Factors responsible for the high position of the Siberian platform

A new model accounting for the origin of anomalously high elevations of the Siberian platform (SP) topography is presented. It is shown that the traditional interpretation of these topographic anomalies is at variance with the available evidence for the geological history of the SP development. The ideas elaborated in the paper are based on the concept of the formation of a mantle plume that has led to the supply of large volumes of molten material into the upper crust and surface basalt eruptions. A new approach is proposed for the construction of a density model of the Siberian upper mantle. A density model of the crust based on the available seismic and petrological data is constructed at the first stage. The calculated anomalous gravity field produced by this model is then subtracted from the observed field. The resulting residual mantle anomalies are used, together with seismological data, for the construction of an upper mantle density model. The formation of the present SP topography is shown to have been controlled by the thickening of the crust due to underplating caused by the development of a giant mantle plume at 251 Ma.     

Classification of self-potential anomalies on volcanoes and possible interpretations for their subsurface structure

Self-potential (SP) surveys were conducted on 10 island-arc-type volcanoes in Japan. Large-scale SP anomalies that covered entire volcanic edifices and had simple shapes were observed. Neglecting the local fluctuations, we named the SP anomaly that shows voltage gradients anywhere on the flank a long spatial wavelength (LSW) SP anomaly. We first classified these anomalies into three types: 1) no anomaly (SP profile is flat): 2) “W”-shaped profile: and 3) “V”-shaped profile. In some volcanoes, one flank with a flat SP profile and another with half of the W-shaped SP profile coexist. Next, we compared LSW-SP anomalies with various factors that may be related to SP generation and found that the SP profile is approximately flat on the flank where geothermal manifestations exist. This relationship, which is new aspect of the SP data on volcanoes, is important because it can impose a constraint on the model for SP generation and the subsurface structure. Based on the discussion that SP is generated by an electrokinetic mechanism, we propose that resistivity, zeta potential, and hydraulic radius are the possible parameters that control the existence of LSW-SP anomalies. The new relationship between SP and geothermal manifestation are understood in terms of the presence of hydrothermal system. Although the structure of volcanic edifice is probably spatially complicated, the insight into the SP data presented in this study implies that the flanks with flat SP profiles are relatively weak and have high potential for sector collapse.     

Review on Morphological Insights of Self-Potential Anomalies on Volcanoes

Energy and thermal transfers in active volcanoes can play an important role incontrolling their dynamics depending on the hydrothermal state. Much geothermalenergy is released through the groundwater circulation, hot gas emission and thermalconduction. Therefore, it is very important to know the hydrological and thermalenvironments associated with volcanoes from the volcano-energetic point of view.However, it is difficult to evaluate these because of the availability of only a fewborehole data on the summit of volcanoes. Recent studies reveal that self-potential(SP) anomalies (up to some hundreds of mV) are observed on volcanoes, activefissure zones and/or fumarolic areas, suggesting that the SP anomalies are closelyrelated to heat-triggered phenomena such as thermoelectric and electrokinetic effectsdue to hydrothermal circulations. Therefore, SP studies can be appropriate for sensingthe thermal and hydrothermal states of volcanoes. In addition, monitoring SP anomaliescan be an efficient method for describing the change of thermal state and the evolutionof the hydrothermal (and volcanic) activities.In this paper, we have reviewed the origin of the SP anomalies associated withvolcanic phenomena theoretically as well as experimentally. Subsequently, wehave presented the results of many case studies and have classified the types ofanomalies in accordance with possible mechanisms. We have also described theresults of time variations of SP anomalies associated with volcanic activities. Timevarying SP fields exhibit the dynamic aspects of volcanic activities correspondingto the evolution of hydrothermal activity, changes in ground water circulation andmagma displacement. These morphological insights should lead to a quantitativeinterpretation of SP anomalies in volcanic regions.     

