Spatial Regionalization Research Articles

Combining spatial modelling and regionalization of rainfall thresholds for debris flows hazard mapping in the Emilia-Romagna Apennines (Italy)

Combining spatial modelling and regionalization of rainfall thresholds for debris flows hazard mapping in the Emilia-Romagna Apennines (Italy)

Spatial Regionalization on Surface Ozone in the Yangtze River Delta of China

Spatial Regionalization on Surface Ozone in the Yangtze River Delta of China

Seasonal precipitation pattern analysis for decision support of agricultural irrigation management in Louisiana, USA

Rainfed agriculture is often a challenge in many humid regions due to the irregular distribution of precipitation events. Precipitation irregularity during crop growing seasons causes soil water deficits that negatively impact crop yields. To alleviate water stress, farmers are expected to compensate for water deficits through irrigation. Because irrigation consumes valuable water resources, it is critical to envision water management strategies that enhance precipitation water use and reduce irrigation water withdrawals. However, precipitation patterns generally vary depending on locations and seasons. Hence, a thorough understanding of crop exposure to water deficit in time and space is essential to improve agricultural water use efficiency. This study investigated both spatial and seasonal patterns of precipitation to elucidate the exposure of crops to water deficits at a regional scale. Specifically, a spatial regionalization technique was applied to a 33-year gridded time series of seasonal precipitation totals and numbers of events in Louisiana to determine two precipitation regions with distinct characteristics. Within each region, kernel density estimators were employed to approximate the actual probability distribution of seasonal precipitations. Estimates of crop water requirements for corn, soybean, cotton, grain sorghum, and sugarcane under both early and late planting scenarios were employed to evaluate the probabilities of crop exposure to water deficits during the growing seasons. The outcomes of this study include a distinction of precipitation regions for Louisiana and a detailed probabilistic evaluation of crops exposure to water deficits. These outcomes are intended to support irrigation management recommendations for farmers across the state of Louisiana.

A new species of Eusthenodon (Sarcopterygii, Tristichopteridae) from the Upper Devonian (Famennian) of Pennsylvania, U.S.A., and a review of Eusthenodon taxonomy

ABSTRACT A new species of Eusthenodon from the Upper Devonian (Famennian) Catskill Formation was collected from talus blocks at the base of a road cut along the Cogan House Exit Ramp on U.S. 15/Interstate 99 in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. The new species is represented by a nearly complete, articulated skull (ANSP 23748) and additional cranial bones, body scales, and pectoral girdle elements. The breadth of anatomy represented by the new fossils, and the quality of their preservation and preparation, enable a detailed anatomical description of a new species. The original diagnosis of Eusthenodon distinguished the taxon from Tristichopterus and Eusthenopteron, the only other described tristichopterids at the time. The descriptive qualities of the Eusthenodon wangsjoi type material do not diagnose Eusthenodon from among the highly nested tristichopterid taxa that have been discovered since the original publication. In an effort to strengthen the taxonomic status and phylogenetic utility of Eusthenodon, we propose a revised diagnosis that uses only discrete, commonly preserved features that are unlikely to be altered by deformation. The new species is the third described Catskill Formation tristichopterid along with Hyneria lindae and Langlieria radiatus. All three are large-bodied and in a highly nested phylogenetic position within the group. The presence of a single tristichopterid species at each site highlights temporal and spatial regionalization of the Catskill fauna and may, along with a suite of anatomical features, support the hypothesis that tristichopterids occupied the role of top predator in the freshwater ecosystems of the Catskill Delta complex.

