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The scientific literature, media, international summits, and policy forums highlighted enough the people who either move or are willing to move because of environmental reasons. Still, the voluntary environmental non-migrants (ENM), who are assumed to have strong resilience and coping capacity, are inordinately overlooked. The importance of addressing these ENMs has increasingly been emphasised. First, the paper explains the characteristics of ENM, outlining the key distinction between voluntary and forced non-migrants. Second, it emphasises the need to protect populations affected by environmental change and disaster, specifically highlighting oft-neglected ENM policy gaps. Thus, it examines to what extent ENM is addressed in existing global legal and policy responses. Having identified the gaps, it further considers the importance of adaptation strategies and well-planned relocation policies to support non-migration. Finally, it summarises the existing ENM policies’ scope and reflects on the key policy gaps identified to suggest the way forward. This paper urges for a pragmatic and strategic policy approach that ensures bottom-up community-oriented approaches for supporting ENM by: (i) coordinating adaptation activities, (ii) ensuring planned relocation and migration with dignity, (iii) enabling informed decision-making, (iv) mobilising national and international support, and (v) developing appropriate institutional structures for adaptation.

In the transformation from tidal systems to freshwater coastal landscapes, plants act as eco-engineering species that reduce hydrodynamics and trap sediment, but nature and timing of the mechanisms of land creation along estuaries remains unclear. This article focuses on the Old Rhine estuary (The Netherlands) to show the importance of vegetation in coastal landscape evolution, predominantly regarding tidal basin filling and overbank morphology. This estuary hosted the main outflow channel of the river Rhine between ca 6500 to 2000 cal bp, and was constrained by peat during most of its existence. This study reconstructs its geological evolution, by correlating newly integrated geological data and new field records to varying conditions. Numerical modelling was performed to test the inferred mechanisms. It was found that floodbasin vegetation and resulting organic accumulation strongly accelerated back-barrier infill, by minimizing tidal influence. After tidal and wave transport had already sufficiently filled the back-barrier basin, reed rapidly expanded from its edges under brackish conditions, as shown by diatom analysis and datings. Reed growth provided a positive infilling feedback by reducing tidal flow and tidal prism, accelerating basin infilling. New radiocarbon dates show that large-scale crevassing along the Old Rhine River – driven by tidal backwater effect – only started as nutrient-rich river water transformed the floodbasin into an Alder carr in a next phase of estuary evolution. Such less dense vegetation promotes crevassing as sediments are more easily transported into the floodbasin. As river discharge increased and estuary mouth infilling progressed, crevasse activity diminished around 3800 to 3000 cal bp, likely due to a reduced tidal backwater effect. The insights from this data-rich Holocene study showcase the dominant role that vegetation may have in the long-term evolution of coastal wetlands. It provides clues for effective use of vegetation in vulnerable wetland landscapes to steer sedimentation patterns to strategically adapt to rising water levels.

Previous research finds that individuals tend to form ties with similar others much more often than with dissimilar others. However, we know relatively little about tie loss and to what extent this is driven by (dis)similarity. In this paper, we argue that ties to persons who are dissimilar with regard to gender, age, ethnicity, and education are lost faster than ties to similar persons – and we test three explanations for this faster decay of ties with dissimilar others: lack of meeting opportunities, preferences for similarity, and lower network embeddedness. To test these explanations, we analysed two waves of the Survey on the Social Networks of the Dutch (SSND, 2007, 2014). These SSND-waves contain comprehensive longitudinal panel data on ego networks of 441 respondents, who were interviewed about a wide range of relationships, their alters’ sociodemographic characteristics, where and when they met their alters, as well as how and whether they maintain these relationships. We modelled tie loss by event history analyses. Results show that ties to persons who were dissimilar are more likely to be lost faster, and that tie loss occurs mostly in the early years of a relationship. However, meeting opportunities, preferences for similarity, and network embeddedness are unable to explain why ties to dissimilar others are lost faster. We conclude that dissimilarity is a powerful driver of tie loss, and that more arguments and research are needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms.

Background: Persistent rheumatic symptoms and its impact on health-related quality of life (QoL), induced by the Indian Ocean Lineage (IOL) chikungunya virus (CHIKV) genotype have been widely studied. In 2014, a major CHIKV outbreak of the Asian genotype occurred in Curaçao, after which we established a longitudinal cohort in 2015, to follow the long-term CHIKV sequalae. Currently, the long-term clinical manifestations and its impact on QoL induced by the Asian CHIKV genotype, followed prospectively through time, and the association of age and comorbidities with rheumatic symptoms persistence, 60 months (M60) after disease onset is unknown. Methods: The cohort of 304 laboratory confirmed patients were followed prospectively in time at 3–16 months (M3-16), 30 months (M30), and M60 after disease onset. Demographic and clinical characteristics, and the 36-item short-form survey (SF-36) QoL status were collected through questionnaires. At M60, QoL scores were compared to general population (CHIK-) norms. Results: A total of 169 (56%) patients participated (74.6% female, mean age 56.1 years) at all time points, 107 (63%) were classified as recovered and 62 (37%) as affected. The affected patients reported an increase in the prevalence of arthralgia (P .001) and arthralgia in the lower extremities (P

