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Conference: 1st International Conference on Mapping and Spatial Analysis of Socio-Economic and Environmental Indicators for the Local and Regional Sustainable Development (SEE GEOMATICS)Location: Tataouine, TUNISIADate: MAR 25-26, 2015; International audience; For mapping the three-dimensional shape of the submarine bars, studying their dynamics and assessing the spatiotemporal evolution of sedimentary balances, the coastal prism of Korba (emerged and submerged beach) has benefitted from topo-bathymetric monitoring. This monitoring was carried out on an annual basis between July 2006 and July 2009. Numerical Terrain Models (N.T.M.) and transverse profiles were then analyzed. The main results show, firstly, that the shoreface of Korba is characterized by a homogeneous evolution across all profiles of its two-bar system. Moreover, the extent of changes in the sand volume of the beach suggests that the evolution takes place without significant sedimentary loss and that the beach is in a dynamic equilibrium. Accretion of the bars and migration towards the shore are found in periods of small waves (between July 2006 and July 2007). However, following a period of minor agitations, a filling of the outer trough is observed. It is proceeded by the migration of the outer bar towards the coast (between July 2007 and July 2009). These results confirm the traditional model of self-organization of a barred beach. These data and results, then, allow us to establish conceptual models and simulations of the evolution of the microtidal, barred beach of Korba.

Introduction The modern Afro-Asian porcupines, the African cane-, mole- and dassie-rats, as well as the South American guinea pigs, chinchillas, capybaras, pacas, agoutis, etc., make up the natural group of the hystricognathous rodents (infra-order Hystricognathi Tullberg, 1899). The phylogenetic relationships between the hystricognaths from South America (caviomorphs (Caviomorpha Wood, 1955)) and Africa (phiomorphs (Phiomorpha sensu Lavocat, 1967; Thryonomyoidea sensu Wood, 1955)) are today well-supported by a body of anatomical (e.g. Wood, 1974; Lavocat, 1976; Bugge, 1985; George, 1985; Meng, 1990; Luckett and Hartenberger, 1993; Martin, 1994) and molecular (e.g. Nedbal et al ., 1996; Huchon and Douzery, 2001; Huchon et al ., 2002, 2007; Poux et al ., 2006; Montgelard et al ., 2008; Blanga-Kanfi et al ., 2009; Churakov et al ., 2010) evidence, and also by endoparasite studies (e.g. Hugot, 1999). In contrast, the phylogenetic and geographic origins of hystricognaths have been the subject of considerable controversy over the past several decades (e.g. Wood and Patterson, 1959; Hoffstetter, 1972; Wood, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1985; Lavocat, 1973, 1974, 1976; Hussain et al ., 1978; Flynn et al ., 1986; Jaeger, 19; Huchon and Douzery, 2001, 2002; Marivaux et al ., 2002, 2004; Jaeger et al ., 2010a), and critical issues about their historical biogeography, notably their arrival in South America, are still a matter of on-going debate (e.g. Poux et al ., 2006; Bandoni de Oliveira et al ., 2009; Sallam et al ., 2009, 2011; Coster et al ., 2010; Antoine et al ., 2012). Although hystricognaths are absent from the earliest Tertiary fossil record at a global scale, their earliest known fossil occurrences date back to the late middle Eocene from both Africa and South America. This either suggests that hystricognaths have rapidly achieved a widespread distribution throughout the Old and New Worlds just after their emergence, or points out the existence of a significant Eocene gap in their fossil record. During the late Eocene and early Oligocene, the group exhibited a high diversity and morphological disparity on both landmasses, thereby suggesting a considerable amount of undocumented diversity in their early evolutionary history.

International audience; In arid environments, porous media are unsaturated with water which is submitted to capillary constraints. The present chapter focuses on the geochemical impacts of such physical constraints and how theoretical analysis can help interpreting field or laboratory observations. The basic principles of capillary geochemistry suggest that the fate of contaminants, either organic or inorganic, can be significantly impacted in terms of reactive mass transfer in addition to flow and transport processes. All these mechanisms are closely interconnected, what makes the description of the behavior of such systems very complicated. An important work still has to be done in order to achieve such a goal: a number of mechanisms are not taken into account in the current state of development of the capillary geochemistry, namely mechanisms that occur in the thinnest confining geometries, like disjoining pressures, surface forces, etc.

