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PubMed2005

Ecological controls on water-cycle response to climate variability in deserts.

The impact of climate variability on the water cycle in desert ecosystems is controlled by biospheric feedback at interannual to millennial timescales. This paper describes a unique field dataset from weighing lysimeters beneath nonvegetated and vegetated systems that unequivocally demonstrates the role of vegetation dynamics in controlling water cycle response to interannual climate variability related to El Nino southern oscillation in the Mojave Desert. Extreme El Nino winter precipitation (2.3-2.5 times normal) typical of the U.S. Southwest would be expected to increase groundwater recharge, which is critical for water resources in semiarid and arid regions. However, lysimeter data indicate that rapid increases in vegetation productivity in response to elevated winter precipitation reduced soil water storage to half of that in a nonvegetated lysimeter, thereby precluding deep drainage below the root zone that would otherwise result in groundwater recharge. Vegetation dynamics have been controlling the water cycle in interdrainage desert areas throughout the U.S. Southwest, maintaining dry soil conditions and upward soil water flow since the last glacial period (10,000-15,000 yr ago), as shown by soil water chloride accumulations. Although measurements are specific to the U.S. Southwest, correlations between satellite-based vegetation productivity and elevated precipitation related to El Nino southern oscillation indicate this model may be applicable to desert basins globally. Understanding the two-way coupling between vegetation dynamics and the water cycle is critical for predicting how climate variability influences hydrology and water resources in water-limited landscapes.

Climate↗
PubMed2003

Membrane evaporative cooling to 30 degrees C or less: 1. Membrane evaporative cooling of contained water.

Microporous hydrophobic membranes have been examined for possible use as containers in the evaporative cooling of water, particularly in desert climates. An experimental determination was made of the overall heat and mass transfer coefficients of these membranes while surmounting contained water and with air flowing over the surface of the membranes. Similar tests were made with water alone, that is, without a membrane. The coefficients were then used to compare the performance of existing (canvas water) coolers and membrane evaporative coolers under desert conditions. The performance of the membrane coolers was close enough to that of the canvas coolers that extensive investigation of various aspects of membrane evaporative cooling appears to be justified, particularly in view of the potential advantages of the latter over the existing evaporative cooling methods. For example, for cool storage of perishable goods in a desert climate, the membrane container might be uniquely qualified because of its low rate of water consumption compared to that of a canvas cooler.

Chemistry Techniques, Analytical↗
PubMed1982

[Comparative studies of climatic factors effecting the performance of cattle in different climatic zones of Egypt].

In continuation of previous analogous studies on climatic factors influencing the performance of cattle in Northern Egypt (climate types III4a/IV: etesian climate of the Mediterranean type) the present investigation deals with the temperature and humidity for Southern Egypt (climate type III1; arid, subtropical desert climate) and classifies them according to the physiological tolerability ranges set up for cattle. In Northern Egypt (Maryut) 23.8% of the temperatures were beyond the optimum and physiologically still tolerable range (0 to 24 degrees C) and were thus in the intolerable range; 45.8% were within the optimum tolerability range. In Southern Egypt (El Menia) 46.7% were within the intolerable range and only 25.7% in the optimum range (5 to 18 degrees C). The relative humidity values had 21.9% within the optimum range and 63.9% in the intolerable range in the North; in the South 22.9% were within the optimum and 55.5% in the intolerable range.

Acclimatization↗
PubMed1980

Responses of physically active and acclimatized men and women to exercise in a desert environment.

In most studies of physiological responses of men and women to exercise in the heat, the subjects are unacclimatized and the females are unaccustomed to strenuous physical activity. In this investigation, 5 men and 6 women known to be physically active in an outdoor hot-dry environment were studied in a temperate environment (Tdb=23C, WBGT=18C) and in an outdoor desert environment (Tdb=39C, WBGT=29C) during rest and exercise at 50% Vo2max. No differences between the groups occurred in Vo2, HR or Tre in either environment. Of greatest interest was that no differences occurred in evaporative weight losses, sweating rates, or % body weight losses in the heat. It was concluded that (1) women accustomed to exercise in a desert climate are able to substantially increase their sudorific response, and (2) that acclimatized male and female subjects of similar aerobic capacity have comparable responses to rest and exercise in a desert environment.

