Moderate Zones Research Articles

AHP GIS-supported overlay/index models in Okeigbo, southwestern Nigeria, for groundwater susceptibility zonation

This study assessed the level of groundwater vulnerability and zonation in Okeigbo, southwestern Nigeria, using AVI, GOD, DRASTIC, and DRASTIC-LU models. The GOD categorized the area into three vulnerability zones, with predominant very low/low vulnerability zone constituting 96%; which is in contrast to two vulnerability zones of extremely high (55%) and high (45%) vulnerability zones delineated by the AVI. The DRASTIC map distinctly distinguished the area into four zones: high vulnerability zones (9%); the low vulnerable zone (6%); moderate (71%) of the study area; while moderately low susceptibility (14%). Similarly, DRASTIC-LU/LC model categorized as, moderately low, moderate, moderately high, and high vulnerability zones with aerial extent of 12%, 68%, 13%, and 7% respectively. Therefore, there is good correlation between the DRASTIC, DRASTIC-LU and AVI models as they all showed predominant moderate vulnerability zone. The nitrate concentration validated the high vulnerability zones of AVI, DRASTIC, and DRASTIC-LU models.

Nuclear explosion impact on humans indoors

This study investigates the nuclear blast effects on humans inside a building within a moderate damage zone. These effects depend on many parameters that must be better understood. In addition, the nuclear blast effects will spread further away than the devastating destruction zone, where most people are killed instantly. However, these injuries will vary depending on a person's position in the building and the air velocities attained when the blast wave enters indoors. The blast wave effects are examined for an indicative, easily reproducible indoor arrangement. The airspeed behind the blast wave accelerates to even higher velocities in the interior. The supersonic shock waves arising from the blast undergo expansion as they enter a room through an opening leading to channeling effects. The results show that most of the air is directed toward the corridor rather than through the opposite room's door, leading to high airspeed developed in rooms further down the aisle. The airspeed attained in the interior is calculated for two blast wave overpressures, 3 and 5 pounds per square inch, for which most concrete buildings do not collapse. The data reveal that the force applied to a standing person from the speed of the gusts formed at several locations in the interior is equivalent to several g-forces of body mass acceleration capable of lifting and throwing any person off the ground. It is then the impact onto solid surfaces that can lead to severe injury or death. Finally, the results reveal preferential areas in the rooms where a human can avoid the risk of exposure to the highest wind forces.

Application of statistical and machine learning techniques for landslide susceptibility mapping in the Himalayan road corridors

Abstract Landslides are frequent geological hazards, mainly in the rainy season along road corridors worldwide. In the present study, we have comparatively analyzed landslide susceptibility by employing integrated geospatial approaches, i.e., data-driven, knowledge-driven, and machine learning (ML), along the main road corridors of the Muzaffarabad district. The landslide inventory of three road corridors is developed to evaluate landslide susceptibility, and eleven landslide causative factors (LCFs) were analyzed. After statistical significance analysis, these eleven LCFs generated susceptibility models using WoE, AHP, LR, and RF. Distance from roads, landcover, lithological units, and slopes are considered more influential LCFs. The performance matrix of different LSMs is evaluated through the area under the curve (AUC-ROC), overall accuracy, Kappa index, F1 score, Mean Absolute Error, and Root Mean Square Error. The AUC-ROC for WoE, AHP, LR, and RF techniques along Neelum road is 0.86, 0.82, 0.91, and 0.97, respectively, along Jhelum Valley road is 0.83, 0.81, 0.93, and 0.95, respectively, while along Kohala road is 0.89, 0.88, 0.89, and 0.92, respectively. The produced LSMs through ML (i.e., RF and LR) showed better prediction accuracies than WoE and AHP along these three road corridors. The LSMs are categorized into very high, high, moderate, and low susceptible zones along these roads. The LSM generated through hybrid models can facilitate the concerned local agencies to implement landslide mitigation policies for the landslide-prone zones along road corridors.

