The form and stability of a double undercliff: An example from South-West England

Details are presented of a double undercliff, an unusual landform feature on the coast of Southeast Devon. The double undercliff is the result of two separate landslides on argillaceous formations within the 127 m high cliffs. The upper undercliff is probably of great antiquity, whereas the lower undercliff formed as recently as 1969. The double undercliff dies out as the lower argillaceous formation dips below sea level, to the east, and is faulted out to the west.The stability of the slopes in each case depended on the shear strength of bedding laminations, and hence upon very low or zero cohesion. A back analysis suggests a mobilised angle of shearing resistance as low as 13°C for the lower undercliff.The future stability of the undercliffs is dependent mainly upon undrained crown loading, for the upper undercliff from the degradation of the backscar, and for the lower undercliff from the landslide above.     

Geochemistry of the Rare Earth elements in spilites from the oceanic and continental crust

Analytical data including major elements, the Rare Earths, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, and Sr are presented for twenty-three spilites from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the Hercynian part of the Variscan geosyncline in Germany, and several localities in Switzerland. Low grade metamorphism (up to approximately 400° C) and spilitization of basaltic rocks apparently do not alter the original Rare Earth element (REE) distributions. This fact permits comparison of the spilites and unaltered tholeiitic basalts from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The relative REE distributions thus appear suitable for delineating the original basalt types of spilites formed by metamorphism. The spilites from the Hercynian part of the Variscan geosyncline have a REE distribution pattern which is characteristic of continental tholeiites. It is thus probable that during the formation of this geosyncline the principal magma extruded was of tholeiitic composition and that these rocks were later converted to spilites by metamorphism.     

The Genesis of the Cornubian Batholith (South-West England): the example of the Carnmenellis Pluton

The origin of the Carnmenellis granite is discussed in the lightof new petrographic and chemical data which suggest that thepresent mineral assemblage comprises refractory, magmatic, subsolidusand hydrothermal phases. The present homogeneity of the plutonresults from subsolidus to pervasive hydrothermal reworkinginvolving selective leaching of alkalis and Fe-Mg and an increasein Li, F, B, and Rb, which were introduced, or redistributed,through high temperature hydrothermal circulation. The compositionsof the primary minerals were re-equilibrated with respect tothese water-rock interactions. Rb-Sr systematics demonstratethat whole rock samples show lower ages than the minerals (260and 285 Ma, respectively). The perturbation in the former isotopedistribution is in agreement with the chemical re-equilibrationof the mica with external Rb-rich and Sr-depleted solutions.The distribution of rare-earths reveal that most reside in afew accessory phases, viz. monazite, zircon, and apatite; theirnear-liquidus fractionation is responsible for the loweringof the bulk REE content compared to pelitic source materialand for the present REE pattern of the pluton. Conditions of magma generation by partial melting of cordierite-sillimanite-spinelpelitic gneisses were estimated to be around 800?C and 5 kbwith water content in the magma of about 4 wt. per cent. H₂Osaturation was reached late during the ascent of the magma,making possible the crystallization of muscovite from the residualmelt. The highly evolved peraluminous composition of the plutonis not explained by a simple magmatic differentiation. Comparedto the Carnmenellis pluton, the Land's End massif of similarmineralogy appears less evolved, either because of less subsolidusreworking or deeper structural emplacement.     

Coexisting pyroxenes — a multivariate statistical approach

A population of 117 coexisting nonalkaline pyroxene pairs has been studied statistically to evaluate compositional and thermal effects on the element distribution. K_DMg^opx-cpx is influenced by the Fe/Mg-ratio, by the Ca content—especially of clinopyroxene—and by the content of tetrahedral Al. Fe and tetrahedral Al are found to be negatively correlated. A principal component analysis based on the variation of Si, Al^IV, Al^VI, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ca is performed. Dropping of highly correlated variables does not affect the result significantly. The first principal component reflects the major chemical variation in Fe and Mg. When using ferrous and ferric iron as separate entries of the analysis, either the second or the third component demonstrates a temperature dependence. It is, however, not possible to obtain pure temperature and chemical components due to the composition not being uncorrelated to temperature of formation. From these components a graph reflecting temperature of formation has been constructed.     

