Year XVII, 2007:

 

 

MONITORING THE STATE OF ACTIVITY OF LATERAL SPREADING PHENOMENA ALONG THE NORTH-WEST COAST OF MALTA USING THE GPS TECHNIQUE

Odette MAGRI, Matteo MANTOVANI, Alessandro PASUTO Mauro SOLDATI

 

Abstract:  Monitoring the State of Activity of Lateral Spreading Phenomena Along the North-West Coast of Malta Using the GPS technique.  In this paper we present research which is being undertaken to monitor lateral spreading phenomena along the north-west coast of Malta using the GPS technique.  The geological formations in this area consist of Upper Coralline Limestone, which is a brittle formation, overlying a deforming mass of a softer type of material, known as Blue Clay.  This geological setting provides the ideal conditions for the occurrence of this type of landslide which is further aided by the different hydrogeological conditions.  Upper Coralline Limestone is permeable allowing the infiltration of water, whereas the Blue Clay retains water, leading to unstable conditions.

GPS monitoring of lateral spreading has started since September 2005 with the setting up of a network at three different field sites situated on the north-west coast.  The field sites were selected since they provide the best examples of lateral spreading phenomena in Malta, as revealed from field observation and consultation of aerial photos.  Besides the sites also present issues of hazard and risk with regards to the location of a popular tourist attraction and a coastal tower built for defense purposes in 1637 which is in imminent danger due to the retreating cliff.  The GPS surveys carried out so far have shown significant displacements ranging from 0.13 cm to 2.21 cm over a period of 12 months, thus demonstrating that the lateral spreading phenomena are active.

 

Geomorphological hazards affecting main productive areas in the mountain basin of the Panaro River (Modena Apennines, Italy): a case study

Doriano CASTALDINI, Alessandro GHINOI

 

Abstract: Geomorphological hazards affecting main productive areas in the mountain basin of the Panaro River (Modena Apennines, Italy): a case study. This paper preliminarily illustrates a research, which takes into account the study of geomorphological hazards (i.e. landslides and fluvial processes) in the mountain-basin’s areas of the Panaro River which host productive activities. The article describes the methodology used to study and map geomorphological hazards in 16 productive areas: bibliographical and historical research, interviews with local inhabitants, analysis of the most recent cartographic documents, such as the Instability Inventory Map of the Modena Province (IIM) and of time series of aerial photographs/satellite images, field survey and GIS spatial analyses. The application of this methodology has given a precise and detailed framework of the past and current state of activity and spatial evolution of instability processes in the study area.Some practical remarks are given concerning the state of activity of processes and the mapping problems encountered due to the oldness of the topographic base maps.The case study of the Ceramiche Serra tile-factory is presented as an example of the application of the methodology.In general, differences have been detected between the instability framework identified in this work and that depicted by the official documents for territorial planning of the Modena Province (IIM). This highlights the need for a detailed geomorphological mapping (like the one proposed in this article) in order to produce documents which have a strong binding in territorial-planning issues.

 

QUELQUES ASPECTS CONCERNANT LES RELATIONS DE GÉOMORPHOSYSTÈMES ET LEUR IMPORTANCE

Lucian BLAGA

 

Abstract: Some aspects regarding the relations between geomorphosystems and their importance. The functions of the relations are determined by the geomorphosystems, fact for which the article treats the typological problem of the relations based on the functional criterion and the effect on the space – time scale. No matter the complexity degree of the geomorphical integration levels the existence of the some „type” chain which re – repeats and re – combines could be observed: potential programmation relations – remaking relations – commanding relations – adjusting relations – spatialing relations – hierarchy relations.

