Vulnerability to contamination by phosphorus in a zero-order basin with a high density of pigs and a history of slurry addition: extrapolation of an index

The application of phosphorus (P)-index methodology to assess the risk of water pollution from agriculture in river basins usually takes time and expends a great amount of resources. This study adapted the P-index methodology using digital mapping of key basin risk criteria for P loss in reference areas to evaluate the wider vulnerability to P loss in a zero-order basin with an intense concentration of pigs and with a history of pig slurry additions to the soil. The P content of eleven reference areas, where ten areas have received various applications of pig slurry and one area has no history of addition, was extrapolated to a zero-order basin using principal component analysis and analysis of hierarchical groupings. Estimated loss of soil and the distance between the P source and the watercourse were mapped using satellite images and in situ evaluations. The methodology of extrapolating was well correlated with a survey of P concentrations in land runoff and provides the potential to improve land management of those areas that are most vulnerable. Principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis proved to be useful tools for the separation of areas with different slurry application times. Our results suggest that the P loss risk could be reduced through the adoption of soil conservation techniques such as reduced-tillage incorporating slurry and crop residue management to provide adequate soil protection, reduce the impact of raindrops and reduce erosion risk and transport of chemical pollutants to water bodies.     

Fuzzy Clustering with Spatial Correction and Its Application to Geometallurgical Domaining

This paper describes a proposed method for clustering attributes on the basis of their spatial variability and the uncertainty of cluster membership. The method is applied to geometallurgical domaining in mining applications. The main objective of geometallurgical clustering is to ensure consistent feed to a processing plant by minimising transitions between different types of feed coming from different domains (clusters). For this purpose, clusters should contain not only similar geometallurgical characteristics but also be located in as few contiguous and compact spatial locations as possible so as to maximise the homogeneity of ore delivered to the plant. Most existing clustering methods applied to geometallurgy have two problems. Firstly, they are unable to differentiate subsets of attributes at the cluster level and therefore cluster membership can only be assigned on the basis of exactly identical attributes, which may not be the case in practice. Secondly, as they do not take account of the spatial relationships they can produce clusters which may be spatially dispersed and/or overlapped. In the work described in this paper a new clustering method is introduced that integrates three distinct steps to ensure quality clustering. In the first step, fuzzy membership information is used to minimise compactness and maximise separation. In the second step, the best subsets of attributes are defined and applied for domaining purposes. These two steps are iterated to convergence. In the final step a graph-based labelling method, which takes spatial constraints into account, is used to produce the final clusters. Three examples are presented to illustrate the application of the proposed method. These examples demonstrate that the proposed method can reveal useful relationships among geometallurgical attributes within a clear and compact spatial structure. The resulting clusters can be used directly in mine planning to optimise the ore feed to be delivered to the processing plant.     

Late Cretaceous eclogite in the Eastern Rhodopes (Bulgaria): evidence for subduction under the Sredna Gora magmatic arc

International Journal of Earth Sciences - The Rhodopes in Bulgaria and Greece represent a nappe stack of high-grade units with polymetamorphic history. Constraining the time of metamorphism in...     

Effects of UV radiation on the RNA/DNA ratio of Copepods from Antarctica and Chile

The effect of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on marine organisms has been an important focus of recent research, with depletion of the ozone layer resulting in increased UV radiation at high latitudes. Sev...     

Linking earthquake-triggered paleolandslides to their seismic source and to the possible seismic event that originated them in a portion of the Argentine Precordillera (31°–33°S)

Natural Hazards - A total of 36 rock slides were selected for analysing a probable seismic source in the active Andean Precordillera (31°–33°S), the most seismic region of...     

Hydrogeochemical and Geophysical Evaluation of the Recharge Zone of Guarani Aquifer in Municipally of Candelária,Rio Grande do Sul,Brazil

Geotechnical and Geological Engineering - A large part of the Guarani Aquifer is located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) and additionally possesses a recharge area located in its central...     

Climate extremes related with rainfall in the State of Rio de Janeiro,Brazil: a review of climatological characteristics and recorded trends

This paper presents a synthesis of the main characteristics of precipitation in the State of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) based on extreme rainfall indicators. Daily precipitation data are derived from 56 rainfall stations during the second half of the twentieth century and the 2000s. Eight indices related to extreme precipitation were analyzed. The Mann–Kendall nonparametric test and the Sen's Curvature were employed to evaluate the significance and magnitude of trends. The primary climatological aspects and identified trends throughout the last decades are discussed, besides the hydrometeorological impacts associated with them. Lower values of annual total precipitation are recorded in northern Rio de Janeiro (around 800 mm) and higher in the southern State (up to 2,200 mm). The Serra do Mar affects the frequency of heavy precipitation, and the areas near the sea and high relief present the highest values of consecutive days with expressive rainfall (more than 150 mm in 5 days). These areas also showed a high concentration of flood and landslides events. Most of Rio de Janeiro exhibits precipitation intensity of about 13 mm/day. The maximum number of consecutive dry days shows a gradient from the coast (about 30 days) to the State's interior (around 50 days). Regarding trends, there is a growth of accumulated extreme precipitation in various stations near the ocean. The extreme rainfall in 24 h displays an increase in most Rio de Janeiro (+?1 to?+?5 mm/decade). The consecutive dry and rainy days present similar signs of decreasing trends, suggesting irregularly distributed precipitation in the State. This study is especially relevant for decision-makers who need detailed information in the short and long term to prevent natural hazards like floods and landslides and the related impacts in the environmental and socioeconomic sectors of the Rio de Janeiro.

     

Risk assessment at Puerto Vallarta due to a local tsunami

Natural Hazards - The Jalisco region in western Mexico is one of the most seismically active in the country. The city of Puerto Vallarta is located at Bahía de Banderas on the northern coast...