Linear Erosion Research Articles

A Clinical Evaluation of the Role of Autoimmunity in the Relation Between Erosions and Bone Mineral Density in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Background/objectives: Both erosions and osteoporosis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have common mechanisms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between erosion and bone mineral density (BMD) in RA and whether it can be driven by autoimmunity. Methods: Patients fulfilling the ACR 1987- or ACR/EULAR 2010-criteriae for RA. performed radiographs (erosions evaluated by the modified Sharp/van der Heidje erosion score) and biology for anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPAs), rheumatoid factors (RFs) and anti-nuclear antibodies (ANAs) at intervals of less than 2 years from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for BMD assessment. Results: A total of 149 patients were included, (75.8% women, mean age of 62 y.o (SD 9.61) and a median disease duration of 132 months [60; 240]). A total of 61.1% patients were ACPA positive, 79.9% were erosive and 10.7% had a hip or spine T-score ≤ -2.5. A higher erosion score was associated with a lower BMD (value: -0.222; p = 0.009) and T-score (value -0.397; p < 0.0001) in the hip. ACPA status was associated with a higher erosion score (63.0 (53.2) vs. 45.5 (44.1) for ACPA- (p = 0.04)). ACPA titers were associated with a lower BMD in the hip (value -0.216; p = 0.01). In linear regression, erosion and BMD were still associated, but this association is not driven by ACPA status or titer. Conclusions: In RA patients, erosions and BMD are inversely associated but this relationship does not seem to be driven by autoimmunity only. However, the presence of ACPA or erosion should lead to osteoporosis screening.

Fluvial-lacustrine influences on linear dune erosion at Lake Caroline in the Simpson Desert of Australia

Linear dunes are frequently examined with regard to their formation and maintenance; however, erosion or degradation of these landforms is less commonly addressed, due in part to the lack of observable changes in the geologic record. This study investigates the significant erosion of linear dunes along Lake Caroline, a playa in the northern Simpson Desert of central Australia. Field observations, laboratory analyses, and remote sensing imagery document recent fluvial and lacustrine interactions at Lake Caroline. Compositional and geochemical sediment analyses from three ∼2 m deep hand-augured sample sites indicate that the playa is primarily filled with sand from linear dunes, but also contains evaporite minerals and weathered local bedrock. Satellite images show that the playa has flooded at least 58 times since 2001. Our results indicate that present-day aeolian processes are sufficient to mobilize and transport sediment but are dominated by fluvial-lacustrine processes, resulting in the playa-adjacent dunes becoming isolated and starved of local sediment. As a result, the dunes are currently eroding into the playa which supports the conclusion that long-distance sediment transport is not responsible for the formation or maintenance of linear dunes as suggested by the linear due extension hypothesis. Burial dates from optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) indicate the linear dunes have been eroding for as much as 24 ka, and sediment samples from the playa near one linear dune suggest an onset of dune formation in the area before 58 ka. This work documents an instance in geologic time during the late Quaternary when aeolian, fluvial, and lacustrine processes are competing with one another, offering new insights into the dynamics of linear dunes in the arid Simpson Desert.

Functional connectivity related to road linear erosion at rainfall event scale in an agricultural watershed on the Loess Plateau

