Triggering Mechanism of Extreme Wind over the Complex Mountain Area in Dali Region on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, China

Wind disasters are responsible for significant physical destruction, injury, loss of life, and economic damage. This study examined the extreme wind triggering mechanism over a typical mountain area with complex terrain, i.e., Dali city in Yunnan Province on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau in China. Using the observation data, we first optimized the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model configuration and parametrization schemes for better simulating the wind in this area using a 1-month simulation. Then, the triggering mechanism of extreme wind was investigated by performing a series of sensitive experiments based on a typical extreme wind case. The results indicate that terrain uplift is critical for triggering the local 8–9-scale (the wind velocity between 17.2 and 24.4 m/s) extreme winds over high topography regions. When a large-scale atmospheric circulation is passing, accompanied with regional terrain lifting, the instantaneous wind velocity can reach 9- to 10-scale (the mean wind velocity between 20.8 and 28.4 m/s), causing broken power lines. These results suggest that it is essential to avoid sites where these factors can affect the operation of power transmission lines, or to establish warning systems in the existing systems.

A new species of “rooster coomb”, Euploca decorticans (Heliotropiaceae), from the highlands of the state of Goiás, Brazil

Euploca decorticans, is here described and illustrated as a new species from a heretofore poorly collected mountain area in Goiás state, Brazil. It is most morphologically similar to E. salicoides, one of the most widely distributed taxa of the genus in Brazil but differs from that species in several features related to habit (height and growth aspect), leaves (shape, trichome types, and venation pattern), flowers (size, corolla shape, length, color), inflorescence (length), fruits (diameter and trichome types) and nutlets (shapes), among other features. We include a distribution map besides photos and drawings of the new species, and we also discuss its conservation status.

Analysis of rock mass behavior with Empirical and Numerical method for the construction of diversion tunnel, Laos

Tunneling construction in the mountain area is a challenge for engineers and geotechnicians because of instability due to the presence of discontinuities. The objective of this paper is the modeling of surrounding rock masses for the stability of the diversion tunnel to predict the behavior of rock masses during the excavation process for the Nam Phoun hydropower station project in Laos. Field investigation and laboratories test was realized; Empirical methods as Rock mass designation and Geological Strength Index were performed, rock masses were classified in three categories (RM-1, RM-2, and RM-3); in situ stresses were obtained from existing equations, numerical modeling was performed by the 2D plane strain finite element code Phase2 developed by Rocscience, using Generalized Hoek-Brown criterion for each type of rock masses. The results of numerical modeling show the strength zones of stresses and deformations around the tunnel and predict the instabilities around the tunnel during excavations processes. Thus, for all rock’s masses, it will be necessary to consider an analysis for the supports design before the excavation’s process. The findings of this study allow a clearer understanding of the importance to assess a predictive analysis of slope stability during the feasibility phase of a project by engineers to have an idea of instabilities and its significant in preventing the impact on the cost of the project.

Theoretical and experimental analysis on environmental pollution with exhaust gases at the mechanical dislocation of rocks, located in a protected nature environment

The paper approaches the theoretical and experimental analysis of the level of exhaust gas pollution in a protected nature environmental, located in the mountain area, for excavation a trench. Due to the legislative provisions prohibiting the use of explosives in the nature reservation or other protected nature environmental areas, the mechanized excavation solution remains the only viable option. Excavation the trench through the mechanized solution must be carried out, taking into account the maximum level of pollution with exhaust gases provided in the legislative norms. According to the geotechnical data, the rock composition to be excavated on the route will be of different hardness, which involves impactors of various powers to displace the rock, on the one hand, and on the other, different excavators and bulldozers for the handling the material resulted from excavation. The theoretical research required to solve the problem has several stages, of which we mention: choosing the correct mechanization solution for displacing the hard and very hard rock; determination of fuel consumption, and energy consumption, respectively, transformation of the energy consumed in the liquid fuel necessary for the tool driving engines, and which generate exhaust gases.

Assessing Household’s Food Security in Patarasi Rural Municipality of Jumla District of Karnali Province, Nepal

Food security in mountain areas has always been a matter of concern. The purpose of this study is to examine the food security situation and coping strategies in rural households in a mountain area. Following the descriptive research approach, data is collected through implying household survey, semi-structured interview, and observation method. The food security situation is analyzed through four dimensions of food security: food availability, access to food, utilization of food, and stability. The result shows households depend mainly on markets as their main source of household food and households follow inadequate food consumption and the majority of households' food consumption patterns constitute either borderline or poor. Households apply short-term food consumption coping strategies such as lending money from friends or buying food on credit. The study recommends that farming households be supported in terms of both short-term and long-term strategies to improve food production and supply.

