Landscape distribution characteristics of northern foothill belts of Tianshan Mountains

The foothill belts of Tianshan Mountains are about 280 km long and 60 km wide, and the study area extends from Kuitun city to Fukang city. They are transitional belts between mountains and plains, appearing in three rows of folds with different morphologies and their age becoming younger from south to north. Based on GIS and RS methods, and materials of the previous researchers, this paper deals with the genetics of the foothill belts and their landscape features resulting from folding by neotectonic movements, and also describes their length, width and slope by remote sensing image interpretation. The characteristics of the foothill belts are found to be very important for the surrounding environment by preventing groundwater from flowing into plains, changing groundwater, increasing flow of surface runoff, in addition to their roles in protecting the surrounding environment. The purpose of this paper is to provide an in-depth understanding of the foothill belts and influence on its surrounding environment.

The role of mechanical stratigraphy in the lateral variations of thrust development along the central Alberta Foothills, Canada

Fold-thrust belts generally exhibit significant variations in structural styles such as differences in thrust geometries and frequencies in imbrication. A natural laboratory of this pattern is preserved in the central Alberta Foothills of the Canadian Rockies, where differences in thrust geometries are represented by the existence vs. non-existence of triangle zones. To seek the factors that make this difference in these regions in terms of structural geometry, stratigraphic thickness variations and mechanical stratigraphy of the sedimentary layers, structural interpretation is conducted based on admissible cross-sections and well log interpretations. In northern region, a backthrust is detached from an incompetent layer(viz.Nomad Unit of the Wapiabi Formation), which gets thinner from the Foothills to the Plains, indicating that it is developed where the shale layers are pinched out where triangle zone is developed. Backthrust is also developed in the southern region, where mechanical strengths of strata(viz. Bearpaw Formation)increase toward the foreland. In the central region, however, only forethrusts are developed along the weak continuous decollement layers(viz. Turner Valley and Brazeau formations), forming an imbricate fan without development of the triangle zone. Incompetent layers such as the top Wapiabi(Nomad),Brazeau(Bearpaw), Coalspur and Paskapoo formations are also pinched out laterally, forming fault glide horizons in different stratigraphic levels in each region. These results indicate that, along the transport direction, triangle zone is developed in relation to the stratigraphic pinch out of the Nomad Unit in the northern region, and is formed associated with the variations in strengths of the layers constituting the Bearpaw Formation in the southern region. It is notable that all the glide horizons are developed along incompetent layers. However, triangle zones are not developed in the areas of continuous stratigraphy of the Nomad Unit, which does not serve as a glide horizon in the central region. This suggests that factors such as stratigraphic thickness changes of incompetent layers and mechanical stratigraphy of the sedimentary layers play an important role in the development of lateral variations in thrust system evolution in terms of triangle zone vs. imbricate fan in the central Alberta Foothills.

Lymphatic filariasis in the foothill areas around Susunia of West Bengal in India

Objective:To investigate the filarial epidemiology in 16 foothill villages around Susunia hill,Bankura district, West Bengal,India.Indices studied were microfilaria rate,mean microfilarial density,filarial disease rate and endemicity rate.Other indices related to transmission were incrimination of vector species,man-hour density of the vector,vector infection and infectivity rates,human blood index of the vector etc.Methods:Examination of 20μL night blood samples by finger prick and clinical examination for filarial diseases of 3 737 people(2 241 male and 1 496 female) was done randomly covering nearly 22%population of the study area.Aspects related to vectors were dealt by regular collection and dissection of mosquitoes.Results:Overall microfilaria rate,mean microfilarial density,disease rate and endemicity rate were 6.10%,10.86%,20.20%and 25.58%,respectively. Causative parasite was identified as Wuchereria bancrofii and Culex quinquefasciatus was incriminated as the vector therein.Vector infection rate,infectivity rate and human blood index were assessed to be 6. 31%,1.38%and 77.33%,respectively.Conclusion:Present study is highly endemic for bancroftian filariasis. More than one fourth of the population under study were filarial victims indicating an overall alarming situation and immediate measure should be taken to rectify the situation.

