Evidence of multiple evaporite recycling processes in a salt‐tectonic context,Sivas Basin,Turkey

The isotopic composition of evaporites can shed light on their environment of precipitation and their subsequent recycling processes. In this study, we performed Sr, O and S isotopic analyses on evaporitic sulphates in the halokinetic Sivas Basin. The main objectives were to decipher the age and origin of the evaporites responsible for the salt tectonics, and to test whether diapir dissolution acts as the source of younger evaporitic layers in continental mini‐basins. The Sr isotopes demonstrate that the first evaporites precipitated from seawater during the Middle–Late Eocene. The similar isotopic values measured in the halokinetic domain confirm that the Eocene evaporites triggered the salt tectonics and were continuously recycled in Oligo‐Miocene mini‐basins as lacustrine to sabkha evaporites. Modern halite precipitates suggest that the dissolution and recycling of diapiric halite is ongoing. This study demonstrates the efficiency of isotopic analyses in constraining evaporite recycling processes in continental halokinetic domains.     

A superposition scheme to obtain fundamental boundary element solutions in multi‐layered elastic media

A superposition scheme is proposed to obtain a fundamental solution for boundary elements in multi‐layered elastic media. A three‐layered elastic region is obtained by superposing two sets of bonded half‐planes and subtracting one infinite plane. Therefore, the solution for an element in a layered media can be expressed in terms of bonded half‐plane solutions and an infinite‐plane solution. The major advantages of this superposition scheme are: (1) it is unnecessary to introduce elements at the interface, (2) it can be extended to higher‐order element, and (3) it may be applicable to three dimensions easily. The accuracy and performance of the developed model is illustrated by two examples. For the problem of a pressurized two‐dimensional crack within a three‐layered system, the comparison with other numerical results shows the model is quite accurate and efficient. The model is also used for a study of a practical two‐dimensional mining problem in South Africa, i.e. stoping through a dyke with material properties different from the host rock. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spatial coherency analysis of seismic ground motions from a rock site dense array implemented during the Kefalonia 2014 aftershock sequence

The objective of studies presented in this paper is to analyse the spatial incoherency of seismic ground motions using signals from a velocimeter dense array located on a rock site, recording the aftershock sequence of the two M6 Kefalonia earthquakes that occurred in January/February 2014 (Kefalonia island, Greece). The analyses are carried out with both horizontal and vertical components of velocigrams for small separation distances of stations (<100 m). The coherencies of seismic ground motions identified from strong motion windows are compared with those identified from coda parts of signals. It is realized that there is no significant difference between the coherencies estimated from those two parts of signals. The influence of earthquake event number on the result of coherencies and the dispersions of coherencies estimated from different earthquake events are presented. Finally, coherencies estimated from the dense array are compared with several coherency models proposed and widely used in the literature. The possibility of modifying some parameters of those existing coherency models to fit with in situ coherencies are discussed and presented. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The seagrass skeletal assemblage from modern to fossil and from tropical to temperate: Insight from Maldivian and Mediterranean examples

Seagrasses are marine angiosperms that form extensive submarine meadows in the photic zone where carbonate producing biota dwell as epiphytes on the leaves or as infaunal forms, and act as prolific carbonate sediment factories. Because seagrasses have a low preservation potential and records of exceptionally well‐preserved and plant material from marine settings are rare, these palaeoenvironments are difficult to identify in the rock record. Consequently, sedimentological and palaeontological proxies are the main indicators of the presence of seagrass‐dominated ecosystems. This work investigates the skeletal assemblage of Modern (Maldivian and western Mediterranean) and fossil (Eocene; Apula and Oman carbonate platforms and Oligocene; Malta platform) seagrass examples to characterize the skeletal assemblage of modern and fossil seagrasses. Two main types of grains, calcareous algae and foraminifera, constitute around 50% of the bioclastic sediment in both tropical Maldivian and temperate Mediterranean scenarios. However, in the tropical setting they are represented by green algae (Halimeda), while in the Mediterranean they are represented by corallinacean red algae. In contrast, in the Eocene examples, the foraminifera are the most conspicuous group and the green algae are also abundant. The opposite occurs in the Maltese Chattian, which is dominated by coralline algae (mean 42%), although the foraminifera are still abundant. It is suggested to use the term foralgal to identify the seagrass skeletal assemblage. To discriminate between red algae and green algae dominance, the introduction of the prefixes ‘GA’ (green algae) and ‘RA’ (red algae) is proposed. The investigated examples provide evidence that the green algae–foralgal assemblage is typical of tropical, not excessively dense seagrass meadows, characterized by a well‐illuminated substrate to support the development and calcification of the Halimeda thallus. Contrarily, the red algae‐foralgal assemblage is typical of high density tropical to subtropical seagrass meadows which create very dense oligophotic conditions on the sea floor or in temperate settings where Halimeda cannot calcify.     

