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  • Publication
    Accès libre
    Serological signature of tick-borne pathogens in Scandinavian brown bears over two decades
    (2015-7-28) ;
    Jones, Krista L.
    ;
    Evans, Alina L.
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    ; ;
    Lienhard, Reto
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    Arnemo, Jon M.
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    Swenson, Jon E.
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    Background: Anthropogenic disturbances are changing the geographic distribution of ticks and tick-borne diseases. Over the last few decades, the tick Ixodes ricinus has expanded its range and abundance considerably in northern Europe. Concurrently, the incidence of tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis, has increased in the human populations of the Scandinavian countries. Methods: Wildlife populations can serve as sentinels for changes in the distribution of tick-borne diseases. We used serum samples from a long-term study on the Scandinavian brown bear, Ursus arctos, and standard immunological methods to test whether exposure to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis, and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) had increased over time. Bears had been sampled over a period of 18 years (1995-2012) from a southern area, where Ixodes ricinus ticks are present, and a northern area where ticks are uncommon or absent. Results: Bears had high levels of IgG antibodies against B. burgdorferi sensu lato but not TBEV. Bears at the southern area had higher values of anti-Borrelia IgG antibodies than bears at the northern area. Over the duration of the study, the value of anti-Borrelia IgG antibodies increased in the southern area but not the northern area. Anti-Borrelia IgG antibodies increased with the age of the bear but declined in the oldest age classes. Conclusions: Our study is consistent with the view that ticks and tick-borne pathogens are expanding their abundance and prevalence in Scandinavia. Long-term serological monitoring of large mammals can provide insight into how anthropogenic disturbances are changing the distribution of ticks and tick-borne diseases.
  • Publication
    Accès libre
    3-D groundwater modeling at regional scale
    (2001)
    Kimmeier, Francesco
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    ;
    Király, László
    Large hydrogeological basins are constituted of several superimposed aquifers, separated by geological formations of relatively low permeabilities. The delimitation of the different flow systems is far more difficult to realize for a heterogeneous system. Flux vectors provide valuable indications about groundwater flow paths and hydraulic exchanges between the different geological formations. Hydraulic relationships between two superimposed aquifers can vary locally: an aquifer can «feed» the underlying one at some point and conversely elsewhere. These relationships, which constitute in fact the flow field, will be determined by the structure of the basin as defined by the spatial distribution of the rock permeabilities, and by the boundary conditions, as defined by the locations of the recharge and discharge areas. The aim of this study is to show schematically the deep groundwater flow patterns between the massives of the Aar and the Black Forest. The hydrogeological profiles illustrate three-dimensional flow fields inside a large volume of terrain and represent but one of the numerous solutions of the mathematical modelling realized. Computations have been performed for a steady state flow regime, which means that the boundary conditions do not vary with time.
    On the basis of modelling results, it was possible to illustrate schematically the deep flow systems of the most important aquifers between the Aar massives and the Black Forest (Malm, Muschelkalk and upper Cristallin). An approximate but plausible representation of the groundwater circulation in deep aquifers was obtained thanks to the model. We are able to distinguish between the hydraulic relationships of two superimposed aquifers in various regions. The three-dimensional representation shows the outcrop zones of the different geological formations as well as the situation of recharge areas, which are characterised by high potentials, and discharge zones, which are characterised by low potentials in valleys represented by the hydrographic network.
    Modelling results are then compared to available measurements in an attempt to validate the results. It is interesting to notice that it was possible, to a certain extent, to verify the modelling results by deep drillings. Most particularly, measurements of the hydraulic potentials at various depths in these boreholes have revealed upwellings close to the regional discharge areas.
  • Publication
    Métadonnées seulement
  • Publication
    Métadonnées seulement
    Impact des changements climatiques sur le comportement des systèmes aquifères
    (Hochschulverlag AG an der ETH ZĂĽrich, 1997) ;
    Kimmeier, Francesco
    ;
    Rossier, Yvan
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    Eisenlohr, Laurent
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    Kilary, Laszlo
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  • Publication
    Métadonnées seulement
  • Publication
    Accès libre
    Contribution d'un système d'information à référence spatiale à la sélection de sites potentiels de stockage de déchets ménagers et industriels en région semi-aride (Souss, Maroc)
    El Morjani, Zine El Abidine
    ;
    Wildi, Walter
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    Jaquet, Jean-Michel
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    ;
    Bouchaou, Lhoussaine
    La gestion de l'environnement dans un esprit de développement durable est un besoin vital de notre société. Sa mise en oeuvre exige une approche pluridisciplinaire et interdisciplinaire, sur la base d'un concept approprié, ainsi que d'une base de données exhaustive. Dans ce cadre, il est indispensable d'acquérir des informations détaillées, fiables et bien organisées sur l'état de l'environnement et du territoire. Le projet SIRS Souss (SIRSS) vise à élaborer une approche optimale de gestion de l'environnement intégrant le concept de développement durable. Il permet la spatialisation des différents facteurs techniques, environnementaux, sociaux et économiques tout en mettant en oeuvre des outils modernes d'analyse et de modélisation.
