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Although geoheritage is gaining importance wordwide, much appreciation is still required for the overlooked geoheritage resources. The geoheritage of Saudi Arabia is promising and gaining much attention towards geoconversation and geotourism, but thematic publications are limited compared to the global context. This paper aims to identify the relevant geosites in Saudi Arabia according to the IUCN theme and propose a geoheritage strategic plan. For identification of the geosite, we have conducted a comprehensive review of published literature and online material, including web blogs, YouTube videos, social media, and governmental websites. For the strategic plan for known/unknown geosite, published literature from established geoparks with similar key landforms has been reviewed. Seven IUCN themes can be linked with the geoheritage of Saudi Arabia. Most of these sites are local tourist spots, therefore, immense potential for the geotourism development. The key geomorphological heritage in Saudi Arabia is volcanic harrat, escarpment, cave, mesas, butte, pinnacle, canyon, island, aeolian dune, and submarine corals. Geological heritage includes various fossils in Tuwaiq Mountain. Submarine geoheritage includes different colourful corals and rock structures with high scientific value. Biodiversity-protected area and cultural heritage site enhance the geoheritage value of the geosite, and its geotourism importance.

ABSTRACTThis paper accompanies the Maps of Geohazard features of the Cilento and the Calabro-Tyrrhenian continental margin in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy). The main geohazard-related features were derived from extensive seafloor mapping through the collection of high-resolution multibeam data acquired during several oceanographic cruises. They encompass many fluids seepage features, fault scarps, landslides scars, gullies, channels, and canyons. Hazards related to coastal landslides and shelf-indenting canyons are very high in these sectors (especially in southern Calabria) due to active seismicity coupled with rapid uplift, high sedimentation rates and narrow or totally absent continental shelf, thus promoting a direct connection between steep slopes and coastal areas. In this setting, mass-wasting features can directly impact coastal or submarine infrastructures or indirectly create local tsunami waves, as observed in historical times. Moreover, this physiographic setting of the margin facilitates the transfer of marine litter toward deep-sea areas.

Although geoheritage is gaining importance wordwide, much appreciation is still required for the overlooked geoheritage resources. The geoheritage of Saudi Arabia is promising and gaining much attention towards geoconversation and geotourism, but thematic publications are limited compared to the global context. This paper aims to identify the relevant geosites in Saudi Arabia according to the IUCN theme and propose a geoheritage strategic plan. For identification of the geosite, we have conducted a comprehensive review of published literature and online material, including web blogs, YouTube videos, social media, and governmental websites. For the strategic plan for known/unknown geosite, published literature from established geoparks with similar key landforms has been reviewed. Seven IUCN themes can be linked with the geoheritage of Saudi Arabia. Most of these sites are local tourist spots, therefore, immense potential for the geotourism development. The key geomorphological heritage in Saudi Arabia is volcanic harrat, escarpment, cave, mesas, butte, pinnacle, canyon, island, aeolian dune, and submarine corals. Geological heritage includes various fossils in Tuwaiq Mountain. Submarine geoheritage includes different colourful corals and rock structures with high scientific value. Biodiversity-protected area and cultural heritage site enhance the geoheritage value of the geosite, and its geotourism importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NEOM in the northwestern part of Saudi Arabia comprises of range of geodiversity like desert, mountain, and coast. This paper is a pioneering approach to document the geoheritage value of key landforms with outstanding scientific, educational, touristic, and additional value. The objective of this study is to prepare an inventory of the key geosites. The methodology involves the identification of geosites and geoheritage assessment and identifies geotourism potential. The study revealed ten key geosites, classified into geomorphological, geological, and geoarchaeological sites. Major key landforms are canyon, yardang, honeycomb structure, columnar basaltic lava, syn- and post-sedimentary deformation, denuded landscape, gullies in evaporite, alluvial fan, dyke swarm, and valley. The tectonic process in different geological phases formed various-scale deformations and fault structures, modified by rainfall and fluvial systems, including various gully and alluvial fans. Further, substantial shifting of the environment from the fluvial to the aeolian environment and weathering along the tectonic structures within a single territory of NEOM represent the geodiversity. Biodiversity and archaeological imprint in the geosites enhanced the additional value of the geosite. The study recommends that these ten sites be conserved and promoted for geotourism through the involvement of academicians, policymakers, and local people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper accompanies the Maps of Geohazard features of the Cilento and the Calabro- Tyrrhenian continental margin in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy). The main geohazardrelated features were derived from extensive seafloor mapping through the collection of high-resolution multibeam data acquired during several oceanographic cruises. They encompass many fluids seepage features, fault scarps, landslides scars, gullies, channels, and canyons. Hazards related to coastal landslides and shelf-indenting canyons are very high in these sectors (especially in southern Calabria) due to active seismicity coupled with rapid uplift, high sedimentation rates and narrow or totally absent continental shelf, thus promoting a direct connection between steep slopes and coastal areas. In this setting, masswasting features can directly impact coastal or submarine infrastructures or indirectly create local tsunami waves, as observed in historical times. Moreover, this physiographic setting of the margin facilitates the transfer of marine litter toward deep-sea areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internal solitary waves (ISWs) occur in stratified seawater and are characterized by substantial amplitudes and short periods. ISWs engender significant interactions between seawater and seafloor topography. They resuspend seabed sediments in various ways, and the submarine canyon acts as a main channel for transporting the suspended sediments from the shallow sea to the deep sea. Among the seas worldwide where ISWs are prevalent, the South China Sea exhibits the largest amplitude of ISWs, and the ISWs directly interact with the seafloor topography near the Dongsha area in the northern South China Sea. Through the analysis of the water profile and high-resolution multi-beam detection data in the vicinity of the Dongsha area, it was found that the submarine canyon exerts a great impact on the sediment resuspension and the bottom nepheloid layer formation induced by ISWs. The observation results show that the concentration of suspended particulate matter within the submarine canyon is remarkably higher than that outside the canyon. The concentration at the bottom of the canyon can reach twice that of the outside regions, forming a vast bottom nepheloid layer. In addition, with the presence of the submarine canyon, the suspended matter carried by the ISWs accumulates in the water column above the canyon, leading to a higher concentration above the canyon. ISWs not only could influence the submarine canyons, but also interacted with it. This interaction enhanced the resuspension and transport of seafloor sediments along submarine canyons and trenches. This study deepens the understanding of the effect of ISWs on sediment resuspension in submarine canyons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Submarine canyon is an important channel for long-distance sediment transport, and an important part of deep-water sedimentary system. The large-scale Rizhao Canyons have been discovered for the first time in 2015 in the continental slope area of the western South China Sea. Based on the interpretation and analysis of multi-beam bathymetry and two-dimensional multi-channel seismic data, the geology of the canyons has however not been studied yet. In this paper, the morphology and distribution characteristics of the canyon are carefully described, the sedimentary filling structure and its evolution process of the canyon are analyzed, and then its controlling factors are discussed. The results show that Rizhao Canyons group is a large slope restricted canyon group composed of one east–west west main and nine branch canyons extending to the south. The canyon was formed from the late Miocene to the Quaternary. The east–west main canyon is located in the transition zone between the northern terrace and the southern Zhongjiannan Slope, and