Classification of landslides and other mass movements

Summary This paper presents a new universal classification of slope movements, destined for the purpose of engineering geological mapping. This classification was compiled after critical evaluation of the classifications used by now, on the basis of the experience gained by systematic study of slope movements in Czechoslovakia.The following 4 types of slope processes are recognized regarding to the geomechanical character and velocity of the movement: creep, sliding, flow and fall. Creep is a geologically long-term movement of non-increasing velocity without well-defined sliding surfaces. Sliding is a slope movement of coherent masses along one or more well-defined shear surfaces. Flow represents slope movements in rocks and soils, analogous to the movements in liquids. Fall is a sudden slope movement; the moving mass loses its coherence and, for a short time, also its contact with the underlying rock.The pictures show the elementary types of movements that are obvious in the European climatic conditions. Graphical representation of dimensions and velocity of the phenomena is included.

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Zusammenfassung Die vorgeschlagene Klassifikation geht zurück auf systematische Untersuchungen an Rutschgebieten in der SSR. Sie lehnt sich an die besten gebräuchlichen Klassifikationen an, wobei letztere einer kritischen Beurteilung unterzogen werden. Ziel des neuen Vorschlages ist die Erarbeitung von Kriterien für die ingenieurgeologische Kartierung.Auf Grund des geomechanischen Charakters der Bodenbewegungen werden folgende vier Vorgänge unterschieden: Kriechen — geologisch langandauernde, nicht beschleunigte Bewegungen ohne ausgeprägte Gleitflächen; Gleiten — Hangbewegungen zusammenhängender Massen längs einer oder mehrerer Gleitflächen; Fließen — Hangbewegungen von flüssigkeitsähnlichem Charakter; Fallen — plötzliche Hangbewegungen, wobei die bewegte Masse den inneren Zusammenhang und kurzfristig auch den Kontakt mit dem Liegenden verliert.Die Grundtypen werden an Hand europäischer Beispiele graphisch dargestellt und durch Angaben über Größenordnung der Massen und deren durchschnittliche Geschwindigkeit ergänzt.

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Résumé D'après les expériences acquises pendant les études de glissements en Tchécoslovaquie et d'après l'examen critique des classifications employées jusqu'ici, on a recommendé la classification suivante, destinée avant tout au levé de géologie de l'ingénieur.En relation avec le caractère géomécanique des mouvements de pente et de leur vitesse, quatre processus sont distingués: fluage, glissement, écoulement, écroulement. Le fluage — mouvements géologiquement de longue durée, sans accélération et sans surfaces de glissement exprimées. Le glissement — mouvements de pente de masses cohérentes, le long d'une ou de plusieurs surfaces de glissement. L'écoulement — mouvements de pente dans les roches et les sols, analogues aux mouvements dans les liquides. L'écroulement — mouvements de pente soudains, au cours desquelles les masses en mouvement perdent entièrement leur connexion intérieure et, pour un temps aussi, le contact avec le sous-sol.Les exemples sur les figures représentent les types principaux des mouvements courants dans les conditions climatiques de l'Europe. On indique aussi les dimensions et la vitesse moyenne des types individuels.

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With 4 Figures     

Siltstone from Southern Patagonia: Its Source and Archaeological Artifact Distribution in Santa Cruz Province,Argentina

Hunter‐gatherer mobility and spheres of interaction are important characteristics worthy of investigation in Patagonian archaeology. One way to approach these is by studying the distribution of lithic archaeological materials. Siltstone (limolite) artifacts are found along the western strip of southwestern Patagonia, Argentina. Based on geomorphological studies and the high density of archaeological material, a source was located along the western margin of Cardiel Lake. Neutron activation analysis of samples from the source and archaeological sites in several neighboring basins allowed us to model its circulation. Siltstone's archaeological distribution indicates that its regional circulation had a southerly direction dating from the early Holocene. This southern vector shows an important difference when compared to the distribution of obsidian from Pampa del Asador, which has a broader circulation pattern. This could be related to a greater availability of high‐quality lithic materials north of the siltstone source. This work also contributes to the construction of a lithic source database for southern Patagonia.     

