Northeastern Sector Research Articles

Dependence of long-term annual rainfall trends in South Africa on analysis period: 1921–2022

The focus of the paper is to address the temporal discrepancies in long-term rainfall trend results in South Africa, by evaluating a systematic range of observation periods over the century-long analysis period of 1921–2022. Available long-term climate projections show that significant parts of South Africa are expected to experience progressively drier conditions, mainly in the west. To assess long-term rainfall trends over the country, historical trends should be determined – the results of published studies for which are not consistent. Arguably the most significant reason for these inconsistencies is the length of analysis period. This study investigates this effect on the magnitude and statistical significance of historical annual rainfall trends over hydrological years, with the data of 94 homogeneous rainfall districts. Trends of annual rainfall were determined for all periods up to 2022, from the 1921–2022 period up to the last 30 years, i.e. 1993–2022. The annual rainfall trends over the longest analysis period show significantly positive trends over most of the central and western parts and significant drying over extensive parts of mainly the far north-east. However, the most recent period (1993–2022) shows significantly drying trends over extensive parts of the west, south and east. Among the main findings is that the change in trends shows a consistent spatial pattern of significant negative change over most of the south-western half, and mostly significantly positive trends over the north-eastern sector. These results are in large agreement with future rainfall projections, particularly for the western half. Ultimately, the study emphasizes the wide range of long-term trends in South Africa, both spatially and temporally, and the importance of considering a range of historical analysis periods in the detection of long-term rainfall changes. In effect, the eventual results provide increased confidence to predicted future rainfall scenarios.

Change in grounding line location on the Antarctic Peninsula measured using a tidal motion offset correlation method

Abstract. The grounding line position of glaciers and ice shelves is an essential observation for the study of the Earth's ice sheets. However, in some locations, such as the Antarctic Peninsula, where many grounding lines have not been mapped since the 1990s, remote sensing of grounding line position remains challenging. Here we present a tidal motion offset correlation (TMOC) method for measuring the grounding line position of tidewater glaciers and ice shelves, based on the correlation between tide amplitude and synthetic aperture radar offset tracking measurements. We apply this method to the Antarctic Peninsula Ice Sheet to automatically delineate a new grounding line position for 2019–2020, with near complete coverage along 9300 km of coastline, updating the 20-year-old record. A comparison of the TMOC grounding line to contemporaneous interferometrically measured grounding line position shows the method has a mean seaward offset compared to interferometry of 185 m and a standard deviation of 295 m. Our results show that over the last 24 years there has been grounding line retreat at a number of fast-flowing ice streams on the Antarctic Peninsula, with the most retreat concentrated in the north-eastern sector, where grounding lines have retreated following the collapse of ice shelves. We observe a maximum grounding line retreat since 1996 of 16.3 ± 0.5 km on Hektoria Glacier, with other notable glaciers retreating by 9.3 ± 0.5, 9.1 ± 0.5 and 3.6 ± 0.5 km. Our results document dynamic change on Antarctic Peninsula glaciers and show the importance of using an updated grounding line location to delineate the boundary between floating and grounded ice.

Geology and geochronology of the El Peñón granitic pluton: A contribution to the famatinian magmatic evolution in the Sierra de San Luis, Argentina

The El Peñón pluton is a peraluminous granite located in the northeastern sector of the Sierra de San Luis. According to its textural and mineral variations two endmember facies have been distinguished along it: a coarse-grained muscovite-bearing facies, and a fine-grained biotite-bearing facies. Field relationships aligned with mineralogical and geochemical compositions, allow us to establish an anatectic origin for this pluton. Regarding the inherited zircon ages, the provenance area of the metasedimentary source could be linked to the orogenic systems of Western Gondwana. The analysis of the internal structure of the intrusive body related with the structural arrangement observed in the country rocks indicates a syn-kinematic emplacement of the igneous body with respect to the main deformational event described in the Sierra de San Luis, which has been assigned to the closure of the Famatinian arc. New U-Pb (LA-ICP-MS) zircon ages constrain the emplacement/crystallization age of the El Peñón granite within the time lapse between ∼470 and 460 Ma. The geochronological data presented here, together with geochemical and structural analysis, enables us to correlate the origin of the El Peñón pluton and the deformation that occurred during its emplacement with the Famatinian Orogeny. Thus, these results allow us to rule out the presence of Pampean magmatism in the Sierra de San Luis but also establish a new absolute age for the main deformational event of the range.

