scholarly journals The impact of human activity on anthropogenic dust emission over global semi-arid regions

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anonymous
Keyword(s):  
Human Activity ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Dust Emission ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Semi Arid

Impact of surface roughness on dust occurrence frequency over arid regions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Klose ◽  
Carlos Pérez García-Pando ◽  
Paul Ginoux ◽  
Ron L. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Spatial Patterns ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Dust Emission ◽  
Occurrence Frequency ◽  
Dust Transport ◽  
Drag Partition ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Semi Arid

<p>Soil dust aerosol created by wind erosion of arid and semi-arid surfaces dominates climate effects over large areas of the Earth. To represent the dust cycle, Global Earth System Models (ESMs) typically prescribe preferential dust sources phenomenologically using empirical source scaling functions. While this approach has helped to compensate for a lack or inaccuracy of soil and surface input data to models, it potentially limits progress in the representation of the global dust cycle, because such strong empirical constraints make models less sensitive to parameters known to affect dust emission, and thus potentially insensitive to changes in climate. Here we investigate the link between surface roughness due to non-erodible elements such as vegetation, pebbles and rocks, and the spatial patterns of dust activity. Using two different satellite-based methods to represent roughness within an atmospheric dust transport model, we evaluate the impact of surface roughness on the spatial distribution of dust optical depth occurrence frequency observed from satellite by both reducing the atmospheric momentum available for particle entrainment and protecting the surface from dust emission. We test the variability of our results across conceptually different parameterizations of dust emission and drag partition. Our results suggest that the spatial patterns of dust activity are largely determined by surface roughness, not only in semi-arid, but also in arid regions, where green vegetation is sparse or absent. </p>

scholarly journals The impact of human activity on anthropogenic dust emission over global semi-arid regions

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. Guan ◽  
J. Huang ◽  
Y. Zhang ◽  
Y. Xie ◽  
J. Liu
Keyword(s):  
Population Growth ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Population Change ◽  
Dust Emission ◽  
Dust Production ◽  
Population Growth Rates ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Semi Arid

Abstract. Anthropogenic dust is acknowledged as a product of human activities on disturbed soil, and is generated mainly from sensitive and fragile regions including croplands, pastures, and urbanized regions. In this study, we analyzed the behaviour of anthropogenic dust in semi-arid region of globe, and its relationship to human activities. An obvious peak in the total anthropogenic dust column, much higher magnitude than those of wet regions, was observed in semi-arid regions with population growth rates of more than 11.46 %. Four typical semi-arid regions, East China, India, North America and North Africa were selected to explore the local difference in anthropogenic dust production. The population growth rates in these areas were approximately 6.16 %, 17.71 %, 11.21 %, and 29.26 %, and the anthropogenic dust levels were 0.17 g m−2, 0.38 g m−2, 0.10 g m−2 and 0.21 g m−2, which are higher than the natural dust column burden. The anthropogenic dust column burden is positively correlated with the population and population change, indicating a contribution from human activities to the anthropogenic dust production. Based on the fact that anthropogenic dust can act as warming aerosol, the radiative effect of anthropogenic dust in semi-arid regions can not be ignored and requires further investigation.

scholarly journals Human activity impact on surface water quality in semi-arid regions: a case study of Aïnzeda lake (North-East Algeria)

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 1726-1744
Author(s):  
Abdelhafid Mebarkia ◽  
Abdelmadjid Boufekane
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Human Activity ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Surface Water Quality ◽  
Unequal Distribution ◽  
North East ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Semi Arid

Abstract Water resources scarcity in Algeria, their fragility and their unequal distribution have resulted in a serious shortage, which, in spite of all the efforts, seems inevitable. This study consists of evaluating the impact of human activity on the water quality of Aïnzeda lake (NE Algeria), a typical case study of the difficulties posed by the problem of surface water quality in semi-arid regions. Principal component analysis (PCA) and the trend method were applied to interpret the physico-chemical data of monthly analyzed samples, over a 25-year period (1988–2012). The trend method results show that most chemical elements have a direct relationship with urbanization and agricultural practices in the area. The change in the watershed climatic conditions (increase of 9% in air temperature, 7% in the lake water temperature, and decrease of 8% in precipitation) is also responsible for the degradation of the water quality. The PCA shows that salinization (51.73%), and anthropogenic and agricultural pollution (13.49%) are the most significant degradation factors. These two approaches have enabled us to prove that aridity and anthropogenic or agricultural activities have a negative impact on the lake's surface water quality.

