Southern Ones Research Articles

Effects of a recent volcanic eruption on the isolated population of the iconic red-billed chough in La Palma, Canary Islands.

The effects of volcanic eruptions on ecosystems, particularly on oceanic islands, have been widely studied because of their important role in land formation, climate patterns and biological processes. Although these phenomena can lead to habitat loss, population decline and even species extinction, their effects on isolated populations, especially vertebrates, are not fully understood due to the paucity of pre-eruption data and in situ observations. Here, we assess the impact of the recent eruption of the Tajogaite volcano in La Palma, Canary Islands, on a unique population of red-billed choughs (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), an emblematic bird species that symbolises the natural heritage of the island. Pre- and post-eruption surveys showed that the eruption did not significantly affect the overall size or distribution of the population, although the number of choughs decreased after the eruption in the northern and central roosts, and increased in the southern ones. Although the eruption resulted in the release of toxic gases and ash, the observed changes in chough distribution and numbers could be attributed to environmental variability and the use of different foraging areas by individuals rather than direct effects of the volcano. The high mobility of choughs may have allowed them to avoid the negative effects of the volcano in the immediate aftermath of the eruption. Future studies are recommended to assess the long-term effects of volcanic ash on feeding habitats and the possible accumulation of contaminants, such as heavy metals, in the food chain. This will allow not only to monitor the presence of these compounds in ecosystems, but also to understand the response of this species to environmental changes and ensure its conservation.

Trend of SO2 Gas Dry Deposition in Vietnam

This research used the calculating method of dry deposition to estimate SO2 dry deposition value and evaluate its trend in 5 recent years. The results indicate that SO2 emission at Northern sites is more changing than Southern ones in months by affecting meteorology and weather. Summer and autumn seasons have SO2 emitted concentrations higher than other seasons in 2019, 2020, and 2022 year at Yen Bai, Hoa Binh, and Ha Noi stations. The 2021 year has the highest SO2 dry deposition and the 2019 year has the lowest SO2 dry deposition in 5 recent years. The Hanoi site has the highest SO2 dry deposition value from 2019 to 2022 year. Hoa Binh site has the highest SO2 dry deposition at 2.45 kg/ha/year in 2023. High SO2 dry deposition occurs normally in the summer and autumn (from April to August). Southern sites have lower SO2 dry deposition amounts with not much change than the Northern sites of Vietnam. The increasing trend of SO2 dry deposition happened from 1999 to 2023 year and it increases sharply from 1999 to 2021. Therefore, SO2 dry deposition will have a light-increasing trend in the future.

The satellite galaxy plane of NGC 4490 in light of ΛCDM

Context. The system of galaxies around NGC 4490 was recently highlighted to display a flattened, kinematically correlated structure reminiscent of planes of satellite galaxies around other hosts. Aims. Since known satellite planes are in tension with expectations from cosmological simulations in the Λ cold dark matter (ΛCDM) model, we aim to quantitatively assess for the first time the tension posed by the NGC 4490 system. Methods. We measured the on-sky flattening as the major-to-minor axis ratio b/a of the satellite distribution and their line-of-sight kinematic correlation. Analogs to the system were selected in the TNG50 simulation and their flattening and correlation were similarly measured. Results. We confirm the strong kinematic coherence of all 12 observed satellite objects with available line-of-sight velocities (of 14 in total): the northern ones approach and the southern ones recede relative to the host. The spatial distribution of all 14 objects is substantially flattened with b/a = 0.38 (0.26 considering only the 12 objects with available velocities). Such extreme arrangements are rare in the ΛCDM simulation, at a level of 0.21 to 0.35%. This fraction of analogs would drop further if at least one of the two satellite objects without velocities is confirmed to follow the kinematic trend, and would become zero if both are rejected as non-members. We also identify a likely galaxy pair in the observed system, and find a similar pair in the best-matching simulated analog. Conclusions. Our measurements establish NGC 4490 as another strong example of a satellite plane in the Local Volume. This emphasizes that planes of satellites are a more general issue faced by ΛCDM also beyond the Local Group. The tension with typical systems drawn from simulations suggests that the observed one requires a specific formation scenario, potentially connected to the larger-scale galaxy alignment in its vicinity. The presence of galaxy pairs in the observed and a simulated system hints at the importance such groupings may have to understand satellite planes.

