Evolution of fluvial environments and history of human settlements on the Ticino river alluvial plain

The present contribution aims to provide better knowledge on the evolution of the fluvial environments of the Ticino river alluvial plain, highlighting the complex interaction of the Ticino river and its lateral tributaries with the human communities since the Neolithic. The study considers information derived from historical sources, from previous research on three sites based in the Ticino river floodplain and from data of six archaeological sites located on four alluvial fans. For the investigated sites the analyses of the lithostratigraphy and the archaeological evidence were constrained with radiocarbon dating, providing the interpretation of the depositional context of the studied sequences and their correlation with the cultural periods and epochs defined for the southern Swiss Alps. The combined approach allowed for the definition of 13 phases of enhanced hydro-sedimentary activity from the Neolithic to the contemporary period. The possible palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic causes, as well as the impacts of these phases on the human settlements, are discussed.

Monitoring of Land Degradation in Alluvial Plain in Iraq by Using Geomatics Techniques

Iraq faces a major environmental problem represented by severe deterioration, which threatens its food security. Many natural and human factors combine to make it, and it has dire environmental, economic, social and cultural consequences, most notably the loss of productive lands, the movement of sand dunes, severe sand and dust storms, and the resulting increase in air pollution. This study attempts to identify the development of the problem, analyze its causes and consequences, and propose a number of solutions to address it. In this article Remote Sensing techniques have been used to monitoring land degradation in ( Alluvial Plain ) of Iraq for the stage (1976 - 2021) using different sources of data such as satellite images (Landsat 1-5 MSS 1976, Landsat 5 1996 TM, Landsat8 2016 and sentinel 2 2021), also more than one software was used such as ENVI 5.3 and Erdas image 2015 to extract information from above images, Erdas imagine 2015 was use to sub set area of study, layer stack, merge resolution and classification stage, Arc GIS 10.7 use to make database and maps production), the article used supervise and unsupervised classification techniques to obtain the results, the article indicated that there is a big problem in the year 1976, this problem almost disappeared in the second station of work 1996, but it returned back after that through the results for the years 2016 and 2021. Finally, the article found a deterioration in the soil class during the stages from 2016 (988.547 Km2) to 2021(1342.398 Km2) and a decrease in the area of vegetation cover from (1931.596 Km2) in (2016) to (1632.695 Km2) in (2021).

Bituminous substances in soils of Baikal Rift zone

Parameters of hydrocarbon complex of the soils of lacustrine-alluvial plain and sandy uplands of the Baikal rift zone within the Barguzin Depression have been studied. Data were obtained on organic (non-carbonate) carbon, chloroform and hexane bitumoids, as well as on individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The content, composition and properties of bitumoids vary depending on the intensity of endogenous activity. In soils located in the zone of active unload of hydrothermal waters and hydrocarbon fluids, atypical accumulation of organic carbon was noted; the concentrations of bitumoids do not correlate with its content. High values of the bitumoid coefficient, significant level of polycyclic aromatic compounds and their diversity, in combination with salts accumulation, indicate an additional influx of hydrocarbons and instability of the soil hydrocarbon system. The level of the indicators shifts towards background values in the soils of sandy hills with a complex combination of exogenous and endogenous factors of soil forming. Studied parameters of the soil hydrocarbon system in aggregate can serve as markers of the intensity of endogenous processes.

Changes by use and management in alluvial plain soils in southern Brazil

Agricultural land use causes changes in physical and chemical attributes of the soil, due to the management practices employed the productive capacity of the soil can be compromised under different agricultural systems. The soils of Porto Alegre are quite diverse reflecting the geology, topography and drainage network of the region, and include lowland soils, like the alluvial plain of the Arroio Dilúvio. This study was carried out in four landscape units (Native Forest, Agroforestry System, Horse Farm and Agricultural Crops), to assess changes in soil characteristics after different types of land use and management on the plain of the Dilúvio Arroio. We sampled disturbed and undisturbed soil samples for chemical (pH, EC, V, SOM, CEC, Al3+, H+Al) and physical analysis (porosity, microporosity and macroporosity). These chemical and physical attributes of the soils, especially pH, V%, SOM, CEC and Al3+, underwent changes under the different types of land use and management, with significant differences. Most changes were detected in the cropland soils. Multivariate analysis demonstrated the influence of the different types of land use, at the surface, land use and management had the greatest influence, while at depth, the proximity of the areas was the predominant factor.

