Topic Review
Aquatic Ecology of Southern African Watersheds
Southern Africa (SA) is rich in large river basin networks, from the over 1.4 million km2 Zambezi River Basin in the upper parts and extending further to the 0.4 million km2 Limpopo and 0.9 million km2 Orange River Basin systems southwards. Given that most SA river basins hold vast mineral deposits, the mining waste generated by artisanal and mechanised mining industries has significantly affected the health of its aquatic ecosystems.
  • 866
  • 17 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Geographic Information System
Geographic information systems (GIS) are composed of software, hardware, data, administrators, and methods for processing and analyzing data.  Creating and sharing spatial data in digital form is not only good practice but is also regulated by specific legal acts. Currently created in map portals and the widely available General Geographic Object Databases offer a reliable, current, and continuous source of spatial information for the entire country, extremely helpful in the planning process at various levels of generalization. The database implemented into the Spatial Information System is its most important element and should constitute a complete and reliable representation of elements of the real world.  GIS systems allow us to formulate models in a structured and formal way to reflect both the current situation and forecast changes that will occur in space when certain conditions are met. The proposed methodology can be used in practical applications:• Preparing planning studies, both regarding spatial policy and local law, as well as in economic planning and shaping the structure of rural space (structure of ownership and structure of use).• The development of thematic spatial information systems related to planning studies and works shaping the rural space.• Reports submitted to EU authorities relating to the utilization of funds dedicated to rural development in the multiannual financial framework and modification of the implemented actions.• The use of renewable energy sources to improve Poland’s energy security.
  • 865
  • 19 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Unmanned Aerial Robots’ Applications in Agriculture
The most common role of drones in agriculture is to assess and monitor crops. For this, remote sensing is carried out, but this task is not enough when agricultural applications become more widespread. For this, autonomous mobile robots such as drones and other UAVs with technologically different features are designed for various agricultural purposes.
  • 865
  • 26 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Hydrochar for Potential Wastewater Treatment Applications
In today’s world, due to population increase, there are many alarming and potential catastrophic problems like climate change, environmental pollution and an enormous mass of wastes constantly produced by humankind to find innovative solutions for the management, recycling, and valorization of biowaste from agricultural production, food processing, and organic household residues. The search for sustainable and efficient wastewater treatment technologies has gained scientific interest; particular focus is on using biowaste to produce hydrochars (HCs) via the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) process used as adsorbent materials for dye, heavy metal, and emerging pollutant removal. HTC materials derived from renewable resources are an environmentally friendly and adequate way to adsorb pollutants such as organic and inorganic molecules from wastewaters. 
  • 863
  • 10 Aug 2022
Topic Review
NASA Micropulse Lidar Rain Algorithm
Precipitation modifies atmospheric column thermodynamics through the process of evaporation and serves as a proxy for latent heat modulation. For this reason, a correct precipitation parameterization (especially for low-intensity precipitation) within global scale models is crucial. In addition to improving our modeling of the hydrological cycle, this will reduce the associated uncertainty of global climate models in correctly forecasting future scenarios, and will enable the application of mitigation strategies. In this study we present a proof of concept algorithm to automatically detect precipitation from lidar measurements obtained from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Micropulse lidar network (MPLNET). 
  • 863
  • 09 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Development Environments and Factors of Subsidence Dolines
On covered karsts, the frequent and rapid development of subsidence dolines result in the striking change of surface conditions and this process may cause a significant damage to man-made constructions. According to current scientific knowledge, a prediction on the development of subsidence dolines and their development sites, by which the damage could be reduced to a great extent, is not possible yet. Based on literary data, in this study, development environments and impacts are described that affect subsidence doline development and the site of development. Point of views are suggested for predicting the development and development sites.
  • 863
  • 11 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Sensitive Clay Slope
Sensitive clays are known for producing retrogressive landslides, also called spread or flowslides. The key characteristics associated with the occurrence of these landslides on a sensitive clay slope must be assessed, and the potential retrogressive distance must be evaluated. Common risk analysis methods include empirical methods for estimating the distance of potential retrogression, analytical limit equilibrium methods, numerical modelling methods using the strength reduction technique, and the integration of a progressive failure mechanism into numerical methods. Methods developed for zoning purposes in Norway and Quebec provide conservative results in most cases, even if they don’t cover the worst cases scenario. A flowslide can be partially analysed using analytical limit equilibrium methods and numerical methods having strength reduction factor tools. Numerical modelling of progressive failure mechanisms using numerical methods can define the critical parameters of spread-type landslides, such as critical unloading and the retrogression distance of the failure. Continuous improvements to the large-deformation numerical modeling approach allow its application to all types of sensitive clay landslides.
  • 861
  • 20 Aug 2020
Topic Review
Aerosols Deposition and Marine Biota
Atmospheric aerosol deposition (wet and dry) is an important source of macro and micronutrients (N, P, C, Si, and Fe) to the oceans. Most of the mass flux of air particles is made of fine mineral particles emitted from arid or semi-arid areas (e.g., deserts) and transported over long distances until deposition to the oceans. However, this atmospheric deposition is affected by anthropogenic activities, which heavily impacts the content and composition of aerosol constituents, contributing to the presence of potentially toxic elements (e.g., Cu). Under this scenario, the deposition of natural and anthropogenic aerosols will impact the biogeochemical cycles of nutrients and toxic elements in the ocean, also affecting (positively or negatively) primary productivity and, ultimately, the marine biota. 
  • 861
  • 08 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Fossil Free Future for Track Work Machinery
Fossil free future for track work machinery indicates the possibility of achieving zero direct emissions during maintenance and construction work in railways by switching to alternative drives. Current railway track work machinery is mainly operated with diesel fuel. As a result, track maintenance of Austrian Federal Railways (OeBB) amounts to nearly 9000 t CO2 equivalent per year according to calculations from Graz University of Technology. OeBB’s total length of railway lines only accounts for 0.56% of the world’s length of lines. This indicates huge potential for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions considering the need for track maintenance worldwide. Environmental concerns have led to the introduction of alternative drives in the transport sector.
  • 860
  • 11 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Renewable Energy in Iran
Despite Iran’s diverse potentials in the field of renewable energy, wind energy has a higher priority than other cases in terms of economic justification and market competition, and domestic production rates. Other renewable energy sources for power generation and grid connection are less of a priority for short- or medium-term investment. However, for non-grid use in the country, they can also be very useful in the short term. In general, Iran can be a hub for renewable energy.
  • 860
  • 22 Feb 2022
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