The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has already changed the world in many respects, and its impact cuts across many fields of human endeavours. An area of temporary setbacks in geomorphological research posed by the pandemic is in the restriction placed on fieldwork exercise. Apart from bringing a lot of constraints to fieldwork, the need to meet the learning outcomes ensured that the already in-use technologies were easily adapted to simulate the necessary fieldwork in evaluating dynamics in geomorphological environment and the natural world. Despite the success, however, the fieldwork remains ‘signature pedagogy’ for geography, geomorphology and any other Earth Science disciplines. The dynamic nature of landforms, the serendipity of on-site field training and exercises, the ability to have a first-hand experience of field phenomenon, etc. are some of the expected rewards that could not be simulated remotely. Hence, when COVID-19 pandemic is over, the aspects of fieldwork should not be jettisoned for the simulated alternatives embraced in the pandemic. The two should work hand-in-hand for the diverse fields of geomorphological research.

Geopark is an innovation of protection for geological, biological and cultural diversity. Protection implementation need strong and active participation from many stakeholders such as government, private, media, academically and, most importantly is local communities. Collaborative and cooperation between stakeholders need to begin from the early of planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. The pentahelix model, a five-party partnership can be applied as a model in the protection and maintenance of Geopark-Ciletuh, South-Sukabumi of West Java. The aim of the study is to identify stakeholders that are involved in the management of Geopark Ciletuh in Sukabumi. The study focuses on the interaction between the stakeholders identified in the management of the Ciletuh Geopark. The research is using descriptive method with qualitative approach and the data are collected from primary and secondary sources. The informants were purposively determined, based on consideration and goals connected with the focus of the research. The informants in the research is various parties connected with the effort of mapping the stakeholders in local community within the area of Ciletuh Geopark of Southern Sukabumi. The result show that the five-party partnership model (pentahelix) can be expanded and explored according to the needs of interested community groups on Geopark Ciletuh protection. Efforts to protect Geopark Ciletuh by involving various parties need to be implemented in harmony so it is expected also to generate the socio-economic conditions of local communities. Increasing local knowledge of the importance of Geopark Ciletuh protection can be implemented by increasing the income of the people as the number of tourists’ increases.

Plasma Analyzer (IAP) and Langmuir Probe (ISL) experiments of the DEMETER microsatellite were used to check the state of the ionosphere in the region of the M8.1 East of Kuril Islands earthquake of 13th January, 2007,30 days afore and 10 days after the event using statistical approach. The study strongly revealed that all three investigated ionospheric parameters of electron density, total ion density and electron temperature displayed unfamiliar ionospheric variations eight days before the earthquake in the daytime time half orbit measurement. To this, the electron density, total ion density and electron temperature recorded a variation of 4.09, 5.73 and -2.03 respectively. These irregularities were vetted for untrue signals using the geomagnetic indices of Kp and Dst. It was however realized that the state of the ionosphere was geomagnetically quiet during this day, hence the observed variations were seismogenic.

In this appraisal, heavy metal concentrations in soils from Zamfara State were enumerated approximately a decade after the lead poisoning saga using indexes of pollution. The area is enhancement with valuable ores and minerals including gold making mining the most lucrative business in the area. The soils were moderate to slightly basic with a pH range from 6.49 ± 0.12 to 7.96 ± 0.15 (water) and 6.15 ± 0.10 to 7.80 ± 0.17 (KCl). Contamination / pollution (C/P) values reported for cadmium, lead, zinc and copper was 42.66, 0.59, 0.85 and 3.04 in the respective order (severe contamination to excessive pollution). The contamination factor (CF) was greater than the highest factor of 6, indicating very high contamination. The calculated values for geochemical accumulation (Igeo) and ecological risk factor (ERf) for Cd, Pb, Zn and Cu was (19.26, 0.27, 0.38, 1.37) and (1280, 2.95, 0.85, 15.2) respectively while the potential ecological risk index (ERi) was 1299, indicating that the soils were perturbed (polluted). Considering the deleterious effects heavy metals could cause and the resultant health implications, there is need to further remediate the polluted areas so as to avert harm to organisms and humans would consume crops grown in such environment.

Seismic refraction survey was conducted at Ibiono Ibom Local government area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, using 12 channels ES 3000S enhancement seismograph. This was done to evaluate and obtained information on depth and thickness of the shallow subsurface and characterized the bearing and engineering parameters on the bases of soil and rock competencies for stability of engineering works. The travel times of refracted waves measured were used to calculate P and S wave velocities employed in the evaluation of bearing strength and engineering parameters. The results revealed that seismic waves penetrated into three layers. The values of depth and thickness for upper layer ranged from 0.0 m to 4.5 m and 4.5 m, middle layer ranged from 5.0 m to 12.5 m and 7.5, lower layer ranged from 15.0 m to 25.2 m and 10.2 m. The bearing capacity parameters calculated were allowable bearing capacity and ultimate bearing capacity, engineering parameters: Concentration Index, Stress Ratio, Material Index and Density Gradient. The third layer reflected good competent soil and rock quality in the southeastern part of the study area, and was delineated as a better layer for engineering stability.

