Agricultural groundwater use and rural livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa: A first-cut assessment

The rapid expansion in agricultural groundwater use in the last few decades has transformed rural economies in large parts of the developing world, in particular South Asia and North China. There has been no such “Groundwater Revolution” in most of sub-Saharan Africa and little is known about the actual role of groundwater use in supporting agricultural livelihoods in the region or opportunities to expand this role in the future. Published literature has been reviewed to paint a preliminary, region-wide picture of the contribution groundwater makes to agriculture, and in turn to rural livelihoods, within sub-Saharan Africa. The findings indicate that groundwater is used on only 1–2 million hectares of cropped area, directly contributing to the livelihoods of 1.5–3% of the rural population. Groundwater also plays a critical role in the vital livestock sector as well as an important indirect role in the supply of domestic water to agricultural households. While data are lacking, these latter two roles likely surpass the direct importance of groundwater to crop production. This suggests that an understanding of the value of agricultural groundwater use in support of rural livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa should be based on different models than have typically been applied in Asia.

Evaluating sedimentation effect on reservoirs water quality: a case study,Shahriyar reservoir

In this research, total dissolved solids (TDS) was simulated by CE-QUAL-W2 software in two scenarios of with and without sedimentation in normal, dry, and wet periods of inflow for Shahriyar reservoir, an under-construction dam located in Iran. Shahriyar reservoir is a dam with a total capacity of 700 million cubic meters (MCM) and a dead volume of 360 MCM. In case of with sedimentation compared with without sedimentation, results showed an annual average increase of 4, 4.3, and 8.7% in TDS of outflow for normal, wet, and dry periods, respectively. There is no significant change in TDS profile of the reservoir in both conditions. According to the average outflow TDS of 1448, 1301, and 1555 mg/L compared with the average inflow TDS of 1714, 1520, and 1835 in normal, wet, and dry conditions, respectively, the effect of dam on inflow TDS adjustment can be also observed. With the mentioned outflow TDS, there is no limitation to use of reservoir water for agricultural purposes based on FAO irrigation guidelines for both scenarios.     

Relationship between Strong Earthquakes and Activation of Deep Faults in Central Asia (Uzbekistan): Numerical Simulation of Stress Field Variations

Geotectonics - The results of analyzing the data on strong М ≥ 5 earthquakes in Central Asia for 1901–2013 are presented. A statistical method for studying the influence of the...     

中亚五国水资源及其开发利用评价

中亚五国地处欧亚大陆腹地,地理条件封闭,跨界河流众多,水资源形成区与消耗区严重不一致,水资源利用问题及矛盾十分突出,是全球跨界河流水资源开发利用与生态环境保护问题的典型代表,开展中亚水资源及其开发利用研究,对研究跨界河流及干旱区水资源可持续利用具有十分重要的借鉴意义。在介绍中亚五国及其主要河流概况,评价提出中亚五国地表、地下水资源量及其分布特点的基础上,阐述了中亚五国人口及城市化、经济发展与产业结构、耕地及其历史演变,分析了中亚五国的水资源开发利用现状,并对开发利用中存在的问题进行了综述总结。     

An assessment of the potential and impacts of winter water banking in the Sokh aquifer, Central Asia

The dynamics of artificial recharge of winter surface flows coupled with increased summer groundwater use for irrigation in the Sokh aquifer (Central Asia) have been investigated. Water release patterns from the giant Toktogul reservoir have changed, as priority is now given to hydropower generation in winter in Kyrgyzstan. Winter flows have increased and summer releases have declined, but the Syr Darya River cannot pass these larger winter flows and the excess is diverted to a natural depression, creating a 40?×?10⁹m³ lake. A water balance study of all 18 aquifers feeding the Fergana Valley indicated the feasibility of winter groundwater recharge in storage created by summer abstraction. This modeling study examines the dynamics of the process in one aquifer over a 5-year period, with four scenarios: the current situation; increased groundwater abstraction of around 625 million (M) m³/year; groundwater abstraction with an artificial recharge of 144 Mm³/year, equivalent to the volume available in low flow years in the Sokh River; and with a larger artificial recharge of 268 Mm³/year, corresponding to high flow availability. Summer surface irrigation diversions can be reduced by up to 350 Mm³ and water table levels can be lowered.     

