Petrofacies, provenance and diagenesis of the dhosa sandstone member (Chari Formation) at Ler, Kachchh sub-basin, Western India

The sandstones of the Dhosa Sandstone Member of Late Callovian and Early Oxfordian age exposed at Ler have been analyzed for their petrofacies, provenance, tectonic setting and diagenetic history. These sandstones are fine to medium grained and poorly- to well sorted. The constituent mineral grains are subangular to subrounded. These sandstones were derived from a mixed provenance including granites, granite–gneisses, low- and high-grade metamorphic and some basic rocks of the Aravalli Range and Nagarparkar Massif. The petrofacies analysis reveals that these sandstones belong to the continental block-, recycled orogen- and rifted continental margin tectonic regime.The imprints of early and deep burial diagenesis of these sandstones include different stages of compaction, cementation, change in crystal boundaries, cement–cement boundaries, chertification and neomorphism. The sequence of cementation includes precipitation of calcite and its subsequent replacement by Fe calcite and silica cements. The typical intermediate burial (2–3 km depth) diagenetic signatures of these sandstones are reflected in the formation of suture and straight-line boundaries, and triple junctions with straight-line boundaries. The depositional environment, relatively low-energy environment that was below storm wave base but subjected to gentle currents, of the Dhosa Sandstone Member controlled the early diagenesis, which in turn influenced the burial diagenesis of these sandstones.     

Urban steeplands in the tropics: an environment of accelerated erosion

The developing countries at present have a high urban growth rate that is likely to continue for at least another quarter-century. In addition, many of these urban centres are located in the Neogene plate boundary zones and are subject to multiple earthquake and volcanic hazards. Slope failures and accelerated surface and channel erosion are particularly severe in cities near active plate margins, and in areas affected also by tropical cyclones. We discuss two extreme cases: Singapore and Kingston (Jamaica). Singapore is located in a stable environment and the urbanization related problems of flood and slope instability have been reduced by proper building and drainage practices at a considerable cost. In Kingston, the external disturbances are repetitive, large-scale, and very difficult to control. The fast-growing cities in the tropics need to be carefully monitored, especially when located in an unstable physical environment. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

成都粘土路堑边坡防护研究

成都外环路高速公路东半环超过有20km的路段处在成都粘土分布区，针对成都粘土的易滑性，本文提出了全封闭的浆砌片石护坡，土钉墙，非全封闭的锚杆框架护坡，钢纤维混凝土喷锚全封闭护坡，重力式挡土墙等五种方法处理成都粘土路堑边坡工程，施工实践表明，这些方法行之有效，在该类土的边坡防护中值得推广。     

Geostatistical analysis of soil moisture measurements and remotely sensed data at different spatial scales

The European remote sensing satellite (ERS-2) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data was used for temporal monitoring of soil moisture at Sukhothai, Thailand. Higher correlations were found between the observed soil moisture and the radar backscattering coefficient. The soil moisture distribution shows great variation in space and time due to its stochastic nature. In order to obtain a better understanding of the nature and causes of spatial variation of soil moisture, the extensive soil moisture measurements observed in Thailand and also remotely sensed ERS-2 SAR data were used for geostatistical analysis. The observed soil moisture shows seasonal variations with mean varying from 3.33 %v/v (dry season) to 33.44 %v/v (wet season). The spatial geostatistical structure also shows clear seasonal variations in the geostatistical characteristics such as range and sill. The sills vary from 1.00 (%v/v)² for the driest day to 107.57 (%v/v)² for one of the wet days. The range or the correlation lengths varies between 46.5 and 149.8 m for the wettest and driest periods. The nugget effect does not show strong seasonal pattern or trend but the dry periods usually have a smaller nugget effect than the wet periods. The spherical variogram model fits the sample variograms very well in the case of soil moisture observations while the exponential model fits those of the remotely sensed data. The ranges observed from the observed soil moisture data and remotely sensed data at the same resolution are very similar. Resolution degradation affects the geostatistical structure of the data by reducing the sills, and increasing the ranges.     

A nine-step approach for developing and implementing an “agricultural drought risk management plan”; case study: Alamut River basin in Qazvin,Iran

Occurrence of drought, as an inevitable natural climate feature, cannot be ceased while happening. However, costs of the consequences could be alleviated using mature scientific integrated approaches. To reduce the amount of damage, it is required to provide “Contingency” and “Mitigation” action plans. For this reason, development of efficient operating instructions for various regions based on weather conditions and field studies is needed as well as having a sophisticated understanding of socioeconomic situations. This paper describes an approach to provide the first national agricultural drought risk management plan for a river basin in Iran country as a pilot. The study lasted for 3 years as a national technical research project for the “soil conservation and watershed management research institute.” To reach the objectives, besides holding workshops and specialized think-tank meetings, field researches were done. Based on the socioeconomic data sources in the basin and the results of meetings by participation of local managers and residents, the final plan was developed. Moreover, in order to carry out this research, different climatic, agricultural and local information were collected in the watershed. In the next steps, potential risks and vulnerabilities of various agricultural sectors due to the hazard were evaluated. In this study, a nine-step approach to develop an agricultural drought risk management plan proposing different scientific–managerial phases based on the latest experts’ opinions, released international scientific best practices, and existing conditions governing the region was followed. With respect to the average income of US$ one million from agriculture and animal husbandry in the river basin, total drought loss varies from US$ 86,000 to US$ 258,000 for a range of light to very intense drought conditions, respectively. The setup of these nine executive phases defined monitoring, forecasting, and warning steps in working teams and managed the subprograms in partnership with stakeholders and decision-makers to mitigate the rate of drought damage from 30 to 47% (depending on the severity of the drought condition).

