Zones In Coastal Areas Research Articles

Sustainability of Groundwater Potential Zones in Coastal Areas of Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu, South India Using Integrated Approach of Remote Sensing, GIS and AHP Techniques

This paper aims to identify the groundwater-potential zones in coastal zones of the Cuddalore district by integrating remote sensing, Geographic Information System (GIS), and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) techniques. The thematic layers such as geomorphology, landuse/land cover, lineament density, geology, soil, drainage density, rainfall, and slope are considered for the identification of groundwater-potential zones. The groundwater-potential zones are categorized into five zones as ‘very good’, ‘good’, ‘moderate’, ‘poor’, and ‘very poor’. From the study, it is observed that the rainwater/surface water infiltration to the aquifer is high in the eastern region due to flat topography, and thus, these zones possess ‘very good’ and ‘good’ groundwater-potential zones. The groundwater potential in the central region of the study area possesses moderate infiltration capacity, which is suitable for agricultural practices. Moreover, it is also observed that the groundwater potential is ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ in the northwest region due to steep slopes in which suitable recharge structures should be constructed in these zones to harvest the rainwater. Eventually, the obtained results are validated with existing bore wells in the study area, and it reveals that a GIS-based integrated method is an effective tool for the exploration of groundwater resources with high accuracy.

Triangulation Approach for Mapping Groundwater Suitability Zones in Coastal Areas Around Lagos, Nigeria. Using Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Technique

ABSTRACT Water quality in Lagos's coastal area is prone to constant seawater intrusion due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. Seawater intrusion in the coastal aquifer is a major challenge to human survival and therefore needs urgent attention due to deficiency in groundwater quality. This study applies integrated techniques to map groundwater suitability zone (GSZ) around the Lagos coastal area for sustainable development. The objectives were achieved by preparing eight different thematic layers that influence groundwater suitability viz; drainage density, geology, geomorphology, lineament density, rainfall, longitudinal conductance, slope, and transverse resistance. Weighting assignment, normalization and, pair-wise comparison of the thematic maps were done using Saaty’s Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) model before being integrated through the geographical information system (GIS) spatial analyst model with weight overlay to generate the overall groundwater suitability map. The integrated result reveals that 7% of the research location has very low suitability, 32.2% low, 47.8% moderate, and 13% high groundwater suitability. Thus, the groundwater suitability zone (GSZ) was validated via Electrical conductivity (EC) and total dissolved solids (TDS) and the result reveals a good correlation. The research has proven the efficacy of integrating different surface and subsurface data for effectively mapping the groundwater suitability zone (GSZ).

Asymmetry of Daytime and Nighttime Warming in Typical Climatic Zones along the Eastern Coast of China and Its Influence on Vegetation Activities

In this dissertation, the author adopted the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and meteorological data from 1982 to 2016 of the typical climate zones in coastal areas of China to analyze the influence of daytime and nighttime warming asymmetric changes in different seasons on vegetation activities during the growing season period according to the copula function theory optimized based on Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC). The main conclusions are as follows: (1) The seasonal daytime and nighttime warming trends of Guangdong, Jiangsu and Liaoning over the past 35 years were significant, and the daytime and nighttime warming rates were asymmetric. In spring and summer of Guangdong province, the warming rate in the daytime was higher than that at night, while, in autumn, the opposite law was observed. However, the warming rate in the daytime was lower than that at night in Jiangsu and Liaoning provinces. There were latitude differences in diurnal and nocturnal warming rate. (2) The daytime and nighttime warming influences on vegetation showed significant seasonal differences in these three regions. In Guangdong, the influence of nighttime warming on vegetation growth in spring is greater than that in summer, and the influences of daytime warming on vegetation growth from strong to weak were spring, summer and autumn. In Jiangsu, both the influences of daytime and nighttime warming on vegetation growth in summer were less than that in autumn. In Liaoning, both the influences of daytime and nighttime warming on vegetation growth from strong to weak were autumn, spring and summer. (3) In Guangdong, Jiangsu and Liaoning provinces, their maximum temperature (Tmax) and minimum temperature (Tmin) and the joint probability distribution functions of NDVI, all had little effect on NDVI when Tmax and Tmin respectively reached their minimum values, but their influences on NDVI were obvious when Tmax and Tmin respectively reached their maximum values. (4) The smaller the return period, the larger the range of climate factor and NDVI, which has indicated that when the climate factor is certain, the NDVI is more likely to have a smaller return period, and the frequency of NDVI over a certain period is higher. In addition, the larger the climate factor, the greater the return period is and NDVI is less frequent over a certain period of time. This research can help with deep understanding of the dynamic influence of seasonal daytime and nighttime asymmetric warming on the vegetation in typical coastal temperature zones of China under the background of global climate change.