SPONTANEOUS POTENTIALS AND RESISTIVITY SURVEYS APPLIED TO HYDROGEOLOGY IN A VOLCANIC AREA: CASE HISTORY OF THE CHAÎNE DES PUYS (PUY-DE-DÔME,FRANCE)1

Two geophysical methods [resistivity soundings and spontaneous potentials (SP)] are used to investigate aquifers in the Quaternary volcanic formations of the Chaîne des Puys (France). The interpretation of the resistivity soundings required a specific work of determination of the resistivity of the formations concerned. The basement topography, characterized by axial horst and graben structures and perpendicular palaeovalleys, was revealed. SP was developed experimentally in the field and theoretically. It is shown that the SP anomalies can be considered as double-layer potentials, with their source on the aquifers' interfaces. The most significant of them is the water table, which creates an SP anomaly of similar but inverted form. SP anomalies due to flows in unconfined aquifers, in palaeovalleys, and in volcanic ranges are computed and compared with the observed ones. These two methods have determined the extent and the boundary conditions of the different hydrogeological basins and have determined the major drainage axes and the groundwater flow pattern.     

Comparative influence of land and sea surfaces on the Sahelian drought: a numerical study

The aim of this work is to compare the relative impact of land and sea surface anomalies on Sahel rainfall and to describe the associated anomalies in the atmospheric general circulation. This sensitivity study was done with the Météo-France climate model: ARPEGE. The sensitivity to land surface conditions consists of changes in the management of water and heat exchanges by vegetation cover and bare soil. The sensitivity to ocean surfaces consists in forcing the lower boundary of the model with worldwide composite sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies obtained from the difference between 4 dry Sahel years and 4 wet Sahel years observed since 1970. For each case, the spatiotemporal variability of the simulated rainfall anomaly and changes in the modelled tropical easterly jet (TEJ) and African easterly jet (AEJ) are discussed. The global changes in land surface evaporation have caused a rainfall deficit over the Sahel and over the Guinea Coast. No significant changes in the simulated TEJ and an enhancement of the AEJ are found; at the surface, the energy budget and the hydrological cycle are substantially modified. On the other hand, SST anomalies induce a negative rainfall anomaly over the Sahel and a positive rainfall anomaly to the south of this area. The rainfall deficit due to those anomalies is consistent with previous diagnostic and sensitivity studies. The TEJ is weaker and the AEJ is stronger than in the reference. The composite impact of SST and land surfaces anomalies is also analyzed: the simulated rainfall anomaly is similar to the observed mean African drought patterns. This work suggests that large-scale variations of surface conditions may have a substantial influence on Sahel rainfall and shows the importance of land surface parameterization in climate change modelling. In addition, it points out the interest in accurately considering the land and sea surfaces conditions in sensitivity studies on Sahel rainfall.     

Application of Normalized Full Gradient Method to Self Potential (SP) Data

Recently, Normalized Full Gradient (NFG) method has widespread applications to natural potential fields, especially in gravity and magnetic. In this study, usage of NFG in Self-Potential (SP) data evaluation is tested. Results are compared to other SP interpretation methods. The NFG method is applied to synthetic and field SP data. As a consequence of application of the method to the anomalies of spherical, cylindrical and vertical sheet models, whose theoretical structures are explicit, the structures were found very close to their actual locations. In order to see the capability of the method in detecting the number of sources, NFG method was applied to different spherical models at different depths and locations. The least-squares inverse solution was applied to the same models and NFG method was found more powerful in detecting model structure. Sensitivity of NFG method for application to noisy data is also tested. An anomaly is generated by adding a random noise to two close sphere SP anomalies. The method seems to work for the two close spheres at high S/N ratio. Then, NFG method was applied to two field examples. The first one is the cross section taken from the SP anomaly map of the Ergani-Süleymanköy (Turkey) copper mine. The depth of the mineral deposit at that site was found about 38 m from the ground level. This result is well matched to previous studies. NFG was also applied to SP data from Seferihisar Izmir (Western Turkey) geothermal field and the location of the point source was determined. The field data of this site have already been modeled by the thermoelectric source (coupling) solution method. When these two methods are compared, they seem to support each other. It is concluded that the NFG method works perfectly when the structure model is simple. It is observed that natural potential sources close to earth’s surface are identified by the method more accurately at greater harmonics, while deep sources are identified at lesser harmonics. It produces reasonable results for noisy multi-source models than the other parameter identification methods (inverse solution, power spectrum, etc.).     

