ABSTRACTS / RESUMES - Comitato Glaciologico Italiano

les niveaux phreatiques a differentes etapes de l'evolution
du paysage plio-quaternaire, et n' ont done pas une connotation
climatique, aride, comme dans les travaux plus
anciens.
110HAMED TAHAR BENAZZOUZ
Aeolian morphogenesis and desertification
in the Ziban Range, Algeria
Earth Sciences Institute, University of Constantine,
25000 Constantine, Algeria
Through the research methods on desertification the geomorphological
techniques proved to be well adapted to the
knowledge and the comprehension of desertification processes
on the northern margins of algerian sahara. The
study of aeolian morphogenesis focused on the Ziban Range
allows the evidence of an aeolian system which supplies
and maintains the desertification as a natural phenomenon.
The Hodna-Ziban aeolian system is disposed excactly on
the north-west flux axe while main reliefs are orientated
south-west to north-east and are perpendicular to the prevailing
winds . The cartography of this aeolian system sol
impact shows the existence of forms and formations .relevant
to the aeolian morphogenesis.
This explains just south of Biskra, the abruptchangement
orientation of oued Djeddi which' adapts a new direction
north-west to south-east, the presence of dunes field orientated
north-west to south-east, northern slopes are supported
wind-blown sand veneers, and marks of corrasion on
the tops of reliefs, all these indicators confirm, the activity
of aeolian morphogenesis which entrains sand and carries
it over at least 250 km to the Grand Erg Oriental.
The aeolian morphogenesis here is more efficacious because
the presence of both paleosebkha and active sebkha
which stood in a straight line along the corridor Hodna­
Melrhir. So, role of endoreism will be determinant here because
the store of aeolian sands which is produced by some
active sebkha as chott el Hodnaor sebkha Selga This
Hodna-Ziban aeolian system develop on the soil some aeolian
corridors by which can transit sands,to' the south-east
towards chott Melrhir and the Grand, Erg Oriental. This
natural" aeolian transit is often accentuatedby anthropic
actions. So, the irreversible appearance' of desertification
are often located exactly in these aeolian corridors because
the recent agriculture devlopment near Tolga oasis and in
sebkha Selga where wind-blown accumulation is very high
and threaten seriously oasis.
Finally, it appears that in the Ziban Range, aeolian morphogenesis
contribute effectively to desertification but
can't be considered exclusively as a natural phenomenon.
76
AJIT KUMAR BERA
Hidro-Geomorphological studies for agricultural
planning in West Bengal, India
Department of Geography, Surendranath College for Women,
M.G. road, Calcutta, India
An attempt has been made herein to deal with the Hydro­
Geomorphology concerning agricultural planning in West
Bengal. Hydro-Geomorphology deals with the hydrological
attributes and geomorphological attributes on the earth
surface. Agriculture is the art of raising plant life in soil on
the earth surface. Man's agricultural activities, mainly depends
on the Hydro-Geomorphological condition i.e. water,
climate (hydrological attributes), relief, drainage and
soil (geomorphological attributes), etc.
The area under study is mainly confined to West Bengal,
India. On the globe the position of West Bengal extends
from 21°38' North to 27°13' North latitudes and 85°45'
East to 89°50' East longitudes. The total geographical area
of West Bengal is 87675.91 km 2 and the total population of
the state is 67.982.732 persons as per 1991 census. Whereas
63.05 per cent land uses for agriculture and 17.54 per
cent is agricultural labourer out of 28.26 per cent of the total
worker in the State. In the State, where 65 per cent people
depends on agricultural and neerly 50 per cent of the
State's income derived from it. The State earns more than
23 per cent foreign exchange through the export of different
agricultural commodities.
The paper is mainly based on the findings of the fieldwork
through correlation with the published works on this particular
branch of the subject. The study treats of the classification
of land in proper perspective and its future. Finally,
an attempt has been made to throw some light on the brighter
possibIlities regarding food and job for local people
with the help of modern technology and management.
OGBAGHEBRIEL BERAKHI ', PAOLO BILLI 2
& FRANCESCO DRAMIS 3
Geomorphological investigations on gully erosion
in the Rift Valley and Northern Highlands of Ethiopia
1 Department of Geography, University of Addis Ababa,
p.o. box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
2 Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Universita di Firenze,
via S. Marta, 3, 50139 Firenze, Italy
3 Dipartimento di Scienze Geologiche, Universita di Roma Tre,
via Ostiense 169, 00154 Rama, Italy
Gully erosion phenomena are very common in Ethiopia.
They affect large areas with different morphological, pedological
and climatic characteristics. The amount of soil loss
due to gullying has become a very serious problem in the