Impacts of climatic seasonality on weathering of rock-cut structures at Lalibela, Ethiopia

Author(s):  
Blen Taye ◽  
Heather Viles

<p>Weathering of rock-cut structures exposed to the environment is strongly influenced by fluctuations in climatic variables. Both macro and microclimate data are needed to identify key weathering types and rates likely to affect rock-cut structures in a specific region. The aim of this paper is to study the macro and micro climatic conditions affecting the rock-cut churches in Lalibela, Ethiopia to determine how the climate influences weathering at this site. Macro climate data collected over a 26-year period and microclimate data monitored on the north, east, south and west walls at one of the churches in the Lalibela church complex (Bete Mariam) are used to make these assessments. Microclimate data was monitored during the long rains (Kiremt), short rains (Belg) and dry (Bega) seasons in 2018 and 2019. The results showed a high seasonal variation in macro climatic conditions like rainfall and ambient relative humidity. The micro climatic (rock surface) conditions also tended to vary seasonally. The diurnal range of rock surface temperature during Bega varied significantly depending on which cardinal directions the walls were facing, with south and west facing walls having high diurnal thermal ranges. The influence of aspect was less pronounced in Belg and Kiremt, but cloud cover played an important role in varying the range of diurnal thermal and humidity cycles from day to day during these seasons. These climate trends are likely to cause seasonal variations in wetting and drying cycles, deep wetting, increased time of wetness and thermal cycling. These wetting/drying and heating/cooling characteristics affect weathering processes. During Kiremt, biological weathering, salt weathering and clay swelling are more likely to occur than in Belg and Bega. High diurnal thermal ranges in Bega are likely to cause thermal fatigue in this season. This is the first paper to address the macro and micro climatic trends that influence rock weathering at the rock-cut churches in Lalibela. The results of this study also have implications for rock-cut structures in northern Ethiopia having similar environmental conditions as Lalibela.</p>

Author(s):  
V. Fedorov ◽  
E. Sleptsov ◽  
K. Plemyashov

A growth in the number of deer and an increase in their productivity are closely related to the solution of the complex problem of reproduction and rational use of deer females. Significant damage to reindeer husbandry is caused by the barrenness of northern domestic deer, the level of which has been quite high in recent years. So, in the Republic of Sakha, on 01.01.2020, the number of domesticated reindeer was 152,068, of which female deer and heifers — 71,818, offspring per 100 females — 59, business yield amounted to 52 fawns per 100 females. The causes of infertility are very diverse, as the natural and climatic conditions of the breeding zones have a significant influence on the reproductive function of reindeer. In Yakutia, the main population of northern domestic deer is bred in mountain taiga and tundra natural-climatic zones, so there are about 55 thousand deer in the mountain taiga zone and more than 65 thousand deer in the tundra zone. In this regard, the study of the peculiarities of the postpartum period course in domestic reindeer females, its morphophysiology, and behavioral reactions depending on the natural and climatic conditions of breeding is of great importance.


Author(s):  
M. Edwards ◽  
A.W.G. John ◽  
H.G. Hunt ◽  
J.A. Lindley

Continuous Plankton Recorder records from the North Sea and north-east Atlantic from September 1997 to March 1998 indicate an exceptional influx of oceanic indicator species into the North Sea. These inflow events, according to historical evidence, have only occurred sporadically during this century. This exceptional inflow and previous inflow events are discussed in relation to their similarity in terms of their physical and climatic conditions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 36 ◽  
pp. 01003
Author(s):  
Elena Vologzhanina ◽  
Galina Batalova

The results of the study of 12 varieties and promising lines of glumaceous oat in the competitive variety testing of the FASC of the North-East (Kirov region) in the period from 2018 to 2020 are presented. The purpose of the research is to assess the productivity, ecological plasticity and stability of the genotypes of glumaceous oat for feed and universal use in the conditions of the Volga-Vyatka region. The dependences of grain yield and dry matter harvesting on the state of agro-climatic resources (HTC), temperature and precipitation are established. The contrasting weather conditions during the years of research allowed to conduct the most complete assessment of the studied genotypes. The most favorable conditions for the formation of a high yield of green mass of oat were formed in 2020 (Ij=3.76), grain - in 2019 (Ij=1.35). The average degree of positive dependence of green mass yield on the height of oat plants was revealed (r=0.51). The variety of the high-intensity type of the universal direction Medved, promising lines of the mowing direction (178h13 and 245h14) are distinguished.


