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.     

Water use, growth and yield of green gram under rainfed upland crop sequences in Gangetic Plains of Indian sub-tropics

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of different crop sequences on water use, growth and yield of green gram (Vigna radiata (L) Wilezek) during 1992-93 and 1993-94 under rainfed upland condition in Indo-Gangetic plains of West Bengal. Green gram sown in the month of March as pre-rainy (summer) season crop, as and when the winter crops vacated the land, produced highest dry matter of 372 gm-2 which was significantly highest in black gram-yellow sarson sequence. The results of the field experimentation revealed that green gram gave highest grain yield to the extent of 10.80 q/ha when sown after black gram (rainy season) followed by yellow sarson (winter season) while the crop produced 10.63 q/ha under sesame-yellow sarson sequence. Highest water use of 267 mm was achieved in green gram under black gram-yellow sarson sequence and the crop gave water use efficiency of 4.07 kg ha-1mm-1 under black gram-yellow sarson sequences.     

Archipelagos and networks: urbanization and water privatization in the South

This paper examines the interrelationship between urbanization and water supply privatization in cities in the global South. The purpose of the paper is not to evaluate the impacts of privatization; rather, the paper analyses the differences in pathways and modes of water supply privatization, focusing on urban and contrasting with rural areas. A distinction is drawn between privatization (organizational change) and commercialization (institutional change) of water supply. Emphasis is placed upon the interrelationship between regulatory change (a shift from public to private management of water supply systems), human use of and access to water, and urban waterscapes. In contrast to metaphors of 'networks' so often applied in analyses of water management, the 'archipelago' is posited as a metaphor which better captures the complex overlapping strategies of water supply provision in urban areas in the South. Building on this metaphor, and in response to the 'public–private' dualism often invoked in studies of privatization, the paper outlines an alternative typology of water management in urban areas in the South. This typology foregrounds the concepts of the territorialization of corporate power as a means of understanding the articulation between privatization and urbanization processes in the South.     

Aspects of the loss-on-ignition (LOI) technique in the context of clay-rich, glaciolacustrine sediments

The loss‐on‐ignition (LOI) technique for organic matter determination is evaluated with reference to clay‐rich, glaciolacustrine sediments. Examples of the use of LOI in glaciolacustrine literature are inconsistent in their methodology, and standardisation is called for. Problems with application of the technique to glaciolacustrine sediments stem mainly from the effects of additional weight loss due to release of structurally bound water and exposure time to ignition temperatures. Exposure time should be increased from 1 hour to 2.5 hours in the light of significant additional weight loss occurring between 2 and 2.5 hours in clay‐rich samples. The reason for this sudden increase in LOI after 2 hours (up to 86% of total LOI in some cases) appears to be the build‐up of a distinct surface crust during heating that insulates the core of the sample from ignition temperatures. Some time between 2 and 2.5 hours, the crust breaks down and exposes the sample core to ignition temperatures, increasing weight loss significantly. Overestimation of LOI due to loss of structural water is thought to be insignificant. Replicates of LOI at 550 and 1000°C in non‐calcareous, clay‐rich (>40%) sediments, show differences of <0.25%, which, for the purpose of inferring broad changes in glacier extent in lake catchments, is an acceptable error.     

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。     

塔里木河下游输水与生态恢复监测初报

根据近三年塔里木河下游生态输水前后地下水位、水质、土壤、植被等项内容的监测资料，分析了塔里木河下游输水对地下水位、水质的影响，揭示了输水与地表生态的响应过程，探讨了地下水位与天然植被生长、恢复的相互关系，阐述了植被退化过程及相关因子，确定了维系塔河下游生态安全的最低生态需水量、最佳生态水位。     

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。     

塔里木河近期水量调配基本问题探讨

在塔里木河近期水量调配中，引入生态用水观念，从生态经济社会协调和全流程生态用水均衡目标出发，运用系统均衡理论，分析了塔里木河近期水量调配的目标、思路和技术途径，提出了流程纵横向均衡目标、水量配置定额的总量和结构相结合控制、生态用水下泄定额“扣除法”与“倒推法”处理，水量配置定额在时间序列上的分解等观点和方法。