Dynamic of the freshwater–saltwater interface in a karstic aquifer under extraordinary recharge action: the Merida Yucatan case study

A hydraulic analysis of the interface between freshwater–saltwater behavior was done in the Merida Yucatan zone, two machines that constantly register the groundwater levels were installed, and three electric conductivity logs were taken from wells. When comparing the measured results with the ones obtained using theoretical equations developed to calculate the freshwater–saltwater interface position, it was proved that in some cases these equations can be applied, and in others not. Two effects that rule the behavior of karst aquifers in extraordinary conditions were found.     

0.99999999 confidence ambiguity resolution with GPS and Galileo

In this short contribution it is demonstrated how integer carrier phase cycle ambiguity resolution will perform in near future, when the US GPS gets modernized and the European Galileo becomes operational. The capability of ambiguity resolution is analyzed in the context of precise differential positioning over short, medium and long distances. Starting from dual-frequency operation with GPS at present, particularly augmenting the number of satellites turns out to have beneficial consequences on the capability of correctly resolving the ambiguities. With a 'double' constellation, on short baselines, the confidence of the integer ambiguity solution increases to a level of 0.99999999 or beyond. Electronic Publication     

Complexity in astroplasmas

Ideas of complexity theory – including self-organized criticality – are being applied to the study of turbulence and astroplasmas in the solar system. An RAS MIST meeting in London brought together researchers from different disciplines to compare established paradigms with more recent ideas. Sandra Chapman , Mervyn Freeman and Sean Oughton report.     

Shellfish as the impetus for embayment management

Concern about declining stocks of municipally managed shellfish species in Orleans, Massachusetts, led to several shellfish enhancement programs. Projects included bottom and raft culture of hatchery-raised seed, hatchery and upweller techniques, transplants of seed and adult shellfish, and other management options. However, deterioration of water quality and habitat prompted the town to initiate a multifaceted program to address the issues causing environmental degradation. A water-quality task force, appointed to determine solutions to the problems, recommended changes in land-use practices. A drainage remediation program was undertaken at five sites, resulting in the reopening of a viable shellfish area for the first time in 12 yr. Issues concerning nutrient enrichment, groundwater flow and depth, flushing characteristics of the embayments, proliferation of private docks and piers in the public tidelands, effect of barrier beach dynamics including erosion control measures, and the number of users and diversity of their activies employed on the waters themselves will be addressed in current municipal planning initiatives.     

Halogen-bearing minerals in syenites and high-grade marbles of Dronning Maud Land,Antarctica: monitors of fluid compositional changes during late-magmatic fluid-rock interaction processes

Meta-sedimentary rocks including marbles and calcsilicates in Central Dronning Maud Land (CDML) in East Antarctica experienced a Pan-African granulite facies metamorphism with peak metamorphic conditions around 830 ± 20 °C at 6.8 ± 0.5 kbar which was accompanied by the post-kinematic intrusion of huge amounts of syenitic (charnockitic) magmas at 4.5 ± 0.7 kbar. The marbles and calcsilicates may represent meta-evaporites as indicated by the occurrence of metamorphic gypsum/anhydrite and Cl-rich scapolite that formed in the presence of saline fluids with X _NaCl in the range 0.15–0.27. The marbles and calcsilicates bear biotite, tremolite and/or hornblende and humite group minerals (clinohumite, chondrodite and humite) which are inferred to have crystallized at about 650 °C and 4.5 kbar. The syenitic intrusives contain late-magmatic biotite and amphibole (formed between 750 and 800 °C) as well as relictic magmatic fayalite, orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene. Two syenite and two calcsilicate samples contain fluorite. Corona textures in the marbles and calcsilicates suggest very low fluid-rock ratios during the formation of the retrograde (650 °C) assemblages. Biotite in all but two syenite samples crystallized at log(f _{H 2 O}/f _HF) ratios of 2.9 ± 0.4, while in the calcsilicates, both biotite and humite group minerals indicate generally higher log(f _{H 2 O}/f _HF) values of up to 5.2. A few samples, though, overlap with the syenite values. Log(f _{H 2 O}/f _HCl) derived from biotite covers the range 0.5–2.6 in all rock types. Within a single sample, the calculated values for both parameters vary typically by 0.1 to 0.8 log units. Water and halogen acid fugacities calculated from biotite-olivine/orthopyroxene-feldspar-quartz equilibria and the above fugacity ratios are 1510–2790 bars for H₂O, 1.3–5.3 bars for HF and 7–600 bars for HCl. The results are interpreted to reflect the reaction of relatively homogeneous magmatic fluids [in terms of log(f _{H 2 O} /f _HF)] derived from the late-magmatic stages of the syenites with both earlier crystallized, still hotter parts of the syenites and with adjacent country rocks during down-temperature fluid flow. Fluorine is successively removed from the fluid and incorporated into F-bearing minerals (close to the syenite into metamorphic fluorite). In the course of this process log(f _{H 2 O} /f _HF) increases significantly. Chlorine preferably partitions into the fluid and hence log(f _{H 2 O} /f _HCl) does not change markedly during fluid-rock interaction. Received: 28 November 1997 / Accepted: 27 April 1998     

