Caractéristiques et signification d'un niveau coquillier majeur à brachiopodes,marqueur événementiel dans l'évolution dévonienne de la Saoura (Sahara du Nord-Ouest,Algérie)

In the Saoura, the brachiopod shell beds, so-called niveau coralligène, correspond to a major shell deposit dated to the Late Emsian. Brachiopods and crinoids dominate the benthic assemblage that contains also corals, bryozoans, trilobites, goniatites, and orthocones. This major level has a large geographic distribution and it is characterized by a wide brachiopod diversity due to time-averaging, taphonomic feedback and alternate bottom conditions changing from soft to shelly and firm. This kind of brachiopod association is linked to a transgressive onlap system. At regional extent, we can correlate this major shell bed to similar shell deposits from the Ahnet-Mouydir, Tindouf, and Zemmour areas. It indicates an important transgressive event underlined by change in the sedimentation from detritic deposits to carbonate sediments. To cite this article: A. Ouali Mehadji et al., C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).     

Probabilistic rainfall thresholds for flood forecasting: evaluating different methodologies for modelling rainfall spatial correlation (or dependence)

Rainfall threshold (RT) method is one of the evolving flood forecasting approaches. When the cumulative rainfall depth for a given initial soil moisture condition intersects the threshold rainfall curve, the peak discharge is expected to be equal or greater than the threshold discharge for flooding at the target site. Besides the total rainfall depth, spatial and temporal distribution of rainfall impacts the flood peak discharge and the time to peak. To revisit a previous study conducted by the authors, in which spatially independent rainfall pattern was assumed, the spatial distribution of rainfall was simulated following a Monte Carlo approach. The structure of the spatial dependence among sub‐watersheds' rainfalls was taken into account under three different scenarios, namely independent, bivariate copula (2copula) and multivariate Gaussian copula (MGC). For each set of generated random dimensionless rainfalls, the probabilistic RT curves were derived for dry moisture condition. Results were evaluated with both historical and simulated events. For the simulated events, threshold curves were assessed by means of categorical statistics, such as hit rate, false rate and critical success index (CSI). Results revealed that the best performance based on the CSI criterion corresponded to 50% curve in 2copula and MGC scenarios as well as 90% curve in the independent scenario. The recognition of 50% curve in 2copula and MGC scenarios is in agreement with our expectations that the mean probable curve should have the best performance. Moreover, the proposed inclusion of spatially dependent rainfall scenario improved the performance of RT curves by about 25% in comparison with the presumed spatially uniform rainfall scenario. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Crystal chemistry, surface morphology and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of Fe-rich osumilite from Mt. Arci, Sardinia (Italy)

Microprobe analysis, single crystal X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy were applied on Fe-rich osumilite from the volcanic massif of Mt. Arci, Sardinia, Italy. Osumilite belongs to the space group P6/mcc with unit cell parameters a = 10.1550(6), c = 14.306(1) Å and chemical formula (K_0.729)_C (Na_0.029)_B (Si_10.498 Al_1.502)_T1 (Al_2.706 Fe _0.294 ²⁺ )_T2 (Mg_0.735 Mn_0.091 Fe _1.184 ²⁺ )_AO₃₀. Structure refinement converged at R = 0.0201. Unit cell parameter a is related to octahedral edge length as well as to Fe²⁺ content, unlike the c parameter which does not seem to be affected by chemical composition. The determination of the amount of each element on the mineral surface, obtained through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy high-resolution spectra in the region of the Si_2p, Al_2p, Mg_1s and Fe_2p core levels, suggests that Fe presents Fe²⁺ oxidation state and octahedral coordination. Two peaks at 103.1 and 100.6 eV can be related to Si⁴⁺ and Si¹⁺ components, respectively, both in tetrahedral coordination. The binding energy of Al_2p, at 74.5 eV, indicates that Al is mostly present in the distorted T2 site, whereas the Mg peak at 1,305.2 eV suggests that this cation is located at the octahedral site. X-ray absorption at the Fe L_2,3-edges confirms that iron is present in the mineral structure, prevalently in the divalent state and at the A octahedral site.     

High-temperature vesuvianite: crystal chemistry and surface considerations

A multi-methodical approach has been applied for characterizing the bulk and surface crystal chemical features of a high-temperature vesuvianite crystal from skarns of Mount Somma-Vesuvius Volcano (Naples, Italy). Vesuvianite belongs to the space group P4/nnc with unit cell parameters a = 15.633(1) Å, c = 11.834(1) Å and chemical formula (Ca_18.858 Na_0.028 Ba_0.004 K_0.006 Sr_0.005 □_0.098)_19.000 (Al_8.813 Ti_0.037 Mg_2.954 Mn_0.008 Fe_0.114²⁺ Fe_1.375³⁺ Cr_0.008 B_0.202)_13.511 Si_18.000(O_0.261 F_0.940 OH_7.799)_9.000. Structure refinement, which converges at R = 0.0328, demonstrates a strong positional disorder down the fourfold axes, indicating that the Y1 site is split into two positions (Y1A and Y1B) alternatively occupied. However, because of X4 proximity to Y1B and Y1A, X4 cannot be occupied if Y1B or Y1A are. Overall Y1 occupancy (Y1A + Y1B) reaches approximately 0.5, as common in vesuvianite and occupancy of Y1B site is extremely limited. Moreover, T1 position, limitedly occupied, accommodates the excess of cations generally related to Y position. A small quantity (0.202 apfu) of boron is sited at the T2 site that, like T1, is poorly occupied. The determination of the amount of each element on the (100) vesuvianite surface, obtained through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy high-resolution spectra in the region of the Si_2p, Al_2p, Mg_1s, and Ca_2p core levels, evidences that a greater amount of aluminum and a smaller amount of calcium characterize the surface with respect to the bulk. Although both of these features require further investigation, we may consider the Al increase can be related to preferential orientation of Al-rich sites on the (100) plane. Furthermore, the surface structure of vesuvianite suggests that Al, Ca, and Mg cations maintain coordination features at the surface similar to the bulk. Silica, however, while presenting fourfold coordination, shows also a [1]-fold small coordinated component at binding energy 99.85 eV, due to broken Si–O bonds at the surface. The presence of eight- and nine-coordinated Ca cations is suggested by a large XPS feature resulting from the merging of Ca_2p3/2 and Ca_2p1/2 peaks at 348.45 and 352.05 eV, respectively.     