Intersections of road and channel networks assist in better understanding of runoff and sediment transportation process feedback using the hydrological connectivity concept. However, quantifying functional connectivity and exploring the complex relationship between hydrological connectivity and the processes of runoff and sediment associated with road networks have largely been unexamined by field work. Therefore, our team conducted a 3-year monitoring of hydrological connectivity and road erosion from selected road segments in an agricultural watershed on the Loess Plateau. Rainfall events occurring during 2020–2022 were categorized into three types using K-means clustering analysis: small amounts of low-intensity rainfall (SL-R), large amounts of low-intensity rainfall (LL-R), and large amounts of high-intensity rainfall (LH-R). The monitored roads primarily consist of paved roads and unpaved roads (agricultural roads, abandoned roads, and petroleum roads). In our study, the intersections extracted by the road and channel networks were defined as hydrological connections, and sticks wrapped with clean gauze at the hydrological connections were monitored under variable rainfall conditions for functional connectivity assessment. The runoff heights and sediment traces attached to the sticks are alternative hydrological connectivity indicators. The results revealed an obvious increasing trend in the activation frequency and degree of hydrological connectivity as rainfall types transitioned from SL-R to LL-R and LH-R. Agricultural roads had a more intense response to hydrological connectivity between upslope drainage areas and road surfaces, and petroleum roads performed well in response to hydrological connectivity between road surfaces and down hillslopes. Random forest models indicate that PI30 is the most dominant influencing factor of road erosion and hydrological connectivity between road upslope drainage areas and road surfaces. Road surface erosion rates are the primary determinants of hydrological connectivity between road surfaces and down hillslopes. These findings suggest a close interaction between road erosion and hydrological connectivity driven by these off-site effects. They offer additional evidence concerning runoff and sediment patterns and dynamics in relation to road networks and identify hydrological connectivity and road erosion hotspots. Coordinating measures for hydrological connectivity regulation and road erosion mitigation are essential for minimizing hydrological connectivity and road erosion off-site effects within watersheds.

Седиментаційні індикатори сучасних морфодинамічних процесів на скелях масиву «Камінь» (с. Урич, Східні Бескиди, Українські Карпати)

The paper studies the types of modern morphodynamic processes on the sandstone tor “Kamin`” (“Stone”) in the village Urych (Eastern Beskydy, Ukrainian Carpathians) as a nature monument and historical and cultural reserve. It reveals interrelationships between the modern manifestations of the processes and the sedimentological facies of the Paleogene rocks of the Yamna Formation. During the formation of the Carpathian trust fault structure, they were created in the geodynamic conditions of the Outer Carpathian deep-water oceanic paleobasin and deformed during the stages of accretion and orogeny. The main research methods were morphological, morphodynamic, sedimentological, and lithological. Modern morphodynamic processes on the tor walls are classified by their origin, localization within the studied object, and the amount of tor wall coverage. Morphodynamic processes can be classified into different types such as soaking and very small pits; destruction; flaking; spalling; dimples weathering; alveolar weathering; corrasion and washing away the grains; linear underground erosion; biogenic superficial weathering; biogenic linear weathering; block collapses; joint-guided weathering: along tectonic, tensile, weathering, lithological cracks; gravity cascade folds. According to the amount of coverage of the tor walls, the following are distinguished: microprocesses (local manifestations), medium-scale and large-scale processes, with a destruction depth of 1-10 сm. Medium-scale processes that occur on tor superficials are related to primary sedimentary structural-textural features of rocks and their lithological composition. Fractured paragenesis of the Sub-Carpathian and Anti-Carpathian directions dominate large-scale processes. Studies of the tor destruction processes are important to determine the preservation methods of the sandstone tor “Kamin`” as a valuable object of historical, cultural, and geotourism heritage. The obtained results indicate that individual tor blocks are strongly affected by superficial processes, on which deep polygenetic cracks are superimposed. This provides a basis to implement measures for strengthening the stability of the tor.

Analysis of heavy precipitation-induced rill erosion

Erosion is an ongoing environmental problem that leads to soil loss and damages ecosystems downstream of agriculture. Increasingly frequent heavy precipitation causes single erosion events with potentially high erosion rates owing to gully erosion. In this study, analyses of croplands affected by heavy precipitation and linear erosion indicate that erosion occurs only on sparsely vegetated fields with land cover ≤ 25% and that slope gradient and length are significant factors for the occurrence of linear erosion tracks. Existing erosion models are not calibrated to the conditions of heavy precipitation and linear erosion, namely high precipitation intensities and long and steep croplands. In this study, natural linear erosion was analyzed using an unmanned aerial vehicle and erosion volumes were determined for 32 rills and gullies of different sizes. Comparisons with the RUSLE2 and EROSION-3D model values showed an underestimation of linear erosion in both models. Therefore, calibration data for erosion models used for heavy precipitation conditions must be adapted. The data obtained in this study meet the required criteria.

