http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987111000211

Arid and semi-arid regions are susceptible to high levels of erosion.A rapid and cost effective methodological erosion assessment for these regions is required to describe and monitor the processes that control erosion.This study uses remote sensing to describe the contribution of several factors that control erosion.Topography,land use,vegetation density,soil properties and climatic proxies are used to determine erosion risk and to provide basic maps of water and soil conservation practices. A hierarchi...     

Flash flood risk estimation along the St. Katherine road,southern Sinai,Egypt using GIS based morphometry and satellite imagery

Flash floods are considered to be one of the worst weather-related natural disasters. They are dangerous because they are sudden and are highly unpredictable following brief spells of heavy rain. Several qualitative methods exist in the literature for the estimations of the risk level of flash flood hazard within a watershed. This paper presents the utilization of remote sensing data such as enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+), Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), coupled with geological, geomorphological, and field data in a GIS environment for the estimation of the flash flood risk along the Feiran–Katherine road, southern Sinai, Egypt. This road is a vital corridor for the tourists visiting here for religious purposes (St. Katherine monastery) and is subjected to frequent flash floods, causing heavy damage to man-made features. In this paper, morphometric analyses have been used to estimate the flash flood risk levels of sub-watersheds within the Wadi Feiran basin. First, drainage characteristics are captured by a set of parameters relevant to the flash flood risk. Further, comparison between the effectiveness of the sub-basins has been performed in order to understand the active ones. A detailed geomorphological map for the most hazardous sub-basins is presented. In addition, a map identifying sensitive sections is constructed for the Feiran–Katherine road. Finally, the most influenced factors for both flash flood hazard and critical sensitive zones have been discussed. The results of this study can initiate appropriate measures to mitigate the probable hazards in the area.     

Hydrochemical evolution and variation of groundwater and its environmental impact at Sohag, Egypt

Groundwater resources of Sohag, Egypt are currently threatened by contamination from agricultural and urbanization activities. Groundwater in Sohag area has a special significance where it is the second source for fresh water used for agricultural, domestic, and industrial purposes. Due to growing population, agriculture expansion, and urbanization, groundwater quality assessment needs more attention to cope with the increasing water demand in this arid zones and limited water resources. The aim of this paper is to address the integrated role of geochemical processes, agriculture and urbanization in evolution of groundwater composition, and their impact on groundwater quality to help in management and protection of groundwater resources of study area using geochemical modeling techniques and geographical information systems. Spatial variation of groundwater hydrochemical properties, rock–water interaction, ion exchange, and assessment of groundwater quality were investigated. Results indicated that groundwater properties are varied spatially and its evolution in the study area is generally controlled by the prevailed geochemical processes represented by leaching, dissolution, and precipitation of salts and minerals, ion exchange, in addition to human activities represented by agriculture and urbanization as well as climatic and poor drainage conditions. Management alternatives should be followed in the study area to avoid degradation of groundwater quality and provide sustainable development.     

Geotechnical investigation of sewage wastewater disposal sites and use of GIS land use maps to assess environmental hazards: Sohag, upper Egypt

Land application is the only currently available technique for sewage wastewater disposal along the Nile Valley in Upper Egypt. Wastewater disposal projects have been established in the lowland desert zone extending between the cultivated floodplain and the Eocene Limestone plateau. The plan is to use the treated wastewater in irrigating woody farmlands. Some wastewater disposal sites are already operating, and several others will be established in the near future. The proposed wastewater disposal sites are located in a sensitive desert zone that is extremely narrow and situated very close to vital resources including the cultivated floodplain, reclaimed lands, residential areas, and surface water resources. In addition, the subsurface sediments of this zone (Pleistocene sand–gravel succession) constitute a significant part of the Quaternary aquifer of the valley. The objective of this study is to characterize and investigate the wastewater disposal sites and assess their probable environmental hazards. The study showed that the available lands are insufficient to accommodate the projected quantities of wastewater. At the currently operating sites, excess raw wastewater is accumulating on the ground surface forming large uncontrolled ponds. Such wastewater ponds represent a potential environmental hazard and might cause disastrous health effects, where chemical and bacteriological pollution of soil, crops and water resources may occur.     

