Influence of aspect and slope gradient on hydraulic conductivity measured by tension infiltrometer

A tension infiltrometer technique was used to characterize differences in hydraulic conductivity (K) in two rain‐fed hillsides (north‐facing and south‐facing) in central Chile. For the north‐facing locations, smaller values of K (at a range of supply water pressure heads ψ) compared with south‐facing locations were found, with accentuated differences close to saturation (zero pressure head). The differences were attributed to differences in texture and organic matter contents observed for the two sites. Furthermore, K(ψ) had a tendency to increase with increasing slope gradient. This tendency was to an extent explained by the deviation from requirements of measurements on level ground. The differences found in K(ψ) between different slope gradients were explained by the differences in the vertical and lateral hydraulic conductivity and by the occurrence of surface sealing in low slope plots. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The application of Karhunen–Loéve,or principal component analysis method,to study the non‐linear seismic response of structures

The Karhunen–Loéve (K–L) method is used to interpret dynamic response data obtained from shaking table and pseudodynamic tests conducted on civil engineering structures subjected to earthquake loading. It is shown how the K–L method can be used to monitor on‐line, or a posteriori, the structural response of non‐linear dynamical systems. Results from these analyses make it possible to quantitatively verify the number and participation factors of non‐linear modes and how they correspond to physical behaviour of the structure. Comments are made regarding the use of this technique in various fields including numerical calculations, experiments and control. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rotifers (Rotifera) from four natural water bodies of central Mexico

Faunistic analysis from the Iakes Zirahuen, El Bordito, Cuitzeo and Zacapu (State of Michoacan, Mexico) revealed the presence of 110 rotifer taxa. 9 genera and 29 species are new to Mexico. The new records are: Cephalodella megalocephala (Glascott, 1893); C. globata (Gosse, 1887); Cupelopagis vorax (Leidy, 1857); Eothinia elongata (Ehrenberg, 1832); Lecane bifurca (Bryce, 1892); L. decipiens (Murray, 1913); L. elegans Harring, 1914; L. leontina (Turner, 1892); L. monostyla (Daday, 1897); L. nodosa Hauer, 1938; L. ruttneri Hauer, 1938; L. ungulata (Gosse, 1887); Lepadella astacicola (Hauer, 1926); L. benjamini Harring, 1916; L. ehrenbergi (Perty, 1850); Lindia ecela Myers, 1933; Macrochaetus subquadratus (Perty, 1850); Monommata diaphora Myers, 1930; Notommata cerberus (Gosse, 1886), N. copeus Ehrenberg, 1834; Proales sordida Gosse, 1886; Resticula gelida Harring & Myers, 1922; R. nyssa Harring & Myers, 1924; Sinantherina ariprepes Edmonson, 1939; S. semibullata (Thorpe, 1889); Sphyrias lofauna (Rousselet, 1910); Testudinella incisa (Tarnetz, 1892); Tetrasiphon hydrocera Ehrenberg, 1840 and Trichocerca musculus (Hauer, 1935). Notommata tripus Ehrenberg, 1838 earlier observed from Mexico, but not illustrated, has been depicted in the present study. Comments to diagnostic characteristics and the zoogeographical distribution of the new rotifer taxa are given. All new records have been illustrated.     

Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation Fluctuations in Selected Parts of Europe During the Sixteenth Century

The article in hand presents a comparative analysis of unweighted thermic and hygric index series of different European regions (northern Switzerland, Germany, the Czech Republic, northern Italy, ancient Hungary, Poland and Spain). Besides methodological aspects about the formation of indices, especially the progress as well as the question of similarity development of these series in the 16th century are discussed and shown on the balance sheet. It becomes evident that with respect to the temperature on the level of unweighted indices the European regions of Germany, the Czech Republic and Switzerland are very similar during all seasons. In winter and summer these correlations are especially evident, during the transitional seasons they are smaller. Larger differences exist between the central European core region and the adjacent areas of research. In principle, the hygric differences are larger than the thermic ones.In the course of the sixteenth century marked cooling phases occurred during all seasons with increasing accentuation. These phases were typical for the climate of the Little Ice Age. In addition to this long-term analysis, some outstanding years of extreme weather like those of 1540, 1573 and 1587 are presented, in the course of which questions of climatic impact are included. Finally, recent instrumental data was used to conduct an analysis that compared the similarities between the respective regions and the similarities between the empirical data and indices. On the one hand, this confirmed the spatial pattern, on the other hand the usability of the indices.     

