In this study, using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Geographic Information System (GIS), the sensitivity to the occurrence of different types of droughts including meteorological drought (Med), hydrological drought (Hyd), and agricultural drought (Agd) were evaluated. In this research, at first, some of the effective indicators in each type of droughts were selected (four indicators in Med, three indicators in Hyd, and seven indicators in Agd), then using the ArcGIS 10.3 software, the sensitivity map of drought for each indicator were prepared (all indicators classified in four classes including mild, moderate, severe, and very severe). Then, using the AHP method the weight of each indicator in each type of droughts was determined and the final map of drought sensitivity for different types of droughts was prepared by superposition the maps of effective indicators in each drought. The final map of drought sensitivity was prepared by superposition the Med, Hyd, and Agd sensitivity maps (after determining the weight of each using AHP). In the Med, 43.29% of the study area (Fars province, Iran) was classified in the moderate class of drought sensitivity and 56.71% in the severe class. In the Hyd, 0.46%, 33.25%, 62.49%, and 3.80% of the study area were classified in the mild, moderate, severe, and very severe classes (respectively), and in the Agd, 1.18%, 50.23%, and 48.59% of the study area were classified in the mild, moderate, and severe classes. The results showed that in final drought sensitivity, the Med with a weight equal to 0.36 was the most effective variable, and based on the final map, 38.26% and 61.74% of the study area were classified in the moderate and severe classes of drought sensitivity.

Sensitivity Assessment to the Occurrence of Different Types of Droughts Using GIS and AHP Techniques

Hydrogeochemical assessment of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks of potentially toxic elements in aquifers of the Hindukush ranges, Pakistan: insights from groundwater pollution indexing, GIS-based, and multivariate statistical approaches

Mohamamad, A. and Jalal, K.-C.A., 2018. Macrobenthic diversity and community composition in the Pahang estuary, Malaysia. In: Ashraf, M.A. and Chowdhury, A.J.K. (eds.), Coastal Ecosystem Responses to Human and Climatic Changes throughout Asia.The Pahang estuary is known to be one of the most productive natural ecosystems in Malaysia and provides food for a variety of organisms. Unfortunately, many species are increasingly threatened there because of declining conditions in natural aquatic ecosystems. Macrobenthic community composition has been extensively used to determine the quality of the aquatic environment for a long time. The Pahang estuary is undergoing poor conditions in water quality and riverbank vegetation because of sand dredging and other human activities. These activities prove the greatest threats to habitat loss, degradation of water quality, and declining indigenous fish population. Based on the above perspectives, a study was conducted on microbenthic diversity and community along with benthic organisms in the Pahang estuary, Malaysia. The study was divided into three zones. Zone 1 was identified as low in diversity of the microbenthic community in Pahang estuary with the diversity index (H′) of 0.35; only polychaete worms and bivalves were identified from this area. Polychaete represented by Neries sp. bivalve class was represented by Yoldia sp. in this zone. For Zone 2, the number and types of benthic communities were low because of human disturbance, but they still exist because of detritus that acts as food and habitat provided by the mangrove. This area was identified as a lowest diversity index of macrobenthos (polychaete, bivalves, and gastropods) with the value of 0.31. The diversity index for Zone 3 was highest among all three zones, with the diversity index of 0.38 along with three classes of macrobenthos, which were polychaete, bivalves, and gastropods. Polychaete was represented by Neries sp., bivalves by Yoldia sp., and gastropods by Nassarius sp., respectively. The lower diversity of the macrobenthic community reveals the alarming conditions of the Kuala Pahang because of massive human disturbances along the Pahang estuary. Long-term monitoring for species diversity is necessary for the sustainable development of aquatic resources in this fascinating tropical estuary.

/pdf/macrobenthic-diversity-and-community-composition-in-the-3qr26u2sm1.pdf

Macrobenthic Diversity and Community Composition in the Pahang Estuary, Malaysia

The poor water retention capacity of sandy soils commonly aggregate soil erosion and ecological environment on the Chinese Loess Plateau. Due to its strong capacity for absorption and large specific surface area, the use of nanocarbon made of coconut shell as a soil amendment that could improve water retention was investigated. Soil column experiments were conducted in which a layer of nanocarbon mixed well with the soil was formed at a depth of 20 cm below the soil surface. Four different nanocarbon contents by weight (0%, 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1%) and five thicknesses of the nanocarbon- soil mixture layer ranging from 1 to 5 cm were considered. Cumulative infiltration and soil water content distributions were determined when water was added to soil columns. Soil Water Characteristic Curves (SWCC) were obtained using the centrifuge method. The principal results showed that the infiltration rate and cumulative infiltration increased with the increases of nanocarbon contents, to the thicknesses of the nano carbon-soil mixture layer. Soil water contents that below the soil-nano carbon layer decreased sharply. Both the Brooks-Corey and van Genuchten models could describe well the SWCC of the disturbed sandy soil with various nano carbon contents. Both the saturated water content (θs), residual water content (θr) and empirical parameter (α) increased with increasing nano carbon content, while the pore-size distribution parameter (n) decreased. The available soil water contents were efficiently increased with the increase in nanocarbon contents.

