Dust dominates high-altitude snow darkening and melt over high-mountain Asia

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1045-1051 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chandan Sarangi ◽  
Yun Qian ◽  
Karl Rittger ◽  
L. Ruby Leung ◽  
Duli Chand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
High Mountain

scholarly journals Évolution des parois rocheuses gelées de haute montagne sous forçage climatique

2020 ◽  
pp. 034
Author(s):  
Ludovic Ravanel ◽  
Florence Magnin ◽  
Xavi Gallach ◽  
Philip Deline
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
High Altitude ◽  
Recent Work ◽  
Time Scales ◽  
Heat Waves ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Permafrost Degradation ◽  
Geomorphological Processes ◽  
Different Time Scales ◽  
Mont Blanc Massif

Avec le réchauffement du climat, la dégradation du permafrost est à l'origine d'une intensification des processus géomorphologiques sur les versants de haute montagne. Dans les parois rocheuses, les écroulements se multiplient et leur volume augmente, posant des problèmes de sécurité non seulement à haute altitude (infrastructures, alpinistes), mais également pour les fonds de vallée. Cet article présente les travaux récemment menés dans le massif du Mont-Blanc sur la relation entre climat et écroulements à différentes échelles de temps, les effets des épisodes caniculaires et la répartition et l'évolution du permafrost de paroi. Under global warming, permafrost degradation tends to intensify geomorphological processes on high mountain slopes. In the perennially frozen rock walls, the number and volume of rockfalls is increasing, causing safety problems not only at high altitude (infrastructure, mountaineers) but also for the valleys. This article summarizes recent work carried out in the Mont-Blanc massif on the climate-rockfall relationship at different time scales, the effects of heat waves, and the distribution/evolution of rock wall permafrost.

Response of Chironomidae to environmental disturbances in a high mountain lake in Patagonia during the last millennium

2019 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 273-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Williams ◽  
Diego Añón Suárez ◽  
Maria Rieradevall ◽  
Andrea Rizzo ◽  
Romina Daga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Mountain Lake ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Last Millennium ◽  
Precipitation Regime ◽  
Environmental Disturbances ◽  
High Mountain Lake ◽  
Southern Volcanic Zone ◽  
Chironomid Community

AbstractThrough the last millennium, Patagonia has been affected by changing climate conditions and successive volcanic eruptions. Lake Tonček is a high-altitude lake in the Southern Volcanic Zone in the northern Patagonian Andes. We documented the responses of the subfossil chironomid community to the effects of successive volcanic and different conditions in a sedimentary sequence from this lake comprising the last 900 years. The community composition and structure (abundance, diversity, and richness) and the development of morphological anomalies in the chironomid mouthparts were evaluated throughout the core. Both climatic conditions and volcanism affected the chironomid community differentially. The chironomid community changed following short-term climate change patterns, being affecting not only by temperature changes but also by variations in the regional precipitation regime. Decreases in abundance and diversity were only observed in coarse volcanic layers. In these samples, we recorded a high percentage of damaged chironomid mouthparts caused by mechanical wear, breakage or abrasion, possibly due to the increase of mineral particles. Our results represent important baseline data about the responses of chironomid communities to environmental disturbances in high-altitude lakes over long time frames.

scholarly journals Ecology and mining industry development in high-mountain areas (the Inner Tien Shan)

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 ◽  
pp. 04022
Author(s):  
Yurii Aleshin ◽  
Ilgiz Aitmatov ◽  
Isakbek Torgoev ◽  
Bektur Chukin
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
High Altitude ◽  
Fault Tree Analysis ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Tien Shan ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Tailings Dam ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Tree Analysis ◽  
Changing Climate

The genesis and transformation in time of risks in the areas of high altitude tailings storage facilities with respect to changing climate are considered. Based on the example of the Kumtor mine in the center of the Tien Shan at a height of 3600-4300 m, three groups of risk factors were allocated concerning a large, ecologically hazardous facility - the tailings dam containing cyanide waste. For one of the factors, calculations of an accidental dam burst were made using the Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) method. It was concluded that the construction of large-scaled and geoenvironmentally hazardous facilities in less researched high-mountain areas has to be be drawn upon detailed and permanent monitoring of the facility itself and its environment. It is crucial to be prepared for operational adjustment of projects and an immediate rehabilitation of constructed facilities.

