Water wars in the Middle East: a looming threat

This paper explains how hydropolitical dynamics and spatial variables almost triggered a water war between Israel and Lebanon because the latter was building a pump on the Wazzani Spring, a tributary of the Jordan River. The convergence of a regional drought, history of violent confrontations between the two riparians, distrust, varying development needs and territorial disputes almost culminated in a war between these east Mediterranean neighbours. While most international water disputes in the Middle East will be resolved peacefully, some are likely to trigger violent confrontations threatening political stability in the Middle East in the next few decades.     

Hydraulic and sedimentary controls on the availability and use of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) spawning habitat in the River Dee system, north-east Scotland

The hydraulic and sedimentary characteristics of the spawning habitat of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in tributary and mainstem locations in a river system in north-east Scotland are described. Salmon used spawning sites with a relatively wide range in sediment characteristics, although measures of central tendency were all in the gravel (2–64 mm) size-class. The dominant factor differentiating the sediment characteristics of study sites was the level of fine sediment, which accounted for significant differences between tributary and mainstem samples. The ranges of depth and velocity in areas used for spawning by salmonids were found to be similar in all tributary study sites. However, due to the interdependence of depth and velocity, major differences were observed between tributary and mainstem study sites in that spawning in larger streams tended to be associated with deeper, faster flowing water. Spawning locations were shown to have similar Froude number, despite different sized streams and species of salmonid. Due to its dimensionless nature and significance in characterising flow hydraulics, the Froude number is proposed as a potentially useful variable for describing the habitat of aquatic organisms.     

Modeling the relationship of land use change and some geophysical indicators for the interlock area of farming and pasturing in China

This paper discusses land-use changes in the interlock area of farming and pasturing (IAFP)in northern China. It presents detailed analyses of land-use features in the IAFP, which are controlled by the macro geomorphic units and geophysical conditions-constraints or advantages. Additionally, it selects some indicators, according to the availability in acquiring and processing their quantitative data, to analyze the canonical correlations between the typical conversion of grassland and geophysical conditions. The preliminary study indicates that the physical conditions are of great advantages to the development of grassland. There exists significant correlation between land use change and some geophysical conditions.     

Human Modification of the Geomorphically Unstable Salt River in Metropolitan Phoenix

In‐stream gravel mining, massive bridge piers, and channelization have all contributed to the geomorphic instability of the Lower Salt River channel in Arizona. Dam closure, changing dam operating rules, and the frequent modification of the channel bed have decreased our ability to predict the Salt River hydrology. Engineering practice has adapted to this situation and to a public that is increasingly intolerant of service disruptions by constructing larger bridges and extending levees. Building these larger structures may be counterproductive; future construction should not constrict the channel and should re‐establish a braided river to decrease the energy available to the system.     

Alpine medicinal plant trade and Himalayan mountain livelihood strategies

Commercial alpine medicinal plants are collected from the wild by local rural households throughout the Himalaya and sold in order to increase household incomes. Recent studies indicate that this annual trade amounts to thousands of tonnes of roots, rhizomes, tubers, leaves, etc., worth millions of US dollars. The main market is in India. Based on a national survey, including the most commonly traded species, and a village study this paper investigates the importance of the alpine medicinal plant trade at national and local levels in Nepal. The national survey included standardized open-ended interviews with 232 harvesters, 64 local traders, 66 central wholesalers, 47 regional wholesalers, and 16 production companies. The village survey is based on the daily records of household activities in 15 households in a one-year period. The annual Nepalese alpine and sub-alpine medicinal plant trade is conservatively estimated to vary from 480 to 2500 t with a total harvester value of US$0.8–3.3 million; the average harvester value is estimated at US$66.0 ± 99.0. The trade in 1997/98 amounted to 1600 t with a harvester value of US$2.3 million and an export value equivalent to 2.5% of total export from Nepal. Medicinal plant harvesting was found to constitute an integrated part of local livelihood strategies, contributing from 3 to 44% (average of 12%) of the annual household income. Importance at household level depended on land and animal holdings, and the availability of adult male labour. The validity and reliability of methods and analyses is evaluated, and issues of conservation and management of alpine medicinal plant species under the community forestry scheme are discussed.     

汾河流域水环境地理信息系统设计

该文结合汾河流域水环境地理信息系统设计的具体实践，论述了系统所采用的三层结构体系、设计的技术策略，重点对系统的功能特别是数据库设计和应用系统功能进行了详细的描述，是地理信息系统在水环境管理领域应用的有益探索。     

京、津、冀区域群发性强沙尘暴分析

利用1954—2002年82个站的气象观测资料，探讨京、津、冀区域群发性强沙尘暴的认定标准，构建较完整的群发性强沙尘暴序列，并分析该地区群发性强沙尘暴的时空分布特征和气候变化趋势。近50a京、津、冀区域共出现了39例群发性强沙尘暴，河北省的冀西北高原区和石家庄、保定、衡水、沧州四市交接处饶阳一带是京、津、冀区域强沙尘暴天气的多发区。多发季节为3—5月，占全年总数的76．9％，其中4月份最多，占全年总数的51．3％。群发性强沙尘暴年代际变化呈现总体减少趋势，其发生次数、覆盖面积均是以20世纪90年代为最低值．     

水土流失评价数据库建立中的数据标准化研究--以中国潜在水土流失评价数据库为例

在水土流失评价数据库的建立研究中，涉及到数据的标准化问题。该研究以中国潜在水土流失评价数据库建立过程中的数据标准化研究为例，探讨建立适合水土流失评价数据标准化的方法。研究包括了水土流失数据标准化建设中的评价数据库的设计、数据的标准化。其中，数据的标准化包括数据的收集与分析、数据的录入、投影变换、其它格式向ARC/INFO格式的转换、补充编制专题文档等。     

塔里木河下游地下水位与水化学成分关联度排序分析

根据2001年塔里木河下游第四次生态输水前后地下水位、水质变化的监测和取样分析资料。运用灰色关联分析法。对塔里木河下游地表生态输水前、后的地下水位与地下水化学成分进行了关联分析。分析研究表明，生态输水对地下水质的影响比较明显。在关联排序中。阴离子的SO4^2-、Cl^-以及阳离子的Ca^2 、Mg^2 与地下水位变化的关联性较强；pH值与地下水位的关联度最低。仅为0．534；矿化度与地下水位关联度最高,达到0．863。