Circulations atmosphériques et anomalies de fonte à la surface de la calotte glaciaire du Groenland

in Bulletin de la Société Géographique de Liège (2008), 51

With the aim to study the impact of the 500hPa general circulation on the Greenland ice sheet surface melt simulated by the regional climate model MAR, we developed a new Circulation Type Classification ... [more ▼]

With the aim to study the impact of the 500hPa general circulation on the Greenland ice sheet surface melt simulated by the regional climate model MAR, we developed a new Circulation Type Classification (CTC) based on the 500hPa geopotential height from the ECMWF (re)analysis over the period 1958-2007. This CTC shows that the dominant mode of the regional atmospheric variability around the Greenland is linked to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and that the surface anomalies are highly correlated to the general circulation. It explains also why a record surface melt was observed during the summer 2007. The 27th August of 2003, where the temperature was 10°C higher than the normal, is the consequence of an almost unique 500 hPa circulation in the 50 last years. [less ▲]

Google Earth et Windows Live Search Maps: Analyse fonctionnelle et comparaison

in Bulletin de la Société Géographique de Liège (2007), 49

« Google Earth » and « Windows Live Maps » are two services of web mapping recently developed by two competitive American corporations: « Google » and « Microsoft Corporation ». These services, whose ... [more ▼]

« Google Earth » and « Windows Live Maps » are two services of web mapping recently developed by two competitive American corporations: « Google » and « Microsoft Corporation ». These services, whose working requires specific computer technologies, provide a visualization of the Earth using an assemblage of satellite images and aerial photographs. This article is written to try to establish a functional analysis and a comparison of free versions of these two services of web mapping based on their technical characteristics, qualities of their sources, levels of provided functionalities and additional possibilities of paying versions. [less ▲]

La localisation des grandes zones logistiques

in Bulletin de la Société Géographique de Liège (2007), (49), 31-40

The growth of logistics has recently fathered many new zones of specialized activities, called most of the times parks or logistic platforms. The objective of the article consists in understanding their ... [more ▼]

The growth of logistics has recently fathered many new zones of specialized activities, called most of the times parks or logistic platforms. The objective of the article consists in understanding their development and in identifying the logics of location. For this purpose, we have first tried to identify better the domain of activities: types of logistics, carried out operations, concerned sectors, concerned operators... Afterwards, on the basis of data mostly coming from professional circles, we have attempted to identify the factors and constraints of the new zones location, and to specify the mechanisms of the new real estate business linked to those zones, our goal consisting in bringing out the main principles of location on the scale of the countries, regions and sites choices. In the light of this first analysis, the logic seems pretty specific and takes place undoubtedly between the logic of industries and services. [less ▲]

Approche méthodologique pour la délimitation des espaces de liberté des rivières du massif ardennais

in Bulletin de la Société Géographique de Liège (2006), 48

Dans les schémas départementaux d’aménagement et de gestion des cours d’eau (France), le concept d’espace de liberté des cours d’eau, introduit en 1991, attribue à la rivière un espace de mobilité propre ... [more ▼]

Dans les schémas départementaux d’aménagement et de gestion des cours d’eau (France), le concept d’espace de liberté des cours d’eau, introduit en 1991, attribue à la rivière un espace de mobilité propre, de manière à restaurer la dynamique naturelle d’érosion des berges. Une partie de la méthodologie proposée repose sur l’utilisation de documents cartographiques anciens en vue de déterminer les espaces de divagation historique des cours d’eau. Cette démarche a été appliquée à différentes rivières du massif ardennais (Ourthe, Amblève, Semois, Rulles). Les espaces de mobilité obtenus pour ces rivières étant assez réduits, il a été nécessaire de prendre en considération les erreurs liées à la correction géométrique et au géoréférencement des différents documents utilisés. L’utilisation des microscories, rejets de l’ancienne industrie du fer, en tant que marqueur stratigraphique, nous a permis de tester, sur plusieurs rivières, les vitesses d’érosion latérale obtenues par la méthode cartographique. En conclusion, la méthode cartographique entraîne une nette surestimation des vitesses d’érosion latérale et des espaces de mobilité des cours d’eau dans leur plaine alluviale. [less ▲]

