Spatial and temporal variations of aridity indices in Iraq

In this paper, a nonhydrostatic Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model has been used to simulate the extreme precipitation event of 25 November 2009, over Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The model is integrated in three nested (27, 9, and 3 km) domains with the initial and boundary forcing derived from the NCEP reanalysis datasets. As a control experiment, the model integrated for 48 h initiated at 0000 UTC on 24 November 2009. The simulated rainfall in the control experiment depicts in well agreement with Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission rainfall estimates in terms of intensity as well as spatio-temporal distribution. Results indicate that a strong low-level (850 hPa) wind over Jeddah and surrounding regions enhanced the moisture and temperature gradient and created a conditionally unstable atmosphere that favored the development of the mesoscale system. The influences of topography and heat exchange process in the atmosphere were investigated on the development of extreme precipitation event; two sensitivity experiments are carried out: one without topography and another without exchange of surface heating to the atmosphere. The results depict that both surface heating and topography played crucial role in determining the spatial distribution and intensity of the extreme rainfall over Jeddah. The topography favored enhanced uplift motion that further strengthened the low-level jet and hence the rainfall over Jeddah and adjacent areas. On the other hand, the absence of surface heating considerably reduced the simulated rainfall by 30% as compared to the observations.     

Preventing and analysis of falling rocks: A case of Sarica village (Gürün,Turkey)

Rock fall is a common natural hazard causing significant damage to infrastructure and loss of life and property. This paper describes selection of prevention method, construction processes and the results of a rockfall hazard assessment for the village of Sarica (Gürün region, Turkey) based on an engineering-geological model. The study area is located on the lower parts of an area with very steep cliffs and 40-50⁰ slopes with fractured sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Detailed studies have been conducted in the region to prevent the risk of any rockfalls. Maps and charts are prepared including the rock blocks that are likely to fall and the related housing area under the risk. It was found that block sizes reached 3 m³. Rockfall analyses were performed along the selected profiles using the Rocfall V.5.0 software. Kinetic energy, bounce height, horizontal location of rock end-points and velocity of the rocks along each section were evaluated separately for each profile. This data was used to select design and construction of rockfall preventing system. In this study professional type rock fall barrier (catchment fence) was used. This method was chosen because it was cheaper, more practical and reliable than others.     

Chromium uptake by giant reed under rhizobacterial inhibition

The role of rhizospheric microbes of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) in Cr uptake from hydroponic culture was investigated. The control group was exposed to Cr in range of 25–100 mg L^?1 containing a control itself (with no metal addition). The experimental group received same Cr treatments, but in addition was exposed to antibiotic treatment in order to inhibit rhizospheric bacteria. The range of Cr accumulated in the roots was 3–7.65 mg L^?1; in stem it ranged 2.15–42.4 mg kg^?1; while in leaves, the range of Cr content was 13.7–15 mg kg^?1. Overall, Cr uptake in A. donax (without rhizobacterial inhibition) was root < leaf < stem. However, the amount of Cr uptake in plants with rhizobacterial inhibition was significantly less (~4.6-folds in 100 mg L^?1 Cr treatment) than those without such inhibition clearly highlighting that rhizobacterial inhibition decreased the Cr uptake. The experimental results clearly demonstrated that the inhibition of the rhizobacterial populations had great influence on the Cr uptake. However, Cr uptake could not be completely inhibited as some metal uptake was observed after the rhizobacterial inhibition although it was significantly less than the Cr uptake of plants without such inhibition.     

Bela oceanic lithosphere assemblage and its relation to the Réunion hotspot

The Bela ophiolite of Pakistan contains a complete ophiolite-accretionary wedge-trench sequence emplaced onto the Indian continental margin during the northward drift of India-Seychelles over the active Réunion hotspot. A structurally higher ophiolite overlies an accretionary prism, which is thrust over a foreland basin. Shear-sense determinations in peridotite mylonites in the ophiolite footwall and imbrication structures in the underlying accretionary wedge indicate an ESE emplacement. Sedimentary rocks in the accretionary wedge indicate Aptian-Albian pillow lavas, initially deep water conditions, and increasing influence from the continent until the Maastrichtian. The ophiolite emplacement was predated and accompanied by Fe-tholeiitic and alkaline magmatism related to the Réunion hotspot and continuous incorporation of trench sediments into the accretionary wedge. ³⁹Ar/⁴⁰Ar dating shows that the ophiolite formed around 70 Ma. Intraoceanic subduction initiated between 70 and 65 Ma, obduction onto the Indian passive margin occurred during the formation of the Deccan traps at ≈ 66 Ma, and final thrusting onto the continental margin ended in the early Eocene (≈ 50 Ma). The ophiolite emplacement occurred during the counterclockwise separation of Madagascar and India-Seychelles which caused shortening and consumption of oceanic lithosphere between the African-Arabian and the Indian-Seychelles plates.     

Land use land cover dynamics as a function of changing demography and hydrology

This paper describes the spatiotemporal changes pertaining to land use land cover (LULC) and the driving forces behind these changes in Doodhganga watershed of Jhelum Basin. An integrated approach utilizing remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) was used to extract information pertaining to LULC change. Multi-date LULC maps were generated by analyzing remotely sensed images of three dates which include LandSat TM 1992, LandSat ETM+ 2001 and IRS LISS-III 2005. The LULC information was extracted by adopting on-screen image interpretation technique in a GIS environment at 1:25,000 scale. Based on the analysis, changes were observed in the spatial extent of different LULC types over a period of 13 years. Significant changes were observed in the spatial extent of forest, horticulture, built-up and agriculture. Forest cover in the watershed has decreased by 1.47 %, Agricultural by 0.93 % while as built-up area has increased by 0.92 %. The net decrease in forest cover and agriculture land indicate the anthropogenic interference into surrounding natural ecosystems. From the study it was found that the major driving forces for these changes were population growth and changes in the stream discharge. The changes in the stream discharge were found responsible for the conversion of agricultural land into horticulture, as horticulture has increased by 1.14 % in spatial extent. It has been found that increasing human population together with decreasing stream discharge account for LULC changes in the watershed. Therefore, the existing policy framework needs to focus upon mitigating the impacts of forces responsible for LULC change so as to ensure sustainable development of land resources.     

Seismic triggering of atmospheric variables prior to the major earthquakes in the Middle East within a 12-year time-period of 2002–2013

Several studies have reported the increased values of surface-latent heat flux (SLHF) and rainfall events prior to the earthquakes as the seismic precursors. In order to investigate the variation of two mentioned atmospheric variables, we analyzed 39 major earthquakes in the Middle East based on the time series of NASA remote sensing data. On this basis, we observed that accumulated rainfall and SLHF of about 29 earthquakes were higher than 10 mm and 50 W/m², respectively (~75 %), over 3–23 days prior to the main shock of major earthquakes. We believed that the records of atmospheric variables are the consequence of a seismic-triggered chain including of air ionization, surface-latent heat exhalation, water vapor condensation and subordinate rainfall as the atmospheric responses to lithospheric motions. This seismic triggering in the Middle East has averagely caused to accumulated rainfall of ~35 mm and maximum SLHF of ~115 W/m² over the 3–23 days prior to 39 major earthquakes. To investigate of spatial correlation between earthquakes and atmospheric variations, we clustered 39 major earthquakes in eight seismological regions. Then, we estimated the moderate and strong correlation (R ²) between preceding times of earthquakes with magnitude of major earthquakes and their hypocenter depth equal to 0.48 and 0.68, respectively.