Land use changes and its impacts on water resources in Nile Delta region using remote sensing techniques

Sustainable water resources management plans depend on reliable monitoring of land use –land cover (LULC) changes. The use of the remote sensing techniques in LULC changes detection brings consistency and reliability to the decision maker at regional scale. Three temporal data sets of images were used to obtain the land cover changes in this study: Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) acquired in 1984, and Landsat-7 enhanced Thematic Mapper acquired in 2000 and 2005 consequently. Each temporal data set consists of four Landsat scenes, which were mosaicked to cover the whole Nile Delta. Two different supervised classification algorithms were implemented to produce classification maps in thematic form. Support vector machine showed higher classification accuracies in comparison with maximum likelihood classification. The results indicated that the rapid imbalance changes occurred among three land cover classes (urban, desert, and agricultural land). These changes powered the land degradation and land fragmentation processes over the agricultural land exclusively due to urban encroachment. Slight land cover changes were detected between fish farms and surface water land cover classes.     

Comparison of different ecological scales with respect to efficiency in assessing ecological conditions in forests of the Southern Ural region

Ecological scales proposed by H. Ellenberg, E. Landolt, and D.N. Tsyganov have been used to evaluate the roles of three ecological factors—elevation above sea level, soil moisture, and soil nitrogen—in determining the composition of forest communities in the Southern Ural region. The results obtained with all these scales are similar, which indicates that any of them can serve the purpose.     

Sensitivity analysis assessment of remotely based vegetation indices to improve water resources management

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is estimated from Landsat 8 sensor acquired in June 2013 to drive four different water-related indices calculated as NDVI derivatives. Different vegetation indices (VIs) have been extracted exclusively in estimation of different VIs: Leaf Area Index, Water Supply Vegetation Index, Crop Water Shortage Index, and Drought Severity Index in addition to estimation of daily evapotranspiration (ET). Sensitivity analysis assesses the contributions of the inputs to the total uncertainty in the analysis outcomes. Vegetation indices are complex and intercepted, therefore the interceptions of the five different vegetation indices are considered in the current study. A comparative analysis of Gaussian process emulators for performing global sensitivity analysis was used to conduct a variance-based sensitivity analysis to identify which uncertain inputs are driving the output uncertainty. The results showed that the interconnections between different VIs vary, but the extent of the features sensitivity is uncertain. Findings from the current work conducted are anticipated to contribute decisively toward an inclusive VIs assessment of its overall verification. Daily ET is the less sensitive and more certain index followed by Drought Vegetation Index.     

Snow cover and vegetation greenness with leaf water content control the global land surface temperature

The land surface temperature (LST) and land use land cover (LULC) are the major components of climate- and environment-related studies. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship of LST with remotely sensed LULC-derived vegetation indices during 2018 at the global, latitudinal and continental scales. Moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) Aqua daytime LST and eight LULC MODIS indices (NDVI, EVI, LAI, DSI, NDWI, albedo, NDSI, NDBI) were processed using Earth Engine Code Editor. The analysis was conducted using correlation coefficient and significance of the relationship of variables based on 2050 randomly selected points at the global scale. Based on the univariate and geographically weighted regression methods, the research confirmed that vegetation greenness (NDVI), leaf water content (NDWI) and snow cover (DSI) are the codominant drivers of decreasing LST at the global scale including Europe, Asia, South America and North America at the continental scale. Snow cover during winter and vegetation greenness in summer seasons control the global LST. Although albedo shows an inverse relationship, NDBI and NDSI displayed a positive relationship to LST at the global scale. In conclusion, temporal seasonal and inter-annual dynamics of LST in response to snow cover and vegetation properties (greenness, moisture) should be focused on understanding and regulating LST at varying scales.

     

Indicator properties of Southern Siberian plants with respect to soil moisture

An analysis of 23 112 of geobotanical releves using a soil moisture scale has been performed to characterize indicator properties of plants and distinguish stenotopic and eurytopic species. Indicator species most sensitive to changes in soil moisture have been identified.     

An integrative negotiation model to deal with conflicts toward water resources management: a case study in Brazil

Environment, Development and Sustainability - An integrative negotiation model is proposed so that watershed committees (WSC) can deal better with conflicts over alternatives for protecting water...     

The use of molecular techniques to characterize the microbial communities in contaminated soil and water

Traditionally, the identification and characterization of microbial communities in contaminated soil and water has previously been limited to those microorganisms that are culturable. The application of molecular techniques to study microbial populations at contaminated sites without the need for culturing has led to the discovery of unique and previously unrecognized microorganisms as well as complex microbial diversity in contaminated soil and water which shows an exciting opportunity for bioremediation strategies. Nucleic acid extraction from contaminated sites and their subsequent amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has proved extremely useful in assessing the changes in microbial community structure by several microbial community profiling techniques. This review examines the current application of molecular techniques for the characterization of microbial communities in contaminated soil and water. Techniques that identify and quantify microbial population and catabolic genes involved in biodegradation are examined. In addition, methods that directly link microbial phylogeny to its ecological function at contaminated sites as well as high throughput methods for complex microbial community studies are discussed.     