Behaviour of Glass Fibre Reinforced Gypsum panels as Walls: An Update on the Recent Research Developments

The current housing shortage problem in the country, especially among the low-income groups and the necessity to address their shelter needs, led to the introduction of Glass fibre reinforced gypsum (GFRG) panels in India. These panels were originally developed in Australia in 1990 and later introduced in India, China, Hong Kong and other countries. They are light-weight, load-bearing walls used for rapid construction of affordable and eco-friendly houses (individual units to multi-storeyed buildings) and are being used in India for more than a decade. These are prefabricated in controlled-conditions in factories, from gypsum plaster reinforced with glass fibres along with certain special additives and are available in a fixed size of 12 m length, 3 m height and 124 mm thickness. The panels are hollow, with cavities of size, 230 × 94 mm, aligned along the height. These panels can resist axial, in-plane and out-of-plane loads and various studies conducted worldwide established the suitability of the panel for the construction of walls, slabs, staircases and parapet walls. GFRG buildings consist of GFRG panels as walls and slabs (without any beams and columns) and can be constructed up to 5-8 storeys in low to moderate seismic zones, and lesser height in higher seismic zones. Thus to properly understand the structural behaviour of the GFRG building system and to develop a proper design guideline, comprehensive research works were undertaken in India and other countries which includes the study to determine the various material and structural properties of the panel and this paper presents a critical review of the experimental and theoretical investigations on the structural behaviour of GFRG wall panels.

Spatiotemporal Assessment of Meteorological Drought of Paschim Medinipur District, West Bengal, India

The drought phenomenon is linked to the water scarcity and these are the pressing issues that require careful and thoughtful consideration. Drought in India mostly affects regions that are part of numerous plateaus, including the Chottanagpur plateau and the Deccan plateau. The Paschim Medinipur District of West Bengal, which is located in the southern portion of the Chottanagpur plateau, has recently experienced extreme and severe drought on multiple occasions. The assessment of the drought scenario in this region is, nevertheless, still very far from being finalized. Using the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) at various time intervals (e.g., 3 months, 6 months, 12 months and 48 months) between 1979 and 2014, we have evaluated drought both geographically and temporally in this study. Here, the drought evaluation metrics include peak intensity, average intensity, magnitude, occurrence rate (%) and trend. Peak intensity, magnitude, average drought intensity, and the frequency of Extreme to Severe (ES) droughts are all seen to decline noticeably as time steps move forward. The frequency of moderate droughts starts to rise as time moves forward. Peak intensity, magnitude, average drought intensity, drought duration, ES and moderate drought occurrence rate is high in southern and southwestern portions of Paschim Medinipur. Additionally, the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) composite scores used to identify the drought-prone zones are estimated using the aforementioned parameters at various time steps. As the time step increases the area under the high and high moderate drought prone zone decreases, but very low and low drought prone area increases. Overall 16% area is found under high to high moderate drought prone category, whereas, approximately, 65% area is found under the low to low moderate drought category. The outcome of this research may be helpful to combat with drought and to make a fruitful move to manage water resources in the Paschim Medinipur region, West Bengal. Additionally, the study makes use of a superb methodology to comprehend the spatiotemporal variation of meteorological drought, which is applicable to all parts of the globe.

Application of analytical hierarchical process, multi-influencing factor, and geospatial techniques for groundwater potential zonation in a semi-arid region of western India

