Foothill Region Research Articles

Investigation of the characteristics of low-level jets over North America in a convection-permitting Weather Research and Forecasting simulation

Abstract. In this study, we utilized a high-resolution (4 km) convection-permitting Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) simulation spanning a 13-year period (2000–2013) to investigate the climatological features of low-level jets (LLJs) over North America. The 4 km simulation enabled us to represent the effects of orography and the underlying surface on the boundary layer winds better. Focusing on the continental US and the adjacent border regions of Canada and Mexico, this study not only identified several well-known large-scale LLJs, such as the southerly Great Plains LLJ and the summer northerly California coastal LLJ, but also the winter Quebec northerly LLJ which received less focus before. All these LLJs reach their peak in the nighttime in the diurnal cycle. Thus, the different thermal and dynamic mechanisms forming these three significant LLJs are investigated in this paper. Inertial oscillation theory dominates in the Great Plain LLJ, and the California coastal LLJ is formed by the baroclinic theory, whereas the Quebec LLJ is associated with both theories. Moreover, the high-resolution simulation revealed climatic characteristics of weaker and smaller-scale LLJs or low-level wind maxima in regions with complex terrains, such as the northerly LLJs in the foothill regions of the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachians during the winter. This study provides valuable insights into the climatological features of LLJs in North America, and the high-resolution simulation offers a more detailed understanding of LLJ behavior near complex terrains and other smaller-scale features.

Predictability of extreme southwest monsoon rainfall over Myanmar by using a physics-based empirical modeling approach

The study examines the ability to predict extreme rainfall days (ERDs) in Myanmar, a country frequently affected by severe flooding due to intense rainfall. We used a physics-based model combined with real-world data to forecast ERDs based on the atmospheric ERA5 reanalysis data and records rainfall from 79 different stations in Myanmar. The findings reveal that ERDs are more common in specific regions of Myanmar during certain seasons and are associated with particular atmospheric conditions. In June and July, El Niño's rapid growth phase—which was linked to a large anticyclone anomaly over the Indian Ocean—caused an increase in ERDs in central Myanmar. The region experiences higher rainfall as a result of this anomaly's enhanced moisture transfer. Similar to this, a zonal SLP dipole in eastern Myanmar contributes to higher ERDs from April to September. Additionally, the study finds indicators of possible causation, such as SST anomalies and the SIO dipole index, that are precursors to higher ERDs. Using these physical indicators, prediction models with strong TCC values for monsoon core region and northern Himalayas foothill region of Myanmar at different times demonstrated notable accuracy. The study finds a strong correlation between summer ERDs and monsoon rainfall, indicating that predicting mean rainfall accurately is essential for forecasting ERDs. To comprehend and forecast future changes in these relationships, more research is necessary due to the non-stationarity of predictor-predictand interactions. The discovery clarifies important atmospheric variables that impact extreme rainfall episodes in Myanmar and advances our understanding of these occurrences.

Anatomy of Summertime Upslope Events in Northeastern Colorado: Ammonia (NH3) Transport to the Rocky Mountains.

The Transport and Transformation of Ammonia (TRANS2Am) airborne field campaign occurred over northeastern Colorado during the summers of 2021 and 2022. A subset of the TRANS2Am flights investigated easterly wind conditions capable of moving agricultural emissions of ammonia (NH3) through urban areas and into the Rocky Mountains. TRANS2Am captured 6 of these events, unveiling important commonalities. (1) NH3 enhancements are present over the mountains on summer afternoons when easterly winds are present in the foothills region. (2) The abundance of gas-phase NH3 is 1 and 2 orders of magnitude higher than particle-phase NH4+ over the mountains and major agricultural sources, respectively. (3) During thermally driven circulation periods, emissions from animal husbandry sources closer to the mountains likely contribute more to the NH3 observed over the mountains than sources located further east. (4) Transport of plumes from major animal husbandry sources in northeastern Colorado westward across the foothills requires ∼5 h. (5) Winds drive variability in the transport of NH3 into nearby mountain ecosystems, producing both direct plume transport and recirculation. A similar campaign in other seasons, including spring and autumn, when synoptic scale events can produce sustained upslope transport, would place these results in context.

