Visualization of tectonic structures in shallow-depth high-resolution ground-penetrating radar (GPR) profiles

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is applied to detect subsurface tectonic structures and to map the geometry of faulted blocks. Tectonic interpretations from a profile crossing the graben fault and a grid in a second-order graben structure providing a 3D data set are correlated to the structural inventory of the outcrop. Folded layers of the roll-over anticline are identified by continuous curved reflectors and an increasing dip towards the main graben fault. Faults are indicated by arrays of reflector terminations. Variations in the water and clay content caused by karstification and brecciation on fault planes are displayed by changing amplitudes of the detected signal. The 3D visualization of the second-order graben structure with a grid of GPR profiles illustrates the local stress pattern which coincides with structural observations in the outcrop and photo lineations.     

History of climate and forests in tropical Africa during the last 8 million years

There have been major changes in climate and in the composition and distribution of forest during the last 8 Myr. During the last world glacial maximum (peak 18 000 yr B.P.) the climate was dry and cold and forest much reduced and fragmented. The last glacial period as a whole (12000–70000 B.P.) was dry in tropical Africa and so too were most of the other 20 major ice ages which have occurred since 2.43 Myr B.P., in comparison with intervening interglacials. The extent of forest must have oscillated greatly. There has been a general drying in climate since 8 Myr.     

Effects of Recent Instability on Cultivated Area Along the Euphrates River in Iraq

We used MODIS NDVI data to determine whether there was a significant change in cultivated area along the Euphrates River in Iraq after the Iraq War compared to before and during the war. Results revealed that mean cultivated area was largest during the pre–Iraq War period (2000–2003) with 99,115 Mha, reduced some during the early Iraq War period (2003–2006) to 83,480 Mha, reduced even further during the late Iraq War period (2007–2011) to 53,813 Mha due to drought, and increased slightly during the post–Iraq War period (2012–2015) to 69,161 Mha, although not returning to previous highs of the pre–Iraq War or early Iraq War periods. Statistical analysis with the Kruskal–Wallis test revealed that the small cultivated area during the post–Iraq War period was more closely related to the late Iraq War and drought period than previous periods, indicating that recent instability, such as political turmoil following the departure of U.S. troops, violent militant extremism, lack of economic investment, and environmental degradation, has had a similar effect on cultivated area as a devastating drought.     

A sea bottom multichannel hydrophone array

The PUMA (Pull-Up Multichannel Array) is a sea-bottom instrument for remotely recording data from a 12 channel hydrophone array. Its purpose is to achieve (i) denser data coverage, leading to (ii) improved velocity analysis and (iii) multichannel processing of wide angle seismic data collected on the continental shelf. The instrument consists of a 1.2 km array terminating with a pressure case in which 8 FM cassette recorders, a power supply, microprocessor controller and internal clock are housed. It can be pre-programmed to switch on during shot windows for a total of four hours recording time.The PUMA was successfully used in an experiment west of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, U.K. in August–September 1984. We show an example of PUMA data from this experiment. Indications are that the instrument will provide improved constraints on seismic velocities in the lower continental crust and uppermost mantle.     

Planning for quality data

Advance planning is essential for the production of quality data. Before any planning is attempted, a well-defined model of the problem under investigation must be established. The measurements may be made to test the model or they may be used with the model to clarify or solve the problem under investigation.In the planning process, chemical measurement must be considered as a system consisting of sampling, calibration, analysis, and data processing. Appropriate quality assurance procedures must be applied to ensure statistical control and evaluation of the data. Because of the interdependence of the various aspects of measurement, they must be planned in a coordinated mode, involving subject matter, measurement, and statistical expertise.Details of all of the above are discussed in the paper.