it is mainly formed by the scouring and erosion of the material source from the west, approximately along the slope direction. Its development and evolution is mainly controlled by sediment supply and topographic conditions, the development of 9 branch canyons is mainly controlled by gravity flow and collapse from the east–west main canyon. This understanding result is a supplement to the study of "source-channel–sink" sedimentary system in the west of the South China Sea, and has important guiding significance for the study of marine geological hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geotourism activities are increasing day by day for the purposes of research, learning, visiting, and geological protection. Today, georoutes, as cultural routes, are accepted as an important activity area that offers various activities to visitors who want to learn about the historical, cultural and natural heritage of a region and provides the distribution of income from tourism to large areas. With its unique cultural and architectural history, geological and geomorphological features, Safranbolu plays the role of hosting for one of Türkiye’s culturally important regions. In this study, it is aimed to transfer the geological heritage elements that make up the geotourism locations of Safranbolu to the Geographical Information Systems (GIS) environment and to determine the georoutes using the network analysis method. The proposed GIS route analysis reveals a great potential for geotourism in the region for geo-heritage asset detection in the digital environment, considering the economic benefits and time savings. In this manner, it will be possible to visit and protect almost all of the assets in the field by using this road map created during the analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The land-detached Gollum Channel System (GCS) is one of very few large-scale canyon-channel systems on the Northwest European margin and thought to be of high importance in both along-slope and downslope sediment transport processes in the Porcupine Seabight basin. It is, however, unknown when this system was formed and how active it has been throughout its evolution, making it difficult to assess its regional impact. Here, using well data integrated with airgun seismic reflection data, a seismic stratigraphy (Cretaceous to present) is built for the GCS for the first time. We find that, contrary to what was thought before, the GCS was formed before Quaternary glaciations occupied the continental shelf and its origin is tentatively associated to a phase of Northeast Atlantic margin tilting in the early Pliocene. Each of the channels that make up the GCS was initiated by incision from erosive downslope gravity flows originating on the Celtic Sea Shelf. Gravity flows from Quaternary glacial processes reused the channels and mostly bypassed the upper slope or contributed to the channel fill, though some flows were capable of erosion of existing channel flanks and incision of several smaller channels. Additionally, we show that this margin was incised by erosive gravity flows on several occasions through time and that these incisions seem to follow preferential pathways. Interaction with along-slope bottom currents from the start of the Quaternary onwards was crucial to distribute sediments and nutrients to sediment drifts and cold-water coral mounds further north (downstream) along the Irish margin.

This study aims to overcome the unexpected hydrocarbon non-potentiality detected in the upper Alam El-Bueib (I to IIIE) and justify the hydrocarbon accumulation within Alam El-Bueib (IIIG) at the Emry oil field, also, it is important to highlight the importance of fault seal analysis and the impact of Matruh canyon as a seal. Seismic interpretation and 3D structural framework are carried out using the fault-seal analysis technique for fault no.1 (F1). To assess the fault zone's capacity to be defined as either seal or leakage. Litho-facies juxtaposition diagram (Allan diagram) and Shale Gouge Ratio (SGR) were generated. It is concluded that the possible reason for the dry reservoir of the upper part of Alam El Bueib (Alam El Bueib I to IIIE) due to the leakage of the fault (F1). On the other hand, the seal mechanism for Alam El Bueib IIIG is mainly related to increasing the thickness of the Matruh shale and Matruh Canyon act as a seal rock. SGR for Alam El Bueib IIIG is around 80%, which confirms the presence of the shale in Matruh Canyon is the reason for accumulating the hydrocarbon at Alam El Bueib IIIG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• -Landscape connectivity is a key issue in distribution of plant species. • -Potential corridors and density of corridor were modeled using LCPs and LCC analysis. • -M. peregrina species has a high dispersal potential in the canyons landform. • -Soil texture and altitude are the most important variables in drawn corridors. • -Topographic heterogeneity plays a positive role in the corridors with high flow density. Understanding the effects of landscape structures on species distribution is critical in landscape connectivity studies. Moringa peregrina is a subtropical plant that exhibits specialized habitat selection and is facing local extinction due to drought and habitat destruction. By modeling distribution and habitat connectivity, the present study highlights the effect of different landforms on the distribution of M. peregrina in southeastern Iran. After recording the presence points (61 points), species distribution models (SDMs) were developed based on topographic, vegetation cover, and soil variables using Classification and Regression Tree (CART), Random Forest (RF), TreeNET, Logistic Regression (LR), and Generalized Path Seeker (GPS) models. The models were validated based on the Area Under the Curve (AUC), accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, and precision metrics. The results of single models were combined through a weighting method and the inverse of the integrated map was used as the cost map. The landscape connectivity between the presence points was modeled using Least-Cost Paths (LCPs) and Least-Cost Corridors (LCC) analyses based on potential corridors (LCC landscape) and intensity of use (LCPs_Line_Density). The effect of landforms on presence/pseudo-absence points and habitat connectivity was analyzed using the Chi-square test and cumulative frequency curve, respectively. According to the results, dataset 122 yielded the best results, and soil texture variables (sand and silt) and physiographic variables (elevation, slope, and hillshade) had the greatest effects on the habitat suitability in the region. A significant difference was found between the presence and pseudo-absence points in different landforms (p -value < 0.01). Among the landform types, canyons covered about 68% of the LCC, whereas plains did not play a role in the coverage of the linkages detected. Thus, M. peregrina has greater distribution potential in the canyons. This type of landform, with a high sand content, a light soil texture, a slope of less than 20%, and high-quality linkages at elevations over 500 m, plays a vital role in creating high-intensity linkages. The analysis of the changes in environmental parameters along the linkages showed that the greatest variable heterogeneity is found in topography, while the soil variables are homogeneous along the linkages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous publications by domestic and foreign authors deal with a significant role of underwater canyons in transit of loose material from the littoral to the abyssal surfaces of the seas. Lake Baikal fully corresponds in its hydrodynamic and bathymetric parameters to sea water basins, and the Baikal canyons are similar in their morphological and morphometric factors to sea canyons. A digital elevation model of the southwest underwater tip of the lake, generated based on a large array of bathymetric data, allowed identifying clearly defined valleys of the Shamanka and Slyudyanka canyons. The data obtained during the study of the canyon-valley area, carried out using special geophysical measuring instruments – Kongsberg EM710S multibeam echosounder and Knudsen CHIRP 3260 profilograph, – and analysis of the published materials showed a rather high degree of confindness of coarse debris to the canyon valleys and alluvial fans which implies their significant role in sediment transit. It has been shown that high seismicity of the Baikal basin and active wave conditions give rise to the formation of movable loose sediment masses and to the occurrence of gravity flows in the canyon valleys. Climate changes over the last decades contribute also to permafrost decomposition in the Baikal basin and to new-sediment transport into the lake. It is implied that an intensive development of the coastline leads to the coastal accumulation of a large amount of industrial and municipal contaminants which can move through the canyons to different distances into the lake water area. To date, there is no definite answer to the question about an actual role of underwater canyons in the transit of technogenic wastes to the abyssal lake surface. This requires organized large-scale specialized fieldwork with the use of high-precision geological-geophysical measuring instruments, and systematic sampling and thorough analysis of the bottom material.

