Spectral mapping of rock weathering degrees on granite using hyperspectral DAIS 7915 spectrometer data

Rocks are weathered by chemical and physical processes into a mixture of loose material that produces soil. Mineralogical and textural changes are involved, which can be detected by imagery through digital image processing based on rock spectral behaviour as recorded by ground and laboratory spectrometers. Different densities of vegetation cover can be mapped qualifying further evolution of the area in terms of erosion, transport and sedimentation. Hyperspectral imagery helps to map the weathering front and different degrees of weathering on granite rock through mineralogical and textural associations related to the geomorphological processes in the area on various granitic facies. Abundance of feldspar and porfidic texture on the fresh rock are the critical parameters conditioning intensity of weathering in the area. Maps spectrally elaborated gather information on lithologies, mineralogical changes produced by geomorphological processes associated to landforms, topography and climate. Such maps contribute to estimating the spatial controls of erosion, suggesting soil particle size distribution, soil aggregation, soil depth, and consequently, helping to elaborate soil loss and soil conservation maps.     

Investigation of insured earthquake damage

The assessment of the loss potential caused by natural perils is a very important task for all insurance companies working in hazard-prone markets. It has to be based on two crucial items: the frequency of events and the investigation of their effects on the insured portfolio. This article deals with the second aspect, i.e. an evaluation of the insured damage caused by two earthquakes, namely those occurring near Albstadt, Germany, on 3 September 1978, and in central Chile on 3 March 1985. The results of the analysis of the earthquake in central Chile enable the mean damage ratio (damage in relation to the value) to be related to the height and the type of construction of the buildings affected. The Albstadt earthquake data permit an illustration of the effects of the type of subsoil on the mean damage ratio. The damage to individual buildings can be described by a lognormal distribution. Possible applications of these results are mentioned.     

Comparative investigations of the efficiency of dredged sedimentation traps for the elimination of phosphorus and suspended matter in river mouth areas: A case study

Presented is a simple mass-balance approach to evaluate the efficiency of dredged sedimentation traps for the elimination of suspended matter and phosphorus (P). Sediment parameters inside and outside the traps were analysed from three river mouths in northern Germany. In the pits, a fine-grained sediment richer in iron, P, and organic content than the surrounding sediment was trapped. However, the sediment P fractionation carried out indicates that no increased release of P is expected, which is not different from those found in natural beds. Hence, these traps are a practicable measure of reducing riverine seston and P discharges to the interior coastal waters and consequently to the open Baltic. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A01BY073 00003     

Reaction of fish larvae to the water of the River Elbe at Hamburg harbour

The River Elbe is one of the biggest streams carrying pollutants of all kinds into the North Sea. However, investigations of direct effects of the Elbe water on river life are not numerous. Early life stages of common whitefish and carp were reared under comparable conditions in water of the River Elbe, and in tap water, respectively. No direct effects on the viability of the fry could be found by observing mortality and growth rates in both treatments. Whitefish larvae were severely infested by parasitic ciliates which were able to build up a dense population in the river water. In these experiments life conditions for the protozoa seemed to be much better than in tap water. Mortality rates of early larvae of common whitefish were lower in the Elbe water than in tap water. Mortality, growth rate and starvation resistance of carp fry was equal in river and tap water.     

Analysis of ground motions at Treasure Island site during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake

Site response analyses and coherence studies were conducted at the Treasure Island site where surface motions were recorded during the Loma Prieta earthquake. The analyses were conducted using a nonlinear dynamic effective stress method which took into account the effects of the liquefaction that occured at the site. The rock motions recorded at nearby Yerba Buena Island were used as input motions. Computed and recorded ground motions transverse to the direction of wave propagation and associated response spectra were in good agreement. Agreement was also good in the radial direction, except in certain frequency bands higher than 1·25 Hz. Coherence studies showed that some of these discrepancies may be due to low coherence between the Treasure Island and Yerba Buena motions in these same frequency bands.     

Plume Dispersion in Low-Wind-Speed Conditions During Project Sagebrush Phase 2, with Emphasis on Concentration Variability

Eight short-range, open-terrain SF₆ tracer tests in low wind speeds were conducted during Phase 2 of Project Sagebrush using continuous releases. Four tests were made during very unstable conditions in July and August 2016, and four during very stable conditions in October 2016. All tests featured 10-min averaging and 1-Hz sampling of tracer concentrations together with an extensive suite of meteorological measurements. We find that the uncertainty in well-mixed daytime measurements of tracer concentrations, using the absolute value of the relative percentage difference in collocated duplicate samplers, approaches a downwind limit of about 7–8%. Concentration variability in collocated sampling, due to stochastic factors and independent of measurement uncertainty, increases the total observational uncertainty closer to the source from about 20% (daytime) to 40% (very stable conditions). Longer averaging periods moderately reduce the concentration variability. The data indicate that the large increase in concentration variability is linked with the suppression of turbulent mixing, small eddy length scales, and meandering in very stable conditions. These results should be considered when comparing observations with model predictions in evaluations.