Cost Comparisons of Aquifer Heterogeneity Characterization Methods

The characterization of heterogeneity in hydraulic conductivity (K) is a major challenge for subsurface remediation projects. There are a number of field studies that compare the K estimates obtained using various techniques, but to our knowledge, no field‐based studies exists that compare the performance of estimated K heterogeneity fields or the associated characterization costs. In this paper, we compare the costs of characterizing the three‐dimensional K heterogeneity and its uncertainty estimates of a glaciofluvial aquifer‐aquitard sequence at a 15 m × 15 m × 18 m field site situated on the University of Waterloo campus. We compare geostatistical analysis of high resolution permeameter K data obtained from repacked core samples in five boreholes and hydraulic tomography analysis of four pumping tests consisting of up to 41 monitoring points per test. Aside from the comparison of costs, we also assess the performance of each method by predicting several pumping tests. Our analysis reveals that hydraulic tomography is somewhat more costly than the geostatistical analysis of high resolution permeameter K data due to the higher capital costs associated with the method. However, the equipment may be reused at other sites; hence these costs may be recovered over the life of the equipment. More significantly, hydraulic tomography is able to capture the most important features of the aquifer‐aquitard sequence leading to more accurate predictions of independent pumping tests. This suggests that more robust remediation systems may be designed if site characterization is performed with hydraulic tomography.     

Two Experimental Methods to Determine the Speciation of Cadmium in Sediment from the River Neckar

The binding forms of Cd to an anaerobic sediment of low sulfide content from Lauffen reservoir (River Neckar, Germany) were studied using two different approaches, i. e. sequential extraction (modified from published protocols) and titrimetric study of the pH-dependent Cd release. Thermodynamic equilibrium calculations were applied to calculate both the release pattern of Cd during the titrations and the speciation of Cd within the single fractions of the extraction protocol. The calculations were based on measured sediment parameters such as hydrous ferric oxide (HFO), acid volatile sulfide, carbonate content and total Cd content, and the extractants (oxalate, acid etc.) used. The results of the two independent approaches coincided well in that they both assigned more than two thirds of the total Cd content to be adsorbed to organic matter. Cd bound as CdS is of little importance. Sequential extraction after a 3-month oxidation period at pH 7 revealed a shift of Cd from being mainly bound in stronger surface complexes with organic matter to being mainly bound in weaker surface complexes with organic matter and HFO, and thus becoming more bioavailable. This study suggests that the use of sequential extraction although being frequently criticized due to its operational character can be used to determine binding forms of metal ions if they are accompanied by 1) careful supporting experiments, 2) analysis of important sediment parameters, and 3) the use of thermodynamic equlibrium models which can help to understand Cd speciation within the extraction fractions.     

The Effect of Three Drilling Fluids on Ground Water Sample Chemistry

Three monitoring wells were installed in borings that were constructed using water-based drilling fluids containing either (1) guar bean, (2) guar bean with breakdown additive, or (3) bentonite. These fluids were selected to observe their effect on the chemistry of subsequent water samples collected from the wells. The wells were installed to depths of 66 feet, 100.5 feet and 103 feet, respectively, in fine-to-medium sand and gravel outwash deposits near Antigo, Wisconsin. Drilling fluids were necessary to maintain an open borehole during well construction through strata containing cobbles and boulders.
The bentonite and guar drilling fluids caused temporarily elevated concentrations of chemical oxygen demand (COD) in ground water samples collected from the monitoring wells. Using standard development, purging and sampling procedures, elevated COD concentrations persisted for about 50 days for the well bored with the guar-with-additive fluid, 140 days for the bentonite well and 320 days for the guar well. Unfiltered ground water samples for all wells had greater concentrations of COD than samples filtered through a 0.45 micron filter. Sulfate concentrations also decreased with time in the guar-with-additive well and bentonite well, but not in the guar well.
The elevated COD concentrations are attributed to the large concentrations of oxidizable carbon present in the guar bean drilling fluid and in the organic polymers present in the bentonite drilling fluid. Well development and purging procedures, including borehole flushing, surging, bailing and/or chemically induced viscosity breakdown of the guar mud decreased the time before background conditions were achieved. Future research should evaluate the physical and geochemical interaction of different drilling fluid compositions with a variety of geologic matrices and drilling, well development and well purging techniques.     

