The GeoCitizen-approach: community-based spatial planning – an Ecuadorian case study

Over the last years, geospatial web platforms, social media, and volunteered geographic information (VGI) have opened a window of opportunity for traditional Public Participatory GIS (PPGIS) to usher in a new era. Taking advantage of these technological achievements, this paper presents a new approach for a citizen-orientated framework of spatial planning that aims at integrating participatory community work into existing decision-making structures. One major cornerstone of the presented approach is the application of a social geoweb platform (the GeoCitizen platform) that combines geo-web technologies and social media in one single tool allowing citizens to collaboratively report observations, discuss ideas, solve, and monitor problems in their living environment at a local level. This paper gives an account of an ongoing participatory land-zoning process in the Capital District of Quito, Ecuador, where the GeoCitizen platform is applied in a long-term study.     

Reproductive cycles of Mytilus edulis L. on the west and east coasts of Iceland

Studies evaluating the reproductive pattern of Mytilus edulis L. were conducted in western and eastern Iceland at two sites at about the same latitude but with different temperature regimes. Mussels were sampled once or sometimes twice a month during two years in Breidifjördur, western Iceland and one year at Mjoifjördur, eastern Iceland. Gonad development was monitored by microscopic observation of thin sections of the gonads. The initiation of gonad development was observed in January in Breidifjördur while in Mjoifjördur some of the animals started developing gonads in October, a month before spawning was over in the population. Spawning started in late June or July, peaked in August and continued until November at both sites. Nutrient reserve stores seemed to be limited and used for initiation of gonad development in winter but were not sufficient for maturation of the gonads. The main growth of the gonads occured in spring in conjunction with phytoplankton blooming and renewal of food resources.     

Betrachtungen über die Grundschicht

Zusammenfassung 1. Es werden die einzelnen Vorgänge besprochen, die das eigentümliche Verhalten der Veränderlichkeit von Druck und Temperatur in ihrer vertikalen Verteilung erklären sollen. Wenn ein unteres an der Erdoberfläche vorhandenes Druckausgleichsniveau vorhanden ist und ein weiteres in grösserer Höhe, so müssen Temperaturänderungen in dem einen Niveau durch solche eines anderen ausgeglichen, kompensiert werden. Es wird gezeigt, dass dem kompensierenden Einfluss der mittleren und oberen Troposphäre ein kompensierender Einfluss der Kälte- und Wärmewellen aus dem Bereiche der Grundschicht entgegenwirkt, sodass letzten Endes das Druckausgleichsniveau nicht mehr am Erdboden liegt, sondern in eine Höhe verschoben wird, die der ungefähren Höhe der Grundschicht entspricht. — 2. Der Einfluss von Reibung und Konvektion auf die Bildung der Grundschicht wird besprochen. Die Reibung wirkt langsam und immer schichtweise. Die Konvektion wirkt rascher, aber zunächst immer nur lokal. Im Verlaufe längerer Zeit kann aber auch die Konvektion eine Homogenisierung der unteren Luftschichten bewirken, also eine Luftschicht von einem einheitlichen Charakter schaffen. Dieser Prozess wird noch verstärkt, wenn die Konvektion mit Kondensation verbunden ist. Jetzt ist eine weitere Ueberhöhung der Grundschicht möglich. Da dieser Prozess aber über weite Räume nicht von gleicher Grösse ist, wird diese Ueberhöhung vielfach gebietsweise verschieden sein. Die Grundschicht vom Böenwettertyp hat daher gewöhnlich keine einheitliche Oberfläche über weite Gebiete hinweg. — 3. Ein weiterer Faktor, der für die Bildung der Grundschicht von Bedeutung ist, ist die Strahlung. Da der Beitrag, den jeder der drei Faktoren (Reibung, Konvektion, Strahlung) zur Bildung der Grundschicht beisteuert, nicht errechnet werden kann, muss man sich zunächst mit einer qualititativen Abschätzung der Einflüsse der einzelnen an der Bildung der Grundschicht beteiligten Faktoren begnügen. Ein entsprechendes Schema wird vorgelegt und besprochen.

