Population Settlement Research Articles

Flooding, Sociospatial Risk, and Population Health.

Climate change and population settlement patterns are altering the severity and spatial dimensions of flooding. Despite associational evidence linking flood exposure to population health in the United States, few studies have used counterfactual strategies to address confounding or examined how sociospatial determinations of risk, such as floodplain delineation, affect well-being. Using the case of Hurricane Harvey, I leverage novel, repeated cross-sectional health survey data from Houston immediately predisaster (N = 2,540) and six to nine months postdisaster (N = 2,798), linked to local flood inundation and floodplain data. Difference-in-differences models show that the probability of psychological distress and fair/poor health increased significantly in the flooded treatment group, with mixed evidence on unhealthy mental health days and no change in unhealthy physical health days. Triple-difference estimators further reveal buffered mental health adversity for those in flooded areas with high floodplain areal coverage relative to little or no floodplains. Descriptive analyses of mechanisms suggest that floodplain coverage did not differentiate individual-level disaster exposure but increased the likelihood of disaster preparedness and evacuation. This article offers insights into the climate-health nexus empirically by using a causal framework to improve credibility and conceptually by demonstrating how an underexamined dimension of vulnerability-sociospatial risk determinations-can stratify population health.

Diagnosis, treatment, and management of Mpox in urban Informal Settlements in Southwestern Nigeria: an ethnographic approach

BackgroundGlobal re-emergence of the zoonotic viral disease, Mpox (Monkeypox) has drawn global attention, leading to its declaration as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by World Health Organisation (WHO) in July 2022. Nigeria is a spotlight identified for the viral disease outbreak, with attention drawn on its transmission to non-endemic nations. With the country’s healthcare challenges, care seeking practices particularly amongst low-income urban informal settlement populations are diverse – presenting challenges to both case identification and management during an outbreak. In this study, we examine the social, economic, and behavioural context of Mpox therapeutics.MethodsThis was an ethnographic study conducted between September 2022 and March 2023, with the purposive selection of urban informal settlements and interlocutors in Oyo, Ogun and Lagos States. We interviewed a total of 28 interlocutors who were either confirmed or suspected cases of Mpox or parents of children who are confirmed or suspected Mpox cases identified by the public health workers. Data were elicited through In-depth interviews and observations technique on the interlocutor’s local knowledge and their lived experiences on the therapeutics of Mpox. Analysis of the transcript was done inductively using thematic analysis process.FindingsThe study revealed awareness and vague knowledge of Mpox. Furthermore, the behavioural practices on how ailments are understood and managed revealed a commonality in their social actions in terms of local diagnosis and management. Mpox was perceived to be a mild disease, and this had implications on the local characteristics of the PHEIC in the endemic regions.ConclusionOur paper contributes to a more nuanced understanding of not only the health care access barriers, but the complex geographical, economic, and sociocultural factors that shape how and when people seek care for Mpox within the context of urban informal settlements. This further draws attention to behavioral dispositions to the nomenclature of what is perceived as PHEIC. Thus, the global health and security paradigm should give room to local context, expertise, and global politics in shaping epidemic responses.

Settlement Population Size in Romania. Dynamics and Reranking

Population size and dynamics within settlements at any given moment are relevant for the evaluation of viability, functionality, and complexity of both urban and rural settlements. This topic is particularly significant not only for contemporary Romania but also for societies worldwide, where the political, economic, demographic, and social transformations are continuously reshaping settlements. The aim of this study was to provide an updated 15-level hierarchical classification of rural and urban settlements in Romania by population size. Population dynamics in the last 30 years were examined at the local level based on the values recorded at the last four national censuses (1992, 2002, 2011, 2021) determining changes in settlement population size. Results showed significant shifts in the national settlement network, with a decline in the number of large and medium-sized rural localities and an increase in the number of small and very small ones. Either leading to depopulation particularly in rural areas, or to the concentration of population in metropolitan areas, the overall population decline affects the functionality of settlements, their socioeconomic development and infrastructure sustainability. Conclusions highlight the need for redefining urban and rural settlement categories to align with Romania’s evolving territorial reality and current imbalances in the settlement network. Also, a reconfiguration of the settlement system is needed and targeted measures to address specific local issues should be implemented, with implications for administrative-territorial organization, transport networks, and socioeconomic development strategies.

