Modeling radon time series on the North Anatolian Fault Zone,Turkiye: Fourier transforms and Monte Carlo simulations

Natural Hazards - Time series studies depend mostly on stochastic models for radon seasonal, annual or temporal variability explanations. Others solve radon transport steady state equation...     

Active tectonic influence on the evolution of drainage and landscape: Geomorphic signatures from frontal and hinterland areas along the Northwestern Himalaya, India

The Kangra Re-entrant in the NW Himalaya is one of the most seismically active regions, falling into Seismic Zone V along the Himalaya. In 1905 the area experienced one of the great Himalayan earthquakes with magnitude 7.8. The frontal fault system – the Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT) associated with the foreland fold – Janauri Anticline, along with other major as well as secondary hinterland thrust faults, provides an ideal site to study the ongoing tectonic activity which has influenced the evolution of drainage and landscape in the region. The present study suggests that the flat-uplifted surface in the central portion of the Janauri Anticline represents the paleo-exit of the Sutlej River. It is suggested that initially when the tectonic activity propagated southward along the HFT the Janauri Anticline grew along two separate fault segments (north and south faults), the gap between these two fault and the related folds allowed the Sutlej River to flow across this area. Later, the radial propagation of the faults towards each other resulted in an interaction of the fault tips, which caused the rapid uplift of the area. Rapid uplift resulted in the disruption and longitudinal deflection of the Sutlej river channel. Fluvial deposits on the flat surface suggest that an earlier fluvial system flowed across this area in the recent past. Geomorphic signatures, like the sharp mountain fronts along the HFT in some places, as well as along various hinterland subordinate faults like the Nalagarh Thrust (NaT), the Barsar Thrust (BaT) and the Jawalamukhi Thrust (JMT); the change in the channel pattern, marked by a tight incised meander of the Beas channel upstream of the JMT indicate active tectonic movements in the area. The prominent V-shaped valleys of the Beas and Sutlej rivers, flowing across the thrust fronts, with Vf values ranging from <1.0–1.5 are also suggestive of ongoing tectonic activity along major and hinterland faults. This suggests that not only is the HFT system active, but also the other major and secondary hinterland faults, viz. the MBT, MCT, SnT, NaT, BaT, and the JMT can be shown to have undergone recent tectonic displacement.     

Long-term activity of earthquake-induced landslides: A case study from Qionghai Lake Basin,Southwest of China

Earthquake-triggered landslides are a major geological hazard in the eastern Tibetan Plateau, and have prolonged impact on earth surface processes and fluvial system. To determine how long co-seismic landslides affect basins, a massive number of landslides existing in Qionghai Lake Basin were investigated for landslide distribution characteristics and geomorphological evidences, with further comparison and analysis using historic seismic analog method. The landslides found in Qionghai Lake Basin showed clear features of seismic triggering with strongly controlled by Zemuhe fault. These landslides are still active at present. Some new slides generally occur in ancient slope failure zones causing serious secondary hazards in recent years. In this study we strengthen the idea that the landslides triggered by the 185o Xichang earthquake （Ms7.5） have long term activity and prolonged impact on the mountain disasters with a period of more than 16o years. Our results support growing evidence that coseismic landslides have a prolonged effect on secondary disasters in a basin, and invite more careful consideration of the relationship between current basin condition and landslide history for a longer period.     

Potentially harmful metals,and health risk evaluation in groundwater of Mardan,Pakistan: Application of geostatistical approach and geographic information system

This study investigates the values of pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), elevation, oxidative reduction potential (ORP), temperature, and depth, while the concentrations of Br, and potentially harmful metals (PHMs) such as Cr, Ni, Cd, Mn, Cu, Pb, Co, Zn, and Fe in the groundwater samples. Moreover, geographic information system (GIS), XLSTAT, and IBM SPSS Statistics 20 software were used for spatial distribution modeling, principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis (CA), and Quantile-Quantile (Q-Q) plotting to determine groundwater pollution sources, similarity index, and normal distribution reference line for the selected parameters. The mean values of pH, TDS, elevation, ORP, temperature, depth, and Br were 7.2, 322 mg/L, 364 m, 188 mV, 29.6 °C, 70 m, 0.20 mg/L, and PHMs like Cr, Ni, Cd, Mn, Cu, Pb, Co, Zn, and Fe were 0.38, 0.26, 0.08, 0.27, 0.36, 0.22, 0.04, 0.43 and 0.86 mg/L, respectively. PHMs including Cr (89%), Cd (43%), Mn (23%), Pb (79%), Co (20%), and Fe (91%) exceeded the guideline values set by the world health organization (WHO). The significant R² values of PCA for selected parameters were also determined (0.62, 0.67, 0.78, 0.73, 0.60, 0.87, ?0.50, 0.69, 0.70, 0.74, ?0.50, 0.70, 0.67, 0.79, 0.59, and ?0.55, respectively). PCA revealed three geochemical processes such as geogenic, anthropogenic, and reducing conditions. The mineral phases of Cd(OH)_2, Fe(OH)_3, FeOOH, Mn₃O_4, Fe₂O_3, MnOOH, Pb(OH)_2, Mn(OH)_2, MnO_2, and Zn(OH)₂ (?3.7, 3.75, 9.7, ?5.8, 8.9, ?3.6, 2.2, ?4.6, ?7.7, ?0.9, and 0.003, respectively) showed super-saturation and under-saturation conditions. Health risk assessment (HRA) values for PHMs were also calculated and the values of hazard quotient (HQ), and hazard indices (HI) for the entire study area were increased in the following order: Cd>Ni>Cu>Pb>Mn>Zn>Cr. Relatively higher HQ and HI values of Ni, Cd, Pb, and Cu were greater than one showing unsuitability of groundwater for domestic, agriculture, and drinking purposes. The long-term ingestion of groundwater could also cause severe health concerns such as kidney, brain dysfunction, liver, stomach problems, and even cancer.     

