Inland Depression Research Articles

The climate and climatological water balance of Brazilian semi-arid mountainous areas and inland depression

The climate and climatological water balance of Brazilian semi-arid mountainous areas and inland depression

Delineation of endorheic drainage basins in the MERIT-Plus dataset for 5 and 15 minute upscaled river networks

The MERIT-Hydro networks re-gridded by the Iterative Hydrography Upscaling (IHU) algorithm do not retain exo- or endorheic basin attributes from the original data. Here we developed methods to assign such attributes to those and any other digital river networks. The motivation is that endorheic inland drainage basins are essential for hydrologic modelling of global and regional water balances, land surface water storage, gravity anomalies, sea level rise, etc. First, we create basin attributes that explicitly label endorheic and exorheic catchments by the criteria of direct or hidden connectivity to the ocean without changing their flow direction grid. In the second step we alter the delineation of endorheic basins by the merging algorithm that eliminates small inland watersheds to the adjacent host basins. The resulting datasets have a significantly reduced number of endorheic basins while preserving the total land portion and topology of the inland basins. The data was validated using the Water Balance Model by comparing volume of endorheic inland depressions with modelled water accumulation in their inland lakes.

Potential aquifer mapping for cost-effective groundwater reverse osmosis desalination in arid regions using integration of hydrochemistry, environmental isotopes and GIS techniques

In arid regions, water resources are scarce; therefore, sea and brackish groundwater desalination using reverse osmosis (RO) techniques is commonly used to provide freshwater for potable purposes. El-Moghra Oasis, a case study of an inland depression, represents an arid region in the Western Desert of Egypt. The oasis relies mainly on the brackish groundwater in El-Moghra Aquifer for salt-tolerant crop irrigation and feeding desalination plants. The RO brackish groundwater desalination conserves about 75% of the total cost compared to seawater as feed water. Accordingly, the main target of the present work is to allocate cost-effective sites for constructing desalination plants to solve freshwater shortages. The hydrogeochemical and isotopic techniques have been applied to understand the aquifer recharge mechanism and the main factors that deteriorate the groundwater quality. Additionally, an Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) relying on the geographic information systems (GIS) utilized to delineate the promising desalination sites. Four main criteria linked with the cost of RO groundwater desalination were investigated, including aquifer hydraulic parameters, hydrogeochemical characteristics, recharge indicators based on isotopic tracers, and other miscellaneous parameters related to the site accessibility and environmental issues. These four main criteria include fourteen sub-criteria; depth to water (DTW), aquifer saturated thickness (ST), transmissivity (T), total dissolved solids (TDS), iron (Fe), total groundwater hardness (TH), calcium sulfate (CaSO4), silica (SiO2), strontium (Sr), oxygen-18 (δ18O), global solar radiation (GSR), land slope (LS) and distance to roads (D). The final suitability map identifies the most favorable locations for constructing a desalination plant is in the northeast, which comprises 64.5% of the study area. The locations with low appropriateness are concentrated in the west and southwest and account for 35.5% of the area.

Sedimentary characteristics and main controlling factors of the Middle-Upper Permian and Middle-Upper Triassic around Bogda Mountain of Xinjiang, NW China

Based on field geological survey, interpretation of seismic data and analysis of drilling and logging data, the evolution of geological structures, stratigraphic sedimentary filling sequence and sedimentary system around the Bogda Mountain were analyzed according to the idea of “structure controlling basin, basin controlling facies and facies controlling assemblages”. The tectonic evolution of the basin around the Bogda Mountain can be divided into nine stages. The Middle-Late Permian–Middle-Late Triassic was the development stage of intracontinental rift, foreland basin and inland depression basin when lake, fan delta and braided river delta sedimentary facies developed. Early intracontinental rifting, late Permian tectonic uplift, and middle-late Triassic tectonic subsidence controlled the shape, type, subsidence rate and sedimentary system evolution of the basin. The Bogda Mountain area was the subsidence center and deposition center of the deep water lake basin in the Middle Permian with mainly deep-water deposition and local gravity flow deposition. This area had tectonic inversion in the Late Permian, when the Bogda Mountain uplifted to form a low bulge and a series of fan delta sand bodies. In the Middle-Late Triassic, subsidence occurred in the Bogda low uplift, characterized by extensive development of braided river delta deposits.