Assessing the Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Drought in Uzbekistan: Findings from RCP and SSP Scenarios

Future climate change and its impact on drought is critical for Uzbekistan, located in Central Asia, the world’s largest arid zone. This study examines the evolving intensity of climate change and drought events using multi-model ensembles (MMEs) derived from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 and 6 (CMIP5 and CMIP6) simulated under the Representative Concentration Pathway and Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (RCP and SSP) scenarios. The projections show different rates of increase in temperature and precipitation under the RCPs and SSPs. Projected temperature increases are expected to reach up to 2–2.5 °C under SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP3-7.0, by mid-century. By 2080–2099, an increase is projected of 2–3 °C in monthly mean temperatures throughout the year (SSP1-2.6), and a more pronounced increase in summer up to 3–4 °C (SSP2-4.5) and 4–6 °C (SSP3-7.0), with a marked contrast in conditions between the mountainous and desert regions of Uzbekistan. Regional changes in precipitation over the study periods show relatively little variability, except for FD, where notable trends are found. Under SSP1-2.6 and SSP2-4.5, the increase in precipitation is relatively modest, whereas the changes in SSP3-7.0 are more substantial, with some regions experiencing variations of up to 10–20 mm per period. The Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), calculated based on the projected temperature and precipitation, provides an estimate of future drought trends. Our results show increasing aridity under all scenarios by mid-century, with longer-term projections indicating stabilization around different SPEI values by 2100: RCP2.6 and SSP1-1.9 stabilize around −1.0; RCP4.5, RCP6.0, SSP2-4.5, and SSP3-7.0 stabilize around −1.5; while RCP8.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios project values of −2 or less by 2100. Notable differences in the SPEI index are found between lowland and foothill regions. In view of Uzbekistan’s heavy reliance on agriculture and irrigation, which are the sectors that are expected to be mostly affected by climate change, our study provides a scientific basis for informed policy decision-making. This includes various aspects such as planning and management water resources, as well as the broader socioeconomic development of the country.

Lithofacies, changes in mineral composition and reservoir properties of the Maykopian sediments in the Yevlakh-Aghjabedi Depression

Yevlakh-Aghjabadi depression is a well explored oil province located in the Middle Kura basin between Greater and Lesser Caucasus.The study investigates the lithofacial, mineralogical, and collector properties of the Maykopian sedimentary series within the Yevlakh-Aghjabadi depression, focusing on the Oligocene to Early Miocene epoch. Maykop deposits are widely distributed in the foothill regions of the Lesser Caucasus, both at the surface as natural outcrops and in the geological structure of deeper formations. In this article, in addition to core samples, the results of fieldworks have also been widely discussed. The conducted research indicates favorable paleogeographic conditions for oil and gas presence in these depressions. The sedimentary sequence, up to 2200 meters thick, is divided into Lower and Upper Maykopian subgroups, showing fluctuating thickness distribution. The primary source of clastic materials for the Maykopian suit is the Lesser Caucasus Mountain range. The lithological composition consists of clay, sandstones, and conglomerates, influenced by paleogeographic changes and paleochannels. Collector properties vary, with Lower Maykopian sediments exhibiting better characteristics, especially in the south-western part of the basin. The mineralogical composition dominated by fine-grained feldspars, impacts reservoir quality. Maykopian suits in the oil and gas regions of Ganja and Muradkhanli, which encompass the southernwestern and northern-eastern flanks of the Yevlakh-Aghjabedibasin, as well as conducting extensive research on reservoir properties, will enable the proper direction of future exploration activities. For this purpose, the overall condition of the Maykopian suits and the distribution of lithofacies have been analyzed, and the characteristics of hydrocarbon reservoirs have been determined. Keywords: lithology; lithofacies; Maykopian; sandy and clayey sediments; argillaceous sandstones; porosity; permeability.