Age and growth reductions increase the proportion of dark heartwood in sugar maple at the northern limit of its range

Abstract The wood of sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) in the northernmost part of the species range often exhibits high proportions of discoloured wood at the centre of the stems, which is referred to as dark heartwood. This defect significantly decreases the wood market value of the species, which, in turn, challenges the implementation of state-of-the art silvicultural treatments. The causes of dark heartwood are associated with trauma and the colder climate of the northern regions. In this study, we investigate factors influencing the occurrence of dark heartwood in sugar maple’s northern populations, considering tree age, vigour, stem growth, and local climate. We also aimed to determine whether the proportion of dark heartwood is higher in northern stands compared to more southern ones. We collected samples from 302 sugar maple stems at 16 sites within two bioclimatic domains of Quebec, Canada, i.e. the balsam fir–yellow birch domain (representing the northern limit of the sugar maple range) and the sugar maple–yellow birch domain (representing a more southern location within the range). Our results indicate a positive relationship between dark heartwood proportions and stem age, as well as with the amplitude of the maximum growth reduction throughout the tree’s lifespan and the length of the longest suppression period. We also observed significantly higher dark heartwood proportion for a given tree age in northern stands. The results suggest that silvicultural systems aiming to release suppressed crop trees through group selection using a cut-to-length system could favour the development of high quality timber.

Uranium concentrations indicator for cancer patients before and after Radiotherapy

One of the most dangerous diseases facing the world is cancer, and because cancer is closely linked to a high level of uranium in the blood, some governorates of Iraq, especially the southern ones, have witnessed a recorded spread of cancer because they are areas contaminated with uranium because of the wars to which they were exposed. Therefore, the study aimed to determine the uranium concentration. Regarding blood samples taken from people with different types of cancer, the study included 30 45 samples collected from the Nasiriyah Teaching Hospital in Dhi Qar Governorate, and the patients were from various administrative units. The samples were divided into 15 samples for healthy people as a control group, 15 samples for cancer patients who received chemotherapy and then 15 samples the same the patients took samples after they received radiotherapy. A track detection technique using a CR-39 track detector was applied to determine the uranium concentration. The maximum concentration reported in the group of patients following radiation was (3.0579 ± 0.5115) ppb, while the lowest value was in the group of healthy persons (1.3756 ± 0.3257) ppb.

Local climate and vernalization sensitivity predict the latitudinal patterns of flowering onset in the crop wild relative Linum bienne Mill.

The timing of flowering onset often correlates with latitude, indicative of climatic gradients. Flowering onset in temperate species commonly requires exposure to cold temperatures, known as vernalization. Hence, population differentiation of flowering onset with latitude might reflect adaptation to the local climatic conditions experienced by populations. Within its Western range, seeds from Linum bienne populations (the wild relative of cultivated L. usitatissimum) were used to describe the latitudinal differentiation of flowering onset to determine its association with the population´s local climate. A vernalization experiment, including different crop cultivars, was used to determine how vernalization accelerates flowering onset, and the vernalization sensitivity response among populations and cultivars. Additionally, genetic differentiation of L. bienne populations along the latitudinal range was scrutinized using microsatellite markers. Flowering onset varied with latitude of origin, with southern populations flowering earlier than their northern counterparts. Vernalization reduced the number of days to flowering onset, but vernalization sensitivity was greater in northern populations compared to southern ones. Conversely, vernalization delayed flowering onset in the crop, exhibiting less variation in sensitivity. In L. bienne, both flowering onset and vernalization sensitivity were better predicted by the population´s local climate than latitude itself. Microsatellite data unveiled genetic differentiation of populations, forming two groups geographically partitioned along latitude. The consistent finding of latitudinal variation across experiments suggests that both flowering onset and vernalization sensitivity in L. bienne populations are under genetic regulation and might depend on climatic cues at the place of origin. The association with climatic gradients along latitude suggests that the climate experienced locally drives population differentiation of the flowering onset and vernalization sensitivity patterns. The genetic population structure suggests that past population history could have influenced the flowering initiation patterns detected, which deserves further work.

