Integrating fine‐scale seafloor mapping and spatial pattern metrics into marine conservation prioritization

In this study, past and current land-use and land-cover (LULC) change trajectories between 1947 and 2018 were analysed in terms of sustainability using a unique set of nine detailed, high-precision LULC thematic maps for the municipality of Portimão (Algarve region), Portugal. Several Geographic Information System (GIS)-based spatial analysis techniques were used to process LULC data and assess the spatiotemporal dynamics of LULC change processes. The dynamics of LULC change were explored by analysing LULC change trajectories. In addition, spatial pattern metrics were introduced to further investigate and quantify the spatial patterns of such LULC change trajectories. The findings show that Portimão has been experiencing complex LULC changes. Nearly 52% of the study area has undergone an LULC change at least once during the 71-year period. The analysis of spatial pattern metrics on LULC change trajectories confirmed the emergence of more complex, dispersed, and fragmented shapes when patches of land were converted from non-built categories into artificial surface categories from 1947 to 2018. The combined analysis of long-term LULC sequences by means of LULC change trajectories and spatial pattern metrics provided useful, actionable, and robust empirical information that can support sustainable spatial planning and smart growth, which is much needed since the results of this study have shown that the pattern of LULC change trajectories in Portimão municipality has been heading towards unsustainability.

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Mapping the fine-scale spatial pattern of artificial light pollution at night in urban environments from the perspective of bird habitats

The Science of The Total Environment ◽

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134725 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 702 ◽

pp. 134725 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Xingyu Xue ◽

Yi Lin ◽

Qiming Zheng ◽

Ke Wang ◽

Jing Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spatial Pattern ◽

Urban Environments ◽

Light Pollution ◽

Artificial Light ◽

Fine Scale

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Impacts of model spatial resolution on intense and heavy precipitation events over the Mediterranean region.

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-2712 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Dario Conte ◽

Piero Lionello ◽

Silvio Gualdi

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Spatial Pattern ◽

Mediterranean Region ◽

Heavy Rainfall ◽

Climate Model ◽

Regional Climate ◽

Geographic Area ◽

Fine Scale ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Precipitation Events

Dynamical downscaling through coupled regional climate model plays an important role to improve climate information at regional fine-scale, since it modulates information produced by GCM, combining planetary scale processes with regional scale processes. &#160;This study describes the impact of climate change &#160;on rainfall over the Mediterranean region, downscaling, at two different horizontal grid resolutions (0.44 and 0.11 degs), a Global Climate Model (GCM at 0.75 degs) by means of a coupled Regional Climate System Models (RCSM). We analyze the effect of adopting model version with different horizontal resolutions (0.11, 0.44 e 0.75 degs), considering &#160;two climate representative concentration pathways (rcp4.5 and rcp8.5). The spatial pattern on different aspects of precipitation climatology are investigated such as increase/decrease in the intensity of precipitation events, extremes and annual amount of wet days. Moreover, since the grid models cover a wide and complex climate geographic area, the rainfall probability over six sub-regions are calculated: (1) Alps, (2) North-Western coast, (2) South Italy, (3) central part of the Mediterranean sea, (4) Greece Anatolia peninsula and Levantine basin. Although, the evaluation of RCSM downscaling is complex and depends on several factors such as: variables considered, geographic area, topography, model configuration and so on, the results show that it produces an significant improvement, adding information with regards to fine-scale spatial pattern, respect to that provided by GCM.ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: This contribution is based on work conducted by the authors within the SOCLIMPACT project, that has received funding from the European Union&#8217;s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 776661. The fullname of the project is "DownScaling CLImate ImPACTs and decarbonisation pathways in EU islands, and enhancing socioeconomic and non-market evaluation of Climate Change for Europe, for 2050 and Beyond". The opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and should not be considered as representative of the European Commission&#8217;s official position.Keywords: &#160;widespread heavy rainfall, coupled numerical models, daily rainfall, climate scenarios, climatology of heavy rainfall.&#160;

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