Key characteristics of the desert environment

Wiesman, Zeev

doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-374257-5.00003-8

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 6 publications

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“…The world's desert area accounts for 35% of the land surface area, 45.608 million square kilometers, there are many desert areas and desert landscape types among various countries. At the same time, due to natural phenomena and human interference, more and more areas in the world are facing desertification [4]. The desert environment is often accompanied by a hot and dry climate, monotonous environment and landscape.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research on the Application Strategy of Light Healing Design in Desert Area Architecture

Zheng

2024

HSET

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This research studies the application of light healing design in desert area architecture. Drawing on the desert's unique advantages, including ample daylight, diverse dune forms, a range of landscapes, and distinctive vegetation, and taking into account the lighting requirements of the population in the desert, research proposes two light healing design methods for the desert area: daylighting and artificial lighting. Through literature review and case analysis, the design strategy of desert light healing was formed. The aim is to provide inspiration for the location of desert architecture and the design of light healing technology and improve the physical and mental health and emotional regulation of people in desert areas.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research on the Application Strategy of Light Healing Design in Desert Area Architecture

Zheng

2024

HSET

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Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) measurements during water flow in a date palm stem segment

Bukhary

Huisman

Wang

et al. 2023

Computers and Electronics in Agriculture

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Illegal dumping of oil and gas wastewater alters arid soil microbial communities

Kashani,

Engle,

Kent

et al. 2024

Appl Environ Microbiol

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The Permian Basin, underlying southeast New Mexico and west Texas, is one of the most productive oil and gas (OG) provinces in the United States. Oil and gas production yields large volumes of wastewater with complex chemistries, and the environmental health risks posed by these OG wastewaters on sensitive desert ecosystems are poorly understood. Starting in November 2017, 39 illegal dumps, as defined by federal and state regulations, of OG wastewater were identified in southeastern New Mexico, releasing ~600,000 L of fluid onto dryland soils. To evaluate the impacts of these releases, we analyzed changes in soil geochemistry and microbial community composition by comparing soils from within OG wastewater dump-affected samples to unaffected zones. We observed significant changes in soil geochemistry for all dump-affected compared with control samples, reflecting the residual salts and hydrocarbons from the OG-wastewater release (e.g., enriched in sodium, chloride, and bromide). Microbial community structure significantly ( P < 0.01) differed between dump and control zones, with soils from dump areas having significantly ( P < 0.01) lower alpha diversity and differences in phylogenetic composition. Dump-affected soil samples showed an increase in halophilic and halotolerant taxa, including members of the Marinobacteraceae, Halomonadaceae, and Halobacteroidaceae, suggesting that the high salinity of the dumped OG wastewater was exerting a strong selective pressure on microbial community structure. Taxa with high similarity to known hydrocarbon-degrading organisms were also detected in the dump-affected soil samples. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential for OG wastewater exposure to change the geochemistry and microbial community dynamics of arid soils. IMPORTANCE The long-term environmental health impacts resulting from releases of oil and gas (OG) wastewater, typically brines with varying compositions of ions, hydrocarbons, and other constituents, are understudied. This is especially true for sensitive desert ecosystems, where soil microbes are key primary producers and drivers of nutrient cycling. We found that releases of OG wastewater can lead to shifts in microbial community composition and function toward salt- and hydrocarbon-tolerant taxa that are not typically found in desert soils, thus altering the impacted dryland soil ecosystem. Loss of key microbial taxa, such as those that catalyze organic carbon cycling, increase arid soil fertility, promote plant health, and affect soil moisture retention, could result in cascading effects across the sensitive desert ecosystem. By characterizing environmental changes due to releases of OG wastewater to soils overlying the Permian Basin, we gain further insights into how OG wastewater may alter dryland soil microbial functions and ecosystems.

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Key characteristics of the desert environment

Cited by 4 publications

References 6 publications

Research on the Application Strategy of Light Healing Design in Desert Area Architecture

Research on the Application Strategy of Light Healing Design in Desert Area Architecture

Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) measurements during water flow in a date palm stem segment

Illegal dumping of oil and gas wastewater alters arid soil microbial communities

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