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The INFLUENCE OF THE LIQUID RUNOFF IN Fântâna Galbena HIDROGRAPHIC BASIN BETWEEN decembER  1995 – JANUARY 1996

Mihai VLAICU

 

Résumé: L`influence de la couche de neige sur l’écoulement liquide de bassin hydrographique de Fântâna Galbena, entre décembre 1995 et janvier 1996.  Un des vingtaines de bassins représentatives de la Roumanie, le bassins hydrographique  Fântâna Galbena, présente des conditions physiques géographique spécifique à la zone montagneuse de Carpathes de l`ouest. Sa position dans le bassin hydrographique supérieur de la Valea Iadului, l`orientation des versants vers les points cardinaux, la présence de la végétation forestière  dans une proportion importante confère au bassin les particularités de l’écoulement liquide. Une situation particulière qui a générée l`augmentation d`écoulement liquide a été en décembre 1995-janvier 1996, sur le fond de quelques conditions climatiques particulières pour cette saison (l`accroissement de la température de l`air, les précipitations liquides tombées sur la couche de neige) combiné avec les effets d`un sol gelé qui a favorisé l’écoulement sur le versants et dans le lit de la rivière.

 

THE HYDROLOGIC BALANCE OF LAKE URSU (SOVATA)

Mircea ALEXE

 

Abstract: The hydrologic balance of Lake Ursu (Sovata). Through the way of formation, the majority of salt lakes in the Transylvanian Basin have a small hydrological basin, the inputs are reduced to the rainfall, while the outputs are fulfilled through evaporation. The underground runoff has a significant role in the hydrologic balance of these kind of lakes. Lake Ursu presents a particular situation, in this case existing a well-organized surface runoff, formed by three permanent tributaries and one effluent which flows into Lake Aluniş. The hydrologic balance was established for the interval 1992-1996 and for the first decade of July 2004. The data were picked up from terrain campaigns.

 

THE TIMIS-CERNA CORRIDOR. GEOGRAPHIC ASPECTS VIEWING THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE VEGETATION WITHIN THE GEO-SYSTEM

Ribana LINC

 

Abstract: The Timis-Cerna Corridor. Geographic Aspects, Viewing the Functionality of the Vegetation within the Geo-system. Vegetal associations represent all space levels in the Timis-Cerna Corridor, a real synthesis of the ecological combinations (climatic, hydric and edaphic factors), which vary with the relief peculiarities, and mark the changing induced by human activity. The prolonged agro-pastoral use and deforestation reduce the surface covered by natural, original vegetation. The natural vegetation in the Timis – Cerna Corridor only remains on the steep slopes along the Timis and Cerna Corridors. The functionality of the vegetation within the geo-system of the Timis – Cerna Corridor is expressed by its products: the forest as an unstable ecosystem, continuously changing and at the same time a factor of that geo-system, by the roles carried out: the functions of production, environment genesis and protection.

 

Le développement des villes intermédiaires atlantiques : quel rôle dans la perspective d’une construction  polycentrique du territoire européen ?

Jean-Paul CARRIERE, Emilie BOCK

 

Résumé: Le développement des villes intermédiaires atlantiques: quel rôle dans la perspective d’une construction  polycentrique du territoire européen?  L’Union Européenne n’a pas de compétences reconnues par les traités en matière d’aménagement du territoire.  Cependant, elle en est devenue de fait un acteur de premier plan au sein des Etats membres, que ce soit par les effets spatiaux  de ses politiques sectorielles (agriculture, transports, environnement, etc...) et régionales, ou par l’élaboration  de documents stratégiques tels que le Schéma de Développement de l’Espace Communautaire (SDEC). Celui-ci envisage un modèle d’organisation spatiale de type polycentrique destiné à assurer une meilleure cohésion économique et sociale, mais aussi territoriale de l’Europe. L’objectif est en fait d’orienter les politiques publiques locales, nationales et communautaires dans un sens favorisant la construction d’un polycentrisme multiscalaire, notamment en renforçant l’armature urbaine du vieux continent par un maillage hiérarchisé et équilibré de villes.  Cet article revient sur la possibilité de mise en oeuvre d’une telle stratégie à l’échelle de «macro-régions» européennes, telles que définies par le programme INTERREG, en prenant exemple sur l’Espace Atlantique, qui a fait lui-même l’objet d’un schéma de développement de type polycentrique (le Schéma de développement de l’Espace Atlantique – SDEA - auquel  les auteurs ont participé en tant qu’expert national - E. Bock- et coordinateur scientifique -J.P. Carrière-). Construire un modèle polycentrique à une telle échelle nécessite d’identifier les «villes intermédiaires» aptes à pallier, par leur développement en réseau, l’absence de métropoles de dimension mondiale que l’on observe sur la façade occidentale de l’Europe. C’est ce que cherche à montrer cet article après avoir évoqué brièvement les déséquilibres de l’armature urbaine atlantique. Sont successivement proposées une réflexion sur le concept de ville intermédiaire et une méthode d’identification des villes répondant à cette définition à partir d’une application aux villes françaises de la façade atlantique de l’UE.