Influence of NPF events on the CCN concentration at a high-altitude site in southern Europe

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Rejano Martínez ◽  
Gloria Titos Vela ◽  
Juan Andrés Casquero-Vera ◽  
Hassan Lyamani ◽  
Elisabeth Andrews ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Chem Phys ◽  
Aerosol Size Distribution ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Type I ◽  
Scientific Goal ◽  
Mountain Site

<p>The Cloud Condensation Nuclei (CCN) budget, the aerosol particles population that could become cloud droplets, can be influenced by primary aerosol particles emitted by different sources (anthropogenic or biogenic) or by secondary particles that have undergone growth processes or chemical transformations. Aerosol particles originated by nucleation of precursor gases in the atmosphere have been identified as an important source of CCN particles. The influence of New Particle Formation (NPF) events to CCN concentrations is highly dependent on the environment where it takes place. Specifically, the study of the influence of NPF events on CCN concentration at high-altitude sites, where atmospheric conditions favor the formation of clouds, is a very interesting scientific goal.</p><p> </p><p>This study presents CCN measurements combined with aerosol size distribution at a high-altitude station in the South East of Spain: a remote high mountain site (Sierra Nevada; SNS, 2500 m a.s.l.). Due to its high altitude, the aerosol particles over SNS station are often representative of pristine free troposphere conditions, especially in winter and nighttime. During summer, SNS station is frequently influenced by transport of pollutants from Granada city to Sierra Nevada station as a result of mixing layer growth and the activation of the mountain-valley breeze phenomenon as well as by NPF events at midday (De Arruda Moreira et al., 2019; Casquero-Vera et al., 2020).</p><p> </p><p>In this study, we analyze the influence of NPF events to CCN concentrations during summer 2019 at the SNS high-altitude station. The study period (from June to August of 2019) was characterized by 67 NPF events, 16 undefined events and 13 non-events days. Following Rose et al. (2017) criteria, only those NPF events referred as type I, i.e. with clear particle growth from smallest sizes, were selected to investigate the contribution of NPF events on CCN concentrations. In this sense, we selected the 15 clearest NPF events for this analysis.</p><p> </p><p>Results show clear differences in the diurnal evolution of CCN concentration between NPF event and non-event days, demonstrating the large influence of NPF to CCN concentrations, especially at high supersaturations (Rejano et al., 2021). NPF events have been estimated to increase the CCN concentrations by 175% at SS=0.5%, evidencing NPF events as one of the major CCN source at this mountain site</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Acknowledgments</strong>: This work was supported by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme through project ACTRIS 2 (grant agreement No 654109), by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through projects CGL2016-81092-R, CGL2017-90884-REDT and RTI2018-101154-A-I00 and by University of Granada Plan Propio through Visiting Scholars program. The Spanish Ministry of Universities funds Fernando Rejano under the predoctoral program FPU (FPU19/05340).</p><p> </p><p><strong>References</strong></p><p>Casquero-Vera, et al. (2020) Atmos. Chem. Phys. <strong>20, </strong>14253–14271.</p><p>De Arruda Moreira et al. (2019) Atmos. Chem. Phys. <strong>19</strong>, 1263-1280.</p><p>Rejano et al. (2021) Sci. Tot Envi., <strong>762</strong>, 143100.</p><p>Rose et al. (2017) Atmos. Chem. Phys. <strong>17</strong>, 1529-1541.</p><p>tract HTML here.</p>

Selected health issues related to high altitude trekking

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-65
Author(s):  
Hanna Prószyńska-Bordas ◽  
Katarzyna Baranowska
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
Physical Exertion ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Body ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Heavy Equipment ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Unbalanced Diet ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Impact

The aim of the paper was to investigate health aspects of high altitude trekking such as preparation for the physical exertion during trekking at high altitude, the impact of mountaineering on the daily life before and after the expedition, the effect of high-mountain conditions on health and well-being. It was found that in the pre-departure period trekkers commonly train to ensure that they are physically fit for the expedition. They train alone or under the supervision of a trainer. Self-prepared workouts may turn out to be insufficient due to the lack of appropriate training plans. The most challenging aspects of high altitude trekking for the body include carrying too heavy equipment, dealing with illegibly marked routes, wearing inappropriate clothing, having an unbalanced diet, not having enough water, which can lead to dehydration and infections. Misconduct by other people poses a risk. The specific type of effort involved in mountaineering requires balanced nutrition in terms of both micro- and macro-elements. To find the right combination, one has to either experiment or seek advice from a dietitian. However, relatively few people consult a nutrition coach. Among sanitary problems, the most serious one is inappropriate human waste disposal, the resulting lack of drinkable water. Some of the observed problems result from insufficient regulations regarding the conduct in the mountains and from trekkers’ lack of awareness regarding good practices in such extreme conditions.