Acclimatization↗
PubMed1983

Human chromosomal polymorphism. VI. Chromosomal Q polymorphism in Turkmen of the Kara-Kum desert of Central Asia.

Chromosomal Q polymorphism was studied in 116 Turkmen, aboriginals of the Kara-Kum desert of Central Asia. Propylquinacrine mustard was used as fluorochrome. Of the 116 subjects aged 16-20 years, 109 (94.0%) were found to have Q-polymorphic variants, while seven (6.0%) showed complete absence of Q bands with fluorescence levels 4 and 5. There was a total of 351 polymorphic Q bands, 0-7 per individual, with a mean of 3.0 in the population. No differences between sexes were observed in the frequency of Q bands. The observed homo- and heteromorph frequencies proved to be in complete agreement with those predicted by the law of Hardy-Weinberg. Chromosome 3 with pericentric inversion of the Q-heterochromatin band was found in two (1.7%) of the 116 subjects. The following questions were examined: (1) the possible selective value of chromosomal Q-heterochromatin material in the adaptation of human populations to extreme environmental factors, in particular to the desert climate; (2) intraracial heterogeneity in Europoids of Eurasia; (3) the taxonomic value of Q polymorphism in ethnic anthropology.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Prospects and constraints of desert agriculture: lessons from West Omdurman.

Sudan is the largest country in Africa with an area of about 2.5 million km2; the country hosts a population of about 31 million people. About two-thirds of the country area is located within arid and semi-arid regions. Recently, especially during the last half of the previous century, these regions were subject to various forms of land degradation. This paper discusses the general prospects and constraints of desert agriculture. It also presents a detailed case study of West Omdurman, which is located in a semi-desert climatic zone. The ambitious plans to utilise the area for agricultural production were initiated because of the relatively fertile soil, availability of water and the proximity of the area to marketing and export centres. The paper discusses the different land use systems experienced in the area, reasons for failure are identified and possible remedies discussed. In addition, constraints facing the proposed West Omdurman Canal Project are also discussed. Finally, the paper reviews the major research findings of Rawakeeb Dryland Research Center with regard to promoting agricultural productivity.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1989

[Sensitization to pollens in a changing environment: Israel].

Israel was originally a country with desert climate and extensive agriculture. During the last 40 years, due to artificial irrigation, a rich vegetation and intensive agriculture have developed. Hayfever prevalence has risen between 1952 and 1986 from an average of 0.3% to 6.3% (with a range from 4% in the urban to 15% in the rural communities). Considering that significant (P less than 0.001) impact of pollen quantity upon hayfever incidence, an elementary pollen information system was organized (as described in the article) to help both allergists and allergic patients in their joint effort to avoid the harmful effect of a changing environment.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2005

Global iron connections between desert dust, ocean biogeochemistry, and climate.

The environmental conditions of Earth, including the climate, are determined by physical, chemical, biological, and human interactions that transform and transport materials and energy. This is the "Earth system": a highly complex entity characterized by multiple nonlinear responses and thresholds, with linkages between disparate components. One important part of this system is the iron cycle, in which iron-containing soil dust is transported from land through the atmosphere to the oceans, affecting ocean biogeochemistry and hence having feedback effects on climate and dust production. Here we review the key components of this cycle, identifying critical uncertainties and priorities for future research.

Atmosphere↗
PubMed2004

Exploiting quartz spectral signature for the detection of cloud-affected satellite infrared observations over African desert areas.

It is shown that IMG (interferometric monitoring of greenhouse gases) spectra recorded over African and Arabian deserts clearly contain the fingerprint of quartz-rich soils. We illustrate how this spectral signature can be exploited to devise a suitable cloud-detection scheme to identify which infrared observations are affected by clouds. As a by-product, the scheme also allows one to identify the most likely underlying emitting surface type and provides a suitable first guess for the surface emissivity to be used, e.g., for the retrieval of geophysical parameters from high-spectral-resolution infrared radiance from space. The analysis has focused on African deserts because of their intrinsic relevance to numerical weather prediction and Earth's climate. Desert areas, like oceans, are poorly covered by the world meteorological radiosonde network and therefore are geographical regions for which the global coverage capability of satellites soundings is expected to provide better initializations for numerical weather prediction than are now available. Application of the cloud-detection scheme to IMG spectra has been considered, which demonstrates the good performance of the method.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Prevalence of Surra among camels and horses in Jordan.

