scholarly journals The role of groundwater in highly human-modified hydrosystems: a review of impacts and mitigation options in the Campo de Cartagena-Mar Menor coastal plain (SE Spain)

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 377-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Jiménez-Martínez ◽  
J.L. García-Aróstegui ◽  
J.E. Hunink ◽  
S. Contreras ◽  
P. Baudron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Coastal Plain ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Areal Density ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Mitigation Options ◽  
Mar Menor ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
Campo De Cartagena

Hydrological processes and water resources are increasingly modified by anthropogenic actions, leading to multiple pressures on the environment and related ecosystems. A better understanding of the interactions between the anthroposphere and the hydrosphere is necessary to shape more sustainable societies. The pressure of human activities on the environment is especially high along the circum-Mediterranean area because of a combination of biophysical and economic factors. The Campo de Cartagena coastal plain, together with the Mar Menor lagoon, is one of the most exemplary areas in this aspect. This work analyzes this system at the basin level by providing a synthesis of the state of knowledge of each hydrological compartment and the links between them. We pay special attention to the important role that groundwater plays in the overall functioning of the system, both as a promoting and (or) mitigating agent. The principal identified impacts from human actions are water imbalance (28% of consumed water resources are not renewable); aquifer-cross contamination (high areal density, ∼1.2 wells/km2); acid-mine drainage (mine wastes, accounting for ∼175 hm3 on land and ∼25 hm3 in the sea, accumulated mainly between 1957 and 1992); and lagoon eutrophication (NO3– up to 1 mg/L). A set of mitigation options and complementary management measures that should be implemented following an integrative and holistic approach are presented and discussed, supporting a more sustainable regional economy and the recovery of critical ecosystem services.

scholarly journals Review: Sustainable Water Resources Engineering and Management; Nigerian Perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J Gana ◽  
M. F. Amodu
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Management Strategy ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Water Usage ◽  
Engineering Discipline ◽  
Living Things ◽  
Management Perspective ◽  
Ideal Approach ◽  
Sustainable Water Resources ◽  
Water Resources Sustainability

Water resources sustainability is essential to life because all living things and some non-living things need it to complete their processes. The water usage is rising, hence pressure on the availability, and some instances rose to crisis level. These pressures were due to population growth, increases in irrigated land, deforestation, soil and land degradation, and wastages. Engineering is one of the majors’ components in tackling water resources sustainability. Therefore, this paper reviews the general concepts of sustainable water resources from an engineering and management perspective. The method adopted to realize the aim of the research was a thorough literature review. Engineering has three sub-components, these are Ecological, Economic, and social sustainability. Failure in one of these sub-components is a failure of the component. The literature revealed that Water resources sustainability is a multifaceted discipline therefore, engineering discipline alone would not solve it. However, this paper proffered some recommendations and the way forward. These recommendations are the steps required at the watersheds level, the engineering strategies aspects, and the management strategy. It concluded that a holistic approach where all shareholders will be involved is an ideal approach.

Urbanization and stream ecosystems: the role of flow hydraulics towards an improved understanding in addressing urban stream degradation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Desmond Ofosu Anim ◽  
Patrick Banahene
Keyword(s):  
Stream Restoration ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Ecosystem Processes ◽  
Urban Stream ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
Stream Management ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
Hydraulic Conditions ◽  
Primary Driver ◽  
Ecological Objectives

Catchment urbanization is widely recognised as a primary driver of stream degradation by increasing stormwater runoff causing major changes to key ecosystem processes. Reinstating the ‘natural’ hydrogeomorphic conditions is central in designing successful, self-sustaining restoration actions. However, addressing urban stream degradation by re-establishing the hydrogeomorphic conditions remains a challenge and comparatively limited measurable progress has been observed particularly achieving ecological objectives. This paper articulates that stream restoration goals might be better achieved when management measures take a broader approach that considers anticipated hydraulic conditions effects that liaise relationships between flow and ecology. The study argues that fluvial systems are characterised by complex and dynamic ecosystem processes primarily governed by the hydraulic conditions (e.g. velocity, depth, shear stress), thus, as the practice of addressing urban stream restoration becomes increasingly common, it is critical to explore and understand the anticipated response of the hydraulic conditions. This paper describes how hydraulic regime consideration provides further opportunity for a holistic approach to urban stream management given their capacity to account for multiple ecological and geomorphic objectives. The paper suggests that developing suitable flow-biota-ecosystem processes nexus is critical towards addressing urban stream degradation and hydraulic consideration in restoration actions provide an important step towards that. The paper discusses opportunities to evolve management actions to achieve restoration goals by highlighting how the management of the two key levers (addressing altered flow regime and morphology) to improve the hydraulic conditions can help to address the urban stream disturbance.

