A seismic hazard assessment and the results of detailed seismic zoning for urban territories of Sakhalin Island

This work briefly discusses the main features of probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA). Special attention is paid to the identification and quantification of uncertainties related to seismic source characteristics and seismic engineering models for prediction of strong ground motions. The principal seismic models and the results of PSHA application for detailed seismic zoning of urban territories in Sakhalin Island are presented.     

Some basic notions in geographical synthesis

Modern geography is based on ecological thinking. In this paper some geoecological notions are discussed: the scales and levels regarding spatial magnitude and complexity, the “hierarchy” of landscape units and espcially the scale of time and the concept of the supper-imposing “stamps”. This last mentioned concept is very important in relation to the problem regarding regionalization and its possibilities. Three “stamps” are recognized: 1. the substrate, 2. the climatic conditions, 3. the human (noötic) influence. Holistic regionalization in which all elements (including the human influences) are telling to full advantage, is unsatisfactory.     

The Relationship between Global Volcanic Activity and Variations in the Velocity of Earth’s Rotation

Doklady Earth Sciences - Analysis of observations of the Earth’s rotational velocity and volcanic activity of the planet from 1720 until 2015 suggests that higher volcanic activity temporally...     

Geochronology of anthropogenic pollutants in riparian wetland sediments of the Lippe River (Germany)

Anthropogenic pollutants were determined in a dated sediment core, collected from a riparian wetland of the Lippe River (Ruhr district, Germany). The historical trend in heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, organochlorines, polychlorinated biphenyls and linear alkylbenzenes as well as more recent contaminants such as industrial additives, organotins, synthetic musks, methyltriclosan and some other compounds were determined for the time period between 1930 and 1986. Emission sources, information on technical production and usage, as well as on the individual pollution pathways, with appropriate environmental stability, were considered in the interpretation of the sediment contamination over the past 50 years.Contaminants were analysed and interpreted according to two different criteria: (a) the origin of the main contaminants as related to mining and industrial activities as well as municipal sewage and agricultural effluents and (b) the pollution history. Due to a significant appearance of formerly missing contaminants in sediments deposited since 1970, we suggest classifying contaminants as either common (predating 1970) or modern (postdating 1970).In summary, the study provided a comprehensive reconstruction of the pollution history of the Lippe River system.     

A Long-Term Forecast Model of Spring Runoff: The Case of the Belaya River

Doklady Earth Sciences - The results of long-term forecasting of the spring runoff in the Belaya River basin based on the water-balance model are presented. The structure and parameters of the...     

Interaction between a circular opening and fractures originating from its boundary in a piecewise homogeneous plane

The complex variables boundary element method (CVBEM) is used to study interaction between a circular opening and fractures originating from its boundary in a piecewise homogeneous plane. A new complex hypersingular equation for piecewise homogeneous media with a circular opening is obtained. The equation is solved using the CVBEM technique with circular and straight boundary elements and polynomial approximations (with square root asymptotics for crack tip elements) for the unknown functions. The algorithm is verified through comparison with known semi‐analytical and numerical solutions that involve interaction between a circular opening and specific systems of cracks or other openings. New numerical results concerning the interaction of the circular opening with the cracks and circular inclusions are presented. The method is applied to an important problem in the petroleum industry: modelling propagation of hydraulic fractures in the vicinity of a borehole. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mineral waters of the projected specially protected natural territory “Istoki Amura”

We examine the various types of mineral waters occurring on the projected specially protected transboundary natural territory “Istoki Amura”, on the Hentei-Dauria neotectonic high. We suggest the pattern of rational utilization of the mineral springs according to the nature conservation status of the terrain (nature reserves, national parks, and public access areas).     

The Impact Of Urban Development On Recharge And Groundwater Quality In A Coastal Aquifer Near Perth,Western Australia