Creep in geodynamic processes

From the connnection between the homologous temperature T/T_m and the viscosity a stabilization effect at viscosities of about 10²³ poise is achieved for T/T_m = 0.6–0.7. This most probably is the steady-state temperature in the upper mantles of terrestrial planets of similar composition and should be a function of pressure only. Solid-state convection in the (larger) planets is connected with deviations of temperature and viscosity from their steady-state values. Viscosity values are obtained from the uplift data of deglaciated shield areas and from the temperature and strain-rate values of oceanic plate movements. Differences in the homologous temperature of 0.1 between both regions result in differences in viscosity by two orders of magnitude, assuming the crystal size of the material to be equal. The lower viscosity values for oceanic regions may explain the absence of seismicity and the generally faster spreading rates of purely oceanic plates. From the analysis of the uplift data two creep laws are indicated. Also the temperature (T = 0.7 T_m) and the crystal size in the upper mantle (0.1–1 cm) has been obtained from these data. Diffusion creep with a linear relationship between stress and strain rate seems to be important for small stresses, below one bar. This kind of creep apparently exists during the final stage of isostatic uplift and in most parts of the oceanic asthenospheric flow. Dislocation or power-law creep prefers larger stresses like those found in regions of fast uplift, in descending oceanic plates, active plate marginsand perhaps in the depth range of reverse flow.     

Mortality by cause of death in Colombia: a local analysis using spatial econometrics

Journal of Geographical Systems - Colombia is undergoing major changes in mortality patterns. National- and department-level cause-specific analyses have previously been carried out, but very...     

Building a 3D geomodel for water resources management: case study in the Regional Park of the lower courses of Manzanares and Jarama Rivers (Madrid, Spain)

Water resources management of protected sites requires a powerful tool to analyze the process and changes that are occurring in the environment. This paper describes a 3D geomodel design of the Jarama River Detrital Aquifer located in Madrid (Spain). That hydrogeological unit is included in the “Parque Regional de los Cursos Bajos de los Ríos Manzanares y Jarama” (Regional Park of the Lower Courses of Manzanares and Jarama Rivers). The goal of this work is to define a method by which a three-dimensional (3D) model can be created with hydrogeologic geometry real of main aquifer, to accomplish an adequate management of the groundwater resources. All data used in this study were integrated in a geographic database: geological and hydrogeological information, geological map (1:25,000), eleven cross-sections, piezometric maps and a digital elevation model. The constructed 3D model of the Jarama Aquifer shows geometric features and spatial distribution and variations of geologic units. Thus, the 3D model allows the assessment of volumes of each unit, the depth and thickness variations of the main aquifer, and the spatial and temporal variations of water tables. From the 3D model, the most suitable areas (in terms of groundwater protection) for managed recharge and mining works have been identified.