Using GIS to develop a mobile communications network for disaster-damaged areas

Communications network damage resulting from a large disaster causes difficulties in the ability to rapidly understand the current situation and thus make appropriate decisions towards mitigating problems, such as where to send and dispense emergency supplies. The research outlined in this paper focuses on the rapid construction of a network after a disaster occurs. This study suggests ZigBee and geographic information systems (GIS) technologies to resolve these problems and provide an effective communication system. The experimental results of the ZigBee network system are presented, examples are provided of the mapping and analysis undertaken using GIS for the disaster-stricken area of Tsukuba City, Japan, and the communications node arrangements are determined for this region. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of establishing such a communications system for supporting efforts to relieve disaster-damaged areas.     

P–T conditions of metabasites within regional metapelites in far-eastern Nepal Himalaya and its tectonic meaning

Metabasites exposed in far-eastern Nepal provide an important insight into the metamorphic evolution of the Himalayan orogen independent from data obtained on metapelites. The P–T conditions and formation process of mafic granulite intercalated within Early Oligocene migmatites and two amphibolites surrounded by Early Miocene metapelites were inferred from pseudosection modeling and conventional geothermobarometry combined with the occurrences of field and microstructures. A mafic granulite in the Higher Himalaya Crystalline Sequence (HHCS) yields P–T conditions of 6.5–8 kbar, 730–750 °C. The similar peak P–T condition and retrograde path with low P/T gradient of mafic granulite and surrounding migmatite indicate that both rocks were simultaneously metamorphosed and exhumed together along the tectonic discontinuities in the HHCS. In contrast, the P–T conditions (2–5 kbar, 500–600 °C) of highly-deformed amphibolite block above the Main Central Thrust (MCT) records significantly lower pressure than garnet-mica gneisses in the country rock, suggesting that the amphibolite block derived from upper unit of the MCT zone and became tectonically mixed with the gneisses of hanging wall near the surface. An amphibolite lense below the MCT preserves the prograde P–T conditions (6–7.5 kbar, 550–590 °C) of Early Miocene syn-tectonic metamorphism that occurred in the MCT zone. This study indicates the top-to-the south movement of the MCT zone results in the tectonic assembly of rocks with different P–T–t conditions near the MCT.     

Hydrochemical and isotopic characteristics of groundwater in the Ndop plain,northwest Cameroon: resilience to seasonal climatic changes

Shallow groundwater (>30 mbgl) is an essential source of drinking water to rural communities in the Ndop plain, northwest Cameroon. As a contribution to water management, the effect of seasonal variation on the groundwater chemistry, hydrochemical controls, drinking quality and recharge were investigated during the peaks of the dry (January) and rainy (September) seasons. Field measurements of physical parameters were preceded by sampling 58 groundwater samples during both seasons for major ions and stable isotope analyses. The groundwater, which was barely acidic (mean pH of 6) and less mineralised (TDS < 272 mg/l), showed no significant seasonal variation in temperature, pH and TDS during the two seasons. The order of cation abundance (meq/l) was Na⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Mg²⁺ > K⁺ and Na⁺ > Mg²⁺ > Ca²⁺ > K⁺ in the dry and rainy seasons, respectively, but that of anions ( \( {\text{HCO}}_{3}^{ - } \)  >  \( {\text{NO}}_{3}^{ - } \)  > Cl^? >  \( {\text{SO}}_{4}^{2 - } \)  > F^?) was similar in both seasons. This suggests a negligible effect of seasonal variations on groundwater chemistry. The groundwater, which was CaMgHCO₃ and NaHCO₃, is chemically evolved rainfall (CaMgSO₄Cl) in the area. Silicate mineral dissolution and cation-exchange were the main controls on groundwater chemistry while there was little anthropogenic influence. The major ions and TDS concentrations classified the water as suitable for human consumption as per WHO guidelines. The narrow cluster of δ¹⁸O and δD of same groundwater from both seasons between the δ¹⁸O and δD values of May–June precipitation along the Ndop Meteoric Water Line indicates meteoric origin, rapid recharge (after precipitation) and timing of recharge between May and June rainfall. Diffuse groundwater recharge mainly occurs at low altitudes (<1,400 m asl) within the plain. Besides major ions and TDS, the similar δ¹⁸O and δD of groundwater from both seasons indicate a consistent groundwater recharge and flow pattern throughout the year and resilience to present day short-term seasonal climatic variations. However, controlled groundwater abstraction is recommended given the increasing demand.     

Holocene estuarine sediments as a source of arsenic in Pleistocene groundwater in suburbs of Hanoi,Vietnam

Groundwater pollution by arsenic is a major health threat in suburban areas of Hanoi, Vietnam. The present study evaluates the effect of the sedimentary environments of the Pleistocene and Holocene deposits, and the recharge systems, on the groundwater arsenic pollution in Hanoi suburbs distant from the Red River. At two study sites (Linh Dam and Tai Mo communes), undisturbed soil cores identified a Pleistocene confined aquifer (PCA) and Holocene unconfined aquifer (HUA) as major aquifers, and Holocene estuarine and deltaic sediments as an aquitard layer between the two aquifers. The Holocene estuarine sediments (approximately 25–40 m depth, 9.6–4.8 cal ka BP) contained notably high concentrations of arsenic and organic matter, both likely to have been accumulated by mangroves during the Holocene sea-level highstand. The pore waters in these particular sediments exhibited elevated levels of arsenic and dissolved organic carbon. Arsenic in groundwater was higher in the PCA (25–94 μg/L) than in the HUA (5.2–42 μg/L), in both the monitoring wells and neighboring household tubewells. Elevated arsenic concentration in the PCA groundwater was likely due to vertical infiltration through the arsenic-rich and organic-matter-rich overlying Holocene estuarine sediments, caused by massive groundwater abstraction from the PCA. Countermeasures to prevent arsenic pollution of the PCA groundwater may include seeking alternative water resources, reducing water consumption, and/or appropriate choice of aquifers for groundwater supply.     

