Environmental hydrogeology of the southern sector of the Samborombon Bay wetland,Argentina

The Samborombon Bay wetland is located on the west margin of the Rio de la Plata estuary, in the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. This paper analyses the geological, geomorphologic, soil and vegetation characteristics of the southernmost sector of this wetland and their influence on surface water and groundwater. The study area presents three hydrologic units: coastal dunes, sand sheets and coastal plain. Coastal dunes and sand sheets are recharge zones of high permeability with well-drained, non-saline soils, and a few surface water flows. Changes in the water table are related to rainfall. Groundwater in coastal dunes is Ca–Mg–HCO₃ to Na–HCO₃, and of low salinity (590 mg/l). Groundwater in sand sheets is mainly Na–HCO₃ with a salinity of about 1,020 mg/l. The coastal plain exhibits medium to low permeability sediments, with submerged saline soils poorly drained. Groundwater is Na–Cl with a mean salinity of 16,502 mg/l. A surface hydrological network develops in the coastal plain. Surface water levels near the shoreline are affected by tidal fluctuations; far from the shoreline water accumulates because of poor drainage. Both sectors have Na–Cl water, but the former is more saline. Human intervention and sea level rise may affect the wetland severely.     

Interference of Multiple Strip Footings on Sand Using Small Scale Model Tests

By using small scale model tests, the interference effect on the vertical load-deformation behavior of a number of equally spaced strip footings, placed on the surface of dry sand, was investigated. At any stage, all the footings were assumed to (i) carry exactly equal magnitude of load, and (ii) settle to the same extent. No tilt of the footing was permitted. The effect of clear spacing (s) among footings on the results was explored. A new experimental setup was proposed in which only one footing needs to be employed rather than a number of footings. The bearing capacity increases continuously with decrease in spacing among the footings. The interference effect becomes further prominent with increase in soil friction angle. In contrast to an increase in the bearing capacity, with decrease in spacing of footings, an increase in the footing settlement associated with the ultimate state of shear failure was observed. The present experimental observations were similar to those predicted by the available theory, based on the method of characteristics. As compared to the theory, the present experimental data, however, indicates much greater effect of interference especially for larger spacing among footings.     

Analysis of the 2003 Varunawat Landslide,Uttarkashi, India using Earth Observation data

Mass movements such as landslides in mountainous terrains are natural degradation processes and one of the most important landscape-building factors. Varunawat Parbat overlooking Uttarkashi town witnessed a series of landslides on 23 September 2003 and the debris slides and rock falls continued for 2 weeks. This landslide complex was triggered due to the incessant rainfall prior to the event, and its occurrence led to the blockage of the pilgrim route to Gangotri (source of the Ganges river) and evacuation of thousands of people to safer places. Though there was no loss of lives due to timely evacuation, heavy losses to the property were reported. High-resolution stereoscopic earth observation data were acquired after the incidence to study the landslide in detail with emphasis on the cause of the landslide and mode of failure. Areas along the road and below the Varunawat foothill region are mapped for landslide risk. It was found that the foothill region of the Varunawat Parbat was highly disturbed by man-made activities and houses are dangerously located below steep slopes. The potential zones for landslides along with the existing active and old landslides are mapped. These areas are critical and their treatment with priority is required in order to minimise further landslide occurrences.     

Monitoring Large-Scale Tests for Nuclear Waste Disposal

Two large-scale “in situ” demonstration experiments and their instrumentation are described. The first test (FEBEX Experiment) involves the hydration of a compacted bentonite barrier under the combined effect of an inner source of heat and an outer water flow from the confining saturated granite rock. In the second case, the progressive de-saturation of Opalinus clay induced by maintained ventilation of an unlined tunnel is analyzed. The paper shows the performance of different sensors (capacitive cells, psychrometers, TDR’s) and a comparison of fill behaviour with modelling results. The long term performance of some instruments could also be evaluated specially in the case of FEBEX test. Capacitive sensors provide relative humidity data during long transient periods characterised by very large variations of suction within the bentonite.     

DISCUSSION ON THE PLEISTOCENE HIGH SEA LEVEL ABOUT THE SHANDONG PENINSULA

It has for many years been controversial whether there was a Pleistocene high sea level on the Shandong Peninsula. Our investigations in recent years suggest that the red sandy sediments distributed around the Yuanyaodun village, Weihai County, the "Liukuang Red Bed" and the loess-like deposits near Penglai County should be terrestrial deposits, and there is will not a convincing evidence to confirm that abrasion landforms found above the 10m elevation oa the coast are of marine origin. From these, it is still not safe to say that a high sea level had occurred in the Shandong Peninsula during the Pleistocene.     

