At the intersection of disaster risk and religion: interpretations and responses to the threat of Tsho Rolpa glacial lake

Over the last several decades, the scientific community has replaced the ‘acts of god’ explanations for disasters with a view that disasters are actually ‘acts of nature,’ and more recently, ‘acts of human behavior and decision making.’ Despite the secular orientation of contemporary disaster research, religious beliefs still govern people’s interpretations of natural events across many continents and cultures. Using a case study of a rural Sherpa community in Nepal, this paper responds to the challenge of linking religion and disaster risk in the context of a climate change-induced glacial lake outburst flood hazard. Data collection employed ethnographic techniques including participant observation and 53 interviews with community members. Results indicate that the case study community’s religious belief system influences how they interpret and respond to the glacial lake hazard, although their beliefs co-exist with more scientific interpretations of risk. Rather than being immobilised by their belief system, we found that religious aspects like rituals and prayer can enhance social cohesion and contribute to capacities for coping with fear and uncertainty in this community. We assert that religion can yield valuable resources to glacial lake risk reduction strategies, which will benefit from incorporating social-cultural factors more profoundly.     

DETECTION OF FRESH WATER AQUIFERS IN THE GLACIAL DEPOSITS OF NORTHWESTERN MISSOURI BY GEOELECTRICAL METHODS1

Geoelectrical investigations in Grundy County of northwestern Missouri, where the groundwater resources of the glacial deposits have already been examined through an extensive drilling program by the Missouri Geological Survey and Water Resources, indicate that water-bearing gravel deposits can be distinguished from glacial deposits containing appreciable amounts of clay and limited amounts of water. The Schlumberger method used for the geoelectric depth soundings in the vicinity of the Survey's drillholes demonstrates the exploratory usefulness of the method in that it can partly replace the more expensive procedure of drilling. The method also provides improved interpretation between drillholes. Results of the investigation show that, in the area, clay has a resistivity below 20in, that the fresh water-bearing gravel at the bottom of the buried glacial stream channels has a resisitivity of 40 to 50fim, and that the near surface glacial gravel deposits have a resistivity above lOOfim. Interpretation of the depth soundings and the conductivity of water obtained from a local well implies that its water is drawn from the saline water of the bedrock. A recommendation is made for the quality improvement of this particular well.     

Sediment Production From Forest Roads in Western Montana1

Abstract: Unpaved roads are a primary sediment source in forested watersheds. Validation of erosion models and improvements to road management require information on road erosion rates and the factors controlling erosion. This study measured sediment yields from twenty ～0.05 ha unsurfaced (native) road plots in Belt Supergroup and glacial till parent materials of western Montana, and investigated the factors controlling erosion. Annual sediment yields for individual plots ranged from 0 to 96.9 Mg/ha/yr over 3 years (2002‐2004). Annual mean sediment yield ranged from 2.1 Mg/ha in 2003 to 9.9 Mg/ha in 2004 with an overall mean of 5.4 Mg/ha/yr. The mean of log‐transformed sediment yields for sites in glacial till parent materials was higher than Belt Supergroup parent materials (p = 0.063). A regression model with road slope, time since last grading, roadbed gravel content, and precipitation as predictive variables explained 68% of the variability in sediment yield (F = 28.2; p < 0.0001). Road erosion in western Montana is limited by low erodibility of the dominant parent materials and low rainfall. Management procedures such as reducing the frequency of grading can significantly reduce sediment yields from forest roads.     

THE DEPENDENCE OF THE RESIDUAL GRAVITY ON HYDRAULIC CONSTANTS IN GLACIAL DEPOSITS1

ABSTRACT: Buried glacial stream channels contain large and easily accessible groundwater resources. Gravity surveys have been frequently applied for their location. A gravity survey in the geohydrologically explored Wood River Valley Area of southern Rhode Island shows extreme lows of -2 mgals over channel depths of maximal 300 feet. Three gravity profiles were observed in east-west direction across a north-south striking stream channel. The bedrock depth increases rapidly towards the south from 130 to 300 feet. The gravity lows observed across each profile are not related to the bedrock depth but rather to the saturated thickness of the main quifer and its hydraulic transmissivity. Well logs indicate that the large change of bedrock depth is solely due to an increase of till of low permeability. The volume of the glacial outwash, which is the major groundwater resource, changes little underneath the three profiles. The gravity lows apear to be directly related to the density contrast between glacial outwash and till. The response to the hydraulically more pertinent units renews the interest in the gravity method as it may have a potential to estimate yields of hydrologically complex aquifers     

EVALUATION OF AN INDUCED INFILTRATION MODEL AS APPLIED TO GLACIAL AQUIFER SYSTEMS1

ABSTRACT: Numerical models were used to examine the limitations of the assumptions used in an analytical induced infiltration model. The assumptions tested included negligible streambed effects, negligible areal recharge, two-dimensional ground water flow, fully penetrating rivers and wells, and constant surface water stage. For situations that deviate from the underlying assumptions, the analytical model becomes a less reliable predictor of induced infiltration. The numerical experiments show that streambed effects cannot be neglected if the streambed conductivity is more than one order of magnitude lower than the aquifer hydraulic conductivity. Areal recharge cannot be neglected if the ground water basin receives more than 5 in/yr of areal recharge. Three-dimensional flow effects due to well partial penetration cannot be neglected if the ratio of horizontal hydraulic conductivity to vertical hydraulic conductivity (K_h/K_u) is greater than 10. Surface water elevation fluctuations can significantly influence the induced infiltration rate, depending on the degree of fluctuations and the ground water hydraulic gradient.     