Influence of Indian Ocean Dipole and Pacific recharge on following year’s El Niño: interdecadal robustness

The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) can affect the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) state of the following year, in addition to the well-known preconditioning by equatorial Pacific Warm Water Volume (WWV), as suggested by a study based on observations over the recent satellite era (1981–2009). The present paper explores the interdecadal robustness of this result over the 1872–2008 period. To this end, we develop a robust IOD index, which well exploits sparse historical observations in the tropical Indian Ocean, and an efficient proxy of WWV interannual variations based on the temporal integral of Pacific zonal wind stress (of a historical atmospheric reanalysis). A linear regression hindcast model based on these two indices in boreal fall explains 50 % of ENSO peak variance 14 months later, with significant contributions from both the IOD and WWV over most of the historical period and a similar skill for El Niño and La Niña events. Our results further reveal that, when combined with WWV, the IOD index provides a larger ENSO hindcast skill improvement than the Indian Ocean basin-wide mode, the Indian Monsoon or ENSO itself. Based on these results, we propose a revised scheme of Indo-Pacific interactions. In this scheme, the IOD–ENSO interactions favour a biennial timescale and interact with the slower recharge-discharge cycle intrinsic to the Pacific Ocean.     

大井锡多金属矿床矿化元素分布特征研究

通过主要剖面、平面、长纵剖面矿化元素的空间分布、矿石多元素相关分析得出 :Cu、Sn矿化既有关、又有分离 ,二者并非总是同时空富集 ,存在独立的锡矿体和铜矿体 ;总体上Sn矿化与Cu -Ag矿化关系密切、局部与Zn矿化有关 ;Ag矿化与Cu矿化、Pb -Zn矿化均有关 ;Cu与Pb、Zn的相关性差 ,空间上经常分离。从NWW到SEE矿化元素存在Ag -Cu -Sn -Pb -Zn混合矿化→Cu -Sn -Ag矿化→Pb -Zn -Ag矿化的纵向分布。成矿地球化学阶段可划分为 :Sn +As+Co、Cu +Sn +Ag±Au±Co、弱Ag +Cu±Au、Zn +Pb +Ag±Cu四个阶段。推断NE向断裂F2 -1及F2 可能是导矿构造。F1可能是另一个类似于F2 -1的导矿构造。     

Geothermometry of spinel lherzolites

Three methods of geothermometry, currently used for spinel lherzolites, are refined based on new experiments on subsolidus phase equilibria of olivine, pyroxenes and spinel in CaO-MgO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ and natural rock systems at 16 kb and 1200 °C. Although quasi-thermodynamic modelling is employed, the methods are essentially based on the pyroxene solvus, alumina contents in clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene. Increasing alumina contents in pyroxenes reduce enstatite and diopside components in clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene, respectively. Thus, neglect of alumina in pyroxenes causes underestimates of temperatures by the solvus method.The three geothermometers were tested by applying them to homogeneous spinel lherzolites which were especially selected for this purpose. Coincidence of the three temperatures thus estimated gives confidence in the effectiveness of the geothermometers.They were also applied to spinel lherzolite nodules in basalts and intrusive lherzolites described in the literature. It was found that equilibration temperature of the nodules varies from 1000 °C to 1300 °C, i.e., temperatures somewhat higher than have been generally thought. In contrast to the nodules, the intrusive spinel lherzolites show extensive disequilibrium, which is probably due to retrogressive metamorphism suffered by the intrusives.     

High-temperature emplacement and liquefaction of shallow-water caldera-forming eruption products: Early Miocene Tateyamazaki Dacite in the Oga Peninsula, NE Japan

The Early Miocene Tateyamazaki Dacite infills a 3.2 km diameter caldera. It comprises poorly sorted, massive, biotite-bearing dacite pumice lapilli tuff, in which huge blocks of densely welded dacite lapilli tuff, basaltic andesite lava, and other lithologies are commonly set. Dense blocks are variably cracked and intruded by the host lapilli tuff. Sparse blocks of bedded lapilli tuff and tuff are variably disaggregated to intermingle with the host rocks or are plastically deformed into irregular shapes. Rootless tuff veins millimeters to 30 cm thick are developed within the host rocks, mainly dipping at 10–30°, and are locally branched and mutually cut to form a network. Where thicker, they are stratified and locally carry accidental fragments. Accidental lapilli up to 2 or 3 cm wide and 30 cm long are locally set in near-vertical and variably sinuous arrays. Although poorly defined they are reminiscent of fluid escape structures. The host pumice lapilli tuff, however, retains in part a thermal remnant magnetization (TRM) vector stable at temperatures above 280 °C. Blocks in the caldera fill also retain TRM but the vectors are rotated significantly from those of the host pumice lapilli tuff and the adjacent volcanic rocks. Tateyamazaki Dacite is thus likely to have been emplaced at high temperatures, and intermingled with shattered basement rocks and ambient water to be partly liquefied within the caldera immediately after or during the caldera-forming eruption.