Geoelectrical exploration for groundwater in Al Maha Forest,Ain Jouhra,Morocco

An area of about 30 km² located in Ain Jouhra, south of Rabat, Morocco, was the subject of a geoelectric resistivity investigation. The main goal of the investigation was the assessment of the groundwater potential of the uppermost aquifer. The aquifer conditions such as depth, thickness and boundaries were also investigated. The obtained apparent resistivity curves were first analysed qualitatively and classified using simple curve shapes. Thereafter, the data were converted to resistivity and thickness pairs semi‐quantitatively by means of master curves and then quantitatively by computer modelling using ATO and Winsev software (Zohdy, 1989; Zohdy and Bisdrof, 1989). Lithological control from the available single well with a stratigraphic log aided in the correlation of the resistivity values to different rock units. Three different AB‐spacing iso‐resistivity maps, an isopach map of the main groundwater‐bearing horizon, the depth to the aquifer substratum map and five geoelectric cross‐sections were constructed. The interpretation of these soundings indicates the presence of an unconfined to semi‐confined sandy aquifer with relatively important extent and varying thickness. The maximal thickness of the aquifer is recorded in the central part of the investigated area and is thinning southwards to pinch out farther to the south. Geophysical as well as field data indicate a hydraulic connection between the upper and deeper aquifers. Indeed, the two aquifers are separated from each other by a marly substratum that is indicated throughout the area by the lowest values of the interpreted true resistivity. The value of this resistivity varies laterally, most likely due to the lateral variation in the shale‐to‐sand ratio. The altitude of the substratum decreases towards the north, and increases southwards. Regarding the availability of the groundwater in the study area, zones with high potential are theoretically expected to occur in the central part where the transversal resistance is greatest. However, sufficient water supply and high flow rates from wells intended to produce restrictively from the most upper aquifer are not likely to exist. This conclusion, which seems to be very pessimistic, is evidenced from two real field and experimental observations. The first is the rapid fall of the level of Gharnoug lake, despite the ongoing feeding by three wells. Hence, the amount of water level drop cannot be accounted for by the evaporation alone. That means that the deeper aquifer is continuously draining the upper aquifer at a high flow rate. Very low rates are recorded in all the wells that penetrated only the upper aquifer, the exception being the well that reached deeper into the lower aquifer. The flow rate in this lower aquifer measured 18 litre s^?1. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Performance evaluation of a shallow foundation built on structured clays under seismic loading

Due to the increased need of storage, larger and higher structures are being built all over the world, thus requiring a more careful evaluation of the mechanical performance of their foundation deposits both in terms of bearing capacity and compressibility behaviour. The design of such structures and their serviceability and stability is largely governed by the effects of the dynamic loading conditions principally because of their significantly elevated risk in seismic prone zones. In this paper, numerical analyses using an advanced constitutive model, able to account for the initial soil structure and its progressive degradation, have been performed to investigate the seismic response of a silo foundation built on structured clays. The proposed analyses involve the use of a fully-coupled finite element approach. For the dynamic simulations, three different input motions have been selected form earthquake databases according to the seismic hazard study of the specific site. The results of the silo dynamic response are illustrated in terms of signal amplification, permanent excess pore water pressures, accumulated displacements and structure induced degradation during and after the seismic loading. The dynamic behaviour of the footing indicates that extreme earthquake events can induce large destructuration in natural clays, leading to ground settlements up to twice the observed ones under static loads, which need to be properly accounted for in the design. This suggests that there are significant advantages in using advanced models which recognise the existence of initial soil structure and its subsequent damage due to the applied dynamic loads.     

Contamination of diuron in coastal waters around Malaysian Peninsular

The use of antifouling paints to the boats and ships is one among the threats facing coastal resources including coral reefs in recent decades. This study reports the current contamination status of diuron and its behaviour in the coastal waters of Malaysia. The maximum concentration of diuron was 285 ng/L detected at Johor port. All samples from Redang and Bidong coral reef islands were contaminated with diuron. Temporal variation showed relatively high concentrations but no significant difference (P > 0.05) during November and January (North-East monsoon) in Klang ports (North, South and West), while higher levels of diuron were detected during April, 2012 (Inter monsoon) in Kemaman, and Johor port. Although no site has shown concentration above maximum permissible concentration (430 ng/L) as restricted by the Dutch Authorities, however, long term exposure studies for environmental relevance levels of diuron around coastal areas should be given a priority in the future.     

The role of clay minerals in marly soils on its stability

In many sub-tropical and tropical regions of the world, lime or cement stabilization of marly soils is used as a convenient and expedient means for the development of foundation base courses and inexpensive wearing courses for transport purposes. The failure of many of these natural and stabilized marly soils to perform their functions have been reported. Mechanical factors generally used to explain the causes for the foundation failures have not been satisfactorily accepted. This study uses thermodynamic modelling and X-ray diffraction analysis to explain the general basic causes for deterioration of the support capability of these types of soils. The presence of palygorskite in marly soils provides it with some very unique features in its natural state, and particularly when it is stabilized with lime or cement. Formation of an expansive mineral, ettringite, as a transformation product of palygorskite increases the swelling potential of the stabilized soils. The various interactions, reactions and factors contributing to the stability and instability of marly soils, and lime stabilized marly soils are discussed.     

