MORPHOMETRIC TERRAIN ANALYSIS TO EXPLORE PRESENT DAY GEOHAZARDS AND PALEOLANDSCAPE FORMS AND FEATURES IN THE SURROUNDINGS OF THE MELKA KUNTURE PREHISTORIC SITE, UPPER AWASH VALLEY, CENTRAL ETHIOPIA

Morphometric Terrain Analysis was successfully applied in different sectors of environmental studies. However, other disciplines, such as archaeology, might also profit from spatially distributed high-resolution terrain information. In this paper, we show how detailed topographic analysis and simple hydrological modelling approaches help to explain complex terrain pattern and to assess geohazards affecting archaeological sites. We show that Melka Kunture, a cluster of Pleistocene sites in the Upper Awash valley of Ethiopia, is affected by flooding and erosion/sedimentation processes. Moreover, we identified paleo-landscape features, such as changes in drainage pattern and evidences of tectonic activity. The topographic indices indicate especially a different paleo-drainage pattern with a lake or palustrine environment in the upstream areas. Furthermore, a different drainage of the paleo-lake via the Atabella tributary is likely and might be also stressed by the dimensions of the lower Atabella valley with quite large cross sections not corresponding to the present-day drainage situation

Spatial analysis of hillfort locations in the Chełmno Land (Poland) using digital terrain analysis and stochastic data exploration

Abstract The location of hillforts is an extremely important issue in terms of understanding the functioning of the Middle Ages community. The multifaceted nature of hillfort localization factors requires an interdisciplinary approach. In this study we propose a methodology based on a detailed digital terrain analysis and the application of a predictive modelling procedure. The delineated terrain indices and present day landuse information allow for a characterization of hillfort locations in terms of strategic, climatic, and water related aspects. The study area is covering the Chelmno Landscape east of Bydgoszcz, Poland, where in total 59 settlements are known. We used the Maximum Entropy Model which defines the predictive power of the above mentioned topographic and environmental indicators to derive the spatial distribution of hillfort location suitability. The results show that morphometric and hydrological factors have the highest impact on the probability to be a location of settlement. Climatic and strategic factors were less important. Furthermore, we illustrate that there are distinct differences in the topographic and environmental characteristics between early and late medieval hillforts. These differences indicate changes in the functional type of settlements as a result of population growth. Generally, our study shows that site characteristics strongly influences the spatial distribution of hillfort locations

Surface Water Quality Analysis Using CORINE Data: An Application to Assess Reservoirs in Poland

Reservoirs are formed through the artificial damming of a river valley. Reservoirs, among others, capture polluted load transported by the tributaries in the form of suspended and dissolved sediments and substances. Therefore, reservoirs are treated in the European Union (EU) as “artificial” or “heavily modified” surface water bodies. The reservoirs’ pollutant load depends to a large extent on the degree of anthropogenic impact in the respective river catchment area. The purpose of this paper is to assess the mutual relation between the catchment area and the reservoirs. In particular, we focus on the e ects of certain land use/land cover on reservoirs’ water quality. For this study, we selected twenty Polish reservoirs for an in-depth analysis using 2018 CORINE Land Cover data. This analysis allowed the identification of the main triggering factors in terms of water quality of the respective reservoirs. Moreover, our assessment clearly shows that water quality of the analysed dam reservoirs is directly a ected by the composition of land use/land cover, both of the entire total reservoir catchment areas and the directly into the reservoir draining sub-catchment areas

Bibliometric Analysis of Soil and Landscape Stability, Sensitivity and Resistivity

In times of global change, it is of fundamental importance to understand the sensitivity, stability and resistivity of a landscape or ecosystem to human disturbance. Landscapes and ecosystems have internal thresholds, giving them the ability to resist such disturbance. When these thresholds are quantified, the development of countermeasures can help prevent irreversible changes and support adaptations to the negative effects of global change. The main objective of this analysis is to address the lack of recent studies defining terms like sensitivity, resistivity and stability in reference to landscapes and ecosystems through a Bibliometric analysis based on Scopus and Web of Science peer-reviewed articles. The present research also aims to quantify landscape statuses in terms of their sensitivity, stability and resistivity. The term “landscape stability” is mainly related to quantitatively measurable properties indicating a certain degree of stability. In contrast, the term “landscape sensitivity” is often related to resilience; however, this definition has not substantially changed over time. Even though a large number of quantification methods related to soil and landscape stability and sensitivity were found, these methods are rather ad hoc. This study stresses the importance of interdisciplinary studies and work groups