Integrated Framework for Identification of Polluted Zones in Coastal Areas of Thiruvallur District of Tamil Nadu (India)

In this research work, hydro-geochemical characteristics were determined from twenty groundwater samples and classified into water quality zones on the basis of the World Health Organization (WHO 2006) using inverse distance weighted interpolation technique. Groundwater samples were analyzed with respect to calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), sodium (Na+), HCO3, total nitrate (NO2+NO3ˉ), chloride (Cl−), sulphate (SO42−), total dissolved solids (TDS), hydrogen ion concentration (pH) and electrical conductivity (EC) were measured form groundwater samples. The water quality indices (WQI1 and NPI = WQI2) were used to categorize the water. Water Quality Index (WQI) value suggest that the 65% groundwater samples (excellent + good) are safe for drinking uses and 35% groundwater samples (very poor + poor) needs treatment before consumptive uses from WQI1. Further, NPI (WQI2), shows 40% and 60% of groundwater falls under good and poor condition respectively. The findings highlight that the groundwater of few areas requires some degree of treatment before consumptive uses.

Effect of global warming on diversity pattern in Nypa mangroves across Paleocene–Eocene transition in the paleo-equatorial region of the Indian sub-continent

Abstract The Paleocene–Eocene transition is considered a period of excessive global warming that characterizes the highest temperature of the Cenozoic. To trace the response of mangrove vegetation to this early Paleogene warming, species diversity of Spinizonocolpites pollen ( Nypa ) was studied across Paleocene–Eocene transition. Two paleo-equatorial shallow marine stratigraphic sections Ranikor Barsora and Jathang from the east Khasi hills, South Shillong Plateau, Meghalaya were studied. Species diversity of Spinizonocolpites was inferred from pollen assemblages in aforementioned sections. Estimation of biodiversity through range-through method, Shannon–Wiener index, Simpson diversity index, rarefied richness curves and detrended correspondence analysis was done to assess the diversity pattern before, during, and after the warming event. Mean species diversity of paleo-mangroves inferred by counting the number of Spinizonocolpites species stratigraphically in the pollen assemblage, showed higher diversity during Paleocene/Eocene boundary in both the sections, followed by a significant decline during the Eocene. This pattern was consistent upon quantitative estimation for sample size, number of samples/time unit, lithofacies and depositional systems. Extreme warm and humid climate with high precipitation and good upstream runoff led to low saline conditions in coastal areas during Paleocene–Eocene boundary interval in paleo-equatorial region. This favored the diversification of Nypa , providing opportunities for new species in a wide range of low saline tidal zones to flourish. Post-warming during late Ypresian, decrease in precipitation, humidity and low upstream runoff, resulted in the restriction of low saline tidal zones in coastal areas, thus causing a decline in the diversity of Nypa mangrove. Hence, variations in species diversity and origination rates of the back mangrove palm genus Nypa described under Spinizonocolpites during the Paleocene–Eocene transition constitute an important step in understanding the effect of global warming on mangrove vegetation in paleo-equatorial region.