Arthropod fauna of Thymelaea hirsuta in the Egyptian western desert, with a special reference to Olpium kochi

BackgroundNatural and semi-natural ecosystems in the Egyptian Western Desert are in serious danger of being degraded or lost through overgrazing, and overcutting of dominant vegetation, shrubs and trees and tourism activities. The study shows the effect of Man's use during 1990 and recently in 2018 led to desertification.ResultsThymelaea hirsuta (L.) (Thymelaeceae) was an important component (shrubs) in the natural ecosystems of the Egyptian Western Desert that harbors rich arthropod fauna all the year around. The spiders, pesudocorions (Arachnida: Araneae), and insects associated with this shrub were monthly sampled in 1990 at two different protected sites. One is on a very nice coastal ridge, semi-arid site, and the other is in the inland depression, arid site. The sites had distinctive characteristic of populations of non-insect predatory arthropods responding to habitat characteristics. The insects, spiders and pseudoscorpions occurred throughout the year in both sites. However, on the less arid site, the pronounced insect population occurred in winter months while the non-insect was relatively higher in summer months. On the more arid site, the highest insect population was in winter and the non-insect population was higher in autumn. The false-scorpion Olpium kochi Simon (Arachnida, Pseudoscorpionida, Olpiidae), a native rare predator to the Saharan fauna, was very common and its activity reflects its effective predatory role in both sites. In 2017–2018, several visits to the above sites showed that they were completely degraded and most of figs, olive, palm trees and dominant vegetations were removed. The survived shrub populations were very far from each other, sparse very low number and are very poor in arthropod fauna. Thus, several visits were essential to be paid just to collect enough numbers of O. kochi. The life-cycle of O. kochi is through egg-stage and three nymphal instars. There was no active feeding period by the end of each of these stages. Adults can live for 2–4 months. The developmental period takes 10 to 14 months/generation. Cannibalism tendency was among nymphs, but was very rare among fed or starved adults.ConclusionsThe study sites were seriously degraded with irreversible changes. The nice cost ridge was completely degraded and lost by removing the leading dominant vegetations and fruit trees and replacing building houses. Houses replaced most of the site in the inland depression for more desertification.

Gypsum stromatolites from Sawda Nathil: relicts from a southern coastline of Qatar

Sawda Nathil is one of a series of inland depressions (inland sabkhas and salinas) that extend nearly continuously along the Southern Qatar border with Saudi Arabia. Six to eight thousand years ago, these depressions were marine embayments that separated the peninsula of Qatar from the mainland. These embayments in-filled rapidly with marine sediments and dune sands, blown southeastward across Qatar. Over time, they have become progressively more evaporitic. Inland depressions like Sawda Nathil host a set of unique environments within Qatar. Most depressions are close to or below sea level, bringing water near the surface in the driest parts of Qatar. Evaporation to salt saturation creates thick gypsum and halite crusts (sabkhas), as well as shallow hypersaline lakes/ponds (salinas) with spectacular domal microbial gypsum stromatolites. The present ground surface is a mosaic of relict marine facies, deflated dune sands, and inland sabkhas and salinas. Sediment of four short push cores was photographed, described, and sampled for petrographic thin-section and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. Radiocarbon (AMS) as well as optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) age-dating were carried out on three samples. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), carried out on samples from a gypsum stromatolite, was used to resolve the microbial-influence on gypsum precipitation. Radiocarbon dating of marine shells provides ages of approximately 6600 un-calibrated 14C years before present (year BP), coinciding with a well-documented sea-level highstand, approximately 2–4 m higher than present. During that time, Qatar was mostly an island, only connected in the south to the Arabian Peninsula by narrow land bridges (isthmuses). SEM examinations of gypsum stromatolites show gypsum crystals developing in close spatial association with microbial biofilms (filamentous structures). Whether this is purely a passive microbial-influenced gypsum mineralization process or an example where microorganisms actively control the gypsum crystal morphology to obtain ecological advantages, remains to be evaluated.

Sea level rise and inundation of island interiors: Assessing impacts of lake formation and evaporation on water resources in arid climates

AbstractCoasts of many low‐lying islands will be inundated should sea level rise by 1 m by 2100 as projected, thereby decreasing water resources through aquifer salinization. A lesser known impact occurs if rising sea level elevates water tables above interior topographic lows to form lakes. Impacts of lake formation on water resources, however, remain unquantified. Here we use hydrological models, based on islands in the Bahamian archipelago, to demonstrate that on islands with negative water budgets, evaporation following lake inundation can cause more than twice the loss of fresh groundwater resources relative to an equivalent amount of coastal inundation. This result implies that in dry climates, low‐lying islands with inland depressions could face substantially greater threats to their water resources from sea level rise than previously considered.