Uttarakhand State Earthquake Early Warning System: A Case Study of the Himalayan Environment.

The increased seismic activity observed in the Himalayas, coupled with the expanding urbanization of the surrounding areas in northern India, poses significant risks to both human lives and property. Developing an earthquake early warning system in the region could help in alleviating these risks, especially benefiting cities and towns in mountainous and foothill regions close to potential earthquake epicenters. To address this concern, the government and the science and engineering community collaborated to establish the Uttarakhand State Earthquake Early Warning System (UEEWS). The government of Uttarakhand successfully launched this full-fledged operational system to the public on 4 August 2021. The UEEWS includes an array of 170 accelerometers installed in the seismogenic areas of the Uttarakhand. Ground motion data from these sensors are transmitted to the central server through the dedicated private telecommunication network 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This system is designed to issue warnings for moderate to high-magnitude earthquakes via a mobile app freely available for smartphone users and by blowing sirens units installed in the buildings earmarked by the government. The UEEWS has successfully issued alerts for light earthquakes that have occurred in the instrumented region and warnings for moderate earthquakes that have triggered in the vicinity of the instrumented area. This paper provides an overview of the design of the UEEWS, details of instrumentation, adaptation of attributes and their relation to earthquake parameters, operational flow of the system, and information about dissemination of warnings to the public.

Estimation of water consumption volume and water efficiency in irrigated and rainfed agriculture based on the WaPOR database in Iran

ABSTRACT To evaluate the WaPOR model across the entire country of Iran, initially, 16 provinces located in four different climatic regions were selected for calculating and comparing the evapotranspiration using both the FAO-56 method and the WaPOR approach. The comparison of 10-day evapotranspiration values obtained from the FAO56 method and WaPOR demonstrates that the WaPOR model exhibits the highest correlation with FAO-56 values in semi-arid regions, with an R2 = 0.95 and an RMSE = 0.43. The analysis of evapotranspiration variations indicates that the evapotranspiration in the Caspian Sea and Zagros foothill regions has experienced more significant changes from 2015 to 2022. The annual analysis of net blue water productivity demonstrates that the net productivity in rainfed lands strongly depends on the precipitation received. Also, considering the importance of investigating the accuracy of biomass estimation, the correlation between the accuracy of biomass estimation and actual evapotranspiration was examined in four Iran climatic regions. Using the WaPOR model provides acceptable results for water consumption management and assessment in different regions and climates of Iran, particularly in agricultural lands. The WaPOR model can serve as a guide for determining reliable values of evapotranspiration and planning related to water resources in the agricultural sector in Iran.

Impact of Different Sowing Dates on Growth and Pod Yield of Vegetable Pea under Sub-Himalayan Foothills Region of India

Background: The optimum sowing date is crucial among the different agronomic procedures for maximizing output. Optimizing a crop's planting time may be one of the most significant climate resilient tactics for increasing production and hence it becomes necessary to study the crop growth behaviors in changing climatic conditions. The proposed field investigations were undertaken to study the influence of different sowing dates on yield of vegetable pea. Methods: Field investigations were undertaken during Rabi seasons of 2020-21 and 2021-22 at the Vegetable Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (85.67oE - 25.98oN.), which comes under sub-Himalayan foothills region of India. The research study was performed in Randomized Block Design with three replications consisting of eight different sowing dates of vegetable pea. cv. Azad Pea-3 at 10 days interval between each sowing dates. Observations were made on various growth and yield attributing parameters. Result: Results revealed that the parameters under study were substantially affected by various sowing dates. Second week of sowing in November in the years produced maximum plant height at 60 DAS (83.77cm), number of branches per plant (3.97), number of nodules per plant at flowering (26.13), number of green pods per plant (20.80), 10 pods weight (75.67g) and pod yield (52.06q/ha).

