Rock Cliffs Research Articles

From mining to tourism: Sustainable management of the former mining area of Tebing Breksi

Abstract Tebing Breksi is a former cliff rock mining site now designated as a geological heritage site conservation area. Since 2014, mining activities in this area have been stopped and transformed into tourism activities. The transformation of former mining areas like this often leads to environmental problems after the mining exploitation process is complete. However, the right approach can transform the area into an attractive tourism destination while maintaining environmental sustainability. This article will examine sustainable management strategies to transform former cliff mining areas into sustainable tourism destinations. Through a qualitative case study analysis and literature review, we identify best practices in designing and managing former cliff mining areas for sustainable tourism. The integration of economic, socio-cultural, and natural environmental factors must be explored to achieve sustainable tourism goals. Our findings show that with strong involvement from various stakeholders and targeted strategy implementation, transforming the former cliff mine area into a sustainable tourism destination is easily achievable while considering socio-cultural aspects. Ex-mining tourism activities provide significant economic and environmental benefits to local communities and the surrounding environment.

Social Media Branding Strategy to Increase the Tourist Attraction of the Palintang Rock Cliffs, Wargaluyu Village

Cadas Palintang Cliff at Wargaluyu village has great natural potential and high value as a tourist destination. Although its popularity among tourists is still limited. This journal aims to strategise branding through the use of social media in an effort to increase interest in tourism at Cadas Palintang Cliff. USing quantitative approach, this journal analises branding strategies which focuses on destination image management, content creation, along with the usage of social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Data is collected through deep interviews with tourism management, social media content analyzer, and direct observation. Study shows that consistent and interesting branding, combined with active interaction on social media, can increase tourist’s interest and broaden the market. Usage of local hashtags, collaboration with influencers, along with visual content which highlights the beautiful nature of Cadas Palintang Cliff became a key element in this strategy. This journal suggests recommendations to tourist’s destination management in optimizing social media to promote tourist’s destination sustainably.

Impact of Environmental Stressors on Jointed Rock Cliffs by Acoustic Emission Sensing: Preliminary Findings from the Acuto Field Laboratory (Central Italy)

Impact of Environmental Stressors on Jointed Rock Cliffs by Acoustic Emission Sensing: Preliminary Findings from the Acuto Field Laboratory (Central Italy)

Tree demographics and soil charcoal evidence of fire disturbances in an inaccessible forest atop the Mount Lico inselberg, Mozambique

Societal Impact StatementHighland forests of Mozambique have been strongly modified by human activities for millennia. Some highlands have sheer rock cliffs and are highly inaccessible to people and appear relatively undisturbed. Evidence from the forest and soils of inaccessible Mount Lico show that the fire regime has changed over the recent millennia. As climate and fire regimes continue to change, management of highland ecosystems will be crucial to sustain the high biodiversity and mountain‐water resources that provide key ecosystem services to people living close to these forests.Summary The sheer rock cliffs of the Mount Lico inselberg, northern Mozambique, is relatively inaccessible to people. A 0.57 km2 forest covers the top of the isolated mountain, and the tree demographics and soil offer an opportunity to investigate the long‐term fire ecology of the forests of the western, leeside of the mountain and potential for changing regional hydroclimate of the Late Holocene. On the western side of the mountaintop, a 20 × 20 m plot was surveyed for tree taxa, heights and bole diameters. A 220 cm deep pit was dug into the forest soil and analysed to describe the soil texture and carbon content. Charcoal was quantified on sieved subsamples and classified into charcoal morphologies that were then grouped by how readily entrainable on an index score. Three radiocarbon dates were collected from pieces charcoal. The forest is a combination of montane and woodland tree taxa that differed from the older, more mesic eastern side and reflected differential disturbance patterns. The reddish loam soils dated to the Middle Holocene. Charcoal was present in all soil subsamples and varied little until increasing consistently during the past millennium. The charcoal morphologies suggested a combination of locally derived charcoal and charcoal derived from the surrounding lowlands with the latter increasing in the past centuries. Few Holocene paleoenvironmental records have been developed from tropical soils in Africa and are useful in locations that do not host lakes and wetlands. Both tree demographics and soil charcoal suggest that changing forest disturbance regimes began during the past millennium. An understanding of history informs future conservation and appropriate management of these special places.