Distributions of cadmium and lead in peri-urban wetlands as influenced by soil organic matter, clay fraction, and moisture content

AbstractEnvironmental distribution of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) were studied in two wetlands (alluvial plain and inland depression) in Ibadan, Nigeria. Mean and median values of variables measured across the wetlands showed that soil properties varied considerably. Hydraulic conditions, soil organic matter (SOM), and particle size distribution contributed to the distribution of heavy metals recorded. Profile distribution of Cd and Pb maintained two patterns: (1) linear distribution pattern, where concentrations of Cd and Pb increase and decrease respectively, with increase in soil depth and (2) middle depth enrichment. Active carbon (AC), SOM, and clay fraction affected the surface and profile distribution of Cd and Pb. Cadmium showed significant correlation (R2 = −0.61* and 0.64*) with AC and SOM, respectively, while Pb had R2 values of 0.77* and 0.57 with SOM and clay content, respectively. The non-residual fractions of the heavy metals increased with increasing metal loading and SOM. This study is use...

The regional geomorphology of Montenegro mapped using Land Surface Parameters

Despite the large variability of landforms in Montenegro, no attempts have yet been made to regionalize its geomorphology. However, Digital Elevation Models are globally availability and in recent decades we have seen a strong increase in computation possibilities to map and quantify relief. Here, we used the Geomorphon method to define and delineate the geomorphological characteristics of Montenegro, using the ASTER Digital Elevation Model with 30 m resolution. Together with a literature review and field observations, this has led to the preparation of a regional geomorphological map of Montenegro at scale 1:800,000. In total, seven geomorphological regions were recognized: Coastal Montenegro, High Karst, Inland Depression, Durmitor Flysch, Northwestern Highlands, Prokletije and the Northern Cristalline Hills. Karst landforms largely dominate the geomorphology of the country, with the occurrence of numerous dolines, uvala's, large poljes (Gradaj, Grahovo and Njegusi) and karst plateaus (Banjani, Jezerska Povrs). Limestone areas are often dissected by impressive canyons (Moraca, Cijevna, Mala Rijeka, Tara, Susica and Piva), of which the formation is thought to be parallel with that of the ria coast. The latter corresponds to large submerged river valleys that were scoured during the Messinian Salinity Crisis. Besides karst features, a glacial imprint can be found in Montenegro, which is amongst the southernmost in Europe. To conclude, the Geomorphon method allowed making a rapid assessment of the country's main geomorphological characteristics, that could be further defined with existing research and field observations. Furthermore, the method also shows good potential in supporting detailed field-investigations as demonstrated here for the Njegusi polje.

The relationship between current and paleo groundwater base-levels

Base-levels are basically divided into two categories: oceanic and marine base-levels and continental terminal endorheic ones. The marine domain serves as the ultimate base- level for both surface and groundwater drainage systems. Continental inland depressions very often serve as terminal endorheic base-levels to both surface drainage and groundwater systems. Many of the current, both marine and inland, base-levels served also in the past as paleo base-levels. Fluctuations of base-level elevations affect the adjoined groundwater system in several ways such as changes in groundwater levels, location of divides, depths of fresh-saline water interfaces and the amount of flow to the base-levels. This paper provides examples from many different parts of the world that describe the relationship between current and paleo base-levels. The examples include marine base-levels as well as inland endorheic ones, both currently above and below sea level, close to and distant from the sea.