Patterns of variability of species composition of catches from the russian fishing vessels in the south-eastern Pacific ocean for 2015–2022

The work provides information on the patterns of species composition of catches from the Russian fishing vessels conducted fishing of jack mackerel (Trachurus murphyi Nichols 1920), chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus Houttuyn 1782) and redbait (Emmelichthys spp.) in the South-Eastern Pacific Ocean outside the economic zones of the coastal States. According to scientific observations, an analysis of the composition of species caught by the Russian fishing vessels is given. When fishing in the pelagic zone over ocean depths, jack mackerel was the main target species, chub mackerel formed the bycatch. At the same time, the proportion of chub mackerel in catches in the northern parts was higher than in the southern ones. When fishing on seamounts of the Nazca Ridge, catches were dominated by redbait with jack mackerel and alfonsino (Beryx splendens Lowe, 1834) as bycatch. According to the similarity of the species composition of catches, three areas – 1) all the Southern and Central subareas and part of the Northern subarea; 2) seamounts of Nazca ridge; 3) part of the Northern subarea near the border of the EEZ of Peru between 17–20°S, were singled out using the cluster analysis method.

Genetic identification of juvenile pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha (Walbaum) of the odd-year reproduction line on results of restriction analysis of mitochondrial DNA and analysis of single-nucleotide polymorphism

Data on the regional composition of mixed marine aggregations of juvenile pink salmon during postcatadromous migrations in the basin of the Sea of Okhotsk in 2022 are demonstrated. A high probability of a significant predominance is revealed for pink salmon spawning returns 2023 of the northern stock complex compared to the southern ones. Identification estimates for juvenile fish obtained from RFLP analysis of mtDNA and analysis of allelic variability of SNP loci are compared to the values of actual regional catches and spawning returns. Close correspondence between the calculated estimates and actual data on the results of the 2023 fishing season was noted. Forecast about predominance of pink salmon of the northern stock complex, as well as about atypically low proportion of fish from water bodies of Iturup Island is fully confirmed. The estimates for Sakhalin Island and the southern part of the continental coast of the Sea of Okhotsk are close to the actual catch.

On-Orbit Response Characteristics of Fengyun-4A Lightning Mapping Imager (LMI) and Their Impacts on LMI Detection

Abstract The effects of the response characteristics of the Fengyun-4A Lightning Mapping Imager (LMI) on its detection capability were studied using the raw event data of LMI in 2020. The simultaneous observation data of the Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) on the International Space Station (ISS) were used to evaluate the LMI detection capability. The results reveal that the minimum detectable radiance of lightning events in the 16 subregions of LMI has shown regional differences, with the southern subregions lower than the northern subregions, indicating that the southern ones are more conducive to the identification of events. The diurnal variation of the detectable event radiance in all subregions presents the main peak around noon, which comes from the influence of the bright background and varies largely in different subregions depending on the subregions’ response capability. The overall high values and regional differences of flash properties observed by LMI also show strong correlation with the variation of the minimum detectable radiance of events. Moreover, it is found that the southwest subregions have the highest coincidence ratio (CR) with ISS LIS, followed by the southeast subregions and the northeast subregions, and the northwest subregions have the lowest CR, which is closely related to the response of each subregion. The LIS flashes that can be detected by LMI are brighter, larger, and last longer compared to the total LIS flashes. The findings in this study will help explain the inconsistency of the LMI detection capability and promote the LMI data processing associated with pixel energy distribution. Significance Statement The Fengyun-4A (FY-4A) Lightning Mapping Imager (LMI) is the first geostationary satellite-borne lightning imager developed in China, which has the ability to continuously observe lightning within a large field of view. However, in the application of the data, it was found that the detection capability of the LMI differed significantly in different regions and exhibited diurnal variations, which may be related to the response characteristics of the LMI detector. This study reveals the effect of the response characteristics of the LMI detector on its detection results. The findings will help improve the usability of LMI data and improve the processing of these data to adjust the observation inconsistency.

