FEATURES OF NATURAL HYDRATION BY THE TYPES OF ARABLE LAND LOCATIONS OF THE SANAA BASIN

The aim of the study is to study the possibility of obtaining agricultural products from dry lands in arid climatic conditions of mountain areas, depending on natural moisture availability. The concept of types of arable land locations was introduced. The entire variety of locations of arable land in the Sanaa basin is divided into five types of locations depending on the location of a particular one or another form and relief element. The characteristics of the types of locations of the main wadi, intermountain basin, plain and other forms of relief of the Sanaa basin are given. The methodology for assessing the natural moisture availability of the types of locations of arable land of the main landforms was developed. Based on the materials of experimental field work on drain-forming sites and literary sources, the values of the runoff coefficients of the exits of indigenous rocks, loose eluvial, deluvial-proluvial and alluvial sediments of arable lands were determined and adopted for the calculation of natural moisture availability.

Sedimentological characteristics and aeolian architecture of a plausible intermountain erg system in Southeast China during the Late Cretaceous

Along with intensification of global warming, severe desertification has already impaired human sustainable development. In a near-future greenhouse world, the total area of desert will increase, and new types of desert may emerge. During the “greenhouse” Cretaceous, conventional large paleo-ergs developed in broad topographic basins, and many possible ergs developed in small-scale intermountain basins, which are unusual in near-modern times and less studied. A comprehensive study of their sedimentary architecture and mechanisms would refine our interpretation of desertification in a near-future “greenhouse” world. The Xinjiang Basin is a typical small-scale intermountain basin in Southeast China that formed >300 m of successive aeolian deposits during the early Late Cretaceous. In this study, we applied detailed facies and architecture analyses to the Tangbian Formation (K2t) in 16 outcrops throughout the Xinjiang Basin and reconstructed a three-dimensional sedimentary model for the intermountain ergs. We confirmed that the Tangbian Formation formed in a typical intermountain paleo-erg and summarized in detail the differences in sedimentary architecture between intermountain ergs and broad topographic ergs. We noticed that the “greenhouse” state during the Late Cretaceous seems to have been suitable for the development of ergs in intermountain basins due to the hot, arid climate conditions and penetrating winds with sufficient transport capacity. Therefore, we suggest that in addition to the ongoing expansion of broad topographic ergs, the emergence and development of intermountain ergs in a near-future “greenhouse” world would also contribute to global desert expansion and massive desertification.

A METHODOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF MONITORING SPRINGS IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE UKRAINIAN CARPATHIANS

The purpose of the study is to generalize methodological approaches to monitoring springs in the territory of the Carpathian National Natural Park and to identify the main hydrological and hydrochemical laws of their functioning. We conducted research of springs outlined outside the Carpathian National Natural Park (CNNP) – the first (1980) and one of the largest (504.95 km2) nature parks in Ukraine, located in the territory of Ivano-Frankivsk region. The office is located in Yaremche, Ivano-Frankivsk region. Inventory and accounting of springs is included in the plan of annual nature conservation activities held in the park. In 2019, after the grant of two wetlands in the Carpathian National Park (Prut and Pogorelets) international status and their inclusion in the list of wetlands protected by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Imports of International Imports especially as Waterfowl Habitat, 1971 – the study of environmental components, including springs, becomes more relevant and practical.There are all the necessary conditions for a comprehensive study of natural groundwater output to the surface – scientific, logistical and informational base. For the period 2011-2019 about 40 expeditions were conducted to study the springs located in three main natural complexes on the territory of the Carpathian NNP: the Outer Gorgany, the Yasinsky-Verkhovynsky intermountain basin, the Chernogora massif. In the hydrological aspect, it is a Prut river basin (left tributary of the Danube). The main methodological approaches for monitoring springs were developed and consistently implemented. The general monitoring algorithm, which is considered in the article, can be presented in the form of a flowchart with successive steps: 1) collecting available information about the springs 2) field surveys of the first level (description of the springs and their mapping) 3) field surveys of the second level (measuring flow rates and water sampling); 4) regular observations on reference springs. The water mineralization of most springs in the Carpathian NPP (about 90%) is in the range of “very fresh” and “normally fresh” – 30-500 mg/dm3 (according to the classification of Valentyn Khilchevskyi). There are springs with very low salt content – “extremely fresh” (10-30 mg/dm3), and sometimes “super fresh” with a salinity of less than 10 mg/dm3. Such a low level of spring water mineralization corresponds to the norms of the regional natural background of the salt content in unpolluted atmospheric precipitation.