 

THE USE OF DECENTRALISED REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDS IN HAJDU-BIHAR COUNTY BETWEEN 2003 AND 2006

Gábor KOZMA

 

Einführung: In der Studie wird die Verteilung der Standortentwicklungs-Unterstützungen vom Standorentwicklungsrat des Bezirks Hajdú-Bihar in der Periode 2003-2006 untersucht. Aus den Ergebnissen der Untersuchung sind die folgenden hervorzuheben:

- Die vom Standorentwicklungsrat des Bezirkes zugeteilten Unterstützungen stimmten in den meisten Fällen mit den dokumentierten Entwicklungszielen des Bezirkes überein und die Absicht war, durch die Unterstützungen die Ausführung dieser Ziele zu fördern. (z.B.: Entwicklung der Kommunikation und Infratstruktur, Erhöhung des Niveaus der Kommunalversorgung, Diversifizierte Entwicklung der Human Ressources, Beförderung der Schulung und Weiterbildung)

- Was die regionale Verteilung der zugeteilten Unterstützungen betrifft, ist es gut zu erkennen, dass der Standorentwicklungsrat bestrebte sich die Gegebenheit der Regionen und Gemeinden zu berücksichtigen, er hat auch durch eigene Ressources die schwachentwickelten Regionen befördert. Wobei die größte Aufmerksamkeit den Regionen von niedriger Bevölkerungsdichte und den Grenzregionen geschenkt wurde.

 

ASPECTS ON AIR QUALITY IN THE BIHOR-HAJDÚ-BIHAR EUROREGION

Gheorghe MĂHĂRA, Attila AMBRUS, Andreia AMBRUS

 

Abstract: Aspects on air quality in the Bihor –Hajdu-Bihar Euregion. The man, thru his activities may determinate damages in the environmental elements connection what leads to geosistem unbalances, that are reflected in the turn up of several negative phenomenon such as topoclimate changes and pollution.

 

MULTIPLE REGRESSION ANALYSIS OF TRAFFIC NOISE LEVEL OF URBAN CITY FOR PREDICTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGREDATION

Md.  J. B.  ALAM, S.  K. KHAN, H. CACOVEAN, G.M. MUNNA, M. Jobair Bin ALAM, A. K. DIKSHIT

 

Abstract. Multiple regression analysis of traffic noise level of urban city for prediction of environmental degredation. Noise is unacceptable level of sound that creates annoyance, hampers mental and physical peace, and may induce severe damage to the health. Along with the increasing degree of air and water pollution, noise pollution is also emerging as a new threat to the inhabitants of Sylhet City. Exposure to high level of noise may cause severe stress on the auditory and nervous system of the city dwellers, particularly the children. Motorized traffic is one of the major sources of noise pollution in urban areas. The paper reports the level of traffic-induced noise pollution in Sylhet City. For this purpose noise levels have been measured at thirty-seven major locations of the city from 7AM to 11PM during the working days. It is observed that at all the locations the level of noise remains far above the acceptable limit for all the time. The paper suggests that vulnerable institutions like school and hospital should be located about 60m away from the roadside unless any special arrangement to alleviate sound is used.