Neogene to modern foreland basin development in the Sub-Andean zone of southern Bolivia and northern Argentina, 21−23°S

The Sub-Andean retroarc region is a unique example of an active continental-scale retroarc foreland basin system. Heavily targeted for hydrocarbon exploration, the region hosts a large volume of subsurface data coupled to surface studies dedicated to refining its evolution in time and space. This paper presents a regional correlation of stratigraphic markers from seismic reflection and well logs across the Sub-Andean foothills at 23−21°S in southern Bolivia and northern Argentina, which reveals the contrasting along-strike history of Mesozoic to Cenozoic tectonics that preceded the foreland basin setting. Supported by published geochronological data and new zircon U-Pb maximum depositional ages, we describe the depositional transition from pre-Andean to Andean stratigraphy and discrete episodes of foreland basin subsidence and shortening. Based on interpreted stratigraphic breaks, we define the extent and stepwise evolution of this foreland basin, which was characterized by the progressive eastward migration of foreland basin depozones. Based on restored thickness profiles, we present flexural models of basin subsidence for the Sub-Andean foothills region. The modeling of discrete episodes of foreland basin subsidence refines the widely accepted bimodal elastic strength in the foreland basin at 21−23°S, which is weaker in the western ranges (∼20 km effective elastic thickness) and stronger eastward (>40 km). Modeling results also reveal minimum values of subsidence rates (up to 1.2 mm/yr) in the sequential foredeep depozones and suggest that the modeled tectonic load migration—as constrained by the record of syntectonic strata—probably increased over time through the incorporation of Sub-Andean rocks into the orogenic wedge.

Formulation and Validation of Organic Insect Pest Management Module for Pests of Cabbage and Cauliflower in Valley and Foot Hills Region, Manipur, India

During the rabi seasons from 2017 to 2020 in the valley and foothill regions of Imphal, Manipur, a study was conducted to design and test three different organic insect pest management modules M1, M2 and M3 for cabbage and cauliflower. The focus was on three major pests: cabbage butterfly, diamondback moth, and cabbage aphid. Module three (M-3) emerged as the most effective strategy, incorporating various organic practices. This included seed treatment with Trichoderma harzianum at 10g/kg seed and soil drenching in nursery plots at 25g/100 m2, intercropping with mustard, application of anonnin extract at 5 ml/litre, Spinosad 45% SC (biopesticide) at 3ml/10 litres, and Verticillium lecanii at 10 ml/litre. Additionally, the module incorporated the installation of yellow sticky traps for aphids and pheromone traps for diamondback moths for monitoring and mass trapping. The results indicated that Module 3 performed well than other modules and the control group in reducing insect pest incidence on cabbage and cauliflower with the number of cabbage butterfly ranging from 0.07 to 0.11, in both cabbage and cauliflower, where as 0.06 to 0.04 in case of Diamond back moth and 0.21 to 0.47 number of cabbage aphid per square inch leaf area with B:C ratio of 1:12.4 and 1:12.7 for cabbage and 1:6:39 and1:6.41 for cauliflower at lamphel and lanol fields, respectively. Moreover, it contributed to an increased yield, demonstrating its superiority in organic insect pest management for both valley and foothill regions. This underscores the effectiveness of a holistic and integrated approach to pest management in organic farming practices.

Phytocoenotic Distribution of Hulthemia persica (Michaut ex Juss.) Bornm. (Rosaceae) under Different Ecological Conditions in Uzbekistan

The paper presents some of the results of the 2020–2022 studies of 7 communities with the participation of a poorly studied forage and melliferous species, Hulthemia persica, in the Republic of Uzbekistan. The research goal is to identify the phytocenotic confinement of the poorly studied forage and melliferous species H. persica in various environmental conditions in the Republic of Uzbekistan. Phytocoenotic studies in 7 communities have shown that the population numbers of H. persica in the Tashkent Region (Parkentsay) are satisfactory. However, in recent years the strong impact of anthropogenic factors, primarily livestock grazing under natural growing conditions, has affected this species’ abundance, which has gradually disappeared. Large-scale exploration and prospecting, with the development of the oil and gas industry and other technogenic factors, has harmed the state of H. persica; therefore, populations lack young individuals and the cover provided by this species is relatively low. Therefore, it is crucial to strengthen protection measures, which the authors also recommend using for degraded pastures in the desert and foothill regions of the Republic of Uzbekistan. A detailed survey of natural populations and monitoring their condition should be carried out. In particular, H. persica is a promising plant adapted to various environmental conditions and can be used in degraded pastures in desert and foothill regions of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Efficacy of Bacillus sps. and Pseudomonas sps on Growth and Yield of Cherry Tomato in the sub-tropical climate of Prayagraj, U.P., India