Distribution,Population Structure, ­Population Biomass and Morphological Characteristics of the Tunicate Pyura stoloniferain the Bay of Antofagasta,Chile

Abstract. The present study analyzes the distribution, population structure, population biomass and morphological characteristics of the intertidal tunicate Pyura stolonifera (Heller, 1878) in the Bay of Antofagasta, Chile, where the species shows a reduced geographical range extending around 60 – 70 km. Three sites along its distribution were studied. At the central site the tunicate presents the widest intertidal belts, reaching nearly 11 m (the mid‐intertidal‐Pyura‐zone shows the higher percent cover). Population dry biomass here averaged up to 20.45 kg·m^–2, representing one of the highest intertidal specific biomasses reported in the literature. Lower values occur towards the borders of its distribution. Population densities were over 1800 indiv.·m^–2 at mid‐intertidal‐Pyura‐belts. Crowding and competition potentially affect morphological characteristics and the energy/tissue allocation along the intertidal and geographical gradient of P. stolonifera.     

Diel changes in metal concentrations in a geogenically acidic river: Rio Agrio,Argentina

Rio Agrio in Patagonia, Argentina is a geogenically acidic stream that derives its low-pH waters from condensation of acidic gases near its headwaters on the flanks of the active Copahue Volcano. This study reports the results of three diel (24-h) water samplings in three different pH regimes (3.2, 4.4 and 6.3) along the river. Changes in the concentration and speciation of Fe dominated the diel chemical changes at all three sites, although the timing and intensity of these cycles were different in each reach. At the two acidic sampling sites, total dissolved Fe and dissolved Fe(III) concentrations decreased during the day and increased at night, whereas dissolved Fe(II) showed the reverse pattern. These cycles are explained by Fe(III) photoreduction, as well as enhanced rates of precipitation of hydrous ferric oxide (HFO) during the warm afternoon hours. A strong correlation was observed between Fe(III) and As at the furthest upstream (pH 3.2) site, most likely due to co-precipitation of As with HFO. At the downstream (pH 6.3) location, Fe(II) concentrations increased at night, as did concentrations of rare earth elements and dissolved Al. Photoreduction does not appear to be an important process at pH 6.3, although it may be indirectly responsible for the observed diel cycle of Fe(II) due to advection of photochemically produced Fe(II) from acidic upstream waters.     

On the 3-D inversion of vertical electrical soundings: Application to the South Ismailia area—Cairo desert road, Cairo, Egypt

A code for 3-D resistivity modelling and inversion of vertical electrical soundings has been developed based on the finite-element technique and regularisation method. Synthetic data were used to test the effectiveness of the code and to examine the resolving capability of the Schlumberger array in investigating 3-D resistivity distributions. The code was applied to experimental data set constituted by 35 Schlumberger soundings collected near the Cairo city in order to study the subsurface resistivity distribution. The results have shown that valuable imaging of the subsurface resistivity distribution can be constructed even when the vertical electrical soundings are acquired in a sparse field data set.     