http://www.scielo.org.co/pdf/esrj/v21n4/1794-6190-esrj-21-04-00189.pdf

Effect of Nano-Carbon on Water Holding Capacity in a Sandy Soil of the Loess Plateau

Spatiotemporal landslide susceptibility mapping using machine learning models: A case study from district Hattian Bala, NW Himalaya, Pakistan

The Early Eocene Margalla Hill Limestone is well exposed in core of Hazara Kashmir Syntaxis. A section at Battlian is measured and sampled for paleontological studies, where its lower contact with Patala Formation and upper contact with Chorgali Formation is transitional and conformable. The total observed thickness is 73 meters and 60 samples were collected from bottom to top at different levels, 50 thin sections were studied. 19 species of larger forams including age diagnostic Nummulites mamillatus, Nummulites atacicus, Assilina spinosa, Assilina laminosa, Assilina granulosa, Assilina exponens, Textularia sp., Miliolid sp., Alveoloina pasticillata, Alveolina elliptica, Alveolina ovulum, Quinqueloculina, Discocyclina peruviana, Rotalia trochidiformis, Ranikothalia sindensis, Skeasaria ornata Nodosaria sp., Lockhartia tipper and Dasycladacean algae were also observed. In conclusions, presence of benthic foraminifera indicated that Margala Hill Limestone was deposited in Neotethys warm and shallow marine in the Battlian area Muzaffarabad, whereas early Eocene age is assigned on the basis of benthic foraminifera observed. .

Biostratigraphy of early eocene margala hill limestone in the muzaffarabad area (kashmir basin, azad jammu and kashmir)

Globally, and in Pakistan, among natural hazards, landslides are considered one of the most dangerous and frequently occurring events having devastating impacts on society and economy. The present study deals with the susceptibility mapping and detailed geological and geotechnical investigations on two large-scale landslides named Shahkot and Sandok, Lesser Himalayas, Pakistan. Inventory of 74 landslides was developed by SPOT-5 images and further classified in the field. The goodness of developed landslide susceptibility map was assessed by success rate curve (SRC) and prediction rate curve (PRC) which were 83.1% and 79.2%, respectively. Geotechnical investigations of selected landslides were carried out to identify the causative factors and landslide triggering mechanism. The Shahkot landslide is classified as complex (debris slide and slump failure), whereas the Sandok landslide is classified as rockslide. Laboratory testing, i.e., sieve analysis, Atterberg limits, specific gravity, and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis of the disturbed soil samples, reveal that the soils of Shahkot landslide are silty sand to clayey silty sand with plasticity index (PI) ranging from 2.05 to 14.96%. Petrographic studies showed that the schist and granite of the Shahkot and Sandok landslides contain quartz and feldspar with fair amounts of flaky minerals like chlorite, biotite, and muscovite. The XRD analysis showed mineral composition of quartz, muscovite, kaolinite, goethite, aragonite, hematite, plagioclase, siderite, montmorillonite, calcite, gypsum, orthoclase, dolomite, and illite. Intense jointing and fracturing in granite due to close proximity to faults imparts low unconfined compressive strength (UCS) values which holds the major cause of Sandok landslide beside other geomorphological and geological causes. The study depicts that drainage network, anthropogenic activities along steep slopes, fragile geology, active faults, freeze, and thaw action are influential parameters which significantly contribute to the landslide events.

Geotechnical investigation and landslide susceptibility assessment along the Neelum road: a case study from Lesser Himalayas, Pakistan

The tape-compass-clinometer method was used in gauging the thickness of stratigraphic units on topographic bevels by taping the intercepts. The dips of the beds and slope’s inclinations were determined. The appropriate formula was used in the thickness estimation. The graphic columnar section was finally compiled on the Sed. Log 3.0 version to display the geology. The worked example includes the measurement of stratigraphic section of rocks in the District Poonch, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. The study was helpful in understanding the fluvial depositional environment of the Nagri Formation in the region and favours meandering and braided fluvial depositional pattern in continental environment.

https://zibelinepub.com/archives/2pjg2017/2pjg2017-01-02.pdf

The use of stratigraphic section in recording quagmire of information for the fluvial depositional environment – a worked example in district poonch, azad jammu and kashmir, pakistan

An integrated geotechnical and geophysical investigation of a catastrophic landslide in the Northeast Himalayas of Pakistan

Multi-proxy approach of the stratigraphy, geochemistry, and sedimentology of Eocene Margalla Hill Limestone: Case study from Muzaffarabad area, Sub-Himalayas, Pakistan

Amir shahzad

Papers

Biostratigraphy of early eocene margala hill limestone in the muzaffarabad area (kashmir basin, azad jammu and kashmir)

Geotechnical investigation and landslide susceptibility assessment along the Neelum road: a case study from Lesser Himalayas, Pakistan

The use of stratigraphic section in recording quagmire of information for the fluvial depositional environment – a worked example in district poonch, azad jammu and kashmir, pakistan

An integrated geotechnical and geophysical investigation of a catastrophic landslide in the Northeast Himalayas of Pakistan

Multi-proxy approach of the stratigraphy, geochemistry, and sedimentology of Eocene Margalla Hill Limestone: Case study from Muzaffarabad area, Sub-Himalayas, Pakistan