Geophysical study involving aeromagnetic method was carried out to investigate parts of Niger Delta in Nigeria, aimed at investigating the cause and nature of anomalous bodies within the study area. Spectral analysis technique was employed in quantitative interpretation to determine depth/thickness of the sedimentary basin, basement topography, structural trends, curie point depth, thermal gradient and heat flow in the area. The total magnetic intensity (TMI) anomalies had values of between -53.7nT and 119.5nT while the residual magnetic intensity ranged from -52.5 to 58.0nT. The spectral analysis revealed the depth to magnetic sources varying from 2.5 to 5.5km while the shallow magnetic sources varied from 0.89 to 1.47km. The geothermal analysis revealed the curie point depth between 11.782 and 18.048km while the calculated geothermal gradient ranged lie between 32.137 and 49.231o𝐶𝑘𝑚−1. The heat flow values ranged from 80.343 to 123.080𝑚𝑊𝑚−2. The results from this study have thrown more light to the understanding of the variation of subsurface structures in the study area. These will enhance the development of the resources and will be of economic benefit to the country if well harnessed. However, possible future research work on this active area is proposed for more robust results.

One of the most common problem faced by geotechnical engineers is slope stability assessment. The predictions of slope stability in soil or rock masses is very important for the designing of reservoir dams, roads, tunnels, excavations, open pit mines, and other engineering structures. It is the importance of slope stability problem that has reasoned alternate methods for evaluating the safety of a slope. This study reviews the existing methods used for slope stability analysis. These methods are divided into five different groups which are; (a) Limit equilibrium method, (b) Numerical simulation method, (c) Artificial neural network method, (d) Limit analysis method, and (e) Vector sum method.

Electrical resistivity survey was conducted around Students’ Hostels in FUPRE to delineate prolific aquifer for potable water to serve the teeming population of staff and students. Five vertical electrical soundings (VES) using Schlumberger electrode configuration with a maximum current electrode spread of 300m were employed for data acquisition. WINRESIST software was employed to execute the iteration and inversion processes of computing resistivities, depths and thicknesses of the various layers and the curve types. Results indicate that the area is characterized by 4 distinct geoelectric layers inferred differently at the VES locations. Two potential groundwater aquifer zones are delineated. The unconfined shallow aquifer zones found at VES 1, 3, 4 and 5 locations have shallow overburden depth ranging between 3.7-19.3m and coarse-grained sand columns with thicknesses ranging between 2.8-17.7m while the confined deep aquifer zone found at VES 2 location coincides with deep overburden layer at a depth of 42.6m and coarse-grained sand column with appreciable thickness of 19.1m. These results suggest that boreholes for sustainable groundwater supply around the Students’ Hostels should be sited at VES 2 location and screened at a depth ≥40.0m. However, aquifers at VES 1, 3, 4 and 5 have potentials for groundwater but are vulnerable to contamination. It is recommenced that electrical resistivity and hydrogeological surveys should be conducted at different locations in FUPRE, before any borehole(s) are drilled, to delineate the appropriate aquifer for potable groundwater supply and to avoid possible contamination.

A combination of geoelectric and hydrogeologic concept was used in the assessment of groundwater vulnerability in fractured aquifers of Oju and environs. The study area is underlain by the sediments of the Asu River Group, Southern Benue Trough Nigeria. A total of twenty-seven (27) Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) was carried out within the study area. Geoelectric parameters (layer, resistivity and thickness) of the overlying layers across the study area were determined and used to evaluate the vulnerability of the underlying aquifers. Three charts were compared using geo-electrically derived models; LC (Longitudinal Conductance), GLSI (geoelectric layer susceptibility indexing) and GOD (groundwater occurrence, overlying lithology and depth to the aquifer. Results obtained from LC revealed that the study area fell within the moderate category, GLSI showed that aquifer vulnerability were categorize within negligible to low category and GOD fell within low to moderate category. On the average, groundwater within the study area is considered moderate vulnerable to groundwater contamination.

The assessment of terrestrial background ionizing radiation levels within fossil fuel and gas dispensing environments to evaluate the radiological risk around Warri metropolis has been conducted using a digilert 200 Nuclear Radiation monitor meter and a GPS. The GIS monitoring of the BIR levels was carried out between September and December 2018 by delineating the city into eight zones using GIS mapping. The measured average exposure rates ranged from 0.006mRh-1(0.50 𝑚𝑆𝑣𝑦-1) to 0.026mRh-1(2.19𝑚𝑆𝑣𝑦-1) with an overall mean value of 0.015±0.004mRh-1 (1.26±0.32 𝑚𝑆𝑣𝑦-1). The estimated mean outdoor absorbed dose rate for the regions ranged from 116.60±40.38nGyh-1 in Jeddo region to 148.9±49.63nGyh-1 in PTI region and a mean of 129.82±32.98𝜂Gyh-1.The AEDE evaluated is 0.16±0.04 𝑚𝑆𝑣𝑦-1 while the ELCR value is 0.56±0.014µ𝑆𝑣𝑦-1. The estimated dose to organs testes receiving the highest organ dose of 0.10 𝑚𝑆𝑣𝑦-1 while the liver receives the lowest dose to organ of 0.06 𝑚𝑆𝑣𝑦-1. The GIS mapping of the examined facilities revealed that radiation levels in 38 of the 61 sampling locations (62.3%) exceeded the global ambient permissible level of 13.0 𝜇Rh-1 (1.0 𝑚𝑆𝑣𝑦-1) reported by UNSCEAR, therefore the measured values are adjudged high and the environment radiologically impaired. But, these may not cause any short- team health risk to the fuel/gas attendants and attendees in these stations. The obtained estimated excess lifetime cancer risk indicates low chances of contracting cancer and the radiation doses to the adult organs investigated is insignificant.