Effect of biogeographic history on population vulnerability in European amphibians

The genetic diversity of populations, which contributes greatly to their adaptive potential, is negatively affected by anthropogenic habitat fragmentation and destruction. However, continental‐scale losses of genetic diversity also resulted from the population expansions that followed the end of the last glaciation, an element that is rarely considered in a conservation context. We addressed this issue in a meta‐analysis in which we compared the spatial patterns of vulnerability of 18 widespread European amphibians in light of phylogeographic histories (glacial refugia and postglacial routes) and anthropogenic disturbances. Conservation statuses significantly worsened with distances from refugia, particularly in the context of industrial agriculture; human population density also had a negative effect. These findings suggest that features associated with the loss of genetic diversity in post‐glacial amphibian populations (such as enhanced fixation load or depressed adaptive potential) may increase their susceptibility to current threats (e.g., habitat fragmentation and pesticide use). We propose that the phylogeographic status of populations (i.e., refugial vs. post‐glacial) should be considered in conservation assessments for regional and national red lists.     

青藏高原冰川雪冰微生物研究进展

微生物作为青藏高原冰川研究的一个参数,不仅能提供丰富的物种和嗜冷基因资源作用于冰川的能量和化学物质平衡,而且还与气候和环境相关联.近年来,青藏高原冰川雪藻的研究主要在南部的Yala冰川开展,细菌的研究集中在北部冰川.这些研究主要针对冰川雪冰微生物与环境的关系.未来除在研究方法上加以改进外,还应该在微生物多样性、生态意义、嗜冷机制及其与气候和环境的关系等方面进一步深入研究.参36     

冰川水资源资产负债表编制实践

冰川是自然资源重要组分。因受认知所限,当前水资源资产负债表编制中尚缺乏对冰川资源的考虑。参考水资源资产负债表编制案例,结合冰川水资源自身特征,构建了冰川水资源资产负债表。研究表明：冰川水资源的独特性使其资产负债核算与其他类型水资源存在差异;冰川水资源资产包括水量资产和水域资产,即冰川冰储量和冰川融水径流量,冰川面积和冰川融水水域面积;冰川水资源负债主要来源于人类活动造成的冰川水资源消退和过耗、冰川融水环境损害和由此导致的冰川水资源服务衰退。青藏高原大江大河源区是冰川水资源负债区,而其负债却成为中下游的收益。应建立国家或下游为主导的水资源补偿机制,以冰川水资源流量变化为依据,统筹管理青藏高原大江大河源区流域水资源,适度对源区进行冰川水资源价值补偿。     

二万年来长江中下游自然环境变迁及其发展趋向探讨

20000～15000a.B.P.间气候最冷,生长喜冷的针叶林和干旱草原植被.在14780±700a.B.P.出现了最低海面(-154m);15000～13500a.B.P.,气候较暖湿,海面上升,生长阔叶混交林;13500～10500a.B.P.,气候有2次温暖和3次较冷,在暖期生长针阔叶混交林.较冷期则出现森林草原和草原.最低的温度比现在低5～7;一万多年来的冰后期,气候变化分为5个新冰期(包括小冰期)和5个新高温期(包括小气候最宜期).最高气温比现在高2～3℃,出现在5000～4000a.B.P.之间;最低温度比现在低3～5℃最高海面在6500～6300a.B.P.,高出现在海面4～5m.在温暖期中生长常绿一落叶阔叶林中亚热带针阔混交林;在较冷期间,生长落叶阔叶林,针叶林或草原草地.在人类影响或自然发展之结果,未来环境变化有可能向干暖气候和高海面演变,或向干冷气候和海面下降转变.这些变化将对长江中下游带来意外的灾难.     

FRESH GROUND WATER STORED IN AQUIFERS UNDER THE CONTINENTAL SHELF: IMPLICATIONS FROM A DEEP TEST,NANTUCKET ISLAND,MASSACHUSETTS1

ABSTRACT: A deep water-resource and stratigraphic test well near the center of Nantucket Island, about 40 miles (64 km) off the New England Coast, has encountered freshwater at greater depth than predicted by the Ghyben-Herzberg principle. An uppermost lens of fresh-water, which occupies relatively permeable glacial-outwash sand and gravel to a depth of 520 ft. (158 m), is probably in hydrodynamic equilibrium with the present level of the sea and the height of the water table. However, two zones of freshwater between 730-820 ft. (222-250 m) and 900-930 ft. (274-283 m) are anomalously deep. A third zone extending from 1150-1500 ft. (350-457 m) contains slightly salty ground water (2 to 3 parts per thousand dissolved solids). Several explanations are possible, but the most likely is that large areas of the Continental Shelf were exposed to recharge by precipitation during long periods of low sea level in Pleistocene time. After the last retreat of glacial ice, seawater rapidly drowned the shelf around Nantucket Island. Since then, about 8000 years ago, the deep freshwater zones which underlie dense clay layers have not had time to adjust to a new equilibrium. Under similar circumstances freshwater may remain trapped under extensive areas of the Continental Shelf wherever clay confining beds have not permitted saltwater to intrude rapidly to new positions of hydrodynamic equilibrium. The implications are far reaching because all continental shelfs were exposed to similar hydrologic influences during Pleistocene time.