Using a naive Bayes classifier to explore the factors driving the harmful dinoflagellate Karenia selliformis blooms in a southeastern Mediterranean lagoon

Ocean Dynamics - The blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate Karenia selliformis can be predicted with accuracy derived from knowledge of the main forcing variables. A naive Bayes classifier modeling...     

Performance of fine-grained soil treated with industrial wastewater sludge

This paper is likely one of the very recent researches based on an experimental study, which aims to investigate some geotechnical performances of fine-grained soil treated with industrial wastewater sludge. The experimental program conducts the standard compaction, direct shear, California bearing ratio (CBR), and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests. The sludge proportions in samples of the soil + sludge mixtures are 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 % by dry weight of the mixture. The results indicate that the internal friction angle of untreated soil is significantly enhanced at most of the sludge dosages (p < 0.05). The CBR values offer that the soil quality can be improved to “good” rating quality to use “base” layers in stabilizations up to the 50 % sludge dosage. The contribution is also obtained by the UCS values that increase with the sludge addition. Moreover, the stress–strain responses promise to develop the ductility behavior due to the sludge inclusion. Consequently, the soil mixtures treated with the sludge have exhibited satisfactory geotechnical characteristics. Thus, this study suggests that the industrial wastewater sludge can be potentially employed for improvement of fine-grained soil in the stabilizations. The proposed soil stabilization with locally available industrial wastewater sludge can also provide recycling and sustainability to the environment.     

Relocation processing of selected earthquakes in the Gulf of Aqaba region

Earthquakes in the Gulf of Aqaba were compiled from the Jordan Seismological Observatory bulletins, Saudi Arabia (SNSN, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology), and Egypt (National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics, Helwan) sources and were relocated after reexamining the P and S arrival times, testing the efficiency of stations used to determine the location of Aqaba events, calculating the average value of V _p/V _s, and choosing the best crustal model for the study area. The earthquake epicenters are distributed along the eastern side of the Gulf of Aqaba.     

Seismic hazard studies for Gaziantep city in South Anatolia of Turkey

Seismic hazard studies were conducted for Gaziantep city in the South Anatolia of Turkey. For this purpose, a new attenuation relationship was developed using the data of Zaré and Bard and accelerations were predicted employing this new equation. Deterministic approach, total probability theorem and GIS methodology were all together utilized for the seismic assessments. Seismic hazard maps with 0.25° grid intervals considering the site conditions were produced by the GIS technique. The results indicated that the acceleration values by the GIS hazard modelings were matched with the ones from the deterministic approach, however, they were underestimated comparing with the total probability theorem. In addition, the GIS based seismic hazard maps showed that the current seismic map of Turkey fairly yields conservative acceleration values for the Gaziantep region. Therefore, the constructed GIS hazard models are offered as a base map for a further modification of the current seismic hazard map.     

Biological data from sharks landed within the United Arab Emirates artisanal fishery

Landing site and market surveys of sharks landed along the Arabian Gulf coast of the United Arab Emirates were undertaken between October 2010 and September 2012 to obtain biological data from this artisanal fishery. Data were collected on the size and sex of 12 482 individuals representing 30 species. Maximum sizes of Carcharhinus sorrah, C. amblyrhynchoides and Hemipristis elongata were extended by at least 300?mm total length (TL) compared with published global maxima. The size at 50% maturity was determined for males of five species and this indicated that the males of smaller shark species (<1 000 mm maximum TL) in the fishery were largely mature. For many species, including Loxodon macrorhinus and Mustelus mosis, overall sex ratios were male-biased, indicating that sexual segregation is likely in those species. Furthermore, sex ratios for several species, such as Rhizoprionodon acutus, showed differences across seasons. Overall, the landings contained a high proportion of juveniles, causing concerns about the sustainability of this fishery. Biological parameters of a number of species differed from those recorded earlier for the region, demonstrating a need for additional local data collection to support the development of management measures.     

Provenance,tectonic setting,source weathering and palaeoenvironmental implications of Middle-Upper Jurassic rocks of Ler dome,Kachchh, western India: Inferences from petrography and geochemistry

The Middle-Upper Jurassic sandstones and shales of Ler dome (Chari and Katrol Formations), Kachchh, western India, have been analyzed for modal, bulk mineralogy and geochemistry to deduce their provenance, tectonic setting, source area weathering and palaeoenvironmental conditions. The detrital modes of Ler dome sandstones indicate that they were emanated from recycled orogen (uplifted shoulders of rift) and stable cratonic source in passive margin setting. Rapid deposition of sediments from a granitic source area can be predicted from feldspar abundance. A highly mature heavy mineral assemblage characterized in the form of high Zircon-Tourmaline-Rutile (ZTR) index also endorses these findings. The X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) data show the presence of clay minerals depicting moderate to extensive chemical weathering in an oxidizing environment with periodic cycles of transgression and regression. The chemical index of weathering, chemical index of alteration and plagioclase index of alteration suggest moderate to high and low to moderate weathering conditions for sandstone and shales, respectively, that took place in low to moderate relief. We postulate that Ler dome sediments are derivative of the eroded and weathered parts of the Aravalli craton located on east and northeast of the basin and the Nagarparkar Massif placed to the north and northwest.     

The probability distributions and fractal dimension of sunspot cycles associated with ENSO phenomena

Various methods have been used to secure the certainty of significant relations among the sunspot cycles and some of the terrestrial climate parameters such as temperature, rainfall, and ENSO. This study investigates the behavior of ENSO cycles and mean monthly sunspot cycles. Sunspot cycles range from 1755 to 2016 whereas, ENSO cycles range from 1866 to 2012. In this regard, the appropriateness of distributions is investigated with the help of Kolmogorov-Smirnov D, Anderson-Darling, and chi-square tests. It is found that most of the sunspot cycle follows generalized Pareto distribution whereas, generalized extreme value distribution was found appropriate for ENSO cycles. Probability distribution is used to analyze the behavior of each sunspot cycle and ENSO cycle separately. Probability distribution indicates the tail behavior of each cycle; tail explored correlation cycles. Furthermore, self-similar and self-affine fractal dimension methods are used to compute Hurst exponents to determine the persistency of the available data. Fractal dimension has an ability to study the complexity involved in sunspot and ENSO cycles. The fractal dimension and Hurst exponent describe persistency (smoothness) and complexity of data. Hurst exponent measures long-term behavior of time series, making it more helpful for forecasting. This is the measure of regularity or irregularity (chaos) of the time function in the form of their persistency or anti-persistency, respectively. Hurst exponents are computed using rescaled range analysis method and box counting methods. Both these methods are suitable for long-term forecasting. The results of this study confirm that during the period 1980–2000, ENSO cycles were very active. Simultaneously, ENSO was active for the periods 1982–1983, 1986–1987, 1991–1993, 1994–1995, and 1997–1998; these periods include two strongest periods of the century viz., 1982–1983 and 1997–1998. Sunspot cycles and ENSO cycles both were found to be persistent. Self-similar fractal dimensions exhibited a better persistency and a better correlation as compared to self-affine fractal dimension. This research is a part of a larger research project investigating the correlation of sunspot cycles and ENSO cycles, and the influence of ENSO cycles on variations of the local climatic parameters which in turn depends on solar activity changes.     

Anomalous heat flow belt along the continental margin of Brazil

International Journal of Earth Sciences - A comprehensive analysis of thermal gradient and heat flow data was carried out for sedimentary basins situated in the continental margin of Brazil (CMB)....