Physical and Biogeochemical Regionalization of the Southern Ocean and the CCAMLR Zone 48.1

The Southern Ocean plays a major role in the Earth’s climate, provides fisheries products and help the maintenance of biodiversity. The degree of correspondence between physical and biogeochemical spatial variability and regionalization were investigated by calculating the main physical factors that statistically explained the biogeochemical variability within the Southern Ocean and the 48.1 zone of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). The mean value of physical and biogeochemical variables was estimated during austral summer within a grid of 1° × 1° south of 50°S. The regionalization was developed using both non-hierarchical and hierarchical clustering method, whereas BIO-ENV package and distance-based redundancy analysis (db-RDA) were applied in order to calculate which physical factors primarily explained the biogeochemical spatial variability. A total of 12 physical and 18 biogeochemical significant clusters were identified for the Southern Ocean (alpha: 0.05). The combination of bathymetry and sea ice coverage majorly explained biogeochemical variability (Spearman rank correlation coefficient: 0.68) and db-RDA indicated that physical variables expressed the 60.1% of biogeochemical variance. On the other hand, 14 physical and 16 biogeochemical significant clusters were identified for 48.1 CCAMLR zone. Bathymetry was the main factor explaining biogeochemical variability (Spearman coefficient: 0.81) and db-RDA analysis resulted in 77.1% of biogeochemical variance. The correspondence between physical and biogeochemical regions was higher for CCAMLR 48.1 zone with respect to the whole Southern Ocean. Our results provide useful information for both Southern Ocean and CCAMLR 48.1 zone ecosystem management and modeling parametrization.

Satellite-Based Regionalization of Solar Irradiation in Vietnam by k-Means Clustering

AbstractThis study presents the application of k-means clustering to satellite-based solar irradiation in different regions of Vietnam. The solar irradiation products derived from the Himawari-8 satellite, named AMATERASS by the solar radiation consortium under the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), are validated with observations recorded at five stations in the period from October 2017 to September 2018 before their use for clustering. High correlations among them enable the use of satellite-based daily global horizontal irradiation for spatial variability analysis and regionalization. With respect to the climate regime in Vietnam, the defined 6-cluster groups demonstrate better agreement with the conventionally classified seven climatic zones rather than the four climatic zones of the Köppen classification. The spatial distribution and seasonal variation in the regionalized solar irradiation reflect interchangeable influences of large-scale atmospheric circulation in terms of the East Asian winter monsoon and the South Asian summer monsoon as well as the effect of local topography. Higher daily averaged solar radiation and its weaker seasonal variation were found in two clusters in the southern region where the South Asian summer monsoon dominates in the rainy season. Pronounced seasonal variability in solar irradiation in four clusters in the northern region is associated with the influence of the East Asian monsoon, resulting in its clear reduction during the winter months.

An investigation of seasonal precipitation patterns for rainfed agriculture in the Southeastern region of the United States

Over the last two decades, signs of precipitation irregularity were frequently reported across the Southeastern United States (US). Even though the region receives a relatively high annual precipitation, the precipitation events are not equally distributed in the time and space. Hence, rainfed agriculture, a common practice in the region is threatened by changes in precipitation frequencies during the crop growing seasons. With this situation, a better understanding of the actual patterns of precipitation irregularity is needed to support the local agriculture. This study uses a spatial regionalization approach to delineate precipitation regions for an area spanning the states of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. The data used include time-series of seasonal precipitation totals and seasonal numbers of precipitation events >5 mm over the period 1960–2017. A regionalization method which combines principal components and cluster analyses was applied to 208 precipitation stations selected across the study region. Finally, three precipitation regions were delineated based on statistics and similarity criteria. A comparative analysis of these three regions shows significant differences in the seasonal precipitation totals and the seasonal number of precipitation events. In addition, the differences were examined using a probabilistic approach. As a result, tables of probabilities and seasonal precipitation characteristics (precipitation totals and number of events >5 mm) were generated for each region. These tables could provide information about the chances of precipitation deficits or excesses relatively to a crop and henceforth be useful for agricultural water use planning.

