Ewan W. Anderson

A comparison of different instruments for measuring soil creep

Summary The difficulties in measuring rates of soil creep imply that a comparison of different instruments is important to allow evaluation of measurement errors. Annual linear creep rates were derived using six different instruments for twenty plots in an instrumented basin in upper Weardale, northern England. The results show that acceptable levels of error can be attained by careful choice of instrument and measurement procedure. Two new instruments, inclinometer pegs and a tube, performed best and are recommended to other workers. The rates obtained (on average 1.3 mm/yr) are in broad agreement with results from other humid temperate sites.

The wied: a representative Mediterranean landform

With such a limited area and range of rock type, Malta cannot provide anything approaching a representative sample of the landforms which occur in the Mediterranean Basin. However, few geomorphological features can be considered unique to the Mediterranean, since they are shared either by the more humid temperate climates to the north or the semi-arid regions to the south and east. The wied, a hybrid between the humid temperate and semi-arid climates, might be considered a truly Mediterranean landform and is the predominant feature in Maltese geomorphology.

Teaching geographical data analysis: problems and possible solutions

Abstract Conventional courses in geographical data analysis have major problems of student background, statistical validity, geographical relevance and intellectual inertia. An alternative approach, based upon the methods of data analysis advocated by Tukey, is proposed.

Mahafir: A water harvesting system in the Eastern Jordan (Badia) Eesert

There are many different water harvesting systems in the Middle East and the operation of one type, the mahafir, was investigated in the Badia Region of Jordan. Mahafir are crescent and rectangular shaped excavations dug into the playa surface, now filled with sediment. Their previous volumes were estimated through topographical survey of the surrounding earth mounds. The average depth of the mahafir was found to be 3.2 m; storing a total water volume of 111,619 m3 at Maharouta and 55,005 m3 at Anka. The mahafir only occupy 4% of the playa surface and their source of water is primarily direct rainfall onto the playa surface augmented by runoff from adjacent slopes. Taking annual rainfalls as an input from 1963 to 1992 and even assuming rainfall harvesting is only 10% effective it appears that the full water storage potential of the mahafir could be met in most years.

The Political and Strategic Significance of Water

Water has always been regarded as of political and even of strategic importance, particularly in the more arid parts of the world. From the earliest civilizations in the Fertile Crescent to the modern state, water security has been considered a national issue. Over 40% of the worlds population lives in shared drainage basins, and therefore questions of equity with regard to potable water supplies, irrigation, power distribution, flood control, navigation, fishing and, possibly, leisure pursuits, are bound to arise. As in many parts of the world, but especially the Middle East and the drier areas of Africa, populations burgeon, these questions will assume even greater prominence. International law in the context of trans-boundary issues is still largely in the development stage. Recently, with the changing world order, the concept of resource geopolitics, involving potential problems of access and denial, has been re-examined. In this context, like petroleum and certain minerals, water is designated strategic. As is apparent in the current Middle East Peace Talks, water issues can be a vital component in global diplomacy.

The water‐supply system in the margin of Dasht‐e‐Kawir (central Iran)

Abstract The Dasht‐e‐Kawir in central Iran is a catchment, which includes saline, swampy areas and sandy land. The system of water supply in the margins of the Dasht‐e‐Kawir is limited by the amount of underground water which can be extracted by qanats and wells. Six kinds of qanats and two kinds of shallow wells have been recognized in the region. A qanat is usually produced in six stages, of which measurement of the gradient is the most crucial for its successful construction. Thus, the construction of thirty qanats in the margin of Dasht‐e‐Kawir has been studied to determine the logical relationship between (a) the gradient, (b) the depth of main well, (c) the length and (d) the discharge of the qanat.

The Kuwait‐Iraq border a reappraisal

During the course of this article Anderson and Karam detail the shifting position of boundary issues in the Persian‐Arabian Gulf and the impact on relation‐ships between neighbouring countries. They assert that the uncertainty over the clear demarcation of boundaries, due to a combination of natural, geometrical, anthropomorphic and historical factors, has further complicated an already troubled region. In particular, they trace the historical background to the Kuwait‐Iraq boundary, and its impact on present day troubles. They conclude their article with a description of the present boundary position and its immediate implications.

Land, Water and Development: River Basin Systems and their Sustainable Management@@@Water Resources in the Arid Realm

1. History of River Basin Management. 2. Natural River Basins: Transfer Systems. 3. Land and Water: Interactions. 4. Managing Land and Water in the Developed World: An International Survey. 5. River Basins and Development. 6. Technical Issues in River Basin Management. 7. Institutional Issues in River Basin Management. 8. Issues of Knowledge Base. 9. Land and Water: Towards Systems of Management in a Period of Change.

Water Resources in the Arid Realm

Part I: 1. Geographical Background to Arid Lands Part II: Water Resource Problems 2. Variability of Water Supplies 3. Climatic Change 4. Drought 5. Data Collection and Analysis Part III: Enhancing Water Supplies 6. Irrigation 7. Desalination 8. Precipitation Enhancement and Cloud Seeding 9. Surface and Subsurface Storage Part IV: Management 10. Geopolitics of Water 11. Management Strategies.