CO2气体在地震孕育与发生过程中的作用及其机理研究

通过甘东南地震危险区地震宏观异常观测实例分析,系统研究CO_2气体在地震构造活动过程中的地球化学演化过程,以及发生的一系列酸碱平衡和氧化还原化学反应。结果表明地下深部CO_2气体不仅是其他微量气体Rn等向地表方向运移的载体,而且参与酸碱平衡和氧化还原反应,是地下深部生物化学反应的重要影响条件,地震前兆及宏观异常现象的发生常伴随着CO_2的异常变化。因此CO_2气体可以作为良好的示踪气体,在地震前兆观测及重大异常落实中尤其要重视对其进行监测。     

ON THE ORIGIN AND INTERPRETATION OF SELF-POTENTIAL ANOMALIES*

The renewed interest in the self-potential method of exploration for mineral deposits gives an understanding of the self-potential mechanism new importance. The cause of SP anomalies in general lies in the interference between simultaneously occurring nonequilibrium phenomena. However, theories of the mechanism of mineral SP anomalies generally relate the SP anomaly to the equilibrium potential of the chemical reaction supposed to occur on the ore body surface. In this paper, I reformulate these equilibrium mechanisms in terms of nonequilibrium thermodynamics. The result is that the SP anomaly depends not on the equilibrium potential alone, but also on the potential resulting from current transferred across the ore body—electrolyte interface. It is not possible to calculate the overpotential theoretically because of the number of complicating factors, and experimental data are not available. This does not imply that SP data are uninterpretable quantitatively. SP data may be interpreted similarly to other potential field data.     

Effects of transverse electric anisotropy on self-potential anomalies

In the present paper is studied the influence of transverse ground anisotropy on the formation of self-potential (SP) anomalies produced by polarized bodies. It is concluded that SP anomalies produced by vertical dipoles of infinite length are displaced in the opposite direction of the dip angle of anisotropy. The equipotential lines are generally ellipses. SP anomalies produced by a vertical dipole of finite length are also displaced, have a negative and a positive centre and present the characteristics of an SP field produced by an inclined dipole in a homogeneous and isotropic ground. In both models, significant errors in the quantitative interpretation of SP anomalies may result from not taking ground anisotropy into account.     

Self-potential investigation of moraine dam seepage

Self-potential (SP) and electrical resistivity measurements are used to investigate seepage at a remote moraine dam in the Sierra Nevada of California. The site is a small terminal moraine impounding roughly 300,000 m³ of water at ~ 3400 m a.s.l. Suspicious fine sediment in a small lake at the dam's downstream toe prompted initial concerns that anomalous seepage may be eroding matrix material from the moraine. 235 individual SP measurements covering the surface of the dam were collected in order to investigate electrokinetic current sources resulting from seepage, while resistivity soundings probed moraine stratigraphy and suggest that the till contains interstitial ice. Contoured SP data reveal a non-uniform voltage distribution over the moraine dam and two distinct negative SP anomalies. The first, located in the central area of the moraine, shows a broad negative SP zone around the crest and increasingly positive SP moving downhill towards both the upstream and downstream toes. This anomaly can be explained by shallow gravitational groundwater flow in the near subsurface combined with upward groundwater flux through evapotranspiration; numerical simulation of the combined effect matches field data well. The second SP anomaly has a tightly localized distribution and can be explained by vertically descending flow into a bedrock fault conduit. Our conceptual seepage model suggests that flow travels from Dana Lake first at the boundary of ice-filled moraine and bedrock before converging on a concentrated channel in the subvertical fault zone. Positive SP near the dam abutments results from groundwater inflow from adjacent hillslopes. Combined analyses suggest that seepage erosion is not currently affecting the moraine dam, and that the sediment observed on the bed of the downstream toe lake is likely a remnant of past outflow events.     

