The negative relief of larger floodplains

AbstractLarge floodplains have multiple and complex negative relief assemblages in which depressions fall below local or general floodplain surfaces at a variety of scales. The generation and dynamics of negative relief along major alluvial corridors are described and compared. Such depressions are significant for the storage and passage of surface waters, the creation of a range of riparian, wetland, lacustrine and flowing-water habitats, and the long-term accumulation of organic materials.Working on trunk channel remnants, drowned valleys and subsidence basins, fluvial processes modify floodplain negative relief through differential erosion and sedimentation. Effectively this takes place in three genetic zones: rheic, transitional and perirheic. We show that transitional zones marginal to active channels significantly diversify form complexes, and we demonstrate the diachronous nature of zonal processes and the complex nature and pace of depression modification and infilling. Four less well-understood sets of coupled phenomena are assessed: (i) floodplains associated with discontinuous river banks, (ii) the scales and types of scroll bar generation, (iii) factors underlying the contrasts between meander and braidplain surface relief, and (iv) the generation and function of large floodplain wetlands and lakes.The survival likelihood of surface negative relief relates to geomorphological connectivity; this is described for each of the rheic, transitional and perirheic zones. The implications for contemporary aquatic system management are discussed. A key to understanding and managing negative relief on large river floodplains, and their associated ecologies and sedimentation, is to quantify both sedimentological and hydrological river-floodplain connectivity

MILO: Models of innovation in learning online at Key Stage 3 and 14-19: Final report executive summary

This summary report presents and analyses the key findings from eight case studies, which reflect a wide range of models of online learning, each of which has been developed for specific reasons, largely in relation to visions of how technology can transform learning, but also to solve practical problems such as re-engaging disaffected learners and coping with rising pupil numbers

MILO: Models of innovation in learning online at Key Stage 3 and 14-19: Final report

The report presents and analyses eight case studies, which reflect a wide range of models of online learning, each of which has been developed for specific reasons, largely in relation to visions of how technology can transform learning, but also to solve practical problems such as re-engaging disaffected learners and coping with rising pupil numbers

MILO: Models of innovation in learning online at Key Stage 3 and 14-19: Final report appendices

This document contains the appendices to the main report, which presents case studies, which reflect a wide range of models of online learning, each of which has been developed for specific reasons, largely in relation to visions of how technology can transform learning, but also to solve practical problems such as re-engaging disaffected learners and coping with rising pupil numbers

The Nature of the Giant Outbursts in the Bursting Pulsar GRO J 1744-28

We investigate the possible role of an accretion disk instability in producing the giant outbursts seen in GRO J1744-28. Specifically, we study the global, time dependent evolution of the Lightman-Eardley instability which can develop near the inner edge of an accretion disk when the radiation pressure becomes comparable to the gas pressure. Broadly speaking, our results are compatible with earlier works by Taam \& Lin and by Lasota \& Pelat. The uniqueness of GRO J1744-28 appears to be associated with the constraint that, in order for outbursts to occur, the rate of accretion at the inner edge must be within a narrow range just above the critical accretion rate at which radiation pressure is beginning to become significant.Comment: 11 pages in .tex file, 4 Postscript figures, .tex file uses aasms.sty; Ap. J. L. 1996, in pres

Biogeomorphic recovery of a river reach affected by mining

Environmental changes are impacting river systems worldwide. These arise from factors such as flood magnitude–frequency changes, direct human management interventions, inadvertent human impacts on sediment supply and fluvial regimes and landscape-scale changes in climate. Historical and active metal mining is significant in this regard. Here, we investigate morphodynamic changes within a reach of the River Ystwyth, Wales, since 1845. We analyse historical and contemporary information derived from maps, river flow records (1962–2021), metal analyses of sediment samples (1970s and 2021), ground geomorphological surveys (1970s and 1986–1987) and remotely sensed imagery (2001–2021) to investigate changes during a period of active metal mining followed by a century of post-mining recovery. During the studied period, an initially meandering river was transformed into a braided one, subsequently reverting to a single sinuous channel. Sinuosity reduced from 1.31 in 1845 to 1.09 in 1982 before recovering to 1.39 in 2019. Inversely, the braiding index reduced from a maximum of 2.0 in 1987 to 1.5 in 2021. Evolution in planform was associated with a change from expansive bar formation and avulsion under braided conditions to lateral bar accretion and associated bank erosion along a sinuous single channel. The initial 19th-century channel pattern and floodplain instability seems to have been related to mining sediment toxicity effects rather than a response to high sediment volumes, with recent recovery and channel style reversion being attributable to vegetation encroachment and biomass stabilization of the floodplain. Causal factors of recent recovery appear to be colonization by gorse (Ulex europeaus) in the absence of physical control measures and a reduction in grazing by the native rabbit population because of a disease-induced decline in their numbers. These results highlight the importance of riparian vegetation in addition to sediment balance and hydrological processes in controlling fluvial responses to environmental changes

An Examination of the Insights and Experiences of Cuckooing Experts:Report For Kirklees Council

Introduction• County lines is used to define a nation-wide method of selling drugs• A county lines operation involves individuals who undertake various roles• Cuckooing is a form of exploitation in which individuals move themselves or others into the address of another• There are large intelligence gaps within policing• Hindered by the fact that cuckooing is not a home office classified crime type• The process in which individuals become a victim of cuckooing varies• Four typologies of cuckooing have been put forward: parasitic nest invading, quasi-cuckooing, coupling and local cuckooing.• Access to victims by offenders was often found to be via the drug dealing activity• Drug addiction may cause an individual to be vulnerable to cuckooing• A known unknown is what makes someone a suitable victim• One approach of stopping cuckooing was by issuing them ‘cuckooing letters’.Method• A total of 39 individuals took part in the study.• They were drawn from mostly policing, public sector and safeguarding roles• A questionnaire was administered in which they were asked about their experiences• The questionnaire was distributed through national exploitation working groups• The data was analysed using thematic analysisMain Findings• A number of core themes were generated from the findings such as the prevalence of the offence, risk factors related to it, signs and indicators of cuckooing, levels of awareness and challenges of dealing with it.Recommendations• A number of recommendations were made across 6 key areas: Education & Training, Data, Reporting, Legislation, Enforcement/Initiatives, Research.Conclusion• There is a serious lack of empirical work into the issue of cuckooing• While there has been advancement in data collection and data sharing further research is needed to better understand the nature of the issue overall