First-level liquefaction hazard mapping of Laoag City,Northern Philippines

During the 1990 Luzon earthquake (M_s 7.8), the central part of Luzon Island, Philippines suffered much from liquefaction-related processes. Examination of inventories shows that the affected areas lie on certain geological environments that are characteristically vulnerable to liquefaction. Based on this local experience and the findings of earlier workers correlating geological setting with liquefaction susceptibility, a first-level map of liquefaction hazard for Laoag City, Northern Philippines, was produced. Distinct micro-geomorphological units were identified within the mainly fluvio-deltaic setting of the study area. The liquefaction susceptibility of each unit was then ranked as high, moderate, low or non-liquefiable, taking also the geomorphological evolution of the area into account. The geomorphological model of the fluvio-deltaic basin was tested against the results of the georesistivity survey carried out in this study. Moreover, compatibility of the liquefaction susceptibility map with historical liquefaction records supported the validity of the proposed ranking. The study showed that microzonation based on geomorphological criteria is indeed very useful in less-developed countries like the Philippines, where funds for a more rigorous determination of liquefaction potential are limited and not always available.     

Zoned chromites with high Mn-contents in the Fe-Ni-Cr-laterite ore deposits from the Edessa area in Northern Greece

The mineralogy of the transported Fe-Ni-Cr-laterite ore bodies from the Edessa area in Northern Greece was studied. The special emphasis was on the textural features and chemistry of chromite. The chromite was residually inherited in laterites from weathered ultramafic rocks and it displays zonation. Three main zones were optically distinguished: an inner chromite zone, an intermediate ferritechromite zone and a magnetite rim. These three zones have distinct compositions. The major oxides MgO and Al₂O₃ decrease from the chromite core to the ferritechromite zone, while FeO_t increases and Cr₂O₃ either increases or decreases. A characteristic chemical feature of the chromite is the very high Mn-content in the ferritechromite zone, up to 20%wt MnO. Chemical zonation has, however, been detected in optically unzoned chromite cores rimmed by magnetite.The zoning and the high Mn-content of the chromite is a result of serpentinization in the presence of Mn-rich fluids, following lateritic weathering and finally Alpine low-grade metamorphism.     

Ground zoning against seismic hazard in Athens, Greece

The 1999, Ms=5.9, Athens earthquake caused serious structural damage to buildings in the western part of Athens, Greece. This paper presents the ground zoning against seismic hazard proposed shortly after the earthquake in order to aid reconstruction of the area. Existing engineering geological and geotechnical data were combined with local observations to provide a unified set of classification criteria, consistent with provisions of the Greek Seismic Code EAK. The accuracy and the possible limitations of this zoning procedure are addressed through comparison with observed damage distribution as well as results from seismic ground response analyses performed at sites with well established soil profiles. There is clear evidence that the proposed zones correspond to geological formations exhibiting grossly different seismic response with regard to the design of common engineering structures. However, the mostly qualitative nature of the guidelines for ground categorisation provided by EAK and the general lack of systematic, site-specific geotechnical data for the whole area induce uncertainties in the definition of the seismic design actions for the different zones. These objective uncertainties certainly demand increased conservatism but do not limit application of the proposed methodology for first aid, preliminary planning in the event of destructive earthquakes.     

Palaeoenvironments and site formation processes at the Neolithic lakeside settlement of Dispilio,Kastoria, Northern Greece