Regionalización del índice de concentración en el norte de Chile y su relación con la componente orográfica (1966-2015)

Este artículo analiza la distribución espacial de la irregularidad de las precipitaciones diarias en el norte de Chile (desde los 17° hasta los 29° S), mediante la aplicación del índice de concentración (CI). El CI se calculó para un total de 161 estaciones meteorológicas, en el periodo 1966-2015. El propósito fue generar una regionalización espacial del CI, un índice diario que mide la irregularidad de las precipitaciones. Teóricamente, se ensayó una hipótesis que señala el efecto que tendría la orografía sobre el CI, provocando un aumento del índice desde las planicies litorales a zonas de mayor altitud como la Cordillera de los Andes, con un gradiente creciente oeste-este. Los resultados alcanzados no dan cuenta de un aumento hacia el este como era de esperar, pero si dejan ver un componente zonal caracterizado por un gradiente creciente norte-sur. Además, los resultados del CI permitieron la identificación de cuatro regiones que comparten valores similares del CI: la zona norte, con valores del CI entre 0,45 y 0,58; la zona sur, con altas concentraciones de precipitación con valores entre 0,49 y 0,74; las tierras altas, con valores entre 0,45 y 0,67; y la zona costera, con valores entre 0,45 y 0,64.

SynoptReg: An R package for computing a synoptic climate classification and a spatial regionalization of environmental data

Spatial knowledge of the climatic or environmental variables associated with the most frequent circulation types is essential with regard to developing strategies to address the risk of avalanches, floods, soil erosion, air pollution or other natural hazards. In order to derive an environmental regionalization, we present an Open Source R package known as synoptReg, which combines the spatialization of environmental variables based on the atmospheric circulation types. The synoptReg package contains a set of functions which we will employ (1) to perform a PCA-based synoptic classification using an atmospheric variable; (2) to map the spatial distribution of the selected environmental variable based upon the circulation types; (3) to develop a spatial environmental regionalization based on the previous results. We illustrate the usefulness of the package for a case study in the Alps area.

Spatial Function Regionalization Based on an Ecological-economic Analysis in Wuxi City, China

As a result of rapid urbanization in China, urban sprawl has increased rapidly, and land-use regulation and smart urban growth are equally important. Spatial function regionalization can provide the scientific groundwork for the regulation of land use and protection. This paper probes the system of evaluation indices and applies the methods of spatial analysis and classification clustering to the calculation of the ecologically significant value and economically significant value in each evaluation unit. After use of a classification matrix integrated by the two significant values, city space can be divided into four functional types, namely, feasible development area, moderate development area, moderate conservation area and prohibited exploiting area, and these are the basis for spatial development and control.

Combining circulation weather types and daily precipitation modelling to derive climatic precipitation regions in the Pyrenees

The Pyrenees is a mountain range that presents a very broad range of climatic diversity, as well as a multitude of geographical factors conditioning precipitation in this region. In-depth knowledge of this precipitation, specifically of its association with atmospheric circulation types in mountain regions, is of great importance for the management of natural hazards such as avalanches or floods. Thus, the present research combines the synoptic scale with the local scale. We employed the regional scale of the Pyrenees to interpolate, by means of the General Linear Models (GLM), General Additive Models (GAM) and Regression Kriging (RK) methods, mean daily precipitation (MDP) based upon a classification of weather types at the synoptic scale; this procedure reflects the most frequent atmospheric patterns in the study area during the 1961–2010 period. This combination of scales makes it possible to perform a spatial precipitation regionalization of the Pyrenees by means of the work flow proposed in the present research. The result is a compendium of 20 atmospheric circulation types. For each of these circulation types, we obtained MDP maps for each of the aforementioned interpolation methods. The most satisfactory fit of the models was provided by the GAM and the RK methods, with an average R2 of all models of 0.58 and 0.61, respectively. These models provided a precipitation regionalization of the Pyrenees involving eight differentiated regions, two of which reveal a statistically significant annual tendency towards a decrease in precipitation.

The Intestinal Microbiota of Hermetia illucens Larvae Is Affected by Diet and Shows a Diverse Composition in the Different Midgut Regions.