Spatial-typological structure of blackflies communities (Diptera: Simuliidae) of the River Tisa basin within of the Ukrainian Carpathians

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-70
Author(s):  
A. M. Tepliuk ◽  
K. B. Sukhomlin
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
High Altitude ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Dominant Species ◽  
Common Species ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Typological Structure ◽  
Subdominant Species

A total of 46 species of blackflies from 2 genera were recorded in the watercourses of the Tisa River basin within Ukrainian Carpathians. In qualitative terms, the genus Simulium Latreille, 1802 predominates, with 42 species in 5 subgenera: Nevermannia Enderlein, 1921 (9 species), Eusimulium Roubaud, 1906 (2 species), Wilhelmia Enderlein, 1921 (4 species), Obuchovia Rubtsov, 1947 (2 species) and Simulium Latreille, 1802 (25 species). The genus Prosimulium Roubaud, 1906 is represented with only 4 species. Moreover, 33 species develop in streams (the index of the species diversity of Simpson (Is) is 0,094), and 32 species (Is – 0,087) of Simuliidae develop in rivers. There are 19 common species for both types of watercourses (the index of similarity of Chekanovsky-Sorensen (I) is 0.37). Only 14 species of blackflies develop in streams, and only 13 species develop in rivers. Two dominant species (S. (s.str.) intermedium, S. (s.str.) trifasciatum) and 4 subdominant species (S. (s.str.) argyreatum, S. (s.str.) ornatum, S. (s.str.) reptans, S. (s.str.) variegatum) form the nucleus of the fauna Simuliidae of the Tisa River basin. The species diversity of blackflies reaches 33 species (Is – 0,075) at watercourses of the low mountain level (at altitudes up to 499 m), is has 38 species (Is – 0,067) at the middle mountain level (500–999 m) and only 24 species (Is – 0,021) at high mountain level (above 1000 m). Only 6 species (S. (Eusimulium) velutinum, S.(Obuchovia) brevifile, S. (s.str.) noelleri, S. (s.str.) rostratum, S. (s.str.) tuberosum and S. (s.str.) voilense) develop in the watercourses of the low mountain level, 5 blackfly species (S. (Nevermannia) codreanui, S. (Wilhelmia) pseudoequinum, S. (s.str.) argenteostriatum, S. (s.str.) paramorsitans and S. (s.str.) vulgare) develop in the watercourses of the middle mountain level and 2 species blackflies (S. (Nevermannia) crenobium and S. (Nevermannia) oligotuberculatum) develop in the watercourses of the high mountain level. There are 16 species of Simuliidae common for this high altitude belts, among them S. (Nevermannia) vernum, S. (s.str.) fontanum, S.(s.str.) intermedium, S.(s.str.) ornatum and S. (s.str.) trifasciatum did not reveal the definite patterns of belonging to the specific altitudes, since their quantity was approximately the same at different heights.

scholarly journals Prediction of barometric pressures at high altitudes with the use of model atmospheres

1996 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. 1850-1854 ◽  
Author(s):  
John B. West
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
Large Range ◽  
Civil Aviation ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
High Altitudes ◽  
Standard Atmosphere ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Mean ◽  
United States Standard ◽  
Proper Account

West, John B. Prediction of barometric pressures at high altitudes with the use of model atmospheres. J. Appl. Physiol. 81(4): 1850–1854, 1996.—It would be valuable to have model atmospheres that allow barometric pressures (Pb) to be predicted at high altitudes. Attempts to do this in the past using the International Civil Aviation Organization or United States Standard Atmosphere model have brought such models into disrepute because the predicted pressures at high altitudes are usually much too low. However, other model atmospheres have been developed by geophysicists. The critical variable is the change of air temperature with altitude, and, therefore, model atmospheres have been constructed for different latitudes and seasons of the year. These different models give a large range of pressures at a given altitude. For example, the maximum difference of pressure at an altitude of 9 km is from 206 to 248 Torr, i.e., ∼20%. However, the mean of the model atmospheres for latitude of 15° (in all seasons) and 30° (in the summer) predicts Pb at many locations of interest at high altitude very well, with predictions within 1%. The equation is Pb(Torr) = exp (6.63268 − 0.1112 h − 0.00149 h2), where h is the altitude in kilometers. The predictions are good because many high mountain sites are within 30° of the equator and also many studies are made during the summer. Other models should be used for latitudes of 45° and above. Model atmospheres have considerable value in predicting Pb at high altitude if proper account is taken of latitude and season of the year.

