Monitoring and prediction of land use/land cover changes using CA-Markov model: a case study of Ravansar County in Iran

Human‐induced land use/land cover (LULC) changes are among the most important processes that shape the dynamics of the earth’s surface. This phenomenon, which is occurring at an astonishing rate, and its consequential environmental impacts have become an important area of research for scientists.Therefore, a wide range of methods and models have been developed to detect and predict these alterations, among which cellular automata (CA) models such as the CA‐Markov model, due to their affinity to geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing (RS), are appropriate for detailed resolution modelling and simulating dynamic spatial processes. In Iran, the district of Ravansar has undergone severe LULC changes recently, thus to take the necessary precautions, decision‐makers need to predict and determine the extent of these changes. In this study, using spatial analysis methods the LULC changes in Ravansar were investigated from 1992 to 2015. Subsequently, the CA‐Markov model was applied to simulate the spatial pattern changes of LULC until 2030. Our results indicated that from 1992 to 2015, this region has witnessed a noticeable increase in the areas of the built‐up and agricultural lands (both aquatic and non‐aquatic), resulting in the decrease of the gardens, range, and bare lands. The simulated LULC map showed that this trend will continue due to more urbanization and development of agricultural areas.     

Performance evaluation of correction coefficients to optimize sediment rating curves on the basis of the Karkheh dam reservoir hydrography,west Iran

The prediction of useful lifetime of a dam is estimated through accurate estimate of river sediments which mostly depend on sediment rating curve. Over the past decades, various methods have been developed by investigators. With respect to the importance of this issue, in the present study, the best discharge-sediment relationship for Jelogir hydrometric station located at the upstream of Karkheh reservoir dam is presented. In the first step, sediment rating curves in annual, seasonal, monthly, wet and dry, and middle of the classes linear ways and applying 3 correction coefficients that include Smearing, FAO, and QMILE were obtained; then, their performance was evaluated. Comparison of these results with data obtained from hydrographical operation of Karkheh dam reservoir showed that the optimal equation of discharge-sediment at this hydrometric station follows annual linear sediment rating curve with QMILE correction coefficient. According to the results, annual method has estimated sediment volume less than the actual volume, about 98.7% of the actual sediment, while other evaluated methods have showed sediment volume more than the actual one, and among correction coefficients, the application of QMILE correction coefficient is more reasonable than other coefficients.     

Radioactive anomalies associated with the graphite-bearing metasediments,Wadi Umm Gheig area,Central Eastern Desert,Egypt

The study area is located in the central part of the Eastern Desert of Egypt and is mainly covered by different varieties of Precambrian basement rocks represented mainly by younger and older granites, metadiorite, metavolcanics, and metasediments. The analysis and interpretation of airborne gamma-ray spectrometric survey data are essentially based on the computation of the three radioelements (U, Th, and K) favorability indices, estimation of uranium migration rate percentage, variation of eU with eTh and eU/eTh ratio, and the construction of the contour map of the (eU-eTh/3.5) in the different rock units. The highest percent of uranium migration- out or leaching rate is connected with the red and pink granites of Gebel Kadabora El-hamra, metadiorite, and red and pink granites of G. Umm Rakham (??20.8%, ??18.57%, and ??8.45% respectively), which indicates that they could represent a major U-source bodies in the area. It was observed that the metasediments and associated graphite-bearing schists west and northwest of G. Kadabora El-hamra reflect more precipitation than the other locations around the pluton (the uranium migration rates varies between 2.59 and 30%) which mean that the graphite may have acted as a reducing agent for uranium carried in oxidizing fluids (surface meteoric water) and resulted in its precipitation. In the light of the availability of uranium source, its mobility, and graphite-bearing metasediments, the area has a good potential for the possible occurrence of uranium mineralization.     

Analysis of physical factors of climate and bioclimate and their effects on almonds production to increase the economy in Hebron area of Palestine

For the 1993–2009 period, we analyzed the relationship between almond yield and three climatic variables (mean annual temperature, soil water reserve, and precipitation), and four bioclimatic variables (annual ombrothermic index, water deficit, simple continentality index, and compensated thermicity index), for one major Hebron crop (soft and hard almonds). Moreover, we obtained data almond production from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, while the climate data from the Palestinian meteorological station during the study period from 1993 to 2009, and analysis is it by using bioclimatic classification of the Earth of Salvador Rivas-Martinez to study the relationship between the almond yield and climate and bioclimate factors (variables). The climatic and bioclimate variables of greatest importance to almond were used to develop regressions analysis relating yield to climatic conditions. Hebron was positively affected by annual ombrothermic index, simple continentality index, precipitation, water soil reserve, and mean annual temperature, but negatively affected by water deficit, with a large proportion of the variance explained by axis F1 (72.48%), F2 (22.38%), and axes F1and F2 (94. 86%). However, in order to produce a high amount of almonds and quality, it can be grown in the regions of the mesomediterranean region, with the value of annual ombrothemic index more than 3, compensated thermicity index between 220/220 to 350/350, simple continentality index between 14 and 20, and in areas where the average annual temperature is between 15 and 20 °C.     