Développer une approche par compétences dans la formation universitaire. Bilan de trois expériences en géographie urbaine et économique

in Bulletin de la Société Géographique de Liège (2006), (48), 55-64

In this article, we’ll be wondering about the point, the challenges and the limits of integrating competences in Higher Education, starting from three experiences lead in Urban and Economic Geography. For ... [more ▼]

In this article, we’ll be wondering about the point, the challenges and the limits of integrating competences in Higher Education, starting from three experiences lead in Urban and Economic Geography. For this purpose, we’ve managed to combine works from Higher Education specialists and observations from the field. This reflection has been built in three stages. First, we’ll be reminding the foundations and specificities of the competence based approach. Then, we’ll be analysing our three experiences with the help of a common grid allowing us to successively consider the original needs and motivations, the process design, its trial and its adjustment. Finally, we’ll be trying to draw conclusion in terms of impacts on the students learning process, and impacts on the way teachers approach their teaching process, its limits and constraints. [less ▲]

Paramètres hydrologiques et physico-chimiques de sources du Crétacé du Pays de Herve et de la Hesbaye sèche

in Bulletin de la Société Géographique de Liège (2005)

Variabilité spatio-temporelle de l’albédo. Analyse menée à la résolution métrique

in Bulletin de la Société Géographique de Liège (2005), 46

Albedo is a climatic factor that has been barely studied and thus is badly understood. However, it has a certain influence on our climate. This influence is especially visible in case of land use changes ... [more ▼]

Albedo is a climatic factor that has been barely studied and thus is badly understood. However, it has a certain influence on our climate. This influence is especially visible in case of land use changes, such as deforestation. The aim of the study presented in this paper is to increase the current knowledge on albedo and the factors that influence it. To achieve this, a field survey was conducted. Not all factors could be studied during the field campaign; among those that were effectively observed, the most important ones – those that were responsible for the biggest changes in albedo – were the development of vegetation, the presence of snow and the daily variation of the height of the sun. [less ▲]

Tsunami en Asie du Sud-Est : analyse de son importance dans la presse écrite, des coûts assurés et du nombre de victimes à Sumatra

in Bulletin de la Société Géographique de Liège (2005), 46

The tsunami that affected the Indian ocean’s rims on December 26, 2004 claimed close to 300 000 deaths, essentially on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, which suffered overwhelming devastation. This ... [more ▼]

The tsunami that affected the Indian ocean’s rims on December 26, 2004 claimed close to 300 000 deaths, essentially on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, which suffered overwhelming devastation. This article is focused on three specific aspects of the disaster. On one side, we analyse the tribune offered to the tsunami catastrophe by the press in Le Soir and Le Monde. On the other side, we present an analysis of the distribution of insured losses from the latest data made available by the two largest reinsurance world companies, Swiss Re and Munich Re. Finally, we try to compare the estimated death toll with available demographic data for the province of Aceh. Here we show that the place given to the tsunami is enormous when compared to other natural tragedies, and we try to explain what motivated such a coverage. In addition, the analysis of insured losses highlights the North-South differences as local victims (99 %) concentrate less than 10 % of the losses supported by insurers. For what regards the death toll, we conclude that the number of about 235 000 for northern Indonesia is a broad estimation and that a realistic approach is impossible since no census was made in this region over the last three decades. [less ▲]

Lʼimmobilier de bureau en Belgique, un révélateur des mutations économiques et urbaines ?

in Bulletin de la Société Géographique de Liège (2005), 46

The aim of the paper is to analyse how office markets are in interaction with the evolutions in the field of territory and economy. The first part of the paper analyses the data available to study the ... [more ▼]

The aim of the paper is to analyse how office markets are in interaction with the evolutions in the field of territory and economy. The first part of the paper analyses the data available to study the office stocks. Afterwards, we present an urban hierarchy based on the office equipment, in relation with the process of metropolization and its location consequences. The last part of the paper shows that the office function is also concerned with the process of periurbanization. [less ▲]

Atelier 2 : Hyperpaysages

in Bulletin de la Société Géographique de Liège (2005), 45