scholarly journals Changes in flood risk in Lower Niger–Benue catchments

2015 ◽  
Vol 370 ◽  
pp. 97-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Odunuga ◽  
O. Adegun ◽  
S. A. Raji ◽  
S. Udofia
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Peak Flow ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Flood Plain ◽  
Vulnerability Index ◽  
Adaptation Strategy ◽  
Annual Peak ◽  
Four Levels

Abstract. Floods are devastating natural disasters with a significant impact on human life and the surrounding environment. This paper analyses historical and recent flood (2012 extreme) peak flow at strategic locations, land use activities and Floodplain Vulnerability Index analyses of the Niger–Benue River Floodplain. The 2012 peak flow at Jederbode on the Niger River was about 50% above the long term average. At Jebba (Niger), the 2012 peak flow of 1567 m3 s−1 was also far higher than the long term mean annual peak flow of 1159 m3 s−1. The 2012 peak flow at Lokoja was also about 50 % above the historical average. The Benue River at Makurdi had peak flow of 16 387 m3 s−1 which was also unusually higher than the historical average while Wuroboki (Benue) had peak flow of 3362 m3 s−1 which was also much higher that the historical average (694 m3 s−1). The mixed land use which supported diverse ecosystem services has the largest cover of 5654 km2 (36.85%) of the Niger–Benue floodplain. The flood vulnerability of the various land uses within the floodplain include; medium, high and very high levels. A four levels hierarchical implementation adaptation strategy for sustainable agricultural practices along the rivers flood plain was proposed. The implementation hierarchy includes: Community Concern, Local Authority Concern, State Concern and National Concern.

Long-term changes in the discharge regime in Finland

2010 ◽  
Vol 41 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 253-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Korhonen ◽  
Esko Kuusisto
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Peak Flow ◽  
Trend Test ◽  
Regulated Rivers ◽  
Annual Peak ◽  
Discharge Regime ◽  
Long Term Trends ◽  
Individual Time Series ◽  
Selection Of

This paper presents characteristics of the discharge regime, long-term trends and variability in Finland. A selection of long-term discharge records including both unregulated and regulated rivers and lake outlets were analysed up to the year 2004. In addition to individual time series, monthly and annual discharges from the territory of Finland were calculated for the period 1912–2004. The observed drought and flood periods are also discussed, as well as the connection between discharge regime and climate. Moreover, the periodicity of the time series is examined for a couple of sites. The Mann–Kendall trend test was applied to assess changes in annual, monthly and seasonal mean discharges, maximum and minimum flows and, in addition, the date of the annual peak flow. The trend analysis revealed no changes in mean annual flow in general, but the seasonal distribution of streamflow has changed. Winter and spring mean monthly discharges have increased at most of the observation sites. The spring peak has moved to an earlier date at over one-third of the sites. However, the magnitudes of spring high flow have not changed. Autumn flow did not show trends in general. Minimum flows have increased at about half of the unregulated sites.

scholarly journals A Quantitative Approach to Assess Seismic Vulnerability of Touristic Accommodations: Case Study in Montreal, Canada

GeoHazards ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-152
Author(s):  
Thomas Candela ◽  
Philippe Rosset ◽  
Luc Chouinard
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Vulnerability ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Vulnerability Index ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Building Vulnerability ◽  
Ground Shaking ◽  
Rapid Visual Screening ◽  
Local Soil ◽  
Four Levels