Prayagraj is situated at the bank of river Ganga and Yamuna, having humid, hot weather during summer and severe winter that comes under sub-tropical climatic zone. Cherry tomato is a climate-sensitive crop grown successfully in India’s hilly and foothill region. In climatic zone such as Prayagraj, it experiences natural stresses which hamper its growth and development finally affecting yield and quality. PGPRs are the natural source growth regulator which has been found effective in increasing growth and is also known for reducing stresses. Bacillus and Pseudomonas are well-known PGPR that are effective in mitigating stress effects and improving growth and yield. This study is designed to understand Bacillus and Pseudomonas’ efficacy in improving cherry tomato growth and yield in sub-tropical conditions like Prayagraj. Our finding states that Bacillus + Pseudomonas soil application effectively increases plant height (117.33cm), Number of Leaves (106.60), Number of fruits/plant (220), Fruit weight (8.78g), chlorophyll a(0.68 mg/g F/w), chlorophyll b(0.36 mg/g F/w), Carotenoids (0.55 mg/g F/w), Lycopene (156.33µg/g) than compared to control. We also find that soil application was more successful than foliar application.

Monitoring and Mapping rangeland health using remote sensing and GIS methods: A case study in the foothill Artemisia-ephemeral rangeland region in Samarkand

Monitoring and Mapping rangeland health using remote sensing and GIS methods: A case study in the foothill Artemisia-ephemeral rangeland region in Samarkand

SCENARIOS OF THE AREA DEVELOPMENT AS A TOOL FOR TOURISM DESIGN: AN APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT

The development of tourist areas occurs under changing conditions; design solutions can quickly become outdated. The purpose of the study is to develop a method of adaptive scenario planning applicable for the design of tourist areas. The theoretical foundation of the study is a systematic and integrated approaches to the study of tourist areas, and the concepts of the recreation and tourism opportunity spectrum. The research materials include scientific works, cartographic data on sample areas, and the results of a stakeholder survey. We used observation, survey, and cartographic methods. The scenario development process includes 6 stages. The result is the creation of 3 types of interrelated scenarios: 1) spatial scenarios at the level of tourist opportunity zones, 2) spatial scenarios at the level of functional zones, 3) program scenarios. We studied examples of 4 types of tourist areas in the foothill and low-mountain regions of Altai; identified a range of basic tourist opportunities, including 11 types of spatial zones, as well as the features of a set of tourist opportunities for each sample territory. The proposed method for developing scenarios makes it possible to ensure the competitiveness for tourist areas in the future. This is due to having the widest possible provision of opportunities on the territory for different categories of visitors, as well as through monitoring and making changes to program and spatial scenarios at the level of functional zones.

Climate Change Impact on the Trigger of Natural Disasters over South-Eastern Himalayas Foothill Region of Myanmar: Extreme Rainfall Analysis

The study examines the characteristics and variability of monsoon rainfall in Myanmar, focusing on the relationship between heavy rainfall, floods, and earthquakes, which impact agriculture, hydrology, and the environment. Generally, heavy rainfall can cause flooding, economic losses, and water table changes. Northern Myanmar floods occur mainly during the monsoon season from June to October and can be classified into widespread floods along major rivers like Ayeyarwady, Thanlwin, Chindwin, and Sittoung and flash floods in small streams and rivers. Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, including heavy rainfall, which can trigger floods or landslides, which also can in turn cause earthquakes. Heavy rainfall over northern Myanmar and the Sagaing faults, which are the main triggers of earthquakes, has been the subject of several studies. The study uses the Copernicus 5 database of global climate model (GCM) simulations with two scenario analyses on climate change detection and indices (ETCCDI) to study changes in climatic extremes. Results show high intensity in the northern region and monsoon core regions, while the central region shows less intensity. The study also uses intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) curves to analyze the relationship between rainfall duration, intensity, and return time in major risk zones. The study finds that as short duration lengthens, rainfall intensity increases for future rainfall patterns. This information is expected to be convenient for local authorities and flood protection projects in rural and urban basins.