Reducing human activity promotes environmental restoration in arid and semi-arid regions: A case study in Northwest China

2021 ◽  
pp. 144525
Author(s):  
Chuanhua Li ◽  
Yutao Wang ◽  
Xiaodong Wu ◽  
Hongjuan Cao ◽  
Wangping Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Activity ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Northwest China ◽  
Environmental Restoration ◽  
Semi Arid

Investigating the possible measure to protect groundwater from polluted streams in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions: the Eastern Nile Delta case study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ismail Abd-Elaty ◽  
Martina Zelenakova ◽  
Salvatore Straface ◽  
Zuzana Vranayová ◽  
Mohamed Abu-hashim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Nile Delta ◽  
Total Dissolved Solids ◽  
Polluted Water ◽  
Deep Aquifer ◽  
Lower Permeability ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Semi Arid

<p>Groundwater is the main source of drinking water in the Nile Delta. Unfortunately, it might be polluted by seepage from polluted streams. This study was carried out to investigate the possible measures  to  protect groundwater  in the Nile delta aquifer using a numerical model (MT3DMS - Mass Transport 3-Dimension Multi-Species). The sources of groundwater contamination were identified and the total dissolved solids (TDS) was taken as an indicator for the contamination. Different strategies were investigated for mitigating the impact of polluted water: i) allocating polluted drains and canals in lower permeability layers; ii)  installing cut-off walls in the polluted drains, and finally, iii) using lining materials in polluted drains and canals. Results indicated these measures effective to mitigate the groundwater pollution. In particular, the cut-off wall was effective for contamination reduction in shallow aquifers, whereas it had no effect in the deep aquifer, while lining materials in polluted drains and canals were able to prevent contamination and to protect the freshwater in the aquifers.  It is worth mentioning that this study was partially supported by a bilateral project between ASRT (Egypt) and CNR (Italy).</p><p> </p><p> </p>

scholarly journals Sensitivity of Maize Yield in Smallholder Systems to Climate Scenarios in Semi-Arid Regions of West Africa: Accounting for Variability in Farm Management Practices

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bright Freduah ◽  
Dilys MacCarthy ◽  
Myriam Adam ◽  
Mouhamed Ly ◽  
Alex Ruane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Climate Scenarios ◽  
Relative Standard ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Smallholder Systems

Climate change is estimated to exacerbate existing challenges faced by smallholder farmers in Sub-Sahara Africa. However, limited studies quantify the extent of variation in climate change impact under these systems at the local scale. The Decision Support System for Agro-technological Transfer (DSSAT) was used to quantify variation in climate change impacts on maize yield under current agricultural practices in semi-arid regions of Senegal (Nioro du Rip) and Ghana (Navrongo and Tamale). Multi-benchmark climate models (Mid-Century, 2040–2069 for two Representative Concentration Pathways, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5), and multiple soil and management information from agronomic surveys were used as input for DSSAT. The average impact of climate scenarios on grain yield among farms ranged between −9% and −39% across sites. Substantial variation in climate response exists across farms in the same farming zone with relative standard deviations from 8% to 117% at Nioro du Rip, 13% to 64% in Navrongo and 9% to 37% in Tamale across climate models. Variations in fertilizer application, planting dates and soil types explained the variation in the impact among farms. This study provides insight into the complexities of the impact of climate scenarios on maize yield and the need for better representation of heterogeneous farming systems for optimized outcomes in adaptation and resilience planning in smallholder systems.

scholarly journals A Review of the Impacts of Roads on Wildlife in Semi-Arid Regions

Diversity ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 81 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Richard J. Dean ◽  
Colleen L. Seymour ◽  
Grant S. Joseph ◽  
Stefan H. Foord
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Traffic Noise ◽  
Noise Pollution ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Obvious Effect ◽  
Long Term Impact ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Semi Arid

Roads now penetrate even the most remote parts of much of the world, but the majority of research on the effects of roads on biota has been in less remote temperate environments. The impacts of roads in semi-arid and arid areas may differ from these results in a number of ways. Here, we review the research on the impacts of roads on biodiversity patterns and ecological and evolutionary processes in semi-arid regions. The most obvious effect of roads is mortality or injury through collision. A diversity of scavengers are killed whilst feeding on roadkill, a source of easily accessed food. Noise pollution from roads and traffic interferes with vocal communication by animals, and birds and frogs living along noisy roads compensate for traffic noise by increasing the amplitude or pitch of their calls. Artificial light along roads impacts certain species’ ability to navigate, as well as attracting invertebrates. Animals are in turn attracted to invertebrates at streetlights, and vulnerable to becoming roadkill themselves. Genetics research across taxa confirms a loss of genetic diversity in small populations isolated by roads, but the long-term impact on the fitness of affected populations through a reduction in genetic diversity is not yet clear. Roads may rapidly cause genetic effects, raising conservation concerns about rare and threatened species. We assess mitigation measures and collate methods to identify the impact of roads on wildlife populations and their associated ecosystems, with a particular focus on recent advances.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document