Distribution of benthic foraminiferal assemblages in the transitional environment of the Djerba lagoon (Tunisia)

The eastern edge of the Djerba Island represents an important tourist pole. However, studies describing the environmental processes affecting this Island are scarce. Although never studied before, the peculiar Djerba lagoon is well known by the local population and by tourists. In July 2014, surface sediment and seawater samples were collected in this lagoon to measure grain size, organic matter content and living foraminiferal assemblages to describe environmental conditions. Seawater samples were also collected and the concentration of 17 chemical elements were measured by ICP-OES. The results show that a salinity gradient along the studied transect clearly impacts seagrass distribution, creating different environmental conditions inside the Djerba lagoon. Biotic and abiotic parameters reflect a transitional environment from hypersaline to normal marine conditions. Living benthic foraminifera show an adaptation to changing conditions within the different parts of the lagoon. In particular, the presence of Ammonia spp. and Haynesina depressula correlates with hypersaline waters, whilst Brizalina striatula characterizes the parts of the lagoon colonized by seagrass. Epifaunal species, such as Rosalina vilardeboana and Amphistegina spp. colonize hard substrata present at the transition between the lagoon and the open sea.     

Analysis of a progressive slope failure in the Xiangjiaba reservoir area,Southwest China

The rehabilitation construction in the reservoir area of Xiangjiaba hydropower station in Southwest China has caused many landslides. A shallow progressive failure that occurred on the resettlement site of Xin’an Town of Pingshan County in Sichuan Province was selected as a case study. This landslide occurred in a long and gently inclined area by slope excavation under rainfall conditions. It is about 3.0 m deep with a total length of 35 m and is composed of some subfailures. Undisturbed samples were retrieved, on which the basic properties, shear strength, expansive potential, mineral compositions, and microstructures were tested and analyzed. The results show (1) the landsliding materials belong to medium expansive soil, consisting of the clay minerals of illite–smectite (I/S) and chlorite–smectite (C/S); (2) shear strength of the soil is sensitive to water, which greatly decreases once saturated; and (3) many fractures and relatively large pores are developed in the soils. Back analysis of the landslide shows that the shear strength at failure is less than the residual shear strength obtained from lab tests, indicating that some processes contributing to the slope failure could not be reflected by the shear box test. Based on the above analysis, the progressive process of the slope failure was interpreted, and it is inferred that the rainfall entered into the slope mainly through fractures and relatively large pores in the soil. It caused not only the great decrease in soil strength but also the swelling trend. The latter one would lead to growth, interaction, and coalescence of the fractures. Soon after, these fractures formed the shear planes (zones), which further decreased the resistance of the landslide. Under these favorable conditions, the slope excavation directly triggered the failure.     

Spatial Distribution of Shear Wave Velocity for Late Quaternary Alluvial Soil of Kanpur City,Northern India

Empirical correlation between standard penetration resistance (SPT-N) and shear wave velocity measured by seismic downhole techniques are prepared of the alluvial soil of quaternary age for the Kanpur city. The Kanpur city is having seismic threat from Himalaya and it falls in seismic zone III according to seismic zones of India. Standard penetration test as well seismic downhole test has been carried out up to 30 m at twelve different locations of Kanpur city. The measured SPT-N values and shear wave velocity values are used to develop empirical correlation between SPT-N and shear wave velocity. The proposed correlations have been compared with the existing regression equations by various other investigators. It is found that the proposed correlation exhibit good performance (10 % error bar). Also the measured shear wave velocity has been used to prepare spatially distributed contour map of 50, 75 and 100 m/s using ArcGIS-9 software. It is observed that the shear wave velocity values for the northern part of Kanpur city vary from 125 to 825 m/s. In southern part, it is varying from 125 to 500 m/s where as in the central part of the city the shear wave velocity varies from 125 to 375 m/s. The eastern part of the city also shows some variation in shear wave velocity which ranges from 250 to 625 m/s. The western part of the city shows the variation of shear wave velocity from ≤125 to 500 m/s. The soil type of the study area are classified as per NEHRP and new Italian O.P.M.C classification system as B, C and D type soil with having site period of 0.1–0.9 s and Poisson’s ratio varying from 0.1 to 0.4.     