Цитогенетическая характеристика видов рода Chironomus группы ‘‘plumosus’’ (Diptera, Chironomidae) природно-территориальных комплексов Уральского региона

The polytene chromosomes of the cells of the salivary glands of the larvae of Ch. plumosus L. 1758, Ch. entis Shobanov 1989, Ch. borokensis Kerkis et al. 1988 and Ch. curabilis Beljanina et al. 1990 from 20 reservoirs of six natural-territorial complexes of the Ural region were studied. On the basis of a cytotaxonomic study, it was established that natural complexes differ from each other in the species composition of the “plumosus” group, the ratio (in %) between species and, certain parameters of cytogenetic variability of Ch. plumosus, Ch. entis and Ch. borokensis. Comparative analysis revealed differences between groups of natural complexes. A significantly lower frequency of occurrence of sequence of chromosome disks pluA1.2 was found within the Ural plain-mountainous country (Western foothill and Middle Ural low-mountain regions) compared with natural complexes on the eastern slopes of the Southern Urals and the West Siberian Plain at the junction with the Ural mountain range. Populations of Ch. plumosus of the Ural plain-mountain country have lower cytogenetic distances between themselves compared to populations of Ch. plumosus on the eastern slopes of the Southern Urals and the West Siberian Plain at the junction with the Ural Mountain Range. With respect to Ch. entis, these territories differ from each other in the absence of sequence of chromosome disks entА1.2 within the Ural plain-mountain country. According to cytogenetic distances, the populations of Ch. entis on the eastern slopes of the Southern Urals and the West Siberian Plain country at the junction with the Ural Mountain Range differ more from the population of Ch. entis of the Ural plain-mountain country than among themselves. In the north-south direction, it is necessary to indicate a significantly lower frequency of occurrence of sequence of chromosome disks borB1.2 within the Ural plain-mountain country (Eastern Podgorny region) relative to a natural complex with a more southern location within the West Siberian Plain country (Tura Plain region). For Ch. borokensis the interpopulation cytogenetic distances were calculated for the first time (0.0128±0.0017). Differences in this indicator between the natural complexes of the Ural region have not been established.

Modelling on assessment of flood risk susceptibility at the Jia Bharali River basin in Eastern Himalayas by integrating multicollinearity tests and geospatial techniques

AbstractClimate change and anthropogenic factors have exacerbated flood risks in many regions across the globe, including the Himalayan foothill region in India. The Jia Bharali River basin, situated in this vulnerable area, frequently experiences high-magnitude floods, causing significant damage to the environment and local communities. Developing accurate and reliable flood susceptibility models is crucial for effective flood prevention, management, and adaptation strategies. In this study, we aimed to generate a comprehensive flood susceptibility zone model for the Jia Bharali catchment by integrating statistical methods with expert knowledge-based mathematical models. We applied four distinct models, including the Frequency Ratio model, Fuzzy Logic (FL) model, Multi-criteria Decision Making based Analytical Hierarchy Process model, and Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process model, to evaluate the flood susceptibility of the basin. The results revealed that approximately one-third of the Jia Bharali basin area fell within moderate to very high flood-prone zones. In contrast, over 50% of the area was classified as low to very low flood-prone zones. The applied models demonstrated strong performance, with ROC-AUC scores exceeding 70% and MAE, MSE, and RMSE scores below 30%. FL and AHP were recommended for application among the models in areas with similar physiographic characteristics due to their exceptional performance and the training datasets. This study offers crucial insights for policymakers, regional administrative authorities, environmentalists, and engineers working in the Himalayan foothill region. By providing a robust flood susceptibility model, the research enhances flood prevention efforts and management, thereby serving as a vital climate change adaptation strategy for the Jia Bharali River basin and similar regions. The findings also have significant implications for disaster risk reduction and sustainable development in vulnerable areas, contributing to the global efforts towards achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