Environmental change modelling for Central and High Asia: Pleistocene, present and future scenarios

A regional modelling concept was developed for late Quaternary climate reconstructions and future climate impact assessments. Based on estimates of different climate parameters covering the entire Central and High Asia in a grid-cell spacing of 1 km², climatic determinants of the recent spatial distribution of climate-sensitive environments (glacial and periglacial environments, forest) were explored. Simple climatic threshold functions were established, defining critical climate values for modelling the spatial extension of environments considered. Using palaeogeomorphological indicators as a basis, late Quaternary climatic conditions were modelled in a Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) scenario consistent with palaeogeomorphological and palaeoclimatological data. The results enabled a validation of LGM palaeoclimate simulations performed by the ECHAM GCM. To assess the magnitude of possible future climatic impacts on the spatial distribution of glaciers, permafrost and potential forest stands, two GCM-based IPCC-SRES climate change scenarios (IPCC special report on emission scenarios) for the time period 2070-2099 were considered. Assuming future climates to be perturbed for long enough to affect the environments, a distinct loss of glaciated areas and permafrost must be expected.     

Geological structure,sedimentation conditions,and petroleum potential of sedimentary basins in Southeast Asia

Sedimentary basins located in the continent-to-ocean transition zones with an active tectonic regime are extremely different in terms of both geological structure and composition of rocks with the hydrocarbon-hosting potential. Oil-and-gas fields in such zones are confined not only to the deltaic, coastal-marine, and submarine-slope sandstones, as well as limestones and dolomites of buried carbonate banks, but also to silicic and volcanic rocks. Such fields have been discovered in weathering crusts of granite plutons, metamorphic rocks of the basement, fissured basalts, and other magmatic rocks. This is demonstrated vividly by the Southeast Asia region, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and other countries, where fore-arc, back-arc, inter-arc, and marginal-rift sedimentary basins are assigned to petroliferous areas.     

中亚干旱区陆地水资源评估方法与挑战

集中回顾中亚干旱区陆地水资源评估手段进展.水资源评估手段主要可分为基于观测数据和水文模型模拟两大类.从数据获取手段来讲,站点实测、遥感、再分析数据是目前中亚水资源评估的主要数据来源.其中,遥感数据又可分为成像遥感数据以及非成像遥感数据(包括雷达高度计、重力卫星数据).由于干旱区站点资料缺乏,遥感与水文模型集成已经成为常...     

Paleozoic Tectono-Metallogeny in the Tianshan-Altay Region, Central Asia

The research on Paleozoic tectonics and endogenic metallogeny in the Tianshan-Altay region of Central Asia is an important and significant project. The Altay region, as a collision zone of the Early Paleozoic (500–397 Ma), and the Tianshan region, as a collision zone of the early period in the Late Paleozoic (Late Devonian-Early Carboniferous, 385–323 Ma), are all the result of nearly N-S trending shortening and collision (according to recent magnetic orientation). In the Late Devonian-Early Carboniferous period (385–323 Ma), regional NW trending faults displayed features of dextral strike-slip motion in the Altay and Junggar regions. In the Tianshan region, nearly EW-trending regional faults are motions of the thrusts. However, in the Late Carboniferous-Early Permian period (323–260 Ma), influenced by the long-distance effect induced from the Ural collision zone, those areas suffered weaker eastward compression, the existing NW trending faults converted into sinistral strike-slip in the Altay and Junggar regions, and the existing nearly E-W trending faults transferred into dextral strike-slip faults in the Tianshan region. The Rocks of those regions in the Late Carboniferous-Early Permian period (323–260 Ma) were moderately ruptured to a certain tension-shear, and thus formed a number of world famous giant endogenic metal ore deposits in the Tianshan-Altay region. As to the Central Asian continent, the most powerful collision period may not coincide with the most favorable endogenic metallogenic period. It should be treated to “the orogenic metallogeny hypothesis” with caution in that region.     

中亚干旱区陆地水资源对气候变化的响应

气候变化对中亚干旱区高山融雪、蒸散发以及径流等水循环过程产生影响,从而引起区域水资源在空间和时间上的重新分配.在归纳总结降水、土壤水、地表水、陆地水储量等不同水体类型在气候变化下改变情况的基础上,综述了中亚干旱区陆地水资源变化对气候变化响应的现状及进展.由于使用的数据和评估方法不同,水资源变化研究结果具有一致性及不确定...     