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Summary 1. There are discussed individual proceedings which shall explain the characteristic behaviour of pressure, and temperature instability in their vertical distribution. When there exists equalization of pressure on a lower level near the ground, and again on a higher level, changes of temperature on one level will be compensated by such on another level. It is shown that the compensating influence of middle and upper troposphere is opposed by the compensating influence of cold, and heat waves from the ground layer, ultimately resulting in the removal of the level of pressure equalization from the ground to an altitude roughly corresponding to the height of ground layer. — 2. The influence of friction and convection on the formation of ground layer is discussed. While friction is acting slowly and by layers, convection is acting more rapidly, but only locally at first. In the long run however, also convection can produce homogeneity of the lower layers of the atmosphere, i. e. an atmospheric layer of uniform character. This process is being intensified when convection is associated with condensation. Then, another increase in height of the ground layer will be possible. However, as this process will not be of similar intensity over wide stages, the increase in height will vary locally. Therefore, generally the ground layer of the squally weather type will not possess a uniform surface extending over wide areas. — 3. Another important factor in the formation of ground layer is radiation. Since the share taken by each of the three factors (friction, convection, radiation) cannot be computed, one must be satisfied with qualitative valuation of the influence of the factors participating in the formation of ground layer. An appropriate scheme is submitted and discussed.

     

Application of common reflection angle migration for imaging deformation structures in an inner accretionary wedge,Nankai Trough,Japan

To better image deformation structures within the inner accretionary wedge of the Nankai Trough, Japan, we apply common reflection angle migration to a legacy two-dimensional seismic data set acquired with a 6 km streamer cable. In this region, many seismic surveys have been conducted to study the seismogenic zone related to plate subduction. However, the details of the accreted sediments beneath the Kumano forearc basin are still unclear due to the poor quality of seismic images caused by multiple reflections, highly attenuated signals, and possibly complex geological structures. Generating common image gathers in the subsurface local angle domain rather than the surface offset domain is more advantageous for imaging geological structures that involve complex wave paths and poor illumination. By applying this method, previously unseen structures are revealed in the thick accreted sediments. The newly imaged geometric features of reflectors, such as the folds in the shallow part of the section and the deep reflectors with stepwise discontinuities, imply deformation structures with multiple thrust faults. The reflections within the deep accreted sediments (approximately 5 km) are mainly mapped to far angles (30°–50°) in the common reflection angles, which correspond to the recorded offset distances greater than 4.5 km. This result indicates that the far offset/angle information is critical to image the deformation structures at depth. The new depth image from the common reflection angle migration provides seismic evidence of multiple thrust faults and their relationship with the megathrust fault that is essential for understanding the structure and evolution of the Nankai Trough seismogenic zone.     

Dynamics of an active rock glacier (Ötztal Alps, Austria)

The rock glacier Innere Ölgrube, located in a small side valley of the Kauner Valley (Ötztal Alps, Austria), consists of two separate, tongue-shaped rock glaciers lying next to each other. Investigations indicate that both rock glaciers contain a core of massive ice. During winter, the temperature at the base of the snow cover (BTS) is significantly lower at the active rock glacier than on permafrost-free ground adjacent to the rock glacier. Discharge is characterized by strong seasonal and diurnal variations, and is strongly controlled by the local weather conditions. Water temperature of the rock glacier springs remains constantly low, mostly below 1°C during the whole melt season. The morphology of the rock glaciers and the presence of meltwater lakes in their rooting zones as well as the high surface flow velocities of >1 m/yr point to a glacial origin. The northern rock glacier, which is bounded by lateral moraines, evolved from the debris-covered tongue of a small glacier of the Little Ice Age with its last highstand around A.D. 1850. Due to the global warming in the following decades, the upper parts of the steep and debris-free ice glacier melted, whereas the debris-covered glacier tongue transformed into an active rock glacier. Due to this evolution and due to the downslope movement, the northern rock glacier, although still active, at present is cut off from its ice and debris supply. The southern rock glacier has developed approximately during the same period from a debris-covered cirque glacier at the foot of the Wannetspitze massif.     

Chemical Mechanism Development: Laboratory Studies and Model Applications

Within the German Tropospheric Research Programme (TFS) numerous kinetic and mechanistic studies on the tropospheric reaction/degradation of the following reactants were carried out: oxygenated VOC, aromatic VOC, biogenic VOC, short-lived intermediates, such as alkoxy and alkylperoxy radicals.At the conception of the projects these selected groups were classes of VOC or intermediates for which the atmospheric oxidation mechanisms were either poorly characterised or totally unknown. The motivation for these studies was the attainment of significant improvements in our understanding of the atmospheric chemical oxidation processes of these compounds, particularly with respect to their involvement in photooxidant formation in the troposphere. In the present paper the types of experimental investigations performed and the results obtained within the various projects are briefly summarised. The major achievements are highlighted and discussed in terms of their contribution to improving our understanding of the chemical processes controlling photosmog formation in the troposphere.