ОСОБЕННОСТИ СХЕМ АККУМУЛЯЦИИ ВОДНЫХ РЕСУРСОВ ДЛЯ ЭКОЛОГИЧЕСКИ БЕЗОПАСНОГО ВОДОСНАБЖЕНИЯ НАСЕЛЕНИЯ ДОБРОВСКОГО СЕЛЬСКОГО ПОСЕЛЕНИЯ

In this article, an analysis of the current state of water supply, drainage and increasing number of population of Dobrovo rural settlement. This problem is very topical, because the rapid growth of population, development of the industrial sector, expansion of arable land and management of homesteads in this territory forces to increase the need for water resources, which every year Increasingly, there is a lack of sufficient resources to support local industry, agriculture and the comfort of life for the local population. The increasing number of inhabitants in each locality of Dobrovo rural settlement, geological features of this territory were analyzed and possible water sources were identified. In this context, conclusions were drawn on the need for water resource accumulation processes for water supply of the population of Volovo rural settlement, as without this aspect it is impossible to fully develop the territory and develop new nearby lands.

Population settlement and internal migration of the region along the Mongolia-Russia-China economic corridor

In Mongolia, country with a small population, a large area, and a lot of agricultural, natural and mineral resources, one of the way to create an appropriate system of population distribution and settlement is the development of local transport infrastructure. Studying how the road and railway corridors planned within the framework of the Mongolia-Russia-China Economic Corridor program affecting the internal migration, distribution and settlement of the population is important for the further development of the corridors. The purpose of this research was to analyze the regional population changes and internal migration indicators along the Mongolian-Russian-Chinese economic corridor. Soum level data from the 2010 and 2020 population censuses were analyzed. 15 aimag centers and 179 soum were considered along the western, central, eastern and northern Mongolian-Russian-Chinese economic corridor. According to the results of the research, in the last 10 years, the population of aimag center and soum centers along the Mongolian-Russian-Chinese economic corridor was increased more than other cities and towns. In other words, if the annual population growth rate was compared with the national average, the population of 5 aimag centers and 26 soum centers of the study region was higher than the national average or had increased mechanically. As of 2020, 60.4 percent of Mongolia's population were live in this region, which is the core area of Mongolia's population. In the future, the study will be expanded and analyzed by comparing the vertical and horizontal axes of the economic corridors and transport infrastructure of Mongolia. It is important to create a population distribution and settlement system by dismantling the social and economic over-concentration in Ulaanbaatar, ensuring the balance of urban and rural development, appropriately deploying the laborforce, and reducing the flow of population migration from rural to urban areas. Монгол-Орос-Хятадын эдийн засгийн коридорын дагуух бүс нутгийн хүн амын шилжих хөдөлгөөн ба нутагшилт, суурьшил Хүн ам цөөн, том газар нутагтай, хөдөө аж ахуй, байгалийн болон ашигт малтмалын нөөц ихтэй Монгол Улсын хувьд хүн амын нутагшилт, суурьшлын зохистой тогтолцоог бүрдүүлэх нэг арга хэрэгсэл нь орон нутагт тээврийн дэд бүтцийг хөгжүүлэх асуудал юм. Монгол-Орос-Хятадын эдийн засгийн коридор байгуулах хөтөлбөрийн хүрээнд төлөвлөсөн авто болон төмөр замын коридорууд нь хүн амын дотоод шилжих хөдөлгөөн, нутагшилт, суурьшилд хэрхэн нөлөөлж буйг судлах нь тухайн коридорын цаашдын хөгжилд чухал ач холбогдолтой. Энэхүү судалгааны ажлын зорилго нь Монгол-Орос-Хятадын эдийн засгийн коридорын дагуух бүс нутгийн хүн амын тооны өөрчлөлт, дотоод шилжих хөдөлгөөний үзүүлэлтүүдэд сумын түвшинд дүн шинжилгээ хийж, зүй тогтлыг илрүүлэхэд оршино. Энэхүү судалгаанд 2010 болон 2020 оны хүн амын тооллогын материалыг ашиглан сумдын түвшинд дүн шинжилгээ хийсэн бөгөөд Монгол-Орос-Хятадын эдийн засгийн коридорын дагуух бүс нутагт эдийн засгийн баруун, төв, зүүн болон хойд коридорын дагуух 15 хот /нийслэл болон 14 аймгийн төв/, 179 сум, суурин /17 аймгийн 177 сум, нийслэлийн 2 дүүрэг/ хамруулан авч үзсэн. Судалгааны үр дүнгээр сүүлийн 10 жилд Монгол-Орос-Хятадын эдийн засгийн коридорын дагуух хот, суурингуудын хүн амын тоо бусад хот, суурингуудтай харьцуулахад илүүтэй өссөн байна. Өөрөөр хэлбэл судалгааны бүс нутгийн хотуудын хүн амын тоо бүгд өссөн бөгөөд хүн амын жилийн дундаж өсөлтийн хувийг улсын дундажтай харьцуулж үзвэл 5 хотод улсын дунджаас өндөр буюу механик өссөн бол суурингуудын хувьд 26 сумын төв механик өссөн байна. 2020 оны байдлаар Монгол Улсын нийт хүн амын 60.4 хувь нь оршин суух тус бүс нутаг нь Монгол Улсын хүн амын голомт нутаг юм. Цаашид тус судалгааг өргөжүүлэн Монгол орны эдийн засгийн коридорууд, тээврийн дэд бүтцийн босоо, хэвтээ тэнхлэгүүдийг харьцуулан дүн шинжилгээ хийх нь Улаанбаатар хотод төвлөрсөн нийгэм, эдийн засгийн хэт төвлөрлийг задлах, хот, хөдөөгийн хөгжлийн тэнцвэрийг хангах, ажиллах хүчийг зохистой байршуулах, хүн амын шилжих хөдөлгөөний хөдөөгөөс хот руу чиглэсэн урсгалыг сааруулах зэргээр хүн амын нутагшилт, суурьшлын тогтолцоог бүрдүүлэхэд ач холбогдолтой юм. Түлхүүр үгс: Хүн ам, Шилжих хөдөлгөөн, Эдийн засгийн коридор, Тээврийн дэд бүтцийн босоо, Хэвтээ тэнхлэг