The prevalence of Trypanosoma evansi infection among camels and horses in Jordan was studied using thick blood smears and inoculation techniques with mice and rats. A total of 437 camels and 83 horses from four climatic zones were surveyed. In addition, 40 donkeys, 32 cattle and 35 goats in contact with infected camels and horses were also tested in the same way. Clinical disease was evident in 8.2% of the camels (36 out of 437) and in 9.6% of the horses (8 out of 83). Infection was limited only to the Sweama area on the Dead Sea (within the warm desert-climatic zone), with prevalence of 30.5% and 33.3%, respectively, for camels and horses. Donkeys, cattle and goats examined were all free from T. evansi. Clinically affected camels were positive by both, thick blood smear and mouse and rat inoculations. Rat and mouse inoculations revealed (X2 = 3.2, df = 1, exact p = 0.07) greater number of positive cases in horses than those revealed by thick blood smears. T. evansi-infected camels and horses showed all the clinical signs known for Surra. In addition, it was observed that 100% of infected camels stared at the sun.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

On the search for extant life on Mars.

Proposals for continuing the search for extant life on Mars are primarily predicated on the assumption that specialized environmental niches that could support a biota may exist on the planet. Before attempting any critical tests for extant organisms, either in situ or on returned samples, it is imperative to determine whether any such sites actually exist. If, through remote sensing and landed instrumentation, sites of potential biological interest are discovered and characterized, biological tests can then more effectively be planned to elicit the presence of organisms that are adapted to living in these particular environments.

Cold Climate↗
PubMed1994

Paleolimnology of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica.

The McMurdo Dry Valleys presently contain more than 20 permanent lakes and ponds, which vary markedly in character. All, with the exception of a hypersaline pond, have a perennial ice-cover. The dry valley lakes, and lakes in other ice-free regions of continental Antarctica, are unique on this planet in that they consistently maintain a thick year-round ice cover (2.8-6.0 m) over liquid water. The persistent ice covers minimize wind-generated currents and reduce light penetration, as well as restricting sediment deposition into a lake and the exchange of atmospheric gases between the water column and the atmosphere. From a paleolimnological perspective, the dry valley lakes offer an important record of catchment and environmental changes. These lakes are also modern-day equivalents of periglacial lakes that were common during glacial periods at temperate latitudes. The present lakes are mostly remnants of larger glacial lakes that occupied the valleys in the past, perhaps up to 4.6 Ma ago. Two of the valleys contain evidence of being filled with large glacial lakes within the last 10000 years. Repeated drying and filling events since then have left a characteristic impression on the salt profiles of some lakes creating a unique paleo-indicator within the water column. These events are also marked in the sediments by the concentration and dilution of certain chemical constituents, particularly salts, and are also corroborated by carbonate speciation and oxygen isotope analysis. Stratigraphic analysis of dry valley lake sediments is made difficult by the occurrence of an 'old carbon' reservoir creating spurious radiocarbon dates, and by the high degree of spatial variability in lake sedimentation. From a biological perspective, the lakes are relatively simple, containing various taxa of planktonic and benthic microorganisms, but no higher forms of life, which is an advantage to paleolimnologists because there is no bioturbation in the sediments. Useful biological paleo-indicators found in the sediments include cyanobacterial filament sheaths, diatom frustules and other eukaryotic algal cells, protozoan cysts, photosynthetic pigments, and minerals (e.g. carbonates) associated with microbial activity. Future work will benefit from fully characterizing the connection between the ice covers, environmental conditions, and paleo-indicators, thereby allowing refinement of inferences made concerning the paleoenvironment. New dating techniques need to be tested in this environment to overcome the problems associated with radiocarbon dating. The establishment of a detailed and focused paleolimnological campaign is proposed.

Antarctic Regions↗