Vertical Electric Currents in Active Regions: Calculation Methods and Relation to the Flare Index

Geomagnetism and Aeronomy - In the scope of the performed work, two problems are solved. The first is the analysis of two existing methods for calculating vertical electric currents, differential...     

一致概率谱衰减指数的取值方法探讨

在重大工程的地震安全性评价工作中,根据概率法地震危险性分析得到的一致概率反应谱,与建筑抗震设计规范给出的设计反应谱常常不一致,特别是在长周期部分,一致概率谱一般均低于相应的规范谱。为解决地震安全性评价得到的一致概率谱在抗震设计中的应用,本文通过比较、分析一致概率谱和规范谱,针对一致概率谱标定得到的衰减指数γ较规范谱明显偏大的特点,提出了一致概率谱衰减指数的取值方法。     

三峡库区地震精定位中确定速度模型的方法

研究三峡库区地震精定位中确定速度模型的方法,分析不同速度模型对地震定位精度的影响,并选取多种方法来定量评价不同速度模型的地震定位精度。当地震分布或台站能够较好的覆盖研究区域,采用Kissling方法拟合观测数据得到的速度模型地震定位精度最高。当地震分布不能较好的覆盖研究区域,由人工地震测深结果得到的速度模型地震定位精度次之。当没有足够的观测数据,也没有人工地震测深结果,综合研究区域内的相关研究成果确定的速度模型也是可用的,但是地震定位的精度不高,特别是震源深度的精度很差。     

三种常用叠加方法提取气枪信号的效果分析

基于安砂水库气枪震源实验资料,采用线性叠加、频谱白化叠加和相位加权叠加三种常用叠加技术进行处理,从信噪比、波形相关性和震相走时差等方面,分析评估三种叠加方法的实际应用效果。结果表明:(1)相位加权叠加方法提高信噪比的能力最强,但是与线性叠加一样,两者都无法有效地消除强干扰,而频谱白化则可以削弱强干扰的影响,有利于信号准确识别;对低信噪比波形,频谱白化提高信噪比的效果优于线性叠加,反之亦然。(2)以线性叠加结果为参考,相位加权的相关性高,走时差基本为零,但波形中较小幅值的信号可能会被压制,影响小幅值波形信号的判别;频谱白化在台站信噪比高时,波形相关性较差,且存在一定走时差,可能出现震相到时前的波形被放大,使震相初至变得模糊,影响到时拾取精度。     

应用和达法测定福建古田水口水库ML4.8级地震序列波速比

应用和达法测定福建古田水口水库ML4.8级地震序列的波速比,其计算的相关系数较高,测得的波速比值具有较高的可信度。通过分析ML4.8级主震前后的波速比发现,在前震期经历了相对稳定—低异常值—回升—加速上升—高异常值—主震发生的过程;余震期波速比高、低异常值增多,且差异有逐渐加大趋势。     

The Vertical Distribution of Phytoplankton as a Measure of Depth,Duration and Frequency of Mixing in Standing Water during Periods of Unstable Stratification

In this paper, the mixing conditions of the Saidenbach storage reservoir with a mean depth of 15.35 m are investigated during the full spring overturns. The vertical distribution of algae proves to be a very useful supplement to the simultaneously measured vertical temperature profile for the interpretation of the results. With its aid, concrete details about the actual mixing depth and the frequency of circulation can be obtained. For the storage reservoir mentioned a maximum turnover time of 0.7 d was calculated, which theoretically should still lead to a homogeneous distribution of algae. It is found, however, that in periods usually characterized as full spring circulation in spite of an approximate isothermic behaviour frequently homogeneous distribution is not achieved, i.e. mixing is not intensive enough. Therefore, mostly the period of full overturn is confined to the time during which the surface temperature of water still is <4°C (daily measurements required) and therefore convectional mixing can be assumed even if there is no external wind effect. Even during these restricted periods of time occasionally significant heterogeneous distributions, i.e. slight stratifications, can be proved. Therefore, it should be more correct to designate the time of the so-called full overturn as the time of the greatest instability, during which a full mixing is very probable but should not be assumed from the beginning (e.g. not without checking the relevant vertical algae distributions).