Clinical features of atypical presentations of mucocutaneous herpes simplex virus infection observed in immunosuppressed individuals. Part II: the knife-cut sign.

The knife-cut sign is a distinctive manifestation of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 or HSV type 2 infection that has been described in at least 10 immunocompromised patients. It appears as an extremely painful linear erosion or fissure in an intertriginous area such as the body folds beneath the breast, or within the abdomen, or in the inguinal region. Also, concurrent HSV infection at other mucocutaneous sites, or viscera, or both have been observed. The patients had medical conditions (at least 9 patients) and/or immunosuppressive drug therapy (6 patients). The diagnosis of HSV infection was confirmed by viral culture (8 patients), biopsy (4 patients), direct fluorescence antibody testing (3 patients), immunohistochemistry staining (2 patients), polymerase chain reaction (2 patients), or Western blot serologic assay (1 patient). Knife-cut sign-associated HSV infection is potentially fatal; three patients died. However, clinical improvement or complete healing occurred in the patients who received oral valacyclovir (1 patient), or intravenous acyclovir (2 patients), or intravenous acyclovir followed by foscarnet (1 patient). In summary, HSV infection associated with a positive the knife-cut sign is a potentially fatal variant of HSV infection that occurs in the intertriginous areas of immunocompromised patients and usually requires intravenous antiviral therapy.

Экзогенные процессы формирования современной геоэкологичеcкой ситуации в Белгородской области

According to the “Fundamentals of state policy in the field of environmental development of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2030”, it is the anthropogenic factor that has a greater impact on the environmental situation in our country. In such conditions, the risk of dangerous geological processes increases significantly. The authors found that exogenous geological processes in combination with anthropogenic factors make a significant negative contribution to the ecological situation in the region. The object of the study is exogenous geological processes occurring on the territory of the Belgorod region. The subject of the study is exogenous geological processes, anthropogenic processes, and their contribution to the current state of the ecological situation in the Belgorod region. The purpose and objectives of the study are as follows: to study the characteristics and patterns of development of exogenous geological processes in the Belgorod region; methods and technologies for the rapid detection and prediction of the occurrence of exogenous geological processes, as well as preventive measures to reduce them in the region are developed. The authors have come to the following conclusions: On the territory of the region, the development of erosive, landslide, karst, Aeolian and suffusion processes has a significant impact on the environmental situation, the manifestation of which is primarily due to the geological structure of its parts, physical and geographical conditions, the deve­lopment and condition of the mining industry and agriculture. The dominant exogenous geological process that makes the greatest contribution to the formation of the ecological situation of the Belgorod region is linear erosion. The degree of damage to the territory of the region by erosion processes is quite high. Intensive erosion dismemberment is one of the main indicators of the unfavorable ecological and geomorphological condition of the territory. The influence of the anthropogenic factor on exogenous processes is expressed, first of all, in environmental pollution, landscape transformation and changes in the hydrological regime. The possibility of neutralizing exogenous geological processes in order to ensure the safety of the population of the Belgorod region should be justified by knowledge of the engineering and geomorphological conditions of the territory. To do this, it is necessary to create a strict modern system for monitoring exogenous geological processes, which will reduce the risks associated with them, more accurately predict their occurrence and obtain more reliable data. The solution of this problem is possible within the framework of the regional monitoring center for exogenous geological processes.

Transformation of local kettle holes based on geological and geophysical evidence, Borisoglebsk Upland, Central European Russia