This study assesses the impacts of urban configurations on thermal perceptions in Flat Bandar Tasik Selatan (FBTS) and Surya Magna (SM) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It aims to understand the impacts of urban configurations on thermal perceptions in outdoor spaces. The study addresses the following research questions: (1) Do urban configurations influence outdoor comfort? (2) Do urban configurations also have significant impacts on thermal perceptions? We mapped out the sites to understand their configurations. The research considered on-site measurements of the environmental conditions and carried out modelling and simulations (ENVI-met V3.1) of the sites. Mathematical models (Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), and Standard Effective Temperature (SET)) were used to determine the thermal indices and the impact of the urban configurations on outdoor comfort. The thermal indices varied from 25.44 to 34.75 °C. In terms of the main contribution of this work, the results show that in hot and humid climate regions, urban configurations plus other design variables (e.g., orientation towards the Sun's path) and environmental parameters influence occupants' comfort and perceptions. Our findings show that high solar radiation and the need for a better thermal environment in hot and humid climates are the contributing factors for developing alternative urban configurations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fields of Lagrangian ( T L ) and Eulerian ( T E ) time scales of the turbulence within a regular array of two-dimensional obstacles of unit aspect ratio have been determined by means of a water-channel experiment reproducing the atmospheric boundary layer in neutral conditions. It has been found that there is a strong spatial inhomogeneity both of the scales and of their ratio, β = T L / T E . The results can provide useful information on numerical modelling of tracer dispersion in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enterovirus 70 (EV70) is a human pathogen belonging to the family Picornaviridae. EV70 is transmitted by eye secretions and causes acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis, a serious eye disease. Despite the severity of the disease caused by EV70, its structure is unknown. Here, we present the structures of the EV70 virion, altered particle, and empty capsid determined by cryo-electron microscopy. The capsid of EV70 is composed of the subunits VP1, VP2, VP3, and VP4. The partially collapsed hydrophobic pocket located in VP1 of the EV70 virion is not occupied by a pocket factor, which is commonly present in other enteroviruses. Nevertheless, we show that the pocket can be targeted by the antiviral compounds WIN51711 and pleconaril, which block virus infection. The inhibitors prevent genome release by stabilizing EV70 particles. Knowledge of the structures of complexes of EV70 with inhibitors will enable the development of capsid-binding therapeutics against this virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local site conditions, especially complex topography and geological structure, play a critical role in determining the peak acceleration and spectral representation of ground motions under earthquakes; however, they are not yet considered sufficiently in ground motion prediction equations. The scattering of seismic waves by complex site conditions leads to complexity for quantifying the relation among incident waves, site conditions, and site amplification effect based on traditional regression technology. This article explores the prediction performance for local site amplification effect on ground motion using a machine learning-based model, including the support vector machine, extreme learning machine, classical artificial neural network, and two optimizing algorithms with an artificial neural network. A typical local topography, a canyon with cliffs, is studied as an example, and the site amplification effect generated by scattering is determined by the boundary element method. The results indicate that the extreme learning machine and artificial neural network can predict the local site effect of ground motion, while the support vector machine does not yield reliable estimates. The particle swarm optimization and adaptive differential evolution can improve the predicted accuracy, and the adaptive differential evolution-artificial neural network algorithm has slightly better performance and stability. The incident frequency and depth of cliffs are significant parameters for the site amplification effect, whereas the depth of the V-shaped canyon is relatively insignificant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A complicated natural topography, such as a cavity beneath a canyon, can cause considerable ground motion during earthquakes. This phenomenon is referred to as a site effect. An awareness of site effects can help to reduce damage to property and loss of life. However, modeling the highly complex interactions between a cavity and a canyon requires considerable mesh skills. In this study, we developed a novel, systematic approach to meshing this kind of complicated topography, wherein irregularities are meshed via arithmetic progression, the formula of the internal division point, and the transfinite interpolation (TFI) function. We then implemented a hybrid method combining Lamb's series with the finite element method (FEM) in conjunction with the proposed meshing skill to resolve the problem of anti-plane scattering. The results were verified using two degenerated models: a semi-circular canyon and a cavity beneath a planar surface. We made a detailed account of how the responses of u y at the surface of the semi-circular canyon and around the surface of the circular cavity were affected by the incident angle of SH waves ( Θ), dimensionless frequency ( η), and variations in the radius of the circular cavity ( a 1 ). Interestingly, the responses of u y were affected by the following site effects: (1) plate-like effects related to the buried depth of the circular cavity, (2) canyon-decay effects due to the existence of the canyon, and (3) creep effects associated with the curvature and size of circular cavity. The patterns of u y at the free surface and surface of the circular cavity are affected by each of the aforementioned site effects, which all depend profoundly on Θ , η and a 1 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structure-canyon-structure interaction is investigated using a whole model of two shear walls supported by rigid foundations on both sides of a semi-circle river-canyon embedded in a homogenous half-space. A closed-form analytical solution is presented for the model response to incident plane SH-wave based on the wave function expansion method. The analysis focuses on the effects of the structure-canyon-structure interaction. Structure-canyon-structure interaction depends not only on the distances between canyon and structures but also on the frequency of the incident wave and the incident angle. For inclined wave incidence, the response of structure on the incoming wave side is always larger than that of the outgoing wave side. The peak of building foundation response can be enlarged by about 69.68%, and the peak relative response of the building can be amplified by 60.40%. The interaction cannot be ignored, even when the distances