The Holocene dynamics of vegetation and climatic conditions on the eastern slope of the Subpolar Urals

Changes in the vegetation and climatic conditions on the eastern slope of the Subpolar Urals over the past 10000 years have been reconstructed on the basis of integrated palynological, botanical, and radiocarbon analysis of material from two sections of peat deposits in the floodplains of the Lyapin and Man’ya rivers (the Severnaya Sos’va basin). The dynamics of regional vegetation have been traced: from the herb–shrub tundra in the late postglacial time to the spruce–larch forest–tundra and sparse larch–birch–spruce stands in the Early Holocene, to birch–pine–spruce forests with an admixture of fir in the Middle Holocene, and to northern taiga forests with dominance of Scots pine and Siberian stone pine (similar to present-day forests) in the Late Holocene. The results show that the northern taiga zone of the study region in the period between approximately 5500 and 2500 years BP was occupied by forests of middle and southern taiga facies, as the climate was significantly warmer than it is today.     

The holocene dynamics of vegetation and environmental conditions on the eastern slope of the Northern Urals

Consideration is given to changes in the vegetation and climatic conditions on the eastern slope of the Northern Urals in the second half of the Holocene as reconstructed on the basis of integrated palynological, botanical, paleocarpological, and radiocarbon analysis of material from a peat bog section in the floodplain of the Loz’va River. The results show that the northern taiga zone of the study region in the period between approximately 5000 and 700 years BP was occupied by forests of southern taiga facies, as the climate was significantly warmer than it is today.     

Ecological-biogeochemical role of macrophytes in aquatic ecosystems of urbanized territories (an example of small water bodies of St. Petersburg)

The accumulation of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Cd) and biogenic elements (P, S, K, Ca, Na) in leaves has been studied in macrophytes of different ecological groups growing in small water bodies of St. Petersburg. The ecogeological and biogeochemical role of macrophytes in the water-aquatic plants-bottom sediments system and their contribution to the stability of aquatic ecosystem functioning under conditions of a megalopolis are considered. Prospects for using macrophytes for bioindication and phytoremediation of polluted aquatic ecosystems are discussed.     

Role of remote sensing and community forestry to manage forests for the effective implementation of REDD+ mechanism: a case study on Cambodia

In this study, we have shown the importance of remote sensing applications and community forestry for forest management, discussed as a case study on Cambodian forest management. Curbing deforestation is necessary for the effective implementation of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forests Degradation (REDD+) mechanism and management of forest resources to support sustainable forest management plans. The updated information of the forest cover and forest biomass using advanced remote sensing techniques can be useful for selecting the suitable sites for planned thinning, reforestation, community forestry, and concession land, which eventually will help in controlling the deforestation in Cambodia. To overcome the limitations of remote sensing, an integrated approach of remote sensing and community forestry to monitor forests from local to national level has also been discussed.     

Erratum to: Estimating urban water demand under conditions of rapid growth: the case of Shanghai

Regional Environmental Change - Many of the world’s major cities are expected to face significant water shortages in coming decades, largely due to increased demand arising from economic and...     

Holocene dynamics of vegetation and ecological conditions in the southern Yamal Peninsula according to the results of comprehensive analysis of a relict peat bog deposit

A comprehensive analysis of samples from a frozen peat deposit in the upper reaches of the Khadytayakha River by palynological, carpological, entomological, and radiocarbon methods has been performed to reconstruct changes in the regional and local vegetation and climatic conditions during the Holocene. The results show that this peat deposit was formed from 8000 to 5000 years BP. During that period, the climate in the southern Yamal Peninsula was considerably warmer, and the present-day subarctic shrub tundra zone was occupied by plant communities of spruce, birch, and larch forests.     

The role of traditional knowledge policies in Egypt: the case of Wadi Allaqi

Environment, Development and Sustainability - Globally, traditional knowledge is at stake, notwithstanding intentions recorded in international policy conventions. Egypt has accepted and ratified...     

Combining remote sensing and household level data for regional scale analysis of land cover change in the Brazilian Amazon

Land cover change in the Brazilian Amazon depends on the spatial variability of political, socioeconomic and biophysical factors, as well as on the land use history and its actors. A regional scale analysis was made in Rondônia State to identify possible differences in land cover change connected to spatial policies of land occupation, size and year of establishment of properties, accessibility measures and soil fertility. The analysis was made based on remote sensing data and household level data gathered with a questionnaire. Both types of analyses indicate that the highest level of total deforestation is found inside agrarian projects, especially in those established more than 20 years ago. Even though deforestation rates are similar inside and outside official settlements, inside agrarian projects forest depletion can exceed 50% at the property level within 10–14 years after establishment. The data indicate that both small-scale and medium to large-scale farmers contribute to deforestation processes in Rondônia State encouraged by spatial policies of land occupation, which provide better accessibility to forest fringes where soil fertility and forest resources are important determinants of location choice.     

Changes in the structure of ichthyofauna in water bodies of Kaluga oblast over the past few decades

The structure of the ichthyofauna in water bodies of Kaluga oblast has undergone significant rearrangements over the past 20 years. The abundance of some species has increased, while that of other species has decreased; spontaneous dispersal of some fishes is underway. Synchronous fluctuations of fish abundance (“waves of life”) take place simultaneously in the Western Dvina, Dnieper, and Volga basins. These processes differ in intensity depending on fish species and are conditioned by a number of factors, including changes in hydrological regimes of rivers, improvement of the ecological state of small rivers, and increased poaching pressure. The results of monitoring the ichthyofauna fauna of small rivers are used as an example to trace the routes of fish dispersal and discuss changes in the composition of fish communities.     

Land cover effects on water balance partitioning in the Colombian Andes: improved water availability in early stages of natural vegetation recovery

Regional Environmental Change - Vegetation actively affects different components of the water budget in multiple spatial and temporal scales. Changes in vegetation cover and structure—such as...