Object-Based Geomorphological Mapping: Application on an Alpine Deep-Seated Gravitational Slope Deformation Contest (Germanasca Valley, Western Alps—Italy)

This research reports the use of a new method of geomorphological mapping in GIS environments, using a full-coverage, object-based method, following the guidelines of the new geomorphological legend proposed by ISPRA–AIGEO–CNG. This methodology is applied to a tributary valley of the Germanasca Valley, shaped into calcschist and greenschist, of the Piedmont Zone (Penninic Domain, Western Alps). The investigated sector is extensively affected by dep-seated gravitational slope deformation (DSGSD) that strongly influences the geological setting and the geomorphological features of the area. The mapping of these gravitational landforms in a traditional way creates some difficulties, essentially connected to the high density of information in the same site and the impossibility of specifying the relationships between different elements. The use of the full-coverage, object-based method instead is advantageous in mapping gravitational evidence. In detail, it allows for the representation of various landforms in the same sector, and their relationships, specifying the size of landforms, and with the possibility of multiscale representation in the GIS environment; and, it can progressively be update with the development of knowledge. This research confirms that the use of the full-coverage, object-based method allows for better mapping of the geomorphological features of DSGSD evidence compared to classical representation.

Potentially Toxic Elements in Oasis Agricultural Soils Caused by High-Intensity Exploitation in the Piedmont Zone of the Tianshan Mountains, China

Considering the pollution of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the soils of China, the present study analyzed the current state and influencing factors of PTEs in oasis soils using the model of absolute principal component score–multiple linear regression in the piedmont zone of the Tianshan Mountains. The possible non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks of PTEs at current concentrations were also explored using a human-health risk-assessment model. The results suggested that the extent to which potentially toxic elements in the soils of different geographical units in the study area is affected by human activities varies considerably. The PTEs Cd and As in the soils of the Yili River Watershed were the most strongly influenced by human activities, reaching levels of 40% and 59%, respectively. However, in the Bortala River Watershed, Cu, Cd, and As were the most strongly influenced by human activities, reaching levels of 33%, 64%, and 76%, respectively. Geographical units with a high degree of economic development (e.g., the Yili River Watershed) had, in contrast, low levels of PTE pollution caused by human activities, which may be related to the regional economic development structure. The human health risk assessment showed that the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks of PTEs are currently below the threshold. However, increasing the arsenic content to 1.78 times the current level in the Bortala River Watershed would lead to carcinogenic risk. For the Yili River Watershed, a 3.33-fold increase in the arsenic content above its current level would lead to a carcinogenic risk. This risk should be addressed, and targeted environmental-protection measures should be formulated. The present research results will provide important decision support for regional environmental protection.

Improvement of the assortment to optimize grape production technology in the Anapo-Taman zone

Дан обзор результатов ампелографической оценки перспективных розовоягодных сортов винограда Анюта, Аркадия розовая, Виктор, Памяти хирурга в условиях Анапо-Таманской зоны Краснодарского края. Агротехника соответствовала общепринятой для данной культуры и зоны. Схема посадки - 3,0 х 2,5 м. Кусты формировались по типу высокоштамбового двуплечего горизонтального кордона. Все агробиологические учеты проводились по общепринятым методикам. На кустах формировалась одинаковая нагрузка побегами и гроздями. Анализ метеорологических условий периода вегетации, агробиологических и хозяйственно-технологических показателей изучаемых сортов свидетельствует о том, что почвенно-климатические условия Анапо-Таманской зоны Краснодарского края являются благоприятными для их возделывания в неукрывной культуре. Сорта Виктор и Аркадия розовая были отнесены к группе сортов очень раннего срока созревания, сорт Памяти хирурга - раннего, а сорт Анюта - к группе сортов среднепозднего срока созревания. Суммирование рангов сортов по признакам позволяет классифицировать их по комплексной ценности (в убывающем порядке ряда): Виктор, Анюта, Аркадия розовая и Памяти хирурга. В конце ряда - контрольный сорт Кишмиш лучистый. То есть все сорта народной селекции по комплексу биолого-хозяйственных признаков превосходят контрольный сорт и потому их следует рассмотреть как перспективные для районирования в Южно-Предгорной зоне Краснодарского края. Анализ результатов исследований показал, что для производства свежего столового винограда в условиях Анапо-Таманской зоны Краснодарского края в неукрывной культуре рекомендуется выращивание выделившихся по комплексу биолого-хозяйственных признаков сортов Виктор, Памяти хирурга, Аркадия розовая и Анюта. The article provides the summary of results on ampelographic assessment of promising rose-berry grape varieties ‘Anyuta’, Arcadia Rose’, ‘Victor’, ‘Pamyati Khirurga’ in the Anapo-Taman zone of the Krasnodar Territory. Agricultural techniques corresponded to those generally accepted for the given culture and zone. The planting pattern was 3.0 x 2.5 m. The bushes were trained as high-head two-armed horizontal cordons. All agrobiological surveys were carried out according to generally accepted methods. Identical loading with shoots and bunches was trained on the bushes. The analysis of meteorological conditions of the growing season, agrobiological and economic-technological parameters of the studied varieties indicates that the soil and climatic conditions of the Anapo-Taman zone of the Krasnodar Territory are favorable for their cultivation in open-earth culture. The varieties ‘Victor’ and ‘Arcadia Rose’ were attributed to the group of very early ripening varieties, the variety ‘Pamyati Khirurga’ - early, and ‘Anyuta’ - mid-late ripening varieties. Summing-up of varietal ranges according to the characteristics allows classify them according to their complex value (in range in descending order): ‘Victor’, ‘Anyuta’, ‘Arcadia Rose’ and ‘Pamyati Khirurga’. The control variety ‘Kishmish Luchistyi’ is at the end of this range. It means that all varieties selected by local inhabitants are superior to the control variety in terms of the complex of biological and economic characteristics, and therefore they should be considered as promising for zoning in the South Piedmont zone of the Krasnodar Territory. The analysis of the research results showed that in order to produce fresh table grapes in the Anapo-Taman zone of the Krasnodar Territory in open-earth culture, it is recommended to cultivate the varieties ‘Victor’, ‘Pamyati Khirurga’, ‘Arcadia Rose’ and ‘Anyuta’, distinguished by a complex of biological and economic characteristics.