Dispilio is a lakeside settlement by the Orestias Lake, Kastoria, northern Greece. The site was inhabited from the Middle Neolithic to the Chalcolithic, with some surface evidence of Bronze Age occupation. Microfacies analysis of the sediments, supported by a suite of environmental indices, has provided detailed paleoenvironmental data and elucidated the main processes involved in the formation of the site and its history of occupation. The settlement was established on the lakeshore, on a shallow sand ridge and a shore marsh. Initially, houses were built on raised platforms above the water. After a major conflagration, a range of depositional microenvironments were established that caused local changes in the sedimentation rate. Therefore, some areas quickly emerged and became dry land, while some others continued to be flooded as part of the transitional supra‐littoral environment. On the dry land, houses were built directly on the ground, whereas in the transitional areas houses continued to be built on raised platforms. Thus, gradually, a mound was formed and further shaped by subsequent lake‐level fluctuations. One of the lake‐level rises is tentatively related to the abandonment of the mound in the Chalcolithic and the development of a hardpan on its surface. There is also evidence of later occupation during the Bronze Age in the form of a few, mostly surface, archaeological remains. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Liquefaction potential and susceptibility mapping in the city of Yalova, Turkey

This study presents results of both field and laboratory tests that have been used to asses liquefaction susceptibilities of the soils in Yalova city, located in the well-known seismically active North Anatolian Fault Zone. Liquefaction potentials of the sub-surface materials in Yalova city were estimated by using the standard penetration test (SPT) method of field testing. The data obtained have been mapped according to susceptibility, and the susceptibility maps based on the geotechnical data indicated a moderate to high susceptibility to liquefaction for the magnitude of earthquake of M=7.4. Both the high groundwater level and the grain size of the soils, in conjunction with the active seismic features of the region, result in conditions favourable to the occurrence of liquefaction. When the surface and near surface geological conditions were taken under consideration, it was seen that the study areas geology is prone to liquefaction having a moderate liquefaction susceptibility. If geologic and geomorphological criteria are considered, it should be understood that the study area as discussed under the regions geology is susceptible to liquefaction. The geotechnical data largely support the geologic-based liquefaction susceptibility of the study area.     

Landslide hazard mapping at Selangor, Malaysia using frequency ratio and logistic regression models

The aim of this study is to evaluate the landslide hazards at Selangor area, Malaysia, using Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing. Landslide locations of the study area were identified from aerial photograph interpretation and field survey. Topographical maps, geological data, and satellite images were collected, processed, and constructed into a spatial database in a GIS platform. The factors chosen that influence landslide occurrence were: slope, aspect, curvature, distance from drainage, lithology, distance from lineaments, land cover, vegetation index, and precipitation distribution. Landslide hazardous areas were analyzed and mapped using the landslide-occurrence factors by frequency ratio and logistic regression models. The results of the analysis were verified using the landslide location data and compared with probability model. The comparison results showed that the frequency ratio model (accuracy is 93.04%) is better in prediction than logistic regression (accuracy is 90.34%) model.     

Coastal hazard mapping in the Cuddalore region, South India

It is estimated that nearly one-third of India’s population lives on the coast and is dependent on its resources. Shoreline erosion, storm surges and extreme events have resulted in severe loss of human life, damage to ecosystems and to property along the coast of India. Studies carried out in the Cuddalore region of South India reveal that this low-lying coastal zone, which suffered significant erosion during the last century, has been severely affected by the tsunami of 2004, storm floods and cyclones. In response to these impacts, a variety of coastal defense measures and adaptation strategies have been implemented in the region, although with only limited success. In order to inform future coastal planning in this region, the work reported here identifies a composite hazard line, seaward of which coastal flooding events will have a return interval of less than 1 in 100 years. The area landward of the coastal hazard line will be unaffected by 100 years of coastal erosion at present day rates. The study directly supports the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Plan of the Tamil Nadu State through the identification and assessment of coastal hazards and the overall vulnerability to coastal flooding and erosion. The key results from this pilot study will be used directly by the State of Tamil Nadu in the protection of the coastal livelihoods, better conservation measures and sustainable development along the coast. This study is a step toward mapping the hazard line for the entire coast of India that helps protect human lives and property.     