Background Little is known about the persistence and impact of non-rheumatic symptoms after acute chikungunya disease. We have studied the clinical presentation and long-term impact of rheumatic and non-rheumatic symptoms on health related quality of life (QoL) 2.5 years after disease onset. Additionally, the validity of the Curaçao Long-Term Chikungunya Sequelae (CLTCS) score in classifying disease severity over time was evaluated. Methodology/Principal findings This prospective cohort study followed 248 chikungunya patients. Symptoms and SF-36 QoL were evaluated during baseline and follow-up at 2.5 years using questionnaires. Chikungunya disease status was classified using the CLTCS-score. At 2.5 years after disease onset patients were classified as being recovered (43%), mildly (35%) or highly (22%) affected. In comparison to mildly affected, highly affected patients reported the highest prevalence of ongoing rheumatic and non-rheumatic/psychological symptoms, with increased prevalence of arthralgia in the lower extremities (p = .01) and fatigue (p = .049) over time, and higher pain intensity (p < .001). Compared to mildly affected, being highly affected was associated with weakness in the lower extremities (OR: 1.90; CI: 1.29–2.80, p = .001) and worsened physical and mental QoL impairment. Conclusions Patients are both physically and psychologically affected by rheumatic and non-rheumatic symptoms of long-term chikungunya disease. The CLTCS-score is an easy to use instrument for classifying long-term chikungunya disease severity and impact and can facilitate health care providers in identifying highly affected patients who are prone to develop severe QoL impairment. Highly affected patients are recommended to be treated in a multidisciplinary setting to improve physical and psychological functioning, and QoL.

Adaptation pathways have been conventionally viewed as an approach for planning and identifying different adaptation options and the ways in which they can be realized. However, there has been scant consideration of the wide diversity of cultural and social processes which shape how adaptation pathways emerge. We argue that a cultural lens sheds light on differential vulnerability and the processes that enable or hinder adaptation. A cultural lens focuses intrinsically on intersectional categories which can impact the adaptive agency or resilience of individuals, households, and communities. In particular, we need to examine how cultural beliefs, norms, and practices change over time, and are reflected in adaptation pathways since livelihoods do not remain the same over the life course. Additionally, taking a broader perspective by incorporating concepts from cognitive anthropology helps us understand motivations and choices which influence adaptation pathways.

Background Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are primary vectors of emerging or re-emerging arboviruses that threaten public health worldwide. Many efforts have been made to develop interventions to control these Aedes species populations. Still, countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region struggle to create/design/develop sustainable and effective control strategies. This scoping review synthesises evidence concerning the effectiveness of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus prevention and control interventions performed in LAC (2000–2021). The findings can be used to evaluate, compare and develop more effective control strategies. Methodology The review is based on the methodology by Joanna Briggs Institute for conducting a scoping review. The MEDLINE (via PubMed and Web of Science), Cochrane Library, Scopus, EMBASE and ScienceDirect databases were used to search for articles. Grey literature was searched from governmental and non-governmental organisation websites. Four reviewers independently screened all titles and abstracts and full-text of the articles using the Rayyan web application, based on pre-defined eligibility criteria. Results A total of 122 publications were included in the review. Most studies focused on dengue virus infection and data on Ae. aegypti. Entomological data were mainly used to determine the intervention’s effectiveness. An integrated control intervention was the most commonly employed strategy in both regions. Biological control measures, environmental management, and health education campaigns on community participation achieved more sustainable results than an intervention where only a chemical control measure was used. Challenges to implementing interventions were insufficient financial support, resources, workforce, intersectoral collaboration and legislation. Conclusions Based on the synthesised data, an integrated vector (Aedes) management focused on community participation seems to be the most effective approach to mitigate Aedes-borne infectious diseases. Maintaining the approach’s effect remains challenging as it requires multisectoral and multi-disciplinary team engagement and active community participation. Future research needs to address the barriers to program implementation and maintenance as data on this topic is lacking.

Public participation in urban planning is a contested issue in China. In this article, we look at the endogenous mechanism of institutional change, by analyzing the roles and motivations of “third-party” planning professionals in two contrasting cases: a government-led and a citizen-led participatory practice. Findings show that planners were advocates of citizen participation in heritage preservation in both cases and acted as “mediators” in the first and “activists” in the second, yet remained within the mainstream planning structure. Their motivation to serve the rights of the citizens was clear, but subordinate to the drive to conform to the professional norms of authenticity in preservation in both cases. In contrast to both the Global North where more agonistic approaches question inclusive planning and the Global South where insurgent planning finds space to maneuver, Chinese urban planning seems to proceed by taking small steps within narrow margins when it comes to citizen engagement.

Large infrastructural sectors like energy, transport, agriculture, water and wastewater or housing are increasingly under pressure to become more sustainable in face of climate change related natural hazards and accelerated social inequalities. Resilient urban water infrastructures of the future might require thae transition towards a novel socio-technical configuration: moving away from large-scale centralized treatment facilities towards more small-scale, decentralized and modular technologies developed and run by new actors, and governed by novel rules and regulations. Innovations for this transition are likely to emerge both within global networks, among the various global networks of technology experts, working in NGOs, multinational companies or investment banks, and among local operators of today’s urban water infrastructures and their users. Drawing on Sustainability Transitions and Evolutionary Economic Geography literature, the purpose of this thesis is twofold. First, it seeks to explore how established socio-technical configurations are transformed in the water sector. Second, it investigates how geography and scalar-relational processes condition these re-configuration processes in specific places. To operationalize this dual perspective on both socio-technical configurations and the geography, in which they emerge or not, a novel methodological approach is proposed that combines discourse and social network analysis as well as expert interviews: socio-technical configuration analysis (STCA). The thesis demonstrates the applicability of STCA for studying socio-technical change across space and time and discusses wider implications for the fields of sustainability transitions and economic geography more broadly.