Paleozoic Tectono-Metallogeny in the Tianshan-Altay Region, Central Asia

The research on Paleozoic tectonics and endogenic metallogeny in the Tianshan-Altay region of Central Asia is an important and significant project. The Altay region, as a collision zone of the Early Paleozoic(500–397 Ma), and the Tianshan region, as a collision zone of the early period in the Late Paleozoic(Late Devonian-Early Carboniferous, 385–323 Ma), are all the result of nearly N-S trending shortening and collision(according to recent magnetic orientation). In the Late Devonian-Early Carboniferous period(385–323 Ma), regional NW trending faults displayed features of dextral strike-slip motion in the Altay and Junggar regions. In the Tianshan region, nearly EW-trending regional faults are motions of the thrusts. However, in the Late Carboniferous-Early Permian period(323–260 Ma), influenced by the long-distance effect induced from the Ural collision zone, those areas suffered weaker eastward compression, the existing NW trending faults converted into sinistral strike-slip in the Altay and Junggar regions, and the existing nearly E-W trending faults transferred into dextral strike-slip faults in the Tianshan region. The Rocks of those regions in the Late Carboniferous-Early Permian period(323–260 Ma) were moderately ruptured to a certain tension-shear, and thus formed a number of world famous giant endogenic metal ore deposits in the Tianshan-Altay region. As to the Central Asian continent, the most powerful collision period may not coincide with the most favorable endogenic metallogenic period. It should be treated to "the orogenic metallogeny hypothesis" with caution in that region.     

Geostatistical approach for the assessment of the water reservoir capacity in arid regions: a case study of the Akdarya reservoir,Uzbekistan

The paper presents the results of a new geostatistical approach to generate bathymetric surface models from point measurement converted into continuous contour surfaces of reservoir bottoms in Uzbekistan. Sedimentation of reservoirs raises engineering, environmental and economical issues for the communities around the world in areas affected by a strong water deficit. Because of Uzbekistan’s arid climatic conditions, and uneven spatial and temporal water resources distribution, responsive and innovative water availability assessment surveys of all major water reservoirs are required. Bathymetric surveying is a traditional method that is carried out for the estimation of reservoir volumes and surface areas of the corresponding reservoir stages in order to assess the water availability. Volume and surface area differences derived from multiple surveys of a reservoir provide storage loss estimates over time due to sedimentation. However, two main factors, such as intensive field data measurement and post data-processing, often limit the frequency of these surveys. Alternatively, innovative depth measurement technologies coupled with contouring and surface mapping programs provide automated reservoir volume and surface area calculations. This significantly reduces time, workload and financial burdens for reservoir sedimentation projects. This research proposes the use of geostatistical approach to assess the reservoir sedimentation in the Akdarya reservoir of Uzbekistan. The geostatistical approach includes (semi-) variogram analysis and interpolation (kriging and simulations—turning bands) techniques predicting values at unsampled locations for generating digital bathymetric surface models of reservoir bottom conditions in order to calculate the volume and surface area at a given water elevation. The simulation enables to have range of reservoir volumes and surface areas with the same probability, in comparison to the kriging and traditional methods. This gives a real estimation of the resource availability for water operators to manage natural resources and hydraulic infrastructure in a sustainable manner.     

中亚卡拉库姆盆地油气分布特征与成藏模式

卡拉库姆盆地是世界上仅次于西西伯利亚盆地和波斯湾盆地的第三大富气盆地。本文以获取的最新油气田储量数据为基础，采用石油地质综合分析方法，探讨了该盆地油气的层系和区域分布特征及其成藏模式。受区域盖层控制，盆地内的油气主要富集于两套层系：中侏罗统卡洛阶-上侏罗统牛津阶碳酸盐岩储集层和下白垩统欧特里阶沙特利克组砂岩储集层。前者富集了盆地内68.0%的石油储量、84.0%的凝析油储量和44.2%的天然气储量，后者富集了盆地内36.4%的天然气储量。上侏罗统蒸发岩之下的盐下油气田的区域分布主要受有利储集相带和古隆起构造展布的控制；生物礁和古构造主要发育于盆地东北部的北阿姆河亚盆地，并导致盆地内已发现的盐下油气储量主要分布于此。受蒸发岩区域盖层和深大断裂的控制，盐上油气田主要分布于蒸发岩发育区之外、蒸发岩较薄且主要为硬石膏的地区、以及蒸发岩发育区内的深大断裂附近。蒸发岩之上的盐上层系并非油气特别是天然气勘探的禁区，源自盐下烃源岩的天然气可以在盐上储集层内聚集并形成大气田。     

