Magnetic resonance sounding applied to aquifer characterization

Magnetic resonance sounding (MRS) is distinguished from other geophysical tools used for ground water investigation by the fact that it measures a magnetic resonance signal generated directly from subsurface water molecules. An alternating current pulse energizes a wire loop on the ground surface and the MRS signal is generated; subsurface water is indicated, with a high degree of reliability, by nonzero amplitude readings. Measurements with varied pulse magnitudes then reveal the depth and thickness of water saturated layers. The hydraulic conductivity of aquifers can also be estimated using boreholes for calibration. MRS can be used for both predicting the yield of water supply wells and for interpolation between boreholes, thereby reducing the number of holes required for hydrogeological modeling. An example of the practical application of MRS combined with two-dimensional electrical imaging, in the Kerbernez and Kerien catchments area of France, demonstrates the efficiency of the technique.     

Colonization by aerobic bacteria in karst: laboratory and in situ experiments

Experiments were carried out to investigate the potential for bacterial colonization of different substrates in karst aquifers and the nature of the colonizing bacteria. Laboratory batch experiments were performed using limestone and PVC as substrates, a natural bacterial isolate and a known laboratory strain (Escherichia coli [E. coli]) as inocula, and karst ground water and a synthetic formula as growth media. In parallel, fragments of limestone and granite were submerged in boreholes penetrating two karst aquifers for more than one year; the boreholes are periodically contaminated by enteric bacteria from waste water. Once a month, rock samples were removed and the colonizing bacteria quantified and identified. The batch experiments demonstrated that the natural isolate and E. coli both readily colonized limestone surfaces using karst ground water as the growth medium. In contrast, bacterial colonization of both the limestone and granite substrates, when submerged in the karst, was less intense. More than 300 bacterial strains were isolated over the period sampled, but no temporal pattern in colonization was seen as far as strain, and colonization by E. coli was notably absent, although strains of Salmonella and Citrobacter were each observed once. Samples suspended in boreholes penetrating highly fractured zones were less densely colonized than those in the borehole penetrating a less fractured zone. The results suggest that contamination of karst aquifers by enteric bacteria is unlikely to be persistent. We hypothesize that this may be a result of the high flow velocities found in karst conduits, and of predation of colonizing bacteria by autochthonous zooplankton.     

Total oxyradical scavenging capacity responses in Mytilus galloprovincialis transplanted into the Venice lagoon (Italy) to measure the biological impact of anthropogenic activities

Oxidative stress related investigations to monitor the impact of the pollutant discharges into the Venice lagoon (Italy) originating from anthropogenic activities (raw sewage water, agricultural and industrial effluents, oil tanker traffic), on marine organisms have classically been carried out by analyzing specific, single antioxidants (i.e. catalase, superoxide dismutase). In this paper, two studies are reported where the total oxyradical scavenging capacity assay (TOSC) was selected and measured toward peroxyl, and hydroxyl free radicals, and peroxynitrite in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) transplanted into the Venice city and throughout the lagoon to measure the biological effects of anthropogenic activities. In the first experiment, mussels from a clean site (farm) were transplanted to the urban area of Venice for 0, 1, 2 and 4 weeks; cytosolic TOSC toward peroxyl and hydroxyl free radicals, and peroxynitrite revealed that the transplantation process caused a stress (handling stress, anoxia, oxidative burst) resulting in a reduction of TOSC in both control and urban sites, therefore, preventing clear interpretation of the data after one week. At week 2, a significant TOSC reduction (P < 0.05) toward peroxyl and hydroxyl radicals in the urban site revealed that mussels experienced oxidative pressure exerted by pollutants. Most TOSC values returned to initial levels at week 4; however, TOSC induction was noticed in the control group toward peroxyl and hydroxyl radicals while in the exposed group it was not indicating an inhibition of the oxidative metabolism. In the second experiment, mussels were deployed at seven different sites throughout the lagoon. After five weeks of exposure, significant TOSC reduction was measured (P < 0.05) toward peroxyl for Palude della Rosa, Chioggia and Valle Millecampi, toward hydroxyl radicals for Valle Millecampi and Campalto and toward peroxynitrite for Valle Millecampi. Although these data indicate a depletion of the low molecular weight scavengers, additional biomarkers are needed to draw a conclusion on the health of the mussels. TOSC was proved to be an interesting health index parameter to measure pollution impact in a transplantation study provided that the mussels are exposed for two weeks and a control is run in parallel.     

Eradication success down under: heat treatment of a sunken trawler to kill the invasive seaweed Undaria pinnatifida

Eradication of invasive species is difficult in the marine environment, and there have only been a few successes. We report the successful eradication of the invasive seaweed Undaria pinnatifida from a sunken trawler in the Chatham Islands, New Zealand. New heat-treatment methods were developed as the most cost effective and environmentally acceptable option to kill Undaria. Monitoring of the trawler for three years after it sank found no Undaria after the vessel was treated. Key factors in the success of the eradication programme included: early detection, a rapid response, pre-existing knowledge of Undaria, an adaptive management approach, targeting of multiple life history stages, and the cooperation of the vessel's insurer.     