Floods in Greece, a statistical and spatial approach

Flooding is one of the most important types of disasters in southern Europe recording many victims and extended damages over the last century. The increased pressure for urban expansion together with the high population density has increased flood risk considerably in the region. Greece is not an exception in this regime, having a very rich flooding record since the ancient times. In this work, an extensive catalogue of flooding phenomena during the last 130?years in Greece has been compiled based on numerous sources. Based on this record the temporal and spatial distribution of flood events and victims was examined. In total, 545 events were identified, causing 686 human casualties and inflicting extensive damage across the country. Results showed seasonality patterns with more events clustering in November. They also showed that urban environments tend to present a higher flood recurrence rates than mountainous and rural areas. An increasing trend in reported flood event numbers during the last decades was discovered, even though the number of human casualties remains relatively stable during the same period. Moreover, spatial patterns were identified highlighting areas and administrational entities with higher flood recurrence rates across the country.     

Coexisting pyroxenes — a multivariate statistical approach

A population of 117 coexisting nonalkaline pyroxene pairs has been studied statistically to evaluate compositional and thermal effects on the element distribution. K_DMg^opx−cpx is influenced by the Fe/Mg-ratio, by the Ca content—especially of clinopyroxene—and by the content of tetrahedral Al. Fe and tetrahedral Al are found to be negatively correlated. A principal component analysis based on the variation of Si, Al^IV, Al^IV, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ca is performed. Dropping of highly correlated variables does not affect the result significantly. The first principal component reflects the major chemical variation in Fe and Mg. When using Ferrous and ferric iron as separate entries of the analysis, either the second or the third component demonstrates a temperature dependence. It is, however, not possible to obtain pure temperature and chemical components due to the composition not being uncorrelated to temperature of formation. From these components a graph reflecting temperature of formation has been constructed.     

Turbidite stratigraphy in proglacial lakes: Deciphering trigger mechanisms using a statistical approach

Turbidites embedded in lacustrine sediment sequences are commonly used to reconstruct regional flood or earthquake histories. A critical step for this method to be successful is that turbidites and their trigger mechanisms are determined unambiguously. The latter is particularly challenging for prehistoric proglacial lake records in high-seismicity settings where both earthquake-generated and flood-generated turbidites interrupt the background varved sedimentation. This calls for a new method to allow efficient and objective identification and classification of turbidites. This study examined turbidites in five long (9 to 17 m) sediment cores from Eklutna Lake, a proglacial lake in south-central Alaska, using standard core logging and grain-size data. A novel statistical approach is presented, in which varve-thickness distributions were first analyzed to objectively identify the thickest turbidites and distinguish them from background sedimentation. For each turbidite, a selection of variables were then measured, including: basal grain-size, thickness, magnetic susceptibility and spectrophotometric variables. Triggering mechanisms were discriminated by a combination of principal component analysis and clustering, and by calibration with historical events. Using this approach, a 2250 year long lake-wide event stratigraphy was constructed, with 94 prehistoric events, including 24 earthquake and 70 flood events. Basal grain-size and thickness variables turn out to be the most effective proxies for discrimination. This statistical approach is a powerful and new method to identify turbidites and their triggering mechanisms in long prehistoric sediment records. It opens up new prospects for palaeoseismological, palaeohydrological and palaeoclimate studies in proglacial lakes worldwide.     