The larva of the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) has emerged as an efficient system for the bioconversion of organic waste. Although many research efforts are devoted to the optimization of rearing conditions to increase the yield of the bioconversion process, microbiological aspects related to this insect are still neglected. Here, we describe the microbiota of the midgut of H. illucens larvae, showing the effect of different diets and midgut regions in shaping microbial load and diversity. The bacterial communities residing in the three parts of the midgut, characterized by remarkable changes in luminal pH values, differed in terms of bacterial numbers and microbiota composition. The microbiota of the anterior part of the midgut showed the highest diversity, which gradually decreased along the midgut, whereas bacterial load had an opposite trend, being maximal in the posterior region. The results also showed that the influence of the microbial content of ingested food was limited to the anterior part of the midgut, and that the feeding activity of H. illucens larvae did not significantly affect the microbiota of the substrate. Moreover, a high protein content compared to other macronutrients in the feeding substrate seemed to favor midgut dysbiosis. The overall data indicate the importance of taking into account the presence of different midgut structural and functional domains, as well as the substrate microbiota, in any further study that aims at clarifying microbiological aspects concerning H. illucens larval midgut.IMPORTANCE The demand for food of animal origin is expected to increase by 2050. Since traditional protein sources for monogastric diets are failing to meet the increasing demand for additional feed production, there is an urgent need to find alternative protein sources. The larvae of Hermetia illucens emerge as efficient converters of low-quality biomass into nutritionally valuable proteins. Many studies have been performed to optimize H. illucens mass rearing on a number of organic substrates and to quantitatively and qualitatively maximize the biomass yield. On the contrary, although the insect microbiota can be fundamental for bioconversion processes and its characterization is mandatory also for safety aspects, this topic is largely overlooked. Here, we provide an in-depth study of the microbiota of H. illucens larval midgut, taking into account pivotal aspects, such as the midgut spatial and functional regionalization, as well as microbiota and nutrient composition of the feeding substrate.

Spatial function regionalization and governance of coastal zone: A case study in Ningbo City

Reasonable development and utilization of spatial resources in the coastal zone not only affects the development quality of the marine economy but also impacts the utilization efficiency of spatial resources, playing an important role in regional sustainable development. Depending on the natural, economic, and societal characteristics of a region, research topics such as using relevant methods to divide the coastline, proper spatial development of the coast, protecting coastal zones, and achieving higher spatial resource distribution efficiency have recently become hot topics in geographic research. Most of the scholars construct the evaluation index system from the perspective of economic and ecological factors and undertake some exploration of the division methods. However, the selection of indicators for a coastal zone needs a different and more scientific approach. There is a need for emphasizing the overall strategy of land-ocean integration in developing spatial resources in a coastal zone. Taking the coastal zone in Ningbo as an example, this paper develops a new evaluation framework and spatial function regionalization method that is used to divide the coastline and coastal zone. Based on the perspective of overall strategy for the land and ocean, we evaluate the suitability of coastline development. We then propose the spatial function regionalization of the coastal zone. Finally, based on the status quo of spatial development in Ningbo, we divide the coastal zone into ecological space, production space and living space, and propose adjustment directions and control requirements for the different types of spatial layouts.

A Multimedia Hydrological Fate Modeling Framework To Assess Water Consumption Impacts in Life Cycle Assessment.

Many new methods have recently been developed to address environmental consequences of water consumption in life cycle assessment (LCA). However, such methods can only partially be compared and combined, because their modeling structure and metrics are inconsistent. Moreover, they focus on specific water sources (e.g., river) and miss description of transport flows between water compartments (e.g., from river to atmosphere via evaporation) and regions (e.g., atmospheric advection). Consequently, they provide a partial regard of the local and global hydrological cycle and derived impacts on the environment. This paper proposes consensus-based guidelines for a harmonized development of the next generation of water consumption LCA indicators, with a focus on consequences of water consumption on ecosystem quality. To include the consideration of the multimedia water fate between compartments of the water cycle, we provide spatial regionalization and temporal specification guidance. The principles and recommendations of the paper are applied to an illustrative case study. The guidelines set the basis of a more accurate, novel way of modeling water consumption impacts in LCA. The environmental relevance of this LCA impact category will improve, yet much research is needed to make the guidelines operational.

