scholarly journals Long-Term Changes of Aquatic Invasive Plants and Implications for Future Distribution: A Case Study Using a Tank Cascade System in Sri Lanka

Climate ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Champika S. Kariyawasam ◽  
Lalit Kumar ◽  
Benjamin Kipkemboi Kogo ◽  
Sujith S. Ratnayake

Climate variability can influence the dynamics of aquatic invasive alien plants (AIAPs) that exert tremendous pressure on aquatic systems, leading to loss of biodiversity, agricultural wealth, and ecosystem services. However, the magnitude of these impacts remains poorly known. The current study aims to analyse the long-term changes in the spatio-temporal distribution of AIAPs under the influence of climate variability in a heavily infested tank cascade system (TCS) in Sri Lanka. The changes in coverage of various features in the TCS were analysed using the supervised maximum likelihood classification of ten Landsat images over a 27-year period, from 1992 to 2019 using ENVI remote sensing software. The non-parametric Mann–Kendall trend test and Sen’s slope estimate were used to analyse the trend of annual rainfall and temperature. We observed a positive trend of temperature that was statistically significant (p value < 0.05) and a positive trend of rainfall that was not statistically significant (p values > 0.05) over the time period. Our results showed fluctuations in the distribution of AIAPs in the short term; however, the coverage of AIAPs showed an increasing trend in the study area over the longer term. Thus, this study suggests that the AIAPs are likely to increase under climate variability in the study area.

2021 ◽  
pp. 291-307
Author(s):  
E. P. N. Udayakumara

AbstractThe Samanalawewa catchment is considered one of the most important catchments in Sri Lanka because of its diverse land uses. Hence, this study examines the long-term effects on climate variability, soil erosion soil erosion, and adoption of soil and water conservation (SWC) measures in the Samanalawewa reservoir. Rainfall and temperature data indicated that annual rainfall decreased from 1922 to 2008 by an average of 5.5 mm per year while the average annual temperature increased from 1973 to 2008 at a rate of 0.02 °C per year. Moreover, model-based soil erosion assessment disclosed that the rate of soil erosion ranges from 0 to 289 t per ha per year with an average of 4.3 t per ha per year.


Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 211
Author(s):  
Tharani Gopalakrishnan ◽  
Lalit Kumar

Soil salinity is a serious threat to coastal agriculture and has resulted in a significant reduction in agricultural output in many regions. Jaffna Peninsula, a semi-arid region located in the northern-most part of Sri Lanka, is also a victim of the adverse effects of coastal salinity. This study investigated long-term soil salinity changes and their link with agricultural land use changes, especially paddy land. Two Landsat images from 1988 and 2019 were used to map soil salinity distribution and changes. Another set of images was analyzed at four temporal periods to map abandoned paddy lands. A comparison of changes in soil salinity with abandoned paddy lands showed that abandoned paddy lands had significantly higher salinity than active paddy lands, confirming that increasing salts owing to the high levels of sea water intrusion in the soils, as well as higher water salinity in wells used for irrigation, could be the major drivers of degradation of paddy lands. The results also showed that there was a dramatic increase in soil salinity (1.4-fold) in the coastal lowlands of Jaffna Peninsula. 64.6% of the salinity-affected land was identified as being in the extreme saline category. In addition to reducing net arable lands, soil salinization has serious implications for food security and the livelihoods of farmers, potentially impacting the regional and national economy.


2008 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maris Klavins ◽  
Valery Rodinov

The study of changes in river discharge is important for regional climate variability characterization and for development of an efficient water resource management system. The hydrological regime of rivers and their long-term changes in Latvia were investigated. Four major types of river hydrological regimes, which depend on climatic and physicogeographic factors, were characterized. These factors are linked to the changes observed in river discharge. Periodic oscillations of discharge, and low- and high-water flow years are common for the major rivers in Latvia. A main frequency of river discharge regime changes of about 20 and 13 years was estimated for the studied rivers. A significant impact of climate variability on the river discharge regime has been found.