Pengelly's legacy reconsidered: a GIS approach to spatial analysis of palaeontological and archaeological collections from Kents Cavern, England

Tens of thousands of palaeontological and archaeological remains were collected by William Pengelly during 19th century excavations of Kents Cavern, but are now widely dispersed between museums. This has previously precluded spatial analysis. We have now assembled available museum records into a single database, and, using our previously-reconstructed Pengelly excavation map as a base, we have been able to exploit the unique Pengelly location code to set up a GIS mapping system. This allows, for the first time, the analysis of spatial patterns. In addition, the GIS serves to highlight potential problems of recording or curation in the original data. Here we report on the construction of the GIS system and its first use in the analysis of spatial distribution of bear remains. The maps demonstrate that Ursus deningeri entered the cave through a now-sealed High Level Chamber entrance at the back of the cave in the middle Pleistocene, whereas Ursus arctos accessed the cave in the late Pleistocene through the now-sealed Northeast Gallery entrance. The denning areas are reconstructed as Labyrinth/Bear's Den for U. deningeri and Vestibule/Great Chamber for U. arctos. Considerable post-mortem re-distribution of the remains of both species is indicated.     

Geochemistry of natural and anthropogenic fall-out (aerosol and precipitation) collected from the NW Mediterranean: two different multivariate statistical approaches

The chemical characteristics of the mineral fractions of aerosol and precipitation collected in Sardinia (NW Mediterranean) are highlighted by means of two multivariate statistical approaches. Two different combinations of classification and statistical methods for geochemical data are presented. It is shown that the application of cluster analysis subsequent to Q-Factor analysis better distinguishes among Saharan dust, background pollution (Europe-Mediterranean) and local aerosol from various source regions (Sardinia). Conversely, the application of simple cluster analysis was able to distinguish only between aerosols and precipitation particles, without assigning the sources (local or distant) to the aerosol. This method also highlighted the fact that crust-enriched precipitation is similar to desert-derived aerosol. Major elements (Al, Na) and trace metal (Pb) turn out to be the most discriminating elements of the analysed data set. Independent use of mineralogical, granulometric and meteorological data confirmed the results derived from the statistical methods employed.     

基于统计理论方法的水文模型参数敏感性分析

参数敏感性分析是模型不确定性量化的重要环节,有助于有效识别关键参数,减少参数的不确定性影响,进而提高参数优化效率。利用Morris筛选方法定性识别相对重要参数,耦合方差分解的Sobol方法和统计理论的响应曲面模型构建一种新的定量敏感性分析方法——RSMSobol方法。以长江支流沿渡河流域的日降雨径流过程模拟为例,系统分析4种不同目标函数响应条件下新安江模型的参数敏感性。结果表明Morris方法和RSMSobol方法的集成应用极大地提高了全局敏感性分析的效率,Morris定性筛选结果为定量评估减少了模型参数维数,采用代理模型技术的RSMSobol方法减少了模型的计算消耗。     

Rb-Sr mineral ages for the Grenvillian metamorphic development of spilites from the Dalsland Supracrustal Group,SW Sweden

Rb-Sr isotope systematics have been investigated of epidote, actinolite, albite and biotite concentrates from 4 spilite samples from the Precambrian basement directly W of lake Vänern in SW Sweden. The rocks belong to the Dalsland Supracrustal Group whose basal conglomerate was deposited on an erosion surface with a maximum age of c. 1,200 Ma. Epidote-WR and actinolite-WR tie lines in a Nicolaysen diagram give ages with an average of 990±10 (la) Ma, which is thought to represent the metamorphic culmination. Biotite-WR lines yield an average age of 900±15 (1σ) Ma, which indicates the time at which the rock complex cooled through the isotopic closure temperature of biotite, estimated at c. 250° C. The average cooling rate in this period was very low, 1–2° C/Ma. Initial Sr isotopic ratios of the 4 spilite samples vary from 0.7040 to 0.7080 and are thought to reflect interaction of mantle-derived basalts with seawater.     