Gravity-induced collapse of a soft rock cliff due to notch growth

Gravity-induced collapse of a soft rock cliff due to notch growth

Characterizing Seismic Activity From a Rock Cliff With Unsupervised Learning

AbstractPassive seismic monitoring (PSM) is emerging as a tool for detecting rockfall events and pre‐failure seismicity. In this paper, the potential of PSM for rockfall monitoring is assessed through a case study carried out in Gros‐Morne, Eastern Québec, in a region with prominent roadside cliffs, where more than 500 fallen rocks are found on the main regional road each year. The proposed method relies on using sensitive STA‐LTA windows to detect a very large number of seismic events and build a comprehensive catalog. In total, more than 70,000 seismic events were detected over one year. Gaussian mixtures are used to partition the data set. Based on visual inspection of the data, a main working hypothesis is that the seismic events can be clustered into three groups. After analyzing the spatio‐temporal distribution of the events in each group, we find that the events of one cluster can be associated with anthropogenic activity. The frequency of occurrence of the events of the different clusters and their link with meteorological data is also examined through a regression exercise, to assess the importance of the meteorological variables as explanatory variables. The results allow us to postulate on the physical origins of the signals in the different clusters, attributing them to rockfall activity and wind‐induced seismic noise.

An Analysis of the Slope Stability of Young Rock Cliffs in Sibang, Bali Using GEO5

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of slope stability for young rock cliffs in the Sibang region of Bali, employing advanced geotechnical software GEO5. The investigation is crucial due to the dynamic geological conditions and rapid changes in land use in the area, posing potential risks to infrastructure and environmental stability. The research focuses on young rock cliffs, characterized by recent geological formations, which are inherently susceptible to slope instability. This slope stability analysis is carried out using the GEO5 auxiliary program which will produce a Safety Factor value which is used as the basis for building a construction which interprets whether the slope is safe or not. The safety factor value used as the minimum value is 1.5, so the slope must have a SF value ≥ SF min = 1.5. This analysis was carried out on 4 cross sections with 2 method which name is Morgenstern-Price and Bishop Method because the analysis carried out was complex in terms of force and moment. The Safety Factor of cross section on BH-03 to BH-01 is not safe because the value is 1,16 and 1,15 which is < 1,5 (the minimum safety factor). Therefore, the slope must modelled with terraced slopes and also retaining wall reinforcement for each modelled terrace height.

Evaluation of an innovative, open-source and quantitative approach for the kinematic analysis of rock slopes based on UAV based Digital Outcrop Model: A case study from a railway tunnel portal (Finale Ligure, Italy)

This paper presents a novel, cost-effective method for a rapid and quantitative characterization of discontinuities in fractured rock cliffs using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-derived Digital Outcrop Models (DOMs). The proposed workflow combines manual extraction of discontinuity data from the DOM with a kinematic analysis using an automated algorithm (ROKA), which upgrades and renews the traditional Markland's test. The case study, a designed railway tunnel portal in NW Italy (Finale Ligure) demonstrates the advantages and limitations of this approach compared to current methods. Manual mapping is compared with (semi-)automatic extraction of discontinuity data from the DOM and validated with field-based scan lines. The results show that in complex geological settings, manual mapping provides more statistically robust and geologically reliable measurements of discontinuity orientation, validated by the user's expertise. Traditional stereographic approaches in kinematic analysis are limited in characterizing spatially variable slopes and discontinuity networks, providing only generic estimations of unstable slope surfaces and discontinuity intersections. This limitation is overcome by new algorithms that incorporate 3D spatial relationships of both the discontinuity network and the rock slope, resulting in a more accurate and site-specific kinematic characterization of the rock cliff, emphasized by 3D visualizations of the critical planes and potential rock failure volumes. The new approach significantly impacts the time, effort, and cost of the engineering projects, allowing to quantitatively define the potential unstable areas with a fast analysis. The Authors stress the importance of integrating digital workflows with comprehensive field-based characterizations of the local litho-stratigraphic and structural setting to effectively utilize large datasets and partially automated procedures.