Litho-structure of the Oltrepo Pavese, Northern Apennines (Italy)

In this article we present a detailed litho-structural map of the Oltrepo Pavese, a sector of the Northern Apennines, Southern Lombardy, Italy. Lithology and geological structures are an important basis for different disciplines of Earth Sciences. In particular, for the assessment of earth surface processes such as soil erosion, mass movements, flooding, etc. The Oltrepo Pavese is characterised by a complex geology and related tectonic settings. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive lithological mapping approach considering existing geological maps, and detailed field surveys. The lithotypes have been subdivided into 11 classes based on the dominant outcropping lithologies. Integrating bibliographic data and a detailed Digital Terrain Analysis of a high-resolution DTM (5 m) we detected faults, folds and tectonic lineaments in the study area. The final result is represented by a litho-structural map of the Oltrepo Pavese-area, consisting in two shape files elaborated in an open source GIS environment

What makes soil landscape robust? Landscape sensitivity towards land use changes in a Swiss southern Alpine valley

Landscape sensitivity is a concept referring to the likelihood that changes in land use may affect in an irreversible way physical and chemical soil properties of the concerned landscape. The objective of this study is to quantitatively assess the sensitivity of the southern Alpine soil landscape regarding land use change-induced perturbations. Alpine soil landscapes can be considered as particularly sensitive to land use changes because their effects tend to be enhanced by frequent extreme climatic and topographic conditions as well as intense geomorphologic activity. In detail, the following soil key properties for soil vulnerability were analysed: (i) soil texture, (ii) bulk density, (iii) soil organic carbon (SOC), (iv) saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), (v) aggregate stability and (vi) soil water repellency (SWR). The study area is characterized by a steep, east-west oriented valley, strongly anthropized in the last centuries followed by a progressive abandonment. This area is particularly suitable due to constant lithological conditions, extreme topographic and climatic conditions as well as historic land use changes. The analysis of land use change effects on soil properties were performed through a linear mixed model approach due to the nested structure of the data. Our results show a generally high stability of the assessed soils in terms of aggregate stability and noteworthy thick soils. The former is remarkable, since aggregate stability, which is commonly used for detecting land use-induced changes in soil erosion susceptibility, was always comparably high irrespective of land use. The stability of the soils is mainly related to a high amount of soil organic matter favouring the formation of stable soil aggregates, decreasing soil erodibility and hence, reducing soil loss by erosion. However, the most sensitive soil property to land use change was SWR that is partly influenced by the amount of soil organic carbon and probably by the quality and composition of SOM

Geohazards in the Fjords of Northern Patagonia, Chile

A geomorphological analysis of the Comau Fjord was carried out to identify geohazards that are a product of current landform dynamics and processes. The geological setting of the area includes fractured metamorphic and volcanic rocks forming steep hillslopes in an active tectonic context due to the Liquiñe-Ofqui Fault Zone (LOFZ). Geomorphological and hazard mapping was performed using aerial photographs, GIS geoprocessing and fieldwork in January and May 2016 and February 2017. The susceptibility of landsliding was statistically assessed and validated with the inventory of landslides completed during fieldwork. The triggering of geohazards such as landslides and fluvial floods in the study area is associated with high annual precipitation (>5000 mm annually) with a concentration of rainfall that has increased in the last 50 years. Geohazard mapping demonstrated the potential for rock and earth falls, debris flows and river floods, as well as the potential impact of these geohazards on the area’s intensive aquaculture industry and a main national highway projected for the eastern flank of the fjord. In a geographical scenario of environmental and territorial change, the present and future human occupation of Comau Fjord’s coast constitutes potential hazard and risk conditions for aquaculture infrastructure and highway users