Since the 1980s spatial inequality within countries has been increasing. This thesis focuses in three parts on how certain agglomeration advantages of cities, known as agglomeration economies, have changed and why: 1) According to Marshall (1890) agglomeration economies consist of local advantages in exchanging, respectively, products, employees, and ideas. In this chapter, the relevance of each is measured over time by gathering historical U.S. data on the coagglomeration of industries and the extent to which these buy/sell products from each other, employ similar workers, and patent similar technologies. The results show that since 1970 the local exchange of ideas has become more relevant whereas exchanging products and employees has become less relevant. These changes are influenced by the rise of computer technology, as measured by the decreasing share of routine task intensive jobs, and trade competition from low-wage countries that make industries more knowledge-intensive. Surprisingly, the decreasing transportation costs of goods is not significantly associated with the decreasing importance of input-output linkages nor with the other two agglomeration determinants. 2) The division of labour as agglomeration advantage is often attributed to Adam Smith (1776), who argued that physical proximity facilitates the specialisation of individuals as the fruits of their labour are more easily exchanged. In this chapter is argued that this proximity is more relevant for complex activities where individuals are specialised in more narrow fields and need face-to-face contact to collaborate in larger networks. Results confirm that more complex jobs, industries, patents, and publications are more strongly concentrated in larger cities. U.S. patent data shows that since 1830 the concentration of complex activities in large cities has increased over time, in particular during technological revolutions, which is in line with the observation that the expanding frontier of human knowledge requires an ever-larger division of labour and a stronger spatial concentration of human activities. 3) Cities also have advantages in developing future activities by building on current regional capabilities, so-called dynamic agglomeration economies. This aspect is particularly relevant for regional resilience, as the ability to overcome crises lies partly in the possibility of regions to develop new economic activities when others fade. Using the same patent data, it is shown that cities with a larger variety in technological activities are better able to develop new activities during the great crises in the history of the U.S.A.: the Long Depression (1873-1879), the Great Depression (1929-1934), and the Oil Crisis (1973-1975). The former and latter crisis co-occur with technological revolutions when general purpose technologies come up that revolutionise work and production processes. During these time periods advantages in reinventing regional economic structures become particularly relevant to adapt to new economic realities. All in all, this thesis offers insights why larger more innovative cities grow faster than other regions: 1, they have more knowledge-oriented agglomeration advantages; 2, they accommodate the growing division of labour of complex activities; and 3, they reinvent themselves more easily. The technological computer revolution and globalisation are instrumental to understand the recent growth in spatial inequality.

Rising temperatures, rapid urbanization and soaring demand for natural resources threaten deltas worldwide and make them vulnerable to rising seas, subsidence, droughts, floods, and salt intrusion. However, climate change projections in deltas often address climate-driven stressors in isolation and disregard parallel anthropogenic processes, leading to insufficient socio-political drive. Here, using a combination of process-based numerical models that integrate both climatic and anthropogenic environmental stressors, we project salt intrusion within the Mekong mega-Delta, in the next three decades. We assess the relative effects of various drivers and show that anthropogenic forces such as groundwater extraction-induced subsidence and riverbed level incisions due to sediment starvation can increase the salinity-affected areas by 10–27% compared to the present-day situation, while future sea level rise adds another 6–19% increase. These projections provide crucial input for adaptation policy development in the Mekong Delta and the methodology inspires future systemic studies of environmental changes in other deltas. Human activities, such as groundwater extraction and sediment starvation, are projected to add to climatic factors like sea level rise to exacerbate saline water intrusion into the Mekong Delta, Vietnam over the next 30 years, according to process-based model simulations.

Transportation is among the key aspects that influence active ageing. This realist review intends to understand the mechanisms of urban mobility infrastructure interventions and policies in low- and middle-income countries for older adults and to identify factors, which influenced the success or failure of interventions. We followed the steps suggested by Pawson and colleagues for a realist review. Electronic databases were searched from inception until August 2020. Studies were screened based on titles, abstracts and full text. The quality of included studies was assessed based on rigour and relevance. The evidence was obtained from 36 articles with diverse study designs conducted in 36 low- and middle-income countries. Findings were validated through stakeholder consultations from three low- and middle-income countries. Of the various individual factors identified, behaviour change communication interventions were low-cost, had a long-term impact and were efficient in increasing awareness among users to improve safety, social inclusion and about transport schemes for older adults. Improved transport infrastructure resulted in a shift from private to public transportation. For a sustainable urban transport infrastructure, good governance and involvement of stakeholders for planning and implementing transport interventions were considered necessary. Lack of evaluation, experience of transport planners, and inter-sectoral coordination were key challenges to successful interventions. The review highlighted a lack of older adult-specific transportation policies, and gender-targeted interventions for older women, suggesting a need for interventions and policies based on the contextual factors existing in a region.

Many delta systems worldwide are becoming increasingly urbanized following a variety of processes, including land reclamation, embanking, major engineering and port constructions, dredging and more. Here, we trace the development of one system, the Rhine–Meuse delta in the Netherlands (RMD) from two natural estuaries (the RME fed by the Rhine river and the HVL fed by the Meuse river) to a densely urbanized delta and the effect human activities have had on its morphology through time. Estuary outlines determined from palaeogeographical and old maps and tidal range at the estuary mouth were used to reconstruct basic estuary parameters. Depth distribution was predicted with a morphological tool. We have determined that the northern estuary, where port activities dominate, shows a stepwise deepening due to dredging for navigation. The southern port shows stepwise shallowing as humans closed off this branch from tidal action. Both estuaries show narrowing and loss of intertidal width over the past five centuries. The total loss of water volume has been -5.5 m3×109 since 1500 AD coinciding with major human intervention in the system, driven by the rapid economic boom during the mid 16th century. This has led to a reduction of intertidal areas and floodplains and long-term sediment shortage resulting in a myriad of problems, including increased flood risk, threats to bank protection and infrastructure and loss of nature areas. These problems will be exacerbated in coming centuries by predicted sea-level rise. Other urban deltas, unrestricted by engineering and dredging innovations which took place more gradually in earlier centuries, are now undergoing rapid changes in mere decades, changes which took hundreds of years in the RMD. Future predictions indicate that by 2050 the RMD will experience the highest loss of sediment in the 3500 year history of the system, despite these changes only occurring vertically (deepening) and not laterally (narrowing or embanking). This shows an urgent need to reconsider sediment management and spatial planning of port expansion in urbanized systems and the fate of such systems under climate change and rising sea-levels.