2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 782-798
Author(s):  
Inese Latkovska ◽  
Elga Apsīte ◽  
Didzis Elferts

The ice regime of rivers is considered a sensitive indicator of climate change. This paper summarises the results of research on the long-term changes in the ice regime parameters under changing climate conditions and their regional peculiarities in Latvia from 1945 to 2012. The ice cover duration on Latvian rivers has decreased during recent decades. The research results demonstrated that there is a positive trend as regards the formation of the ice cover and in 31.8% of the cases the trend is statistically significant at p &lt; 0.05. As regards the breaking up of ice, there is a statistically significant negative trend in 93.2% of the cases at p &lt; 0.05. This indicates an earlier ice break-up date, which in turn, displays a strong correlation with the increase of the air temperature. The same pattern applies to the reduction of the length of ice cover (a statistically significant trend in 86.4% of the cases at p &lt; 0.05). In approximately 60% of the cases, there is a statistically significant reduction of the ice thickness. The estimated winter severity index indicates warmer winters over the last 20 years as well as regional differences in the west–east direction.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (11) ◽  
pp. 7103-7123
Author(s):  
Susann Tegtmeier ◽  
Elliot Atlas ◽  
Birgit Quack ◽  
Franziska Ziska ◽  
Kirstin Krüger

Abstract. Halogenated very short-lived substances (VSLSs), such as bromoform (CHBr3), can be transported to the stratosphere and contribute to the halogen loading and ozone depletion. Given their highly variable emission rates and their short atmospheric lifetimes, the exact amount as well as the spatio-temporal variability of their contribution to the stratospheric halogen loading are still uncertain. We combine observational data sets with Lagrangian atmospheric modelling in order to analyse the spatial and temporal variability of the CHBr3 injection into the stratosphere for the time period 1979–2013. Regional maxima with mixing ratios of up to 0.4–0.5 ppt at 17 km altitude are diagnosed to be over Central America (1) and over the Maritime Continent–west Pacific (2), both of which are confirmed by high-altitude aircraft campaigns. The CHBr3 maximum over Central America is caused by the co-occurrence of convectively driven short transport timescales and strong regional sources, which in conjunction drive the seasonality of CHBr3 injection. Model results at a daily resolution reveal isolated, exceptionally high CHBr3 values in this region which are confirmed by aircraft measurements during the ACCENT campaign and do not occur in spatially or temporally averaged model fields. CHBr3 injection over the west Pacific is centred south of the Equator due to strong oceanic sources underneath prescribed by the here-applied bottom-up emission inventory. The globally largest CHBr3 mixing ratios at the cold point level of up to 0.6 ppt are diagnosed to occur over the region of India, Bay of Bengal, and Arabian Sea (3); however, no data from aircraft campaigns are available to confirm this finding. Inter-annual variability of stratospheric CHBr3 injection of 10 %–20 % is to a large part driven by the variability of coupled ocean–atmosphere circulation systems. Long-term changes, on the other hand, correlate with the regional sea surface temperature trends resulting in positive trends of stratospheric CHBr3 injection over the west Pacific and Asian monsoon region and negative trends over the east Pacific. For the tropical mean, these opposite regional trends balance each other out, resulting in a relatively weak positive trend of 0.017±0.012 ppt Br per decade for 1979–2013, corresponding to 3 % Br per decade. The overall contribution of CHBr3 together with CH2Br2 to the stratospheric halogen loading accounts for 4.7 ppt Br, in good agreement with existing studies, with 50 % and 50 % being injected in the form of source and product gases, respectively.