Environmental risk assessment of some potentially toxic elements in El-Tabbin region (Cairo, Egypt)

As much as 24 soil samples and 6 stream sediments from the River Nile were studied in El-Tabbin region (Great Cairo, Egypt). Twelve chemicals, potentially toxic elements posing potential environmental risk, were the object of concern in this study. Mean contents of analysed elements (in mg kg^?1) in soils and the River Nile stream sediments were the following: As_s 3.6/As_ss 1.5, Cd_s 0.33/Cd_ss 0.12, Cr_s 87.7/Cr_ss 141.5, Cu_s 40.3/Cu_ss 43.8, Hg_s 0.03/Hg_ss 0.13, Pb_s 33.3/Pb_ss 20.2, Zn_s 150/Zn_ss 109, Se_s 0.24/Se_ss 0.05, Ni_s 37.2/Ni_ss 48, Sb_s 1.25/Sb_ss 1, Ba_s 892/Ba_ss 431, V_s 103.3/V_ss 167.8. Furthermore, geochemical background values were derived for soil and stream sediment samples. The values are as follows (in mg kg^?1): As_s 1.33/As_ss 1, Cd_s 0.48/Cd_ss 0.05, Cr_s 54.7/Cr_ss 106.5, Cu_s 23.8/Cu_ss 23, Hg_s 0.025/Hg_ss 0.095, Pb_s 15.3/Pb_ss 13.5, Zn_s 70/Zn_ss 55, Se_s 0.13/Se_ss 0.05, Ni_s 19.5/Ni_ss 32.5, Sb_s 1/Sb_ss 1, Ba_s 266/Ba_ss 275, V_s 50.7/V_ss 119. More than two-thirds of soil and sediment samples exceeded established (based on literature data) risk limit values for non-polluted environment. Based on environmental risk assessment for potentially toxic elements in soils and sediments in more than 45% of total area disturbed environment (I _ER = 1–3) was documented and more than 13% of territory was characterised with highly disturbed environment (I _ER > 3).     

Rotation axes of asteroids: Results for 14 objects

In this paper results of determinations of the rotation axis direction (as given by ecliptic coordinates of its intersection with geocentric celestial sphere) for 14 asteroids are presented for which a sufficient number of good observations are available. The calculation is performed by using the improved amplitude-magnitude method developed by V. Zappalà, M. Di Martino, P. Farinella, and P. Paolicchi (1983, In Asteroids, Comets, Meteors, pp. 73–76). Additionally, an improvement of the method is described regarding a weighting procedure. Whenever possible, the results are compared with already existing data, coming from other methods (mainly from photometric astrometry). In general, very good agreement was found, which can be considered as strongly encouraging for further application of the adopted procedure. Some preliminary approaches for a statistical investigation are given.     

Synchroneity between marine and terrestrial responses to millennial scale climatic variability during the last glacial period in the Mediterranean region