Late Pleistocene evolution of Central European glacial landscapes is often narrowed down to the impact of postglacial linear erosion. Yet extensive watersheds in the marginal zone of MIS6 glaciation were protractedly affected by the postglacial flattening in periglacial and interglacial conditions. Local sediment sinks such as kettle holes and dry valleys infilled throughout the postglacial stage can serve not only as records of paleoenvironmental changes but also for assessing the scales of watershed denudation and landscape transformation since the last glacial cover degradation. We attempted to use electrical resistivity tomography for paleogeomorphological survey of a local flat-bottomed depression previously studied by conventional lithological and stratigraphic approaches. The obtained geophysical profile showed a contrasting picture of the relatively higher-resistive glacial base embedded with low-resistive lenses 3-25 m thick a top. The latter were correlated with the postglacial loamy deposits of colluvial and lacustrine origin that infilled the lows of initial glacial topography. It was revealed that the depression has a particularly complex inner structure embodying at least two buried kettle holes divided by a large glacial ridge almost buried under the postglacial infill. They functioned as separate basins during much of the Late Pleistocene and have probably merged only at its final stages. The geophysical cross-section also showed a quite variable bottom relief of each kettle with significantly steeper slopes than the modern sides of the depression. Thus, electrical resistivity tomography prospecting proved to be useful for detecting the postglacial loamy infills of initial lows of the MIS6 glacial topography and can be further employed to better understand the actual scales of the postglacial redeposition and landscape modeling during the last 150–130 ka.

SOIL EROSION AND IMPACT ON RECREATIONAL RESOURCES IN THE SHYNGYRLAU BASIN, WESTERN KAZAKHSTAN: A MULTI-ANALYTICAL ASSESSMENT

Over the past decades, water erosion has increased significantly in the Shyngyrlau River basin. Recreational development, haphazard construction and operation of roads have led to increased water erosion and the formation of numerous linear erosion forms. Erosion reduces the natural resource status of the region. Water erosion develops in most cases along roads laid along the thalwegs of the ravine-hollow network. The light substrate along with sparse vegetation cover (the sparseness is aggravated by intensive grazing) predetermine its rapid development. Water erosion is an acute problem arising from the present climate change, agricultural intensification and diverse forms of anthropogenic land degradation. Assessment of present and potential soil erosion is useful for landscape preservation as well as development planning. Multi-analytical modeling can provide a quantitative and consistent estimation of soil erosion and sediment yield under locally specific environmental conditions. The soil loss model, Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), integrated with GIS, has been used to estimate soil loss in the Shyngyrlau Basin (a left-bank tributary of the Ural River, NW Kazakhstan). The RUSLE model is based on remote sensing and field data; erosion probabilities were determined using GIS. The percentage ratio of the soil loss in the Shyngyrlau River basin shows erosion variation of 0.001–2.47 t/ha/yr. The degree of erosion increases with the length of the slope. A new factor Chip curvature (Cu factor), defining the accuracy of the soil loss results, was defined. According to this factor, soil erosion in the study area is 0.007–2.48 t/ha/yr within the low erosion class. The lowest indicator of the K factor is 0.2 in sandy clay soils used as pasturelands. The highest K factor (0.3) relates to clayey arable soils. The research results add to implementation of new strategies in soil management and conservation practices reducing soil erosion in the Shyngyrlau Basin. Both climate and anthropogenic factors are seen behind the activated ground erosion. The development of forms of water erosion leads to a violation of the integrity of modern natural complexes of the West Kazakhstan region, which significantly reduces their stability and recreational potential.

LEVANTAMENTO E ANÁLISE TEMPORAL E EVOLUTIVA DAS EROSÕES HÍDRICAS LINEARES EM UMA ENCOSTA AMOSTRAL DO CÓRREGO DO LEOPOLDO

The article presents a temporal and evolutionary analysis of linear water erosion, as from a survey of a sample hillslope of the Leopoldo river, located in the municipality of Agudos (SP). The survey was elaborated from satellite images made available by Google Earth, which allowed to identify the main characteristics of erosive features. The analyzed characteristics are: slope position, length, width, line of inclination, shape, evolutionary stage, incision system, possible origin, curvature longitudinal and transversal. So, the article made it possible to study the erosions’ behavior and the relationship with local morphology.