Discovery of Metacrangonyx in inland groundwaters of Oman (Amphipoda: Gammaridea: Metacrangonyctidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3335 (1) ◽  
pp. 54 ◽  
Author(s):  
DAMIÀ JAUME ◽  
RONALD VONK
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Coastal Plain ◽  
Arabian Peninsula ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
Sinai Peninsula ◽  
The Family ◽  
Amphipod Crustacean ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
A New Species

A new species of metacrangonyctid amphipod crustacean is described from the Salalah coastal plain aquifer in south-western Oman. This is the easternmost record of the group, with representatives previously thought to span from Hispaniola in the Caribbean to the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. Metacrangonyx dhofarensis sp. nov. is unique among metacrangonyctids in the display of a sexually dimorphic armature on pereiopod IV. In addition, its hypertrophied coxal plate IV, reduced plates I-III, coxal plate VII lacking anteroventral lobe, and telson longer than broad are also distinctive. The same holds for the proximal segment of peduncle of antennule, provided with two hypertrophied robust setae on dorsolateral margin. The mandibles of the new species are devoid of palp, a feature shared only with Metacrangonyx antennatus Messouli, El Alami, Coineau & Boutin, 2008. The presence of metacrangonyctids on the coasts of the Arabian Peninsula is probably the result of a vicariant event rather than of an episode of trans-Arabian continental dispersal by a Middle East ancestor. This is in accord with the presumed marine origin of the family and with the existence of a shallow water marine continuum between the current south-western Omani coast and the peri-Mediterranean area -where most species of metacrangonyctids are located - until approximately 16 Ma.

scholarly journals The Holocene Evolution of the Volturno Coastal Plain (Northern Campania, Southern Italy): Implications for the Understanding of Subsidence Patterns

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 2692
Author(s):  
Carla Buffardi ◽  
Regina Barbato ◽  
Marco Vigliotti ◽  
Alessandro Mandolini ◽  
Daniela Ruberti
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Plain ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Ground Deformation ◽  
Outer Boundary ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Tyrrhenian Sea ◽  
The Holocene ◽  
Driving Mechanisms ◽  
Volturno River

In the Mediterranean area, several alluvial coastal plains, developed after the Holocene transgression, are affected by subsidence. The Volturno alluvial-coastal plain, along the eastern Tyrrhenian Sea (southern Italy) is characterized by subsidence rates determined through InSAR data analysis and ranging between 0 and <−20 mm/yr in an area of about 750 kmq across the Volturno River. Inside this area, the pattern of subsidence shows sites with apparently anomalous localized subsidence. To understand the driving mechanisms of this process, a lithostratigraphic reconstruction was provided focusing on the spatial distribution of the horizons considered weak by a geotechnical point of view; then, the subsidence map was overlain spatially with geological data in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment. The spatial analysis highlighted the major ground deformation occurring within the outer boundary of the incised paleo-valley, corresponding to the Holocene alluvial/transitional filling that overlies a compaction-free Pleistocene basement. Inside this general trend, differential compaction was detected corresponding to the thick occurrence of clay and peat deposits, suggesting that the subsidence rate registered in the plain are due in part to the consolidation of primary settlements of soft and compressible soils that characterize the subsoil of these areas, and in large part to the secondary consolidation settlements.

scholarly journals Projection of irrigation water demand based on the simulation of synthetic crop coefficients and climate change