Pre-Alpine Tectono-Stratigraphic Reconstruction of the Jurassic Tethys in the High-Pressure Internal Piedmont Zone (Stura di Viù Valley, Western Alps)

We present a detailed description of the tectono-stratigraphic architecture of the eclogite-facies Internal Piedmont Zone (IPZ) metaophiolite, exposed in the Lanzo Valleys (Western Alps), which represents the remnant of the Jurassic Alpine Tethys. Seafloor spreading and mantle exhumation processes related to the Alpine Tethys evolution strongly conditioned the intra-oceanic depositional setting, which resulted in an articulated physiography and a heterogeneous stratigraphic succession above the exhumed serpentinized mantle. “Complete” and “reduced” successions were recognized, reflecting deposition in morphological or structural lows and highs, respectively. The “complete” succession consists of quartzite, followed by marble and calcschist. The “reduced” succession differs for the unconformable contact of the calcschist directly above mantle rocks, lacking quartzite and gray marble. The serpentinite at the base of this succession is intruded by metagabbro and characterized at its top by ophicalcite horizons. Mafic metabreccia grading to metasandstone mark the transition between the “complete” and “reduced” successions. The character of the reconstructed succession and basin floor physiography of the IPZ metaophiolite is well comparable with the Middle Jurassic–Late Cretaceous succession of both the Queyras Complex (External Piedmont Zone) and the Internal Ligurian Units (Northern Apennines) and with modern slow-spreading mid-ocean ridges.

Geomorphic signatures of the neotectonic activity in Haridwar-Kotdwar region, Northwestern Himalaya, India

<p>In this study, we investigate the ongoing crustal deformation in the Haridwar-Kotdwar piedmont zone of the Northwestern Himalaya, India. The Himalayan mountain front has been actively deforming along the Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT) which marks the conjunction between the Siwalik hills and the Indo-Gangetic Plains. We report NNE-SSW trending left lateral strike-slip fault towards the west of the study area namely Haridwar Fault (HF) and it offsets the HFT sinistrally by ~ 9 Km. Using the satellite imagery (Cartosat-1 stereo pairs) flat-lying uplifted river terrace have been identified, which is at an elevation of ~80 m from the flood plain of Mitthawali River. Along with uplifted terraces, the HF offsets various structural features, the rivers flowing across it and manifests itself as a series of scarps and slope breaks visible in the satellite imagery. The Khoh River Fault (KRF) trends N-S and offsets HFT dextrally by ~12 Km, this controls the course of the Khoh River and forms a lateral ramp perpendicular to HFT. The KRF manifests itself geomorphically as uplifted terraces at an elevation of ~50 m from the flood plain of the Khoh River which is conspicuous in the DEM and the Cartosat-1 imagery of the area. The Haridwar-Kotdwar piedmont zone has been surrounded in the north by HFT, in the south by Najibabad Fault (NF), towards east by KRF and the western margin has been dissected by HF. The KRF and HF show signatures of neotectonic activity and offsets HFT at two locations forming two ramps in the region. The piedmont zone has been showing signatures of upwarping which causes sudden migration of the rivers flowing into the piedmont zone on a decadal scale, mainly caused by an E-W trending NF. NF is a blind fault and manifests itself geomorphically by series of knee turn bending of the rivers in the study area. The deformation caused by NF has been comprehended using the satellite imageries and Gradient Length Anomalies (GLA). The GLA results show signatures of upliftment in the piedmont zone along the NF. The Haridwar-Kotdwar piedmont zone is surrounded by neotectonically active faults from four sides, making this block a potential seismic hazard in near future.</p>

The use of deep-laid pits when using precipitation runoff for irrigation in the mountain-piedmont zone

Purpose: to study the effect of nonlinear soil movement in a deep-laid pit when designing an above-ground reservoir for irrigation as part of a system for regulating the precipitation runoff in the mountain-piedmont zone, subject to the technical regulations on the structure safety and subsequent safe operation. Materials and methods: the construction of a deep-laid pit in difficult geological design conditions in the mountain-piedmont zone of a hydraulic structure, which is responsible in terms of safety, namely, a system for regulating the rainfall runoff for irrigating agricultural land, prompted us to a more detailed study of measures to prevent soil uplift. In the analysis two conditions were modeled, namely, the construction of a deep-laid pit for an above-ground reservoir in the mountain-piedmont zone for irrigation without measures to prevent soil uplift and with appropriate measures. Results and discussion: when analyzing the results of soil uplift calculation without taking additional measures, it is stated that the soil uplift has a negative impact on the reservoir and in this case the hydraulic structure safety is not ensured. As an alternative option, the use of pit sheathing with a Larsen sheet pile model VL606a is considered. As a result of numerical modeling using the MIDAS software product, which made it possible to take into account all the factors necessary for solving such problems, it was found that the indicators are included in the confidence zone and, as a result, this structure will meet all safety requirements. Conclusions: when constructing a deep-laid pit without additional measures, the soil uplift is 52.5 cm, and when arranging additional measures in the form of a sheet pile – 1.97 cm, which must be taken into account when designing an above ground reservoir for irrigation as part of a system for regulating the precipitation runoff in a mountain-piedmont zone.