/library/oar/handle/123456789/36808 2026-05-26T02:32:48Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/39570 Title: Modelling of oil spill scenarios around Maltese shores Abstract: Oil spills can occur both from natural seeps found in areas where oil reserves are found, or from anthropogenic factors such as ship accidents. As soon as oil is spilled into the sea, various processes such as spreading, evaporation, and dispersion will start acting on it immediately. Through the use of Earth observation satellites, authorities such as the European Union and local governments, can be advised of an oil spill a few hours after this occurs. It is vital to model an oil spill once this is observed through satellites. It is also important that the authorities know where the spill is going, its current and predicted state, as well as the time by when it will get there, all of which can be achieved through modelling. The study provides various oil spill scenarios around the Maltese Islands where an oil spill is most likely to occur. The modelled spill parameters are based on typical oil that is transported in this region. The weather data that is provided to MEDSLIK is taken from a high resolution hydrodynamic model that gives a three-day forecast for the Malta Shelf Area. The modelling of the various scenarios was further mapped onto a base map showing the most important socio-economic activities on the Maltese shores and how these were affected by the various wind conditions stipulated. The northern coast is where the main harbours, bays, fish farms are situated, as well as where the largest part of the Maltese population resides. Results show that the northern coast is at a high risk and especially vulnerable if an accident occur during northerly and northeasterly winds. Description: B.SC.(HONS)EARTH SYSTEMS 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/39569 Title: Assessing bathing area vulnerability to sea-level rise in Gozo Abstract: Coastal areas are known to be susceptible, vulnerable and prone to natural hazards and climate change impacts such as sea - level rise (SLR). The level of vulnerability to sea-level rise depends on various factors as discussed later on in this study. These factors include the slope shore, artificial protection, urban and artificial typology, protection level and vegetation cover. The IPCC Third Assessment Report on Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability 2001, stated how smaller island are more vulnerable and more affected to SLR than larger areas as they are more sensitive. A SLR in Malta will not affect the coastal ecosystems but also the economic system, especially because tourism, fishing and leisure in Malta and Gozo are highly dependent on coastal areas. Studies show that during the 20th century alone, SLR rose by 10cm and it is predicted to increase at a faster rate in the future. Hazards such SLR are identified by the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM). Throughout this study, eight bathing areas will be assessed and the total vulnerability of each area will be worked out by the scores obtained, being able to compare and contrast the level of vulnerability within the same area as well as between the eight bathing areas. These scores were obtained by scoring 50 by 50m segments of the immediate coastal hinterland. Hondoq, Qbajjar and Dahlet Qorrot bathing areas were found to exhibit the highest vulnerability levels to SLR and Ramla, Inland sea and Marsalforn, lowest. Assessing the level of vulnerability in an area is important to adapt the most effective mitigation measure in the area, in order to reduce the risk and increase the adaptive capacity. Small islands should not solely focus on measures to reduce Greenhouse Gases but also measures to mitigate climate change effects. Description: B.SC.(HONS)EARTH SYSTEMS 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/39568 Title: Assessing climate change scenarios for the central Mediterranean using MAGICC/SCENGEN models Abstract: Accelerated climate change is threatening ecosystems and mankind in various aspects, leading to an increasing awareness of the need to address its implications. It is believed that the Mediterranean region is a hotspot to these climate changes which therefore increases the need to predict potential implications that this region may face. Model simulations enable authorities and decision-makers to formulate the necessary measures which need to be taken in order to address these effects. The main aim of this study was to assess future climate projections of the central Mediterranean. This has been achieved by using 20 atmosphere-ocean general circulation models of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 3 (CMIP3) to address different scenarios from the Special Report on Emission scenarios (SRES). These were available in a software package known as MAGICC/SCENGEN v. 5.3. MAGICC to simulate temperature, CO2 concentrations and sea level change displays for the years 2020-2100. SCENGEN was used to simulate seasonal projections for temperature, pressure and precipitation over the central Mediterranean for the years 2050, 2070 and 2090. Although there have been studies on the Mediterranean region, this is the first study which covers the central Mediterranean in such detail when simulating future climate predictions using the newest version of MAGICC/SCENGEN. Thus, the aim of this dissertation was to increases the awareness and understanding of CMIP3 models and assess their relative performance and the reliability of the projections on future climate, both on regional and local scales. Outcomes from this study also highlight areas where adaptation and mitigation measures should be formed by authorities in order to address changes in future climate. Description: B.SC.(HONS)EARTH SYSTEMS 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/39567 Title: Investigation and automatic parameterisation of large microplastic particle concentration on selected Maltese beaches Abstract: This study investigates the concentrations of microplastics on Maltese sandy beaches, specifically on Golden Bay, Riviera Bay, Għadira Bay, and Pretty Bay. Included in the study is a novel image processing technique which has been developed in order to automatically parameterizes microplastics and in doing so producing results which are more accurate, and in a shorter time. The main purpose of this study was to better understand the increasing effects of microplastics on the marine environment, specifically the effect of microplastics on the Maltese Islands. Through reviewed literature, it was expected that the Maltese beaches would be a hot-spot for microplastics, making it a good research area. The results showed that the number of microplastics on Maltese beaches reaches figures which are alarming, concluding that the Maltese beaches are the ideal study areas for this project. Data obtained from the automatic parameterization give rise to the conclusion that the vast majority of microplastics found on the beaches are primary microplastics in the form of preproduction pellets which have found their way to the marine environment. The dominant north western wind direction has littered the beaches in the north west of the island with greater amounts of plastic than on other beaches, proving that these plastics are transported by wind and wave currents. The number of samples taken over a number of different months, confirmed that human activity on the beaches during the busy summer months did not add any more microplastics, but it was in the winter months that the microplastics increased. Description: B.SC.(HONS)EARTH SYSTEMS 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z