Groundwater resources are alarmingly depleting due to over-exploitation and significant climate changes over time. Therefore, demarcation of groundwater potential zones is essential for addressing the needs of various industries in semi-arid area. Depleting groundwater resources, topography, aquifer features and climatic factors make it necessary to demarcate ground water potential zones in semiarid region of Rajasthan. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), Geographic Information System (GIS), and Multi Influence Factor (MIF) were used to determine the groundwater potential zones (GWPZs) in the semi-arid region of Jaipur, located in western Rajasthan. In present study, ten influential factors were employed i.e., geomorphology, land use/land cover (LULC), drainage density, rainfall, topographic wetness index (TWI), soil texture, slope, roughness, topographic position index (TPI) and curvature. In AHP technique, the pairwise comparison matrix was generated, and weightages were given to each thematic layer while for MIF, a proposed score for each layer was computed from the aggregate weight of major and minor effects. The GWPZ map generated by AHP technique was categorised into three parts: high, moderate and poor potential zones, covering 13%, 50.7% and 36.3% of the district. While, the GWPZ map produced with the MIF technique was also divided into the same poor, moderate, and high categories, encompassing 35.3, 44.1, and 20.6% of the district, respectively. The results of AHP and MIF techniques were then cross-validated with well depth data obtained from CGWB report, 2019–20. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) were plotted and the findings shows that the Area under the Curve (AUC) was 79% and 76% for AHP and MIF, respectively which is considered as moderate to high in predictive precision. The study would be helpful in locating drilling sites for groundwater exploration and developing sustainable groundwater and land use policies.

Leonotis nepetifolia Flower Bud Extract Mediated Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles, Their Characterization, and In Vitro Evaluation of Biological Applications.

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the green matrix is an emerging trend and is considered green nanotechnology because it involves a simple, low-cost, and environmentally friendly process. The present research aimed to synthesize silver nanoparticles from a Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) R.Br. flower bud aqueous extract, characterize these nanoparticles, and perform in vitro determination of their biological applications. UV-Vis spectra were used to study the characterization of biosynthesized L. nepetifolia-flower-bud-mediated AgNPs (LnFb-AgNPs); an SPR absorption maximum at 418 nm confirmed the formation of LnFb-AgNPs. The presumed phytoconstituents subjected to reduction in the silver ions were revealed by FTIR analysis. XRD, TEM, EDS, TGA, and zeta potential with DLS analysis revealed the crystalline nature, particle size, elemental details, surface charge, thermal stability, and spherical shape, with an average size of 24.50 nm. In addition, the LnFb-AgNPs were also tested for antimicrobial activity and exhibited a moderate zone of inhibition against the selected pathogens. Concentration-dependent antioxidant activity was observed in the DPPH assay. Further, the cytotoxicity increased proportionate to the increasing concentration of the biosynthesized LnFb-AgNPs with a maximum effect at 200 μg/mL by showing the inhibition cell viability percentages and an IC50 of 35.84 μg/mL. Subsequently, the apoptotic/necrotic potential was determined using Annexin V/Propidium Iodide staining by the flow cytometry method. Significant early and late apoptosis cell populations were observed in response to the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PANC-1) cell line, as demonstrated by the obtained results. In conclusion, the study's findings suggest that the LnFb-AgNPs could serve as remedial agents in a wide range of biomedical applications.

Used of Geospatial tools to detect the Flood Hazards in Dibru River Basin, Assam (India)

Mapping of Flood hazards is an essential component of land use planning. It creates awareness among the mass people about the impact of floods within the region. This study mainly focuses on the flood hazards within the Dibru River Basin. The region is the plain region near the bank of the river, or in the low land area where flood inundation is being observed. The primary aim of this study is to categorize the region into a very high flood zone, moderate flood zone and low flood zone. Different parametric are used in order to prepare the flood hazards mapping. GIS plays a vital role in processing all these parameters at one platform. GIS tool is frequently used to prepare flood hazard maps. It provides an effective way of assembling information from different maps. It can support planning and development by identifying high-risk locations and steering development away from them.

Urban flood susceptibility analysis of Saroor Nagar Watershed of India using Geomatics-based multi-criteria analysis framework.

