Browsing Earth Sciences by Title
Now showing items 248-267 of 268
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Use of multispectral satellite datasets to improve ecological understanding of the distribution of Invasive Alien Plants in a water-limited catchment, South Africa
(Wiley, 2020)Invasive Alien Plants (IAPs) pose major threats to biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and services. The availability of moderate resolution satellite data (e.g. Sentinel-2 Multispectral Instrument and Landsat-8 Operational ... -
The use of Radon (Rn222) isotopes to detect groundwater discharge in streams draining Table Mountain Group (TMG) aquifers
(Water Research Commission (WRC), 2021)Environmental isotopes have been used for decades as natural tracers in studies aimed at understanding complex hydrogeological processes such as groundwater and surface water interactions. Radon (Rn222) is a naturally ... -
Use of remotely sensed data to estimate tree species diversity as an indicator of biodiversity in BloubergNature Reserve, South Africa
(Taylor and Francis Group, 2022)We use remotely sensed data to estimate species diversity inBlouberg Nature Reserve (BNR) in the Limpopo province, SouthAfrica to understand the state of biodiversity since communities’involvement in conservation initiatives. ... -
Use of remotely sensed derived metrics to assess wetland vegetation responses to climate variability-induced drought at the Soetendalsvlei wetland system in the Heuningnes Catchment, Western Cape province, South Africa
(Taylor and Francis Group, 2021-11-11)Wetland vegetation plays an important role in the environmental functioning of wetlands through the provision of ecosystem services, such as food and critical habitat for organisms that live in or near water resources. The ... -
The use of stable isotopes to identify surface water–groundwater interaction in the Kruger National Park, South Africa
(South African Water Research Commission, 2023)The role of groundwater, in general, is often overlooked in freshwater ecosystem management policies and in the management of South Africa’s flagship conservation area, the Kruger National Park (KNP). To address this gap, ... -
Using cloud computing techniques to monitor long-term variations in ecohydrological dynamics of small seasonally-flooded wetlands in semi-arid South Africa.
(Journal of Hydrology, 2022)Wetlands in drylands have high inter- and intra-annual ecohydrological variations that are driven to a great extent by climate variability and anthropogenic influences. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands encourages the ... -
Using sap flow data to assess variations in water use and water status of apple orchards of varying age groups in the western cape province of South Africa
(Water Research Commission, 2020)No accurate quantitative information currently exists on how water use of apple (Malus domestica) orchards varies from planting to full-bearing age, leading to poor irrigation and water allocation decision making. This ... -
Using the water balance approach to understand pool dynamics along non-perennial rivers in the semi-arid areas of South Africa
(Elsevier, 2022)The Touws River in the Klein Karoo region of South Africa Study focus: This study sought to improve the understanding of pool dynamics along non-perennial rivers (NPRs) by utilising the water balance approach to assess the ... -
Utilisation of cover crops: implications for conservation agriculture systems in a mediterranean climate region of South Africa
(Springer, 2021)Purpose Cover crops can provide multiple agroecosystem services to crops produced in conservation agriculture systems. South African grain producers in the Mediterranean climate region are reluctant to integrate cover ... -
The Utility of the Upcoming HyspIRI’s Simulated Spectral Settings in Detecting Maize Gray Leafy Spot in Relation to Sentinel-2 MSI, VENµS, and Landsat 8 OLI Sensors
(UWC, 2019)Abstract: Considering the high maize yield loses caused by incidences of disease, as well as incomprehensive monitoring initiatives in crop farming, there is a need for spatially explicit, cost-effective, and consistent ... -
A water balance approach to the sustainable management of groundwater in South Africa
(Water Research Commission, 2000)The water balance approach, based on the principles of conservation of mass, is applied to the issue of sustainable groundwater management in South Africa, incorporating the ethos of the National Water Act of 1998, ... -
Water futures and solutions: Options to enhance water security in sub-Saharan Africa
(Springer, Cham, 2018)Water security is one of the greatest health, ecological, environmental, and human rights challenges of our time. Africa sits at the epicenter of this quandary, with the need to build resilience into already over allocated ... -
Water materialities and citizen engagement: Testing the implications of water access and quality for community engagement in Ghana and South Africa
(Taylor & Francis, 2017)We analyze the relationship between perceptions of domestic water access, and quality, in relation community engagement. While others have suggested linkages between material conditions of water access and engagement ... -
Water quality prediction based on multi-task learning
(MDPI, 2022)Water pollution seriously endangers people’s lives and restricts the sustainable development of the economy. Water quality prediction is essential for early warning and prevention of water pollution. However, the nonlinear ... -
Water use dynamics of young and mature apple trees planted in South African orchards: a case study of the Golden Delicious and Cripps’ Pink cultivars
(Copernicus Publications, 2018)Apple orchards have previously been bearing 60–80 t ha-1 at most. However in recent years yield has increased to more than 100 t ha-1. There is need to understand the water requirements of the high yielding orchards, ... -
Water use of selected cover crop species commonly grown in South African fruit orchards and their response to drought stress
(Elsevier, 2021)Cover crops are widely planted in orchards for a variety of reasons. These include suppressing soil erosion, nutrient cycling, phytosanitary purposes, general orchard aesthetics etc. However, there is need to balance these ... -
Wetlands in drylands: Diverse perspectives for dynamic landscapes
(Springer, 2022)The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP 1997) classifes global drylands according to an Aridity Index (AI), defned as the ratio between mean annual precipitation (MAP) and potential evapotranspiration (PET). ... -
Why do we need to care about transboundary aquifers and how do we solve their issues?
(SpringerLink, 2023)As the reliance on transboundary groundwater is increasing globally, it is important to understand and address the specifc issues raised by the assessment and management of transboundary aquifers (TBAs). Building on 20 ... -
Will a rising sea sink some estuarine wetland ecosystems?
(Elsevier, 2016)Sea-level rise associated with climate change presents a major challenge to plant diversity and ecosystem service provision in coastal wetlands. In this study, we investigate the effect of sea-level rise on benthos, ... -
Will climate warming exceed lethal photosynthetic temperature thresholds of lichens in a southern African arid region?
(Wiley, 2013)Predicted elevated temperatures and a shift from a winter to summer rainfall pattern associated with global warming could result in the exposure of hydrated lichens during summer to more numerous temperature extremes that ...