Across the world, the experiences of women in later life vary enormously, not only along intersectional lines, but also due to cumulative (dis)advantages over an individual's life course. The current study explores how early-life structural (dis)advantages experienced by older African women (particularly experiences related to economic adversity and the social disadvantages that often accompany it) shape their later life experiences and agency. The life stories used in this paper emerged from a larger qualitative study of aging and gender identities in Tanzania based on fifteen (15) in-depth interviews and ten (10) focus group discussions with women 60 to 82 years old. Analyzing the data from an intersectional perspective and life course approach demonstrated that older women's situations area result of the complex interaction of various structural and individual factors, and that timing is crucial for exercising agency. The findings also revealed that as a result of gender norms, the majority of older Tanzanian women were vulnerable to discrimination, poverty, and violence. The norms that promote gender discrimination also limit women's agency and social functioning subject to the constraints imposed. To help protect older women against discrimination and violence, gender-sensitive policies, social programs and legal reforms are critical for speed up the pace of change and foster permanent shifts in harmful gender norms so that aging experiences are no longer all about being a woman.

Over time, the transport sector has grown more cognisant of gender differences in planning and policy. Yet, extant literature on transport shows that challenges, such as sexual harassment of women still prevail. The value of this study is its contribution towards gender-responsive transport policies with a focus on women by highlighting (1) the spectrum of barriers that prevent women’s mobility across origin to destination journeys; and (2) construction of safety by using interventions and tools available to them, namely technology, women-only solutions, and infrastructural design. The findings are based on data from in-depth interviews with women participants in two Indian cities–Delhi and Kolkata. Drawing from our research, key policy suggestions include framing interventions in a rights-based manner, institutionalising gender-disaggregated data to inform interventions, and sensitising institutions such as the law enforcement on gender equity and women’s rights to the city. This research would be especially beneficial for regions in and beyond South Asia sharing similar contexts.

Population aging is an emerging demographic issue in Bangladesh as the number and proportion of older adults are increasing faster than other segments of population. The continued growth of older population will challenge the existing health care services, social and economic security, family structures, and public policies. Moreover, the current COVID-19 pandemic has also profoundly influenced the socioeconomic status, public health services, and subsequently well-being of older adults. This chapter used a range of data sources such as Census data (2011), in-depth interviews with older adults (N = 30), and an online survey on implications of COVID-19 on older adults (N = 221). This chapter aims to highlight the challenges of population aging in Bangladesh. Older adults in Bangladesh tend to face greater challenges in terms of income support, health services, access to public transport, and mobility. Traditionally, the older adults in Bangladesh were being taken care of by the family members but the changing sociodemographic and family structure is likely to influence their living arrangements, social interactions, and mental health. To address the challenges, it is essential to understand the complexities of socioeconomic characteristics, law of property inherence, health, family structure, and cultural perspectives toward older adults for framing better policy that would lead to improved quality of life of older adults.

Freshwater species are particularly sensitive to climate fluctuations, but little is known of their response to the large-scale environmental change that took place during the Quaternary. This is partly due to the scarcity of continuously preserved freshwater sedimentary records with orbital chronology. We use a 1.363 Ma high-resolution fossil record of planktonic diatoms from ancient Lake Ohrid to evaluate the role of global and regional versus local-scale environmental change in driving temporal community dynamics. By using a Bayesian joint species distribution model, we found that communities were mostly driven by the local-scale environment. Its effects decreased over time, becoming less important than global and regional environment at the onset of the penultimate glacial, 0.183 Ma. Global and regional control over the environment became important with successive deepening of the lake at around 1.0 Ma, and its influence remained persistent until the present. Our high-resolution data demonstrate the critical role of lake depth and its thermal dynamics in determining phytoplankton response to environmental change by influencing lake mixing, nutrient and light availability. With this study we demonstrate the relative impact of various environmental factors and their scale-dependant effect on the phytoplankton communities during the Quaternary, emphasizing the importance of not only considering climate fluctuations in driving their structure and temporal dynamics but also the local environment.

Forensic soil comparisons can be of high evidential value in a forensic case, but become complex when multiple methods and factors are considered. Bayesian networks are well suited to support forensic practitioners in complex casework. This study discusses the structure of a Bayesian network, elaborates on the in- and output data and evaluates two examples, one using source level propositions and one using activity level propositions. These examples can be applied as a template to construct a case specific network and can be used to assess sensitivity of the target output to different factors and identify avenues for research.