Spatial Flow and Outflow Distribution in the Una Basin

The need and importance of studying the water regime in higher and mountainous areas, as well as hypsometric zoning are extremely large in regional and spatial planning. The aspect of spatial regionalization has enabled the understanding of the distribution of water in the basin itself. Based on that, a wider picture of the state of this distribution was obtained in some regional units. Getting involved in solving issues related to gaining values of the river regime’s certain elements by hypsometric zones in the Una basin, the basic parameter which it was started from, was determining the value of precipitation amount. For assessment of flow and specific outflow and height, the relation has been applied: precipitation – elevation – area of hypsometric zones – evapotranspiration. Depending on the area they occupy, in the structure of specific outflows and flows, one can clearly distinguish three zones, up to 400 m altitude, the second hypsometric zone from 400 m up to 1400 m, and the third zone above 1400 m altitude. To determine the water height distribution, there have been used the hypsography of the basin and regional specific outflow dependence on average elevation of the basin. Processing all parameters relevant for studying in this paper is done in the ArcGIS software package. The obtained results of this research are very important and can be applied for the needs of agriculture, water management, urbanism and tourism of this part of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Ecological risk Evaluation and Green Infrastructure planning for coping with global climate change, a case study of Shanghai, China

Coping with various ecological risks caused by extreme weather events of global climate change has become an important issue in regional planning, and storm water management for sustainable development. In this paper, taking Shanghai, China as a case study, four potential ecological risks were identified including flood disaster, sea-source disaster, urban heat island effect, and land subsidence. Based on spatial database, the spatial variation of these four ecological risks was evaluated, and the planning area was divided into seven responding regions with different green infrastructure strategy. The methodology developed in this study combining ecological risk evaluation with spatial regionalization planning could contribute to coping with global climate change.

Evidence of Oocyte Polarity in Bovine; Implications for Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection and Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer.

We recently demonstrated spatial regionalization of maternal transcripts and proteins within unfertilized ovine oocyte. Here, we investigated the likelihood of oocyte polarity for the first time in bovine. In this experimental study, in vitro matured bovine oocytes were used for manual bisection [into oocyte halve that were near-to (HNS) and far-from (FS) spindle] or trisection [into MII-spindle (S), the spindle-side half (NS), and the distal half unassociated with the spindle (FS)]. Prepared pools of oocyte substructures were used for comparative quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). To map the possible preferential sperm entry point (SEP), the spatial relationship between SEP and MII-spindle was measured 5 hours post-fertilization. The proportional amount of maternal mRNA in S oocyte fragment was estimated to be 6 to 11-fold higher than NS and FS counterparts. The relative abundances of Nanog, Oct4, Fgf4 and Tead4 were significantly higher in HNS oocyte fragment compared t0 FS. The relative abundances of Ctnb, Carm1, Rex1, Sox2 and Cdx2 were comparable between HNS and NS oocyte fragments. FS oocyte fragment possessed significantly higher transcripts of Gata4 compared to HNS. The distribution of certain transcripts related to pluripotency and lineage commitment were different depending upon the region of the oocyte; either enriched at S (Tead4, Nanog, Ctnb and Sox2), NS (Oct4), or FS (Gata6). The SEP in almost (90%) fertilized oocytes was located in MII-hemisphere. The observation of spatial restriction of mRNAs and SEP within MII-oocyte may indicate that the principal forces of oocyte polarity are evolutionary conserved. This may in turn highlight the need for refinements in the methodology of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (where a sperm is injected far from the MII-spindle) and somatic cell nuclear transfer (where a major amount of regulative mRNAs that are associated with MIIspindle is removed during enucleation).

