Three-dimensional mapping of a landslide using a multi-geophysical approach: the Quesnel Forks landslide

A landslide located on the Quesnel River in British Columbia, Canada is used as a case study to demonstrate the utility of a multi-geophysical approach to subsurface mapping of unstable slopes. Ground penetrating radar (GPR), direct current (DC) resistivity and seismic reflection and refraction surveys were conducted over the landslide and adjacent terrain. Geophysical data were interpreted based on stratigraphic and geomorphologic observations, including the use of digital terrain models (DTMs), and then integrated into a 3-dimensional model. GPR surveys yielded high-resolution data that were correlated with stratigraphic units to a maximum depth of 25 m. DC electrical resistivity offered limited data on specific units but was effective for resolving stratigraphic relationships between units to a maximum depth of 40 m. Seismic surveys were primarily used to obtain unit boundaries up to a depth of >80 m. Surfaces of rupture and separation were successfully identified by GPR and DC electrical resistivity techniques.     

The refractive index of seawater — comparison of experimental values and estimates from binary solution data

The Tait-Gibson parameter, $\text{B}{}^1$, and the refractive index of seawater are estimated from binary solution data. The predicted and experimental values agree closely. The maximum deviations, at $\text{S = 40‰}$, are 1.7 bars for $\text{B}{}^1$ and 0.0001 for the refractive index. The results show that binary solution data, analysed on the basis of the Tammann-Tait-Gibson model for aqueous solutions, can be used to predict the properties of seawater of composition different to that of standard seawater.     

A multiproxy environmental investigation of Holocene wood from a submerged conifer forest in Lake Huron, USA

Remains of a Holocene drowned forest in southern Lake Huron discovered in 12.5 m of water (164 m above sea level), 4.5 km east of Lexington, Michigan USA (Sanilac site), provided wood to investigate environment and lake history using several proxies. Macrofossil evidence indicates a forest comprised primarily of conifers equivalent to the modern “rich conifer swamp” community, despite generally low regional abundance of these species in pollen records. Ages range from 7095 ± 50 to 6420 ± 70 ¹⁴C yr BP, but the clustering of stump dates and the development of 2 floating tree-ring chronologies suggest a briefer forest interval of no more than c. 400 years. Dendrochronological analysis indicates an environment with high inter-annual climate variability. Stable-carbon isotope composition falls within the range of modern trees from this region, but the stable-oxygen composition is consistent with warmer conditions than today. Both our tree-ring and isotope data provide support for a warmer environment in this region, consistent with a mid-Holocene thermal maximum. This drowned forest also provides a dated elevation in the Nipissing transgression at about 6420 ¹⁴C yr BP (7350 cal yr BP) in the southern Lake Huron basin, a few hundred years before reopening of the St. Clair River drainage.     

Evaluating Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean (HICO) data for seagrass mapping in Indian River Lagoon,FL

Differentiation between benthic habitats, particularly seagrass and macroalgae, using satellite data is complicated because of water column effects plus the presence of chlorophyll-a in both seagrass and algae that result in similar spectral patterns. Hyperspectral imager for the coastal ocean data over the Indian River Lagoon, Florida, USA, was used to develop two benthic classification models, Slope_RED and Slope_NIR. Their performance was compared with iterative self-organizing data analysis technique and spectral angle mapping classification methods. The slope models provided greater overall accuracies (63–64%) and were able to distinguish between seagrass and macroalgae substrates more accurately compared to the results obtained using the other classifications methods.