Efficient water use and reusing processes across Spanish regions: A circular data envelopment analysis with undesirable inputs

Efficiency is a fundamental element of the transition towards a sustainable use of natural resources among which water has a prominent role. Spain is among the European countries facing considerable water shortage problems, particularly within its southern regions. The current paper introduces an efficiency evaluation model based on Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The model incorporates a subset of outputs as undesirable inputs to account for the circularity of the production process by means of treated and reused water. The main differences existing between the circular approach proposed, a standard two-stage DEA model and a dynamic Slacks-Based Measure process will be carefully illustrated. In particular, the drawbacks faced by these latter techniques to consistently incorporate circularity into their optimization structures will be demonstrated both formally and numerically. The malleability of the current approach and its capacity to generate consistent identifiable categories among the regions evaluated within a circular production setting will be studied in detail. The analysis performed demonstrates significant structural differences in production capacity and efficiency across regions, with the inefficient ones displaying a considerable subpar use of resources through their production processes. The prevalence of inefficiency in several northern regions is partially compensated through their treatment and reutilization of water. However, this is not the case for the southern ones, which face stricter constraints and more inefficient production processes. The subsequent implications for efficiency are examined and policies aimed at enhancing the structural quality of the corresponding production systems suggested.

On the fragility of the Italian economic territories under SARS-COV2 lockdown policies

AbstractWe leverage a granular representation of mobility patterns before and during the first wave of SARS-COV2 in Italy to investigate the economic consequences of various forms of lockdown policies when accounting for mobility restrictions between and within local jurisdictions, i.e. municipalities, provinces and regions. We provide an analytical characterization of the rate of economic losses using a network-based spectral method. The latter treats the spread of contagion of economic losses due to commuting restrictions as a dynamical system stability problem. Our results indicate that the interplay between lower level of smartworking and the polarization of commuting flows to fewer local labor hubs in the South of Italy makes Southern territories extremely important in spreading economic losses. We estimate an economic contraction of total income derived from commuting restrictions in the range of 10–30% depending on the economic assumptions. However, alternative policies proposed during the second wave of SARS-COV2 can pose a greater risk to Northern areas due to their higher degree of mobility between jurisdictions than Southern ones. The direction of economic losses tend to propagate from large to medium-small jurisdictions across all alternative lockdown policies we tested. Our study shows how complex mobility patterns can have unequal consequences to economic losses across the country and call for more tailored implementation of restrictions to balance the containment of contagion with the need to sustain economic output.

Intraspecies variation of reproductive phenology in Pinus sibirica ex situ

The analysis of the phenology of the development of female cones and male shoots in 25-year-old clones from 4 latitudinal and 4 altitudinal ecotypes of Siberian stone pine (Pinus sibirica) in the clone archive was carried out. The period from the female cone breakout to the formation of the cone with completely closed scales after pollination was 10 days for all ecotypes. The northern and high-altitudinal ecotypes began “flowering” 2 days earlier with the accumulation of the sum of active temperatures of 290 °С than the southern and low-altitudinal ecotypes, which needed an accumulation of 400 °С for this. The greatest contribution to the ecotype differentiation in female reproductive phenology was made by differences in the timing of the receptive cone stages. The transition to the receptivity stage in the northern ecotypes occurred 3 days earlier than in the southern ones, and in the high-altitudinal ones 2 days earlier than in the low-altitudinal ones. In latitudinal ecotypes, cones were receptive for 2-3 days, in high-altitude ecotypes 1.5-2 times longer. The peak of pollen shedding in each ecotype basically corresponded to the timing of the beginning of the female cone scale opening, sometimes it was slightly ahead of it.