     

西藏波龙斑岩铜金矿床成矿斑岩年代学、岩石化学特征及其成矿意义

波龙斑岩铜金矿床是近年来在青藏高原中部发现的最大的斑岩型矿床,波龙矿床发育两期花岗闪长斑岩和一期花岗斑岩,两期花岗闪长斑岩是波龙矿床的成矿斑岩。本文开展了波龙矿床三期斑岩锆石U-Pb年龄、全岩岩石地球化学和Sr-Nd-Hf同位素组成分析。锆石U-Pb测年结果显示,三期斑岩在120Ma集中侵位。两期花岗闪长斑岩均富集轻稀土、大离子亲石元素,亏损重稀土、高场强元素,Eu异常不明显,显示出岛弧岩浆岩的特征;两期花岗闪长斑岩的(87Sr/86Sr)i值分别为0.70562－0.70711和0.70567－0.70850,εNd(t)分别为-4.0－-3.1和-8.0－-2.4,εHf(t)值分别变化于2.5－6.9和3.3－6.9,表明两期花岗闪长斑岩起源于新生的下地壳;花岗斑岩也具有岛弧岩浆岩的岩石化学特征,但其具有较高εNd(t)值(-0.7－-0.2)和εHf(t)值(1.3－12.2),可能表明花岗斑岩也起源于下地壳,但有更多幔源物质混入。波龙斑岩铜金矿床形成于班公湖－怒江洋壳向北俯冲末期,其成岩－成矿可能与洋壳俯冲关系密切,但波龙矿床的三期斑岩均起源于新生的下地壳,可能表明在120Ma南羌塘地块南缘开始逐步加厚。     

2.5-D Gravity/Magnetic Model Studies in Sahl El Qaa Area, Southwestern Sinai, Egypt

The 2.5-D gravity-magnetic models of the upper crustal structures of Sahl El Qaa Area, Southwestern Sinai were constructed along seven profiles, focusing on the uppermost crustal layers to a depth of 4–5 km. In addition separation filtering process; spectral analysis and trend analysis were used to investigate the Bouguer and total intensity aeromagnetic field maps qualitatively and quantitatively. The study showed that the regional structures consist of tilted blocks in the form of a major NW-synclinal feature with an axis dipping northward. This feature is dissected by the NE trending cross faults forming horsts, grabens and step-fault structures. The tilted blocks are controlled by a major normal fault system and are greatly modified in the dip regime from north to south. They show a regional NW dip regime in northern and southern parts, where the depth to the basement reaches about 2–3 km in the down dip. In the central portion, the basin is dipping steeply to the east, with maximum depths attaining about 4–5 km.     

Rancher and farmer perceptions of climate change in Nevada, USA

Farming and ranching communities in arid lands are vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change. We surveyed Nevada ranchers and farmers (n?=?481) during 2009–2010 to assess climate change related knowledge, assumptions, and perceptions. The large majority of this group agreed that we are in a period of climate change; however, only 29 % of them believed that human activity is playing a significant role. Female ranchers and farmers hold more scientifically accurate knowledge about climate change than do their male counterparts, regardless of Democratic or Republican affiliation. Partisan affiliation, political ideology, and gender have strong impacts on climate change knowledge and perceptions. Republican, conservative and male rural residents view climate change as a low national priority, less important to themselves, and less harmful to their communities. Female ranchers and farmers are more concerned about the negative impacts of climate change. We found that only 4 % of our subjects (n?=?299) attribute local environment changes to climate change or global warming. The knowledge gained from this study will help researchers and natural resource managers understand how to best communicate about climate change with rural communities, and support policy makers in identifying potentially effective adaptation and mitigation policies and outreach programs.     

Prediction of Land Cover Change Using Markov and Cellular Automata Models: Case of Al-Ain,UAE, 1992-2030

The UAE has witnessed rapid urban development and economic growth in recent years. With its ambitious vision to become one of the advanced nations by 2021, planners and policy-makers need to know the most likely direction of future urban development. In this study, remotely sensed imagery coupled with cellular automata models were used to predict land cover in Al Ain, the second largest city in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Markov and cellular automata models were used for 1992 and 2006 to predict land cover in 2012. Land Use and Land Cover maps for the study area were derived from 1992, 2006, and 2012 Landsat satellite images (TM, ETM⁺). The models achieved an overall accuracy of approximately 80 %. A Markov model was applied for 2006 and 2012 to predict land cover in 2030. The results conformed to the general trend of the Al Ain Master Plan 2030. This study demonstrates that remote sensing, with the availability of free Landsat data, is a viable technology that could be used to help in the prediction process especially in developing countries, where data availability is a problem.