Coenotic diversity of aquatic vegetation of Altai: a preliminary assessment and a list of white spots

The relevance of fundamental hydrobotanical research in the Altai-Sayan ecoregion is due to poor hydrobiological knowledge and the lack of regular monitoring studies of lakes, which are currently actively used for recreational and fish breeding purposes. Within the framework of the project “The current state of the macrophytobenthos of the Altai lakes (ecological and geographical patterns of distribution and threats)”, supported by the Russian Science Foundation, the author began a work on the systematization and interpretation of information on the current state of the vegetation of lakes of various altitude levels in the foothill and mountainous regions of Altai in the Republic of Altai and Altai Territory. A preliminary list of the coenotic diversity of the aquatic vegetation of Altai was compiled within the Brown-Blanquet approach, which includes 6 associations of the class Lemnetea, 21 associations of the class Potamogetonetea and 8 associations of the class Littorelletea uniflorae. A list of syntaxa, first indicated for the region, is given. The main “white spots” in the study of aquatic and semi-aquatic vegetation are listed. These are the lack of information about the communities of macroalgae and bryophytes, the lack of reliable data on communities formed by hybrids of aquatic and semi-aquatic plants, confirmed by molecular taxonomy data, and the lack of information on the long-term dynamics of macrophytobenthos in Altai lakes.

Directional analysis of community wildfire evacuation capabilities

Wildfires are a natural part of forest ecosystems, but sometimes pose a threat to communities. In Canada, when public safety is threatened by a wildfire encroaching into the wildland-urban interface (WUI), fire management agencies will recommend that local authorities evacuate the area. If a fire spreads quickly towards a community and egress capacity is insufficient, public safety can be compromised. This paper presents an interdisciplinary approach for assessing community directional vulnerabilities for wildfire evacuation, combining techniques from wildland fire science and transportation engineering. For a selection of communities in Alberta that were assessed as being potentially vulnerable to wildfire, we explored the directional configuration of the transportation network in relation to a directional assessment of wildfire exposure. We first plotted the viable fire pathways and transportation facility characteristics, and then compared estimated fire encroachment times against estimated community egress times, directionally around each community to show evacuation vulnerabilities. Our results show that some communities, mainly within the Boreal Forest, Foothills and Rocky Mountain natural regions, have egress routes that are highly exposed to potential wildfire encroachment. Our findings also indicate that the evacuation timing for some larger communities needs attention, given relationships between estimated fire travel times and evacuation times. The results can be used to inform evacuation preparedness planning and proactive mitigation efforts.

О сезонной изменчивости характеристик тропопаузы в предгорных районах Северного Кавказа по данным ERA-5 (Copernicus) и MERRA-2 (NASA)

Based on the ERA-5 (Copernicus) reanalysis database, the seasonal variability of the height and thickness of the tropopause in the atmosphere is shown for the foothill region near the city of Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia-Alania, Russia. Two algorithms are used to determine the boundaries of the tropopause and its thickness (here it is the vertical distance between the upper and lower boundaries of the tropopause), based on the definition of the cold point and the gradient definition of the World Meteorological Organization. It is shown that in the summer season the tropopause is higher and less thick, while in cold seasons the tropopause is lower and has a significant thickness (sometimes two tropopauses are recorded). The observed seasonal variability of the tropopause height is compared with that calculated theoretically for the adiabatic temperature. Satisfactory correspondence of some characteristics of the tropopause is observed. Statistical estimates of the trends in changes in the height and temperature of the cold point of the tropopause are calculated, which are in satisfactory agreement with the corresponding trends calculated theoretically on the basis of trends in changes in surface temperature according to the MERRA-2 (NASA) reanalysis data in the study area.