Characterization of Focused Seepage Through an Earthfill Dam Using Geoelectrical Methods

Resistivity and self‐potential tomography can be used to investigate anomalous seepage inside heterogeneous earthen dams. The self‐potential (SP) signals provide a unique signature to groundwater flow because the source current density responsible for the SP signals is proportional to the Darcy velocity. The distribution of the SP signals is also influenced by the distribution of the resistivity; therefore, resistivity and SP need to be used in concert to elucidate groundwater flow pathways. In this study, a survey is conducted at a small earthen dam in Colorado where anomalous seepage is observed on the downstream face at the dam toe. The data reveal SP and direct current resistivity anomalies that are used to delineate three anomalous seepage zones within the dam and to estimate the source of the localized seepage discharge. The SP data are inverted in two dimensions using the resistivity distribution to determine the distribution of the Darcy velocity responsible for the observed seepage. The inverted Darcy velocity agrees with an estimation of the Darcy velocity from the hydraulic conductivity obtained from a slug test and the observed head gradient.     

球层岩石层模型对表面荷载的响应

本文给出了在球层模型下,地球岩石层对表面荷载响应的解析解。计算了地球岩石层对圆盘形荷载和正弦型荷载的响应,及由此产生的重力异常。结果表明:1.岩石层弯曲不仅与其厚度有密切关系,而且与荷载尺度有关。当岩石层厚度与荷载尺度相比很小时,其弯曲与厚度关系不大,并呈现薄板效应。2.弹性模型岩石层在外加荷载下能承受数千巴的弯曲应力。3.弯曲应力在岩石层中的分布较为规则。由于大尺度荷载下岩石层出现薄板效应,传统的由弯曲刚度估算等效岩石层厚度的部分结果需要重新估价。     

Fluid circulation at Stromboli volcano (Aeolian Islands, Italy) from self-potential and CO2 surveys

This work addresses the study of fluid circulation of the Stromboli island using a dense coverage of self-potential (SP) and soil CO₂ data. A marked difference exists between the northern flank and the other flanks of the island. The northern flank exhibits (1) a typical negative SP/altitude gradient not observed on the other flanks, and (2) higher levels of CO₂. The general SP pattern suggests that the northern flank is composed of porous layers through which vadose water flows down to a basal water table, in contrast to the other flanks where impermeable layers impede the vertical flow of vadose water. In the Sciara del Fuoco and Rina Grande–Le Schicciole landslide complexes, breccias of shallow gliding planes may constitute such impermeable layers whereas elsewhere, poorly permeable, fine-grained pyroclastites or altered lava flows may be present. This general model of the flanks also explains the main CO₂ patterns: concentration of CO₂ at the surface is high on the porous north flank and lower on the other flanks where impermeable layers can block the upward CO₂ flux. The active upper part of the island is underlain by a well-defined hydrothermal system bounded by short-wavelength negative SP anomalies and high peaks of CO₂. These boundaries coincide with faults limiting ancient collapses of calderas, craters and flank landslides. The hydrothermal system is not homogeneous but composed of three main subsystems and of a fourth minor one and is not centered on the active craters. The latter are located near its border. This divergence between the location of the active craters and the extent of the hydrothermal system suggests that the internal heat sources may not be limited to sources below the active craters. If the heat source strictly corresponds to intrusions at depth around the active conduits, the geometry of the hydrothermal subsystems must be strongly controlled by heterogeneities within the edifice such as craters, caldera walls or gliding planes of flank collapse, as suggested by the correspondence between SP–CO₂ anomalies and structural limits. The inner zone of the hydrothermal subsystems is characterized by positive SP anomalies, indicating upward movements of fluids, and by very low values of CO₂ emanation. This pattern suggests that the hydrothermal zone becomes self-sealed at depth, thus creating a barrier to the CO₂ flux. In this hypothesis, the observed hydrothermal system is a shallow one and it involves mostly convection of infiltrated meteoric water above the sealed zone. Finally, on the base of CO₂ degassing measurements, we present evidence for the presence of two regional faults, oriented N41° and N64°, and decoupled from the volcanic structures.     