2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (23) ◽  
pp. 7033-7043 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Simic ◽  
P. Weihs ◽  
A. Vacek ◽  
H. Kromp-Kolb ◽  
M. Fitzka

Abstract. The influence of variability of atmospheric parameters on short- and long-term changes of spectral UV irradiance measured at the Sonnblick observatory (47.03° N, 12.57° E, 3106 m) during the period from 1994 to 2006 is studied. Measurements were performed with the Brewer #093 single-monochromator spectrophotometer and with a Bentham DM 150 spectroradiometer (double-monochromator). The influence of ozone, albedo, snowline and clouds on UV variability is evaluated for each parameter separately using 10-year climatology. It is found that the effect of total ozone on short-term variability of UV irradiance at 305 nm can be more than 200% and on average more than 50%. Clouds can cause variability of 150% or more and on average 35%. Variability caused by albedo reaches a maximum of 32% in April (6% on average). In summer and autumn, total ozone and clouds strongly influence the variability of UV radiation, whereas in winter and spring ozone has the more pronounced effect. A decrease in snowline height from 3000 m to 800 m a.s.l. enhances the UV irradiance by a factor of 1.24 for clear sky conditions and by a factor of 1.7 for 8/8 cloud cover. Long-term trends are investigated for the time period from 1994 to 2006 based on clear-sky measurements, using the non-parametric Mann-Kendall trend test. Significant downward trends (99% confidence level) are found for solar zenith angle 55° at wavelengths from 305 nm to 324 nm and erythemally weighted irradiance according to CIE, which are caused by an increase in sunshine duration during periods of high total column ozone. Significant trends (90% confidence level) were also found for other combinations of wavelength and SZA.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susann Tegtmeier ◽  
Elliot Atlas ◽  
Birgit Quack ◽  
Franziska Ziska ◽  
Kirstin Krüger

Abstract. We combine available observational data sets with Lagrangian atmospheric modelling in order to analyze the spatial and temporal variability of the CHBr3 injection into the stratosphere. Regional maxima with mixing ratios of up to 0.4–0.5 ppt at 17 km altitude are diagnosed to be over Central America (1) and over the Maritime Continent/West Pacific (2), both of which are confirmed by high-altitude aircraft campaigns. The CHBr3 maximum over Central America is caused by the co-occurrence of convectively-driven short transport time scales and strong regional sources, which in conjunction drive the seasonality of CHBr3 injection. Model results at a daily resolution reveal isolated, exceptionally high CHBr3 values in this region which are confirmed by measurements during the ACCENT campaign and do not occur in spatially or temporally averaged model fields. CHBr3 injection over the West Pacific is centered south of the equator due to strong oceanic sources underneath prescribed by the here applied bottom-up emission inventory. The globally strongest stratospheric CHBr3 injection of up to 0.6 ppt is diagnosed to occur over the region of India, Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea (3), however, no data from aircraft campaigns are available to confirm this finding. Interannual variability of stratospheric CHBr3 injection of 10–20 % is to a large part driven by the variability of coupled ocean-atmosphere circulation systems. Long-term changes, on the other hand, correlate with the regional SST trends resulting in positive trends of stratospheric CHBr3 injection over the West Pacific and Asian monsoon region and negative trends over the East Pacific. For the tropical mean, these opposite regional trends balance each other out resulting in a relatively weak positive trend of 0.017 ± 0.012 ppt Br/dec for 1979–2013, corresponding 3 % Br/dec. The overall contribution of CHBr3 together with CH2Br2 to the stratospheric halogen loading accounts for 4.7 ppt Br, in good agreement with existing studies, with 50 %/50 % being injected in form of source and product gases, respectively.