The genesis and mineralization potential of the Kunshan pluton in the Xuancheng district, Eastern China

The Xuancheng mineralization district (XMD) is an important part of the Middle-Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt, and hosts a number of porphyry-skarn Cu poly-metal discoveries in recent years. The Kunshan pluton is located in the northeastern sector of the Xuancheng district, and is composed of fine-grained pyroxene diorite, coarse-grained pyroxene diorite and granodiorite. This study reports zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb chronology, whole-rock geochemistry and Sr-Nd isotope analysis of the Kunshan Complex pluton. The intrusions young from the fine-grained pyroxene diorite (137.2 ± 2.0 Ma), through the coarse-grained pyroxene diorite (136.1 ± 2.1 Ma) to the granodiorite (134.8 ± 2.2 Ma). All three stages of magmatic samples are high-potassium calc-alkaline to potassium dolerite series, they are enriched in light rare earth elements (LREE) and large ion lithophile elements such as Rb, Sr, and (Ba), but depleted in heavy rare earths elements (HREE), and high field strength elements such as Nb, Ta, Ti, and P. Their (87Sr/86Sr)i and (143Nd/144Nd)i values range from 0.706703 to 0.707618 and 0.512023 to 0.512064 respectively. The samples from the Kunshan complex pluton are consistently plotted the zone between the mantle evolution trending line and MLYB crust, which indicating the three-stage melt are derived from the crust-mantle mixed source, with closer to lithosphere mantle. All phases of the pluton were derived from the same magmatic source, likely the crust-mantle mixed zone between the lower Yangtze crust and enriched lithospheric mantle. The 3 stage melts formed Kunshan complex pluton gradually strengthen fractional crystallization (FC) during their emplacement process, while the late granodiorite melt with highest FC degree was the ore-forming intrusion, which is characterized with oxidized melt with low temperature, and high H2O content. After Compared with the mineralized granitoid intrusive rocks in the Middle-Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt, it suggests that the late highly differentiated granitoids, like Kunshan granodiorite, are probably favorable metallogenic indications.

Relationship between environmental evolution and human activities in the northeastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau throughout the past millennium and its implications for the onset of the Anthropocene

AbstractIn current research on the Anthropocene, assessing the impact of human activities via stratigraphic records of sediments and demarcating the Anthropocene epoch globally are critical scientific issues that urgently need to be addressed. The northeastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau (QXP), where humans first settled permanently in large numbers in the QXP, has varying sedimentary environments that are extremely sensitive to human activities. In contrast to other regions of the QXP, the northeastern sector boasts a richer array of climatic and environmental reconstruction sequences. This distinctive feature renders it an exemplary locale for investigating the stratigraphic boundary of the Anthropocene. Through in-depth analysis and integration of existing paleoclimate and paleoenvironment sequences in the northeastern QXP, we draw the following conclusions: (1) Throughout the past millennium, the impact of human activities on the environment of the northeastern QXP has become increasingly significant, especially in the past 200–300 years, gradually overshadowing climatic factors. (2) Since AD 1950, multiple physicochemical indicators related to human activities in the northeastern QXP have shown exponential growth, forming a distinct peak within the past millennium and clearly depicting the global “Great Acceleration” phenomenon and its development process. (3) Intensified human activities have driven swift environmental shifts and “decoupled” the interplay between climatic variations and the ecological environment, propelling the northeastern QXP into the “Early Anthropocene” from the “Late Holocene”. On the basis of the above findings, we construct a model suitable for identifying the stratigraphic boundary of the Anthropocene in the northeastern QXP and note that since the ecological environment in the northeastern QXP has entered the “Early Anthropocene”, the climate signals of certain physicochemical indicators in sediments are gradually becoming weaker, whereas the signals of human activities are becoming stronger.