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 637-651
Author(s):  
Michel Le Page ◽  
Younes Fakir ◽  
Lionel Jarlan ◽  
Aaron Boone ◽  
Brahim Berjamy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Training Dataset ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Water Requirements ◽  
Future Evolution ◽  
Crop Coefficients ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. In the context of major changes (climate, demography, economy, etc.), the southern Mediterranean area faces serious challenges with intrinsically low, irregular, and continuously decreasing water resources. In some regions, the proper growth both in terms of cropping density and surface area of irrigated areas is so significant that it needs to be included in future scenarios. A method for estimating the future evolution of irrigation water requirements is proposed and tested in the Tensift watershed, Morocco. Monthly synthetic crop coefficients (Kc) of the different irrigated areas were obtained from a time series of remote sensing observations. An empirical model using the synthetic Kc and rainfall was developed and fitted to the actual data for each of the different irrigated areas within the study area. The model consists of a system of equations that takes into account the monthly trend of Kc, the impact of yearly rainfall, and the saturation of Kc due to the presence of tree crops. The impact of precipitation change is included in the Kc estimate and the water budget. The anthropogenic impact is included in the equations for Kc. The impact of temperature change is only included in the reference evapotranspiration, with no impact on the Kc cycle. The model appears to be reliable with an average r2 of 0.69 for the observation period (2000–2016). However, different subsampling tests of the number of calibration years showed that the performance is degraded when the size of the training dataset is reduced. When subsampling the training dataset to one-third of the 16 available years, r2 was reduced to 0.45. This score has been interpreted as the level of reliability that could be expected for two time periods after the full training years (thus near to 2050). The model has been used to reinterpret a local water management plan and to incorporate two downscaled climate change scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). The examination of irrigation water requirements until 2050 revealed that the difference between the two climate scenarios was very small (< 2 %), while the two agricultural scenarios were strongly contrasted both spatially and in terms of their impact on water resources. The approach is generic and can be refined by incorporating irrigation efficiencies.

scholarly journals Seven Good Reasons for Integrating Terrestrial and Marine Spatial Datasets in Changing Environments

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 2221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariacristina Prampolini ◽  
Alessandra Savini ◽  
Federica Foglini ◽  
Mauro Soldati
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Late Quaternary ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Environmental Research ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Geomorphological Mapping ◽  
Changing Environments ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
Coastal Landscapes

A comprehensive understanding of environmental changes taking place in coastal regions relies on accurate integration of both terrestrial and submerged geo-environmental datasets. However, this practice is hardly implemented because of the high (or even prohibitive) survey costs required for submerged areas and the frequent low accessibility of shallow areas. In addition, geoscientists are used to working on land or at sea independently, making the integration even more challenging. Undoubtedly new methods and techniques of offshore investigation adopted over the last 50 years and the latest advances in computer vision have played a crucial role in allowing a seamless combination of terrestrial and marine data. Although efforts towards an innovative integration of geo-environmental data from above to underwater are still in their infancy, we have identified seven topics for which this integration could be of tremendous benefit for environmental research: (1) geomorphological mapping; (2) Late-Quaternary changes of coastal landscapes; (3) geoarchaeology; (4) geoheritage and geodiversity; (5) geohazards; (6) marine and landscape ecology; and (7) coastal planning and management. Our review indicates that the realization of seamless DTMs appears to be the basic condition to operate a comprehensive integration of marine and terrestrial data sets, so far exhaustively achieved in very few case studies. Technology and interdisciplinarity will be therefore critical for the development of a holistic approach to understand our changing environments and design appropriate management measures accordingly.

International Framework of Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries

2016 ◽  
pp. 257-284
Author(s):  
Mohammad Zaki Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Management Strategies ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Ecosystem Approach ◽  
Marine Fisheries ◽  
Fisheries Governance ◽  
Legal Reforms ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
Important Position ◽  
International Instruments

Ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) framework has assumed an important position within the broader management strategies of harvesting and managing marine fisheries without compromising the integrity and health of marine ecosystems. The EAF concept, embedded in many international instruments, is a testament of a growing recognition of the need to adopt a more holistic approach in fisheries governance by the international community. Attaining the full effect of the EAF framework would require States to have political will to implement this framework. With this in mind, this chapter analyses the extent to which Malaysia has adopted EAF framework for its marine fisheries management. It begins by examining the principles and management measures under international fisheries instruments regarding the EAF. It includes discussion of why the global community recognizes the EAF regime. Most significantly, Malaysia's national policy and legislative frameworks vis-à-vis the EAF principles and measures are also analyzed. This chapter recommends policy and legal reforms to address the gaps relevant to the implementation of EAF.

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