A method for flood hazard mapping based on basin morphometry: application in two catchments in Greece

Basin morphometric parameters play an important role in hydrological processes, as they largely control a catchment’s hydrologic response. Their analysis becomes even more significant when studying runoff reaction to intense rainfall, especially in the case of ungauged, flash flood prone basins. Unit hydrographs are one of the useful tools for estimating runoff when instrumental data are inadequate. In this work, instantaneous unit hydrographs based on the time-area method have been compiled along the drainage networks of two small rural catchments in Greece, situated approximately 25 km northeast of its capital, Athens. The two catchments drained by ephemeral torrents, namely Rapentosa and Charadros, have been subject to flash flooding during the last decades, which caused extensive damages at the local small towns of Marathon and Vranas. Hydrograph compilation in numerous locations along the catchments’ drainage networks directly reflected the runoff conditions across each basin against a given rainfall. This gave a holistic assessment of their hydrologic response, allowing the detection of areas where peak flow rates were elevated and therefore, there was higher flood potential. The resulting flood hazard zonation showed good correlation with locations of damages induced by past flood events, indicating that the method can successfully predict flood hazard spatial distribution. The whole methodology was based on geographic information software due to its excellent capabilities on storing and processing spatial data.     

Landslide hazard and risk mapping at catchment scale in the Arno River basin

We present the methodologies adopted and the outcomes obtained in the analysis of landslide risk in the basin of the Arno River (Central Italy) in the framework of a project sponsored by the Basin Authority of the Arno River, started in the year 2002 and completed at the beginning of 2005. In particular, a complete set of methods and applications for the assessment of landslide susceptibility and risk are described and discussed. A new landslide inventory of the whole area was realized, using conventional (aerial-photo interpretation and field surveys) and non-conventional methods (e.g. remote sensing techniques such as DInSAR and PS-InSAR). The great majority of the mapped mass movements are rotational slides (75%), solifluctions and other shallow slow movements (17%) and flows (5%), while soil slips, and other rapid landslides, seem less frequent everywhere within the basin. The relationships between landslide characteristics and environmental factors have been assessed through statistical analysis. As expected, the results show a strong control of land cover, lithology and morphology on landslide occurrence. The landslide frequency-size distribution shows a typical scaling behaviour already underlined in other landslide inventories worldwide. The assessment of landslide hazard in terms of probability of occurrence in a given time, based for mapped landslides on direct and indirect observations of the state of activity and recurrence time, has been extended to landslide-free areas through the application of statistical methods implemented in an artificial neural network (ANN). Unique conditions units (UCU) were defined by the map overlay of landslide preparatory factors (lithology, land cover, slope gradient, slope curvature and upslope contributing area) and afterwards used to construct a series of model vectors for the training and test of the ANN. Various different ANNs were selected throughout the basin, until each UCU was assigned a degree of membership to a susceptibility and a hazard class. Model validation confirms that prediction results are very good, with an average percentage of correctly recognized mass movements of about 85%. The analysis also revealed the existence of a large number of unmapped mass movements, thus contributing to the completeness of the final inventory. Temporal hazard was estimated via the translation of state of activity in recurrence time and hence probability of occurrence. The following intersection of hazard values with vulnerability and exposure figures, obtained by reclassification of digital vector mapping at 1:10,000 scale, lead to the definition of risk values for each terrain unit for different periods of time into the future. The final results of the research are now undergoing a process of integration and implementation within land planning and risk prevention policies and practices at local and national level.     

Municipal flood hazard mapping: the case of British Columbia,Canada

Historical responses to flood hazards have stimulated development in hazardous areas. Scholars recommend an alternative approach to reducing flood losses that combines flood hazard mapping with land use planning to identify and direct development away from flood-prone areas. Creating flood hazard maps to inform municipal land use planning is an expensive and complex process that can require resources not always available at the municipal government level. Senior levels of government in some countries have addressed deficiencies in municipal capacity by assuming an active role in producing municipal flood hazard maps. In other countries, however, senior governments do not contribute to municipal flood hazard mapping. Despite a large body of research on the importance of municipal land use planning for addressing flood hazards, little is known about the extent of flood hazard information that is available to municipalities that do not receive outside assistance from senior governments for flood hazard mapping. We assess the status of flood hazard maps in British Columbia, where municipalities do not receive outside assistance in creating the maps. Our analysis shows that these maps are generally outdated and/or lacking a variety of features that are critical for supporting effective land use planning. We recommend that senior levels of government play an active role in providing municipalities with (1) detailed and current information regarding flood hazards in their jurisdiction and (2) compelling incentives to utilize this information.     