Author(s):  
Dr. K. Rajendram

Due to recent climate changes and variability the frequency of occurrence and intensity of extreme climatic events such as flood, drought, etc. are increasing significantly in Sri Lanka. The main objectives of the study are to analyze the annual and seasonal rainfall variability in the last 147years from 1871-2018 with particular reference to drought and to assess the occurrence of droughts and its intensity and the impacts of drought on agriculture. For this secondary and primary data have been used. The long-term average annual rainfall of Mannar show the decreasing trend (r2= 0.0158), particularly in recent epochs higher negative anomalies of rainfall were found, as a results frequent occurrence of droughts or dry spells have been occurred. The rainfall anomaly results reveal that, out of 147years of the data period about 47years were experienced as drought and its probability is P=0.320. Accordingly, once in four to five years a drought could be possible. However, in the recent epoch of 1991-2018, higher number of droughts occurred than the any other epochs and its epochal probability is higher (P=0.40) than the normal, which indicate the effect of recent climate change.


1994 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Ben-Gai ◽  
A. Bitan ◽  
A. Manes ◽  
P. Alpert

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Federica Di Maio ◽  
Anna Fagotti ◽  
Carlo Ronsini ◽  
Nicola Panocchia ◽  
Giuseppe Grandaliano ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and Aims Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with platinum based Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) represents a valid therapeutic approach in the treatment of ovarian cancer patients with peritoneal spread (vanDriel NEJM). Nevertheless, cisplatin nephrotoxicity represents one limitation to the diffusion of HIPEC in clinical practice. To date, few studies evaluated the nephrotoxicity of hyperthermic intraperitoneal cisplatin and the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients treated with HIPEC. The aim of our study is to evaluate short- and long-term changes in serum creatinine (SCr) levels in a cohort of patients with a first relapse of platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer, receiving CRS plus or minus HIPEC. Method We compared a cohort of patients with a first relapse of platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer, receiving CRS plus/minus HIPEC in a period from January 2013 to October 2018. The HIPEC technique required the perfusion of the abdominal cavity with a 4 L/m2 of a heated saline solution containing cisplatin 75 mg/m2. We assessed the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), using the CKD-EPI formula, and SCr from the preoperative value, at 24, 48, 72 hours, 7 days and the last SCr value available on the electronic record, at least 3 months after the procedure. We analyzed the effect of HIPEC treatment on SCr values over time and we used logistic regression models to investigate the effect of HIPEC treatment on clinical outcomes. No patient in the HIPEC group had kidney protective treatment with thiosulphate. Results Our analyses included complete data of 110 patients treated in our Institution from January 2013 to October 2018. The two groups had significant differences in baseline SCr (p-value = 0.002), with lower average values in the CRS+HIPEC group (mean 0.68, standard deviation [SD] 0.14 mg/dL) compared to the CRS group (mean 0.76, SD 0.13 mg/dL). The baseline eGFR was significantly higher in the CRS+HIPEC group (mean 95, SD 16 mL/min/1.73 m2) than in the CRS group (mean 88, SD 14 mL/min/1.73 m2) (p-value = 0.014) and three patients in each group had chronic kidney disease (CKD) before surgery. SCr values in the HIPEC group were significantly higher at post-operative day #7 (1.22 ± 1.10 mg/dL vs 0.69 ± 0.16 mg/dL; p-value &lt;0.001) and the differences remained during follow-up at least three months after randomization (0.96 ± 0.55 vs 0.69 ± 0.19 mg/dL; p-value &lt;0.001). Seventeen patients (31%) developed Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), according to the KDIGO Guidelines, in the first week after CRS+HIPEC versus seven patients (13%) after CRS alone. No patients who developed AKI post-HIPEC needed renal replacement treatment, although 5 (9%) had AKI stage III and 7 (13%) stage II. The CRS+HIPEC group had a significantly higher risk of developing AKI [OR: 3.48 (2.30-5.27)] compared with the CRS group (p-value &lt;0.001). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups with regard to risk of complications other than AKI. Conclusion To our knowledge, our study represents the first investigation on short- and long-term changes in SCr and on the risk of AKI in patients with a first relapse of platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer, treated with CRS and HIPEC. There is a strong correlation between the intraperitoneal cisplatin at elevated temperatures and the rise of SCr over the time. However, this event was no reversible and influenced following treatments in only eight women.


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