Geomorphologic Mapping of Tete Municipality, Mozambique

: PHYSICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND ASPECTS OF GEODIVERSITY

Modeling alpine geomorphology using laser altimetry data

Geomorphological Heritage of UNESCO Global Geoparks

The development of geotourism and geoeducation is the best way to transfer geomorphological knowledge to society. This is how, it is possible to demonstrate that it is a scientific discipline of great cognitive and applied importance. Geomorphologists should become more actively involved in educational activities which, in the case of geoheritage, are mainly carried out within geoparks. The UNESCO Global Geoparks network has the highest rank and thus attractiveness for geotourists. They also play a very important role when it comes to education about Earth sciences, including geomorphology. The question arises, however, to what extent the current network of geoparks is representative of the geomorphological diversity of our planet. This paper conducts a geospatial analysis of the main landforms, structural units, lithologies and genetic types of landscapes found within 213 global geoparks. Geoparks most often include mountainous areas (72% of the area) formed during the Alpine orogenesis (43%), underlain by carbonate (18%) and siliciclastic (14%) rocks. The most common areas are those with tectonic (31%), volcanic (14%) and karst (11%) relief origins. The share of individual types of areas within geoparks usually differs from their share in the land area of the world and individual continents. Geoparks are characterised by a high diversity of lithologic composition and landscape genetic types. In contrast, UNESCO Global Geoparks show less diversity in terms of their affiliation to structural units and major landforms of the continents. It appears that the current network of geoparks does not fully reflect the global diversity of the continents'' geodiversity in terms of geomorphology.

Evolution and Analysis of Landslides in Lowland Areas: The Case Study of Reuil in the Champagne Vineyard Region (Marne, France)

The slopes of the Champagne vineyards are regularly affected by landslides. Given the high societal and economic stakes, these processes cause significant damage and pose a major challenge for the wine industry, forestry and heritage preservation. Numerous studies have already been conducted to understand their behavior and hydrodynamic functioning. They show varied morphologies and a dominant influence of water resources. However, this forcing does not explain the spatial distribution of current landslides, which occur in upper-slope positions, on the steepest terrain recently planted with vines. Using the two shallow landslides at Reuil, located in the heart of the Marne Valley in the Champagne vineyards, as a study site, recent landslide activity is analyzed through a comparative analysis of three DTMs derived from LiDAR HD data and two UAV photogrammetric surveys. This study reveals the affected areas and displaced volumes, which can reach up to 900 m3. Landslide activity was then correlated with regional climatic data. This research shows that landslides are more likely to occur during a period of excessive rainfall following a drier period. Diachronic analysis of aerial images also demonstrates the influence of land use on landslide activity. In particular, land clearing and vineyard operations on the steepest plots constitute a significant anthropogenic forcing affecting slope stability. Taken together, these results provide greater insight into the changing geomorphological dynamics of the Champagne vineyards. On the one hand, they clarify how landslides occur at vineyard plot scale. On the other hand, they provide initial insights into the resilience of stakeholders (winegrowers, etc.) affected by these instabilities.

COMPARTMENTATION AND GEOECOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF LANDSCAPE UNITS IN THE SERRA DA MERUOCA-CE, BRAZILIAN SEMI-ARID REGION

Geoecological analysis corresponds to procedures, methods and techniques, whose purpose is to obtain knowledge about the environment. Therefore, the present work aims to compartmentalize and analyze the landscape units that make up the Serra da Meruoca, using the geoecology of landscapes as a theoretical-methodological basis. To achieve this, initially, a physiographic characterization was carried out, describing the components that form the landscapes, using existing data from works published in theses, dissertations, books, scientific articles and, mainly, through fieldwork. Based on the characterization of the components that form the landscapes and the superimposition, in a GIS environment, of data relating to them, the compartmentalization and analysis of the landscape units that make up the Serra da Meruoca, located in a semi-arid environment, but which differs from such an environment, configuring itself as a humid massif. In this way, it is understood that Serra da Meruoca has specific landscapes with their own characteristics, but which are interrelated through the flow of E.M.I. Therefore, it is understood that, although it is a Conservation Unit, greater preservation of its landscapes is necessary, due to its environmental relevance in the semi-arid northeast.

GEOLOGICAL AND GEOMORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF TEJUÇUOCA, CEARÁ CARACTERIZAÇÃO GEOLÓGICA E GEOMORFOLÓGICA DO MUNICÍPIO