Fertility Assessment Of Some Inland Depression And Floodplain (Wetland) Soils In Akwa Ibom State

The constraints to crop production of some inland depression and floodplain (wetland) soils in Akwa Ibom State were assessed. The aim was to identify soil parameters that limit crop production in these soils. Threelocations, Ikot Obio Inyang (Ikg), Ikot Idio (Ikd) and Ibiaku Ikot Obong (Bku), were used for the inland depression while Ibiaku Uruan (Ibk), Usuk Inyang Idoro (Usg) and Iwok (Iwk) were used for the floodplain soils. One profile pit was dug in each location making a total of six profile pits. Soil samples were collected according to their genetic horizons for laboratory analysis. Fertility Capability Classifica tion (FCC) system was used to assess the soil quality. The results indicated that gleying (g), low potassium reserve (k) and acidic reaction (h) were the general constraints of these soils. Also, Ikg and Ikd of inland depression soils had sandy (S) top soils while Bku had loamy top (L) soils but the three sub soils were loamy (L). All the floodplain soils had sandy (S) soils at both top and subsoils. For effective management of these soils, application of organic manure (including cattle manure) would supply the basic cations including K, as well as reduce soil acidity.

Determinants of reproductive success in a Mediterranean multi-brooded passerine: the Black WheatearOenanthe leucura

The factors affecting individual variation in reproductive success in a multibrooded passerine, the Black WheatearOenanthe leucura, were studied during five years in a dry inland depression in SE Spain. Black Wheatear pairs initiated 1–5 breeding attempts in a season, including relayings, and managed to raise 0–3 broods and 0–13 fledglings. The onset of breeding for different pairs spanned several months. The number of breeding attempts and the proportion of young resulting in fledged young (excluding predated broods) were the best predictors of seasonal reproductive success. Clutch size showed a quadratic relationship with laying date. Female age and time of residency and indexes of parental condition such as discontinuities in feather growth or prevalence of ectoparasites had significant effects on breeding productivity. Repeatabilities of breeding performance for males, females or in territories were not significant.

CHANGES OF SEDIMENTARY ENVIRONMENT SINCE THE LATE PLEISTOCENE IN VESTFOLD HILLS AREA, ANTARCTICA

The Vestfold Hills area was a shallow-sea sedimentary environment in the interglacial stage (50,000—25,000 yr B.P.) of the last glacial period of the Late Pleistocene, and later became a glaciofluvial environment. This marine sedimentary plain was covered by glaciers at the time of 31,000—11,000 yr B.P. After the last glacial period (6500—3500 yr B.P.), the retreat of ice sheets in this area resulted in the formation of lakes and lagoons, followed by alternating sedimentation of three-times sub-turbidity current and two-times ice-melt water. Sulphate-Glauber salt was deposited in the inland depressions. The advance of the ice sheets in this area during the neo-ice age (2800 yr B.P.) resulted in three parallel moraine terraces consisting of boulders and coarse sands composed mainly of hornblende, and subordinately of garnet and magnetite. During this period a Si-AL-chloride detrital weathering crust was developed on hyperthenite with schistose actinolite. In addition to physical weathering (e.g. frost weathering), chemical weathering was obbviously strong.

Epiphytische Flechten im Bereich einer chilenischen „Nebeloase“ (Fray Jorge) I. Vegetationskundliche Gliederung und Standortsbedingungen

Summary Fog formation occurs frequently along the coast of nothern Chile. The fog envelopes the slopes and the summit of the coastal ranges. Water condenses in this zone and effects the development of an usually lush vegetation known as a fog oasis in this arid or semi-arid environment. In the Fray Jorge National Park, the fog-dependent vegetation consists of evergreen forests which are surrounded by thorn scrub and succulents. Lichens play an important role in these habitats. They cover the phanerophytes of the different zones of the coastal area as epiphytic vegetation and have both high biomass and species diversity. The objective of the first part of this work was a description of the epiphytic lichen vegetation for a selected, representative area of about 10 km2 of the Fray Jorge National Park and to study the environmental relationships of these lichens with special emphasis on their water relations. Redon (1982) described 54 different epiphytic lichen species for this area. A phytosociological study resulted in the definition of 2 lichen-associations which are characterized by species combinations, dominant life forms, and species diversity. The Oropogonetum loxensis lichen community grows on shrubs and trees in the zone which is directly affected by persistent fog. On the other hand, the Ramalinetum cactacearum lichen community covers the shrubs in the region below the fog belt. Along a transect which streched from the drier inland depression without fog influence to the top of the coastal range where there is regular fog formation, the changes in the lichen vegetation and the gradation between the 2 communities were characterized. At the habitats of the Oropogonetum and the Ramalinetum, diurnal courses of light intensity, air temperature, air humidity and lichen thallus temperature were measured during characteristic wheather conditions in the different seasons throughout the year. Lichen water content of typical, selected species was followed at the same time by weighing of samples. The species of the Oropogonetum are often thoroughly moistened during the night by condensing fog which forms droplets on the thalli. In the early morning hours, maximum water contents of the lichens up to 153 and 172 % (by dry weight) respectively were measured. After disappearance of the fog during the late morning hours, the thalli increasingly dry out as temperatures increase and air humidity is decreased. Thallus water content reaches a minimum of about 16 % in the early afternoon. In contrast, water relations of the species of the Ramalinetum are much more unfavourable. Moistening by liquid water seems to be restricted to very infrequent dew condensation and to the few rain events in winter (situations, which were not observed during this study in the field). The habitats of the Ramalinetum are not reached by the fog. However, fog formation in the higher altitudes of the coastal ranges is correlated with a substantial increase in air humidity in the depression where the Ramalinetum occurs. The lichen thalli are able to absorb this water vapor from the air even though no condensation occurs. Thus, in the early morning hours after nights with high air humidity, hydration of the species of the Ramalinetum increases, and water contents up to about 37 % were measurable. Subsequently the thalli dry out again and reach their minimum water content after noon, similar to the lichens of the Oropogonetum. Water exchange between lichens and air seems to take place so quickly, that the thalli are almost in equilibrium with the water potential of the ambient air, at least during the time periods of low solar radiation before noon. The same is the case for the species of the Oropogonetum on days without fog formation but with high air humidity. In a second communication of this series, the importance of the habitat conditions for the photo-synthetic primary production of the lichens will be assessed.