Canopy nitrogen (N) influences carbon (C) uptake by vegetation through its important role in photosynthetic enzymes. Global Vegetation Models (GVMs) predict C assimilation, but are limited by a lack spatial canopy N input. Mapping canopy N has been done in various ecosystems using remote sensing (RS) products, but has rarely considered environmental variables as additional predictors. Our research objective was to estimate spatial patterns of canopy N in European forests and to investigate the degree to which including environmental variables among the predictors would improve the models compared to using remotely sensed products alone. The environmental variables included were climate, soil properties, altitude, N deposition and land cover, while the remote sensing products were vegetation indices and NIR reflectance from MODIS and MERIS sensors, the MOD13Q1 and MTCI products, respectively. The results showed that canopy N could be estimated both within and among forest types using the random forests technique and calibration data from ICP Forests with good accuracy (r2 = 0.62, RRMSE = 0.18). The predicted spatial pattern shows higher canopy N in mid-western Europe and relatively lower values in both southern and northern Europe. For all subgroups tested (All plots, Evergreen Needleleaf Forest (ENF) plots and Deciduous Broadleaf Forest (DBF) plots), including environmental variables improved the predictions. Including environmental variables was especially important for the DBF plots, as the prediction model based on remotely sensed data products predicted canopy N with the lowest accuracy.

Chinese cities, especially large cities, are in urgent need of urban redevelopment but social conflicts in redevelopment processes have threatened social stability. Public participation has been stipulated in national policies to alleviate these conflicts and the responsibility to implement these policies has been delegated to local governments. Therefore, the features of public participation may differ between Chinese cities. Yet, a systematic investigation of this possible heterogeneity is lacking. This article adapts 11 features of governance to build a framework to compare public participation in urban redevelopment in Beijing and Guangzhou. Findings show that the two cities are similar in five features (policy instruments, policy integration, initiators, position of stakeholders, policy level at which citizens operate) but differ in six (policy goals, policy–science interface, power base of citizens, model of representation, rules of interaction and mechanisms of social interaction), making citizens in urban redevelopment in Guangzhou more powerful than their counterparts in Beijing. The observed shift towards urban micro-redevelopment might further strengthen the power of citizens in urban redevelopment in Beijing, but might weaken their power base in Guangzhou. The findings highlight the importance of local context and policy dynamics in the study of public participation in urban redevelopment in China.

Efficient water-resource management is essential with regard to food security, growing populations and climate change. This is especially important for low- and middle-income (LMC) countries where food is often locally produced by traditional smallholder farming. Detailed knowledge of the spatio-temporal distribution of irrigation-water consumption provides valuable information to anticipate local food shortages and water scarcity as a result of climate variability. Yet, adequate techniques to quantify irrigation-water consumption at field level over large areas are lacking. Irrigation estimates generally have a coarse resolution making them inadequate for field-level assessments. This study developed a remote-sensing-based approach to quantify spatio-temporal patterns of irrigation-water consumption at field level using the MODIS evapotranspiration product (MOD16A2) and existing land-use maps on the spatio-temporal distribution of irrigated agriculture. Object-based image analysis was used to establish local evapotranspiration differences between irrigated and rainfed fields on a monthly basis, which are the irrigation-water consumption rates of the irrigated fields. This novel method was applied to a study area in the Central Rift Valley in Ethiopia where smallholder farming is dominant and only a few large-scale farms are present. Comparison with irrigation-water-consumption values of a local irrigation scheme showed that the monthly temporal dynamics were captured quite well, but lower values were calculated compared to the scheme's field data. Comparison with two validated remote-sensing based studies in Africa showed good agreement as irrigation-water-consumption estimates were in the same order of magnitude. Irrigation-water consumption follows the temporal rainfall pattern, i.e. irrigation practices intensify with increased water availability. Surface water is commonly used for irrigation in the study area. Our study shows that smallholder practices have a lower irrigation-water consumption compared to modern large-scale farms by approximately a factor 3. Irrigation-water consumption in the area is considerable, especially during the dry season. On average 32 % of excess water (precipitation – evapotranspiration) is consumed for irrigation. For smallholder irrigation and large-scale irrigation specifically this is 28 % and 63 % respectively. The object-based approach presented here is an operational mapping method for field-level irrigation-water-consumption over large areas. MOD16A2 is a global open-source readily-available evapotranspiration product used here although an evapotranspiration product with a higher spatial resolution might be preferred. Our approach can provide irrigation-water-consumption estimates over large areas in data-poor regions, which will increase the understanding of spatio-temporal patterns of smallholder irrigation and provide information to optimize water use.

River embankments limit flood risk, alter the flood peak, and change sediment deposition rates, but in many areas of the world embankment locations are not available in geodatabases. This lack of information reduces the accuracy of predicted flood extent within inundation models. The objective is therefore to determine the positional accuracy of embankments using time series of Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data with local gauge data. A new method is proposed to: (1) establish the relationship between stage and extent for river cross sections; with stage obtained from gauges and flood extent from SAR-derived flood images, and (2) infer embankment location from plateaus in these plots. The predicted embankment location was compared with airborne LiDAR data for two case studies: the One Hundred Foot Wash (UK) and the Yolo Bypass (Sacramento, USA). The median absolute error for cross sections located in low lying floodplains with low vegetation was 59 m and 110 m, respectively. This increased to 78 m and 197 m when vegetated and cross sections with high ground were included. Application of the method could provide key flood defence information to update geodatabases for locations where data are missing or not widely/freely available, and to improve inundation models up to global scales.