Autecology of the gecko Phyllopezus periosus (Squamata: Phyllodactylidae) inhabiting rock cliffs of a waterfall canyon from the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil

Phyllopezus periosus is the largest phyllodactilid in Brazil, with a relictual distribution in the Caatinga Domain. Herein, we investigated the autecology of P. periosus, describing activity patterns, microhabitat use (spatial niche dimension), foraging mode, body temperature, reproduction, diet (trophic niche dimension), and temperature. Also, we tested the influence of seasonality and ontogeny on these biological aspects. Geckos (n = 116, 54 females, 33 males, and 29 juveniles) were sampled from October 2013 to September 2014. Phyllopezus periosus has an unimodal activity pattern, with peak activity in the early hours of the night. Males are more robust than females, and forelimbs in females are longer than in males. The body temperatures of this thermoconformer gecko are higher in the dry season. The reproductive season begins in the early dry season, with a fixed clutch of two eggs. Although we did not find evidence of more than one clutch per year, the studied population of P. periosus reproduces for an extended period throughout the dry season, as highlighted by the presence of juveniles all year. Phyllopezus periosus is saxicolous and presents a generalist diet composed mainly of arthropods, also including vertebrates such as frogs and lizards.

Modelling and Stability Assessment of the Rock Cliffs and Xrobb l-Ġħaġin Neolithic Structure in Malta

The stability of rock cliffs is a longstanding issue and is of practical significance. This case study demonstrates the application and use of advanced 3D modeling techniques, concentrating on the geological formations of the Xrobb l-Ġħaġin peninsula on the south-east coast of Malta, where the Xrobb l-Ġħaġin Neolithic site is located. In order to utilize a static and dynamic analysis of the investigated scenario, a 3D finite element model (FEM) of the geological formation in which the monument is set had to be created. To this end, 3D scanning, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and oblique photogrammetry were first used with state-of-the-art commercial packages for mesh reconstruction. As a result, a geometric and finite element model (FEM) was created, suitable for both static and dynamic analysis. In the second stage, a parametric investigation of the material properties of the structural system of the geological substrate was sought. The structural response of the system was evaluated for different loading scenarios assuming nonlinear finite element analysis. Collapse case scenarios were investigated for standard and weakened materials, predicting which components would collapse first and under which case of weakened materials the collapse occurs. Among other aspects, the main novelty of this paper lies in the integrated approach and multidisciplinary paradigm that supplement the available historical knowledge for this specific cultural heritage Neolithic site towards its conservation.

The abundance and distribution of sandflies (with emphasis on Phlebotomus pedifer) (Diptera: Psychodidae) along the altitudinal gradient in Kindo Didaye district, Wolaita Zone, South Ethiopia.

Understanding the distribution patterns of medically significant sandflies is crucial for effective vector and disease control planning. This study focused on investigating the abundance and distribution of phlebotomine sandflies, specifically emphasizing Phlebotomus pedifer (Diptera: Psychodidae), the vector of Leishmania aethiopica responsible for cutaneous leishmaniasis in the highlands of southern Ethiopia. The study employed CDC light traps and sticky paper traps in various habitats, including human houses, farm fields, and rock cliffs, with and without the presence of hyraxes. The study was conducted along an altitudinal gradient in Kindo Didaye district, Wolaita Zone. A total of 7,994 sandflies belonging to 2 genera, Phlebotomus (26.1%) and Sergentomyia (73.9%), were collected. In the genus Phlebotomus, P. pedifer (74.1%) was the most abundant, followed by P. alexandri (18.05%) and P. gibiensis (7.85%). Altitude showed a strong positive association with the density and distribution of P. pedifer and a negative association with those of P. alexandri, P. gibiensis, and Sergentomyia spp. Furthermore, the study revealed distinct habitat preferences, with P. pedifer showing the highest mean density in hyrax dwellings, followed by human houses, and the lowest in farm fields. These findings provide valuable insights for planning targeted control measures against P. pedifer in both indoor and outdoor environments, particularly in the highland and midland areas of the study region.