Macroalgae fouling community as quality element for the evaluation of the ecological status in Vela Luka Bay, Croatia

One year qualitative and quantitative study of communities of three major taxonomic groups has been carried out at test panles placed in the upper infarlittoral zone of coastal area of Vela Luka Bay, Croatia. A list of 44 taxa was recorded. <em>Chaetomorpha </em>sp., <em>Ulva </em>sp., <em>Fosliella farinosa</em>, <em>Sphacelaria cirrosa</em>, <em>Polysiphonia scopulorum </em>were the most frequent dominant taxa. Among 27 algal taxa with noticeable presence only three were classified as ESG (Ecological State Groups) I. Low diversity and species richness together with massive presence of the green algae (as <em>Ulva </em>sp.) and negligible presence of ESG I taxa, may lead to erroneous conclusion that Vela Luka Bay is eutrophicated area. Low values of biomass and <em>R/P </em>(Rhodophyceae by Phaeophyceae ratio) Index together with dominance of Phaeophyta also support conclusion that there is no negative impact of nutrient enrichment on macrophyta fouling community in Vela Luka Bay.

Industrial arrangement of large-scale, non-grid-connected wind power industrial zones in coastal areas of China

Constructing an industrial system for a large-scale, non-grid-connected wind power industry is a key step towards the diverse utilization of wind power. However, wind power exploitation is not only a technical challenge but an industrial problem as well. The objective of this study is to introduce a concept of large-scale, non-grid-connected wind power (LSNGCWP) industrial zones and establish an evaluation model to assess their industrial arrangement. The data of wind energy, industry, nature resources and socio-economy were collected in this study. Using spatial overlay analysis of geographic information system, this study proposes a spatial arrangement of the LSNGCWP industrial zones in the coastal areas of China, which could be summarized as the ‘one line and three circles’ structure, which will contribute to the optimization of the industrial structure, advance the wind power technology, coordinate the multi-industrial cooperation, and upgrade the industrial transformation of China’s coastal areas.

Anoxic “dead zones” in oceans

The number of oxygen‐starved “dead zones” in the world's oceans and seas is rising, according to a report of the United Nations Environment Programme published 29 March—the result of excessive nutrients, mainly nitrogen, from the use of synthetic fertilizers in agriculture, as well as vehicle and factory air emissions. The issue is raised in UNEP's first ever Global Environment Outlook Year Book, which claims that there are now nearly 150 such zones in coastal areas around the world.Some of the earliest recorded dead zones were in Chesapeake Bay and the Gulf of Mexico in the United States, the Baltic Sea, and the northern Adriatic. However, other newer zones have appeared off South America, China, Japan, southeastern Australia, and New Zealand.

Perspectives on the Caspian Sea Dilemma: An Iranian Construct

Two Iranian political geographers outline the historical background and geopolitical setting in support of Iran's position in the ongoing dispute over delineation of the Caspian Sea and allocation of its subsea mineral resources. The paper notes Iran's unique geographic position in relation to the intensified international focus on petroleum exploration and exports. In an effort to identify a solution that may yield a legal regime acceptable to Iran and all post-Soviet littoral states, the authors advance a formula providing exclusive economic zones in coastal areas along the sea's margins and a condominium comprising the remaining water body and sea surface, underlain by a divided seabed and subsoil areas. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: O18, Q30, Q40. 3 figures, 35 references.

Imaging of subsurface contaminations using dipole EM systems

Major contemporary applications of the dipole EM methods deal with the problems of imaging subsurface contaminated or polluted zones, mapping of saline‐water incursion zones in coastal areas, foundation engineering and waste disposal etc. Because such problems are mostly encountered in populated and/or industrialized areas, inductive electromagnetic (EM) methods employing small dipolar transmit‐receive (T‐R) systems provide efficient tools to tackle them. A number of T‐R orientations, measuring different primary and resultant fields, are currently employed in EM exploration.In most of the above problems the target zone can be simulated by a thin conductive or resistive layer. The present work quantifies the resolving capabilities of various dipole EM systems for such a target layer. The target layer is considered embedded in different types of commonly occuring geoelectrical situations. Comparative study of the resolutions obtained for the target layer by different dipole systems reveals that the perpendicular loop system provides the best resolution due to its unique advantage of being free from primary field interference.