The record and trends of natural disasters caused by gullies in Brazil

Ravines and gullies are advanced stages of linear erosion that occur in many countries, causing economic, social, and environmental impacts. This research aims at analyzing the official record of disasters caused by ravines and gullies in Brazil, with a focus on analyzing the economic impacts. The Brazilian Civil Defense Integrated Information System (S2ID) database was applied in the analysis, combined with a bibliographic review made in the Scopus database. The results obtained from the civil defense database show a growing trend in the number of disasters related to ravines and gullies in the last decade (2011–2020), with 76 cases recorded between January 2013 and May 2019. From these 76 cases, 24 of them were further analyzed to provide information about the socioeconomic impacts. In total, an estimated loss of US$ 54 million was recorded in the considered period. The greatest economic impacts were related to damage to public infrastructure, such as sanitary and sewage water system, buildings and, especially, residential areas in urban perimeters. The spatial distribution of disasters related to linear erosion in Brazil suggests a connection between the development of ravines and gullies and the agricultural frontier of the country, especially in the North and Midwest regions, including the biomes of Cerrado (Brazilian Savanna) and Amazon Rainforest, where the greatest changes in land use occurred between the end of the twentieth and the beginning of the twenty-first century. Although the S2ID is an important data base for analyzing the impacts caused by ravines and gullies, the results suggest that the system's records do not account for medium- and long-term impacts.

THE STATE ANALYSIS OF THE ANTI-EROSION INSTALLATIONS CARRIED OUT FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE CITY OF HASSI EL GHALA (WILAYA OF AIN TEMOUCHENT, ALGERIA) AGAINST FLOODS

Water erosion is an inevitable natural phenomenon that sometimes causes very serious damage to infrastructure (towns, roads, hydraulic dams, etc.). Things’ which require anti erosion restorations, in the watersheds of these infrastructures, to protect them. The objective of this research is to perform an is analysis of the state and effectiveness of some anti-erosion restorations, in particular of the thresholds of torrential correction, carried out since 1986 to protect the city of Hassi El Ghalla (region of Ain Temouchent) against floods. The methodology adopted was based on direct observations in the field, taking photos and collecting data at the level of forest conservation in the wilaya of Ain Témouchent. The results obtained revealed a positive assessment of the state of the anti-erosion facilities. The torrential correction weirs and the stepped terraces are mostly in good condition. The vegetation cover is quite dense and the soils are more vulnerable to sheet erosion, qualified as less dangerous compared to linear erosion and mass erosion. The implementation of anti-erosion actions has highly protected the town of Hassi El Ghala against flood. But the forest administration must bring some rehabilitations to these actions and maintain their in sustainability for more efficiency.

ANTHROPOGENIC TRANSFORMATION OF TERRAIN IN THE NORILSK INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT

The scale of anthropogenic terrain transformation within the Norilsk industrial region was quantified and a classification of its consequences has been elaborated. The work is based on the results of 2021 expeditionary geomorphologic studies, interpretation and analysis of remote sensing materials and digital elevation models. It has been established that the total area of direct terrain transformation during the territory development was about 122,4 km2, and that of indirect transformation - 23,6 km2. The volume of anthropogenic landforms is at least 1,8 billion m3; accumulative forms account for 93% of the area and 72,6% of the volume of direct landform transformations. The types of anthropogenic landforms were identified, it was found that the largest area is occupied by embankments for industrial development and tailings, and the largest volume is characteristic of slope dumps. Indirect terrain transformation is mainly activation of gravitational processes, linear erosion, suffusion, thermokarst, heaving and deflation. The mass displacement of slope dumps by landslides or stone glaciers are the most dangerous for infrastructure facilities. Separate areas of indirect transformations are mainly limited to the lacustrine-alluvial lowlands and the bottoms of river valleys. Among them, the largest area (up to 20 km2) is occupied by segments of river valleys affected by spills of oil products and tailings. It has been established that the accumulation of pollutants in river valleys of the Norilsk industrial region occurs within the internal deltas and ice glades where the longitudinal slope decreases. Three stages of anthropogenic development of the territory are distinguished (I - 1920-1953; II - 1953-1986; III - 1986-2021); the most significant increment in the area of anthropogenic terrain occurred from 1953 to 1986. The average rate of anthropogenic terrain area increment over the past 36 years amounted to 0,81 km2/year. The highest rates of area growth are characteristic of the Kayerkan and Talnakh regions, which is associated with ongoing mining.