Geochemistry of groundwater from a rhyolite aquifer,Northwest Iran

Chemical data on groundwater composition in rhyolitic hard rock aquifers with limited global occurrence are rarely found. In this research geochemistry of Mahabad Rhyolite Aquifer, NW Iran, was studied considering major ions, silica and trace elements measured in wet and dry seasons. Based on the results, the mean silica content was 18 mg l^?1, less than the average of the rhyolitic waters. However, the relatively higher electrical conductivity (EC) of 418 µS cm^?1 was measured. Based on a PHREEQCI model, the weathering of the silicate minerals and dissolution of carbonated intercalations turns groundwater dominantly into Ca–HCO₃ type, enhancing EC, pH and silica concentration along the flow path. Trace elements of Sr, Ba and Pb were measured at highest concentrations, the later with an average value of 83 ppb exceeds the drinking guidelines. Cluster analysis confirms biotite weathering and barite dissolution as the main sources of the trace elements in the groundwater. The results signify geochemical features of rhyolitic groundwater which can be a useful tracer of mixing in flow systems containing variety of aquifers including rhyolites.     

Comparison of the characteristics of manganese micronodules from the equatorial and South-West Pacific

Summary The abundance, morphology, internal structure, mineralogy and composition of manganese micronodules from seven areas in the equatorial and South-West Pacific have been evaluated and compared. Micronodule abundance appears to be inversely related to sedimentation rate with highest abundances occurring in dark brown clays where sedimentation rates are low. Morphology and internal structure are dependent on the nature of the seed material in which the micronodule forms, of which calcareous tests, siliceous tests and volcanoclastic material are the most important. SEM studies show quite marked variations in the external and internal characteristics of the micronodules from different areas. The mineralogy and composition of the micronodules tend to follow those of macronodules from the same location with biogenic processes leading to the formation of todorokite and high Ni + Cu contents in equatorial Pacific micronodules, for example. Nonetheless, significant differences are apparent in composition between micronodules and macronodules from the same location. Diagenetic processes lead to remobilization of manganese within the sediment column. This influences the distribution and composition of micronodules within the various sediment size fractions and with depth in the sediment column. The characteristics of the micronodules studied here are strongly influenced by the nature of the sedimentary environment in which they form. Micronodules are therefore seen not to have a uniform mode of formation but rather to reflect a variety of influences on their growth.

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Vergleichende Untersuchungen von Mikromanganknollen des äquatorialen und des südwestlichen Pazifik

Zusammenfassung Manganmikroknollen aus 7 verschiedenen Gebieten des Pazifischen Ozeans werden untersucht und miteinander verglichen. In Abhängigkeit von der Sedimentfazies lassen sich deutliche Unterschiede in der Häufigkeit, der Morphologie und inneren Struktur sowie in der Mineralogie und chemischen Zusammensetzung der Mikroknollen beobachten. Die Menge an Manganmikroknollen im Sediment scheint umgekehrt proportional der Sedimentationsrate zu sein. Höchste Gehalte an Mikroknollen finden sich in extrem langsam abgelagerten braunen pelagischen Tonen (z.B. Südwest-Pazifisches Becken). Die Morphologie und die innere Struktur der Mikroknollen hängt entscheidend vom Nukleusmaterial (kieselige, kalkige Organismen, vulkanoklastisches Material) ab. Biogene Anreicherung, hydrogenetische und hydrothermale Metallzufuhr sowie diagenetische Mobilisationsprozesse bestimmen, ähnlich wie bei Manganmakroknollen, die Mineralogie und chemische Zusammensetzung der Manganmikroknollen, wobei diagenetische Prozesse von größter Bedeutung sind. Sie erklären die Unterschiede in der chemischen Zusammensetzung zwischen Mikro- und Makromanganknollen aus dem gleichen Untersuchungsgebiet. Diagenetische Mobilisierung von Mangan und anderen Elementen im Sediment bestimmt Verteilung und Chemismus der Mikroknollen in tieferen Sedimentschichten. Mikroknollen lassen sich nicht durch einen einfachen Bildungsprozeß erklären. Ihr Auftreten wird durch eine Reihe von Einflüssen wie Redoxpotential, Sedimentationsrate, Nukleusmaterial, biogene Anreicherungsprozesse, Diagenese und Tiefenwasserströmungen kontrolliert.