 

PUBLIC HEALTH AND CHUZPAH. POLLUTION IN NW-ROMANIA

Jozsef BENEDEK, Sorina FARCAS, Uwe SCHLEICHERT, Wilfried SCHREIBER, Thomas TITTIZER, Erhard SCHULZ

 

Abstract: Public health and chutzpah. Pollution in NW-Romania. The series of spectacular mining accidents in north-western Romania evidenced the imminent risk for human health as a chronic burden especially of heavy metals and as danger of acute accidents with a high poisoning potential. Moreover, a carelessness of mining management in applying dangerous extraction methods became evident. The mining accidents also showed the necessity to manage the affected river system – here that of River Tisa – as an entity in order to avoid further damages.

 

Geoarchaeological potential of the western bank of the Bilate River (Ethiopia)

Alfonso BENITO-CALVO, Ignacio de la TORRE, Rafael MORA, Dawit TIBEBU, Noemi MORÁN, Jorge MARTÍNEZ-MORENO

 

Abstract: Geoarchaeological potential of the western bank of the Bilate River (Ethiopia). Geoarchaeological surveys carried out in the western bank of the middle-lower course of the Bilate River (Ethiopia) have led to assess the paleoanthropological potential of this area. The Bilate Basin is located in the central zone of the Main Ethiopian Rift, characterized by important extensional stresses and eruptive activity (ignimbrites) during the Pliocene. In this region, several Quaternary sedimentary outcrops with archaeological occurrences were recognized. They are composed mainly of alluvial sediments related to valley infills and glacis, developed probably during the late Middle Pleistocene and Upper Pleistocene. Archaeological remains appear abundantly at the surface and  less so within the stratigraphic units. The latter are composed mostly of fine-grain alluvial sediments, which include  buried soils and interbedded volcanic material. Archaeological items consist mainly of obsidian artefacts corresponding to the Middle Stone Age or to the Later Stone Age, although eventually some well-made bifaces and cleavers have also been found. Fossil bones are scarce, but a few bovid fossil occurrences in valley infill sediments were recorded  as well.

 

The GeoArchaeo-Tourist map of the territory of Otricoli (Umbria Region, Central Italy): preliminary notes

Milena BERTACCHINI, Alfonso BENITO CALVO, Doriano CASTALDINI

 

Abstract: The GeoArchaeo-Tourist map of the territory of Otricoli (Umbria Region, Central Italy): preliminary notes. This article illustrates the preliminary notes on the criteria and methods applied for implementing a GeoArchaeo-Tourist map of the territory of Otricoli.  Otricoli is a village located in the south of the Umbria Region (Central Italy), on the eastern margin of the Apennine chain and the west bank of the River Tiber. Marine sediments (Late Pliocene-Early Pleistocene) and fluvial sediments (Early-Middle Pleistocene) covered by tuff rocks (Middle-Late Pleistoene) crop out in the area and control the physical forms of the landscape. By means of ArcGIS computer programme, a set of maps and three-dimensional visualizations have provided to represent the Otricoli natural landscape. The GeoArchaeo-Tourist map has been elaborating, integrating geological, geomorphological and archaeological aspects with the tourist infrastructure in order to obtain a document readable, simple, clear but scientifically accurate also for non-expert users. This map is an original cartographic elaboration in the field of geo-tourist thematic mapping. The main purpose of the GeoArchaeo-Tourist map is to favour the tourist to discover the Otricoli landscape and to promote its sustainable development.

 

THE EFFECT OF STATE BORDERS ON THE PATTERN OF PERSONAL INCOMES IN THE NORTH GREAT PLAIN REGION

János PÉNZES

 