A study of the amount of some invertebrates that are eaten by wild birds in the Egyptian western desert

SUMMARYA study was conducted at two different sites in the Egyptian western desert to investigate the activity of carnivorous birds on some invertebrates. At the first site (sand-dunes in the Gharbaniat area, 52 km west of Alexandria), the most interesting bird found was the great grey shrike Lanius excubitor which seizes its prey and impales it upon spines of Lycium europaeum or on barbed-wire fencing. Studies carried out from January to July 1977 indicated that this bird prefers to feed on certain tenebrionid or scarabaeid beetles as well as some orthopterous insects and small lizards of the area. At the other site (inland depression near Omaycd, 80 km west of Alexandria, and 12 km from the sea) a snail-eating bird, (bifaciated lark) Alaemon alaudipes, was found to be the commonest bird where the non-saline soil of the site is suitable for the desert snail, Eremina desertorum, to breed, so much so that the snails constitute one of the prominent features of the site.The latter bird is more active in the winter than in the summer. From February to the end of June 1979, the estimated snail flesh weight eaten by A. alaudipes birds was about 6·50 kg taken from an area of 2·4 ha. The birds seize a snail, fly upwards to a distance of 6–23 m, select a hard stone, then drop the snail. The snail eventually breaks, and the flesh exposed is readily eaten by the bird. In January 1980, a survey was conducted to investigate the species of birds found in the area that extends between Alexandria and el Alamein. Twenty-six resident, as well as migratory, bird species were observed. The number of species and individual birds in cultivated areas, and sites near the sea shore, were found to be greater than those in natural ecosystems at a distance from the sea.

Coastal Storms of the Eastern United States

Abstract Storms resulting in damage to the East Coast of the United States over the past 42 years have been classified into eight different synoptic situations: hurricanes; wave developments well east of the southeast coast or in the vicinity of Cuba; wave developments over Florida or the nearby Atlantic coastal waters; wave developments in the Gulf of Mexico west of 85W longitude; inland depressions that deepen upon reaching the coast; secondary cyclonic disturbances in the Hatteras area; intense cyclones moving north-eastward, west of the coast; and strong cold fronts with associated squall lines. The seasonal and geographical distributions of these storm types are investigated. Coastal storms of moderate to severe intensity might be expected at any place along the East Coast of the United States on an average of once every 1.4 years in New York and New Jersey, the area of most frequent occurrence, to once every 4.2 years in Georgia, the area of least frequent occurrence.

Satellite Study of an Inland Monsoon Depression

This study describes and discusses an inland deep depression of the Indian south-west monsoon season with special reference to the associated cloud structure and rainfall pattern on 20 September 1962 and the consider which governed the recurvature which was most pronounced on that date. In addition to the conventional synoptic data, use has been made oft the observations obtained from TIROS VT satellite cameras. This is the first satellite study of an inland depression over India.