加利福尼亚帕克菲尔德米德尔山圣安德烈斯断层带的高分辨率地震速度和浅层结构

加利福尼亚帕克菲尔德附近横跨圣安德烈斯断层(SAF)带5 km长高分辨率地震成像测量和建议中的圣安德烈斯断层深孔观测(SAFOD)表明,速度在横向及垂向上均有变化。速度从地表附近的<1.0 km/s变化到750m深度的4.8 km/s。最低的速度(<1.0～3.0 km/s)对应于地表附近的未固结的沉积岩、泥岩和砂岩,而较高的速度(>4.0 km/s)可能对应于萨林断块的花岗岩,该岩出露在圣安德烈斯断层西南数千米处。沿地震剖面可能的花岗岩顶部的埋深存在横向变化,但是在建议中的SAFOD场址处约为600m深。在圣安德烈斯断层地表迹线的西南部之下,我们观测到一个优势的横向低速层(LVZ),低速层在300m深度上宽约1.5km,但是在750m深度上逐渐减少到约600m宽。在速度模型的最大深度(750m)上,低速层集中在圣安德烈斯断层地表迹线西南大约400m处。在低速层两侧差不多的深度上观测到了相似的速度及速度梯度,说明低速层相对其任何一侧的岩石都是异常的。低速层内的速度低于圣安德烈斯断层断层泥的速度,而且,相对于重力、地磁、电阻率测量值,低速层也是异常的。由于低速层接近圣安德烈斯断层的地表迹线,使人认为它代表了深部破碎的结晶岩地层。然而,低速层也可能代表了现在仍然与圣安德烈斯断层邻接或包围圣安德烈斯断层的沉积岩的构造破碎带。这种沉积岩的破碎带意味着断层横跨两侧并可能位于破碎带中,说明断层带在300m深处上至少为1.5 km宽,在750m深度上逐渐减小到约600m宽。沉积破碎带内的流体可能是造成观测到的低电阻率值的原因。     

Diatom assemblages and quantitative reconstruction for paleosalinity from a sediment core of Chencuo Lake,southern Tibet

Changing salinity in lakes and especially in closed lakes depends mainly on the balance between precipitation, runoff and evaporation in arid and semi-arid areas, hence influencing lake levels di-rectly[1-4]. Past salinity has been recovered by a vari-ety of environmental indicators from lake sediments such as diatoms, chironomids, ostracoda, isotopes of ostracoda shells, geochemistry, and isotopes of authi-cabonates[3,5—10]. Recently, with extensive data-base study on diatom-salinity transfe…     

由GPS测量确定的2002年阿拉斯加迪纳利断层Mw7．9级地震的同震滑动分布

2002年11月3日，阿拉斯加中部发生了一次Mw7．9级的地震。该地震使部分苏西特纳冰川断层、迪纳利断层及托茨春达断层发生破裂。反演GPS测量的位移场表明，该事件以沿迪纳利断层复杂的右旋走滑破裂占优势。最靠近震中的GPS测点显示出苏西特纳冰川断层有逆冲运动的影响。优选的Mw7．9级地震同震滑动模型表明，在破裂的西段滑动相对较小，而在震中以东约60km至在迪纳利断层和托茨春达断层的交汇处滑动相对较大。我们发现大多数浅层滑动从地表至深15km，但反演却表明在震中以东110km有一大的深部滑移层。我们的模型预示地表滑动与地表地质观测非常一致，模型分辨率也非常好。     

Towards multiple hazard resilient bridges: a methodology for modeling frequent and infrequent time-varying loads Part II, Examples for live and earthquake load effects

The current AASHTO load and resistance factor design (LRFD) guidelines are formulated based on bridge reliability,which interprets traditional design safety factors into more rigorously deduced factors based on the theory of probability.This is a major advancement in bridge design specifications.However,LRFD is only calibrated for dead and live loads.In cases when extreme loads are significant,they need to be individually assessed.Combining regular loads with extreme loads has been a major challenge,mainly because the extreme loads are time variable and cannot be directly combined with time invariant loads to formulate the probability of structural failure.To overcome these difficulties,this paper suggests a methodology of comprehensive reliability,by introducing the concept of partial failure probability to separate the loads so that each individual load combination under a certain condition can be approximated as time invariant.Based on these conditions,the extreme loads (also referred to as multiple hazard or MH loads) can be broken down into single effects.In this paper,a further breakdown of these conditional occurrence probabilities into pure conditions is discussed by using a live truck and earthquake loads on a bridge as an example.