between the canyon and the structures are very large. The canyon response is highly related to the dynamic characteristics of the structures on both sides of the river. This paper is an attempt on site–city interaction, a problem closer to practical real problems. The model and the results may be useful for obtaining insight into the effects of structure-canyon-structure interaction and interpreting the observed response in buildings and seismic response estimation in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collapse is a common geomorphic process in karst areas, especially on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, which has a tectonic background of integral uplift. The frequent occurrence of collapse processes in karst underground caves and canyons indicates that collapses play an important role in the formation of canyons. Through an analysis of the morphology of a semicircular cliff in the Huajiang Grand Canyon and an investigation of sediments at the bottom of the cliff, a large-scale collapse event was found to have occurred. U-series dating of secondary calcium carbonate cement in the collapse breccias indicates that collapse processes occurred approximately 200 ka. According to the geomorphological evolution of the Huajiang Grand Canyon, the following geomorphic evolutionary process is proposed: underground river—cave hall—collapse of a tiankeng—tiankeng degradation—canyon formation. These findings also show that the dating of collapsed breccia cement can be effectively used to determine the development times of karst canyons and the formation ages of tiankengs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphology is one of the principal driving forces governing the sedimentology and evolution of delta‐canyon‐fan systems. However, quantified and systematic studies of morphological controls are still very limited. This study applied hydraulic‐based stratigraphic forward modelling to investigate the impacts of morphological parameters on sediment budget partitioning and channel network of delta‐canyon‐fan systems on passive margins. A total of six sets of stratigraphic forward models are built using 47 initial bathymetries with six varying morphological parameters: shelf gradient; shelf width; slope gradient; canyon sinuosity; canyon depth; and basin gradient. The quantified relationships between morphological parameters and sedimentological parameters (dimensions, deposition/erosion volume/area, number of tributaries and slope channels) are investigated. The causes behind the relationships are explored by analyzing the response of qualified sedimentary features to morphological controls, such as grain‐size distribution, channel migration and sequence stratigraphic frame. The results suggest that low shelf gradient, low shelf width, high canyon gradient and low canyon sinuosity are beneficial for sediment budget partitioning into deep basins and turbidity currents to flow inside canyons. Low canyon depth also promotes sediment delivery but results in more channels on canyon flanks. For the delta, channel lateral migration increases then decreases with increasing shelf gradient due to the gradient threshold in determining channel sinuosity; delta size increases then stops increasing with increasing shelf width due to the shelf width threshold in determining the balance between accommodation and sediment supply. For the canyon, low canyon gradient, high canyon sinuosity and low canyon depth have similar effects on canyons, all resulting in significant channel translation and canyon widening but less canyon head retrogradation. This study improves the knowledge of controlling factors and sediment transport regime of a delta–canyon–fan system. Moreover, the observed relationships could provide semi‐quantitative guidelines to predict the dimensions of delta–canyon–fan systems and the distribution of hydrocarbon reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Karst terrains have varied abiotic and biotic values. However, due to their unfavourable conditions for human settling, they are relatively sparsely populated areas. Thus, karst terrains merit and are suitable for nature protection. In this paper, partly or mostly karstic European national parks (NP) and geoparks (GP) are studied. We compiled a dataset based on official information and internet sources, and analysed NPs and GPs by location, morphology and timeline. Nowadays, there are 106 partly or mostly karstic NPs in Europe, that means 23% of all NPs. Many of the karst terrains became protected before the terms of geotourism and geopark came into being. 49% of all GPs contain karst terrains, which means that karsts are key issues in the study of geoheritage and geotourism. Tourism into karstic NPs and GPs can be considered sensu lato geotourism, since tourists travelling to these locations generally visit caves, gorges, travertine lakes and other karst features. Adventure tourism is also significant in karstic NPs and GPs. The most popular NPs host several millions of visitors a year, that implies economic benefits, but also poses environmental problems, thus certain parks already reached their carrying capacity, while other parks plan to increase their visitor numbers.

Supraglacial streams are a significant part of the glacial hydrological system and important for understanding glacial hydrology and dynamics. Here we infer factors that influence the long-term development of perennial supraglacial streams, particularly in reference to canyon, incised and surface stream formation. Orthophotos and digital elevation models generated from high-resolution aerial imagery taken with unmanned aerial vehicles or piloted helicopters between 2010 and 2017 were used to compare seven streams on Fountain Glacier, Bylot Island, Canada over time. Results show canyon formation occurs from a combination of fluvial processes and the impact of solar radiation. The greater the discharge or slope, the faster the incision and higher the sinuosity. With greater sinuosity, the distance between the top of the valley banks increases, and cutoffs cause trapezoidal canyon-like valleys to form. Solar radiation causes the backward migration of the valley walls, further enhancing canyon area. Canyons are less likely to occur in areas of low discharge and slope. Less incised channels are also more likely to have water flow jumping the channel banks, changing the channel path. The presence of medial moraines and crevasses also increases rerouting of small streams. Lastly, windblown created snow-plugs may lead to stream diversion.

RESUMO As Bignoniaceae reúnem 82 gêneros e cerca de 860 espécies, distribuídas principalmente pela região neotropical, sendo que o Brasil possui a ocorrência de cerca de 33 gêneros e 416 espécies. Uma vez que o Parque Estadual do Guartelá representa um importante remanescente dos Campos Gerais e que há poucos estudos sobre as Bignoniaceae na região sul do país, este trabalho objetivou contribuir para a caracterização de sua flora através da monografia para as Bignoniaceae ocorrentes na área. As coletas foram feitas ao longo de trilhas e estradas, bem como em incursões nos campos e florestas durante 12 meses. Adenocalymma, Amphilophium, Anemopaegma, Bignonia, Dolichandra, Fridericia, Handroanthus, Jacaranda, Mansoa, Pyrostegia, Tabebuia e Tynanthus foram os gêneros registrados, os quais totalizaram 18 espécies.