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With 8 Figures     

An empirical correlation between the occurrence of earthquakes and typhoons in Taiwan: a statistical multivariate approach

This study looks at 102 typhoons that passed nearby or traversed Taiwan from 1995 to 2011 and their potential association with ordinary earthquakes. The study found an overall association of 63.75?%. Interestingly, prior to the September 21, 1999, M _w ?=?7.6 Chi-Chi earthquake, only 4 of 24 typhoons (16.67?%) were potentially associated with the earthquakes. This figure increased substantially after the Chi-Chi earthquake to 78 typhoons being possibly associated with earthquakes (78.21?%). From the results of the chi-square test, both correlations between the typhoons and their possible triggered earthquakes before and after Chi-Chi earthquake have significant difference. The results are discussed in terms of changes in crustal conditions after the Chi-Chi earthquake and potential mechanisms, for example, heavy rainfall and atmospheric pressure causing the ordinary earthquakes. The atmospheric pressure effect predominates over the rainfall effect during the typhoon time period by statistical multivariate approach. However, to test rainfall effect is a non-neglected mechanism; seven small earthquakes without typhoon occurring near a region experiencing heavy rainfall and earthquake activity related to accumulated rainfall values from January 1995 to July 2012 are examined.     

Geoenvironmental appraisal of groundwater quality in Bengal alluvial tract,India: a geochemical and statistical approach

Groundwater is an essential natural resource which has enormous use throughout the world, but with the enhanced population pressure, its quality and quantity gets affected. Consequently, assessment and categorization of groundwater quality is necessary and the availability of safe water for utilization is to be ensured. The present study was based on groundwater samples, collected over 5,324 km² from the alluvial tract of Bengal plain, India. Ten geochemical parameters viz. arsenic, pH, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, iron, total hardness as calcium carbonate, sulphate, nitrite and depth were analysed, and multivariate statistical analyses were performed on the data set. Factor analysis depicted four factors, which explained 66.57 % of total variability of data. Factor 1 represented high positive loadings on total dissolved solids and electrical conductivity. Factor 2 was associated with depth, arsenic and iron and indicated process of reduction in groundwater. Over extraction of groundwater showed probable relationship with arsenic concentration in groundwater. Parameters of Factor 3 and 4 had been related with agricultural activities and local geological conditions. Further, four clusters observed from hierarchical cluster analysis, assisted in grouping groundwater geochemistry of the region. The results coupled with GIS facilitated in categorizing and mapping the groundwater quality.     

A statistical approach to landslide risk modelling at basin scale: from landslide susceptibility to quantitative risk assessment

A procedure for landslide risk assessment is presented. The underlying hypothesis is that statistical relationships between past landslide occurrences and conditioning variables can be used to develop landslide susceptibility, hazard and risk models. The latter require also data on past damages. Landslides occurred during the last 50 years and subsequent damages were analysed. Landslide susceptibility models were obtained by means of Spatial Data Analysis techniques and independently validated. Scenarios defined on the basis of past landslide frequency and magnitude were used to transform susceptibility into quantitative hazard models. To assess vulnerability, a detailed inventory of exposed elements (infrastructures, buildings, land resources) was carried out. Vulnerability values (0–1) were obtained by comparing damages experienced in the past by each type of element with its actual value. Quantitative risk models, with a monetary meaning, were obtained for each element by integrating landslide hazard and vulnerability models. Landslide risk models showing the expected losses for the next 50 years were thus obtained for the different scenarios. Risk values obtained are not precise predictions of future losses but rather a means to identify areas where damages are likely to be greater and require priority for mitigation actions.