Rare microbial taxa as the major drivers of nutrient acquisition under moss biocrusts in karst area.

Karst rocky desertification refers to the process of land degradation caused by various factors such as climate change and human activities including deforestation and agriculture on a fragile karst substrate. Nutrient limitation is common in karst areas. Moss crust grows widely in karst areas. The microorganisms associated with bryophytes are vital to maintaining ecological functions, including climate regulation and nutrient circulation. The synergistic effect of moss crusts and microorganisms may hold great potential for restoring degraded karst ecosystems. However, our understanding of the responses of microbial communities, especially abundant and rare taxa, to nutrient limitations and acquisition in the presence of moss crusts is limited. Different moss habitats exhibit varying patterns of nutrient availability, which also affect microbial diversity and composition. Therefore, in this study, we investigated three habitats of mosses: autochthonal bryophytes under forest, lithophytic bryophytes under forest and on cliff rock. We measured soil physicochemical properties and enzymatic activities. We conducted high-throughput sequencing and analysis of soil microorganisms. Our finding revealed that autochthonal moss crusts under forest had higher nutrient availability and a higher proportion of copiotrophic microbial communities compared to lithophytic moss crusts under forest or on cliff rock. However, enzyme activities were lower in autochthonal moss crusts under forest. Additionally, rare taxa exhibited distinct structures in all three habitats. Analysis of co-occurrence network showed that rare taxa had a relatively high proportion in the main modules. Furthermore, we found that both abundant and rare taxa were primarily assembled by stochastic processes. Soil properties significantly affected the community assembly of the rare taxa, indirectly affecting microbial diversity and complexity and finally nutrient acquisition. These findings highlight the importance of rare taxa under moss crusts for nutrient acquisition. Addressing this knowledge gap is essential for guiding ongoing ecological restoration projects in karst rocky desertification regions.

Tempat Persarangan Lebah Hutan (Apis dorsata F.) di Pulau Sermata

The aim of the study was to determine the nesting sites of Apis dorsata (F) forest bees. the method used in this research was a descriptive survey. The results showed that trees and rock cliffs are nesting sites for forest bees on the island of Sermata. The Banyan tree is a tree that is preferred as a nesting place for forest bees (4 trees) in addition to Mango trees (2 trees), Salawaku (2 trees) , Kemiri (1 tree) , and Parna (1 tree). The height of the nesting places of forest bee colonies on trees and rock cliffs from the ground is at an altitude of 2.82 m to 27.40 m. The mango tree is the lowest forest bee nesting tree, while the highest is found in the banyan tree (20.51 m) and rock cliff 27.40 m. The habitat for the most forest bee colonies was 95 colonies in the range > 0-100 masl and 20 colonies in the range > 100-200 masl. The number of forest bee nests found in the locations of the villages of Regoha, Rotnama, Lelang, and Elo was 115 colony nests.

Potential rockfalls in the periglacial zone of the Polish High Tatras: Extent and kinematics

The study offers the first attempt to combine the identification of rock cliffs particularly prone to rockfall with estimates of the potential trajectories and kinetic energies of the material released in this way in the Tatra Mountains. The results obtained suggest that the potential energy of the relief and the initial size and shape of the rock fragments released have not fundamentally changed since the complete disappearance of the glaciers. It was also found that the degree to which glacial and periglacial landforms are buried by such material depends not just on the location, number and size of the release areas or rockfall frequency but also on the kinetic energy of the rock material released. The rockfalls observed in recent years and those perceived as potentialones are linked not so much to permafrost degradation as to the relief, geology and weather conditions.