    Le point central de ce travail concerne l'élaboration de données numériques spatiales et temporelles, contenant les informations ayant un rapport avec la gestion environnementale et l'aménagement du territoire dans la région du Souss (Sud Marocain). Cette recherche a permis la création de six documents spatiaux de base en format raster ou vecteur (la topographie, la couverture du sol, la lithologie, la pédologie, la population et la piézométrie du bassin) et l'établissement de six cartes mensuelles hydro-climatiques en format raster résultat d’une simulation de la continuité spatiale des principaux processus hydrologiques : précipitations, températures, aridité, évapotranspiration, ruissellement et infiltration. Comme méta-information, nous avons associé des cartes d'évaluation de la "qualité" des estimations. Cette méthodologie spatiale a nécessité des approches déterministes et probabilistes et le recours à diverses méthodes statistiques (régression multiple, analyse en composantes principales). La combinaison des Systèmes d'Information à Référence Spatiale (SIRS) et la télédétection (TD) représente un apport original et incontestable. Ce système d'information met à la disposition des ingénieurs et gestionnaires des outils d'analyse et d'aide à la décision pour l'aménagement et la planification du territoire.
    Dans le cadre de cette recherche, une démarche intégrée de traitement numérique des données spatiales a été appliquée en vue d’une sélection des meilleures installations pour le stockage des déchets ménagers et industriels (ISDMI) dans le bassin du Souss. Cette application a été motivée par les résultats d’une évaluation des risques environnementaux liés à la décharge actuelle du Grand Agadir, considérant celle-ci comme une source de danger potentiel pour la santé de la population riveraine et l'environnement. Le SIRS et l'analyse multicritère (AM) se sont avérés être des outils et des méthodes bien adaptés à cette nouvelle problématique de nature éminemment multidisciplinaire. Le SIRS a contribué à l'évaluation d'un grand nombre d'alternatives pour la localisation d’ISDMI selon les critères d'évaluation (critères exclusifs et d'appréciation) et les méthodes d'analyse multicritères ont été utilisées, d'une part pour faire ressortir les sites les plus adéquats au stockage des déchets ménagers et, d'autre part, établir une liste de priorité pour les sites potentiels de stockage des déchets industriels non dangereux.
  • Publication
    Accès libre
    Eléments hydrogéologiques dans l’étude de l’influence de deux décharges sur le système aquifère de la plaine du Rhône (Valais central, Suisse)
    Ebener, Steeve
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    ;
    Wildi, Walter
    Hydrogeological elements in the study of the influence of two landfills on the Rhône plain aquifer system (central Valais, Switzerland). – The aim of this publication is to contribute to the knowledge of a part of the Rhône plain alluvial system under the influence of two landfills.
    The hydrological environment of this zone is described using topographic, geologic, climatic and hydrologic information, allowing a 3D approach.
    This analysis confirms the complexity of the ground water flows in the aquifer between Sierre and Granges. The great diversity of the anthropogenic or natural element sources are responsible for the 3D heterogeneity of the water quality observed in the aquifer.
  • Publication
    Accès libre
    Geohydrological parameters identification and groundwater vulnerability to pollution: A Swiss case study
    Kimmeier, Francesco
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    Ornstein, Pascal
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    Weber, Isabelle
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    Rouiller, Jean-Daniel
    The alluvial aquifer of the RhĂ´ne valley in Switzerland, which extends over 110 km and occupies an area of 256 km2, is of great economic importance. Its groundwaters are easily accessible and thus exploitable at low cost. However, its location in an often narrow valley with intense human activity (industry, agriculture, communications network) makes it particularly vulnerable from both a qualitative (industrial and\or agricultural pollution) and quantitative point of view (groundwater flow disturbance following civil engineering works). Since 1995, the Swiss canton of Valais has decided to compile datasets from a number of local studies (water supply, hydro-electricity, and geotechnical studies) into a regional, integrated hydrogeological framework. The realization of the study has shown the importance of GIS tool either for the computing and mapping of the first piezometric map between Brig and LĂ©man Lake or the elaboration of vulnerability maps. The geostatistic tool was also intensively used all over the spatial treatment of data. The comparison of groundwaters NO3-- content (1985 and 1995), has shown that globally the nitrates content in the groundwater is low (< 30 mg/l for 90 % of samples). However it must be notice that the evolution of the NO3-- content degrades during time. The study of vulnerability to pollution for the aquifer situated between Sierre and VĂ©troz as shown significant differences between the four different methods used. As main results DRASTIC and SINTACS integrated methods are concentrated between Moderate and High vulnerability when NLFB and GOD intrinsic methods are concentrated between Very Low and Moderate vulnerability. Intrinsic methods have the tendency to minimize the vulnerability.