In many places of the world, the interruption of touristic activities in the aftermath of a catastrophic earthquake is often neglected in the evaluation of seismic risks; however, these activities can account for a significant proportion of short-term and long-term economic impacts for these regions. In the last decade, several rapid visual screening techniques have been developed to define the typology of buildings and to estimate their seismic vulnerability and potential for damage. We adapted the existing screening procedures that have been developed for generic buildings to specific circumstances that are most common for tourist accommodations. The proposed approach considered six criteria related to structural and nonstructural elements of buildings, as well as local soil conditions. A score was assigned to each criterion as a function of the capacity of the elements to resist ground shaking. A vulnerability index in four levels of building vulnerability was developed combining the scores of the six criteria. The approach was tested in a pilot area of Montreal to a set of 70 typical buildings grouped in four categories based on their accommodation capacity. In Montreal, tourism is an important source of income for the city where 351,000 room-nights were booked with total stay expenditures of CAD 4.9 billion in 2019. The results indicated potential significant disruptions in activities related to tourism; 46% of the buildings investigated have a high to very high vulnerability index. Among them, 4/5 are located in the old city and 1/5 in the downtown area of the pilot zone.

scholarly journals Evidence for the long-term contribution of upstream agricultural practices and land use on the biodiversity and function of an estuary and adjacent coastal areas

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martins Irene ◽  
Teixeira Zara ◽  
Gonçalves Ana Marta ◽  
Bessa Ana Filipa ◽  
Verissimo Helena ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Coastal Areas ◽  
And Function

scholarly journals Dynamics of carbon loss from an arenosol by a forest/vineyard land use change on a centennial scale

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Solène Quéro ◽  
Christine Hatté ◽  
Sophie Cornu ◽  
Adrien Duvivier ◽  
Nithavong Cam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Land Use Change ◽  
Organic Amendment ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Vertical Gradient ◽  
Soil Horizon ◽  
High Carbon ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen

Abstract. Few studies have focused on arenosols with regard to soil carbon dynamics despite the fact that they represent 8 % of the world's soils and are present in key areas where food security is a major issue (e.g. in Sahelian regions). As for other soil types, land use changes (from forest or grassland to cropland) lead to a loss of substantial soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and have a lasting impact on the SOC turnover. Here we quantified long-term variations in carbon stocks and their dynamics in a 80 cm deep Mediterranean Arenosol that had undergone a land use change from forest to vineyard over more than 100 years ago. Paired-sites of adjacent plots combined with carbon and nitrogen quantification and natural radiocarbon (14C) abundance analyses revealed a stock of 50 GtC ha−1 in the 0–30 cm forest soil horizon, which was reduced to 3 GtC ha−1 after long-term grape cultivation. TOC in vineyard was dramatically low, with around 1 gC kg−1 and no vertical gradient as a function of depth. 14C showed that deep ploughing (50 cm) in vineyard plot redistributed the remaining carbon both vertically and horizontally. This remaining carbon was old carbon (compared to that of the forest), which had a C : N ratio characteristic of microbial OM and was probably stabilized within organomineral associations. Despite the drastic degradation of the OM pool in this Arenosol, this soil would have a high carbon storage potential if agricultural practices, such as grassing or organic amendment applications, were to be implemented within the framework of the 4 per 1000 Initiative.

Central Otago - Built on gold, growing on grass.

2014 ◽  
Vol 76 ◽  
pp. 15-23
Author(s):  
Barrie J. Wills
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Land Use ◽  
National Economy ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Economic Potential ◽  
District Council ◽  
Definition Of

A warm welcome to our "World of Difference" to all delegates attending this conference - we hope your stay is enjoyable and that you will leave Central Otago with an enhanced appreciation of the diversity of land use and the resilient and growing economic potential that this region has to offer. Without regional wellbeing the national economy will struggle to grow, something Central Government finally seems to be realising, and the Central Otago District Council Long Term Plan 2012-2022 (LTP) signals the importance of establishing a productive economy for the local community which will aid in the economic growth of the district and seeks to create a thriving economy that will be attractive to business and residents alike. Two key principles that underpin the LTP are sustainability and affordability, with the definition of sustainability being "… development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

Interrelationships between municipal spatial policy strategy and airport operation and development. Lodz Airport case study

2018 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-79
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Nikorowicz-Zatorska
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Urban Planning ◽  
Cultural Development ◽  
The Other ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Spatial Management ◽  
The One ◽  
Surrounding Areas