Деревянные предметы из древнекорякского захоронения в нише на мысе Братьев, обнаруженные С. П. Ефимовым в 1976 году (залив Бабушкина, Северное Приохотье)

The relevance of studying the ancient Koryak culture of the Northern Okhotsk region is noted. A difficult problem is the study of its funeral rituals. One of the most promising sites for studying the ancient Koryak burial complexes is Cape Bratyev and Cape Bukhty Malaya Astronomicheskaya. The article discusses wooden items from the burial in the niche under a stone at Cape Bratyev in the area of Babushkin Bay. The wooden objects are identified as parts of a compound bow. The closest to Cape Bratyev bow fragments are ancient Eskimo bows. Information is provided about wooden finds at ancient Koryak sites. The presented data demonstrate the research potential of the ancient Koryak burial complexes in the Northern Priokhotye. The unsatisfactory condition of some burials, as well as natural destruction of the rock cliff and movement of boulders, among which the burials are located, determine the need for immediate research of these archaeological sites.

Georeferencing of terrestrial radar images in geomonitoring using kernel correlation

ABSTRACT Terrestrial radar interferometry (TRI) provides accurate observations of displacements in the line-of-sight (LOS) direction and is therefore used in various monitoring applications. However, relating these displacements directly to the 3d world is challenging due to the particular imaging process. To address this, the radar results are projected onto a 3d model of the monitored area, requiring georeferencing of the 3d model and radar observation. However, georeferencing relies on manual alignment and resource-intensive on-site measurements. Challenges arise from the significant disparity in spatial resolution between radar images and 3d models, the absence of identifiable common natural features and the relationship between image and spatial coordinates depending on the topography and instrument pose. Herein, we propose a method for data-driven, automatic and precise georeferencing of TRI images without the need for manual interaction or in situ installations. Our approach (i) uses the radar amplitudes from the TRI images and the angle of incidence based on the 3d point cloud to identify matching features in the datasets, (ii) estimates the best-fitting transformation parameters using Kernel Density Correlation (KDC) and (iii) requires only rough initial approximations of the radar instrument’s pose. Additionally, we present the correct relation between cross-range and azimuth for ground-based radar instruments. We demonstrate the application on a geomonitoring case using TRI data and a point cloud of a large rock cliff. The results show that the positions of the radar image can be localized in the monitored 3d space with a precision of a few metres at distances of over 1 k m . This is an improvement of almost one order of magnitude compared to what had been achieved using standard approaches and direct observation of the radar instrument’s pose. The proposed method thus contributes to the automation of TRI data processing and improved localization of small-scale deformation areas detected in radar images.

3D Finite-Element Numerical Failure Prediction of the E.T. Sea Stack Formation at Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park

Sea stacks, natural pillars of rock, are borne from shoreline rock cliffs and eventually collapse by wave action and other erosional processes. While historical instances of sea stack failure have occurred within Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park in New Brunswick, comprehensive assessments of sea stack stability and predictions of future failure are in their early stages. This study aims to forecast the future failure of the E.T. sea stack formation. Photographs taken from an unmanned aerial vehicle of the stack are used to construct a digital 3D geometry model of the formation using Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry. To determine the anticipated failure threshold, 3D finite-element (FEM) numerical models of the stack were developed in RocScience RS3 software. Erosion from wave action during high tides is simulated by progressively reducing the width of the stack within the erosion zone. The erosion rate is estimated, by comparing superimposed historical and current images of the stack, to be 19.19 mm/year perpendicular and 2.26 mm/year parallel to the shoreline. Two erosion types are modelled: symmetrical isotropic and asymmetrical anisotropic. Symmetrical isotropic models imply uniform erosion, while asymmetrical anisotropic models feature two orthogonal erosion rates with directional width reductions from the end of each erosion axis. Stability of the formation in the FEM model is evaluated using maximum shear strain, total displacement, yielded elements, and major principal stress values. The symmetrical isotropic models suggest a probable failure period between 101 and 127 years after 2021. The asymmetrical anisotropic models, however, indicate that failure could occur approximately 40 years earlier. Overall, failure of the stack experiencing asymmetrical anisotropic erosion seems to occur when the supporting pillar is about to erode under the stack’s centroid. With further validation, through additional modelling, the centroid of sea stacks has the potential to be used as a guideline for predicting sea stack failure.
 