Estimated volume of water in shallow wells of Ekiti State,Southwestern Nigeria: implications on groundwater sustainability

Volumes of water in shallow wells of Ekiti State Southwestern Nigeria was estimated during the rainy and dry seasons of 2017 to categorize the area into different groundwater potential zones and to scrutinize it for groundwater sustainability and development. Locations of the wells were measured using etrex 12 Channel GPS while dip meter was employed for the water levels and depths of wells. The volume of water in a well was estimated employing V = πr²h (r and h are radius and water column of well, respectively). The wells in the area have low water storage (av. 6.91m³ and 2.70m³ in rainy and dry seasons, respectively). The study area had sufficient quantity of water in the rainy season to meet domestic, agricultural, and industrial requirements as deficiency was met from rainfall replenishment. Groundwater potential evaluation revealed that majority of the study area fell into very poor to poor water categories. Groundwater sustainability and development in the study area is a herculean task due to uncoordinated sitting of wells, low storage of water in the aquifers, and erratic occurrence of the groundwater. Hygiene education should be intensified in the area to forestall the risks post by the principal elements of fecal oral disease transmission.     

2D seismic reflection contribution to structural and geometric study of Cenozoic aquifer systems in the Sisseb El-Alem basin,central-eastern Tunisia

The Sisseb-ElAlem basin in central-eastern Tunisia contains several aquifers intensely used in agriculture. Highly exploited shallow aquifers are vulnerable to pollution and drought and reveal high salinity. Consequently, the new hydrogeological surveys were oriented to deep aquifers. The present work corresponds to study of 2D seismic sections, calibrated by water and petroleum wells, and geological outcrops. It highlights geometry and faulting of buried and preserved structures in depth and leads to identify the spatial distribution of Cenozoic potential reservoir layers in the different paleogeographic domains. The Sisseb-ElAlem basin is affected mainly by near E- and N-trending faults. Iso-depth and iso-thickness mapping were used to follow lateral and vertical variations of sedimentary series related to tectonics. The study area consists of Sisseb, Sbikha and El Ktifa uplifts, and El Alem, and Bled Saadia subsiding synclines. The Oligocene-Miocene reservoir series are exploited locally at the high borders. They reveal thickening and deepening southward in the El Alem-Bled Saadia domain, where they can be exploited at about 400 to 2000 m depths.This study should contribute to the orientation of water research to deeper aquifers, and therefore, ensure sufficient drinking and irrigation water supply mainly in areas called for sustainable development.     

Geomorphic characteristics of a bedrock river inferred from drainage quantification,longitudinal profile,knickzone identification and concavity analysis: a DEM-based study

An examination of river channels has ability to provide substantial information regarding the geomorphic characteristics, control of lithology, tectonic uplift and geomorphic evolution during the geological past of an area. In this paper, a detailed study of geomorphic and structural investigation has been carried out for Pravara basin, Maharashtra, with the help of 90-m resolution SRTM DEM and geospatial techniques. Drainage network analysis performed in this paper demonstrates the general geomorphic characteristics, while the analysis of longitudinal profile synthesises lithological control over Pravara basin. Pravara is a 6th order drainage basin, encompassing an area of 2637 km². Bifurcation ratio reveals low to moderate structural control. Due to the hard rock lithology, the drainage density and stream frequency are low, and it indicates higher permeability in the sub-surface layers. The shape parameters denote that Pravara is highly elongated and it is easier to control floods in this basin. Relief parameters show very steep slope and higher vulnerability to the slope failure in some areas. Upstream of Pravara river has shown that series of breaks and knickzones indicate active erosion and acute lithological control on the channel. Major breaks are observed only in the main channel whereas in two major tributaries, no such breaks found, instead these tributaries are characterised by several knickzones which indicate regional variation in the lithological physiognomies. Different lithological stages on knickpoint and channel incision substantiate rejuvenation of Pravara river in several phases during geological past. The geospatial methodology carried out in this study can be pragmatic elsewhere around this world to recognise the geomorphic appearances and lithological control of a drainage basin.     

