Natural Environment and Landscape Energy of Western Georgia

The particularly great practical importance of modern physical geography and, in particular, landscape science, is first of all manifested in the detection and study of the resource potential of landscapes, as well as in the optimization of the environment. The resource potential, on the other hand, greatly depends on the balance of substance and energy exchange in the natural resources, i.e. the energy of the landscape. In this case, one of the important things is to study the functioning of natural-territorial complexes (NTC). Through it, it is possible and relatively easy to explain, model and, most importantly, predict many complex processes taking place in NTC, including the role of landscape energy balance in increasing the productivity and yield of agro-landscapes, which was the first attempt to research this problem in Georgia.

Use of Targeted Orographic Smoothing in Very High Resolution Simulations of a Downslope Windstorm and Rotor in a Sub-tropical Highland Location

Nested simulations of a downslope windstorm over Cangshan mountain,Yunnan,China,have been used to demonstrate a method of topographic smoothing that preserves a relatively large amount of terrain detail compared to typical smoothing procedures required for models with terrain-following grids to run stably.The simulations were carried out using the Met Office Unified Model(MetUM)to investigate downslope winds.The smoothing method seamlessly blends two terrain datasets to which uniform smoothing has been applied—one with a minimum of smoothing,the other smoothed more heavily to remove gradients that would cause model instabilities.The latter dataset dominates the blend where the steepest slopes exist,but this is localised and recedes outside these areas.As a result,increased detail is starkly apparent in depictions of flow simulated using the blend,compared to one using the default approach.This includes qualitative flow details that were absent in the latter,such as narrow shooting flows emerging from roughly 1-2 km wide leeside channels.Flow separation is more common due to steeper lee slopes.The use of targeted smoothing also results in increased lee side temporal variability at a given point during the windstorm,including over flat areas.Low-/high-pass filtering of the wind perturbation field reveals that relative spatial variability above 30 km in scale(reflecting the background flow)is similar whether or not targeting is used.Beneath this scale,when smoothing is targeted,relative flow variability decreases at the larger scales,and increases at lower scales.This seems linked to fast smaller scale flows disturbing more coherent flows(notably an along-valley current over Erhai Lake).Spatial variability of winds in the model is unsurprisingly weaker at key times than is observed across a local network sampling mesoscale variation,but results are compromised due to relatively few observation locations sampling the windstorm.Only when targeted smoothing is applied does the model capture the downslope windstorm's extension over the city of Dali at the mountain's foot,and the peak mean absolute wind.

中国经济与环境协调发展的政策思考

20世纪80年代,中国经历了历史上最有成效的发展时期,在经济建设、社会进步和环境保护事业等各方面都取得了巨大成就。在进入90年代时,中国又确定了更加宏伟的经济和社会发展战略目标,这将继续鼓舞中国人民为建设美好的生活环境而奋斗。90年代的中国,面临着更加复杂和艰苦的战略任务,其中,进一步寻求经济与环境协调发展的道路,就是一个十分重要的课题。1.改革开放为环境保护带来生机改革开放是中国80年代最重要和最深刻的战略决策。改革开放政策的实施,使中国社会释放出巨大活力。

A New Statistic Approach towards Landslide Hazard Risk Assessment

To quantitatively assess the landslide hazard in Khelvachauri, Georgia, the statistic method of hazard index was applied. A spatial database was constructed in Geographic Information System (GIS) including topographic data, geologic maps, land-use, and active landslide events (extracted from the landslide inventory). After that, causal factors of landslides (such as slope, aspect, lithology, geomorphology, land-use and soil depth) were produced to calculate the corresponding weights, and thereby we defined a relevant set of spatial criteria for the latter landslide hazard assessment. On top of that, susceptibility assessment was performed in order to classify the area to low, moderate and high susceptible regions. Results showed that NW aspect, mountain geomorphology, private land-use, laterite loam and clay, slope between 19 to 24 degrees, and soil depth between 10 - 20 cm were found to have the largest contribution to high landslide susceptibility. The high success rate (72.35%) was obtained using area under the curve from the landslide susceptibility map. Meanwhile, effect analysis was carried out to assess the accuracy of the landslide susceptibility, indicating that the factor of slope played the most important role in determining the occurring probability of landslide although it did not deviate as much as other factors. Finally, the vulnerability analyses were carried out by means of the Spatial Multi-Criteria Estimation model, which in turn, led to the risk assessment. It turned out that not so much of the number of buildings (~ 34.13%) was associated with high-risk zone and that governmental and private land-use almost accounted for the same risk (39.9% and 40.9%, respectively).