Policy governance from an autopoietic perspective: revisiting Hungary’s regionalization experience

ABSTRACTThis perspective on Hungary’s post-socialist regional policy governance is informed by an approach that relates region-building and regional governance to social autopoiesis and the self-referential and self-(re)producing nature of social systems such as states. Following debates in regional studies that reflect tensions between the local constitution and external determination of regional governance, we will demonstrate how Hungary has incorporated European Union (EU) policy frameworks through specific appropriations of territorial politics and regional ideas. These appropriations reflect Hungary’s post-socialist transformation not only in terms of responses to global forces, but also as specific spatial practices and regionalization experiences. As we argue, this has in effect resulted in a regionalism without regions – a strategy of Europeanizing territorial politics without creating institutional structures that directly challenge existing power relations. Autopoiesis thus helps explain the resilience of social systems, not only their resistance to institutional change but also their capability to ‘domesticate’ external influences. While criticisms of Hungary’s technocratic and post-political regionalization projects cannot be ignored, our analysis indicates why externally driven intervention in self-organizing governance processes, for example through EU conditionality, has had less impact than expected.

CATEGORIAL AND CONCEPTUAL APPARATUS OF NEW REGIONALISM FORMATION

Introduction. The process of a new regionalism formation in Ukraine has become the subject of the study. Its conceptual and categorical apparatus has been determined. Purpose. The article aims to ground the author's interpretation of the concept "regionalization" on the basis of analysis of the "regionalization" concept which is provided by researchers of various scientific schools and their critical analysis. It will help to clarify the categorical and conceptual apparatus of a new regionalism. Method. The author has used general scientific methods of research and specific methods of scientific knowledge. In particular, there have been used the monographic method and the method of generalizations (to make the comparison of concepts regionalization); the method of analysis and synthesis (to determine the most important essential factors of the "regionalization" concept). Results. The results of analysis of essence interpretation of the «regionalization» concept make it possible to come to the following conclusions. In terms of spatial and territorial aspects regionalization has three forms: first form is the so-called "regionalization – from the top" (when within the state the regions with administrative boundaries are determined); second form is the so-called "regionalization – from the bottom" (when within the already formed administrative schematization the region can be separated; third form is the so-called "regionalization – horizontal" (when the associations of the regions are formed or those can be the cross-border regions and units). Regionalization is often associated with new spatial and territorial entities at different levels in order to obtain competitive advantages in the context of the formation of an information society. Regionalization is considered as a mechanism of regional social and economic policy, a variety of innovation activities, and the emergence of interstate relations; as a process of institutional change, territorial division, regionalism, decentralization, the choice of a political course. It has been found out that regionalization, in our opinion, is primarily a certain process, which is confirmed by the discourse on the essence of this concept, which is based on the principle of subsidiarity and decentralization of authority. Scope of results. It has been provided the author's interpretation of the "regionalization" essence as a multidimensional process of increasing autonomy and increasing the importance of regions at the level of different territorial entities, which is accompanied by institutional changes, can contribute to the clarification of the conceptual and categorical apparatus of a new regionalism theory.

APPLICATION OF HARMONIC ANALYSIS FOR THE QUANTITATIVE DESCRIPTION OF EARTH SURFACE TOPOGRAPHY

The paper is focused at perspectives of Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) as a tool for morphometric studies. Characterized are the mathematical basics and MathCAD algorithm of one- and two-dimensional DFT when applied to topographical profiles and digital elevation models (DEMs). One-dimensional DFT allows to replace an empirical spatial series with a periodic function as a sum of waves with different frequencies and wavelengths. Amplitude of each wave describes the contribution of the corresponding frequency to the total elevation variations along the studied profile, which allows to compare different harmonics (waves of certain frequency) in terms of their importance in shaping the Earth surface. Two-dimensional DFT allows also to determine the direction of wave distribution. In an ideal fractal erosional system in which different-order thalwegs have equal ranking both by width and by depth of incision, strict decrease of harmonic amplitude with increasing spatial frequency would occur. However this feature is only rarely occurring in the real Earth surface. Consequently, the DFT method can be used for spatial classification and regionalization according to topographic patterns formally described by harmonic components of the Earth surface elevation.