Assessing the intensity of reduction and restoration of irrigated lands’ state in the Republic of Bashkortostan

AbstractBackgroundIrrigation of lands over time leads to such negative processes as land salinization and waterlogging, reduction of soil fertility, changes in the chemical composition of groundwater, and the emergence of linear and irrigation erosion. The land improvement (ameliorative) categories adopted in Russia and several post‐Soviet countries determine their suitability for agricultural use and the focus of measures to preserve potential soil fertility.AimsThe study aims to build a mathematical model to assess the intensity of the reduction and restoration of irrigated lands’ state in the Republic of Bashkortostan.MethodsThe methods of the theory of random processes are proposed to estimate the intensity of reduction and restoration of irrigated lands’ state on the territory of the Republic.ResultsAs a result of the calculations, the values of intensities characterizing changes in the state of land in the region were obtained. The practical significance of the developed model consists of the possibility of short‐term forecasting and determination of the necessary intensity of land quality restoration taking into account planned values during the given period.ConclusionsThe offered indicator of intensity and the method of its definition can be used in research of similar processes proceeding on agricultural lands within the limits of large spatial units.

Time-scaled study on the erosion in circulating fluidized bed based on CPFD method

In this paper, the erosion characteristics in a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) were investigated on time scale with Euler-Lagrange model based computational particle fluid dynamics (CPFD). By analyzing average erosion rate data, two different erosion characteristics were found. In addition to the common linear erosion caused by downflow particles, another type of erosion is characterized by step growth and is caused by upwelling particles. Linear erosion at the height of 0.1 m is close to that at 0.2 m from the air distributor, but the value of stepped erosion at 0.1 m is much greater than that at 0.2 m. The simulation results show that stepped erosion is the main cause of erosion in the simulated object, accounting for about 70% of the total erosion. The present numerical study implies that the special gas-solid flow of CFB will bring different characteristics of erosion, and the anti-wear method should be targeted at the causes of erosion.

RATES OF MODERN DENUDATION OF A SMALL CATCHMENT IN THE MIDDLE MOUNTAIN BELT OF THE GREATER CAUCASUS (CASE STUDY OF THE GITCHE-GIZHGIT CATCHMENT)

The volumes of loose-clastic material moved by modern earth surface processes were quantified for a small mid-mountain catchment area ( F = 1,86 km2), located in the Baksan River basin using a number of independent methods (modeling of erosion and geomorphologic mapping). The total volume of removed material was estimated through the assessment of the thickness of bottom sediments accumulated in a reservoir located in the outlet section of the catchment area. The rates of linear and rill erosion have been found using the results of repeated UAV surveys and the pin method. The rates of rockfall processes are estimated on the basis of repeated ground-based laser scanning. Additionally, published data on the rates of earth surface processes in the mountains were used. Based on the results of field mapping and interpretation of space images, a map of the spatial pattern of leading earth surface processes was compiled. A digital terrain model of the catchment was constructed on the basis of detailed UAV survey. The volume of loose clastic material delivered to the reservoir was estimated using data on the average annual rates of leading earth surface processes, a map of their distribution over the catchment area, and the connectivity index. It has been established that the average annual denudation rate within the catchment area is 0,16 mm/year. At the same time, only about 3-10% of the products of denudation are delivered to the reservoir. The sediment yield, calculated on the basis of the volume of sediments in the reservoir, is 514 t/km2 per year. It is comparable to the sediment yield of small rivers draining the mid-mountain belt of the Alps with similar bedrock lithology, which was calculated using the results of long-term observations of water and sediment discharge at gauging stations.

