—Pauzhetka geothermal field in Russia and Smrekovec volcanic complex in Slovenia are characterized by extensive development of progressive stage medium- and low-temperature propylitization and zeolitization with similar mineral assemblages that reduced original reservoir rock porosity and permeability. Retrograde and overprinting reactions of argillitization commonly enhance porosity and permeability of rocks, but some other reactions, like from prehnite to laumontite, from laumontite to heulandite, and from laumontite to analcime, encountered in the Smrekovec volcanic complex reduced it appreciably. Retrograde reactions recognized in the study sites were not induced by the temperature drop only, but were accompanied by the change in chemical composition of reacting fluids. Chemical composition of interstitial waters produced from exploitation wells in the Pauzhetka geothermal field indicate that propylitic and zeolite facies alteration is related to Na–Cl, slightly alkaline waters, while argillitization involved acidic thermal waters with more complex ion composition.     

Ecological and spatial traditions in geography,and the study of environmental problems

The author outlines the relationships between geography and the study of environmental problems. After WW II when these problems were growing in number and complexity, many geographers turned to the quantitative study of spatial relations and processes, neglecting the ecological aspects of human life on earth. However, recently human and physical geography are turning again to an ecological point of view. In the study of environmental problems, a synthesis of the spatial and the ecological traditions in geography is possible. The spatial aspects of environmental problems and environmental management in a systems-theory framework are the central points in the contribution of geography to an interdisciplinary environmental science.