Sequence Analysis of Several Ancient River Blocking Events in the Suwalong Reach of the Upper Jinsha River Based on Multidisciplinary Approaches, SE Tibetan Plateau

The temporary or permanent river blocking event caused by mass movement usually occurs on steep terrain. With the increase of mountain population and land use pressure and the construction of water conservancy and hydropower projects, river blocking event has gradually attracted people’s attention and understanding. The study area (Wangdalong-Gangda reach) is located in the upper reaches of the Jinsha River and the southeast edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Affected by strong tectonic activity in the Jinsha River suture zone and the rapid uplift of the Tibetan Plateau, in the past 6000 years, there have been at least five obvious river blocking events in the reach of about 30 km in the study area. The number and density are very rare. Combined with the field investigation, indoor interpretation, laboratory tests, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating, SBAS-InSAR and previous studies, multidisciplinary approaches are used to systematically summarize the analysis methods and further the understanding of one river blocking event and multiple river blocking events from difference perspectives. Especially in multiple river blocking events, we could get the wrong results, even the opposite conclusion if interaction is not considered. Through this study, the general method of analyzing the river blocking event and the problems that should be paid attention to in sampling are given, and relatively reliable historical results of river blocking events are obtained. This method has extensive applicability to the identification and analysis of river blocking events in other areas.

Three different glacier surges at a spot: What satellites observe and what not

In the Karakoram, dozens of glacier surges occurred in the past two decades, making the region one of its global hot spots. Detailed analyses of dense time series from optical and radar satellite images revealed a wide range of surge behaviour in this region: from slow advances longer than a decade at low flow velocities to short, pulse-like advances over one or two years with high velocities. In this study, we present an analysis of three currently surging glaciers in the central Karakoram: North and South Chongtar Glaciers and an unnamed glacier referred to as NN9. All three glaciers flow towards the same region but differ strongly in surge behaviour. A full suite of satellite sensors and digital elevation models (DEMs) from different sources are used to (a) obtain comprehensive information about the evolution of the surges from 2000 to 2021 and (b) to compare and evaluate capabilities and limitations of the different satellite sensors for monitoring relatively small glaciers in steep terrain. A strongly contrasting evolution of advance rates and flow velocities is found, though the elevation change pattern is more similar. For example, South Chongtar Glacier had short-lived advance rates above 10 km y−1, velocities up to 30 m d−1 and surface elevations increased by 200 m. In contrast, the neighbouring and three times smaller North Chongtar Glacier had a slow and near linear increase of advance rates (up to 500 m y−1), flow velocities below 1 m d−1 and elevation increases up to 100 m. The even smaller glacier NN9 changed from a slow advance to a full surge within a year, reaching advance rates higher than 1 km y−1. It seems that, despite a similar climatic setting, different surge mechanisms are at play and a transition from one mechanism to another can occur during a single surge. The sensor inter-comparison revealed a high agreement across sensors for deriving flow velocities, but limitations are found on small and narrow glaciers in steep terrain, in particular for Sentinel-1. All investigated DEMs have the required accuracy to clearly show the volume changes during the surges and elevations from ICESat-2 ATL06 data fit neatly. We conclude that the available satellite data allow for a comprehensive observation of glacier surges from space when combining different sensors to determine the temporal evolution of length, elevation and velocity changes.

Paper Space: High density housing experiments, exploring slope and pathway, in Wellington’s character suburbs

<p>Wellington is a city defined by its hills, and the landscape and terrain have played a significant role in shaping urban growth. The steep terrain adds to Wellington’s striking landscape and contributes to ensuring the city remains compact. However, the incline has often been at odds with the city grid. ‘Paper roads’ or unformed legal roads are an outcome of this tension and provide a residual space in some of Wellington’s inner residential suburbs. The problem of a growing population and lack of housing in Wellington is a well- documented and much discussed issue. Given this continually increasing demand for housing, the desire to conserve character suburbs often comes into conflict with desire to retain Wellington’s compact city form. Wellington City Council is currently undergoing a review of the Urban Growth plan, with the intention of developing strategies for a potential 80,000 new residents in the next 30 years. This thesis suggests a possible method of further densifying proximate Wellington suburbs by utilising residual space provided by ‘paper streets’. More broadly, this thesis will develop and test a model of higher density housing in the identified residual spaces of existing suburbs. Although Wellington’s paper roads have special characteristics, including the public amenity provided and the close relationship to existing built fabric, they also provide the case studies for residential intensification on steep sites. Existing practice for hillside projects largely conforms to the strategy of small elements tumbling down the hillside. The research explores an alternative approach, questioning the negative connotations associated with existing large scale projects. An iterative design process identifies and refines a series of design criteria in order to inform the possibility for intensifying development on these hillside sites. Analysis of the work and literature of celebrated Californian firm, MLTW, informs the approach to developing these sites. The consideration of the public pathway and the experience of inhabitation for both residents and members of the public emerges as a central to the design case study, and the resulting criteria.</p>

Paper Space: High density housing experiments, exploring slope and pathway, in Wellington’s character suburbs