During the monsoon season, flooding is common in several parts of India, and urban areas are becoming more prone to flooding even during less intense rainfall events as a result of the encroachment of waterbodies and natural drainage channels, increased impervious areas, and subsequent decrease in infiltration capabilities. In the years 2000, 2008, 2016, 2019, 2020, and 2021, severe flood events in our study area, the Saroor Nagar urban watershed in Telangana state, caused human loss, economic devastation, and environmental devastation. Although flood risk cannot be completely eliminated, it can be significantly reduced by developing a flood hazard model to identify flood-prone areas in a watershed, which can assist decision makers seeking comprehensive flood risk management. The flood hazard map is created by integrating Geomatics with multi-criteria decision analysis and the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). Topographic wetness index (TWI), digital elevation model (DEM), slope, precipitation, drainage density, distance to waterbody, soil, and land use land cover (LULC) were the flooding causative elements considered in this study. The resulting flood risk map is divided into four distinct categories that reflect flood danger levels of low, moderate, high, and extremely high. The flood risk map revealed that the moderate risk zone decreased from 50.2 to 45.7% of the study area between 2008 and 2020, while the high-risk zone increased from 45.2 to 52.8%. The flood susceptibility map is validated using crowdsourcing techniques. The findings demonstrated that a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based multi-criteria analysis framework for flood hazard analysis could be effectively used to aid disaster management decision-making.

Eco-friendly and cost-effective self-compacting concrete using waste banana leaf ash

The requirements of higher cement content and numerous admixtures in self-compacting concrete (SCC) yield a comparatively high production due to the high cement consumption that limits its use in everyday construction. As a result, it is prudent to consider alternatives for decreasing the environmental effects while producing a cost-effective SCC. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the fresh mechanical, durability, and microstructural characteristics as well as the environmental impacts of self-compacting concrete (SCC) incorporating waste banana leaf ash (BLA) to determine the optimum percentage of BLA. Concrete mixtures with 10%, 20%, and 30% OPC substitutions were investigated. Test findings revealed that all the fresh mixes performed within the EFNARC (2002) recommended limit. Despite the fact that increasing concentrations of BLA reduced the mechanical properties, concentrations of up to 20% BLA demonstrated strength comparable to the control mix. Furthermore, chloride ion penetration increased to 4%, with 20% BLA replacement falling into the moderate ion permeability zone. Finally, a relatively lower CO2-eq (maximum 29.13% reduction) per MPa indicates a significant positive impact due to the reduced Global Warming Potential (GWP).

Multifactor Prediction of the Water Richness of Coal Roof Aquifers Based on the Combination Weighting Method and TOPSIS Model: A Case Study in the Changcheng No. 1 Coal Mine.

Identifying the water richness of coal roof aquifers is an important and difficult goal of hydrogeological research to prevent and control roof water disasters. To evaluate the water richness of roof sandstone aquifers of the No. 1 coal seam in the Changcheng No. 1 coal mine, a multifactor prediction method based on the fuzzy Delphi analytic hierarchy process (FDAHP), entropy weight method (EWM), sum of squared deviations (SSD), and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) was proposed. Multisource geological data, including sandstone thickness, burial depth, lithological composition index, core recovery, fault scale index, fault intersections and endpoint density, and fold fractal dimension, were chosen as the primary indicators for evaluating the water richness of roof sandstone aquifers. The FDAHP and EWM were used to scientifically determine the subjective and objective weight vectors of these seven main factors, and the SSD was used to determine the optimal combination weights based on the objective and subjective weight vectors. On this basis, the water richness index (WRI) model was developed using the TOPSIS method to rank the water richness of samples in the study area. A water richness zoning map was created using the WRI values, revealing three zones: the weak water richness zone, moderate water richness zone, and strong water richness zone. Additionally, the map was refined by incorporating hydrogeologic data collected during mining operations, including pumping tests and actual water inrushes from roadways and working faces. It is believed that the proposed WRI model is effective for predicting the water richness of the roof sandstone aquifers of the No. 1 coal seam in the Changcheng No. 1 coal mine based on the engineering practice data used to validate the WRI model.