2019 ◽  
Vol 96 (8) ◽  
pp. 766-769 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inessa V. Averyanova ◽  
S. I. Vdovenko ◽  
A. L. Maksimov

Natural and climatic conditions of the environment of Northeast Russia and particularly Magadan region are the very factor mostly influencing adaptive responses by individuals inhabiting the region. Compensatory and adaptive responses in indigenes and newcomers of the region can be assumed to have their specific features. In 2009 there was executed the examination of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems and gas exchange in 392 cases aged of 17-19 years, including Europeans (Caucasians) born in the North in the 1st-2nd generation and indigenes. The methodologically similar study was carried out in 2014 in 265 persons, referred to the same cohorts of North-born Caucasians and Indigenes from the Magadan region. The results of the study executed in 2009 testified to a small number of physiological parameters that were reliably different in Caucasians vs. Indigene subjects. In 2014 no difference was found between the two examined cohorts throughout the observed parameters. The revealed changes in gas exchange, external respiration and cardiovascular systems demonstrated by modern young Indigenes of Northeast Russia testified to the fall in the effectiveness of their breathing. All that makes them farther from the classic “polar metabolic type” and their morphofunctional status becomes closer to European male subjects of Northeast Russia. Thus, we can observe a clear tendency towards “convergence in programs” of the adaptive changes between populations of the North residents undergoing similar natural, environmental and social factors.


Author(s):  
N.S. Kozhushko ◽  
M.M. Sakhoshko ◽  
M.G. Bashtovyi ◽  
D.V. Smilyk ◽  
V.I. Avramenko ◽  
...  

According to statistic evaluation of the manifestation of signs of the economic suitability of state sort resources of 2019 registration potatoes when growing it in different agro-climatic conditions, a significant advantage of influence of the forest-steppe conditions was determined. Compared to Polesia the increase of yield rose for 4.1 t/ha or 18 % (НІР05 = 2.18, Ffact= 12.65 > F05 = 4.22) and the amount of trade potato for 22.72 ha or 20 % (Ffact = 58.87). There is also a tendency to increase the number of starch from unit of area for – 17 % and the total consumer properties for – 8 %.  However, there is a significant difference in the reduction of storability of products by 45 % and the lack of it’s resistance to macrosporiosis and late blight. It was proved that the yield of varieties for cultivation in the polesia zone by 25.7 % depended on the duration of the growing season (Ffact = 4.14 > F05  = 0.06). The relationship between yield and starch of potatoes in Polesia zone varieties  was determined – 23.6 % and in forest-steppe – 17.3 % and starch collection, respectively, 33.6 % and 28.0 %. The dependence of storability of potato which grew in the polesia zone and in forest-steppe from the amount of starch for 15 % was mathematically proved (Ffact = 2.11 > F05 = 0.17) і 11.3 % (Ffact = 1.52 > F05 = 0.24); the dependence of storability on the duration of the growing season in the Forest-Steppe conditions was confirmed(Ffact = 0.66 > F05  = 0.43). In addition, the 12 % of tasting grade of the Forest-Steppe varieties depended on the starch content amount (Ffact = 1.65 > F05 = 0.22). According to the results of the regression analysis, mathematical models have been developed to predict yields, culinary and consumer properties, and the storability of new potato varieties under different growing conditions. The project of a conveyor for the consumption of fresh product in summer  period with the involvement of varieties of early ripeness in the Forest-Steppe was presented: 80 days after planting – Sanibel, 90 days after planting – Medison, Paroli, 95 days after planting – Bazalia, Bernina, 100 days after planting – Donata, in the Polesia zone ‒ 80 days after planting – Sanibel, 90 days after planting – Paroli, 95 days after planting –Bazalia, 100 days after planting – Medison, Bernina, Donata. By distribution of varieties by predicted high content of phytonutrients there were bred varieties with red skin and creamy flesh – Bazalia and Sanibel, by high content with yellow flesh – Baltic Rosa and moderate content with white flesh – Oleksandrit, Fotynia, Ricarda. Introduction of new varieties with certain high adaptive potential of storability and content of bioactive compounds in potatoes will provide growth of potato production in the conditions of the northeast forest-steppe and increase its competitiveness in the domestic and foreign markets and will solve the problem of year-round consumption of fresh quality products.