中国的沼泽资源及其开发与保护问题

1.沼泽的主要类型及其特征沼泽是土层严重潜育化或有泥炭积累的水草所聚之地。它是一种特殊的自然综合体,并有着明显的三个相互制约的特征:①地表经常过湿或有浅层积水;②土层生长着湿生或沼生植物;③土层严重潜育化或有泥炭的形成与积累。根据沼泽的定义可将其分成泥炭沼泽和潜育沼泽两大类。泥炭沼泽的主要特征是有泥炭的形成与积累。因其形成环境与发育程度不同,泥炭积累的厚度与类型也不同。固此,根据泥炭沼泽的发育阶段又将其分为低位泥炭沼泽、中位泥炭沼泽和高位泥炭沼泽。再依沼泽植物的组成分成5个亚类:草本泥炭沼泽;草木本泥炭沼泽;草木藓泥炭沼泽;

Fresh Groundwater Resources in Georgia and Management Problems

As it is known fresh water represents conditioned factor for human body’s life. That’s why the superiority of drinking water is recognized as human body’s priority according to the international declarations. World is experiencing deficit of quality water. Natural Disasters caused by the pollution of the fresh ground water is also very painful and acute, because it needed more time, more material and financial means for the liquidation of their results, and what the most important practically is, it is impossible to renew the initial natural conditions completely. All these conditions that the rational use of fresh ground water passed by the interests of separate countries and became worldwide, international problem-fresh water became as considerable raw material for the worlds import and export. Future prognosis is disturbing—according to the data of UN for 2025 year 2/3 of world population will be under the water deficit conditions. Above-mentioned shows how important fresh water is for humanity. Below we present briefly review about the situation of fresh ground water resources and the analysis of the problems in transboundary artesian basins of Georgia.

Catastrophic Debrisflow in Dariali (Georgia) in the Year 2014

River Tergi, Aragvi and Asa-Arghuni, which occupy significant area of mountainous region of central Caucasus, by its geographic location, strategic meaning, peculiarities of natural landscape and infrastructural objects (Trans-Caucasian highway, gas pipeline, water supply of the capital, Gudauri ski-mountainous complex) minerals, historic-ethnographic monuments, opportunities for development of mountainous tourism and mountaineering, where more important engineering projects are being planned;all the above give perspective of development of economic base, employment of the population and restoration of motivated villages, more over that the major part of their perimeter represents state border. At the same time, extremely complex relief, landscape-climatic conditions and sensitive geologic environment have been always defining peculiarities of settlement of population and agricultural activities and determining landscape-ecologic balance of geographic environment. However, whereas amount of land for optimal adaptation is extremely limited, its irregular adaptation causes critical degradation-devastation of lands. Consequently, this causes development of scaled and diverse geologic processes (land-slides, debrisflow, erosion, etc.), which have been complicated anyway and are followed by enormous material loss, forcing thousands of people to leave their homes, emptying if tens of villages and human sacrifice. The article considers conditions of development of a catastrophic debrisflow, which occurred in Dariali in the year 2014 and its negative consequences.

Evaluation of Pathogen Reduction Systems to Inactivate Dengue and Chikungunya Viruses in Apheresis Platelets Suspended in Plasma

The risk of blood-borne transmission of infectious diseases has led to an increasing awareness of the need for a safe and effective pathogen reduction technology. This study evaluated the efficacy of 2 pathogen reduction systems to inactivate dengue virus (DENV-2) and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) spiked into apheresis platelets (APLT) concentrates. Double-dose APLT collections (n = 3) were split evenly into two units and spiked with 107 infectious units of DENV-2 or CHIKV. APLTs samples were assayed for viral infectivity before and after Amotosalen photochemical treatment (PCT) or Riboflavin pathogen reduction treatment (PRT). Viral infectivity was determined by plaque assays. Platelet (PLT) count, pH and residual S-59 were measured during the storage of 5 days. Amotosalen PCT showed robust efficacy and complete inactivation of both viruses in APLTs, with up to 3.01 and 3.75 log reductions of DENV-2 and CHIKV respectively. At similar initial concentrations, Riboflavin PRT showed complete inactivation of CHIKV with up to 3.73 log reduction, much higher efficacy than against DENV-2 where a log reduction of up to 1.58 was observed. All post-treated APLTs maintained acceptable PLT yields and quality parameters. This parallel study of 2 pathogen reduction systems demonstrates their efficacy in inactivating or reducing DENV and CHIKV in APLTs and reaffirms the usefulness of pathogen inactivation systems to ensure the safety in PLTs transfusion.