Monte Carlo analysis of the effect of spatial distribution of storms on prioritization of flood source areas

Implementation of structural and non-structural flood control measures in flood-prone watersheds is on increasing demand. Different watershed areas are not necessarily hydrologically similar and impose variable effects on the outlet flow hydrograph. Meanwhile, prioritization of watershed areas in terms of flood generation is essential for economic flood control planning. Previous works have focused on the definition of a flood index that quantifies the contribution of each subwatershed unit or grid cell to the outlet flood hydrograph through the application of unit flood response (UFR) approach. In the present research, for the first time, the effect of spatial pattern of storm events on the flood index variation was assessed via a Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis. To do so, the UFR approach was carried out for a large number of randomly generated rainfall spatial pattern. The proposed methodology was adopted to the Tangrah watershed in northern Iran. The watershed is frequently hit by floods that have historically caused loss of life and properties. The results indicated that for the more frequent flood events, the flood index is quite sensitive to the spatial distribution of rainfall such that for the highest ranked subwatershed (SW6), the standardized variation of the flood index values (i.e., the uncertainty range) decreases from 1.0 to 0.5 when the rainfall depth increases from 20 to 150 mm, respectively. The results further revealed that increasing the rainfall depth from 20 to 150 mm would cause the effect of rainfall spatial distribution on subwatersheds’ flood indices to diminish. The implications are that if flood control measures are designed for more frequent floods with lower return periods, an uncertainty analysis is required to identify the range of flood index variations.     

Estimating phosphorus leachability in reconstructed soil columns using HYDRUS-1D model

Modern agricultural production uses phosphorus (P) extensively to meet the challenges of feeding rapidly growing population and changing lifestyles, making P a leading source of impairment for rivers and streams in Canada. Developing effective management strategies to reduce P losses from agro-ecosystems requires improved understanding of P transport pathways in the soil. The purpose of this study was to investigate vertical distribution and transport processes of phosphate (PO₄) in reconstructed soil columns using HYDRUS-1D model. Results obtained from field experiments were used to calibrate and validate the HYDRUS-1D model. The results showed that 98% of the total P applied was concentrated in the top 0.2 m of the columns, and decreased progressively with soil depth. The model over-predicted PO₄ adsorption, leading to a weak correspondence between the simulated and the measured results for PO₄. This is a suggestion that the HYDRUS-1D model could not account accurately for the different soil structures found in the undisturbed soil columns and the preferential flow that occurs in these columns. This may be due to the fact that Freundlich isotherm, which is part of the transport equations, could not adequately describe PO₄ adsorption onto the soil particles.     

Influence of soil consolidation and thermal expansion effects on height and gravity variations

The daily GPS height series of the Medicina station were analyzed for the period July 1996–September 2001. The station is located in the middle Po Plain on fine-grained alluvial deposits. A seasonal oscillation in the order of 18 mm (peak-to-peak amplitude) is present in the data. This crustal deformation has been modeled by including variations in the atmospheric, oceanic and hydrologic mass. The vertical positions can also be affected significantly by soil consolidation. Geotechnical parameters derived by in situ tests and laboratory analyses of the clayey soil collected at Medicina allowed the estimate of the soil settlement relevant to the seasonal oscillation of the surficial water table. Thermal expansion of the geodetic monument has to be taken into account in the case of high-precision vertical positioning. In this work models both for the soil consolidation and the thermal expansion effects are provided. The continuous gravity observations collected at Medicina by means of a superconducting gravimeter also exhibit a marked seasonal oscillation, which has been interpreted as the sum of loading and Newtonian attraction effects, as well as of the contribution due to soil consolidation. Especially the study concerning the soil consolidation effect has allowed a better insight on the seasonal vertical movements occurring at the Medicina station by providing quantitative information on soil behavior due to change of effective pressures. The results can be applied to those stations characterized by similar fine-grained soils and surficial hydrogeology.     

Pliocene and Pleistocene magnetic stratigraphy in Le Castella area,Southern Italy—A preliminary report

A preliminary study was made of the magnetic stratigraphy of the Pliocene and Lower Pleistocene marine sediments in Le Castella area, Calabria, Southern Italy. Microbiostratigraphic evidence of the measured sediments provides a basis for tentative correlation with the standard magnetic chronology. The Gilsa Event in the Matuyama Reversed Polarity Epoch is estimated to be a little older than the lower limit of the Calabrian in Le Castella area.