FACTORS PREDICTING PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF COMMUNITY ENLARGEMENT IN SETTLEMENTS OF RA

In 2022, the elections of local self-government bodies in the Republic of Armenia ended the process of community enlargement, which was started in 2011.The community enlargement process deviated several times from the initial implementation methodology, and was conceptually revised in 2018 after the velvet revolution. Currently, multiple deviations and changes from the prescribed approaches have created a situation where a number of communities have been enlarged using the pre-2018 methodology and the rest using the post-2018 methodology. As a result, there was no coincidence that complaints arose, especially among the population of small rural settlements related to the possible deterioration of the socio-economic condition of settlements, the weakening of local self-governance and the disproportionate increase of dependence on large settlements. Illegitimate communal enlargement implies an uncontrollable increase of mistrust among the population towards the policies implemented at the local level and those who implement them, which can lead to the disruption of public life. In this context, the lack of knowledge related to the public perceptions of the changes implemented in the enlarged communities, especially in the context of the discussed problems and the risks arising from them, makes the implementation of research aimed at clarifying the abovementioned issue more than relevant. In April-June 2024, a survey was conducted in the enlarged communities of RA, with the aim of identifying, in addition to a number of research problems, public perceptions of the impact of community enlargement in individual settlements and the factors affecting them. As a result of the ordinal regression analysis carried out in this context, it becomes clear that among a number of research variables, only social capital, place leadership and population dispersion index in enlarged communities meet the statistical assumptions for inclusion in the specified regression model. The odds ratios calculated in the later stages of the model construction show that in the case of social capital, place leadership and dispersion index, the transition to each next category increases the probability of recording positive perceptions of community enlargement among the population. Thus, the proposed hypothesis is also confirmed, according to which: Each 1-level increase in social capital, place leadership and dispersion index in enlarged communities increases the probability of recording positive perceptions of community enlargement impact among residents.