Effects of biochar and bio-fertilizer on yield and qualitative properties of soybean and some chemical properties of soil

This study attempted to examine the effects of biochar amendment together with bio-fertilizer on soybean yield and its qualitative properties, as well as a few chemical properties of soil through a factorial randomized complete block design at three replications in east of Golestan Province (Iran) during 2014. The two factors under study included the following: (1) biochar amendment (in four levels of 0, 2.5, 8, and 16 tons per hectare), (2) bio-fertilizer containing phosphorus and sulfur growth-promoting rhizobacteria (in two levels of inoculation and non-inoculation) applied through foliar feeding. The results of analysis of variance indicated that interactions of biochar amendment and bio-fertilizer on harvest index and grain yield were significant (p ≤?0.01). According to the results of this study, the highest harvest index and oil content were 56.9, and 17.7%, respectively, in the treatment of 8 tons per hectare biochar and inoculation with bio-fertilizer. The lowest harvest index and the lowest oil content were in the control treatment. The interaction of biochar and bio-fertilizer on bulk density and cation exchange capacity was significant (p ≤?0.01). The results of this study demonstrated that biochar affected the amount of residual nitrogen in the soil after harvest, cation exchange capacity (CEC), acidity (pH), and electrical conductivity (EC). The highest grain yield (3440 kg/ha) was in the 8-ton biochar treatment with inoculated bio-fertilizer. Our study concludes that the biochar and bio-fertilizers can improve grain yield of soybean till 51% relative to the control.     

Investigation of monotonic and cyclic behavior of sand using a bounding surface plasticity model

Developing the pore water pressures in loose to medium sands below the water table may lead to liquefaction during earthquakes. The simulation of liquefaction (cyclic mobility and flow liquefaction) in sandy soils is one of the major challenges in constitutive modeling of soils. This paper presents the simulation of sand behavior using a critical state bounding surface plasticity model (Dafalias and Manzari’s model, 2004) during monotonic and cyclic loading. The drained, undrained, and cyclic triaxial tests were simulated using Dafalias and Manzari’s model. The simulation results showed that the model predicts behavior of sand, reasonably well. Also, for CSR?<?0.2, number of cycles for liquefaction is significantly increased. The residual strength of Babolsar sand is produced when it is deformed to an axial strain of 20 to 25%.     

Characterization of aerosol type based on aerosol optical properties over Baghdad,Iraq

Aerosol optical depth (AOD), Angstrom exponent (AE), and ozone monitoring instrument aerosols index (OMI-AI) data, derived from MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and OMI sensor on board NASA’s Aqua satellite and NASA-Aura satellite platforms, have been analyzed and classified over Baghdad, Iraq, for an 8-year period (2008–2015). In order to give an obvious understanding of temporal inconsistency in the characteristics and classification of aerosols during each season separately, PREDE POM-02 sky radiometer measurements of AOD, carried out during a 2-year period (2014–2015), were compared with MODIS–Aqua AODs. On seasonal bases, MODIS–Aqua AODs corroborate well with ground-based measurements, with correlation coefficients ranging between 0.74 and 0.8 and RMSE ranging from 0.097 to 0.062 during spring and autumn seasons respectively. The overall satellite- and ground-based measurement comparisons showed a good agreement with correlation coefficients of 0.78 and RMSE of 0.066. These results suggest that MODIS–Aqua gives a good estimate of AOD. Analysis of MODIS–Aqua data for the 8-year period showed that the overall mean AOD, AE, and OMI-AI over Baghdad were 0.44?±?0.16, 0.77?±?0.29, and 1.34?±?0.33 respectively. AOD records presented a unique peak which was extended from mid-spring (April) to mid-summer (July) while the AE annual variability indicated a more complicated behavior with minimum values during the period from late spring (May) to early autumn (September). The maximum AOD and OMI-AI values occurred during summer while their minimum values occurred during winter. The AE showed an opposite behavior to that of AOD such that the highest AE values occurred during autumn and winter and the lowest values happened during spring and summer. This behavior may be attributed to the domination of coarse aerosol particles during autumn and winter seasons and fine aerosol particles during spring and summer seasons. A Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model was utilized to determine the source of air mass transport and to recognize the variability of aerosol origin regions. Finally, AOD, AE, and OMI-AI values have been employed to identify several aerosol types and to present seasonal heterogeneity in their contribution based on their origins.