Abstract The present paper focuses on spatial management regulations in order to carry out investment in the field of airport facilities. The construction, upgrades, and maintenance of airports falls within the area of responsibility of local authorities. This task poses a great challenge in terms of organisation and finances. On the one hand, an active airport is a municipal landmark and drives local economic, social and cultural development, and on the other, the scale of investment often exceeds the capabilities of local authorities. The immediate environment of the airport determines its final use and prosperity. The objective of the paper is to review legislation that affects airports and the surrounding communities. The process of urban planning in Lodz and surrounding areas will be presented as a background to the problem of land use management in the vicinity of the airport. This paper seeks to address the following questions: if and how airports have affected urban planning in Lodz, does the land use around the airport prevent the development of Lodz Airport, and how has the situation changed over the time? It can be assumed that as a result of lack of experience, land resources and size of investments on one hand and legislative dissonance and peculiar practices on the other, aviation infrastructure in Lodz is designed to meet temporary needs and is characterised by achieving short-term goals. Cyclical problems are solved in an intermittent manner and involve all the municipal resources, so there’s little left to secure long-term investments.

Defining the Environment

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cymie R. Payne
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Fundamental Aspect ◽  
Environmental Damage ◽  
Jus Post Bellum ◽  
Complex Concept ◽  
Scientific Analysis ◽  
Environmental Integrity ◽  
Healthy Functioning

The principle of ‘environmental integrity’ is a fundamental aspect of jus post bellum. Human life, economy, and culture depend on a healthy, functioning environment. However, environmental integrity is a complex concept to describe. Doctrinal thresholds for legally material environmental damage (significant, long-term, widespread) do not capture it. This chapter interrogates the jus post bellum literature and then turns to scholarship on wilderness management in the Anthropocene era, which also engages with the meaning of ‘environmental integrity’, ‘naturalness’, ‘unimpaired’, or, in the words of the Factory at Chorzów case which sets the international law standard for reparations of damage, ‘the situation which would, in all probability, have existed if that act had not been committed’. Recognition that pristine or historical conditions are often impossible to recover or maintain leads to the legal, ethical, and scientific analysis of evolving environmental norms that this chapter offers.

scholarly journals Effect of ecological and conventional managements on soil enzymatic activities in coffee agroecosystems

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 420-428
Author(s):  
Johana Juliet Caballero Vanegas ◽  
Karen Bibiana Mejía Zambrano ◽  
Lizeth Manuela Avellaneda-Torres
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Management ◽  
Climatic Variability ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Enzymatic Activities ◽  
Acid And Alkaline Phosphatase ◽  
Dry Seasons ◽  
Synthetic Fertilizers ◽  
Coffee Agroecosystems ◽  
Alkaline And Acid Phosphatase

ABSTRACT Understanding the impacts of agricultural practices on soil quality indicators, such as enzymatic activities, is of great importance, in order to advance in their diagnosis and sustainable management. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of ecological and conventional agricultural managements on enzymatic activities of a soil under coffee agroecosystems. The enzymatic activities were associated with the biogeochemical cycles of nitrogen (urease and protease), phosphorus (acid and alkaline phosphatase) and carbon (β-glucosidase), during the rainy and dry seasons. Physical-chemical soil proprieties were also assessed and related to resilience scores linked to the climatic variability reported for the areas under study. The activities of urease, alkaline and acid phosphatase and ß-glucosidase were statistically higher in ecological agroecosystems than in conventional ones. This may be attributed to the greater application of organic waste in the ecological environment, as well as to the absence of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, which allow better conditions for the microbial activity. The resilience scores to the climate variability that showed the highest correlations with the assessed enzymatic activities were: the farmers' knowledge on soil microorganisms, non-use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers and non-dependence on external supplies. It was concluded that the enzymatic activities are modified by the management systems, being specifically favored by the ecological management. This agroecosystem, in the long term, ensures an efficient use of the soil resources, with a lower degradation and contamination.

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