Settlements in Tobolsk District (County) from 1860s to the 1920s: Formation and Development Characteristics

This study explores the process of formation and subsequent development of settlements as a distinct type of rural locality within the settlement network of the Tobolsk District. Utilizing the “Lists of Localities” as a primary source, the research analyzes five temporal snapshots (for the years 1869, 1893, 1903, 1909, and 1926) to trace the dynamics of settlement populations and to determine their proportion within the overall number of localities in the district. The study calculates the number of newly established settlements of this status in comparison to each preceding period, establishing their average size (in terms of households and population). It concludes that the practice of relocating from “parent” settlements to form new ones was predominantly observed among the indigenous Russian population and settlers. Notably, approximately one-third of the settlements that emerged in the 1860s had disappeared from the map of Tobolsk County by the 1920s, while most of those that persisted achieved village status. Favorable factors contributing to the continued existence of these settlements included their location along postal or zemstvo routes, access to water sources, proximity to local trade and industrial centers, and the economic strength of households that relocated from their ancestral villages to settle on unoccupied lands.

Population Dynamics as an Urbanization Factor in the Issyk-Kul Region (on the Example of the Karakol City)

The article examines population dynamics as a key factor in the urbanization of the Issyk-Kul region using the city of Karakol as an example. The stages of development of the city of Karakol in the Issyk-Kul region, population dynamics, its structure and migration, the impact of these factors on the development of urban infrastructure and the socio-economic situation in the region are analyzed. The study begins in the 1860s, when the city was founded by Staff Captain Kulbars as a military and administrative center on the caravan road between the Chu River Valley and Kashgar, a historical region in eastern China under the Russian Empire. Then the impact of the Soviet Union on the city in the 20th century and changes in its structure and development are analyzed. The events after the collapse of the USSR and their impact on the city of Karakol are considered. Statistical analysis has revealed objective processes that cause shifts in the location of production, population settlement, habitat transformation, and urbanization.

Maritime Vocabularies Learning In English For Children And Teenagers In The Geopark Area Of The Bajo-Tilamuta Ethnic Village

Boalemo Regency selected the Bajo-Tilamuta Ethnic Village as a Cultural Diversity site for the Gorontalo Geopark due to the uniqueness of this ethnic group's way of life. The Bajo-Tilamuta tribe, one of the Bajo tribes, can be found on the coast of Gorontalo Province, specifically in Boalemo Regency. Despite residing on the coast, the Bajo-Tilamuta tribe remains isolated and distant from the broader population's settlements. However, the intensity of meetings between the Bajo and Gorontalo tribes often occurs through activities as fishermen and marriages between the Bajo and Gorontalo tribes. The Bajo tribe is known as a nomadic tribe at sea. Because of its spread beyond national borders, this tribe is known as a free border crosser. The Bajo tribe's reliance on the sea for shelter has led to their spread to various parts of the world, particularly in Southeast Asia. In the past, the Bajo tribe was known for exclusively living at sea, meaning they were born, lived, and died on boats. The Bajo people's way of life has now changed. Although the Bajo people still live on the sea's edge, their lives tend to settle in one place, leading many of their children to attend school and become graduates. The potential of the Bajo village as an ethnic geopark village hinges on the availability of human resources capable of supporting the village's designation as a geopark tourism village. Therefore, children and teenagers in the Bajo-Tilamuta Village require foreign language training, such as English. We take this action to prepare for the potential arrival of foreign tourists in the future. Through community service integrated with KKN (Community Service Program), students use the English teaching method for young learners by introducing maritime English vocabulary whose objects are in the daily lives of the Bajo Community, namely the sea and its environment.

The interplay between prehistoric vegetation, climatic fluctuations and anthropogenic activities in Central China

The interaction between climate, hydrological environment, and human activities in prehistoric times has consistently attracted significant interest. However, the process and mechanism of this interaction remain unclear due to a lack of detailed materials that provide information on both human activity and environmental evolution. Here we present a comprehensive dataset of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating and pollen analysis derived from lacustrine facies deposits in the vicinity of the Dongzhao Site in Central China, which is a key region for the origin and development of Chinese civilization. These data have revealed the existence of multiple cycles of environment-human interaction during prehistoric periods. The gradual improvement in the climate and minor fluctuations facilitated the settlement of prehistoric populations in the region, fostering uninterrupted cultural development for millennia since the early Holocene. The increase in population and intensification of human activities significantly affected regional vegetation, resulting in a decrease in the number of trees around 4.0 ka BP. Environmental changes influenced the prehistoric architectural style, resulting in a decrease in houses with “wood bone and mud walls” that were prevalent during the Yangshao periods (7.0–5.0 ka BP) due to a lack of trees. Our research once again highlights the perpetual cycle of interdependence and interaction between natural environments and human activities.