Processes involved in the second-year warming of the 2015 El Nio event as derived from an intermediate ocean model

The tropical Pacific experienced a sustained warm sea surface condition that started in 2014 and a very strong El Nio event in 2015. One striking feature of this event was the horseshoe-like pattern of positive subsurface thermal anomalies that was sustained in the western-central equatorial Pacific throughout 2014–2015. Observational data and an intermediate ocean model are used to describe the sea surface temperature(SST) evolution during 2014–2015. Emphasis is placed on the processes involved in the 2015 El Nio event and their relationships with SST anomalies, including remote effects associated with the propagation and reflection of oceanic equatorial waves(as indicated in sea level(SL) signals) at the boundaries and local effects of the positive subsurface thermal anomalies. It is demonstrated that the positive subsurface thermal anomaly pattern that was sustained throughout 2014–2015 played an important role in maintaining warm SST anomalies in the equatorial Pacific. Further analyses of the SST budget revealed the dominant processes contributing to SST anomalies during 2014–2015. These analyses provide an improved understanding of the extent to which processes associated with the 2015 El Nio event are consistent with current El Nio and Southern Oscillation theories.     

Test Of High-Resolution Seismic Reflection And Other Geophysical Techniques On The Boup Landslide In The Swiss Alps

Complementary geophysical surveys on large landslides help revealgeologic structures and processes, and thus can help devise mitigation strategies. The combined interpretation of these methods enhance the result of each data set interpretation and makes it possible to derive a geological model of the landslide.We chose a test site on the Boup landslide (Wallis, western SwissAlps) to test high-resolution seismic reflection surveyscombined with ground penetratingradar (GPR), electromagnetic (EM) and electrokinetic spontaneous potential (SP) measurements.The results of the high-resolution seismic surveys suggest thatthe sliding is within a gypsum layer at 50 m depth and not as previously believed along a deeper (70 m) gypsum-shale boundary, also mapped seismically. Inversion of electromagnetic profiles (EM-34) with constraints from seismic data provided a model cross-section of conductivity values of the landslide (20–25 mS/m) and of the surrounding stable ground (10–15 mS/m), and it helped outline their boundary at depth.The accurate surface location of the landslide limit could be detected withelectromagnetic measurements of shallower depths of investigation (EM-31). Positive PS anomalies revealed an upward flow of mineralised water interpreted to follow the lateral boundary of the Boup landslide on its east side. Limited success was obtained withGPR profiling. This method can be hampered by conductive shallow layers, and itssuccessful application on landslides is expected to be strongly site dependant.     

Hydrothermal system beneath Aso volcano as inferred from self-potential mapping and resistivity structure

We conducted self-potential (SP) surveys sequentially from part to part over the central cones of Aso volcano since August 1998 by December 2001. The compiled SP map revealed large SP anomalies on the central cones. The main feature of the SP map is a ‘W-shaped’ profile along the NS-transect over the central cones. It is probable that this characteristic SP profile is produced by the combination of hydrothermal upwelling in the middle and topographic effect. A positive anomaly showing a large concentric pattern has appeared after correcting the topographic effect.To evaluate this SP anomaly, we implemented a numerical code that calculates electric potential produced by arbitrarily positioned current sources and sinks in any three-dimensional resistivity structure. A layered structure obtained from a time-domain electromagnetic (TDEM) field experiment was used for the resistivity model. The estimated current source is 300 A, being located in a conductive layer around the sea level. Meanwhile, sinks were estimated to sit on a circular area corresponding to the marginal part of the conductive layer.Water and heat budget study gives a lower limit of water mass transfer from depth to the bottom of the crater lake of Nakadake. This value was used to estimate the equivalent current in either case of electro-kinetic (EK) [Mizutani, H., Ishido, T., 1976. A new interpretation of magnetic field variation associated with the Matsushiro earthquakes, J. Geomag. Geoelectr., 28, 179–188.] or rapid fluid disruption (RFD) process [Johnston, M.J.S., Byerlee, J.D., Lockner, D., 2001. Rapid fluid disruption: A source for self-potential anomalies on volcanoes, J. Geophys. Res. 106(B3), 4327-4335.]. This comparison suggests that the former process is preferable to explain the observed SP anomaly. From these results we infer a large-scale hydrothermal system beneath the central cones of Aso volcano, in which the fluid flow initiates from the surrounding area, converging to the central vent to transport the heat and materials up to the crater lake of Nakadake through a vapor-filled conduit.     