Sedimentation assessment in a multipurpose reservoir in Central Kerala,India

Dams and their reservoirs, constructed to manage the water scarcity problems of a region, sometimes lose whole or part of their functionality due to sedimentation. This issue, seen as a negative impact as far as reservoir life and its purpose is concerned, can be a boon to the construction industry, by providing a highly demanding construction material in the form of sand dredged from the reservoirs. Malampuzha reservoir, a multipurpose reservoir in the South Indian state of Kerala, is also losing considerable part of its storage due to siltation. This paper assesses the rate of sedimentation in Malampuzha reservoir, through bathymetric survey and suggests measures for utilization of the removable sediment. Our analysis has shown that the reservoir capacity is reduced from 226 to 205.19 Mm³; a reduction in capacity of 20.81 Mm³ in 55 years. The rate of sedimentation of the reservoir is estimated as 16.95 mm/year. The dead storage capacity of the reservoir has reduced to 47.5 % from the original at present. The composition of deposited sediments is also identified, based on which its productive use is recommended.     

考虑回归水重复利用的灌区用水评价指标

为了正确评价灌区用水效率及用水效益,构建了考虑回归水重复利用的灌区用水效率及效益指标。利用地表水-地下水耦合模型、SWAP模型和线性模型对柳园口灌区的水量和作物产量进行了分布式模拟,在此基础上,对柳园口灌区不同用水模式以及田间不同节水灌溉模式下的灌区用水效率及效益指标进行了计算,分析不同节水措施对灌区用水效率及效益指标的影响规律。结果表明,井渠结合调控模式和田间节水灌溉模式对柳园口灌区不同区域用水效率及效益的影响效果不同,但均能提高灌区总体的用水效率及效益。     

Exfiltrative Mineralization in the Bukantau Ore District (Central Kyzyl Kum Region,Uzbekistan)

Manganese and gemstone (turquoise and cacholong) deposits of the central Kyzyl Kum region formed during the development of the sedimentary cover. Aggressive metal-bearing fluids were formed within the cover due to equilibration of sediments. Tectonic reactivation of the region resulted in the formation of erosion windows in the sedimentary cover and ascending gleyey (H₂S-free) solutions were discharged within the erosion windows. Various geochemical barriers in near-surface zones favored the concentration of Mn, gem-stone-forming elements, and associated components. Their virtually simultaneous deposition from the same ore-forming fluids at different geochemical barriers was responsible for the differentiation of mineralization in the cross section. Processes of recent activation migrated from the southeast to northwest with the successive formation and erosion of ephemeral manganese and gemstone deposits in the same direction. At present, only the youngest deposits located in the northern central Kyzyl Kum region are sufficiently well retained.     

Late Mesozoic carbonatite provinces in Central Asia: Their compositions,sources and genetic settings

Identification of the Late Mesozoic carbonatite province in Central Asia is herein discussed. Its regional extent and distribution is investigated, and the areas with manifestations of carbonatite magmatism are described. It is shown that they were developed in terranes with heterogeneous and heterochronous basements: Siberian (Aldan Shield) and North China cratons; Early Paleozoic (Caledonian) and Middle–Late Paleozoic (Hercynian) structures of the Central Asian fold belt (Transbaikal and Tuva zones in Russia; Mongolia). Irrespective of the structural position, the carbonatites were generated within a relatively narrow time interval (150–118 Ma). The geochemical (Sr, LREE, Ba, F and P) specialization of carbonatites of the province is reflected in their mineral composition. Some rocks of the carbonatite complexes always include one or more distinctive minerals: fluorite, Ba–Sr sulfates, Ba–Sr–Ca carbonates, LREE fluorocarbonates, or apatite. Compared to counterparts from other age groups (for example, Maimecha–Kotui group in North Asia), these carbonatites are depleted in Ti, Nb, Ta, Zr and Hf. It is shown that the Sr and Nd isotope composition of carbonatites correlates with the geological age of the host crust. Rocks of carbonatite complexes associated with cratons are characterized by the lowest εNd(T) and highest ISr(T) values, indicating that their formation involved an ancient lithospheric material. Carbonatite magmatism occurred simultaneously with the largest plateau basalts 130–120 Ma ago in rift zones in the Late Mesozoic intraplate volcanic province of Central Asia. This interval corresponds to timing of global activation of intraplate magmatism processes, suggesting a link of the carbonatite province with these processes. It is shown that fields with the carbonatite magmatism were controlled by small mantle plumes (“hot fingers”) responsible for the Central Asian mantle plume events.