Challenging the Significance of the LALIA and the Justinianic Plague: A Reanalysis of the Archaeological Record

Summary The Late Antique Little Ice Age (LALIA), and the Justinianic Plague, were recently suggested as the possible culprits for settlement contraction and population decline that supposedly occurred in the 6th c. CE. According to some who support this claim, these changes contributed to the weakening of this empire, which eventually led to the loss of vast territories and its defeat by the Persians and Arabs in the first half of the 7th c. CE. The assumptions that climate and plague had devastating impacts in the 6th c. CE are largely based on selected textual evidence, and archaeological evidence outside of the boundaries of the Eastern Roman Empire. As the current article will show, it seems that these assumptions are inherently incorrect as vast amounts of evidence, including archaeological survey data, settlement patterns, shipwreck analyses, pottery distribution in the Mediterranean and other material, indicate that there was no decline in the 6th c. CE. On the contrary, it is possible that there was a peak in population size in the second half of the 6th c. CE, suggesting that the LALIA and the Justinianic plague were limited in their impact.

Анализ динамики территориальной структуры расселения муниципальных районов Республики Татарстан с применением геоинформационных технологий

The article discusses the results of the analysis of territorial structure dynamics of settlement systems of municipal districts of the Republic of Tatarstan in the period 1959–2016, conducted using modern geoinformation technologies. The example of the studied region shows the advantages of using and developing GIS tools to improve cartographic analysis of settlement systems dynamics and notes the shortcomings of traditional methods for solving such problems. The characteristics of the results of study of the settlement system of the Republic of Tatarstan, including its mapping, obtained in the 1990–2010s, are given. The data presented in the work related to six years of observation, including the results of the censuses of 1959, 1970, 1979 and 2002, as well as data for 1997 and 2016. When choosing the observation periods, the need for information on all settlements in the region and their localization was considered. Each settlement corresponded with the boundaries of modern municipal districts. Geoinformation support for solving analytical problems included six spatial databases containing information on the characteristics of the population of 3 663 settlements that are part of 43 municipal districts of the Republic of Tatarstan, and a developed cartographic basis with precise coordinate referencing of settlements. The analysis of the territorial structure was carried out on the basis of the population size of settlements, the number and total population in their population groups, as well as share structures by population groups for municipal districts and the region. To assess the dynamics, the indicators of the growth/decline rates of the population of settlements and municipal districts were calculated. The analysis of trends in the change in territorial structure of settlement systems was carried out on the basis of cluster analysis methods, which made it possible to identify three groups of municipal districts that differ in the dynamics of changes in population size and structural characteristics of population groups. Each is distinguished by a fairly compact localization within a number of territories of the region. These include: municipal districts of the north-west of Tatarstan; districts of its eastern part and south-west; regions of the western and eastern parts of Tatarstan.

Атлас городских агломераций России: концепция ГИС и первые результаты

Urban agglomerations play a key role in the settlement system of Russia and the socioeconomic development of its territories. Currently, they continue to pull the population into the areas of their influence and they are also the locomotives of economic growth and points of innovation. Urban agglomerations need a detailed and comprehensive study of the processes associated with the population—demographic, migration, ethnic, settlement, forming the living environment. The most effective tools for this are based in GIS systems, and the most optimal embodiment is an atlas developed on their basis as a complex of cartographic and analytical materials. The Atlas of Urban agglomerations of Russia is a geoinformation product with AIS elements, developed on the basis of approaches used in geographical studies of population settlement. This article describes the concept of GIS, on the basis of which the Atlas of Urban agglomerations of Russia is being developed and includes setting the goals and objectives of research on the development of the Atlas, choosing technologies for creating a geoinformation system, determining the structure of GIS and Atlas, determining the main sources of information. The Atlas of Urban Agglomerations of Russia is not only a set of cartographic works but also a system that allows (based on statistical data) realize spatial modeling, thematic mapping and creating visual plots at various spatial levels, including for strategic and territorial planning and management decision-making. Several meaningful plots are described, which were obtained at this stage of the study, for example, the stages of the spatial and temporal dynamics of the network of urban agglomerations in Russia, the general characteristics of demographic and migration processes, the structure of the Stavropol urban agglomeration.