The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) determines wind speed and direction, seasonal heat, moisture transport, storm tracks, cloudiness and sea-ice cover through atmospheric mass balance shifts between the Arctic and the subtropical Atlantic. The NAO is characterized by the typical, yet insufficiently understood, seesaw pattern of warmer winter and spring temperatures over Scandinavia and cooler temperatures over Greenland during the positive phase of the NAO, and vice versa during the negative phase. We tested the potential to reconstruct NAO variation beyond the meteorological record through the application of a microphenological proxy. We measured the Undulation Index (UI) in Betula nana epidermal cells from herbarium leaf samples and fossil peat fragments dating back to 1865—exceeding most meteorological records in the Arctic—to estimate imprints of spring thermal properties and NAO in Greenland and Finland. We found negative relations between Greenland UI and late winter, spring and early summer NAO, and mostly positive, but not significant, relations between Finland UI and NAO in years with pronounced NAO expression. The direction of the UI response in this common circumpolar species is, therefore, likely in line with the NAO seesaw effect, with leaf development response to NAO fluctuations in northern Europe opposing the response in Greenland and vice versa. Increased knowledge of the UI response to climate may contribute to understanding ecological properties of key Arctic species, whilst additionally providing a proxy for NAO dynamics.

During the Second World War, hundreds of thousands of American soldiers of Italian origin were enrolled in the US Armed Forces. Among those who fought in the Italian Campaign (1943-1945), many used their leaves to visit the country and its natural and artistic sights, but foremost to travel to their places of origin. Their visits home, often lasting some days, established stable and continuous contacts in the post-war period as part of root tourism or war tourism. This essay analyzes the visits home of these Italian-American soldiers as a particular form of diaspora tourism, focusing on the way which homecoming engraved on their sense of identity and ethnic-cultural belonging.

s ERT techniques are especially promising in (semi-arid) areas with shallow and rocky soils where other methods fail to produce soil moisture maps and to obtain soil profile information. Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) was performed in the Peyne catchment in southern France at four sites located on four different geological substrates. The main objective was to test the usefulness of such geoelectrical method for the assessment of spatial and temporal variability of soil water content and to demarcate subsurface horizontal zones: topsoil, active zone and bedrock. We used time lapse ERT to separate lithological variability from soil moisture content and to evaluate its potential to demarcate subsurface soil horizons. Three measurement campaigns were carried out and field data were collected using the Sting R1/IP advanced resistivity meter with one-channel receiver. We used an array of 28 electrodes with 1 m spacing, which provided reliable resistivity information to a depth of approximately 5.5 m. ERT were followed by soil sampling carried out with a hand auger, directly below the respective geoelectrical profiles. Empirical linear regression was used to determine the specific relationships between volumetric soil moisture of the field samples and electrical resistivity data obtained in situ. Our conclusions are that ERT is a useful technique for providing information on the spatial–temporal variability of water content in semi-arid areas and for reaching depths otherwise inaccessible. In this study we proposed a method to delineate three important different soil zones: topsoil, active zone, bedrock, based on resistivity data. These three layers are essential information in understanding and modelling the interaction between subsurface and vegetation water uptake, particularly in semi-arid regions.

Reduced availability of plant nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) has detrimental effects on plant growth. Plant N:P ratio, calculated as the quotient of N and P concentrations, is an ecological indicator of relative N and P limitation. Remote sensing has already been widely used to detect plant traits in foliage, particularly canopy N and P concentrations and could be used to detect canopy N:P faster and at lower cost than traditional destructive methods. Despite the potential opportunity of applying remote sensing techniques to detect canopy N:P, studies investigating canopy N:P remote detection are scarce. In this study, we examined if vegetation indices developed for canopy N or P detection can also be used for canopy N:P detection. Using in situ spectrometry, we measured the reflectance of a common grass species, Yorkshire fog (Holcus lanatus L.), grown under different nutrient ratios and levels. We calculated 60 VIs found in literature and compared them to optimized VIs developed specifically for this study. The VIs were calculated using both the original narrow band spectra and the spectra resampled to the band properties of six satellite sensors (MSI – Sentinel 2, OLCI – Sentinel 3, MODIS – Terra/Aqua, OLI – Landsat 8, WorldView 4 and RapidEye) to investigate the influence of bandwidths and band positions. The results showed that canopy N:P was significantly related to both existing VIs (r 2 = 0.16 - 0.48) and optimized VIs (r 2 = 0.59 – 0.72) with correlations similar to what was observed for canopy N or canopy P. Existing VIs calculated with MSI and OLI sensors bands showed higher correlation with canopy N:P compared to the other sensors while the correlation with optimized VIs was not affected by the differences in sensors’ bands. This study might lead to future practical applications using in situ reflectance measurements to sense canopy N:P in grasslands.

This article evaluates the tendencies and impact of urbanization on the land use within the Chisinau agglomeration. The research carried out regarding Stăuceni commune, confirms that the periurban area, undergoes a period of significant spatial and functional transformation, influenced by the demographic pressure, poorly controlled urban development and the intensification of the land relations. By implementing the project “Chisinau Arena” on the territory of Stăuceni commune, the plan for territorial expansion of Chisinau city (in peri-urban areas located on major transport axes) is reconfirmed. At the same time, the demographic forecast presented in scenario III, according to UN for population, shows that the Chisinau population will decrease dramatically, towards 2035, therefore it is necessary that the spatial planning plans to be adapted quickly to the pace of demographic changes, to avoid compromising the infrastructure projects and squandering land in the suburban areas.

The evacuation of the insufficiently treated and nutrient-rich wastewater risks triggering the eutrophication of the receiving water bodies, which would lead to an undesirable disturbance of the balance of the organisms present in the water and to a degradation of the water quality. Nutrient-sensitive areas in the Northern Development Region were identified and delimited. They include sections of rivers in which wastewater is discharged from agglomerations in the region with a population bigger than 10,000 l.e. The modernization of the stations and the increase of the treatment plant would be the way to improve the situation.