Restoring ecological function to saline–sodic soils in South Dakota with perennial grass mixtures

AbstractRevegetation of saline–sodic soils is challenging. Over 10 million saline–sodic hectares are intertwined with highly productive soils in the Northern Great Plains, with 3.4 million ha in South Dakota. Establishing salt‐tolerant perennial plants provides soil cover and remediates barren areas. Two perennial salt‐tolerant grass mixes [Mix 1: slender wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus [Link] Gould ex Shinners) + beardless wildrye (Leymus triticoides [Buckley] Pilg.); Mix 2: slender wheatgrass + creeping foxtail (Alopercurus arundinaceus Poir.) + western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii [Rydb.] Á. Löve) + ‘AC Saltlander’ green wheatgrass (Elymus hoffmannii K.B. Jensen & K.H. Asay)] were dormant‐planted in 2018 and 2019 along a soil catena with high [electrical conductivity (EC1:1) = 0.39 dS m–l; 72 mg kg–1 Na+], moderate (EC1:1 = 1.64 dS m–l; 343 mg kg–1 Na+), and low (EC1:1 = 3.87 dS m–l; 1,680 mg kg–1 Na+) productivity zones. Vegetative biomass was measured after seeding (2018, 2019) and during growth (2020, 2021), and compared with areas seeded to maize (Zea mays L.) and a nonplanted area. Biomass varied with year and productivity zone. Except in 2018, grasses had greater biomass in the moderate and low productivity zones than maize. The sodium content of grass biomass in 2020 and 2021 was 10× greater in the low than in the high and moderate productive zones (0.25 vs. 0.02%, respectively) but could be suitable for livestock feed. By 2021, grass biomass was similar for both mixes in all zones, and the grasses spread into nonplanted areas.

Effect of Frequency Content of Seismic Excitation on Slosh Response of Liquid Tank with Baffle Plate

The violent dynamic behavior of liquid under horizontal excitation is a key factor that needs to be addressed in the seismic-resistant design of liquid tanks. Therefore, this study focuses on the slosh response of the liquid medium in a rectangular tank under Imperial Valley 1979, El Centro 1940 and Kobe 1995 ground motions of different frequency ranges. The ground motions records are selected based on the PGA/PGV ratio. For slosh control, a single vertical perforated baffle plate is used as an anti-slosh element with different configurations of perforations. Considering the free surface elevation as the major response parameter, the effect of percentage of perforation of the baffle plate, clear spacing of perforations and offset distance of the perforated plate are investigated by carrying out the pressure-based transient analysis using computational fluid dynamic (CFD). The optimum perforation varies from 10% to 17%, corresponding to the frequency of ground motion in the range of far-resonant to near-resonant conditions. Additionally, “rapid zone” ([Formula: see text]-zone) and “moderate zone” ([Formula: see text]-zone) are identified to pilot the positioning of the perforated baffle plate in liquid tanks. The perforated baffle plate with an optimum range of moderately spaced perforations positioned at the moderate zone of the tank effectively reduces the free surface elevation. Furthermore, the perforated baffle plate is more advantageous during violent sloshing under near-resonant conditions.

Exploration of groundwater potential zones mapping for hard rock region in the Jakham river basin using geospatial techniques and aquifer parameters

Geospatial techniques are useful to understand the groundwater resources assessment, development, and management. Groundwater mapping is essential to counter the excessive withdrawal of groundwater and fulfil the need of drinking, irrigation water in hard rock areas. Currently, the main problem is facing the groundwater level is decreasing due to less rainfall, climate changes and increasing demand, which is under in the hot zones. This results can be more useful for future challenges, sustainable development and demand to Jakham river basin. The main objective of this paper to demarcated the groundwater potential zones (GWPZ) using geospatial techniques for the hard rock region with the reference of aquifer parameters. In this paper, we have used to total eight thematic layers such as geomorphology, land use, soil, topographic elevation, slope, post-monsoon groundwater level (GWL), net recharge, and transmissivity, which are prepared from satellite data and field verification. All thematic layers were integrated for assigning the weights to demarcation of the groundwater potential zones in the RS and GIS environment. The selected thematic layers and features were assigned weightage and normalized by the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) technique. Finally, the thematic layers were systematically integrated using weighted overlay analysis within a GIS environment. We have classified into five GWPZ classes i.e. very high, high, moderate, low, and very low for basin area using GIS, and AHP methods. The study area result indicated that high and moderate zone, which is confined in the central part of the basin, covers 2.43 % and 43.88 % area, respectively. The low (49.21 %) and very low (4.25%) GW potential zone is under the confined aquifer in the high slope and rock outcrops formations near the basin boundary. The final GWPZ map was validated with groundwater level fluctuation data, which illustrates the accuracy of the adopted approach. This unique approach and conclusions of this work may also help to develop the framework and policies for swiftly analyzing groundwater recharge planning, development and locating the artificial recharge structures in the other semi-arid, arid and hard rock regions.