scholarly journals Impactos ambientales generados por la actividad deportiva, recreativa y turística en alta montaña. Análisis de la cordillera de la Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Chile (Environmental impact generated by sports, recreation, and tourism activities in hi

Retos ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 62-69
Author(s):  
Pablo Rebolledo Dujisin
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Management ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
High Altitude ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
The Other ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Surprising Finding ◽  
Recreation And Tourism

El objetivo del estudio consiste en aportar el conocimiento de los efectos generados por la actividad deportiva y la recreación en alta montaña, para fortalecer la gestión y la disminución de los impactos indeseables. El método ha consistido en la aplicación de una herramienta cualitativa y una cuantitativa: una encuesta a los actores relevantes dentro del mundo actividades recreativas de alta montaña y una adaptación de la Matriz de Leopold en senderos, campamentos y cumbres de dos sectores de práctica del deporte de alta montaña en la zona central de Chile; la revisión bibliográfica permite comprender, por otra parte, el fenómeno y destacar las iniciativas de las federaciones internacionales de actividades deportivas de montaña para la gestión ambiental. Llama la atención, como conclusión de la encuesta, la percepción del deporte de alta montaña como una actividad inocua que genera impactos despreciables y, por otra parte, destaca en los resultados de la Matriz de Leopold la concentración de desperdicios, los efectos de las tiendas de campaña y los baños improvisados, afectando principalmente a las fuentes de agua y al suelo. Lo que conlleva una situación donde los tomadores de decisión no son conscientes de los efectos y, por lo tanto, no están tomando las medidas adecuadas para su control.Abstract. The objective of the study is to provide knowledge about the effects generated by sports and recreation in high altitude mountains, to strengthen their management and decrease their undesirable impacts. The method consisted in the application of qualitative and quantitative tools: a survey to stakeholders, and an adaptation of the Leopold Matrix on trails, camps and summits in two areas for high altitude sport in the central region of Chile; on the other hand, bibliographic review allows to understand this phenomenon, and highlight the initiatives of international federations of mountain sports for better environmental management. As a conclusion of the survey, a surprising finding is that high mountain sports are perceived as innocuous activities that generate negligible impacts; on the other hand, concentration of waste, and effects of tents and improvised toilets stand out as main results from the Leopold Matrix, mainly affecting water sources and soil. This demonstrates that decision makers are not aware of the effects of mountain sports and, therefore, they are not taking appropriate measures to control them.

High-altitude vegetation of the Western Carpathians — a syntaxonomical review

Biologia ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 65 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ján Kliment ◽  
Jozef Šibík ◽  
Ivana Šibíková ◽  
Ivan Jarolímek ◽  
Zuzana Dúbravcová ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Western Carpathians ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Current Status ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Vegetation Survey ◽  
Fourth Volume ◽  
The Individual

AbstractThis paper presents a survey of high-altitude plant communities which occur in the Western Carpathians with an enumeration of the characteristic, transgressive and differential species of the individual alliances, orders and classes. It describes the tall-herb vegetation (Mulgedio-Aconitetea) and communities of the subalpine shrubs (Betulo carpaticae-Alnetea viridis), the montane and alpine calcareous swards (Elyno-Seslerietea), the wind-exposed cryophilous swards on ridge edges with low snow cover (Carici rupestris-Kobresietea bellardii), the chionophilous communities of snow beds and snow fields (Salicetea herbaceae), the arctic-boreal dwarf-shrub heathlands (Loiseleurio-Vaccinietea), the alpine acidophilous grasslands (Caricetea curvulae) and the high-mountain mat-grass swards of the alliance Nardion strictae (Nardetea strictae).This study summarises the results of the syntaxonomical and nomenclatural revisions of various types of high-altitude vegetation in the Western Carpathians and the longstanding research in the field. The aim of this paper is to amass knowledge about the nomenclatural features, such as the synonyms, original diagnoses and nomenclatural types of the higher syntaxa in the Western Carpathians, that will be important and useful for a forthcoming vegetation survey of highrank syntaxa of Europe (EuroChecklist). It reflects the current status of knowledge regarding the floristic composition and distribution of high-altitude (alpine) non-forest communities in Slovakia.The fourth volume of Plant Communities of Slovakia, which discusses high-altitude vegetation, was recently published. This paper, however, contains some corrections and improvements to the concepts. It is presented in a compact form and in English, which makes it more accessible by international readership.

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