The forest is the irreplaceable balance cause within the biosphere. The current relationship between the forest and human has been increasingly publicized lately by the public, politicians, scientists and practitioners. For the sustainable management of the forestry sector, there is a need to know the forest from a quantitative and qualitative point of view. The purpose of the present paper is to know the current state of forests in the territory of Telenesti district in the context of ensuring the ecological balance of the urban and rural ecosystems of this district. Through this analysis, we offer information about the forest at the locality level, the current state and the functions that they do.

The high degree of land use in the Republic of Moldova as a whole, and the Cogâlnic river basin in particular, imposes the need to assess the quality of the environment and the characteristics of the anthropogenic pressure on the landscapes in temporal and spatial dynamics and to identifying an adequate of measure system for the purpose to maintain/restore the optimal structure and functioning of landscape systems. Based from the Land Cadastre on data, statistical data of population censuses, bibliographic and cartographic sources, a system, was appraised a system of indicators(of naturalness, of artificialization of landscapes, environmental changes) and quantified human pressure on the environment through agriculture and anthropogenic pressure on forest landscapes from the Cogâlnic catchment area. The values of the indices and the human pressure on the landscapes were processed using GIS techniques and elaborated cartographic models.

The paper presents the fluctuations of the river Dniester Water Nitrification Index, which denotes that downstream of Naslavcea village the nitrification process is intensely (98%), similar to that calculated according information of 2016-2019 years, and towards Palanca village is of 72-79%. Initrif of river Dniester water has a negative correlates with COD-Cr and BOD5, being evidenced the influence on the nitrification process of chemical and biochemical degradable substances, which is attes

The scope of this study is application of economic regulation of water use in the urban area of Central Development Region from Republic of Moldova. The main objectives of studies are: 1) the analysis of the costs and tariffs of the water supply and sanitation services; 3) the cost recovery instruments of water use; 4) evaluation of financial performance of water supply companies; 5) elaboration of recommendations for reforming of economic mechanism for sustainable use of water resources.

In this study is carried out a complex evaluation of ecotourism resources from the Northern Development Region of the Republic of Moldova. The main ecotourism objectives are identified, systematized and analyzed.. Compared to the other development regions, the ecotourism potential of the region is less utilized. This fact is conditioned by: the peripheral position of the region; the particularly pronounced rural and agrarian character; weaker development of transport, accommodation and leisure infrastructure, etc.

Nutrogen and phopsphorus present one of the key issues in the management of the territory of the National Park Orhei. Mentioned territory can be used as a refference one for the identification of the impacts of nutrients originated from different functional zones on the state of water ecosystems. Wetland restoration activities are recognised as a key ones for the maintenance of nutrient balaces in the region and main catacteristics of the components of environment in the area of the national park are presented.

The methodology for identifying and delimiting nutrient sensitive areas establishes the approaches and criteria for the designation of nutrient sensitive areas according to the Water Law no. 272 of 23.12.2011, partially harmonized with the Council Directive no. 91/271 / EEC of 21 May 1991 on the treatment of urban wastewater. Urban wastewater entering the collection systems, before being discharged into sensitive areas, is subject to a more rigorous treatment for all discharges coming from agglomerations with a population of more than 10,000 equivalent inhabitants.

The land use has undergone some changes in the last 30 years, by reducing the areas with arable land, converting multi-annual plantations into other categories of land, etc. According to the current mode of land use, the Northern Development Region has a pronounced agricultural profile - 80.3% of the total area represents agricultural land. The spatial differentiations regarding the morphological and agro-climatic conditions allowed the identification within the region of areas with agro-forestry and agro-pastoral specializations.

The dynamics of waste generation (according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, period 2013 - 2018) was evaluated which showed that 41% in the Northern Development Region, the Center Development Region -36% and the South Development Region - 23% from the total amount of waste per republic). According to the Inspectorate of Environmental Protection, on the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment of the Republic of Moldova during the year 2018, 1,339 municipal landfills were exploited, occupying a total area of 1224 ha. It has been shown that the Republic of Moldova has the legal and normative framework harmonized in the European Union, necessary to ensure the implementation of waste management. For the implementation of a WM, it is necessary to definitively create the infrastructure throughout the territory of the Republic according to the provisions of the Waste Management Strategy, an important element of which is the strict management record: generation, collection, transport, storage, neutralization and capitalization of the quantities of waste.

The purpose of this research consists in the elucidation of regional and branch aspects of the water use in the Northern Development Region. The main topics presented in this paper are: 1) resources of surface water and groundwater: 3) regional aspects of water use; 4) dynamics of water use by abstracted sources and by the main usage categories; 5) branch profile of water use and its dynamics.