Tectonic inversion of the Dnipro-Donets basin. Part 3. Tectonic style of deformations

The purpose. The peculiarities of the spatial distribution and tectonic style of collisional deformations of the riftogenic structure of the Dnipro-Donets Basin were investigated. Method. Kinematic and paragenetic analyses were used, structural drawings were studied, kinematic models of alpine-type deformations in the folded floors of the southeastern segment of the Basin were compiled. The results. It was found that the riftogenic structure along the strike different style and intensity of inversion complications was been undergone. The structural border between the weakly and significantly located territory along the meridian of the city of Balaklia was determined. To the west of the border the rift downthrows acquired arc-shaped contours and a pendulum structure due to horizontal movements. Zones of Hercynian folding are divided into separate branches by echelon systems of landslides located diagonally to their axes. To the east of the border, at first the regional board faults bend to the west, and then to the east of the city of Donetsk, the northern ones bend to the east, and the southern ones - to the southeast. The zones of nearboard and axial regional faults are destroyed, and because of this, the lines of the Kochubiyivsko-Volvenkivskyi and Sosnivsko-Stepkivskyi axial salt dome shafts are interrupted. The relic is the Axial fault with the Druzhkiv-Komyshuva shaft adapted to it. Instead of a reset rift, a shear-thrust inversion frame of orocline form was formed. Alpinotype dislocations on most of the territory of the Basin are weakly pronounced (scattered, low-amplitude faults and uplifts), but the southeastern segment significant fault-folding and cover-thrust deformations has undergone. The analysis of the structure of the Oligocene-Miocene sediments shows that neotectonic structures in the sole of the Cenozoic cover and the daytime relief are reflected. On the northern board of the Basin, a number of arc-like elongated uplands that located in the hanging wings of the Hercynian thrusts were formed. A sign of uplands` formation in the geodynamic environment of transpression is oscillating articulation and diagonal placement relative to shear-thrust zones. Scientific novelty. By the analysis of structural pictures of Elements of tectonics characteristic of transpression zones was identified. For the first time the nature of alpine-type deformations on kinematic models was identified. The Cenozoic movements along the re-mobilized zones of the Hercynian thrusts formed dynamically coupled ensembles of neotectonic structures was established. The hinged-jointed structural parageneses were formed by the mechanism of longitudinal elongation of the geological space due to the horizontal movements of right kinematics over the zones of dynamic influence of shear-thrusts of the foundation. It was found the tectonic style of the latest deformation ensembles is inherent in the platform fold-thrust geostructures of the tectonic breakaway. For the first time the newest platform structure - the West-Donetsk tectonic orocline of cover-folding deformations was identified. Practical significance. Data on the distribution of alpine-type complications of the West-Donets Graben for paleogeodynamic reconstructions and improvement of the regional scheme of tectonic zoning of the Dnipro-Donetsk Basin can be used.

The network of rural settlements on the territory of the modern Tyumen region in the 1930s: population, economic and socio-cultural development