Картографическое обеспечение задач определения границ городской агломерации

Urban agglomeration in the modern context of urbanization is becoming one of the key forms of population settlement. However, the issue of accurately identifying the boundaries of the urban agglomeration remains open. The problems reflected in this scientific study are based on a variety of approaches and methods to determine the boundaries of emerging agglomerations, which leads to discrepancies and difficulties in organizing administrative and managerial measures for the development of the territory. The article is devoted to the development of cartographic support for solving the problem of delimitation of the Kazan urban agglomeration. The accuracy of the delimitation of the agglomeration zone is necessary to identify and justify specific planning decisions in the interests of the development of not a single city, but the entire agglomeration. This scientific article provides the developed cartographic material that provides the tasks of determining the boundary of the Kazan agglomeration both on the basis of existing scientific methods and based on the analysis of the functional differentiation of the territory. The solution of the primary task of determining the boundary of the Kazan urban agglomeration was provided through the development of intermediate cartographic material reflecting the socio-economic criteria for identifying the agglomeration in combination with 60-minute transport accessibility from the city of Kazan. Further, on the basis of the carried out functional differentiation, marker functions were identified that reflect the most intense connections in the “city–agglomeration zone” system. Comparing the developed cartographies with the analysis of the functional organization of the space, including the functional framework of the agglomeration, the boundary of the Kazan urban agglomeration was clarified. The conducted research reflects the breadth of scientific approaches and methods to identify urban agglomerations and allows us to deepen local research by applying the analysis of functional organization in identifying the boundaries of other emerging agglomerations.

The impact of China's residence permit system on the floating population's willingness to settle in cities

China's residence permit system is the focus of the nation's household registration system reform and a crucial aspect of promoting the new people-centered urbanization. Based on the China Migrants Dynamic Survey, this study uses the probit regression model to investigate the impact of the residence permit system on the floating population's willingness to settle in cities and examines the moderating effect of local government's financial resources. The results show that the residence permit system has a significant promoting effect on the migrants’ willingness to settle. And local government financial resources can strengthen the effect of the residence permit system on the willingness to settle. Additional exploration shows that the residence permit system can enhance the willingness of floating populations to settle in urban areas by increasing their income and consumption levels. Heterogeneity analysis shows that for non-agricultural household registration, high-education, high-income, and interprovincial migrating groups, the incentive effect of the residence permit system is more stronger. Based on the findings, while improving the residence permit system and expanding its coverage groups, transfer payments from the central government to local governments should be increased to effectively improve the value of residence permits, promote the floating population's settlement in cities, and advance China's new urbanization.

Exploring Urban Socio-Spatial Disparities in Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle upon Tyne Metropolitan Areas

In recent decades, rising social disparities in European cities have structured new forms of urban inequalities. Employing an innovative analysis approach based on statistical, geographical, and spatial methods, this paper aims to explore the social geography of population groups in Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle upon Tyne by examining how the spatial distribution of socio-economic groups intersects with urban settlements of the resident foreign population. The study addresses methodological challenges in segregation measurement while shedding light on existing spatial patterns of vulnerable groups and emerging trajectories of residential segregation at the metropolitan scale, utilising the most recent UK Census data.

Анализ изменений демографической нагрузки в контексте здорового старения населения страны

The increase in the demographic burden is associated with the ongoing demographic aging of the population, a decline in the birth rate in recent years and an increase in the proportion of elderly people in the total population. The purpose of the study is to analyze the dynamic changes and trends in the demographic burden of the population in the context of healthy aging of the country’s population. Materials and methods. The research materials are limited to the results of the analysis of official statistical information, in particular, for the analyzed period (2009–2023). The following methods were used: statistical, comparative analysis, study and generalization of experience. The obtained data were processed using modern software packages SPSS22 and MS Excel 2007. Results. In the course of this study, statistical data on the demographic burden of the population in urban and rural settlements in Russia were studied, the methodological basis for calculating this indicator was analyzed, the values in different countries of the world were compared, and modern trends in the context of healthy aging of the country’s population were compared. Conclusion. The results of this study can be used in the preparation of medium-term demographic forecasts and state programs aimed at improving the quality of life of the population and creating optimal conditions for the healthy aging of citizens.