The location of mixing due to internal tides is important for both the ocean circulation as well as local biogeochemical processes. Numerous observations and modeling studies have shown that submarine canyons may be regions of enhanced internal tide‐driven mixing, but there has not yet been a systematic study of all submarine canyons resolved in bathymetric datasets. Here, we parameterize the internal tide‐driven dissipation from a suite of simulations and pair this with a global high‐resolution, internal tide‐resolving model and bathymetric dataset to estimate the internal‐tide‐driven dissipation that occurs in all documented submarine canyons. We find that submarine canyons dissipate a significant fraction of the incoming internal tide's energy, which is consistent with observations. When globally integrated, submarine canyons are responsible for dissipating 30.8–75.3 GW, or 3.2%–7.8% of the energy input into the M2‐frequency internal tides. This percentage of the internal tide energy that is dissipated in submarine canyons is comparable to or larger than previous calculations using extrapolations from observations of single canyons. Plain Language Summary: Internal waves, or waves that propagate in density layers below the surface of the ocean, are responsible for transporting a significant amount of energy throughout the ocean. When these waves break, they deposit their energy in local mixing events. Submarine canyons have been identified as a type of topography that leads to significant internal wave‐driven mixing. In this study, we use a global map of canyons, together with a high‐resolution ocean model, to calculate the percentage of internal wave energy that is lost to mixing in submarine canyons. We find that a significant fraction of the incident internal wave energy is lost within each submarine canyon. We then sum the energy loss for all submarine canyons to calculate the amount of internal wave‐driven mixing that occurs within canyons over the global ocean. We find that approximately 5%, a non‐negligible amount, of the energy in the global M2‐frequency internal wavefield is lost in canyons. This percentage of the internal wave energy that is lost in submarine canyons is comparable to or larger than previous calculations using extrapolations from observations of single canyons. Key Points: We present a framework for estimating the range of global internal tide‐driven dissipation in submarine canyonsSubmarine canyons may dissipate approximately 5% of the energy input into the global internal tidesPrior estimates of canyon‐driven dissipation may be underestimates, as regions of max canyon‐induced mixing have been un‐ or under‐observed [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assesses the impacts of urban configurations on thermal perceptions in Flat Bandar Tasik Selatan (FBTS) and Surya Magna (SM) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It aims to understand the impacts of urban configurations on thermal perceptions in outdoor spaces. The study addresses the following research questions: (1) Do urban configurations influence outdoor comfort? (2) Do urban configurations also have significant impacts on thermal perceptions? We mapped out the sites to understand their configurations. The research considered on-site measurements of the environmental conditions and carried out modelling and simulations (ENVI-met V3.1) of the sites. Mathematical models (Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), and Standard Effective Temperature (SET)) were used to determine the thermal indices and the impact of the urban configurations on outdoor comfort. The thermal indices varied from 25.44 to 34.75 °C. In terms of the main contribution of this work, the results show that in hot and humid climate regions, urban configurations plus other design variables (e.g., orientation towards the Sun’s path) and environmental parameters influence occupants’ comfort and perceptions. Our findings show that high solar radiation and the need for a better thermal environment in hot and humid climates are the contributing factors for developing alternative urban configurations.

Salaj county has a rich and diversified tourism potential induced both by natural and human resources. Natural potential consists in the presence of natural resources of the following types: morphological (the mountainous relief, spectacular valleys with sectors of gorges or gullets, karst relief, residual microforms or those created by the action of the external agents), climatic, hydrological (the presence of mineral waters mainly sulfurous and thermal which have been known and used since the previous century, the spectacular landscapes created by some peculiarities of the river valley and also to the presence of a few lakes), bio-geographical (vast areas with forest, which give the appellation of Sylvania Country). In Salaj there are also a few natural reservations and over 350 archeological (the Roman castra Porolissum, and also many other vestiges of Roman, Dacian or even prehistorical origin) and architectural sites with a great architectural and historical value, original gastronomical and folk traditions, cultural and artistic events known both locally and nationally. Distinctive for Salaj county is the presence of over 70 wooden churches, architectural monuments of great artistic and historical value.

A regional neural network-based method, “CANYON-MED” is developed to estimate nutrients and carbonate system variables specifically in the Mediterranean Sea over the water column from pressure, temperature, salinity, and oxygen together with geolocation and date of sampling. Six neural network ensembles were developed, one for each variable (i.e., three macronutrients: nitrates (NO3-), phosphates (PO43-) and silicates (SiOH4), and three carbonate system variables: pH on the total scale (pHT), total alkalinity (AT), and dissolved inorganic carbon or total carbon (CT), trained using a specific quality-controlled dataset of reference “bottle” data in the Mediterranean Sea. This dataset is representative of the peculiar conditions of this semi-enclosed sea, as opposed to the global ocean. For each variable, the neural networks were trained on 80% of the data chosen randomly and validated using the remaining 20%. CANYON-MED retrieved the variables with good accuracies (Root Mean Squared Error): 0.73 μmol.kg–1 for NO3-, 0.045 μmol.kg–1 for PO43- and 0.70 μmol.kg–1 for Si(OH)4, 0.016 units for pHT, 11 μmol.kg–1 for AT and 10 μmol.kg–1 for CT. A second validation on the ANTARES independent time series confirmed the method’s applicability in the Mediterranean Sea. After comparison to other existing methods to estimate nutrients and carbonate system variables, CANYON-MED stood out as the most robust, using the aforementioned inputs. The application of CANYON-MED on the Mediterranean Sea data from autonomous observing systems (integrated network of Biogeochemical-Argo floats, Eulerian moorings and ocean gliders measuring hydrological properties together with oxygen concentration) could have a wide range of applications. These include data quality control or filling gaps in time series, as well as biogeochemical data assimilation and/or the initialization and validation of regional biogeochemical models still lacking crucial reference data. Matlab and R code are available at https:// github.com/MarineFou/CANYON-MED/.

Salaj county has a rich and diversified tourism potential induced by the water resources. This is related to the presence of mineral waters mainly sulfurous and thermal, which have been known and used since the previous century, the spectacular landscapes created by some peculiarities of the river valley and also to the presence of a few lakes. The tourism potential is not fully capitalized even though there are some spas where the healing properties of the mineral waters are used, while others have been turned into ruins and destroyed. The tourism potential of running waters is given by the presence of some spectacular valley sectors (gorges, canyons). Lakes attract the tourists especially for their fishing resources.

The measurement data on the Kamchatka Canyon, including the block diagram, a set of echograms, the longitudinal profile of the canyon, and the bathymetric map, and the continuous seismoacoustic profiling data (CSP) has been reinterpreted. The study covers the shelf and the upper and middle parts of the continental slope. Regional gas-saturated strata have been discovered in the Cenozoic cover of the shelf and the continental slope, as well as in the block landslides of the sedimentary cover on the left (~55 km long, the western slope of the Kamchatka Cape) and right (more than 25 km long, the Kamchatka river delta front) sides of the canyon. Hanging landslides on the left side are associated with a 100–150 m increase in the depth of the canyon. On the middle slope, there is a large (28 km long) block landslide and its almost compensated paleochannel. The sub-latitudinal turn and the displacement of the canyon mouth to the north by 70 km is related to uplifting of the ridge-barrier in the Middle Pleistocene – Holocene. Based on the measurement and CSP data, it becomes possible to contour landslides on the sides of the Kamchatka Canyon, select the most hazardous locations (hanging landslides on the upper slope) for numerical modeling of potential landslide-related tsunami, and develop recommendations pertaining to construction of a new international sea port in the town of Ust-Kamchatsk.