Multi-temporal annual soil loss risk mapping employing Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model in Nun Nadi Watershed, Uttrakhand (India)

The present comparative study is multi-temporal in nature. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), remote sensing, and GIS were used to model the soil loss estimation for soil conservation and vegetation rehabilitation in Nun Nadi watershed for the years 2000 and 2009. The estimated mean soil loss for the year 2000 and 2009 is 3,283.11 and 1,419.39 Mg?ha^?1 year^?1, respectively. The study finds that about 80 % area has low or least risk of erosion and about 7 % is exposed to high or very high risk which indicates the improvement in terms of soil loss if we compare the data of both the time periods. The findings show that the rainfall, LULC change, and elevation are the main responsible factors for the soil loss in Nun Nadi watershed. Conservation measures have been adopted; however, the problem still remains serious and demands urgent attention.     

Evaluation of natural resource potential in semi-arid micro-watershed, eastern Rajasthan, using remote sensing and geographic information system

The natural resources are considered more efficient and appropriate for necessary survey and investigation for the assessment, subsequent planning and implementation of various developmental programmes. Hence, it is necessary to increase the land and water resources levels for future demands. Morphometric, land use/land cover and hydrogeomorphic analyses have been carried out by visual interpretation method of remote sensing data of IRS, 1D-LISS III and IRS, P6-LISS III, and FCCs of band combination 2, 3 and 4. The interpreted data is supplemented as well as cross checked by field visits. The remote sensing and GIS tool could be helpful in getting the precise and valuable spatial information in understanding the present scenario contemplating with the past data and predicting the future trends. Morphometric analysis was done to determine the drainage characteristics of Bankukara watershed. The drainage pattern of the study area is predominantly dendritic to sub-dendritic in nature; however, locally structurally controlled drainage pattern is also seen. The development of stream segments is affected by slope and local relief. The bifurcation ratio indicates that the drainage pattern is structurally controlled. The land use/land cover change detection for 2001 and 2005 showed an increase in uncultivated land by 1.37%, dense forest by 0.17%, wasteland by 1.46% and rock quarry by 0.10%. There has been a decrease in the area under cultivated land by 1.99%, open forest by 0.12%, open scrub by 0.54% and water body by 0.40%. Hydrogeomorphic units identified through visual interpretation of FCC include alluvial plain, valley fills, plateau, buried pediment, pediments and intermontane. Based on land use/land cover change detection and hydrogeomorphological mapping, the Bankukara watershed has qualitatively been categorized into four groundwater potential zones, viz. good to very good, moderate to good, poor to moderate and very poor to poor.     

Numerical Investigation of the Optimum Location for Vertical Drains in Gravity Dams

The seepage beneath a concrete dam causes an upward force acting to the dam foundation, known as uplift. Previous literatures show that implementation of drainage wells in gravity dam foundations causes a reduction in uplift forces. The main aim of these wells is to drain excess seepage flow bypassed from the cutoff wall and to reduce the uplift force. The location of the drains in the foundation plays a key role in reducing the pressure. In the present study, effect of the location of drain pipes from the upstream face of the dam (s), space among them (n) and drain’s diameter (d) in uplift force reduction is investigated. The processes of the study have been performed by the Seep/w software based on the finite element method. Results show that the use of a drain system reduced the uplift forces developed beneath the floor of the structure. If the drain is located close to the face of the dam, it may not be effective in reducing the uplift. On the other hand, shifting it too much away from the upstream face of the dam will lead to increased total uplift. It is, therefore, desirable to find out the location of the drain such that the total uplift is optimum. Optimum location of the vertical drains is not fixed, and by increasing vertical drains distances from each other and also decreasing drain diameter, optimum location would be shifted to the downstream. For example introduction of system of pipe drains to the floor of gravity dams reduced the uplift force acting on the floor by up to 80% for d/l = 0.0004, n/l = 0.024 and s/l = 0.08. This reduction in uplift becomes up to 65% for d/l = 0.0004, n/l = 0.048 and s/l = 0.12. The best location of the drain is such that the total uplift is minimum and this is presented in both design charts and algebraic equations in this study.