The paper characterizes the state of a set of functionally interconnected settlements that developed by the mid-1930s on the territory of the modern Tyumen region. The subject of the study is the network of settlements in the region, the object is its number, economic and socio-cultural development. The density of the settlement network, the ratio of collective, individual and other farms in each district is determined. Attention is focused on the creation of collective farms in the course of collectivization that unfolded during this period. Statistical data on the number of industrial enterprises and points of trade in villages, as well as data on the development of communication institutions (post office, telephone), schools and hospitals, club institutions are presented. The scientific novelty of the publication consists in determining not only quantitative, but also qualitative indicators of the development of the settlement network of the region. The district specifics were revealed, which consisted in the economic specialization of the majority of administrative-territorial units in the production of oil, the dominance of timber processing enterprises in the northern regions and flax processing plants in the southern ones. The conclusion is made about the predominance of the cooperative form of trade in the villages over the state one. Positive changes in the state of socio-cultural infrastructure were noted, expressed in an increase in the number of school and medical institutions. At the same time, the school network consisted of 86% of primary schools. There was still a shortage of hospitals and outpatient clinics, medical personnel in rural areas.

Organized crime and corruption: what are the consequences for Italian Cohesion Policy investments?

ABSTRACT The paper evaluates the effect of illegal activities on Cohesion Policy implementation. This issue is fundamental in Italy, where large delays in expenditure risk to undermine the growth-enhancing effects of funds. To explain delays, we focus on two criminal behaviours: corruption and organized crime. By exploiting a two-step approach, an empirical analysis is carried out on Italian provinces, with a focus on Southern ones, between 2007 and 2015. The findings show that both crimes, impacting the efficiency of funds, cause delays in the implementation of Cohesion Policy. These consequences are higher if linked to corruption rather than to organized crime.

Monitoring the Genetic Structure of the Sable Population (<i>Martes zibellina</i> Linnaeus, 1758) Middle Amur Region

Based on the analysis of microsatellite loci Ma3 and Mer041, the genetic structure of the sable population of the Middle Amur Region was monitored. Materials of hunting fees of winter seasons from 2011 to 2021 were studied. Three geographic subpopulations of sable from the Bureya Highlands and one from the eastern slopes of the Sikhote-Alin Ridge are considered. It was shown that the group of specific alleles characterizing the differences between the sable populations of the Bureya Highlands and the Sikhote-Alin is represented by four alleles. The monitoring of two microsatellite loci in the subpopulations of the Bureinsky Highlands showed a higher allelic diversity in the northern autochthonous compared to the more southern ones that arose on the basis of the settlement of the northern in the first half of the 20th century. The relative homogeneity of the population structure of the sable of the Bureinsky Highlands is shown, which does not lead to a statistically significant level of differentiation of subpopulations either in space or in time. A different character of the dynamics of allelic diversity was found in the subpopulations of the left bank (Bureya Highland) and right bank (Sikhote-Alin Ridge) of the Amur River. It has been hypothesized that temporal heterogeneity in the Sikhote-Alin subpopulation may indicate the existence on the eastern slopes of the Sikhote-Alin of a spatially heterogeneous population structure formed from descendants and possible hybrids of autochthonous and introduced forms. The influence of the anthropogenic factor on the dynamics of the genetic structure is considered.

How to Promote Healthier and More Sustainable Food Choices: The Case of Portugal

The demand for food has been increasing throughout the years, with notable preferences for animal-based foods. Considering the impact of the excessive animal-based consumption on the environment and public health, international organisations and the scientific literature have advised for a large-scale transition towards healthier and more sustainable food consumptions, i.e., a systematic decrease in animal-based consumption followed by an increase in plant-based consumption. However, to effectively promote healthier and more sustainable food choices such as plant-based ones, it is crucial to understand what motivates consumers’ food choices. Based on primary data (N = 1040), representative of the Portuguese population, it was possible to assess the potential motivators behind food choices, allowing to provide guidelines for policy decision. The impact of different socioeconomic characteristics, food consumption orientations, and food-related behaviours on food choices was estimated. In general, most of the drivers of plant-based meals were also motivators for reducing animal-based meals. The main findings demonstrate that the more environmentally conscious and informed the consumer, the more likely they are to choose more plant-based and less animal-based meals on a weekly basis; not only informed consumers, but consumers who actively look for information before buying choose more plant-based meals. Thus, not only information, but, more importantly, education regarding food characteristics and its impact on society should be the focus of policymakers. Understanding the drivers and barriers of food choices is vital for informing future food policy to promote healthier and more sustainable choices rich in plant-based foods, both for Portugal as well as for other European countries, particularly the southern ones with similar culture and where the Mediterranean diet is highly promoted.