Optimising Viscous Damper Placement in Frame Buildings with Element Exchange Method for Multiple Seismic Hazard Levels

ABSTRACT Viscous dampers enhance the seismic performance of buildings by increasing the capacity for energy dissipation, or damping. Many placement optimisation algorithms currently exist, though they often do not align with code-based verification procedures nor consider optimising performance at multiple seismic hazard levels, at serviceability and ultimate limits. This paper proposes new damper placement algorithms and compares them against eight existing methods on seismic performance at different hazard levels, design iterations required and total computation effort. The comparison is conducted by means of numerical case studies. All methods are applied to a ten-storey reinforced concrete (RC) moment resisting frame (MRF) building, initially meeting the design requirements of typical buildings in a moderate seismic zone in New Zealand. The result showed that the proposed methods and two existing methods can generate a solution that dominates solutions of other existing methods in at least one aspect (e.g. the objective at a hazard level or running time).

ZONA KERENTANAN LONGSOR MENGGUNAKAN METODE ANALYTICAL HIERARCHY PROCESS (AHP) DI DESA BANJARSARI DAN SEKITARNYA, KALIBAWANG, KULON PROGO, DAERAH ISTIMEWA YOGYAKARTA

Kalibawang area has 20 landslides. Therefore, a landslide vulnerability map with a scale of 1:25,000 is needed for appropriate mitigation measures and as a basis for strategic planning for the future using the AHP method. Based on the AHP method, several parameters such as slope conditions, lithology, land use, geological structure, rainfall intensity, earthquakes are factors that influence the occurrence of landslides. The purpose of this research is to identify areas that are prone to landslides in the Banjarsari area and its surroundings using this AHP method. The research location is at coordinates 110°12'30''-110°15'00'' east longitude and 07°40'00''-07°42'30'' latitude, located in Banjarsari Village, Kalibawang District, Kulon Progo Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta. The research location has a moderate-strong wavy morphology with a relatively steep slope with a lithology composed of andesite breccia, alcarenite, reef limestones and alluvial deposits with a fairly high level of rock weathering, resulting a fairly thick weathered parent rock accompanied by poor land use. land on it. The high landslide vulnerability zone in the research area is mostly in the west, southwest to northeast with an area of + 35.1% of the research area. The moderate landslide vulnerability zone in the research area is mostly in the south, north and east with an area of + 61.4% of the research area. Low landslide vulnerability zone in the easternpart of the research area with an area of + 3.5% of the research area.

Identification of groundwater potential sites in the drought-prone area using geospatial techniques at Fafen-Jerer sub-basin, Ethiopia

ABSTRACT Analyzing the groundwater potential zone is a fundamental first step in investigating groundwater resources in arid and semi-arid regions. This study examined the groundwater potential zone of the Fafen-Jerer sub-basin by applying geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing (RS). The study used ten influencing factors, including geology, geomorphology, slope, soil, lineament density, drainage density, land use, land cover, topographic wetness index, topographic roughness index, and rainfall, to identify potential sites. Based on their effect on groundwater recharge, the sub-class of each influencing factor was identified and evaluated. The weights were determined using the multi-criteria decision-making method’s analytical hierarchy process technique. At the conclusion of the investigation, the region was divided into four potential zones: low, moderate, high, and extremely high. The study region comprises 84% moderate potential zones, 14% high groundwater potential zones, and 2% low and extremely high potential zones. area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the groundwater potential zone, and the findings show extremely good performance (AUC = 0.87). The study provides recommendations for stakeholders and water management professionals to develop a strategy for water resource management based on the conjunctive use of surface and groundwater.