Geothermal Reservoir Identification based on Gravity Data Analysis in Rajabasa Area- Lampung

Gravity research in the Rajabasa geothermal prospect area was conducted to determine geothermalreservoirs and faults as reservoir boundaries. The research includes spectrum analysis and separation of the Bouguer anomaly to obtain a residual Bouguer anomaly, gradient analysis using the second vertical derivative (SVD) technique to identify fault structures or lithological contact, and 3D inversion modeling of the residual Bouguer anomaly to obtain a 3D density distribution subsurface model. Analysis was performed based on all results with supplementary data from geology, geochemistry, micro-earthquake (MEQ) epicenter distribution map, and magnetotelluric (MT) inversion profiles. The study found 3 (three) geothermal reservoirs in Mount Balirang, west of Mount Rajabasa, and south of Pangkul Hot Spring, with a depth of around 1,000-1,500 m from the ground level. Fault structures and lithologies separate the three reservoirs. The location of the reservoir in the Balirang mountain area corresponds to the model data from MEQ, temperature, and magnetotelluric resistivity data. The heat source of the geothermal system is under Mount Rajabasa, which is indicated by the presence of high-density values (might be frozen residual magma), high-temperature values, and the high number of micro-earthquakes epicenters below the peak of Mount Rajabasa.

Prevalence of Bovine Genital Campylobacteriosis, Associated Risk Factors and Spatial Distribution in Spanish Beef Cattle Based on Veterinary Laboratory Database Records

Bovine genital campylobacteriosis (BGC) is a sexually transmitted disease that causes early reproductive failure in natural breeding cattle that are managed extensively. The aim of this study was to assess the BGC prevalence in Spain from 2011 to 2019 using data collected cross-sectionally from the diagnostic reports issued by the SALUVET veterinary diagnostic laboratory from a total of 5,182 breeding bulls from 1,950 herds managed under “dehesa” systems (large herds within fenced pastures and all-year breeding season) or mountain systems (smaller herds with seasonal breeding management and grazing in communal mountain pastures). Infection was detected by PCR in 7.7 and 12.2% of the bulls and herds tested, respectively. The “dehesa” herd management system (OR = 2.078, P = < 0.001, 95% CI = 1.55–1.77), bovine trichomonosis status of the herd (OR = 1.606, P = 0.004, 95% CI = 1.15–2.22), and bulls ≥3 years old (OR = 1.392, P = 0.04, 95% CI = 1.01–1.92) were identified as risk factors associated with Campylobacter fetus venerealis infection. We also studied the high-risk areas for circulation of the infection in extensive beef cattle herds in Spain, showing four significant clusters in “dehesa” areas in the south-western provinces of the country and a fifth cluster located in a mountain area in northern Spain. The results obtained in the present study indicate that BGC is endemic and widely distributed in Spanish beef herds. Specifically, “dehesa” herds are at greater risk for introduction of Cfv based on relatively high local prevalence of the infection and the use of specific management practices.

Adaptability evaluation of TRMM over the Tianshan Mountains in central Asia

Accurate precipitation in mountain area is very important for evaluating the hydrological process and ecological problem. With the satellite data having been widely used in the past few decades, adaptability evaluation becomes the principle problem. The adaptability of TRMM 3B43 in mountain area of Central Asia was analyzed in this study. The TRMM product was compared with the observed data for the period of 2000-2006. Four statistic parameters were introduced based on the statistical analysis theory. The results show that the bias reached -13.93% over the entire regions, and the correlation coefficients over 70% of stations were greater than 0.70. According to the accuracy analysis of TRMM, we found the errors have significant differences in time and space. On the whole, the precision in the warm seasons is much higher than that in the cold seasons. The precision of the southern and eastern areas is higher than the other areas in space. Additionally, the accuracy of TRMM with elevation was acceptable at very significant level. This study indicates that the precipitation from TRMM 3B43 could be applied in the Tianshan Mountains in Central Asia. It could provide reference for the use of new data source in the mountain area.