Airborne γ-ray spectrometric characteristics of lithological units and environmental issues in the Bahariya Oases area in the northern part of western desert, Egypt

Two significant airborne gamma ray spectrometic (AGRS) statistical parameters, i.e., the arithmetic mean and the standard deviation, were computed for all lithologic units and formations of the Bahariya Oases area, Northern Western Desert, Egypt. The results ascertain that the maximum AGRS values are associated with sabkha sediments, Bahariya Formation, basalt flows and sand dunes. The intermediate values are correlated with El-Heiz, El-Hefhuf, Qazzun and Naqb formations. The minimum values are connected with Khoman Chalk and El-Hamra formations. The AGRS records were found to vary from one type of rock to another and to some extent between units of the same rock type too. On the aerial total-count (TC) radiometric maps, the records change from 6.2 to 69.36 μR/h. On the potassium map, the values range from 0.05% to 4.35%. On the equivalent uranium (eU) and equivalent thorium (eTh) maps, the records oscillate from 0.12 to 7.4 ppm and from 0.28 to 8.4 ppm, respectively. Concerning the Bahariya Oases area, the calculated arithmetic mean natural dose rate values originating from the terrestrial gamma radiation were found to range from 0.14 to 0.26 mSv/year and where the maximum value attains 0.62 mSv/year. These values remain on the safe side and within the maximum permissible safe radiation dose without harm to individuals, with continuous external irradiation of the whole body.     

Geochemistry of Bizerte lagoon affluent water, Northern Tunisia: principal component analysis

The monthly geochemical study of Bizerte lagoon principal affluent water consists in characterizing the water geochemical facies and their inorganic pollution degree by nutrients. The major elements analysis shows calcium sulfate to chloride calcium balanced facies. The geochemical analysis of water nutritive salts shows generally a good to excellent quality. Wadi Guenniche is considered more polluted as we recorded the highest nutrients contents. The principal component analysis of the connections between the physicochemical and geochemical parameters of Bizerte lagoon affluent water show that the low salinities, the turbidity, and the low contents of major sodium, chloride ions, and nutritive elements are the major factors of the environment controlling the good quality of this fresh water.     

Comparative study between filtering and inversion of VLF-EM profile data

This paper discusses the practical use of filtering and inversion in VLF-EM data processing and interpretation. The advantages and disadvantages of both mentioned techniques were outlined to avoid the misleading interpretation of such data in some case studies. Much concern is taken to show the interval distance effect upon the correct depth identification of the anomalous body by either inversion or filtering. The methodology of the study is going through proposing an initial model, generating the synthetic VLF-EM data of the model by means of forward modeling, filtering (Karous–Hjelt filter) and inversion (Inv2DVLF software) of the synthetic data and comparing between the results of both methods and the initial model. The study reached to (1) Karous–Hjelt filter provides misleading depths for his limited depth of resolution and cannot provide estimates of deep targets if the profile is too small, whereas inversion provides exact results, particularly in case of shallow anomalous target; (2) crossover between in-phase and out-of-phase data could resulted from a small shallow conductive target or a large deep one; (3) selection of a reasonable environmental resistivity has an important impact on the inversion process; and (4) the numerical reflection resulted during VLF-EM data inversion could lead to an erroneous interpretation.     

Migration from Eastern Gezira into greater Khartoum

This paper is an attempt to investigate the role of rural-urban migration in the population integration process and national identity in Sudan. Although migration is considered as an important mechanism in integration, yet its effect cannot be easily detected if urban life fails to challenge the culture and norms of migrants. In this case study the role of migration is limited by the status of the urban and the purely traditional background of migrants. Population integration is a central issue in the Sudan with its high level of pluralism, ethnic and cultural complexity. It is assumed that migration is an essential factor to challenge such complexity. This paper is part of a research programme financed by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) — Identity in Africa — Processes of Development and Change — initiated and sponsored by H. Ruppert and F. N. Ibrahim, University of Bayreuth.     

Effects of soil-structure interaction on seismic response of elevated tanks

Models of two-dimensional x-braced elevated tanks supported on isolated footings are analyzed to investigate the effects of dynamic interaction between the tower and the supporting soil-foundation system. Static, dynamic elastic, and dynamic inelastic responses of towers under horizontal ground motions are evaluated. Effects of soil properties, represented by the shear wave velocity, on joint displacements and on member end actions are studied. In general, soil-tower interaction reduces member end actions except near the base of tower.