The protective effect of cyclodextrin on the color quality and stability of Cabernet Sauvignon red wine

The impact of cyclodextrins(CDs)on wine quality and stability remains largely unknown.This study systematically assessed the protective effect of the post-fermentation addition of CDs on color stability of red wine from the viewpoints of color characteristics,copigmentation and phenolic profiles.The grey relational analysis(GRA)and principal component analysis(PCA)methods were employed to dissect the key effective determinants related to color quality.The addition of CDs induced a significant hyperchromic effect of 8.19-25.40%,a significant bathochromic effect and an enhancement of the color intensity.Furthermore,the evolution of anthocyanin forms and the content of monomeric anthocyanins revealed that β-CD is a superior favorable cofactor during wine aging,but for long-term aging,2-HP-β-CD and 2-HP-γ-CD are more beneficial in promoting the formation of polymerized anthocyanins and color stability.This work provides an important reference for the use of CDs to enhance the color quality and stability of red wines.

Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Rainfall over Different Terrain Features in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River Basin during the Warm Seasons of 2016–20

Based on hourly rain gauge data during May–September of 2016–20,we analyze the spatiotemporal distributions of total rainfall(TR)and short-duration heavy rainfall(SDHR;hourly rainfall≥20 mm)and their diurnal variations over the middle reaches of the Yangtze River basin.For all three types of terrain(i.e.,mountain,foothill,and plain),the amount of TR and SDHR both maximize in June/July,and the contribution of SDHR to TR(CST)peaks in August(amount:23%;frequency:1.74%).Foothill rainfall is characterized by a high TR amount and a high CST(in amount);mountain rainfall is characterized by a high TR frequency but a small CST(in amount);and plain rainfall shows a low TR amount and frequency,but a high CST(in amount).Overall,stations with high TR(amount and frequency)are mainly located over the mountains and in the foothills,while those with high SDHR(amount and frequency)are mainly concentrated in the foothills and plains close to mountainous areas.For all three types of terrain,the diurnal variations of both TR and SDHR exhibit a double peak(weak early morning and strong late afternoon)and a phase shift from the early-morning peak to the late-afternoon peak from May to August.Around the late-afternoon peak,the amount of TR and SDHR in the foothills is larger than over the mountains and plains.The TR intensity in the foothills increases significantly from midnight to afternoon,suggesting that thermal instability may play an important role in this process.

Effects of gravel on the water absorption characteristics and hydraulic parameters of stony soil

The eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains in China are a typical mountainous region of soil and gravel,where gravel could affect the water movement process in the soil.This study focused on the effects of different gravel contents on the water absorption characteristics and hydraulic parameters of stony soil.The stony soil samples were collected from the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains in April 2023 and used as the experimental materials to conduct a one-dimensional horizontal soil column absorption experiment.Six experimental groups with gravel contents of 0%,10%,20%,30%,40%,and 50%were established to determine the saturated hydraulic conductivity(K_(s)),saturated water content(θ_(s)),initial water content(θ_(i)),and retention water content(θ_(r)),and explore the changes in the wetting front depth and cumulative absorption volume during the absorption experiment.The Philip model was used to fit the soil absorption process and determine the soil water absorption rate.Then the length of the characteristic wetting front depth,shape coefficient,empirical parameter,inverse intake suction and soil water suction were derived from the van Genuchten model.Finally,the hydraulic parameters mentioned above were used to fit the soil water characteristic curves,unsaturated hydraulic conductivity(K_(θ))and specific water capacity(C(h)).The results showed that the wetting front depth and cumulative absorption volume of each treatment gradually decreased with increasing gravel content.Compared with control check treatment with gravel content of 0%,soil water absorption rates in the treatments with gravel contents of 10%,20%,30%,40%,and 50%decreased by 11.47%,17.97%,25.24%,29.83%,and 42.45%,respectively.As the gravel content increased,inverse intake suction gradually increased,and shape coefficient,K_(s),θ_(s),andθ_(r)gradually decreased.For the same soil water content,soil water suction and K_(θ)gradually decreased with increasing gravel content.At the same soil water suction,C(h)decreased with increasing gravel content,and the water use efficiency worsened.Overall,the water holding capacity,hydraulic conductivity,and water use efficiency of stony soil in the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains decreased with increasing gravel content.This study could provide data support for improving soil water use efficiency in the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains and other similar rocky mountainous areas.