Incising rivers may be confined by low-slope, erodible hillslopes or steep, resistant sidewalls. In the latter case, the system forms a canyon. We present a morphodynamic model that includes the essential elements of a canyon incising into a plateau, including 1) abrasion-driven channel incision, 2) migration of a canyon-head knickpoint, 3) sediment feed from an alluvial channel upstream of the knickpoint, and 4) production of sediment by sidewall collapse. We calculate incision in terms of collision of clasts with the bed. We calculate knickpoint migration using a moving-boundary formulation that allows a slope discontinuity where the channel head meets an alluvial plateau feeder channel. Rather than modeling sidewall collapse events, we model long-term behavior using a constant sidewall slope as the channel incises. Our morphodynamic model specifically applies to canyon, rather than river- hillslope evolution. We implement it for Rainbow Canyon, CA. Salient results are as follows: 1) Sediment supply from collapsing canyon sidewalls can be substantially larger than that supplied from the feeder channel on the plateau. 2) For any given quasiequilibrium canyon bedrock slope, two conjugate slopes are possible for the alluvial channel upstream, with the lower of the two corresponding to a substantially lower knickpoint migration rate and higher preservation potential. 3) Knickpoint migration occurs at a substantially faster time scale than regrading of the bedrock channel itself, underlying the significance of disequilibrium processes. Although implemented for constant climactic conditions, the model warrants extension to long-term climate variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a detailed analysis of the underwater morphology of the entire Black Sea basin beyond the shelf break. The focus is on submarine valley systems on continental slope and rise zones, and partially in the abyssal plain area. The present research is among the very few studies that have undertaken a morphological analysis on a regional scale, for an entire marine basin. This achievement was possible by using the publicly available EMODnet bathymetric map of the Black Sea. The Black Sea submarine valleys networks are presented in a map-sketch. It includes 25 valley systems, 5 groups of simple first order channels, and other number of simple, not associated channels. The 25 valley systems are adding up more than 110 main channels and tributaries. Morphological description and analysis of each of the mapped systems is given – shape and plan view morphology, dimensions (length and surface) and slope gradient. Some considerations about the amount of sediments supplied by the valleys from the shelf to the basin floor, forming the deep-sea fans, are presented. For a more detailed and precise image of the Black Sea network of submarine valleys additional work would be necessary to cover the entire basin with a minimum standard network of modern bathymetric mapping and of high resolution seismic survey lines. To take into account the composition and geological structure of different sectors, as factors that influence significantly the morphology of the seabed, would be also particularly useful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This geologic study is focused on a less than 5 square-mile (ca. 13 km2) tract of public land in northwestern Wyoming, 8 miles (12.9 km) south-southwest of the small town of Clark in Park County. The study area is south of Clarks Fork of Yellowstone River along the eastern base of the topographic feature called Bald Ridge, also known structurally as Dead Indian monocline. Since the Middle Eocene, the study area has been along the northwestern margin of the Bighorn Basin. Prior to that time, the study area existed near the west-east center of the basin. Bald Ridge became elevated late in the Laramide orogeny (no older than the Early Eocene) through east-directed faulting of basement rocks via the extensive Line Creek-Oregon Basin thrust system. As that active faulting occurred, the overlying Phanerozoic strata (Lower Cambrian through Lower Eocene) responded with numerous west-directed, out-of-the-basin thrusts as a new western-basin margin developed along the eastern realm of the newly born Absaroka volcanic field. Most of that deformation occurred after deposition of uppermost levels of the Lower Eocene Willwood Formation. The key purpose of the present paper was to improve the accuracy of mapping of the Jurassic into Eocene stratigraphy along the newly restricted, northwestern edge of Wyoming's Bighorn Basin. The stratigraphic column in a north-south band along the eastern flank of the Beartooth Mountains and continuing southward into the present study area was markedly deformed and deeply eroded late during the Laramide orogeny. The present small, more southerly study area is structurally and erosionally simpler than its more northerly equivalent. Thus, its study adds important geological information to the history of the northern Cody Arch, a convexwestward string of related basement-involved uplifts extending southward to southwest of the city of Cody. Progressively steepening eastward dips of strata characterize a west-to-east transect from the summit of Bald Ridge (capped by the shallowly dipping, Mississippian Madison Limestone) to the western edge of strongly overturned outcrops of the Eocene Willwood Formation. The Upper Cretaceous Meeteetse Formation is the stratigraphic horizon at which the dips attain vertical or slightly overturned orientations. All consequential faults within the newly mapped area are thrusts, and they show generally westward (out-of-the-basin) displacements. Despite those westdirected displacements, their primary cause was tectonic shortening at depth below Bald Ridge that was directed to the northeast or east-northeast. During the Laramide orogeny, certain thrust planes within the east-dipping Phanerozoic rock column cut down-section stratigraphically (but uphill relative to Earth's surface) and thereby placed younger strata upon older. The cumulative result, as recognized at several levels within the present area of study, was marked thinning of the total section. For example, surface exposures of the mostly Paleocene Fort Union Formation, 4,000 feet (1,219 m) thick only 7 miles (11.3 km) to the east, was completely eliminated from the local surface stratigraphy by that means. The northern end of Bald Ridge is formed by the highly asymmetric Canyon Mouth anticline. That structure differs strongly in the attitude of its hinge line from the general east-northeast dip of strata cloaking Bald Ridge. The Canyon Mouth anticline's hinge line plunges steeply to the southeast, and dips on its northeastern flanks are vertical to partly overturned. Surprisingly, hinge lines and flanks of all other anticlinal/synclinal structures recognized within the present map area share those same orientations with Canyon Mouth anticline. These consistent but unexpected differences in orientation from unfolded strata may represent very late events in the history of Laramide strain vectors across the study area. Working in northern parts of this study area, an independent group determining radiometric ages of detrital-zircon grains reported close agreements in age with their host localities in the Early Cretaceous Mowry Shale and Frontier Formation. However, under the present paper's interpretation of the local stratigraphy, the other workers misidentified formational hosts for all three samplings. That resulted in age-determination errors of depositional history within the Upper Cretaceous section of as much as 28.8 million years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supraglacial streams are a significant part of the glacial hydrological system and important for understanding glacial hydrology and dynamics. Here we infer factors that influence the long-term development of perennial supraglacial streams, particularly in reference to canyon, incised and surface stream formation. Orthophotos and digital elevation models generated from high-resolution aerial imagery taken with unmanned aerial vehicles or piloted helicopters between 2010 and 2017 were used to compare seven streams on Fountain Glacier, Bylot Island, Canada over time. Results show canyon formation occurs from a combination of fluvial processes and the impact of solar radiation. The greater the discharge or slope, the faster the incision and higher the sinuosity. With greater sinuosity, the distance between the top of the valley banks