Sebaran dan Karakter Morfologi Lebah Madu Hutan Apis dorsata (F.) di Pulau Sermata Kabupaten Maluku Barat Daya

This study aims to determine the distribution and morphological characteristics of the forest bee (Apis dorsata F.) on Sermata Island, Southwest Maluku Regency. The research was conducted in Pupliora Village, Mahaleta Village, Rumkisar Village and Batu Gajah Village on Sermata Island from November to December 2021. The method used in this study was a survey methode on each nest of A. dorsata [F.] forest honeybees on Sermata Island. The results showed that the distribution of Apis dorsata F. forest honey bee hives found on Sermata Island was 51 active nest colonies and 37 inactive nests, at an altitude of 38-215 m asl, with nesting sites found, namely mango trees, breadfruit trees, banyan trees, salawaku trees and rock cliffs. For heights from the ground surface ranging from 4-29 m. The average size of the morphometric characters of Apis dorsata worker bees found was body length 2.0-2.2 cm, head width 0.4-0.5 cm, body length 2.0-2.2 cm, head width 0.4-0.5 cm, head 0.4-0.6 cm. Front wing length 1.3-1.4. The size of the hind wings is 0.9 cm, and the length of the hind legs is 1.1-1.2 cm.

Application of the Kinematic Assessment of Multi-Faced Slopes Using Stereographic Projection: The Case Study of a Planar Failure on the Spondylus Coast, Ecuador

This manuscript presents a relevant practical application of the stability analysis of multi-face slopes that uses the concept of the restricted daylight envelope in multi-faced slopes (MFS). The methodology was applied to the back analysis of a case study of a failed slope in mudstones and sandstones on the Spondylus coast in Ecuador. The instabilities analyzed included several rock cliffs with dihedral rock faces in mudstones. It is interesting to analyze the failure mechanism of these natural coastal slopes because, on the Spondylus coast, several hotels and tourist spots are located near the upper parts of some similar regions. The stereographic projection methodology can simulate complex geometries and simplify the analysis.

Gneissic tors in the central European upland: Complex Late Pleistocene forms?

Bedrock outcrops punctuating regolith-covered surfaces in the summit/upper slope and hillside positions (tors and crags) have long been a subject of inquiry in geomorphology for their evolutionary trajectories and now also as valuable geoheritage sites. Methodological advances in research, such as DTM-based geomorphological analysis and terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide inventories, create new perspectives to decipher the spatial and temporal context of tor emergence and decay. The shape, structural controls, 10Be inventories and relation to surrounding medium-scale landforms were studied at thirteen conspicuous bedrock outcrops developed in metamorphic and sedimentary lithologies in the Bohemian-Moravian Highland, Czechia. The shapes of studied bedrock outcrops indicate significant litho-structural controls. The general outline is mainly governed by (sub)vertical joints, whereas the inclination of foliation or bedding planes dictates summit and cliff morphology. Some of the tors described in this study developed in exceptionally densely foliated and jointed gneiss, which does not comply with the generally accepted view of tors as massive rock compartments resisting weathering. A series of rock hardness measurements performed at three gneissic tors using Schmidt hammer show statistically significant within-tor variability of R-values, indicating different exposure times to subaerial weathering. The complexity of landform assemblages, within which studied tors/crags are developed, varies from isolated bedrock outcrops surrounded by smooth slopes covered with debris-rich soils to outcrops accompanied by low rock cliffs, debris-covered steps, slope benches, boulder fields and isolated large blocks. The 10Be inventories reveal ages mostly from the Late Pleistocene and rarely from the Holocene. Summit/upper slope tors and hillside crags show considerable variability in maximum denudation rates ranging from 6.4 ± 0.2 to 105.6 ± 4.8 m/Ma. Paired samples from the summits and cliffs of eight outcrops indicate three possible post-emergence evolutionary scenarios with summit downwearing while keeping the outcrop outline, balanced cliff and summit degradation rate, and backwearing as the dominant degradation process.