Atomic oxygen degradation of a fluorine-containing colorless polyimide

Colorless polyimides (PIs) are regarded as the most feasible lens materials deployed in aerospace optical systems due to their light weight, flexibility, transparency, and excellent mechanical properties. However, durability towards atomic oxygen (AO) exposure is a chief concern for externally deployed colorless PI films in low Earth orbit (LEO) environments. In this work, we investigated the degradation behavior of a fluorine-containing colorless PI film with a combination of ground-based AO exposure experiments and reactive molecular dynamics (ReaxFF-MD) simulations. The fluorine-containing colorless PI showed linear erosion dynamics and a constant erosion yield (Ey) of ∼1.4 × 10−24 cm3 atom−1. Microscopic investigations demonstrated an increased surface roughness and shag-like appearance after continuous AO exposure. In addition, spectroscopic transformations resulted from elimination and oxidation processes occurring at specific reaction active sites (C=O, CN, CH, and CF, and CC) and the release of volatile substances. Moreover, the exposed fluorine-containing colorless PI films exhibited gradually deteriorating visible light transmission with increased AO fluence. Furthermore, the ReaxFF-MD simulations demonstrated physical sputtering and bombardment-enhanced chemical reaction models. Considering the limited-scale slab and the system thermal dissipation, the experimental and ReaxFF-MD computational results were largely consistent.

Semi-automated detection of rangeland runoff and erosion control berms using high-resolution topography data

An inventory of topographic modifications is essential to addressing their impacts on hydrological and morphological processes in human-altered watersheds. However, such inventories are generally lacking. This study presents two workflows for semi-automatic detection of linear earthen runoff and erosion control berms in rangelands using high-resolution topographic data. The workflows consist of initial object identification by applying either morphological grayscale reconstruction (MGR) or the Geomorphon (GEO) method, followed by identification refinements through filters based on objects’ horizontal and vertical information. Three sites were selected within the Altar Valley, Arizona, in the southwestern United States. One site was used for developing workflows and optimizing filter thresholds, and the other two sites were used to validate workflows. The results showed that: 1) The MGR-based workflow methodology could produce final precision and detection rates of up to 92% and 75%, respectively, and take less than 5 s for a 10.1 km2 site; 2) The workflow based on the MGR method yielded greater identification accuracy than did the GEO workflow; 3) Object length, orientation, and eccentricity were important characteristics for identifying earthen berms, and are sensitive to general channel flow direction and berm shape; 4) Manual interrogation of topographic data and imagery can significantly improve identification precision rates. The proposed workflows will be useful for developing inventories of runoff and erosion control structures in support of sustainable rangeland management.

The effect of the linear erosion process on the local ecological environment in the accumulation zone of the Lankaranriver basin

The article talks about the process of erosion and its damage to the environment. It has been determined that as erosion develops, the natural processes within the soil are disturbed, and the upper fertile layer is destroyed. As a result of erosion, the upper fertile layer of the damaged soil weakens the rate of biomass formation and changes the direction of the soil formation process. This ultimately leads to the transformation of the ecological situation. It should also be noted that the soil is paraactive as a system. Diagnosis of the form, stage and degree of its development requires scientific research on a very large scale.

The paleolandscape evolution of the southwestern coast of Sardinia (Italy) and its impact on Mesolithic settlements

ABSTRACT We present a geomorphological map of the southwestern coast of Sardinia encompassing inland and offshore areas of the S’Omu e S’Orku Mesolithic site. The submerged area was documented by high-resolution multibeam bathymetry combined with Side-Scan Sonar data. The emerged coastal area was surveyed using Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle Remote Sensing and field surveys. The inland landforms were shaped by coastal, fluvial, and gravity-induced processes. Most of the submerged landforms appear be modeled in subaerial conditions during sea-level lowstands, and then sealed by the rising sea level. The coastal evolution has been characterized by the rapid cliff retreat facilitated intense linear erosion of watercourses, by debris flows, rockfalls and toppling. Geomorphological evidences of cliff retreat due to landslide was supported by a simplified analytic hydraulic model of the wave-cliff interaction. These processes and the sea level rise canceled any possible Mesolithic settlement along the coast. The survival of the S’Omu e S’Orku site is only due to a protected morphological position and to the distance from the Early Holocene coastline. The dearth of coastal Early Holocene prehistoric sites is likely the outcome of the presented coastal dynamics.