increases, and cutoffs cause trapezoidal canyon-like valleys to form. Solar radiation causes the backward migration of the valley walls, further enhancing canyon area. Canyons are less likely to occur in areas of low discharge and slope. Less incised channels are also more likely to have water flow jumping the channel banks, changing the channel path. The presence of medial moraines and crevasses also increases rerouting of small streams. Lastly, windblown created snow-plugs may lead to stream diversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the complex function theory of elastic dynamics, a complex function solution of P/SV-wave scattering by a semicircular canyon in an elastic porous saturated half-space is obtained. Firstly, through Biot theory and Helmholtz decomposition, the wave potential functions with unknown coefficients in the model are obtained based on the wave function expansion method. Secondly, the complex function expressions of stress and displacement in the model are obtained by using the complex function method and conformal mapping. According to the boundary conditions of the horizontal ground surface and semicircular canyon surface, this boundary value problem can be converted into a series of algebraic equations and solved numerically by truncation. Then, the correctness of the complex function solution in this paper is verified by comparing it with the published results through degenerating the scattering problem in the saturated porous elastic half-space in this paper into that in the elastic half-space. Finally, the influence of the boundary drainage conditions, the medium porosity, and the incident angle and frequency of the incident wave on the ground surface displacement is investigated. Although the P/SV-wave scattering problem is a traditional problem, there is currently no accepted analytical solution that strictly satisfies the zero-stress condition on the horizontal ground surface. This paper is an attempt at this problem, which may provide insight into the search for the strictly analytical solution for P/SV-wave scattering. • Complex function solution of P/SV-wave scattering by a semicircular canyon in porous elastic saturated half-space. • Treatment of zero-stress boundary condition by complex function method and conformal mapping. • Influence of boundary drainage condition, medium porosity, and incident wave on ground surface displacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing awareness of the impact of fishery activities on fragile and vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems, stimulating actions devoted to their protection and best management by national and international organizations. The Bari Canyon in the Adriatic Sea represents a good case study of this, since it hosts vulnerable ecosystems, threatened species, as well as valuable commercial species, but virtually lacks substantial management plans for the sustainable use of resources. This study documents the high level of biodiversity of the Bari Canyon and the impact of human activities by analyzing remotely operated vehicle surveys and benthic lander deployments. An integrated socio-economic study provides information on fishing pressure in the Bari Canyon and in the surrounding areas. Finally, measures of conservation, protection, and management are discussed and suggested for this remarkable site in the context of the deep Mediterranean Sea.

'Aspect Ratio', a commonly used indicator to describe typical urban geometry is computed as the average ratio of the building heights ‘H’ to the canyon width 'W'. Its determination techniques in the present urbanization scenario is bound by certain assumptions which falter as most cities across globe does not project a well-planned street profile. An urban canyon factor is of most significance in climatic and air quality studies. The study showcases how the standard assumptions cited in literatures for Urban Morphological Analysis cannot apply to most urban canyons in any townships that have evolved rampantly. The present research recommends a rationally feasible methodology of analytically ascertaining and representing Aspect Ratio for variant street canyons. The research objective envisaged selection of 3 random locations encompassing heterogeneous street canyon geometries. At each of these locations its land-use pattern and road network was mapped for a radius of 250m by supervised-classification to assist in extracting the canyon geometry features, namely building height and road width across all the streets. The revised methodology judiciously delves upon when stations also have plots without pre-defined boundaries for creation of layouts. The logic encompasses complete dimensional analysis, and accounts for all four directions, the dynamic road width and building length measured along street about each focal point. The present research recommends this technique for a study of any magnitude; and encompassing just a street or even an entire city; as it’s practically applicable to any site condition and does away with errors due to the ‘idealistic’ assumptions.

Seafloor litter has been studied both on the continental shelves (by trawling during 24 years) and in canyons (by ROV) of the French Mediterranean sea Water (FMW). On the continental shelf, mean densities range from 49.63 to 289.01 items/km2. The most abundant categories were plastic, glass/ceramics, metals and textiles. Trend analysis shows a significant increase in plastic quantities during the study period. Plastics accumulate at all depths, with heavier items being found in deeper areas, while the continental slope-break appears as a clean area. The spatial distribution of litter revealed the influence of geomorphologic factors, anthropic activities, shipping route, river inputs. All the canyons are affected by debris but coastal canyons (Ligurian Sea and Corsica) were more impacted than offshore canyons in the Gulf of Lion. The FMW appears to be highly polluted with regard to values found in other areas, but lower than those observed in the Eastern Mediterranean. • Time series of 23 years of seafloor litter data collected from bottom trawl surveys. • Use of three years of litter data collected in canyons from Remotely Operated Vehicle. • Marine litter assessment for the Gulf of Lion and eastern Corsica areas. • Spatial analyses allowing the identification of hot spots and temporal trends. • On the continental shelf, annual mean densities range from 49.63 to 289.01 items/km2. • The most common litter categories are plastics, glass/ceramic, metals and textiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In the Gulf of Lions (Western Mediterranean), the emplacement of a large (160 km3) mass transport deposit, the Rhone Western Mass Transport Deposit (RWMTD), at the base of slope, aside the Rhone deep-sea fan between 1800 and 2700 m water depth, resulted in a major modification of the sediment routing by clogging a drainage network and blocking at the base of slope sediments that were previously routed into the Valencia channel and the Balearic abyssal plain. The RWMTD was sourced from sediments of the western flank of the Rhone upper fan and the adjacent base of slope. The mass transport deposit is characterized by a transparent seismic facies and sediment cores show that it is composed of a stiff laminated muddy lithofacies characteristic of the Rhone fan turbidites with marked contorted beds indicative of remoulding. AMS radiocarbon dating shows that the RWMTD was emplaced between 19.9 and 21.5 ka cal BP. It is coeval, within dating uncertainties, with the emplacement of a megaturbidite in the Balearic Abyssal Plain and immediately predates a major avulsion of the Rhone turbidite channel that led to the emplacement of an avulsion lobe (the neofan) on top of the RWMTD. It is not possible to affirm a genetic link between these three major gravity events but one can argue that they share a common forcing in relation with massive turbiditic accumulation during the last sea-level lowstand at the end of the Last Glacial Maximum. This study outlines the importance of mass transport deposits in the building of turbidite systems and, more generally, the major control of mass wasting on the routing and dispersal of sediments across continental margins. Highlights • Several mass wasting events occurred maybe simultaneously in the Gulf of Lions at the end of the last glacial maximum lowstand, between 19.5 and 21.7 ka cal BP. • Submarine Mass Transport Deposits can radically modify sediment routing pathways on the