Magnitude, frequency, trends of heat and cold waves in recent decades and impact assessment in wheat: the case of north Bihar, India

The climatological distribution of heat and cold waves of two important agro-climatic zones zone-I (North Alluvial Plain), zone-II (North East Alluvial Plain) of the middle Indo-Gangetic Basin of Bihar state of India was analyzed. We used series of daily maximum and minimum temperature data from 1969-2015 of five stations. Results reveal that zone-I and zone-II experienced 248/184 and 275/199average number of heat and cold events, respectively. The trend analysis exhibited almost similar results for both the zones. The zone-I experienced on an average 4.22 and 7.22 heat and cold wave days per season (hot & cold weather period), respectively. There was a non-significant increasing trend @ +0.04/year for heat waves and significant decreasing trend for cold waves (-0.13/year). Zone-II on an average experienced 3 and 12 HW and CW events per season (hot and cold weather period), respectively. In this zone, heat waves were found to be increasing @ +0.11/year, whereas, significant decreasing trend was found for cold waves (+0.32/year). Study also revealed that, heat waves were more frequent and longer in June and May in zone-I and zone-II, respectively. Whereas, cold waves were more freq uent and longer in January for both the zones. These extreme events have profound impact on wheat crop if coincides with its critical stages. However, shifting planting dates and adoption of heat tolerant varieties may help in minimizing the negative impact of these extreme events.

Groundwater Flow Modeling: A Case Study of the Lower Rusizi Alluvial Plain Aquifer, North-Western Burundi

The study area, in northwestern Burundi, is an alluvial plain consisting of fine clayey sands and coarse sands with mixed lithology. The aquifer of the lower Rusizi plain could be considered as confined under a clay layer. A 2D horizontal groundwater flow model was developed under steady-state conditions using the Modflow software. The study aims to determine the most productive areas of this confined alluvial aquifer and the main aquifer inflow and outflow values together with the recharge and river–aquifer interactions. The groundwater potential is dependent on the spatial distribution of hydraulic conductivity and aquifer thickness values providing the local transmissivity values. The calibrated model made it possible to assess the spatial distribution of the hydraulic conductivity values at the regional scale, which ranged from 6 × 10−6 (contact between alluvial plain and Precambrian basement) to 7.5 × 10−3 m/s (coastal barriers). The results also provided the computed groundwater flow directions, and an estimation of the groundwater levels in areas not yet investigated by drilling. The results of the computed groundwater flow budget allowed us to deduce that recharge and river–aquifer interaction constitute the main inflow while the downwards boundaries (where piezometric heads could be prescribed) are the main zones where outflows occur. The results of this model can be used in the planning of pumping test programs, locating areas with high groundwater potential to plan water supply for different private and public users. This predictive tool will contribute to the resolution of problems related to the use and integrated management of the groundwater resource in this part of Burundi.

Climatic conditions of the development of tourism and leisure on the Żuławy Alluvial Plain

Based on the data for the years 1981–2014 from two meteorological stations located in the central and northern part of the Żuławy Alluvial Plain, the climatic conditions for the development of tourism and recreation in this area were analyzed. The factors contributing to this type of activity are the average temperatures in the fall and winter months higher than in central Poland and lower temperatures in the summer months, a relatively small number of hot and very hot days, as well as ice and very ice days. The central part of the analyzed area is characterized by lower precipitation totals, lower relative humidity, lower number of steamy days, lower cloud cover, and a high number of days with less than 50% cloudiness than the northern part, which is favorable to tourism in this area. Due to the small number of days with snowfall and snow cover over 8 cm thick, the possibility of skiing here is limited.