Earth Science Malaysia (ESMY)

Several research works have been carried out on Shoushan Basin, Western Desert including the petroleum system in the Shoushan Basin. However, there is no proper classification was done on Shoushan Basin, Western Desert, Egypt using Global Basin Classification. The objective of this study is to classify Shoushan Basin using Global Basin Classification as proposed by Kingston et al. (1983a, b). The study which was done by integrating different types of data including geochemical, well log, seismic data from literature review provided a better understanding of the evolution and the hydrocarbon potential of Western Desert. Shoushan Basin consists of two basin types which included Margin Sag (MS) Cycle Basin and Wrench Cycle Basin (LL). The combination of these cycles, stages and tectonic event results in the formula being written from the youngest to the oldest as follows: LL – 2/LD/MS – 321321321.

Cyclones are one of the most common and foremost natural hazards in the world that causes extensive causalities. Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to cyclone hazard for its geographical location and socio-economic conditions. This study has aimed to analyze the historical cyclonic hazards and creating vulnerability maps and risk maps for Bangladesh. The apposite variables were selected by reviewing pertinent literatures and necessary data were retrieved for 1900 to 2015. GIS tool has been used for visualization of weighed scores for hazard, vulnerability and risk based on historical cyclones’ intensities, magnitudes, causalities and existing coping capacities. Moreover, hotspot analysis that implies Getis-Ord Gi* spatial statistics was also used in this study to identify the patterns of spatial significance and relationship of areas among their neighbors. This analysis produced Z scores from weighed variables those were proportional to the degree of vulnerability and risk. The low negative to high positive Z scores are correlative of low to high cyclone vulnerability and risk. Consequently, the weighed scores have elicited the coastal areas are in front line in terms of vulnerability and risk to cyclone. Besides, Gi* revealed that some areas are significantly risk prone for being spatially influenced by their neighbors.

The root density analysis and wave reduction ability of Rhizophora species was investigated at Pulau Sekepeng, Kemaman (Terengganu) in Peninsular Malaysia. A 12 m transect for Rhizophora species was set up inside the mangrove forest from the vegetation’s edge. Many fishing boats pass through the estuary, each producing a set of waves in their wakes. Based on observations, the effect of vertical and horizontal variations in vegetation density on wave attenuation was analyzed. It is found that the vegetation density decreases with increasing distance inside the mangrove forest and it also decreases with increasing vertical height of mangrove trees. The average wave reduction increases with increasing distance inside the mangrove forest. Also, the wave reduction decreases with increasing water level. From this study it is concluded that the wave reduction ranged from as low as 3.27% to as high as 20.66%, the average reduction being 11%.

Aeromagnetic data over Akure, Southwestern Nigeria was quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed to unravel subsurface magnetic anomalies. The analyses made on the IGRF corrected aeromagnetic data acquired was used to estimate depth to anomalous sources using 2-D power spectrum, werner deconvolution and 3-D Euler deconvolution. We gridded and sampled the aeromagnetic dataset; while the spectral analysis transforms the spatial data into frequency domain and provides a relationship between radially average spectrum of the magnetic anomalies and depths to the respective sources. Werner and Euler estimate and examines the shape, type of magnetic field within a window and calculate 3-D source locations based on its structural index. The characteristic nature of the magnetic anomalies as expressed by the profiles that is indicative of the different rock types (charnokite, porphyritic granite, grey gneiss, migmatite). Qualitative interpretation results revealed the following ranges for reduction to equator, upward and downward continuation, analytical signal, vertical derivative as; -418.29nT to 532.35nT, -96.7T to 17 5.4nT, -544.53nT to 597.70nT, -0.0nT to 2.199nT, -0.1nT to 0.1nT; while the quantitative interpretation results revealed-power spectrum, werner deconvolution and euler deconvolution as: 3.0m to 11.0m, 20.6m to 650m, 166.29m to – 323.05m respectively. Location, source and depth of magnetic anomaly have been unraveled.

Geoethics is the union of the prefix “geo” and the word “ethics”. This means responsibility towards the Earth, an ethics for the planet. Geoethics involves research and reflection on the values which underpin appropriate behaviours and practices, wherever human activities interact with the Earth system. Geoethics deals with the ethical, social and cultural implications of geoscience knowledge, education, research, practice and communication, and with the social role and responsibility of geoscientists in conducting their activities. Geoethics recognizes that human beings are a geological force capable of acting on natural environments, and in virtue of this prerogative assigns to them an ethical responsibility towards the Earth system. Studying and managing the Earth system, exploiting its geo-resources, intervening in natural processes are actions that involve great responsibilities towards society and the environment are the exclusive reserve of geoscientists. Only by increasing the awareness of this responsibility, can we work with wisdom and foresight, and respect the balances that exist in nature while guaranteeing a sustainable development for future generations. Promoting Geoethics articulates the responsibilities of geoscientists to improve both the quality of professional work and the credibility of geoscientists, to foster excellence in geosciences, to assure sustainable benefits for communities, as well as to protect local and global environments; all with the aim of creating and maintaining the conditions for the healthy and prosperous development of future generations. Equally as important to the success of the scientific enterprise are the personal attributes required of being a scientist and the responsible conduct of scientists in their personal interactions with colleagues and the public. The paper therefore provides an overview the scope and dynamics of the emerging field of geoethics, by showing the trajectory that has led to the current point of development of geoethics, challenges, prospects and suggesting some cues for thought for further advancements of ethical thinking in geosciences.

Based on the basic principles and assumptions of FAO evaluation approach, suitability evaluation is always for a specific kind of use, meaning that different kinds of land use have different requirements. In this study, the land use suitability is specifically for the production of cocoyam in Benue State, Nigeria. This study aims to identify and delineate areas that best support the growth of cocoyam within the area. In this study, Land-Sat image of 2014 covering the study area was used to classify different land use types in ArcGIS 10.3 software, SRTM data was used to generate slope of study area, soil map of Nigeria was used, and different soil types within the study area was digitized, Multi-Criteria Evaluation was done in other to generate weightage for different factors that were used to produce the suitability map. The various factors that were used include soil, slope, and land use and the weight derived from each of the factors are 0.5, 0.3, and 0.2 respectively. Rainfall is regarded as constant in the area because of the single climatic type covering the small area. The classes established under the soil types include fluvisols, acrisols, alisols, gleysols, and nitisols, which were assigned the relative weights of 0.2667, 0.2, 0.1333, 0.0667 and 0.3333 respectively. The classes established under the slope include steep slope, strong slope, moderate slope, gentle slope, and nearly level, which were assigned the relative weights 0.0677, 0.13, 0.2, 0.27 and 0.3333 respectively and the classes established under the land-use factors include settlements, bare-surfaces, cultivated land, vegetation, and wetland, which were assigned the relative weights 0.0667, 0.13, 0.2, 0.27 and 0.3333 respectively. The result of the computation was classified into four quarters namely 0-25%, 26-50%, 51-75%, and 76-100%. The results were updated to a newly created field in the attribute data of the GIS layer containing the entire factor data used for suitability evaluation. After computation, SAVMACE sent the results into ArcGIS for symbolization and visualization.