Georgia Black Sea Coast Protection with Free Beaches

In the paper, it is discussed reinforced coastal zones with resort-recreational functions, destructed in terms of anthropogenic pressure of the Black Sea, Georgia. Results of many years’ observations and researches prove low effectiveness of active methods of coastal protection, mostly causing and provoking intensive degradation of the beaches. Article highlights developing and constructing of free and unbounded beaches as an optimal coastal protection approach. Successful example of this approach was developing of coastal zone in 90s, in Gagra (West Georgia), Black Sea. Positive impact of this kind of artificial beach still survives. In the thesis, it is presented an attempt to scientifically prove extrapolation-traduction on the other similar coasts of the recovery of Gagra Zone beach. Based on morphodynamic analysis and comparison, according to the priorities of major features of reinforced coasts, it turned out that coast of three similar objects (Gagra, Ochamchire and Sokhumi) show homogenous aspects. Scientific expediency of providing extrapolation on other similar objects of etalon objects i.e. Gagra Beach recovered by successful coastal protection experiment. Thereby, for the purposes of creating free-artificial beach, choosing of wrecking zone of Ochamchire is based on coastal protection effectiveness and economical principals, including technical-economical effectiveness.

Ranking of Feijoa (FEIJOA Sellowiana) in Subtropical Humidified Zone of Adjara and Forest Ecosystem by Multiple-Factor Approach

It was elaborated a method of agro-ecosystem ranking for feijoa culture and forest ecosystem in one of regions of Western Georgia—Adjara subtropical humidified zone. On the basis of mineralogical and morphometric analysis (biometric parameters, beginning and end of growth, beginning of fruit ripening and mass ripening, frost resistance etc.) of feijoa culture (Feigoa selliowiana) and by multiple-factor approach we have evaluated culture’s rational disposition and optimal environment for development of land. The main accent was made on geomorphological (relief, inclination, exposition) and agro-climatic (sum of active temperatures, hydrothermal coefficient, temperature conditions, physical and chemical features of soil) factors. As a result of implemented zoning a landscape zone with agricultural resources potential and hypsometrical levels optimal for development of feijoa culture was revealed. During the research we also revealed corresponding agro-eco- system zone, compatible with feijoa zone, evaluation of quality of forest land and determination of ecosystem and its indicating character. For determination of compatibility of feijoa plants and distribution of forest ecosystem we have created a map of large-scale ecosystems and geo-information system. By Cartometric and geographic-informational analysis, it became possible to find information about types of forest ecosystems, areas occupied by them and their share in researched zone.

Participatory Methods in the Georgian Caucasus: Understanding Vulnerability and Response to Debrisflow Hazards

Assessment and emergency planning to cope with disaster risks are usually founded primarily on expert evaluations, in part because local governments and public bodies mainly finance the recovery activities. Local communities affected by disasters are scarcely really involved in the processes of information collection, problem analysis, or design of emergency plans.However, the development of good practices for incorporating local people’s knowledge into disaster risk management, known as Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM), is becoming more common. Scientific communities increasingly realize the importance of local knowledge, though in Georgia this is still uncommon. Georgia faces frequent natural disasters and threats to its fragile ecosystems caused by unsustainable natural resource management and agricultural practices, improper infrastructure and urban development, as well as by innate geological and climatic factors. In this context, the lack of communication between local communities and public administrations is absolutely deleterious. The article analyzes the effectiveness of participatory methods and tools for better comprehension of people’s vulnerability and responses. Fieldwork in mountain areas of Caucasus involved local communities to investigate the direct participation of local people in Disaster Risk Management and assess their availability and interest to engage in hazard mapping and risk responses.

Geological Hazards Occurred on the Road Connecting Vashlijvari-Lisi (M. Machavariani Street) in Tbilisi

The capital of Georgia—Tbilisi has a very convenient location and is a node of the transit corridor. Along with natural-geological conditions, its complexity is due to the rapid demographic growth of the city in a highly “sensitive” area of the geological environment and the pressure of high engineering and agricultural activities. In Tbilisi, it is observed almost all types of geological hazards, including landslide-gravitational, suffosion, debris/mudflows, river bank erosion and inundation were caused by groundwater. These hazards cause high damages to the residential houses and other infrastructure facilities. Most importantly and most tragically is that these kind of negative geological events are often accompanied by human casualties. The study discusses the geological processes developed in March 2021 in the corridor of the Vashlijvari-Lisi road (Machavariani Street). The information obtained from the study, reflects the triggering factors of the geological hazards, also damages caused by them, and provides recommendations for short-term and long-term protective measures that should ensure the sustainable operation of the road and other infrastructure facilities.