On the ecology of Azolla filiculoides Lam. in Damietta district, Egypt

Azolla filiculoides Lam. is a tiny aquatic fern growing as free floating mats covering the stagnant water of the irrigation and drainage canals of Damietta district, Egypt. Ecological characteristics and distribution of the fern were investigated and results were discussed.Vegetation analysis of Azolla indicate that the most common associated species with Azolla are: Phragmites australis [presence (P) = 93.3%], Echinochloa stagnina (P = 70%), Eichhornia crassipes (P = 57%), Pluchea dioscoridis (P = 56.7%), Persicaria salicifolia (P = 26.7%), Phylla nodiflora (P = 13.3%) and Ludwigia stolonifera (P = 10%). Submerged species, e.g. Ceratophyllum spp. and Potamogeton spp. are completely absent in the stands dominated with solid mats of Azolla. This could be explained by that these mats prevent light penetration and oxygen which are required to submerged plants which in turn are decayed.The pH of the water where Azolla was recorded ranged from 7.1 to 9.0 (mean = 7.8), total dissolved salts ranged from 280 to 2600 mg/l (mean = 880 mg/l). The total phosphorus showed the range from 0.01 to 0.82 mg/l (mean = 0.22 mg/l). The ammonia-N is relatively high, varying from 2 to 18 mg/l (mean = 7.0 mg/l), however, the nitrate-N varied from 2.1 to 54.1 mg/l with a mean value of 20.5 mg/l.The fresh biomass of Azolla ranged from 114 to 4280 g/m² in irrigation canals and from 506 to 2760 g/m² in drainage canals. The dry biomass varied from 16 to 23 g/m² in irrigation canals. The range from 26 to 320 g/m² was obtained for drainage canals.     

Assessment of water body change and sedimentation rate in Moulay Bousselham wetland,Morocco, using geospatial technologies

Coastal lagoons have significant biodiversity and ecologic and socio-economic interest. Several resident and migratory birds live in coastal lagoons as well as fish and other aquatic biota. Over the years, lagoons worldwide have been subject to considerable sediment deposition coming especially from soil erosion due of agricultural activities, and the lagoon's inflows have resulted in an accelerated sedimentation which can drastically affect the aquatic ecosystem balance. A new, fast, and cost-effective approach was developed, using water surface change as a proxy, to evaluate the sediment deposition rate. In the current research, this methodology was applied in the Moulay Bousselham Lagoon in Morocco, and a combination of Landsat 8 and Landsat 5 imagery acquired at four points in time over 30 years(1985-2015) was used. Following geometric correction and enhancement, the interpretation of the acquired images provided important insight on the current conditions of the water surface change using the Normalized Difference Water Index(NDWI). Several iterations were done to determine a suitable threshold for effective water surface detection. In order to validate the automatically extracted water surface features, many band combinations of Landsat and Sentinel 2 were used as references to run the accuracy assessment. The results show that the Moulay Bousselham Lagoon lost 17.60%(106 ha) of its water surface area, and 530,000 m^3 to 1,060,000 m^3 of its water volume during the last three decades.Converting water surface loss into sedimentation returned a rate of 0.58 cm/yr. These results have been confirmed by previous field work using sedimentological approaches. Proper management should be applied to sustain the vitality of this lagoon environment.     

Indoor activity size distribution of the short-lived radon progeny

Activity size distribution of the short-lived radon progeny in indoor air was measured continuously over several weeks. Two different measurement techniques were used: a direct measurement with a low-pressure Berner cascade impactor for attached fraction of ²¹⁴Pb and ²¹⁴Bi (≥100 nm) and an indirect determination based on measurement with a wire screen diffusion battery (unattached fraction 0.5–5 nm, ²¹⁸Po, ²¹⁴Pb). In parallel, the meteorological parameters like temperature, humidity were registered. Measured activity size distribution of radon progeny can be approximated by a sum of three log-normal distributions modes (nucleation, accumulation and coarse). The greatest activity fraction was adsorbed on aerosol particles in the accumulation size range (100–1000 nm) with activity median aerodynamic diameters (AMAD_a) and geometric standard deviations (GSD _a ) values of 250–500 nm, and 1.5–3.5, respectively. The influence of the weather conditions on the activity of the accumulation particles was not significant. In contrast to the results of measurements a small but significant fraction of the radon progeny (average value 5 %) was attached to coarse particles (>1000 nm). This fraction varied between 0 and 10 %. On the other hand, although the amount of unattached activities not more 10 % of the total activity, but is considered to yield about 50 % of the total radiation dose. The mean thermodynamic equivalent diameters of ²¹⁸Po and ²¹⁴Pb were determined to be 1.28 and 1.30 nm with relative mean geometric standard deviations of 1.30 and 1.24, respectively. Based on the obtained results of radon progeny size distributions (attached and unattached), the total deposition fractions of the human lung were evaluated by using a lung deposition model.     

Comparison between gene expression programming and traditional models for estimating evapotranspiration under hyper arid Conditions

Gene Expression Programming (GEP) was used to develop new mathematical equations for estimating daily reference evapotranspiration (ET _ref) for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The daily climatic variables were collected by 13 meteorological stations from 1980 to 2010. The GEP models were trained on 65% of the climatic data and tested using the remaining 35%. The generalised Penman-Monteith model was used as a reference target for evapotranspiration (ET) values, with h _c varies from 5 to 105 cm with increment of a centimetre. Eight GEP models have been compared with four locally calibrated traditional models (Hargreaves-Samani, Irmak, Jensen-Haise and Kimberly-Penman). The results showed that the statistical performance criteria values such as determination coefficients (R ²) ranged from as low as 64.4% for GEP-MOD1, where the only parameters included (maximum, minimum, and mean temperature and crop height), to as high as 95.5% for GEP-MOD8 with which all climatic parameters included (maximum, minimum and mean temperature; maximum, minimum and mean humidity; solar radiation; wind speed; and crop height). Moreover, an interesting founded result is that the solar radiation has almost no effect on ET _ref under the hyper arid conditions. In contrast, the wind speed and plant height have a great positive impact in increasing the accuracy of calculating ET _ref. Furthermore, eight GEP models have obtained better results than the locally calibrated traditional ET _ref equations.