Deep-Seated Landslide and Rockfalls Threatening the Village of Pietracamela in Central Italy: Deciphering Phenomena from Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar and Point Cloud Analysis

Landslides represent a major problem in human activities, especially in the proximity of cities or infrastructure. In this paper, we present the peculiar case of Pietracamela, Italy. Pietracamela is a small village located in the Central Apennines, a few kilometers north of the Gran Sasso Mountain. The peculiarity of the case study is the fact that the village is simultaneously affected by two different types of slope instabilities. The southwest sector, representing the historical part of the village, has been affected by large rockfalls generated from the “Capo le Vene” cliff located in the south of the village. The northeastern sector of the village represents the most recent urbanized area and is involved in a deep-seated landslide that, in the last decades, has damaged buildings and infrastructure. In this context, we have used two different types of remote sensing techniques to study the two phenomena. The rockfall area has been surveyed through the use of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that allowed the definition of main joint sets and the volume of blocks associated with the most recent (2011) rockfall event. Three main joint sets have been highlighted, which are responsible for the failure of the “Capo le Vene” cliff. The volume of blocks that failed during the last rock failure in 2011 ranged from a few to 1500 m3. The deep-seated landslide has been studied by analyzing borehole data and 20 years of InSAR data from ERS1/2, ENVISAT, COSMO-SkyMed, and SENTINEL-1. It has been highlighted by InSAR analysis that the northeast sector of the village shows a perfectly linear displacement trend that generates movements up to about 230 mm (about 1 cm/year).

Implementation of a slope stability method in the CRITERIA-1D agro-hydrological modeling scheme

AbstractThis paper presents the implementation of a slope stability method for rainfall-induced shallow landslides in CRITERIA-1D, which is an agro-hydrological model based on Richards’ equation for transient infiltration and redistribution processes. CRITERIA-1D can simulate the presence and development of roots and canopies over space and time, the regulation of transpiration activity based on real meteorological data, and the evaporation reduction caused by canopies. The slope can be considered composed of a multi-layered soil, leading to the possibility of simulating the bedrock and of setting an initial water table level. CRITERIA-1D can consider different soil horizons characterized by different hydraulic conductivities and soil water retention curves, thus allowing the simulation of capillarity barriers. The validation of the proposed physically based slope stability model was conducted through the simulation of the collected water content and water potential data of an experimental slope. The monitored slope is located close to Montuè, in the north-eastern sector of Oltrepò Pavese (northern Apennines—Italy). Just close to the monitoring station, a shallow landslide occurred in 2014 at a depth of around 100 cm. The results show the utility of agro-hydrological modeling schemes in modeling the antecedent soil moisture condition and in reducing the overestimation of landslides events detection, which is an issue for early warning systems and slope management related to rainfall-induced shallow landslides. The presented model can be used also to test different bioengineering solutions for slope stabilization, especially when data about rooting systems and plant physiology are known.

Authigenic biotite from hydrothermally altered terrigenous sediments of the Central Hill (Escanaba Trough, Gorda Ridge, Pacific Ocean, hole ODP 1038B)

For the first time, authigenic dispersed biotite was discovered in Pleistocene terrigenous sediments of the Central Hill, located in the Escanaba Trough in the southern part of the Gorda Ridge (northeastern sector of the Pacific Ocean), which accounts for almost the entire content of fine fractions 1 μm of some samples from ODP 1038B hole. The authigenic nature of biotite is associated with the metasomatic effect of hydrothermal solution on terrigenous clay minerals after intrusion of basaltic magma in the form of laccolith with a temperature of ~1200°C. The mineral composition of fine fractions of sediments was studied using complex analytical methods, including modeling of their diffraction patterns. It has been established that the dispersed micaceous mineral (biotite) is trioctahedral, high-iron, does not swell when saturated with glycol, but contracts after heating at 550°C. It is shown that in its structure there are no foreign layers, the height and composition of which differ from the micaceous layers. The decrease in the height of micaceous layers upon heating biotite to 550°C is mainly due to a decrease in the height of 2:1 octahedra due to the difference in the Fe2+–O and Fe3+–O bond lengths as a result of the oxidation of Fe2+ cations It has been established a limit value for the coefficient of variation CV, characterizing the absence of mixed-layering in a regular structure, which should not exceed a value of 0.10.

IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THERMAL BIOCLIMATIC INDICES OVER IRAQ

This study was aimed to investigate the trends in (11) thermal bioclimatic indicators throughout Iraq's various climates to better understand their spatiotemporal variations in different climates. All bioclimatic indicators have been calculated from daily ERA5 datasets of temperature extracted from 361 grid points covering Iraq. This data set covers global coverage of monthly temperatures from 1980 to 2022, with a spatial resolution of (0.25°x0.25°). Eleven thermal bioclimatic indicators were subjected to the Mann-Kendall (MK) test in order to measure trends in a single direction, without taking into account the influence of natural cycles. The findings showed that the majority of Iraq's thermal bioclimate indicators had changed. implying that rising temperatures have had a significant influence on the country's bioclimate. The annual mean temperature data revealed that Iraq had a considerable increase in Bio1 of (0.28 to 0.48) °C/decade, which is more than the )0.15( °C/decade worldwide average. The rise was found to be significantly greater in Iraq's northern and eastern regions. The analysis suggested that the diurnal temperature range decreased in most regions of Iraq, especially in the southern and northeastern sections. The maximum temperature increased most dramatically in the warmest quarter, whereas the changes in the coldest quarter were less noticeable, showing an increase in climatic extremes in Iraq. The study unequivocally shows that climate change is leading to an increase in the mean temperature, specifically during the warmest months of the year.

Assessing landslide susceptibility in Lake Abya catchment, Rift Valley, Ethiopia: A GIS-based frequency ratio analysis

Ethiopia's varied landscape, significant rainfall, and diverse geological characteristics pose risks of landslides. The specific research area spans 40 km2 within the Lake Abaya catchment area in the Rift Valley of Ethiopia. This investigation aimed to map landslide susceptibility using remote sensing information, GIS technology, and frequency ratio analysis. It evaluated multiple factors influencing landslide susceptibility. The process involved meticulous mapping of thematic layers, utilizing GIS techniques and diverse data sources, including primary data, satellite imagery, and secondary sources. A combination of Google Earth image analysis and field surveys was used to map landslide susceptibility in inaccessible areas. It was determined that 138 landslide sites existed. Of these, 30% (41 points) were assigned to the test of the model and another 30% to the training of the model, for a total of 97 points. The landslide susceptibility was classified into five categories based on frequency ratio analysis of the landslide susceptibility index (LSI): very low, low, moderate, high, and very high. The northeastern sector of the study area demonstrated a comparatively diminished susceptibility to landslides, ranging from low to moderate, whereas the central and southern regions showcased markedly elevated vulnerability. An evaluation of the model's accuracy using the area under the curve (AUC) method based on test inventory landslide data produced encouraging results: 84.8% accuracy on the success rate curve and 78.8% accuracy on the prediction rate curve. Based on the frequency ratio model, a susceptibility map is derived to represent susceptibility levels accurately.

Chemical Characteristics and Distribution Prediction of Hydrocarbon Source Rocks in the Continental Lacustrine Basin of the Chang 7 Member in the Heshui Area of the Ordos Basin, China

The Heshui area within the Ordos Basin holds significant strategic importance for the extraction and development of tight oil resources in the Changqing Oilfield. This study extensively explored the geochemical features and distribution tendencies of source rocks in the Chang 7 member, utilizing core samples and logging data for a comprehensive analysis. A more advanced model was utilized to predict the dispersion of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) in the Chang 7 member source rock. The properties and hydrocarbon generation potential of source rocks were thoroughly assessed through a comprehensive analysis that involved evaluating their total organic carbon content, pyrolysis parameters, and reflectance (Ro) values. The research concluded that the source rocks boast substantial organic matter, predominantly categorized as type II-I organic material. The thermal maturation levels span from low maturity to maturity, signifying significant potential for oil generation. Generally, the source rock quality falls within the range of good to excellent. Sedimentary patterns notably influence the distribution of hydrocarbon-source rocks. The northeastern sector of the study area is situated in an area characterized by deep to semi-deep lake sedimentation, making it the primary location for the presence of Chang 7 member hydrocarbon source rocks. With a thickness ranging from 40 to 70 m, this zone becomes a pivotal focus for the potential exploration of tight oil resources in the future. The results of this study offer crucial insights for understanding the geochemical characteristics of hydrocarbon source rocks, evaluating their potential for hydrocarbon generation, and forecasting favorable zones for oil and gas exploration in similar regions.