AbstractNear Perth, Western Australia, thirty boreholes were drilled at eleven sites in similar hydrogeological settings. The sites represent three levels of urban development: an uncleared area, a new residential area (less than 20 years old) and an old residential area (more than 60 years old). The objective was to assess the impact of sewered urban development on recharge and groundwater quality. Tritium data suggest that a greater proportion of recharge in the urban areas is from point sources, and this probably caused high redox potentials (up to 291 mV) in groundwater in the old residential area. Recharge in the new urban area is estimated to be about 37 percent of the average annual rainfall of about 0.8 m, and this value is probably greater than recharge in undeveloped areas. Concentrations of sulphate increase progressively with the age of urban development, from an average of 8 mg/L to 69 mg/L, probably as a result of fertilizer input and the oxidation of soil-held sulphides with land clearing. Nitrate concentrations are significantly higher in urban areas (average concentration >1 mg/L as N) than in the non-urban areas (average concentration <0.5 mg/L as N). However, the measured concentrations are all lower than expected from current fertilizer inputs in sewered urban areas of about 80 kg/ha, indicating that denitrification is taking place. A limited reservoir of reducing agents may be available from denitrification, and this may have implications for the sustained use of groundwater as a potable supply in coastal suburbs of Perth. RÉSUMÉ: Près de Perth, en Australie occidentale, 30 forages ont été réalisés en 11 sites dans les mêmes conditions hydrogéologiques. Ces sites présentent trois degrés de développement urbain: une zone non aménagée, une zone résidentielle nouvelle (de moins de 20 ans), une zone résidentielle ancienne (de plus de 60 ans). L'objectif était de déterminer l'impact de l'assainissement urbain sur la recharge et sur la qualité des eaux souterraines. Les données de tritium indiquent qu'une recharge plus importante se produit ponctuellement dans les zones construites, ce qui est probablement responsable des potentiels redox élevés (jusqu'à 291 mV) dans l'eau souterraine à long temps de séjour. La recharge dans la zone nouvellement urbanisée est d'environ 37% des précipitations moyennes annuelles (800 mm); cette valeur parait supérieure à celle de la recharge dans les zones non urbanisées. Les concentrations en sulfates augmentent progressivement avec l'âge du développement urbain, de 8 à 69 mg/l en moyenne, probablement à cause des apports d'engrais et de l'oxydation des sulfures lors du lessivage des sols. Les teneurs en nitrates sont significativement plus fortes en zones urbanisées (concentration moyenne supérieure à 1 mg/l en N) qu'en zones non urbanisées (concentration moyenne inférieure à 0.5 mg/l en N). Ces teneurs restent cependant nettement inférieurs à celles que produiraient, comme on le connait, des apports continus d'engrais de 80 kg/ha en zone urbanisée avec assainissement, ce qui prouve qu'une dénitrification se produit. Un réservoir limité d'agents réducteurs doit donc intervenir dans la d'énitrification, ce qui peut avoir des implications pour une utilisation durable des eaux souterraines pour l'alimentation en eau potable dans la banlieue côtière de Perth. RESUMEN: Cerca de Perth, Australia Occidental, se perforaron treinta sondeos en once localizaciones con similares características hidrogeológicas. Las localizaciones representan tres niveles de desarrollo urbano: un area no desarrollada, un area residencial moderna (menos de veinte años de edad) y un área residencial antigua (más de 60 años). El objetivo era evaluar el impacto del desarrollo en las redes de saneamiento urbanas en la recarga y calidad de las aguas subterráneas. Los datos de tritio sugieren que una gran proporción de la recarga en áreas urbanas procede de focos puntuales; esto es una posible causa de los altos potenciales redox (hasta 291 mV) de las aguas subterráneas en el área residencial antigua. La recarga en el área urbana moderna se estima sobre el 37% de la precipitación anual media, de alrededor de 0.8 m, y este valor es probablemente mayor que la recarga en áreas no desarrolladas. Las concentraciones de sulfato aumentan progresivamente con la edad del desarrollo urbano, desde una media de 8 mg/l hasta 69 mg/l, probablemente como resultado del aporte de fertilizantes y de la oxidación de los sulfuros retenidos durante la explanación del terreno. Las concentraciones de nitratos son significativamente más altas en áreas urbanas (concentración media > 1mg/l en forma de N) que en áreas no urbanas (concentración media < 0.5 mg/l en forma de N). Sin embargo, las concentraciones medidas son todas menores que las esperadas a partir de los valores de aporte de fertilizantes habituales en áreas urbanas con red de saneamiento, que son del orden de 80 kg/ha. Esto indica que está teniendo lugar un proceso de desnitrificación. Esta desnitrificación puede ser posible por la presencia de una acumulación limitada de agentes reductores, lo que puede tener implicaciones para el uso sostenido del agua subterránea como suministro de agua potable en los suburbios costeros de Perth.