<p>Wellington is a city defined by its hills, and the landscape and terrain have played a significant role in shaping urban growth. The steep terrain adds to Wellington’s striking landscape and contributes to ensuring the city remains compact. However, the incline has often been at odds with the city grid. ‘Paper roads’ or unformed legal roads are an outcome of this tension and provide a residual space in some of Wellington’s inner residential suburbs. The problem of a growing population and lack of housing in Wellington is a well- documented and much discussed issue. Given this continually increasing demand for housing, the desire to conserve character suburbs often comes into conflict with desire to retain Wellington’s compact city form. Wellington City Council is currently undergoing a review of the Urban Growth plan, with the intention of developing strategies for a potential 80,000 new residents in the next 30 years. This thesis suggests a possible method of further densifying proximate Wellington suburbs by utilising residual space provided by ‘paper streets’. More broadly, this thesis will develop and test a model of higher density housing in the identified residual spaces of existing suburbs. Although Wellington’s paper roads have special characteristics, including the public amenity provided and the close relationship to existing built fabric, they also provide the case studies for residential intensification on steep sites. Existing practice for hillside projects largely conforms to the strategy of small elements tumbling down the hillside. The research explores an alternative approach, questioning the negative connotations associated with existing large scale projects. An iterative design process identifies and refines a series of design criteria in order to inform the possibility for intensifying development on these hillside sites. Analysis of the work and literature of celebrated Californian firm, MLTW, informs the approach to developing these sites. The consideration of the public pathway and the experience of inhabitation for both residents and members of the public emerges as a central to the design case study, and the resulting criteria.</p>

Advances in Cable Yarding: A Review of Recent Developments in Skyline Carriage Technology

Purpose of Review Carriages are an integral component of cable yarding systems that are used to harvest timber on steep terrain. They provide the mobility component by allowing a payload to be pulled along a skyline that spans a harvest setting, as opposed to a brute force pulling a load along a slope. While yarder machinery and cable yarding systems are extensively studied and reported, this paper provides a first detailed review of recent developments in carriage technology. Recent Findings There has been significant development in carriage technology in the last decade. In addition to step changes in functionality, they are now also used as technology platforms. This includes integration of geospatial and camera technology to provide for higher levels of automation. There are clear regional drivers that have differentiated carriage development. The need for low mass, versatility, and energy efficiency has generated a demand for electric carriages in the central European market. A focus on safety has driven New Zealand designers to work almost exclusively grapple carriages that no longer need choker setters on the ground being exposed to danger. North American developments include carriages capable of larger payloads to increase productivity and off-set high operation cost. Summary Carriages have developed over time to become complex systems and provide additional capabilities instead of just providing a mobility and transfer mechanism within the yarding systems. By integrating new technologies that provide for greater efficiency and/or automation, carriage developments will help cable yarding systems remain cost-competitive, with high safety standard and environmentally sound.

Soil Related Factors Controlling Erosion And Landslides In Malaysia

The high temperature and rainfall in Malaysia results in intensive tropical weathering and depending on the parent material, the resultant soil can have deep or shallow soil profiles. Thus, a variety of soils can form with different textures (clay content), structure and porosity. With the high rainfall, soils in steep terrain are subjected to surface erosion when exposed or landslides if the rainwater percolates into the soil profile. Key soil-related factors controlling soil erosion and landslides include local climate, parent material of soils and depth of the weathered profile. Slope and geomorphology, vegetation and land use as well as land management practices also influence erosion and landslides. Measures used to control soil erosion and stabilize slopes require improved understanding of soil weathering, erosion, landslide and their linkages in steep terrain.

The Masterful Water Engineers of Machu Picchu

The water engineering achievements of the Inca at Machu Picchu, when defined in technical terms common to modern engineers, demonstrate that the Inca were masterful planners, designers, and constructors. They demonstrated their technical skills through the planning, design, and construction of water supply, fountains, terraces, foundations, walls, and trails. The site of Machu Picchu was a difficult place to build, with high precipitation, steep terrain, and challenging access. Nonetheless, the Inca had the uncanny ability to plan public works and infrastructure in a manner that fit this problematic site and lasted for centuries.

Tool for Quantitative Risk Analysis of Urban Flooding

One of the effects of climate change is an increasing frequency of heavy rainfall events, which in turn leads to increased flooding damage in urban areas. The purpose of this study was to develop a tool for dynamic risk evaluation that can be used to fulfil several of the goals in the European Flood Risk Management Directive. Flood risk analysis was performed as a spatial GIS analysis with the FME software. The primary data source for the analysis was a 1D/2D model calculation, wherein 1D models described the pipeline network and the watercourses and a 2D model described surface runoff. An ArcGIS online platform was developed to visualize the results in a format understandable for decision makers. The method and tool were tested for the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The tool developed in the study enabled the efficient analysis of consequences for various precipitation scenarios. Results could be used to identify the areas most vulnerable to flooding and prioritize areas in which measures need to be implemented. The study showed that for urban areas in steep terrain, it is essential to include water velocity and depth-integrated velocity in risk analysis in addition to water depths and pipe network capacity.

The Role for Drones in Future Aerial Pesticide Applications

Aircraft have been used to apply pesticides for decades, but their use has been largely confined to spraying crops grown on very large fields, mostly in north, central and south America. Aerial spraying has also been vital in controlling locust swarms spread over vast areas. The development of unmanned aircraft, known as drones, has benefitted smallscale farmers as the drone can be controlled effectively over specific areas. Drones have also benefitted vector control by detecting the breeding sites of mosquitoes, which can be sprayed subsequently with larvicides, or controlled by applying space sprays. Smaller drones are an important way of replacing ground methods in difficult to reach areas such as wetlands, steep terrain for vineyards, and small areas of trees.