Biological,physical and chemical properties at the Subtropical Shelf Front Zone in the SW Atlantic Continental Shelf

The physical aspects of the Subtropical Shelf Front (STSF) for the Southwest Atlantic Continental Shelf were previously described. However, only scarce data on the biology of the front is available in the literature. The main goal of this paper is to describe the physical, chemical and biological properties of the STSF found in winter 2003 and summer 2004. A cross-section was established at the historically determined location of the STSF. Nine stations were sampled in winter and seven in summer. Each section included a series of conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) stations where water samples from selected depths were filtered for nutrient determination. Surface samples were taken for chlorophyll a (Chl-a) determination and plankton net tows carried out above and below the pycnocline. Results revealed that winter was marked by an inner-shelf salinity front and that the STSF was located on the mid-shelf. The low salinity waters in the inner-shelf indicated a strong influence of freshwater, with high silicate (72 μM), suspended matter (45 mg l⁻¹), phosphate (2.70 μM) and low nitrate (1.0 μM) levels. Total dissolved nitrogen was relatively high (22.98 μM), probably due to the elevated levels of organic compound contribution close to the continental margin. Surface Chl-a concentration decreased from coastal well-mixed waters, where values up to 8.0 mg m⁻³ were registered, to offshore waters. Towards the open ocean, high subsurface nutrients values were observed, probably associated to South Atlantic Central Waters (SACW). Zooplankton and ichthyoplankton abundance followed the same trend; three different groups associated to the inner-, mid- and outer-shelf region were identified. During summer, diluted waters extended over the shelf to join the STSF in the upper layer; the concentration of inorganic nutrients decreased in shallow waters; however, high values were observed between 40 and 60 m and in deep offshore waters. Surface Chl-a ranged 0.07–1.5 mg m⁻³; winter levels were higher. Three groups of zoo and ichthyoplankton, separated by the STSF, were also identified. Results of the study performed suggest that the influence of freshwater was stronger during winter and that abundance distribution of Chl-a, copepods and ichthyoplankton was related to the Plata Plume Waters (PPW), rather than to the presence of the STSF. During summer, when the presence of freshwater decreases, plankton interactions seem to take place in the STSF.     

Baguio Mineral District: An oceanic arc witness to the geological evolution of northern Luzon,Philippines

The Baguio Mineral District exposes rock formations that evince the geological and tectonic evolution of this district from a subduction‐related marginal basin to an island arc setting. Available onshore and offshore data are consistent with an Early (onset phase) to Middle (developed phase) Miocene arc polarity reversal from the east (termination of subduction along the proto‐East Luzon Trough) to the west (initiation of subduction along the Manila Trench). Geophysical modeling and geochemical data calculation showed a 30 ± 5 km crustal thickness for the mineral district. Subduction‐related multiple arc magmatism and ophiolite accretion contributed to crustal thickening. Recent information on the Oligo–Miocene Zigzag and Klondyke formations in the mineral district reveal that the marginal basin, where these rocks were deposited, has received eroded materials from adjacent terrains characterized by siliceous lithologies. Furthermore, adakitic rocks, high permeable zones and extensional zones which are exploration markers applied to identify possible mineralization targets, are prevalent in the mineral district. The geological evolution that the district had undergone mimics the evolution of island arcs worldwide in general and northern Luzon in particular.     

Archaeogeophysical-Based Approach for Inca Archaeology: Overview and one operational application

Even if, in recent decades, the use of remote sensing technologies (from satellite, aerial and ground) for archaeology is stepping into its golden age, in Southern America geophysics for preventive archaeology is more recent and less used than in Europe, Central America and Middle East. In this paper, we provide a brief overview and show the preliminary results obtained from the investigations conducted in Chachabamba (Peru). The archaeological area is located on a strategic terrace overlooking three Inca roads, which served the most important ceremonial centres (including Machu Picchu) of the Urubamba Valley also known as the Sacred Valley. In particular, Chachabamba investigations were conducted with two principal aims: (1) to give new impetus to archaeological research with targeted investigations aimed at improving and completing the site’s knowledge framework; (2) to experiment and validate an archaeogeophysical approach to be reapplied in other sites of the Urubamba valley, including Machu Picchu, having similar characteristics as those found in Chachabamba.