Earthquake-induced liquefaction hazard mapping at national-scale in Australia using deep learning techniques

Australia is a relatively stable continental region but not tectonically inert, having geological conditions that are susceptible to liquefaction when subjected to earthquake ground motion. Liquefaction hazard assessment for Australia was conducted because no Australian liquefaction maps that are based on modern AI techniques are currently available. In this study, several conditioning factors including Shear wave velocity (Vs30), clay content, soil water content, soil bulk density, soil thickness, soil pH, distance from river, slope and elevation were considered to estimate the liquefaction potential index (LPI). By considering the Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment (PSHA) technique, peak ground acceleration (PGA) was derived for 50 yrs period (500 and 2500 yrs return period) in Australia. Firstly, liquefaction hazard index (LHI) (effects based on the size and depth of the liquefiable areas) was estimated by considering the LPI along with the 2% and 10% exceedance probability of earthquake hazard. Secondly, ground acceleration data from the Geoscience Australia projecting 2% and 10% exceedance rate of PGA for 50 yrs were used in this study to produce earthquake induced soil liquefaction hazard maps. Thirdly, deep neural networks (DNNs) were also exerted to estimate liquefaction hazard that can be reported as liquefaction hazard base maps for Australia with an accuracy of 94% and 93%, respectively. As per the results, very-high liquefaction hazard can be observed in Western and Southern Australia including some parts of Victoria. This research is the first ever country-scale study to be considered for soil liquefaction hazard in Australia using geospatial information in association with PSHA and deep learning techniques. This study used an earthquake design magnitude threshold of M_w 6 using the source model characterization. The resulting maps present the earthquake-triggered liquefaction hazard and are intending to establish a conceptual structure to guide more detailed investigations as may be required in the future. The limitations of deep learning models are complex and require huge data, knowledge on topology, parameters, and training method whereas PSHA follows few assumptions. The advantages deal with the reusability of model codes and its transferability to other similar study areas. This research aims to support stakeholders’ on decision making for infrastructure investment, emergency planning and prioritisation of post-earthquake reconstruction projects.     

Contribution of electrical tomography methods in geotechnical investigations at Mavropigi lignite open pit mine,Northern Greece

In this paper, the application of 2D and 3D electrical resistivity methods in geotechnical investigations is explored through a case study in Northern Greece. These two methods were employed at a lignite surface mining operation where fracture zones and discontinuities have been recently observed close to the pit boundaries. The main aim of the geophysical survey was to estimate the inclination of the contact between the Neogene and Schist/Carbonate formations near the southern limits of the pit, as well as to estimate the thickness of the carbonate rocks on top of the Schist formations to evaluate the stability of the southern slopes. Synthetic data were initially generated to help plan an efficient electrical tomography survey, in a region with complex geology and irregular terrain. Three configurations (Wenner–Schlumberger and dipole–dipole or pole–dipole) proved essential in such conditions and helped improving the resolution of the resistivity section. The sections were then calibrated by boreholes. Finally, the geophysical survey provided invaluable data regarding the geometry of the bedrock and possible faults, which was essential for the slope stability calculations.     