This report provides a reconnaissance-scale assessment of bulk mineralogy and clay mineral assemblages in sediments and sedimentary rocks that are entering the Hikurangi subduction zone, offshore North Island, New Zealand. Samples were obtained from three sites drilled during Leg 181 of the Ocean Drilling Program (Sites 1123, 1124, and 1125) and 38 piston/gravity cores that are distributed across the strike-length of the margin. Results from bulk-powder X-ray diffraction show large variations in normalized abundances of total clay minerals and calcite. The typical lithologies range from clay-rich hemipelagic mud (i.e., mixtures of terrigenous silt and clay with lesser amounts of biogenic carbonate) to calcareous mud, muddy calcareous ooze, and nearly pure nannofossil ooze. Basement highs (Chatham Rise and Hikurangi Plateau) are dominated by biocalcareous sediment, whereas most deposits in the trench (Hikurangi Trough and Hikurangi Channel) and on the insular trench slope are hemipelagic. Clay mineral assemblages (60 wt%) relative to chlorite, kaolinite, and smectite. Normalized proportions of detrital smectite increase significantly toward the northeast to reach values of 40–55 wt% offshore Hawkes Bay and across the transect area for Expeditions 372 and 375 of the International Ocean Discovery Program.

The southern Cappadocia shows a large variety of Quaternary volcanic landscapes, offering the opportunity to observe beautiful and generally fresh morphologies. These landscapes include two rhyolitic complexes (Golludag and Acigol), a huge composite volcano (Hasandag) and numerous monogenic vents, with scoria cones, domes and maars. Natural and anthropogenic sections show a large variety of lava flows and tephra layers. The precise study of this volcanic material allows reconstructing the volcanic and geomorphologic evolution of this area during the Quaternary, including modes of emplacements, chronology of the volcanic successions, morphological impacts on the landscapes. In addition, archaeological excavations in southern Cappadocia testify for the presence of ancient populations since the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic. During the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods, the southern Cappadocia has been intensively occupied with permanent sites (Asikli Hoyuk, Musular, Tepecik Ciftlik, Kosk Hoyuk, etc.) as well as non-permanent sites devoted to mining and chopping of obsidian associated with some of the volcanoes.

The superconducting gravimeter (SG) uses magnetic levitation as a stable gravity spring and is the default relative instrument for observatory gravity. SGs have high precision (~ 0.01 μGal), exceptional calibration stability (~ 0.01%), low drift (few μGal per year), and record at periods from 1 s to years. The newest iGrav SG is transportable in a small SUV, requires no liquid helium, has integrated electronics, and is easy to set up. We review instrument design, reduction and data processing, and many applications: seismic modes; tides and nutations; large- and small-scale atmospheric, oceanic, and hydrologic loading; volcanology; coseismic signals; and time-variable gravity exploration.

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews that the knowledge of the extent of quaternary glaciers in the Himalayan mountains of Nepal, based on the accumulated evidence, still remains very fragmentary. However, Nepal occupies a significant central position in the Himalayan mountain chain, with 8 peaks over 8000 m high and with extensive regions over 6500 m a.s.1. Access to the country is quite variable. It discusses that several areas of the highest massifs provides the highest mountain climbing and walking stations in the world and are well served by a dense network of footpaths and resting places. However, to gain access to some valleys north of the high chain requires several days walk and special expensive permits to enter. This explains the reason certain regions are effectively terra incognita from the perspective of quaternary glaciations. The chapter also provides an overview on a model that shows the different possible glaciation scenarios that are controlled by the topography and the position of study sites in the Himalaya chain. It also includes the limits used for the reconstruction of past glaciations. It discusses that isolated massifs, separated from the highest massifs and the processes imposed by the proximity to steep rock walls were occupied through the quaternary by small ice caps. These places hold the most important evidence for understanding qaternary glacial fluctuations. However, they have received little attention, because they are far from the major communication routes and too close to the Tibetan border.

The continuous growth of the urban population has generated a drastic expansion of our cities. Nowadays, indeed, more than 50 % of the world’s population is urban, and they forecast that it will reach 70 % by 2050. Therefore, cities need to be ready to accommodate this huge amount of citizens and to face new challenges (e.g., traffic congestion, air pollution, waste management, etc.). The concept of cyber-physical systems, as integration of computation and physical processes, can help toward the realization of real smart cities capable to ensure sustainability and efficiency. To this purpose, this chapter investigates the cyber-physical system (CPS) and their cyber-physical object (CPO) as key units, in the context of a smart city concept. We survey the smart city vision, providing information on the main requirements, the open challenges, and highlighting the benefits; we also browse the European Commission initiatives for smart cities and some pilot projects that are in development.

International audience; The study area mainly includes the continental shelves of two European states (France and Spain), three North African countries (Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia), and Gibraltar and Monaco. Overall, the total shelf area in the western Mediterranean down to the 150 m isobath is 208,000 km2 within a total basin area of 1,343,620 km2. There is a major difference in the degree of available information from EU member states and North African countries.