An approach for valid covariance estimation via the Fourier series

The use of kriging for construction of prediction or risk maps requires estimating the dependence structure of the random process, which can be addressed through the approximation of the covariance function. The nonparametric estimators used for the latter aim are not necessarily valid to solve the kriging system, since the positive-definiteness condition of the covariance estimator typically fails. The usage of a parametric covariance instead may be attractive at first because of its simplicity, although it may be affected by misspecification. An alternative is suggested in this paper to obtain a valid covariance from a nonparametric estimator through the Fourier series tool, which involves two issues: estimation of the Fourier coefficients and selection of the truncation point to determine the number of terms in the Fourier expansion. Numerical studies for simulated data have been conducted to illustrate the performance of this approach. In addition, an application to a real environmental data set is included, related to the presence of nitrate in groundwater in Beja District (Portugal), so that pollution maps of the region are generated by solving the kriging equations with the use of the Fourier series estimates of the covariance.     

Land Use History and Site Formation Processes at the Punic Site of Pauli Stincus in West Central Sardinia

The site of Pauli Stincus is located near the town of Terralba, on the inland shores of the Gulf of Oristano in west central Sardinia, Italy, and was occupied between the mid‐4th and the late 2nd century B.C. The site and its surroundings were the object of a joint archaeopedological and geomorphological study, which complemented the data from archaeological excavations. This study allowed us to evaluate the suitability of the different landscape and soil components for crop production in the Punic period. The discovery of a buried plow soil at the site's edge enabled us to identify a set of agricultural practices carried out by Punic farmers. These included the removal of sandy topsoil to cultivate deeper horizons enriched in illuvial clay, the use of a "sodbuster" or "rip ard," and the periodic burning of weeds, stubble, and other harvesting residues. The present study helped us to better understand the formation processes of the archaeological record at Pauli Stincus. Large quantities of allochtonous calcareous material were imported to the site from wet areas closer to the coast in order to produce earth‐based construction material, such as bricks and daub. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Lateglacial and Holocene palaeohydrology in the western Mediterranean region: The Lake Estanya record (NE Spain)

The multi-proxy analysis of sediment cores recovered in karstic Lake Estanya (42°02′ N, 0°32′ E; 670 m a. s. l., NE Spain), located in the transitional area between the humid Pyrenees and the semi-arid Central Ebro Basin, provides the first high-resolution, continuous sedimentary record in the region, extending back the last 21 000 years. The integration of sedimentary facies, elemental and isotopical geochemistry and biogenic silica, together with a robust age model based on 17 AMS radiocarbon dates, enables precise reconstruction of the main hydrological and environmental changes in the region during the last deglaciation.Arid conditions, represented by shallow lake levels, predominantly saline waters and reduced organic productivity occurred throughout the last glacial maximum (21–18 cal kyrs BP) and the lateglacial, reaching their maximum intensity during the period 18–14.5 cal kyrs BP (including Heinrich event 1) and the Younger Dryas (12.9–11.6 cal kyrs BP). Less saline conditions characterized the 14.5–12.6 cal kyrs BP period, suggesting higher effective moisture during the Bölling/Allerød. The onset of more humid conditions started at 9.4 cal kyrs, indicating a delayed hydrological response to the onset of the Holocene which is also documented in several sites of the Mediterranean Basin. Higher, although fluctuating, Holocene lake levels were punctuated by a mid Holocene arid period between 4.8 and 4.0 cal kyrs BP. A major lake-level rise occurred at 1.2 cal kyrs BP, conducive to the establishment of conditions similar to the present and interrupted by a last major water level drop, occurring around 800 cal yrs BP, which coincides with the Medieval Climate Anomaly.The main hydrological stages in Lake Estanya are in phase with most Western Mediterranean and North Atlantic continental and marine records, but our results also show similarities with other Iberian and northern African reconstructions, emphasizing peculiarities of palaeohydrological evolution of the Iberian Peninsula during the last deglaciation.     