2020 ◽  
pp. 43-54
Author(s):  
João Francisco Severo Santos ◽  
Danuza Costa Leite ◽  
Fernanda Alves Silva Severo ◽  
Liliana Pena Naval

The MarkSim climate data generator is designed to have global validity in scales of up to five degrees. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of the MarkSim-HadGEM2-ES and MarkSim-MIROC5 models to estimate average rainfall in the last agricultural frontier of the savannah in the north and north-east regions of Brazil. For this purpose, the simulated data were compared with those observed and recorded by the National Institute of Meteorology, being evaluated by statistical measures of correlation, bias and performance. The results revealed high bias and relative error, with unsatisfactory performance in the micro regional and regional scales. Calibration by means of regression improved performance and showed that in order to reproduce the current climate and make reliable projections in these spatial scales possible, there is a need to correct the systemic errors of these models.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 279-281
Author(s):  
K.K. Akhmetov ◽  
D.G. Maralbaeva ◽  
A.V. Matsyura

The article presents the parasitological studies of Trematoda, collected by complete helminthological dissections of birds in the Pavlodar region of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In Pavlodar region, we have currently diagnosed among the Trematoda, the presence of 16 species belonging to four subgenera and seven families. We supposed that there is a local pest-spot of Prosthogonimidae and Echinistomatidae in the north-east of Kazakhstan, because we have found marites in young migratory birds. We noted that the pest-spot of Echinostomatidae and Echinistomatidae (in years with their registration) in the territory of Pavlodar region was broad enough, because the trematode marites of these families were registered from the birds, sampled at the geographically remote waterbodies. We revealed that the hotspots of Prosthogonimidae localization varied, which was most likely determined by the annual climatic conditions.


Rangifer ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippa McNeil ◽  
Don E. Russell ◽  
Brad Griffith ◽  
Anne Gunn ◽  
Gary P. Kofinas

In this study, we develop a method to analyse the relationships between seasonal caribou distribution and climate, to estimate how climatic conditions affect interactions between humans and caribou, and ultimately to predict patterns of distribution relative to climate change. Satellite locations for the Porcupine (Rangifer tarandus granti) and Bathurst (R. t. groenlandicus) caribou herds were analysed for eight ecologically-defined seasons. For each season, two levels of a key environmental factor influencing caribou distribution were identified, as well as the best climate data available to indicate the factor's annual state. Satellite locations were grouped according to the relevant combination of season and environmental factor. Caribou distributions were compared for opposing environmental factors; this comparison was undertaken relative to hunting access for the Porcupine Herd and relative to exposure to mining activity for the Bathurst Herd. Expected climate trends suggest an overall increase in access to Porcupine caribou for Aklavik (NWT) hunters during the winter and rut seasons, for Venetie (Alaska) hunters during midsummer and fall migration and for Arctic Village (Alaska) during midsummer. Arctic Village may experience reduced availability with early snowfalls in the fall, but we expect there to be little directional shift in the spring migration patterns. For the Bathurst Herd, we expect that fewer caribou would be exposed to the mines during the winter, while more caribou would be exposed to the combined Ekati and Diavik mining zone in the early summer and to the Lupin-Jericho mining zone during the fall migration. If changes in climate cause an increased presence of caribou in the mining sites, monitoring and mitigation measures may need to be intensified.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (S1) ◽  
pp. 359-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mustapha Rabie Boudani ◽  
Mohamed Mazour ◽  
Hichem Mazighi ◽  
Omar Djoukbala

Abstract The floods that Algeria has experienced in recent years are among the most significant natural disasters recorded by the country. These disasters, whose amplitude and frequency have tended to become increasingly irregular in space and time, in the current context of global climate change, encourage us to improve our flood management and forecasting strategies, notably through the re-evaluation of protection structure capacities, designed on the basis of hydrological data analyzed by statistical adjustment of past rainfall hazards. The objective of this study is to develop a minimalist conceptual numerical model for flood forecasting and management under GIS environment for the north-east region of Algeria. This model was developed by analyzing hydrographic data that can be adapted to climate data collected in real time, to predict short-term flood hydrographs in all segments of the hydrographic network, based on the Sokolovsky model for construction of synthetic hydrographs, combined with the Horton architecture for basin discretization. We obtained accuracy on past rainfall hazard simulations around 65.2% for peak flow amplitudes and 88.3% for surface runoff base times. This low-cost simple model opens the way to more possibilities in flood management, and can be improved through better spatialization and calibration with more field data.


2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. N. Andreicheva ◽  
◽  
T. I. Marchenko-Vagapova ◽  
M. N. Buravskaya ◽  
Yu. V. Golubeva

Here we present the summarized results of 40 years detailed researches of the Neopleistocene deposits of different genetic types in the north-east of European Russia. We studied the spore-pollen spectra of interglacial Quaternary sediments from boreholes and river sections, the material composition of tills and microtheriofauna from periglacial sediments. This allowed us to carry out stratigraphic division of the Neopleistocene and Holocene sections and recreate the climatic conditions for formation of interglacial deposits. Six sedimentary cycles have been determined in the Quaternary section of the research territory. It is concluded that now there is a trend towards climate cooling in the European north-east of Russia. The book will find welcome researchers dealing with various problems of geology and palaegeography of the Neopleistocene and Holocene.


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