Land capability assessment of Sali watershed for agricultural suitability using a multi-criteria-based decision-making approach.

The assessment of land's agricultural potential, through a land capability evaluation, delves into its innate limitations, crop suitability, and responses to soil management. In regions where agriculture reigns supreme, socio-economic development is inexorably linked to the agricultural sector, making the optimal utilization of land resources an imperative pursuit. The pursuit of this objective is underpinned by the selection of new agricultural areas and the determination of which crops thrive in specific locations, for which the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method emerges as an ideal choice. This comprehensive research endeavour revolves around the intricate interplay of climatic, edaphic, fertility, topographical, and socioeconomic determinants. Within this intricate web, a total of 15 determinants play a pivotal role, including precipitation, potential evapotranspiration (PET), soil texture, drainage, soil organic-carbon, nitrogen content, pH, clay content, river proximity, land use/land cover (LULC), slope, temperature, social suitability, irrigation density, and elevation. To weigh these determinants, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) comes into play, ultimately revealing that the dominant influences on land capability stem from the realms of climate and soil. The watershed's terrain analysis revealed a distinct suitability contrast: 168 km2 highly suitable, 181.3 km2 moderate, and 429 km2 low. The eastern and northeastern sectors were notably promising. Rigorous validation, using the ROC curve, confirmed the reliability and precision. The process yielded an impressive 83.2% AUC, unequivocally confirming the assessment's remarkable accuracy and dependability.

Evolution of the Júcar-Cabriel fluvial system on the Mediterranean watershed of the Iberian Peninsula (Valencia, eastern Spain)

This study presents the characterization and chronology of the Quaternary terrace sequence developed in the confluence zone of the Júcar and Cabriel river valleys. The study area covers a radius of 10 km from the confluence of the two valleys near the locality of Cofrentes (Valencia). It is located in the northern zone of the Ayora-Cofrentes Graben in the northeastern sector of the External Prebetic Zone adjacent to southern Iberian Chain. This N-S graben is an inherited tectonic feature with an axial salt wall subject to different periods of fluvial dissection and refilling since at least the end of the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC). Regional isostatic uplift and local uplift and subsidence processes related to salt flow and dissolution during the Quaternary period, favored by fluvial entrenchment and terrace development. The terrace system and the previous pre-incision erosional and depositional surfaces are analyzed from a geomorphological point of view. The terrace system only develops within the soft Mio-Pliocene sedimentary fill of the graben, whilst upstream and downstream this zone the studied valleys develop important gorges (canyons) carved in the Cretaceous tablelands (Caroch Massif) and Mio-Pliocene deposits (Llanura Manchega). The geochronological control is established from 20 numerical ages obtained by different dating methods, such us Electron Spin Resonance (ESR), Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) in detrital sequences and Th/U series in calcareous tufa deposits. Additionally, four K/Ar dates available for volcanic materials disrupting the upper and oldest terrace have been considered. A total of 14 terrace levels were identified between +130–135 m (T1) and +3–4 m (T14) of relative height above the river thalwegs. The T1 has an approximate age of c. 1.6–2.0 M.a. as indicate the age of the volcanic materials from the Agras Volcano intruded in the terrace, marking the onset of Quaternary fluvial dissection in the zone. The obtained geochronological data indicate that the Lower-Middle Pleistocene boundary is slightly above T6 (+60–65 m), which has an ESR age of 577 ± 43 ka. This terrace also documents the onset of the most important period of rise of the salt within the graben interfering drainage development. The geochronological data indicate the occurrence of a second eruptive event during the second half of the Middle Pleistocene related to the terraces T7 (+50 m) and T8 (+35–40 m), updating the volcanic activity in the zone. The beginning of the Upper Pleistocene is recorded by the top sequences of the T9 terrace (+25–30 m) where numerous OSL and Th/U data have been obtained with ages between ca. 105 and 81 ka (MIS 5). However, these young terraces (T8 to T13) are thickened (8–10 m) recording Middle Pleistocene sediments in their basal sequences with ages between ca. 193 and 137 ka (MIS 6). The study provides important data on valley evolution under the interference of volcanic activity, salt –related deformation (diapirism, solution subsidence) and fluvial incision fostered by the rise of the axial diapir (salt wall) protruding the graben since at least the Brunhes-Matuyama boundary. The analyzed fluvial evolution documents interesting cases of river capture, drainage antecedence and tectonic adaptation of the drainage throughout the Quaternary Period. The paper also poses interesting geochronological data on the long-term Quaternary evolution of Mediterranean valleys in the Iberian Peninsula, poorly explored to the date.