Abstract: Der Aufsatz sucht die Antwort auf die Frage, wie die Staatsgrenze die Verteilung der inländischen Einkommen in den Siedlungen der Nördlichen Tiefebene beeinflusst. Zahlreiche Analysen weisen darauf hin, dass die Grenzgebiete ein niedrigeres Entwicklungsniveau haben, das sich auch in den Durchschnittseinkommen widerspiegelt. Die Einkommen zeigen aber starke Beziehung mit der Bevölkerungszahl der einzelnen Siedlungen, so ist es schwer im Falle der grösstenteils kleinen, grenznahen Siedlungen zu bestimmen, welcher Faktor die geringe Fähigkeit zur Einkommensproduktion verursacht. Die Analyse für den Zeitraum zwischen 1992 und 2004 hat mit Hilfe von Korrelationsberechnung und Shift-Share-Analyse ergeben, dass die Staatsgrenze ihre Wirkung auf die Durchschnittseinkommen der Siedlungen etwa bis zu einer Entfernung von 20 Kilometer ausübt. Diese Wirkung erscheint in der Nähe der Grenzübergangspunkte im umgekehrten Verhältnis zur Steigerung der Distanz, das Durchschnittseinkommen erreicht seinen Tiefpunkt 10-12 Kilometer weit von diesen Siedlungen entfernt. In grösseren Entfernungen beeinflussen schon andere raumstrukturelle Faktoren – zum Beispiel die Distanz von den Komitatssitzen oder von der Hauptstadt – die Verteilung der Einkommen. Aber die Wirkung der Siedlungsgrösse hat sich im untersuchten Zeitraum bei allen Distanzkategorien als der stärkste Faktor erwiesen. Die relative Veränderung der Einkommen hat in den grenznahen Raumkategorien – vor allem wegen der wesentlich niedrigeren Basiswerte – den regionalen Durchschnitt übertroffen. Die Forschung weist aber auch darauf hin, dass die grenznahe Lage bis auf weiteres (der gemeinsamen Grenzstrecke von Österreich und Ungarn entgegen) keinen dynamisierenden Faktor der Siedlungsentwicklung darstellt.

 

Tourism and Regionalisation. Environmental, Tourist and Cultural Districts in the “Parco Gran Sasso-Monti della Laga”

Bernardo Cardinale

 

Abstract: Turismo e regionalizzazione. I distretti ambientali turistico-­culturali  del Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga. La ricerca di un modello di sviluppo che potesse adattarsi ad un territorio fortemente vincolato dalla sua vastità, ha portato alla scelta di articolare il Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga in distretti ambientali-turistico-culturali. Tale distrettualizzazione del territorio deriva dalla volontà di collocare il flusso dei processi di valorizzazione del patrimonio ambientale e culturale di un determinato comprensorio all'interno di un processo decisionale unico, che consideri in maniera omogenea l'insieme delle risorse e delle attività economiche presenti nell'area di riferimento: obiettivo fondamentale è quello di migliorare la qualità della vita e l'appetibilità delle aree montane del Parco attraverso interventi di riqualificazione, conservazione e fruizione dell'enorme patrimonio storico architettonico costituito dai centri storici del Parco. L'articolazione della complessità storica e territoriale del Parco in Distretti ha così definitivamente posto le premesse per una soluzione unitaria delle problematiche che avevano finora ostacolato la sua valorizzazione: il vasto territorio è oggi suddiviso in 11 Distretti nei quali l'offerta di beni è ampiamente diversificata, il patrimonio culturale, strategicamente valorizzato all'interno di un’area di forte valenza ambientale che si pone in armonia con il contesto di riferimento, ne favorisce una perfetta integrazione. L'idea di fondo è quella di perseguire uno sviluppo sostenibile, realizzando il giusto equilibrio tra l'esigenza di un miglior livello di qualità di vita degli abitanti del Parco e l'esigenza di una tutela e valorizzazione della qualità dell'ambiente. I distretti sono stati concepiti per una fruizione del territorio in sintonia con le sue qualità ambientali e paesaggistiche. I confini sono puramente virtuali, ma comunque necessari per l'individuazione di aree omogenee nelle quali operare interventi coordinati di valorizzazione e di gestione del flusso turistico. L'obiettivo finale è quello di esaltare le potenzialità di ogni singolo distretto, operando affinché la valorizzazione delle risorse ambientali e culturali si armonizzi con le strutture economiche e sociali presenti sul territorio.In tale contesto, il contributo dello scrivente è teso alla valutazione dei riflessi economico-territoriali della suddetta gestione, nonché alla definizione del modello di sviluppo distrettuale dell’area Parco, che appare unico nel panorama italiano delle aree protette.