Land-sea climatic proxies have been obtained from the Last Glacial section of IMAGES core MD95-2043 (western Mediterranean Sea). Vegetation and alkenone derived SST curves indicate rapid (~150 years) and synchronous terrestrial and marine climatic changes, paralleling the Dansgaard-Oeschger (D-O) climatic variability over Greenland. This frequency of climate change can be related to shifts between the two modes of operation of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Transfer functions applied to the pollen data indicate that there was an amplification of the climatic signal during Heinrich events (HEs) in comparison with other D-O stadials. The development and persistence of both Scandinavian and Atlantic Mobile Polar Highs over southwestern Europe may explain the extreme cooling (~10 °C) and dryness (400 mm) during Heinrich events 5 and 4 in the Mediterranean region. Comparison of the results of core MD95-2043 with similar climatic data from IMAGES core MD95-2042, located off Portugal, indicates that thermal and precipitation gradients occurred between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic sides of Iberia within HEs. HEs 4 and 5 are associated with more humid conditions in the Atlantic (by 200 mm) than in the Mediterranean site, as is the case at the present time. This comparison also illustrates the different behaviour of these areas during the D-O stadials. In contrast with the Mediterranean site, the Atlantic site shows similar precipitation and temperature drops for all the D-O stadials, including those related to the HEs. Here we propose the operation of different Mobile Polar Highs (MPH) as the driving mechanism for this difference in behaviour between the Atlantic and Mediterranean sides of Iberia. HEs are related to a stronger influence of the Scandinavian MPH, forcing a severe aridification and cooling of the full Iberian Peninsula. The Atlantic MPH may have been dominant during the other stadials, which would preferentially affect Southwestern Iberia.     

A palaeomagnetic and petromagnetic study of Upper-Carboniferous,Permian and Triassic sediments,NW Bulgaria

Summary In order to obtain basic palaeomagnetic data on Upper Carboniferous, Permian and Triassic sediments collected from the NW Bulgaria, laboratory stability tests were extended from A.C. and thermal treatments to studies of mineral phase changes and to investigations of changes of magnetic anisotropy during laboratory procedures. Laboratory criteria were found which permitted to distinguish samples suitable for palaeomagnetic analyses from those representing rocks totally or almost totally chemically reworked during their history. Palaeomagnetic directions and pole positions derived from Stephanian, Lower Permian and Triassic rocks from the southern margin of the Moesian Platform are compatible with the values obtained for the tectonically stable North-European Platform.     

Coronal Mass Ejection of 15 May 2001: I. Evolution of Morphological Features of the Eruption

We study the initiation and development of the limb coronal mass ejection (CME) of 15 May 2001, utilizing observations from Mauna Loa Solar Observatory (MLSO), the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), and Yohkoh. The pre-eruption images in various spectral channels show a quiescent prominence imbedded in the coronal void, being overlaid by the coronal arch. After the onset of rapid acceleration, this three-element structure preserved its integrity and appeared in the MLSO MK-IV coronagraph field of view as the three-part CME structure (the frontal rim, the cavity, and the prominence) and continued its motion through the field of view of the SOHO/LASCO coronagraphs up to 30 solar radii. Such observational coverage allows us to measure the relative kinematics of the three-part structure from the very beginning up to the late phases of the eruption. The leading edge and the prominence accelerated simultaneously: the rapid acceleration of the frontal rim and the prominence started at approximately the same time, the prominence perhaps being slightly delayed (4 – 6 min). The leading edge achieved the maximum acceleration a_max 600 ± 150 m s^–2 at a heliocentric distance 2.4 –2.5 solar radii, whereas the prominence reached a_max 380± 50 m s^–2, almost simultaneously with the leading edge. Such a distinct synchronization of different parts of the CME provides clear evidence that the entire magnetic arcade, including the prominence, erupts as an entity, showing a kind of self-similar expansion. The CME attained a maximum velocity of v_max 1200 km s^–1 at approximately the same time as the peak of the associated soft X-ray flare. Beyond about 10 solar radii, the leading edge of the CME started to decelerate at a–20 m s^–2, most likely due to the aerodynamic drag. The deceleration of the prominence was delayed for 10 –30 min, which is attributed to its larger inertia.     