Soil Geomorphology of Garpanchkot Hill Area and Its Influence on Land Use and Land Cover

The present study is about to find out different attributes of soil as well as geomorphology. It is very much relevant to the study of land use land cover (LULC). Garpanchkot hill is situated in Purulia district of West Bengal. There are two geomorphological and seven pedological parameters that have been selected for the study. Shuttle radar topographic mission (SRTM) and advanced land observing satellite (ALOS) data are analyzed by remote sensing software to find out the geomorphological character of the area. There are twenty soil samples that have been taken from top of the hill to foothill pediment area with the change of elevation and slope for laboratory analysis. Different statistical techniques are used for representation. Foot hill area of the Garpanchkot hill can be determined by less than 150 m elevation and 5o slope. Elevation and slope of rest of the hill area (greater than 150 m and 5o) are fully dominated by forest and scattered vegetation. Elevated area (greater than 205 m) with less slope (10o - 15o) is associated with dense forest. Escarpment area is associated with grass land and scattered vegetation. Foothill area is bearing the signature of scattered vegetation, bare soil ground and agriculture. The richness of clay minerals plays an important role in the foothill pediment area for development of agriculture. Sandy loam is dominating soil texture in the rest of the hill area. Percentage of organic matter (1.8%), status of salinity (6.65 - 7.72) and alkalinity (up to 138.6 μs/cm) remain high in the high elevated area due to forest cover. The area is very dry, only fed by the rainfall during monsoon season. Artificial reservoir feeds the foothill agriculture system. Rice, wheat, maize, sugarcane, pulses chili and vegetables are the main crops of this area.

Creation of an Agricultural Security System: An Effective Model of Sustainable Land Use

The article discusses the effective use of degraded foothill lands of the Kamashy district of the Kashkadarya region of Uzbekistan. Sustainable land use in the arid lands of the foothill zone, due to water conservation, growing seedlings of nut and fruit trees, growing fodder crops in row spacing, allows local livestock breeders to create a rational model of agroforestry system of land use. The organization and development of agroforestry will ensure sustainable land use, create additional jobs, increase household incomes and improve the standard of living of the population.

Structural Interpretation and Restoration of Rocky Mountain Brazeau Zone

The Rocky Mountain Foothills lie along the eastern margin of the Rocky Mountain fold-thrust belt. The area has been the focus of extensive research aimed at locating oil and gas fields with the potential to be used as CO2 storage traps. In this study, we use a seismic line from the Ca- nadian Rockies to interpret the geologic structures along a cross-section parallel to the tectonic transport direction. We then compare our results with those of previous studies. The section was restored using the MOVE software （manufactured by Midland Valley Exploration Ltd.）. The pri- mary objectives of this work are： （1） to conduct a stratigraphic and structural interpretation of a 2D seismic profile; and （2） to conduct a cross-sectional restoration of the structures in order to validate the seismic interpretation in terms of CO2 storage candidates. Additional data sources include maps of the surface geology, which show that the age of horizons decrease from west to east, and strati- graphic and structural profiles derived from well logs. The results of our structural restoration indi- cate a detachment fault between the foreland and hinterland. This fault is responsible for the cutting and subsequent upwards and eastwards movement of a stratum located between the basement and the Late Devonian formation. Large thrust faults are responsible for the deformation of strata （through both folding and faulting） in the foreland basin. As a result of continuous eastward tectonic stress, the strata from Jurassic have deformed, forming a duplex system in the middle of the section and resulting in the uplift of the upper part of the section. Following surface erosion, this uplifted area became exposed during the Tertiary Period. The high shortening rate （53%） detected through structural restoration is consistent with the thin-skinned tectonic model.