Use of microtremor in liquefaction hazard mapping

This study shows how microtremor measurements can be used as an aid to liquefaction hazard mapping and zonation, as demonstrated in Laoag City, Northern Philippines. From microtremor measurements, qualitative information on subsoil conditions was obtained and a site classification map was generated. The map was combined with the geomorphology-based liquefaction susceptibility map to produce an integrated liquefaction hazard zonation map. This integrated map is deemed to be more accurate in depicting relative liquefaction susceptibility since it combines information on the distribution of potentially liquefiable soils in terms of geology and grain characteristics with information on the stiffness and thickness of these soils. With information about the thickness of the deposits, an idea of the severity of liquefaction-related damage can also be gathered since thicker deposits relate to more serious damage. Plots of historical liquefaction cases, as well as borehole data and resistivity profiles in the study area, support the validity of the integrated map. The use of microtremor, therefore, constitutes an effective and inexpensive approach to liquefaction hazard zonation, and as such is very useful in less-developed countries like the Philippines and other areas where funds for more rigorous investigations are not always available.     

Landslide hazard zonation in high risk areas of Rethymno Prefecture,Crete Island,Greece

The central part of Rethymnon Prefecture, Crete Island, suffers from severe landslide phenomena because of its geological and geomorphological settings alternated by the human activities. The main landslide preparatory and triggering causal factors are considered to be the ground conditions (lithology), geomorphological processes (fluvial erosion, etc.), and the man-made actions (excavations, loading etc.). The purpose of this study is to develop a decision support and continuous monitoring system of the area by composing landslide hazard and risk maps. For that reason, several approaches of the weighted linear combination (WLC), a semi-quantitative hazard analysis method, were adopted in a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) environment. The results were validated using a pre-existing landslide database enriched with new landslide locations mapped through image interpretation of a processed IKONOS satellite image. The validation results showed that the WLC method coupled with remote sensing (RS) and GIS techniques can support engineering geological studies concerning landslide vulnerability of hazardous areas.     

滑坡灾害预测分区的计算机制图

本文在滑坡灾害预测分区的信息模型基础上,重点讨论了灾害预测的计算机制图化的主要过程:因素的数值化,单元边界的确定和彩色图件的绘制。运用中国地质大学计算机系开发的Mapcad系统,在Mv/10000计算机上较好地处理了不规则图幅边界的自然裁剪,不规则单元的输入,以及彩色图件的绘制等问题。     

On the reliability of different methods of seismic hazard assessment in Greece

Historical and present century instrumental data have been used to determine seismic hazard in 35 sites of Greece by the application of Cornell's method (Cornell, 1968) and the mean value method. The macroseismic intensity has been considered as a measure of seismic hazard. Comparison of the results of the two methods showed that, in general, the mean value method gives higher values, particularly for low probabilities of exceedance. In addition, for some sites, the differences of the expected intensities resulting from the two methods, indicate that finer tuning of the seismogenic souce model is required, or suggest time dependence. Although each one of these methods has its own merits, the method based on seismic zonation (Cornell's method) has several advantages and must be preferred when an accurate zonation is possible by the use of macroseismic and instrumental seismic data, together with geological and geomorphological information. However, reliable estimates of seismic hazard at a particular site require work on a microzoning scale, incorporating historical, archaeological, and recent geological data.Paper presented at the 21st General Assembly of the European Seismological Commission held in Sofia, 1988.     

Metamorphism of the variegated sequence at Kallithea,Samos, Greece

Summary The variegated sequence at Kallithea, westernmost part of the island of Samos, consists of pure dolomitic marbles, siliceous marbles, calc-silicate rocks and amphibolites. It was formed from a volcano-sedimentary series by a regional metamorphism under amphibolite facies conditions. Assuming a total fluid pressure of 5 kb, temperature may have reached 700°C. In the siliceous marbles, a retrogressive evolution is documented. The intrusion of the Kallithea igneous suite which took place about 10 Ma ago hardly affected the regional metamorphic sequence. The only exception are small veins of wollastonite in a silicate marble. In contrast to the other tectonic units which form the major part of Samos, no traces of high pressure minerals could be detected in the Kallithea metamorphics, suggesting a different geological history. The age and geotectonic position of the variegated sequence is unknown so far.