Mid to late Holocene Indian monsoon variability, aridification and civilization changes in the Deccan Plateau, India

Climate change has been a key driver throughout human history and has frequently been associated with the rise and fall of civilizations. Holocene settlement changes or population displacements were almost always preceded by changes in climate. A high-resolution sedimentary record from the western Bay of Bengal offers insights to centennial-scale mid- to late-Holocene Indian summer monsoon (ISM) variability and its role in the decline of chalcolithic human settlements on India's Deccan Plateau. Increased erosion in the Indian peninsula during the mid- to late-Holocene, due to aridification and agricultural expansion, is evidenced by higher sedimentation, more magnetic mineral content, coarser magnetic grain size, and increased sand content. The results from mineral magnetic and textural analyses reveal centennial-scale abrupt weak ISM during the Bond events in the core monsoon zone of India. The Deccan Chalcolithic civilizations flourished between ∼4.0–3.0 ka BP owing to the favorable climatic conditions, but most of the settlements were deserted after ∼3.0 ka BP. We argue that the abrupt weakening of ISM during Bond event 2 (∼3.1–2.8 ka BP) caused this collapse of Deccan Chalcolithic. The results from this study together with the published records of number of settlements and summed radiocarbon dates suggest a climate-culture link in the Deccan Plateau. The weak ISM periods in this study are coherent with the records of total solar irradiance and the percentage of hematite-stained grains from the North Atlantic and suggest solar control on these abrupt climatic events.

Safety analysis of wind-induced resuspension of radioactive materials from the Techensky reservoir cascade coastline

The paper provides an assessment of the probability and consequences of external events capable of leading to an incident with a breach of established safety barriers restricting the spread of radioactive substances along the coastline of the Techensky reservoir cascade. The initiating events for such an incident could be adverse meteorological conditions resulting in a decrease in the water level in the cascade water bodies below the specified design levels. Drying out the surface of previously inundated sections of the coastline will create an extensive source of atmospheric contamination by technogenic radionuclides during wind-induced resuspension. The probable area of the dried-out sections will be 0.02 — 0.08 kml for reservoir V-3, 0.06 — 0.28 kml for reservoir V-4, 0.19 — 0.90 kml for reservoir V-10, and 0.47 — 2.19 kml for reservoir V-11. The cumulative inventory of 137Cs and 90Sr in the specified area exceeds 105 Bq/ml. The activity released into the atmosphere within an hour will range from 3.69∙108 to 8.48∙1011 Bq for the wind speeds of 5 m/s and 20 m/s, respectively. The probabilities of joint occurrence of strong winds and drought conditions are 6.8∙10-7 per year for a wind speed of 20 m/s and 2.1∙10-3 per year for a wind speed of 5 m/s. The highest values of effective dose for the population of the nearest settlements, reaching 1-3 μSv in the first 10 days and over 200 μSv in the first year, are achieved under extreme wind loads with wind speeds of 20 m/s or more.

The Byzantine Insular Countryside in the Early Middle Ages (ca. 600-ca.900): The Cases of Sicily, Cyprus, and Crete in (partial) Light of Environmental Archaeology

ABSTRACT This paper provides an overview of rural surveys and environmental archaeology studies on Sicily, Cyprus and Crete during the Byzantine Empire. It re-evaluates traditional interpretations of agricultural settlement patterns, ecosystems and populations from Late Antiquity to the early Middle Ages (late sixth to late ninth century). The prevailing narrative that these islands were devastated by Arab incursions, leading to widespread depopulation, economic collapse and abandonment of rural sites in favour of fortified hilltop settlements, is questioned. Instead, the study employs a comparative and interdisciplinary approach, combining environmental and climatic data with historical and archaeological evidence. This method offers a more nuanced understanding of how insular rural societies adapted to changing environmental and human conditions during the Byzantine Empire's transition from an economically unified region to a fragmented Medieval Mediterranean. The findings highlight the resilient nature of land use and rural settlement patterns amidst the transformation of the empire's political, military and administrative structures.