Hydrothermal circulation beneath Mount Pelée inferred by self potential surveying. Structural and tectonic implications

Self-potential (SP) surveys were made on Mount Pelée volcano (Martinique Island, French West Indies) in 1991 and 1992 in order to recognize its hydrothermal system, the associated groundwater channeling and the main superficial structures of the massif. Almost 70 km of profiles were carried out with an average sample spacing of 50 m. Measurements essentially reveal negative SP anomalies, down to −1700 mV, with high gradients (−1.83 mV/m) due to the infiltration of meteoric water into the massif. Rims of summit calderas Morne Macouba and Etang-Sec present sharp negative SP anomalies on the western, northern, and eastern flanks. Negative SP anomalies indicate no upward water flow beneath Mount Pelée summit. On the southwestern volcano flank, a 3.5×6 km horseshoe-shaped structure corresponding to a southwest flank collapse event, older than 25,000 years BP, is clearly identified by the SP mapping. High gradients border the inner southern rim from Morne Calebasse to St Pierre town and the Caribbean Sea. Along the northern rim of the horseshoe-shaped structure the negative SP anomalies give place to a positive SP anomaly, up to 200 mV, of SW–NE trend. This zone covers the area of two active hot springs (Sources Chaudes and Puits Chaud: 40–65°C). Marine magnetic surveys and bathymetry show that the horseshoe-shaped structure spreads into the Caribbean Sea up to about 10 km from the coast. Buried structural discontinuities are evidenced inside the flank collapse structure. The upper one deviates the groundwater flow coming from the summit toward the south flank where the flow finds an indentation to expand again downwards. This discontinuity is either an old hypothetical caldera rim partly destroyed by the collapse of the south–southwestern flank and covered by recent pyroclastic deposits, or more probably the trace of a bulge landslide. A circulation model of the hydrothermal waters is proposed. Rainfall (5–6 m/year) is partly drained inside the summital calderas and the flank collapse zone through pyroclastic flows down to an impermeable basement. There the groundwater constitutes perched aquifers at the contact of the bulge landslide, or of the hypothetical old caldera rim. Along the inner northern border of the flank collapse structure the phreatic water is reheated. Warm groundwater flows along the northern avalanche structure rim and discharges near the coast in ground and marine outcrops, of medium temperature. Finally, the main part of the meteoric water is channeled along the old caldera rim, or along the bulge landslide towards the south flank of Mount Pelée, where some gaps in the rim exist. There the groundwater finds again a subhorizontal gravitational circulation along Mount Pelée slopes into the Caribbean Sea.     

A new analytical solution for assessing climate change impacts on subsurface temperature

Groundwater temperature is an important water quality parameter that affects species distributions in subsurface and surface environments. To investigate the response of subsurface temperature to atmospheric climate change, an analytical solution is derived for a one‐dimensional, transient conduction–advection equation and verified with numerical methods using the finite element code SUTRA. The solution can be directly applied to forward model the impact of future climate change on subsurface temperature profiles or inversely applied to produce a surface temperature history from measured borehole profiles. The initial conditions are represented using superimposed linear and exponential functions, and the boundary condition is expressed as an exponential function. This solution expands on a classic solution in which the initial and boundary conditions were restricted to linear functions. The exponential functions allow more flexibility in matching climate model projections (boundary conditions) and measured temperature–depth profiles (initial conditions). For example, measured borehole temperature data from the Sendai Plain and Tokyo, Japan, were used to demonstrate the improved accuracy of the exponential function for replicating temperature–depth profiles. Also, the improved accuracy of the exponential boundary condition was demonstrated using air temperature anomaly data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. These air temperature anomalies were then used to forward model the effect of surficial thermal perturbations in subsurface environments with significant groundwater flow. The simulation results indicate that recharge can accelerate shallow subsurface warming, whereas upward groundwater discharge can enhance deeper subsurface warming. Additionally, the simulation results demonstrate that future groundwater temperatures obtained from the proposed analytical solution can deviate significantly from those produced with the classic solution. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.