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Zusammenfassung Die bunte Serie von Kallithea (westlichster Teil der Insel Samos), bestehend aus reinen Dolomitmarmoren, Silikatmarmoren, Kalksilikatfelsen und Amphiboliten, geht auf eine vuikano-sedimentäre Folge zurück, die durch eine Regionalmetamorphose unter amphibolitfaziellen Bedingungen geprägt wurde. Hierbei dürften Temperaturen um 700°C erreicht worden sein, wenn man einen Gesamtdruck (P _fl ) von 5 kb annimmt. In den Silikatmarmoren ist eine Abfolge retrograder Mineralreaktionen dokumentiert. Vor etwa 10 Millionen Jahren intrudierten in die regionalmetamorphe Serie dioritische bis granitische Magmen ohne das Nebengestein kontaktmetamorph zu überprägen. Eine Ausnahme bilden kleine Wollastonitäderchen in einem Silikatmarmor. Im Gegensatz zu den übrigen tektonischen Einheiten, die den größten Teil der Insel aufbauen, lassen sich in den Metamorphiten von Kallithea keine Anzeichen einer Hochdruckmetamorphose nachweisen, was auf eine abweichende geologische Geschichte hindeutet. Alter und geotektonische Stellung der bunten Serie von Kallithea sind bislang noch unbekannt.

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With 5 Figures

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Herrn Professor Dr. Siegfried Matthes zum 70. Geburtstag gewidmet     

Regionalization of seismic hazard in Greece based on seismic sources

A semi-probabilistic approach to the seismic hazard assessment of Greece is presented. For this reason, a recent seismotectonic model for shallow and intermediate depth earthquake sources, based on historical as well as on instrumental data, was used. Different attenuation formulae were proposed for the macroseismic intensity and the strong ground motion parameters for the shallow and the intermediate focal depth shocks. The data were elaborated in terms of McGuire's computer program, which is based on the Cornell's method.A grid of equally spaced points at 20 km distance was made and the seismic hazard recurrence curves for various parameters of the seismic intensity was estimated for each point. Finally, seismic hazard maps for the area of Greece were compiled utilizing the entire range of recurrence curves. These maps depict areas of equal seismic hazard and for every area the analytical relations of the typeSI =f(Tm), whereSI is a seismic intensity parameter andTm is the mean return period, were determined.     

The high-pressure assemblages at Milos,Greece

Metamorphic rocks at Milos are known in small outcrops beneath the volcanic formations, as xenoliths in the Traphores volcanic breccia and as pebbles in the Paleochora Quaternary deposits. These rocks seem to belong to three different metamorphic units which probably have intricate relationships in the basement: — the eclogites unit shows garnetjadeite or garnet-omphacite primary associations, with apparently late crystallization of lawsonite phenoblasts an recrystallization features at relatively low temperatures; — the glaucophane schist unit exhibits Jadeite+quartz or glaucophane+lawsonite primary mineralogy; — the greenschist facies unit shows low-pressure main assemblages, most generally developed after high-pressure events. The two former units involve tholeiitic meta-igneous rocks, having been spilitized before metamorphism; they generally suffered more or less advanced recrystallization features in the low-pressure field of the greenschist facies. The third unit shows only meta-sedimentary rocks, with the sole exception of one single meta-doleritic pebble having calk-alkaline affinities.Petrological and mineralogical studies, based upon 15 bulk-rock compositions and 178 probe-analysed data points, lead to suspect at least 2, perhaps 3, different metamorphic events rather than one single metamorphic evolution, to account for the 3 U distinguished. From the observation of the mineralogical assemblages and their evolution, the former events (stages 1 and 2) could be related to rapid subduction of ocean-floor or back-arc basalts, whereas, during the latter event (stage 3), the rocks experienced crystallization conditions involving both decreasing pressures and increasing temperatures.