Large-scale movement patterns in a social vulture are influenced by seasonality, sex, and breeding region.

Quantifying space use and segregation, as well as the extrinsic and intrinsic factors affecting them, is crucial to increase our knowledge of species-specific movement ecology and to design effective management and conservation measures. This is particularly relevant in the case of species that are highly mobile and dependent on sparse and unpredictable trophic resources, such as vultures. Here, we used the GPS-tagged data of 127 adult Griffon Vultures Gyps fulvus captured at five different breeding regions in Spain to describe the movement patterns (home-range size and fidelity, and monthly cumulative distance). We also examined how individual sex, season, and breeding region determined the cumulative distance traveled and the size and overlap between consecutive monthly home-ranges. Overall, Griffon Vultures exhibited very large annual home-range sizes of 5027 ± 2123 km2, mean monthly cumulative distances of 1776 ± 1497 km, and showed a monthly home-range fidelity of 67.8± 25.5%. However, individuals from northern breeding regions showed smaller home-ranges and traveled shorter monthly distances than those from southern ones. In all cases, home-ranges were larger in spring and summer than in winter and autumn, which could be related to difference in flying conditions and food requirements associated with reproduction. Moreover, females showed larger home-ranges and less monthly fidelity than males, indicating that the latter tended to use the similar areas throughout the year. Overall, our results indicate that both extrinsic and intrinsic factors modulate the home-range of the Griffon Vulture and that spatial segregation depends on sex and season at the individual level, without relevant differences between breeding regions in individual site fidelity. These results have important implications for conservation, such as identifying key threat factors necessary to improve management actions and policy decisions.

The use of remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems in Monitoring drought the Algerian steppe

The present study aims to use remote sensing techniques and geographic information systems (GIS) in monitoring and detecting droughts in the steppe regions (Tiaret city as a model) during the period (2002-2022). In pursuit of this aim, some indicators were used, such as the surface temperature index (LST), soil moisture index (SMI), standardized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and aridity index (AI). Depending on the Terra satellite's visuals, which are specialized in observing the earth and tracking changes that may occur in it. The purpose of the study is to demonstrate the extent to which the Algerian steppe regions, particularly the southern ones, are vulnerable to drought as a result of the climatic changes that the globe is experiencing in general. This is confirmed by the indicators that were used in this study (LST), (SMI), ( NDVI), (and AI), In addition to this, unregulated activities, such as grazing, unplanned reclamation, and others, have exacerbated the severity of the problem, and in order to safeguard this environment, it must be regularly monitored and protected.

Post-pandemic scenarios. The role of the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) in reducing the gap between the Italian CentralNorthern regions and southern ones

<abstract> <p>The Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukraine crises fit into the difficult Italian context, which have already been marked by a deep socioeconomic gap between the Centre-North and the South of the country. After a brief examination of the causes that have led to this gap, starting from the analysis of geographical studies on the subject and elaborations of data provided by important research centres in the field, this study aims to point out the sectors of Southern Italy present greater criticalness and backwardness compared to the rest of the country. Then, we identify the most suitable programmatic lines to increase investments in such sectors, as already provided for the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP—in Italy PNRR), a program with which the government intends to manage Next Generation EU funds or NGEU (the economic recovery and revitalization tool introduced by the European Union to restore the losses caused by the pandemic). The article concludes with a reflection on the main reasons for the difficulties that the NRRP is encountering by implementing this program, mainly related to the insufficient allocation of resources and competencies of the territorial authorities that are entrusted with the task of managing and planning policies to rebalance the country*s growth potential.</p> </abstract>