Fault throw determination using 4 component VSP: Aigion fault (Greece) case study

The present paper presents the results of a technique based on Vertical Seismic Profiling (VSP) to quantify the offset of a fault in a context where seismic reflection profiles do not image any reflectors. The case study is located in Greece, in the Aigion area, on the south border of the Corinth Gulf. The Aigion fault, oriented East–West, and dipping at 60°N, has been intersected by the scientific well Aig-10 at 760 m in depth, but some uncertainty remained concerning its exact offset since the depth of the pre-rift sequence is open to debate due to the lack of subsurface data. The pre-rift consists of a Mesozoic low-porosity series (carbonates and radiolarite), while the syn-rift consists of poorly compacted conglomerates and turbidites.

Seismic diffractions on fault edges are expected to be present along the fault surface. We find that a few diffracted events are effectively recorded in P and S wave mode by the 4 components of the VSP survey, and critically refracted arrivals along the Aigion fault plane. These singular events have been used in order to refine the fault geometry and to determine its throw. Additionally, results from a 2D finite difference elastic seismic model of a single fault step geometry have been closely examined in order to illustrate the generation of the singular seismic events observed on the field data, such as P-wave and S-wave refracted and diffracted events, and support their interpretation with higher confidence. As a result, the seismic arrival patterns from full waveform seismic modelling confirm the characterisation of the main fault geometry (mainly its throw: about 200 m) in the well vicinity derived from the actual analysis of the 4 Component Aigion VSP data.     

Comment on ‘Magnetic studies of magma-supply and sea-floor metamorphism: Troodos ophiolite dikes’, by G.J. Borradaile and D. Gauthier

Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility is used as a proxy for the determination of magmatic flow direction in mafic dykes. Here we take advantage of the dataset from G.J. Borradaile and D. Gauthier to comment three points: (1) the sampling strategy; (2) the geometric relationship between magnetic axis dyke, and, (3) an alternative interpretation to obtain a flow direction. The magnetic lineations published by Borradaile and Gauthier correspond to the zone axis of the dyke and magnetic foliation poles, questioning the reliability of the magnetic lineation as a flow estimate. An alternative interpretation is based on the use of the tiling of the magnetic foliation plane against the dyke wall.     

Impact of surface heterogeneity on a buoyancy-driven convective boundary layer in light winds

Land-use practices such as deforestation or agricultural management may affect regional climate, ecosystems and water resources. The present study investigates the impact of surface heterogeneity on the behaviour of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL), at a typical spatial scale of 1 km. Large-eddy simulations, using an interactive soil–vegetation–atmosphere surface scheme, are performed to document the structure of the three-dimensional flow, as driven by buoyancy forces, over patchy terrain with different surface characteristics (roughness, soil moisture, temperature) on each individual patch. The patchy terrain consists of striped and chessboard patterns. The results show that the ABL strongly responds to the spatial configuration of surface heterogeneities. The stripe configuration made of two patches with different soil moisture contents generates the development of a quasi- two-dimensional inland breeze, whereas a three-dimensional divergent flow is induced by chessboard patterns. The feedback of such small-scale atmospheric circulations on the surface fluxes appears to be highly non-linear. The surface sensible and latent heat fluxes averaged over the 25-km² domain may vary by 5% with respect to the patch arrangement.     

Interaction of a Dynamic Rupture on a Fault Plane with Short Frictionless Fault Branches

Spontaneous bilateral mode II shear ruptures were nucleated on faults in photoelastic Homalite plates loaded in uniaxial compression. Rupture velocities were measured and the interaction between the rupture front and short fault branches was observed using high-speed digital photography. Fault branches were formed by machining slits of varying lengths that intersected the fault plane over a range of angles. These branches were frictionless because they did not close under static loading prior to shear rupture nucleation. Three types of behavior were observed. First, the velocity of both rupture fronts was unaffected when the fault branches were oriented 45° to the main slip surface and the length of the branches were less than or equal to ~0.75 R₀* (where R₀* is the slip-weakening distance in the limit of low rupture speed and an infinitely long slip-pulse). Second, rupture propagation stopped at the branch on the compressive side of the rupture tip but was unaffected by the branch on the tensile side when the branches were ~1.5 R₀* in length and remained oriented 45° to the principle slip surface. Third, branches on the tensile side of the rupture tip nucleated tensile ``wing tip' extensions when the branches were oriented at 70° to the interface. Third, when the branches were oriented at 70° to the interface, branches on the tensile side of the rupture tip nucleated tensile ``wing-crack' extensions. We explain these observations using a model in which the initial uniaxial load produces stress concentrations at the tips of the branches, which perturb the initial stress field on the rupture plane. These stress perturbations affect both the resolved shear stress driving the rupture and the fault-normal stress that controls the fault strength, and together they explain the observed changes in rupture speed.     

