Noorazuan Md Hashim

Review of Floods in Negeri Terengganu: Implications and Adaptation to Climate Variation

The Northeast Monsoon floods are reportedly increasing every year in the monsoon season in Negeri Terengganu. To reduce the problem of flooding in the region, flood control measures have been implemented by the parties involved. However, flooding has not been minimized so far, even though the flood situation is getting worse every year. From that, there are many unanswered questions: (1) what the type and pattern of variation are during the Northeast Monsoon flooding; (2) what the relationship is between monsoon flooding events, monthly rainfall, and the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI); and (3) what the appropriate measures are to reduce flooding based on a scenario of climate variation. Therefore, this study aimed to identify variations of flood events; identify the relationship between rainfall events, flooding, and the SOI; and introduce measures of adaptation and adjustment of flood control based on current climate variation scenarios. Two types of method were used: a quantitative method for numerical data collection and analysis; and an expert qualitative assessment of flooding to ascertain perceptions of flood management in Malaysia. The results at Jambatan Jerangau station were more extreme than those at Kampung Menerong station. The monsoon flood event in the study area was more influenced by the rainfall of December. The flooding at Kampung Menerong station was more affected by climate variation, and that at Jambatan Jerangau station was more influenced by land use. Variations in climate phenomena (El Nino and La Nina) and aspects of variation in climate change caused by global warming affected the incidence of extreme floods. Therefore, understanding of climate variations and changes that affect flooding is very important in order to create more comprehensive control measures.

Tanggapan, kesedaran dan motivasi masyarakat terhadap penggunaan air hujan sebagai bekalan alternatif bandar

Pertambahan populasi bandar dan penguncupan rizab air di Selangor telah memungkinkan pihak kerajaan mempromosikan kepenggunaan sistem penuaian air hujan sebagai sumber bekalan alternatif dalam kalangan pengguna. Bagaimana pun, tahap penerimaan dalam kalangan pengguna yang berpotensi masih belum diterokai secara mendalam dan ilmiah. Oleh itu, kajian ini bertujuan mengenalpasti tahap aspek persepsi, kesedaran pengguna serta halangan dalam kepenggunaan kaedah berkenaan, khususnya di kawasan Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor. Kaedah survei menerusi penggunaan soal selidik telah digunakan bagi mengumpulkan data yang berkaitan dengan kajian tanggapan atau persepsi. Kaedah persampelan persampelan rawak berstrata telah digunakan bagi mengenalpasti jumlah responden berdasarkan pemberat jumlah premis kediaman setiap seksyen di Bandar Baru Bangi. Sebanyak 395 borang soal selidik telah diedarkan secara rawak berstrata di kawasan kajian. Ini bertujuan supaya nisbah responden yang dipilih dapat mewakili setiap seksyen di Bandar Baru Bangi dan seterusnya membentuk suatu ‘data yang berwibawa’. Kepenggunaan kaedah penuaian air hujan telah dilihat bersifat pro-persekitaran dalam kalangan responden. Hasil kajian ini juga mendapati tahap pendidikan seseorang tidak mempengaruhi minat dan kecenderungan responden terhadap penggunaan produk berkenaan. Secara umumnya, wujud kepelbagaian faktor yang meningkatkan semangat dan motivasi responden untuk menggunakan produk berkenaan. Ianya dilihat bakal memberi kebaikan bukan sahaja kepada individu dan masyarakat, malahan alam sekitar fizikal akan dapat dipulihara dengan berkesan. Namun, akauntabiliti sosial dan tindakan altruistik yang diterapkan dalam pendidikan telah membina sikap positif responden terhadap teknik mesra alam. Malahan, elemen yang dikategorikan sebagai motivasi dan galakan akan meningkatkan tahap keyakinan responden terhadap kebolehupayaan sistem berkenaan dalam memberikan perkhidmatan yang cekap dan selamat.

Drought Risk Assessment Using Remote Sensing and GIS in Yemen

Drought remains the most frequent and serious environmental threat in the Middle East area. In Yemen, drought has negatively been affecting both livelihood and sustainable development of the country. This research aims to monitoring and assessing the drought risk through the changes in vegetation cover and sand dunes deposit in Tihama Plain, Yemen using remote sensing and GIS. Landsat TM5 of 1985 and OLI8 of 2015 were used to evaluate the environmental indicators of drought using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to recognize the progressive decline of vegetation based on the fact that vegetation absorbs red light and reflects infrared light of the electromagnetic spectrum. Through the index maps generated in a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) environment, the results showed that there was an increase of 26% in the area under severe drought during the period from 1985 to 2015. Similarly, the areas under moderate drought also increased to approximately 64%. On the other hand, areas under mild drought and those receiving normal rain experienced a decrease during the period as they gradually transformed into mild and severe drought situations. Within the study period, the area also recorded 74% increase in sand dunes deposit.

Agricultural water demand, water quality and crop suitability in Souk-Alkhamis Al-Khums, Libya

Water scarcity, unequal population distribution and agricultural activities increased in the coastal plains, and the probability of seawater intrusion with ground water. According to this, the quantitative and qualitative deterioration of underground water quality has become a potential for the occurrence, in addition to the decline in agricultural production in the study area. This paper aims to discover the use of ground water for irrigation in agriculture and their suitability and compatibility for agricultural. On the other hand, the quality is determines by the cultivated crops. 16 random samples of regular groundwater are collected and analyzed chemically. Questionnaires are also distributed randomly on regular basis to farmers.