Seasonal Dynamics in Dissolved Organic Carbon Concentrations in a Coastal Water-Table Aquifer at the Forest-Marsh Interface

The seasonal dynamics of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in a subterranean estuary were examined in a coastal water-table aquifer extending across a forest-marsh interface into an adjacent tidal creek that leads to North Inlet (SC). The aquifer is characterized by groundwater flow from the forest recharge area towards the creek. DOC concentrations range from 50 to 140 mg L^-1 in the shallow portions of the aquifer below the forest and undergo seasonal changes that are inversely related to temperature and precipitation conditions. Markedly lower DOC concentrations (<10 mg L^-1) in the deep portion of the aquifer are consistent with the loss of a large fraction of the original DOC along the groundwater flow paths. Mass balance estimates indicate that over 60% of the DOC losses are due to sorption reactions whereas the rest appear to be caused by heterotrophic decay. Groundwater DOC discharge from the forest, which occurs in a restricted zone of the high marsh, is 5.5 mg carbon m^-2 d^-1 and accounts for a minor component of the annual carbon export from North Inlet. In contrast, moderately saline (2–12 ppt) ground waters below the marsh display elevated DOC concentrations (20 mg L^-1) that appear to be the result of mixing of fresh ground waters and surface seawater during tidal seepage and concentration during evapotranspiration. The flux of DOC associated with the discharge of these saline ground waters is 600 mg carbon m^-2 d^-1, which represents a significant fraction of the annual DOC budget for North Inlet.     

Forest disturbance enhanced the activity of epedaphic collembola in windthrown stands of the High Tatra mountains

The study aimed to assess the response of ep- and hemiedaphic Collembola communities （activity, richness, community structure） to a disturbance, the subsequent management regime and to the season （summer, winter） in a High Tatra Mountainsspruce forest destroyed by a windstorm. Fire and clear-cut resulted in an initial increase in the activity of Collembola inhabiting open areas, opportunistic or generalist species, while forest specialists diminished in numbers or disappeared. Our results indicated that treatment with non-extracted fallen trees （NEX） provided a better chance for forest species to survive compared with their survival in open habitats of extracted （EXT） and wildfire （FIR） treatments. Great species’ potential of NEX treatment was indicated by Chao2 estimator and activity/species rarefaction curves. Communities of NEX treatment were more similar to the reference （REF） treatment, documented by ordination and cluster analyses. Thus, leaving fallen timber after a windthrow to natural process of succession is suitable for survival of forest species and maintenance of diversity in forests restoration than timber extraction. Community structure in wildfire （FIR） stands was the most dissimilar to the other treatments. Most of the species trapped in this treatment belonged to hemiedaphic life forms, while the activity of larger epedaphic species diminished. In contrast, the highest number of trapped Collembola in EXT treatment was connected with the larger-bodied epigeic species with fast dispersal ability. The trapping period affected both the number of individuals and species richness; Collembola activity and species diversity in the individual treatments were lower in winter compared with the summer period. Several species increased activity during the winter period, namelyFolsomia penicula, Friesea mirabilis, F. truncata,Hypogastrura socialisand Protaphorura aurantiaca.     

How can stream bank erosion be predicted on small water courses? Verification of BANCS model on the Kubrica watershed

The current paper deals with the evaluation of the BANCS erosion prediction model and its two componentsethe Bank Erosion Hazard Index(BEHI)and Near-Bank Stress(NBS)indices.To construct the erosion prediction curves,18 experimental sections were established on the Kubrica Stream,district of Trencín,Slovakia.Each section was assessed through the NBS index and BEHI index and real annual bank erosion was measured using erosion toe pins.Subsequently,the relations between the BEHI and real annual bank erosion was assessed through regression and correlation analyses.The relation proved to be moderately strong,with the correlation coefficient(R)reaching 0.47.Further,the relation between the NBS index and real annual bank erosion was evaluated,which was also moderately strong,with R=0.65.Based on the measured data,two erosion prediction curves were constructed,the first for moderate BEHI,with R=0.69 and coefficient of determination(R2)of 0.47 and the second for high BEHI with R=0.74 and R2=0.55.The prediction curves were based on data from one year of measurements and can,therefore,be used only for discharges that occurred within that year and in the region where the model was developed.In the current case,according to runoff Curve Numbers(CN),the real culmination discharge was Q=1.88 m3/s,which is roughly equivalent to 1.5-year recurrence interval flow(Q1.5).