Geoarchaeological study of the Phoenician cemetery of Tyre‐Al Bass (Lebanon) and geomorphological evolution of a tombolo

The geoarchaeological record of the Phoenician necropolis of Al Bass (Lebanon) provides information concerning the geomorphological evolution of a late Holocene tombolo. Physical and chemical analysis of sediments indicates that the cemetery (9th century B.C.) was located near a littoral lagoon, between the dunes of a cuspate spit pointing toward the island of Tyre. From the sea apex of this spit, the moles mentioned in historical chronicles were constructed. Once mainland and island were connected, at the northern coast (where the port of Sidon was located), a sediment trap was formed, which quickly filled with silt. Afterwards, an extensive field of sand dunes buried all the archaeological remains from Phoenician to Roman times. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A rootless suture and the loss of the roots of a mountain chain: The Variscan belt of NW Iberia

Ophiolites of different Paleozoic ages occur in North-West (NW) Iberia in a rootless suture representing the remnants of the Rheic Ocean. Associated allochthonous terranes in the hanging- and foot-walls of the suture derive from the former margins, whereas the relative autochthon corresponds to the Paleozoic passive margin of northern Gondwana. The Paleozoic tectonic evolution of this part of the circum-Atlantic region is deduced from the stratigraphical, petrological, structural and metamorphic evolution of the different units and their ages. The tectonic reconstruction covers from Cambro-Ordovician continental rifting and the opening of the Rheic Ocean to its Middle to Upper Devonian closure. Then, the Variscan Laurussia–Gondwana convergence and collision is briefly described, from its onset to the late stages of collapse associated with the demise of the orogenic roots.     

Effects of water quality on infiltration,runoff and interrill erosion processes during simulated rainfall

This paper discusses the effects of water quality on the hydrological and erosion response of non‐saline, non‐sodic soils during simulated rain experiments. It is well known that rain water quality affects the behaviour of saline soils. In particular, rain simulation experiments cannot be run using tap water if realistic values of infiltration rates and soil erosion are to be found. This paper reports on similar effects for non‐saline, non‐sodic soils. Two soils – a well‐aggregated clay‐rich soil developed on marine silty clay deposits and a soil developed on silt loam – were selected and subjected to a series of simulated rainstorms using demineralized water and tap water. The experiments were conducted in two different laboratories in order to obtain results independent of the tap water quality or the rainfall simulator characteristics. The results indicate that time‐to‐ponding is largely delayed by solute‐rich water (tap water). When tap water is used, infiltration rates are significantly overestimated, i.e. by more than 100 per cent. Interrill erosion rates increase by a factor of 2·5–3 when demineralized water is used. The silty clay soil was more affected by the water quality than the silt loam soil, with respect to infiltration and runoff production. Regarding interrill erosion rates, the two tested soils were similarly affected by the water quality. Therefore, it can be concluded that rainfall simulation experiments with non‐dispersive soils (e.g. non‐saline, non‐sodic) must also be conducted using water with very low electrical conductivity (i.e. less than 30–50 µS cm⁻¹), close to that of distilled water. The use of tap water certainly hampers comparisons and the relative ranking of the hydrological and erosion response of different soils, while parameter values, such as final infiltration rate or time‐to‐ponding, cannot be extrapolated and extended to natural situations. Therefore, the majority of hydrological and erosion models and parameter values measured during rainfall simulations in the past should be used with caution for all types of soils. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

When the earth blisters: Exploring recurrent liquefaction features in the coastal system of Christchurch,New Zealand

The 14 February, or Valentine's Day, 2016 earthquake located offshore of Christchurch produced a new generation of liquefaction in the coastal environment of Christchurch, an environment of recurrent liquefaction during the 2010–2011 Canterbury Earthquake Sequence. The Valentine's Day earthquake occurred while trenches were open at a site in the coastal environment for studying the 2010–2011 liquefaction features. Observations in the 2016 trenches provided insights into the formation of a suite of surface and subsurface liquefaction features characteristic of the dune deposits, related to the persistent shallow water table, well‐sorted sands within the liquefiable layer and the soil above. Given these conducive conditions, there is a high potential that all earthquakes capable of inducing liquefaction may have been recorded during formation of the dunes near Christchurch. However, overprinting by subsequent generations of liquefaction features may be common and present challenges in unravelling the event history.