continental slope and rise. • Large Mass Transport Deposits (160 km3) can be obscured on the seabed where sedimentation rate is high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a step-by-step procedure using the three-dimensional boundary element approach to study the behavior of semi-circular canyons under seismic shear waves. The boundary element code TDASC allows utilization for various canyon geometries, evaluation of concurrent seismic waves and calculation of the ground motions on canyons due to an excitation at any arbitrary point of the incident field. Considering the widening ratio of the canyon (including prismatic, semi-prismatic and non-prismatic canyons), wave characteristics (wavelength, dimensionless period, direction) and maximum amplification pattern, the solution was applied to carry out a series of parametric studies. It was shown that canyon form can significantly affect the displacement amplification, especially at the points located on its edges. By increasing the wave dimensionless frequency (η > 1), the amplification pattern becomes more complex. On the basis of the results from a variety of considered cases, a new expression has been presented for the limiting wavelength beyond which the widening of the canyon will not have a major effect on the displacement amplification. To verify the reliability of the proposed approach, the obtained results, expressed in terms of displacement amplitude, were compared with those from the available published literature and a reasonably good agreement was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Bari Canyon influences the distribution and abundance of fish in the Adriatic Sea. • All the most abundant species were captured with greater abundance inside the BC. • A greater number of smaller and larger individuals were found in BC than outside. • BC as a refuge area and an Essential Fish Habitat, thus needs of conservation measures. Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the Bari Canyon influences the distribution and abundance of fish fauna in the southern Adriatic Sea. Data were collected in the Bari Canyon and in an adjacent area on the continental slope during an experimental longline survey carried out in June 2015. A total of 19 fish species were collected (16 inside and 13 outside the canyon). Differences between the sites were evaluated by means of a set of univariate and multivariate methods (analysis of variance, permutational multivariate analysis of variance, non-metric multidimensional scaling). The abundance and biomass of the whole catch were significantly greater inside than outside the canyon. The most abundant species were the shark Galeus melastomus and the teleost fishes Conger conger, Helicolenus dactylopterus, Merluccius merluccius, Pagellus bogaraveo and Phycis blennoides. All these species were found to be more abundant in the canyon than in the adjacent area. However, a significantly greater abundance inside the canyon than outside was detected for C. conger , while P. blennoides showed both significantly greater abundance and biomass in the canyon than outside. P. bogaraveo was exclusively caught inside the canyon. C. conger and P. blennoides exhibited significant differences in their sizes between the canyon and the adjacent area: a greater number of both smaller and larger individuals were found in the canyon than on the open slope. Mature females and males were mostly observed in the canyon in all the most abundant species, with the exception of P. blennoides due to its autumn-winter spawning. The present study corroborates the role of the Bari Canyon as a refuge area and an Essential Fish Habitat for fish species exploited in the neighbouring fishing grounds, highlighting the need for conservation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salaj county has a rich and diversified tourism potential induced both by natural and human resources. Natural potential consists in the presence of natural resources of the following types: morphological (the mountainous relief, spectacular valleys with sectors of gorges or gullets, karst relief, residual microforms or those created by the action of the external agents), climatic, hydrological (the presence of mineral waters mainly sulfurous and thermal which have been known and used since the previous century, the spectacular landscapes created by some peculiarities of the river valley and also to the presence of a few lakes), bio-geographical (vast areas with forest, which give the appellation of Sylvania Country). In Salaj there are also a few natural reservations and over 350 archeological (the Roman castra Porolissum, and also many other vestiges of Roman, Dacian or even prehistorical origin) and architectural sites with a great architectural and historical value, original gastronomical and folk traditions, cultural and artistic events known both locally and nationally. Distinctive for Salaj county is the presence of over 70 wooden churches, architectural monuments of great artistic and historical value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In intramontane landscapes shaped by glacial-interglacial cycles, the most rapid changes during the proglacial/paraglacial phases may be amplified by catastrophic mass-wasting. Herein, we describe the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) to Holocene development of a catchment in the Northern Calcareous Alps wherein intense proglacial/paraglacial sedimentation and descend of a rock avalanche persistently modified drainage and sediment dispersal. During buildup of the LGM, the pre-last glacial Strassberg valley - the trunk valley of this study - was filled with a proglacial fluvio-lacustrine succession. Thereafter, the area became largely buried under the Inn ice stream. During deglacial ice melt, copious sediment was shed from glacially-conditioned mountain flanks. Alluvial fans cut off from their former supply area, and perched in isolated position, result from presumed sediment dispersal across dead ice. Shortly after deglaciation, a ~11 Mm3 rock avalanche detached from a high cliff, overran an opposing mountain ridge, and spread over a lower-positioned plateau. The rock avalanche blocked the Strassberg valley and set the base-level to an intramontane basin that persists until present. A quartz OSL age from a loess drape above the rock-avalanche deposit dates mass wasting prior to 18.77 ± 1.55 ka; so far, this is the oldest age-bracketed post-LGM catastrophic mass-wasting of the Eastern Alps. After mass wasting, the valley was barred by the rock-avalanche deposit. This, in turn, triggered a westward switch of drainage thalweg and stream incision. The present Strassberg valley is an epigenetic bedrock gorge 1.5 km in length and down to 100 m in depth. A 234U/230Th calcite disequilibrium age of 9 ± 1 ka from cemented talus indicates that most incision took place during the late-glacial to early Holocene. Aside of the large-scale morphology (valleys, ranges) the drainage, the smaller-scale morphology, and the sediment volumes of the study area are mainly coined by proglacial/paraglacial processes and by rock avalanching. Holocene landscape changes are modest and chiefly comprise aggradation of high-positioned scree slopes, colluvial/alluvial redeposition and stream incision, and slope stabilization by reforestation. Our results underscore that intramontane sceneries are mosaics with respect to the age of landforms and that large parts of the landscape still are off geomorphic equilibrium with interglacial conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study scattering of antiplane shear waves induced by a deep semielliptic canyon with a horizontal edge. We employ the region-point-matching technique to cope with the problem considered. Through an auxiliary boundary, a part of the circumference of a semiellipse, the whole analyzed region is divided into two subregions. We express the displacement fields in terms of Mathieu functions. We unify two distinct elliptic coordinates via a simple coordinate transformation relation. Integration of the coordinate transformation relation into the region-point-matching technique simplifies the procedure for constructing simultaneous equations. Imposing the continuity conditions and traction-free ones, we obtain the expansion coefficients. Frequency-domain results demonstrate ground motion variability based on several key factors. Ground surface responses under seismic shaking are also simulated in the time domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]