Determining the effect of urbanization on flood hazard zones in Kahramanmaras, Turkey, using flood hazard index and multi-criteria decision analysis.

Floods are the most destructive natural hazard throughout the world. Identifying flood hazard zones is the first step in flood risk management. Land use changes, especially urbanization, is the key factor in the destructiveness of flood events and change in flood risk. Therefore, determining the effect of urbanization on the changes in flood hazard zones presents a valuable data for effective flood risk management and urban development planning. In this context, the aim of this study is to reveal the effect of urbanization on flood hazard zones in Kahramanmaras city. In this study, an index-based approach was used to identify the flood hazard zones. To calculate a flood hazard index, the susceptibility map was multiplied by the land use map by using the raster calculator tool in the ArcGIS. The susceptibility map was generated by combining the maps of flow accumulation, distance to stream, slope, and elevation parameters based on parameter weights obtained from the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method. Two land use maps for the years 1990 and 2018 were separately overlaid with the susceptibility map to reveal the effects of urbanization on flood hazard zones. According to the results, it was found that very low, low, and moderate hazard zones decreased by 0.01%, 0.09%, and 1.2%, respectively whereas the high and very high zones increased by 3.30% and 0.58%, respectively due to urbanization. It was also determined that the main reason for the increase in the high zone was the expansion of urban areas into agricultural areas in the study area.

Temporal and spatial variation analysis of habitat quality on the PLUS-InVEST model for Ebinur Lake Basin, China

The improvement of habitat quality is of great significance to biodiversity conservation. Irrational development activities lead to the degradation of habitat quality and loss of biodiversity, especially in arid inland areas where the ecological environment is fragile. In this study, the InVEST model is used to evaluate the habitat quality and degradation degree of the Ebinur Lake Basin from 1990 to 2020, while the PLUS model is used to predict the land use change in the Ebinur Lake Basin under various scenarios. Combined with the results of ecological zoning planning, the spatial distribution of land use and habitat quality under the inertia development (ID) and ecological protection (EP) scenarios in 2030 were compared and analyzed, and the optimal scenario was selected. The following four conclusions are drawn: (1) From 1990 to 2020, cultivated land, grassland, and construction land significantly increased, while forest land, water bodies, and unused land significantly decreased. (2) The habitat quality of the watershed showed an increasing trend followed by a decreasing trend. The area proportion of high habitat quality has always exceeded 50 % of the total area of the watershed with a high level of habitat quality. (3) Furthermore, combined with habitat quality and the human footprint index (HFI), ecological zoning planning for the basin was conducted. The three ecological zones were divided into key protected areas, key restoration areas, and moderate development zones, with area proportions of 53.69 %, 29.37 %, and 16.93 %, respectively. (4) By comparing habitat quality under the ID scenario and the EP scenario in 2030, we found that the area of high habitat quality increased by 2730.06 km2 under the EP scenario, which improved the overall level of habitat quality, and was more conducive to the ecological security protection of the basin. The results of this study may benefit the analysis of the temporal and spatial variation characteristics of habitat quality in the Ebinur Lake Basin and provide a reference for the improvement of habitat quality in the inland arid region.

Sediment Yield Assessment, Prioritization and Control Practices in Chambal River Basin Employing SYI Model

Abstract Sediment yield is the result of all sediment production and transport processes. Recent technological developments and increasing availability of global environmental datasets, including earth observation data, provide an opportunity to systematically examine the relationship between sediment yield and controlling catchment variables by employing geographic information system (GIS). The Sediment yield index (SYI) method is employed using soil texture, topography, rainfall erosivity, geomorphology and landuse-landcover parameters to compute the spatial distribution of sediment yield rate and plan soil conservation and prioritize watershed in the Chambal river basin. The model does not provide absolute sediment yield value and can be only used for qualitative purposes. The present study estimated the sediment yield rate between 560-2625 ton/ha/yr with an average value of 1608.89 ton/ ha/yr and severe, very high, high, moderate, and low priority zones. The priority levels are determined based on average sediment yield values and conservation approaches are proposed for all the catchments.