Research into natural factors of the Trans‐Baikal region influencing air quality of a city located in an intra‐continental intermountain basin: the example of the Tugnui basin

Aim. The study of the degree of influence of natural factors in the Trans‐Baikal region on the quality of the air of the city of Petrovsk‐Zabaykalsky, which lies in an intermountain basin. Material and Methods. The geomorphology and climate of the intermountain basins of the Trans‐Baikal regions, as well as their separation by orographic features, were studied. Missing points were identified which need for further scientific research regarding the influence of natural factors of the Trans‐Baikal region on the quality of the air. Results. Geographical and natural factors in the formation of the qualitative composition of the atmosphere of cities located in intracontinental intermountain basins are presented. Studies were conducted from 2005 to 2015 at three observation posts (hereinafter – OP) in the city of Petrovsk‐Zabaykalsky (Н1 = 800 m; Н2 = 860 m; Н3 = 895 m). The dynamics of the average values of pollutant content in the air of the city of Petrovsk‐Zabaykalsky for the period 2005‐2015 were considered (based on field observations from three OPs), as well as the dynamics of the atmospheric pollution index of benzo(a)pyrene in the air in Petrovsk‐Zabaykalsky for the period 2005‐2015. Geoecological threats were assessed together with the geographical mechanisms responsible for them and the dynamics of atmospheric air pollution of a characteristic situation (the Tugnui basin and atmospheric air of the city of Petrovsk‐Zabaykalsky) were studied. The regular occurrence of extremely dangerous concentrations of pollutants in the atmosphere of cities located in intermountain basins is presented. Conclusion. The author’s research into the influence of natural factors (using the example of the Tugnui basin) on the air quality of a city on the National Priority List (e.g. the city of Petrovsk‐Zabaykalsky) showed that extremely dangerous concentrations of pollutants, especially substances of the first hazard class, namely benzo(a)pyrene, are created because of geographical factors.

Identifying the deep groundwater recharge processes in an intermountain basin using the hydrogeochemical and water isotope characteristics

The hydrogeochemical and stable isotopes of water (δD and δ18O) were combined to investigate the deep groundwater recharge processes in the geologically complex intermountain basin (Kathmandu Valley). Results of the stable isotopic composition of the deep groundwater compared with global and local meteoric water lines and d-excess showed the deep groundwater as a meteoric water origin which is insignificantly affected by evaporation. The analysis suggests the deep groundwater was recharged during high rainfall periods (wet season). Additionally, the control of seasonal variation was absent in the deep groundwater and in the spring water samples. The large range of isotopic composition distribution was due to the altitude affect, whereas variations are from the various geological settings of the infiltration encountered during the recharge processes. The tri-linear diagram showed Na-K-HCO3 and Ca-Mg-HCO3 as the two major water types. The distribution of water types in this intermountain basin was found to be unique compared to other basins. Ionic concentration of the samples was found to be higher in the central part than in the periphery due to the ion exchange processes. This study determines the spatial distribution of various recharge processes that depends upon the environment during rainfall and the geological settings.

The MCS intensity distribution of the devastating 24 August 2016 earthquake in central Italy (MW 6.2)

<p>Here we describe the macroseismic survey of the 24 August 2016 earthquake in central Italy (M_W 6.2). By applying a revised version of the Mercalli-Cancani-Sieberg scale, we estimated the site intensity in more than 300 localities of Lazio, Abruzzi, Umbria and Marche regions, providing the Civil Protection with a quick and robust snapshot of the earthquake. The most severe effects are focused south of the instrumental epicenter, in the Amatrice intermountain basin, where intensity reached 10-11 MCS. Highest damage (area inside 9 MCS isoseismal) is focused in a NNW-SSE belt of the hangingwall of the causative faults, i.e. the southern segment of the Mount Vettore fault system and the northern segment of the Laga Mounts fault system, with northward damage propagation in the far-field. The intensity dataset allows to evaluate a M_W 6.16±0.5, which is very close to the instrumental magnitude, with a seismogenic box striking N161°, mimicking the geological active faults. Epicentral intensity is I_0 10 MCS, I_MAX 10-11. The elevated level of destruction is mainly due to the high vulnerability of buildings, mostly made by cobblestone masonry. Integrating the macroseismic information with the geological, geodetical and geophysical data it is possible to hypothesize a bidirectional rupture propagation (toward NNW and SSE) along the two different faults. It is also possible to attribute the 1639, M_W 6.0 earthquake to the same source of the southern 2016 rupture (northernmost Laga Mounts faults).</p>