不同风区海面雷达后向散射的极化特征对比分析

通过对海南省南保港附近海面ＳＩＲ－Ｃ／Ｘ－ＳＡＲ全极化数据的定量研究,对比研究了该海面不同风区海面的全极化信息特征,定量分析了海面散射的极化信息和极化状态的空间结构情况：用散射矩阵的迹解释了不同海区的散射强度对应关系：对比海面散射极化响应可以确定不同成长类型的粗糙海面类型;用极化响应图的对称特点界定“长尺度”和“短尺度”海面;建立全极化海面散射模型。讨论了海面电磁散射的贡献与雷达系统参数之间的定量     

Constraining the origin and evolution of confined turbidite systems: southern Cretan margin,Eastern Mediterranean Sea (34°30–36°N)

Bathymetric, 9.5-kHz long-range sidescan sonar (OKEAN), seismic reflection and sediment-core data are used in the analysis of two tectonic troughs south of Crete, Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Here, up to 1.2 s two-way travel time (TWTT) of strata have accumulated since the Middle Miocene in association with extension in the South Aegean region. The study area comprises >100-km- long by >25-km-wide basins filled by sediments subdivided into two seismic units: (1) an upper Unit 1 deposited in sub-basins which follow the present-day configuration of the southern Cretan margin; (2) a basal Unit 2, more than 500 ms (TWTT) thick, accumulated in deeper half-graben/grabens distinct from the present-day depocentres. Both units overlap a locally stratified Unit 3 comprising the pre-Neogene core complex of Crete and Gavdos. In this work, the interpreted seismic units are correlated with the onshore stratigraphy, demonstrating that denudation processes occurring on Crete and Gavdos in response to major tectonic events have been responsible for high sedimentation rates along the proximal southern Cretan margin. Consequently, topographically confined sedimentary units have been deposited south of Crete in the last 12 Ma, including turbidites and other mass-flow deposits fed by evolving transverse and axial channel systems. Surface processes controlling facies distribution include the direct inflow of sediment from alluvial-fan systems and incising mountain rivers onto the Cretan slope, where significant sediment instability processes occur at present. In this setting, seismic profiles reveal eight different types of stratigraphic contacts on basin-margin highs, and basinal areas show evidence of halokinesis and/or fluid escape. The acquired data also show that significant changes to the margin’s configuration occurred in association with the post-Alpine tectonic and eustatic episodes affecting the Eastern Mediterranean.     

厦门市海域功能区划实践中若干问题的探讨

1997年，厦门市制定了中国第一部市级海洋功能区划，率先实行了海洋功能区划制度，几年来在科学指导海洋开发活动、建立良好的海洋开发和管理秩序、合理地利用海洋资源和调整海洋产业布局、实施海洋经济的可持续发展等方面取得了良好的效果。但是，海洋功能区划实施后，厦门市的海域使用仍然存在一些问题。中国范围内的市、县级海洋功能区划刚刚完成，都还处于起步实施阶段，对于功能区划的管理和实践中出现的问题进行总结，分析探讨其原因，     

西沙群岛附近海域羽纹硅藻分类研究 Ⅰ

继“西沙、中沙群岛附近海域浮游硅藻类分类的研究”之后,作者又对西沙群岛所属岛、礁附近海域的羽纹硅藻进行了初步整理,共鉴定出羽纹硅藻11属27种及其变种(其中8种是我国首次记录)。本文对首次记录的种类进行了比较详细的说明和绘图。某些在我国其他海域已有报道的种类,如光辉针杆藻、串珠梯楔形藻、海生斑条藻、琴状舟形藻、流苏胸隔藻、双标胸隔藻、钝端双眉藻、细纹斜盘藻等,以往的描述较简单,并且与西沙群岛标本的形态也不完全雷同,为了便于应用和比较,本文根据西沙群岛的标本,又进行了较详细的描述或补充说明。对有图而无说明,或仅有名录的种类的国内资料,在地理分布内注明。为了保持西沙群岛所属海城硅藻分类研究的连续性,本文仍采用 Hendey 提出的分类系统排列。 为便于读者査找,每一种名下列出其同物异名。 标本多用小型浮游生物网采得,有些则取自珊瑚表面。插图均用描图仪描绘。     

A three-layer model for the thermal structure in the Huanghai Sea

A one-dimentional three-layer model for the thermal structure in the Huanghai Sea is presented in this study, me model consists of the upper mixed layer caused by heating and wind mixing, the lower mixed layer driven by tidal mixing, and the thermocline with certain thickness. The entrainment velocities of the upper and lower layers are obtained respectively. The results show that the model is capable of describing the development and decline processes of the seasonal thermocline in the Huanghai Sea, simulating successfully the Huanghai Sea Cold Water Mass, the nearshore front and surface cold water off North Jiangsu and explaining reasonably their formation mechanisms as well as the strong thermocline off Qingdao. It is suggested that the tidal mixing plays key role in the formation of the nearshore front off North Jiangsu and the strong thermocline off Qingdao. The wind mixing and the tidal mixing make the lower layer water with high nutrients go up to the upper layer. This physical process may be sig