Main characteristics of burial complexes of Central Kazakhstan in the Late Bronze Age

The main factual basis of the research comprised the materials of 25 necropoleis of the Late Bronze Age examined in the Karaganda and Ulytau regions of Central Kazakhstan. The total number of the investigated burials amounts to 167 individual structures. There were 190 burials recorded. Since the 2000s, nine cemeteries belonging to the Late Bronze Age have been investigated. There were 72 burial structures studied, including one of the eight largest mausoleums in the region — Karazhar-tas, excavated in 2016–2017. All known burial structures were divided into three groups: surface stone boxes, boxes imbedded in the bedrock, and ground graves, which, according to the characteristic above-ground structures, were divided into ten types of burial structures. It has been noted that for the first group of the burials, the most characteristic are quadrangular funeral structures erected using the masonry technique. The second group is dominated by quadrangular fences built from vertically set slabs, less often from stone laid on flat. The third group is clearly dominated by a ring-shaped layout in the form of the stones selected according to their dimensions, laid in a circle. The most numerous appeared to be the first group, for which the charac-teristic feature is the arrangement of the burial chambers in the form of stone boxes raised above the ground. The less repre-sentative was the second group with subsurface burials, including those that had a form of composite stone boxes. The third group comprised the burials in ground graves. It is assumed that in the first two groups, the westward orientation of the interred is predominant, with a certain role of the northeastern sector. The third group is characterised by the invariable orientation of the deceased in a southward direction with the sleeping position of the skeleton laid on the right side.

1 Institute of Microbiology of the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan Republic, Azerbaijan

Abstract: The study is devoted to a detailed examination of the reaction of Pyrus L. species occupying the northeastern sector of the Greater Caucasus region to various abiotic variables in controlled ex situ habitats. This study has important theoretical and practical implications for the conservation of genetic diversity among these uncommon species, as well as the effective implementation of environmental greening projects. The core focus lies in understanding the interplay between the introduced Pyrus L. species and a spectrum of environmental variables when subjected to ex situ conditions. By delving into this relationship, the study aims to contribute valuable insights that transcend theoretical boundaries and extend into practical applications. The protection of the gene pool of these rare species is a paramount objective, and the findings are anticipated to inform and enhance strategies for the successful implementation of greening efforts. In essence, the research not only seeks to deepen our theoretical understanding of how Pyrus L. species respond to abiotic factors but also strives to provide practical knowledge that can be harnessed for the preservation of biodiversity and the successful execution of environmental conservation initiatives." Keywords: Pyrus L., ex situ, temperature, light, water.

Structural setting and architecture of the North Cycladic Detachment System in the northeastern sectors of Mykonos Island (Greece)

ABSTRACT We present the 1:8000 scale geological map of the northeastern sector of Mykonos Island, where an igneous, metamorphic and siliciclastic sequence is cut by the North Cycladic Detachment System (NCDS), and brittly-ductily deformed during the emplacement of the Mykonos Granite. We describe the architecture of the (ductile) Livada and (brittle) Mykonos Detachments pertaining to the NCDS. Geological mapping was functional to (i) the description of along and across strike geometrical variations of the detachments and (ii) the analysis of the deformation and strain partitioning within the deformed rocks. We show that deformation localisation differs along dip and strike for the Mykonos Detachment, which accommodated deformation both through thick and localised fault zones. Also, the ductile fabric of the Livada Detachment is characterised by a strong strain localisation, which generally decreases from eastwards. Moreover, the geological map shows that the detachments orientation allowed the local elision of the original tectono-stratigraphy.