The main objective is to identify how determinants of walking/cycling differ by geographical context, population segment (defined by life stage or preference) and type of walking/cycling, thus paving the way for more diverse policies aimed at specific segments of cyclists/pedestrians. Applying different analytical approaches and using different data sets, this thesis provides evidence that determinants such as socio-demographics, built environment, attitudes, and life events have an impact on walking and cycling behavior, but also that these impacts may differ between population segments, geographical settings and types of walking/cycling. Using the Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT), Chapter 2 quantified the population health benefits for different demographic and socioeconomic groups in the Netherlands. The results revealed that a large number of prevented deaths in certain population groups do not necessarily reflect high walking and cycling levels but rather can also stem from large population size, a high mortality rate or both. Chapter 3 investigated the extent to which differences in the effects of built environmental characteristics on cycling behavior are related to municipality size (i.e., the spatial context) using nationwide data for the Netherlands. The results showed that the municipality size may moderate the association between environmental characteristics and cycling duration. Chapter 4 explored interactions between travel mode attitudes, urbanization level and sociodemographic characteristics in relation to bicycle commuting and cycling for other purposes (e.g., leisure, or social trips). The findings suggest the existence of synergetic mechanisms, in which a positive cycling attitude reinforces favorable environmental conditions for cycling (such as higher urbanization levels) or groups likely to cycle (elderly adults and women). Compensatory mechanisms were found in that having a positive attitude toward cycling had a weaker positive effect on bicycle commuting for those in favorable cycling conditions (such as not having access to a car). These findings may indicate that both mechanisms exist for some specific combination of cycling attitudes and individual and environmental factors. Existing knowledge about walking behavior is mainly based on cross-sectional studies, failing to address causal relations. Chapter 5 fills this gap by providing longitudinal evidence regarding the effects of life events (i.e., regarding household composition, employment, and residential relocation) on transport-related and recreational walking behavior. Childbirth and residential relocation were central determinants of transport-related walking. Specifically, relocation to less urbanized areas was significantly associated with increases in transport-related walking duration. No significant longitudinal relationship was observed between life events and recreational walking. Chapter 6 further considered three types of walking —transit-related transport walking, non-transit-related transport walking, and recreational walking—and investigated these three outcomes on both weekdays and weekends. Residential areas with a higher address density, a more connected street network, a shorter distance to the nearest train station, and more bus stop encouraged transit-related transport walking. Shorter distances to utilitarian destinations were more important for non-transit-related transport walking during weekdays. A lower address density is positively associated with increased recreational walking on weekdays, while no significant associations with the built environment were found on weekends.

This research stresses the role of geography in the formation of network ties that channel ideas, knowledge and technology. It introduces novel aspects to consider while studying the drivers and outcomes of spatial network formation. The thesis establishes that spinoff background matters for tie formation in cluster knowledge networks. It shows that by searching for the drivers of network tie creation and tie persistence separately, we can better understand the evolution of industry clusters. It also provides evidence that co-location and complexity of technologies determine their relatedness ties. Furthermore, this research establishes a connection between forming structurally important linkages and being successful in urban agglomeration of creative industries. Besides extending the literature on spatial networks with new aspects, each of the chapters reinforce that geography is an important determinant of network tie formation.

The article briefly describes the history and fields of application of the theory of extreme values, including climatology. The data format, the Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) probability distributions with Bock Maxima, the Generalized Pareto (GP) distributions with Point of Threshold (POT) and the analysis methods are presented. Estimating the distribution parameters is done using the Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) method. Free R software installation, the minimum set of required commands and the GUI in2extRemes graphical package are described. As an example, the results of the GEV analysis of a simulated data set in in2extRemes are presented.

With a total area of approximately 14,770 km2, which makes up 43.6% of the country's surface, DPBS DRB is characterized by modest water resources. Total surface water resources make up about 3.39 km3 / year (25.32% of the Republic of Moldova's water resources). In the multiannual leakage of both Prut and internal rivers from Prut - Nistru, several cycles with different leakage rates are recorded, a phenomenon probably influenced by the cyclicality of solar activity.

This paper present data regarding natural impact and anthropic over soils in Development Region Central. Due to the intensive exploitation of the land and natural resources the ecological situation worsened considerably as result negative impact over the soil of Region Central. The natural impact and anthropic of agriculture and pressure of various factors, also led to decrease of soil quality and growth the area of soils eroded. Also was a big influence to crops productivity.

The specificity of zonal pedogenesis factors and their influence on the horizon thickness in the soil profile contributes to the formation of specific characters for each horizon. A clear example can be observed in the interaction between pedogenesis and hydrology, where the illuvial and spontaneous processes move soil-clay minerals, oxides, soil carbon, carbonates and other compounds into the soil profile. Such reciprocal links allow the application of the statistical analysis to assess the variability of the horizons thickness and the prognosis of their spatial spread in relation to the factors that determine the formation of the horizon thickness.

In the present work, the electromagnetic pollution caused by radiation of industrial frequency (50 Hz) was estimated in Orhei city. Five unfavorable loci were identified in residential areas of the city associated with noncompliance of the sanitary protection zone. Based the biotesting territory, it was found that the most sensitive morphophysiological traits of the test plant Polygonum aviculare L. are the length of the main stem and corolla coloring. It is observed that the greater transmission line voltage the longer of the main stem, and less the intensity of corolla color (from red to white).

Environmental changes will in large part affect the growth and survival of forests in the future, especially in peripheral and transitional areas of ecosystems, such as forests in the Republic of Moldova (central mesophilic forests from North and the center of the country are at the South-East limit of its natural area). In the future, the distribution of oak populations in response to climate change will depend on the potential of species migrating, by spreading seeds to more favorable locations (eg.: to the North), natural selection with actions on a different genetic basis (in the case of large populations), and the flow of genes from other populations, which will favor rapid adaptation. However, many tree populations will be drastically tested in their adaptive potential, so human intervention will be needed. By climate aridization and its associated processes, the areas of the Quercus petraea and Q.robur, at the southern, south-eastern and eastern border of the species on the territory of the country, will be restricted, with the North-Eastern expansion of the current habitats of Quercus pubescens.

In the sense of digital terrain modeling, there is a set of techniques for obtaining a Digital Elevation Model (DEM). But, as expected, modeling the terrestrial surface, its representation in a virtual space, involves certain problems that are related to the surface specificity itself and our way of measuring it. Numerical altitude models, once performed, find their usefulness as input data for derivation of some topographical attributes of geomorphometric parameters, morphometric variables or general information about the land respectively.