土壤和水酸化对于健康的危害:瑞典的研究项目

环境的酸化是一个全球性的问题。对于酸的沉降量大而水体和土壤的缓冲性能低的地区而言,酸化问题尤其严重。考虑到在土壤和水体中的酸的沉降物的相当大的影响,重要的是确定其对于人类健康可能有哪些危害及危害的程度。瑞典的环境保护机构从1991年开始进行一项五年研究计划,以研究酸的沉降对于人类健康的危害。这个研究项目的研究内容集中于酸沉降的间接效应。这些间接效应主要是由于微量元素的迁移性改变的结果,导致在大多数情况下使微量元素的含量增加,而在少数情况下微量元素则减少。通过食物链,人体所摄入的有毒元素及必需元素的量可能发生改变。此项研究项目的目标是查明:①酸化作用在多大程度上改变人类所接触的各种元素,包括总的数量级或者其化学状态;②这些改变对于人类的健康有什么作用。此项研究的目的则是尽早发现其对于健康的作用,以求能够防止其对于人类健康的恶劣影响。尽管有一些迹象表明,有毒元素的暴露,如钙、甲基汞和铅等,以及有益元素如硒等的吸收都有可能受到酸的沉降的影响,但目前尚无确凿的证据说明其对于人类的健康有所危害。然而,现有的资料清楚表明,安全度是很小的,应当尽量努力将暴露于一切有毒元素的来源保持在尽可能低的水平上。

中国无废低废工艺的发展

1.中国低废无废工艺现状中国的工业污染同其他国家一样,主要是由于资源、能源的浪费造成的,因此,中国政府一贯重视资源的综合利用工作。早在50年代就明确指出综合利用大有文章可做。70年代周恩来总理首先提出,在发展工业生产的同时,要解决好“三废”的污染问题,并且明确指出。

乡镇工业发展的成功之路——顺德环境考察报告

1982年春天我到珠海去,路过顺德,县环保局的同志向我介绍了该县乡镇工业的发展情况和在环保方面做的工作。当时有两点使我感兴趣,更确切地说使我感到惊奇:一是他们的乡镇工业发展速度之快出乎意料,短短两三年就使全县的总产值由几个亿骤增到十多个亿。今天,一个县的产值超过十亿已经不是什么新奇的事,可在当时,这是一个很大的数字;二是在乡镇工业的发展中,他们及时发现了对环境的污染,并采取了积极措施,阻止了环境污染和生态破坏的蔓延。要知道,当时乡镇工业刚刚萌芽。

Natural Disaster in Tbilisi City (Riv. Vere Basin) in the Year 2015

During 13-14 June 2015 heavy rainfall in the Riv. Vere basin area and its tributaries caused a drastic increase in the water level and triggered/activated large-scale landslide and debrisflow events. This put the Tskneti-Samadlo and Tsnketi-Akhal- daba motorways out of order. Residential buildings and miscellaneous infrastructural facilities, buildings and structures and Tbilisi Zoo located at the low elevations in the Riv. Vere Gorge were significantly damaged or/and totally destroyed. 23 persons died during the disaster. This study presents the results on an analysis of the landslides/ debrisflows in the riv. Vere catchment and discusses main triggering factors of natural disaster, statistics for the prior period, and geodynamic situation of Akhaldaba “big” landslide developed at the Tskneti-Samadlo road section. It is given recommendations for future activities to reduce landslide/debrisflow hazard in this catchment.

Geological Hazards in Samtskhe-Javakheti Region (Georgia)

Hundreds of settlements, agricultural lands, roads, oil and gas pipelines’ routes, towers of high voltage transmission lines, hydro-technical-meliorative objects, mountain resorts, etc. are periodically experiencing strong influence of landslide-gravitational and debris flow/mudflow processes (often with catastrophic results). Almost all landscape-geographic zones—from Black Sea coastal region, to mountainous-nival, where geo-ecological situation is severely complicated, are located in dangerous area of disaster. Negative social-economic, demographic and ecological consequences caused by debris flow/mudflows and landslide-gravitational processes, are seen in all spheres of human activity. In mountainous regions there is especially complicated situation, where in conditions of extreme activation of disaster, in many cases population displacement and transfer to other regions is needed. Because of it, in second half of 20th century, tens of villages in mountainous regions were desolated and agricultural lands were abandoned. Most alarming scenario is that such events are accompanied by loss of human lives. Only after 1995 up until now geological and geo-morphological processes in Georgia caused loss of lives of more than 139 persons. Even in conditions of routine activation of disaster, total economical damages reach tens of millions of dollars, and in case of extreme development—hundreds of millions.

Weather Impact on Heat-Related Illness in a Tropical City State, Singapore

In this article we propose a novel hurdle negative binomial (HNB) regression combined with a distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) to model weather factors’ impact on heat related illness (HRI) in Singapore. AIC criterion is adopted to help select proper combination of weather variables and check their lagged effect as well as nonlinear effect. The process of model selection and validation is demonstrated. It is observed that the predicted occurrence rate is close to the observed one. The proposed combined model can be used to predict HRI cases for mitigating HRI occurrences and provide inputs for related public health policy considering climate change impact.