Semi-empirical solar line blanketing

Statistical data for line blanketing in the solar atmosphere have been extracted from the Revised Rowland Table. The data are corrected for apparent observational incompleteness due to line crowding and blending and are placed in a convenient form for calculations. An attempt is made to interpret the data in terms of schematic representations of the energy levels and distribution of gf-values for the important absorbers. The analysis leads to predictions in good agreement with the forms of the statistical data and substantiates the assumption of observational incompleteness in the original data. The analysis suggests that the solar data may provide useful guidance in the blanketing of stellar atmospheres sufficiently close to solar type.A blanketing method is presented which makes use of a uniformly-smeared-line (single picket) procedure and which assumes LTE and a weak-line curve of growth. The blanketing coefficient is obtained in a simple manner from the corrected statistical data and is both depth and wavelength dependent. An alternative method utilizing a four-picket scheme and average absorption coefficient profiles is suggested. Comparison of solar models computed by the two methods shows good agreement and gives support for the smeared-line procedure. Comparison of the solar model with a non-LTE blanketed model of Athay also shows reasonable agreement.Publications of the Goethe Link Observatory, Indiana University, No. 110.     

Identifying the potential loss of monitoring wells using an uncertainty analysis

From the mid-1940s through the 1980s, large volumes of waste water were discharged at the Hanford Site in southeastern Washington State, causing a large-scale rise (>20 m) in the water table. When waste water discharges ceased in 1988, ground water mounds began to dissipate. This caused a large number of wells to go dry and has made it difficult to monitor contaminant plume migration. To identify monitoring wells that will need replacement, a methodology has been developed using a first-order uncertainty analysis with UCODE, a nonlinear parameter estimation code. Using a three-dimensional, finite-element ground water flow code, key parameters were identified by calibrating to historical hydraulic head data. Results from the calibration period were then used to check model predictions by comparing monitoring wells' wet/dry status with field data. This status was analyzed using a methodology that incorporated the 0.3 cumulative probability derived from the confidence and prediction intervals. For comparison, a nonphysically based trend model was also used as a predictor of wells' wet/dry status. Although the numerical model outperformed the trend model, for both models, the central value of the intervals was a better predictor of a wet well status. The prediction interval, however, was more successful at identifying dry wells. Predictions made through the year 2048 indicated that 46% of the wells in the monitoring well network are likely to go dry in areas near the river and where the ground water mound is dissipating.     

Effects of storm-induced salinity changes on submersed aquatic vegetation in Kings Bay, Florida

Hurricanes and other major storms cause acute changes in salinity within Florida's streams and rivers. Winddriven tidal surges that increase salinities may have long-lasting effects on submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) and the associated fauna. We investigated potential effects of salinity pulses on SAV in Kings Bay, Florida, by subjecting the three most common macrophytes,Vallisneria americana, Myriophyllum spicatum., andHydrilla verticillata, to simulated salinity pulses. In Kings Bay, we documented changes in salinity during three storms in September 2004 and measured biomass and percent cover before and after these storms. During experiments, macrophytes were exposed to salinities of 5‰, 15‰, or 25‰ for 1, 2, or 7 d, with a 28-d recovery period in freshwater. Relative to controls, plants subjected to salinities of 5‰ exhibited few significant decreases in growth and no increase in mortality. All three species exhibited decreased growth in salinities of 15‰ or 25‰.H. verticillata, exhibited 100% mortality at 15‰ and 25‰, irrespective of the duration of exposure.M. spicatum andV. american exhibited increased mortality after 7-d exposures to 15‰ or any exposure to 25‰ Maximum daily salinities in Kings Bay approached or exceeded 15‰ after each of the three storms, with pulses generally lasting less than 2 d. Total aboveground biomass and percent cover of vascular plants, were reduced following the storms.M. spicatum exhibited an 83% decrease in aboveground biomass and an 80% decrease in percent cover.H. verticillata exhibited a 47% and 15% decline in biomass and percent cover, respectively.V. americana, exhibited an 18% increase in aboveground biomass and a 37% increase in percent cover, which suggests greater tolerance of salinity pulses and release from competition with the invasiveH. verticillata andM. spicatum. Our results indicate that rapid, storm-induced pulses of high salinity can have important consequences for submersed aquatic vegetation, restoration efforts, and management of invasive species.     

Beach nourishment,a practical method of erosion control

Artificial beach nourishment, the placing of sand onto eroded beaches, is increasingly employed by coastal engineers as an alternative to structural control of shoreline erosion. Man-made beaches approximating natural forms and processes offer greater protection against storms than eroded beaches and provide increased recreational opportunities. It is hoped that maintenance nourishment will keep pace with subsidence and eustatic rise in sea level, primary causes of beach erosion. Even though negative impacts of beach restoration may be short-lived and limited in scope, sound ecological engineering practices require careful monitoring of dredging operations.     

The normalization of solar X-ray data from many experiments

A conversion factor is used to convert Geiger (GM) tube count rates or ion chamber currents into units of the incident X-ray energy flux in a specified passband. A method is described which varies the passband to optimize these conversion factors such that they are relatively independent of the spectrum of the incident photons. This method was applied to GM tubes flown on Explorers 33 and 35 and Mariner 5 and to ion chambers flown on OSO 3 and OGO 4. Revised conversion factors and passbands are presented, and the resulting absolute solar X-ray fluxes based on these are shown to improve the agreement between the various experiments. Calculations have shown that, although the GM tubes on Explorer 33 viewed the Sun off-axis, the effective passband did not change appreciably, and the simple normalization of the count rates to the count rates of a similar GM tube on Explorer 35 was justified. It is also shown that for the type 6213 GM tube, the passband is effectively 3 to 12 Å although gas pressure and window thickness variations may give rise to numerical conversion factor differences of a factor of 6.