A High Arctic inner shelf–fjord system from the Last Glacial Maximum to the present: Bessel Fjord and southwest Dove Bugt, northeastern Greenland

Abstract. The Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) responds rapidly to the present climate; therefore, its response to the predicted future warming is of concern. To learn more about the impact of future climatic warming on the ice sheet, decoding its behavior during past periods of warmer than present climate is important. However, due to the scarcity of marine studies reconstructing ice sheet conditions on the Northeast Greenland shelf and adjacent fjords, the timing of the deglaciation over marine regions and its connection to forcing factors remain poorly constrained. This includes data collected in fjords that encompass the Holocene thermal maximum (HTM), a period in which the climate was warmer than it is at present. This paper aims to use new bathymetric data and the analysis of sediment gravity cores to enhance our understanding of ice dynamics of the GrIS in a fjord and inner shelf environment as well as give insight into the timing of deglaciation and provide a palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of southwestern Dove Bugt and Bessel Fjord since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). North–south-oriented glacial lineations and the absence of pronounced moraines in southwest Dove Bugt, an inner continental shelf embayment (trough), suggest the southwards and offshore flow of Storstrømmen, the southern branch of the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream (NEGIS). Sedimentological data suggest that an ice body, theorized to be the NEGIS, may have retreated from the region slightly before ∼ 11.4 cal ka BP. The seabed morphology of Bessel Fjord, a fjord terminating in southern Dove Bugt, includes numerous basins separated by thresholds. The position of basin thresholds, which include some recessional moraines, suggest that the GrIS had undergone multiple halts or readvances during deglaciation, likely during one of the cold events identified in the Greenland Summit temperature records. A minimum age of 7.1 cal ka BP is proposed for the retreat of ice through the fjord to or west of its present-day position in the Bessel Fjord catchment area. This suggests that the GrIS retreated from the marine realm in Early Holocene, around the onset of the HTM in this region, a period when the mean July temperature was at least 2–3 ∘C higher than at present and remained at or west of this onshore position for the remainder of the Holocene. The transition from predominantly mud to muddy sand layers in a mid-fjord core at ∼ 4 cal ka BP may be the result of increased sediment input from nearby and growing ice caps. This shift may suggest that in the Late Holocene (Meghalayan), a period characterized by a temperature drop to modern values, ice caps in Bessel Fjord probably fluctuated with greater sensitivity to climatic conditions than the northeastern sector of the GrIS.

MP21-01 UROLOGISTS AND LGBTQ PATIENTS: A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF THE PRACTICE PATTERNS, ATTITUDES, AND KNOWLEDGE BASE OF UROLOGISTS TOWARD THEIR LGBTQ PATIENTS

