https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/126930 Sat, 04 Apr 2026 10:39:57 GMT 2026-04-04T10:39:57Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/127220 Title: Urban and extreme heat : a case study in Washington D.C. : a desk-based study of climatology, and environmental justice Abstract: Urban heat islands occur when natural vegetation is replaced by man-made structures. This includes but is not limited to, roads, buildings, and sidewalks. The dense concentrations of pavement, concrete, and brick cause inner city temperatures to be hotter than the city's outskirts. Throughout the city, there are “hot spots”. These areas are pockets that have warmer temperatures than other areas of the city. According to previous studies and observations, there is a disproportionate number of people and communities that are of low-income or low socio-economic indexes living within these city hotspots. Within the use of geospatial technology and environmental justice analysis, this paper focuses on identifying extreme heat events, identifying vulnerable communities within hotspots, and assessing if there is a linkage between low-income and socio-economic index and urban heat islands. Through the use of heat maps and comparative analysis, it was concluded that there is a linkage between social variables and urban heat island hot spots. It was found that low-income and low socio-economic index areas are located within the hottest parts of the city and that these areas also have a noticeably lower amount of vegetation density and tree canopy cover. The use of education and policy reform is key in engaging communities and local governments to help identify the environmental justice and extreme heat within the Washington D.C. area. Description: MSc. (EMS)(Melit.) Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/127220 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/127219 Title: Perceptions of food-related sustainability among consumers at the Ta’ Qali Farmers Market in Attard, Malta Abstract: The role of locally produced food is becoming more significant as the increasingly global nature of food supply chains continues to be a major contributor to climate change. Consumers play an important role in food system localization efforts, as demonstrated by the counter-emergence of movements to support local food consumption. Concurrently, most consumers are more disconnected than ever from the food they consume due to the vast distances of the food supply chain. This paper addresses the recognized research gap in determining consumer motivations for purchasing local produce at a farmers’ market, specifically considering contextual factors and impacts on perceptions of food-related sustainability. Analyzing consumer behavior is crucial to supporting the push towards more sustainable, local food systems. This study aims to determine the motivations of consumers who are choosing to purchase locally-produced food at a producer-only farmers’ market, considering their perceptions of food-related sustainability. Qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews with seventeen consumers and three farmers at the Ta’ Qali Farmers Market in Attard, Malta. A thematic analysis of the qualitative data revealed key themes of social relations, product characteristics, consumer benefits, and cultural connections. Implications of the research’s findings highlight the importance of social relations between the farmer and consumer at the farmers’ market in the motivation to attend the market. Cultural identity is determined to be a context-specific factor that influences perceptions of food-related sustainability and a desire to attend the Ta’ Qali Farmers Market. Description: MSc. (EMS)(Melit.) Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/127219 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/127103 Title: An allergenic pollen calendar for Malta : a desk-based approach Abstract: The study of airborne pollen and its concentration in the atmosphere is essential for the diagnosis, testing, treatment, and prevention of pollen allergies. Pollen calendars are a tool used to display the concentrations and pollination seasons of various pollen types in the atmosphere throughout the year. The prevalence of pollen allergies is shown to be increasing, prompting more aerobiological studies to be conducted throughout Europe. However, Malta does not yet have a published pollen calendar or a continuous pollen monitoring system. Fourteen pollen calendars from different Mediterranean countries were analyzed to determine the main pollen season, season length, peak pollen concentrations, annual pollen index, and allergenicity for the most abundant pollen taxa in the atmosphere. A proposed pollen calendar for Malta was created with the top 10 allergens being: Olea europaea, Poaceae, Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae, Urticaceae, Cupressaceae, Plantaginaceae, Quercus, Euphorbiaceae, Asteraceae, and Pinus. A five-day mini study was conducted using a personal Burkard sampler to assess the feasibility of using a personal sampler to obtain data rather than a continuous monitoring system. 19 pollen grains belonging to seven taxa were identified: Amaranthaceae, Cupressaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Mercurialis annua, Poaceae, Solanaceae, and Urticaceae. 212 fungal spores were counted, and 17 taxa were identified using microscopy. The three most prevalent fungal spores during this five-day study were Cladosporium (2,977.46 spores/m³), Alternaria (355.52 spores/m³), and Aspergillus/Penicillium (444.4 spores/m³). Continuous aerobiology monitoring could help protect individuals from allergic risk by informing individuals of the pollen types and concentrations present in the atmospheres and by providing urban planners with data on what vegetation to avoid planting in urban spaces. Description: MSc. (EMS)(Melit.) Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/127103 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/127100 Title: An assessment of groundwater recharge from agricultural land in Malta Abstract: A comprehensive understanding of groundwater recharge processes is essential for ensuring the sustainability of the scarce freshwater resources in Malta, where groundwater is the only source of naturally replenishing freshwater. Infiltration plays a pivotal role in controlling the amount of water that enters the soil and contributes to groundwater recharge. The variability in soil properties significantly affects infiltration rates, underscoring the need for field-specific evaluations of hydraulic conductivity. This study aims to assess groundwater recharge from Malta’s agricultural lands, which provide a significant proportion of the permeable area, through the evaluation of hydraulic conductivity. Two field measurement techniques—the double-ring infiltrometer (DRI) and the mini disk infiltrometer (MDI)—were compared and used to determine saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks). The study found the Ks to be high for the determined soil texture, with values ranging from 0.32 to 1.16 × 10-2cm/s using the DRI. A significant discrepancy was observed between the Ks results obtained from the industry-standard DRI method and the more portable MDI method, with the MDI values being higher by a factor of difference ranging from 3.03 to 7.19. In addition, QGIS-SWAT modeling revealed that agricultural lands contribute to a minor proportion of Malta’s total direct groundwater recharge due to the controlling factors of soil depth and the hydraulic conductivity of the underlying bedrock. Despite this, these lands significantly contribute to recharge indirectly through the generation of surface and underground runoff, which flows downslope into Malta’s valleys. This finding suggests that management techniques aimed at retaining runoff in valleys could enhance groundwater recharge. Description: MSc. (EMS)(Melit.) Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/127100 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z