You have accessJournal of UrologyCME1 Apr 2023MP21-01 UROLOGISTS AND LGBTQ PATIENTS: A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF THE PRACTICE PATTERNS, ATTITUDES, AND KNOWLEDGE BASE OF UROLOGISTS TOWARD THEIR LGBTQ PATIENTS Alex Xu, Evan Panken, Christopher Gonzales-Alabastro, Hui Zhang, Adam Murphy, and Channa Amarasekera Alex XuAlex Xu More articles by this author , Evan PankenEvan Panken More articles by this author , Christopher Gonzales-AlabastroChristopher Gonzales-Alabastro More articles by this author , Hui ZhangHui Zhang More articles by this author , Adam MurphyAdam Murphy More articles by this author , and Channa AmarasekeraChanna Amarasekera More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000003246.01AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: To assess urologists’ attitudes toward treating LGBT patients and counseling practices during diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) METHODS: A 35-question, 3-part (history taking, health training, and PCa counseling) survey was sent to program directors of U.S. urology residencies. Demographics were also collected RESULTS: 154 responses met inclusion criteria. Compared to the 2021 AUA Census, our cohort skewed younger and included a higher proportion of academic, female and gay-identifying providers. 54.2% of respondents don’t assume patients are heterosexual. While 87% feel comfortable discussing sexual health with LGBTQ patients, 42.9% disagree that knowing sexual orientation is necessary to providing optimal care. Physicians >65 years old are more likely to believe that knowing sexual orientation is necessary to provide the best care (p=0.034) but younger and academic physicians are more likely to elicit this during history taking (p=0.037, p=0.007) and via intake forms (p=0.009, p=0.002). A majority (32.7%) report 1-5 hours of LGBTQ health training. 74.3% believe more training is needed. 74.5% would agree to being listed as an LGBTQ-Friendly Provider currently, 65.8% would want additional training. Female (p=0.01) and younger providers (p=0.038) are more likely to request more training. Younger providers believe more strongly in additional educational events (p=0.009). North Central and South Central AUA sections are most likely to have 0 hours of LGBTQ education in medical school and Western and Northeastern sections are most likely to have >10 hours (p=0.012). 63.6% agree the prostate is a source of sexual pleasure. 55.9% believe it important to assess sexual satisfaction in patients who engage in receptive anal intercourse after PCa treatment. Responses were mixed on timing of receptive anal intercourse after treatment and counseling on anal stimulation prior to PSA testing. Answers to knowledge questions on anal cancer and communication were primarily correct; answers to questions on anejaculation and health care differences were mixed. CONCLUSIONS: Education is necessary on specific differences between heterosexual and LGBTQ patient concerns and application of this knowledge to address the needs of an aging LGBTQ population Source of Funding: NA © 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 209Issue Supplement 4April 2023Page: e284 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Alex Xu More articles by this author Evan Panken More articles by this author Christopher Gonzales-Alabastro More articles by this author Hui Zhang More articles by this author Adam Murphy More articles by this author Channa Amarasekera More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

Quantitative morphology and mtDNA reveal that Lasius maltaeus is not endemic to the Maltese Islands (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Lasius maltaeus Seifert, 2020 was recently described as a Maltese endemic ant based on quantitative morphology, after decades of uncertainties over the identity of the local population, which has a phenotype resembling L. emarginatus (Olivier, 1791). At the same time, Sicilian L. emarginatus populations were discovered to diverge in their mitochondrial DNA to a degree that suggested heterospecificity. Considering the biogeographic similarity of Malta and Sicily, with land bridges connecting them repeatedly until the last glacial maximum, we questioned the assumption that L. maltaeus was endemic to Malta. We integrated quantitative morphology and mtDNA in the study of the Maltese and southern Italian populations phenotypically close to L. emarginatus. We discovered that the range of L. maltaeus extends over most of Sicily, while the true L. emarginatus replace it in the north-eastern sector of the island, the nearby Aeolian Islands, and the Italian peninsula. The distributions of L. emarginatus and L. maltaeus in Sicily follow biogeographic patterns recalling the island’s complex paleogeographic history. Further investigations should verify the existence of truly Maltese endemic ants, since the status of other allegedly endemic species is not strongly supported.

UAV Application for Short-Time Evolution Detection of the Vomice Landslide (South Italy)

This paper investigates the possibility to detect the short-time evolution of the slow-moving Vomice earth flow, located in the northeastern sector of the Calabria region (South Italy), by combining the information obtained from two different drone flights, carried out in February 2019 and June 2022, with field surveys. The obtained results consisted of delimiting all landslide bodies constituting the Vomice earth flow, detecting landslide types and the state of activity, as well as identifying spatial and volumetric changes. The obtained results showed that depletion and transition zones of the Vomice earth flow are active, while the accumulation zone appears prevalently dormant. Particularly, in the analyzed period, the depletion zone was characterized by local collapses of the main scarps where several slides evolving in earth flows caused more than 20 m of retrogressive fail upslope. The maximum elevation changes observed in these zones were about ±5 m. The volume of the material mobilized by mass movements was about 114.2 × 103 m3, whereas the volume of the accumulated material was approximately 92.7 × 103 m3. The transition zone was affected by several slow earthflows that re-mobilized the displaced material located in the middle portion of the landslide and reached the accumulation zone. Overall, the results of this study demonstrated the practicality and feasibility of using UAV tools for detecting the short-time evolution of a large landslide.