Assessment of gully erosion rates through interviews and measurements: a case study from northern Ethiopia

Gullying has been widespread in the Ethiopian Highlands during the 20th century. It threatens the soil resource, lowers crop yields in intergully areas through enhanced drainage and desiccation, and aggravates flooding and reservoir siltation. Knowing the age and rates of gully development during the last few decades will help explain the reasons for current land degradation. In the absence of historical written or photographic documentation, the AGERTIM method (Assessment of Gully Erosion Rates Through Interviews and Measurements) has been developed. It comprises measurements of contemporary gully volumes, monitoring of gully evolution over several years and semi‐structured interview techniques. Gully erosion rates in the Dogu'a Tembien District, Tigray, Ethiopia, were estimated in three representative case‐study areas. In Dingilet, gullying started around 1965 after gradual environmental changes (removal of vegetation from cropland in the catchment and eucalyptus plantation in the valley bottom); rill‐like incisions grew into a gully, which increased rapidly in the drier period between 1977 and 1990. The estimated evolution of the total gully volume in the other areas show patterns similar to those of the Dingilet gully. Average gully erosion rate over the last 50 years is 6·2 t ha^?1 a^?1. Since 1995, no new gullies have developed in the study area. Area‐specific short‐term gully erosion rates are now on average 1·1 t ha^?1 a^?1. The successful application of the AGERTIM method requires an understanding of the geomorphology of the study area and an integration of the researchers with the rural society. It reveals that rapid gully development in the study area is some 50 years old and is mainly caused by human‐induced environmental degradation. Under the present‐day conditions of ‘normal’ rain and catchment‐wide soil and water conservation, gully erosion rates are decreasing. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于边际效应分析的海洋资源环境承载力评估

海洋资源环境的开发利用可视为将海洋资源环境作为生产投入要素的广义生产行为,因此受边际效应递减规律的制约。本研究基于资源环境边际效应的经济学视角,以对海洋资源环境破坏较大的填海造地建设为研究重点,通过基于GIS的海洋资源环境边际机会成本评估和基于边际效应分析的海洋资源环境承载力评估模型,建立海洋资源环境承载力的评估理论和方法,重新认识海洋资源环境承载力在海域管理绩效评估和科学决策中的重要作用,为区域海洋资源优化配置提供新的方法体系;关键成果是构建基于边际效应分析的海洋资源环境承载力评估模型,模型将海洋资源环境纳入宏观生产投入要素,由宏观要素的边际收益测算承载力极限阈值,其中对海洋资源环境的市场价值和非市场价值的正确评估是承载力评估的关键。     

Derivative‐Assisted Classification of Fractured Zones Crossing a Deep Borehole

In this study, the derivative analysis using the derivative of drawdown with respect to log‐time was utilized to determine candidates for hydraulic conductor domains (HCDs). At a 500‐m deep borehole in the study site, the fractured rocks crossing the borehole were first classified in fractured and nonfractured zones by core logging and geophysical loggings, such as acoustic televiewing, density, and flow loggings. After conducting the hydraulic tests such as constant head withdrawal and recovery tests at the fractured zones and the nonfractured zones, the derivative analyses were carried out, of which the results were evaluated to determine the candidates for HCDs. For the nonfractured zones, the diagnostic plot has only a big hump indicating poor connection of the background fractures to the permeable geologic media, while those of the candidates for HCDs show various flow regimes. On the basis of these results, the candidates for HCDs among the fractured zones were determined. From discussion on the results, the combination of the spacing analysis and derivative analysis following a hydraulic test is recommended for determining the candidates for HCDs rather than other geophysical loggings.     

The timing of salt structure growth in the Southern Permian Basin (Central Europe) and implications for basin dynamics

In this paper, a literature‐based compilation of the timing and history of salt tectonics in the Southern Permian Basin (Central Europe) is presented. The tectono‐stratigraphic evolution of the Southern Permian Basin is influenced by salt movement and the structural development of various types of salt structures. The compilation presented here was used to characterize the following syndepositional growth stages of the salt structures: (a) “phase of initiation”; (b) phase of fastest growth (“main activity”); and (c) phase of burial’. We have also mapped the spatial pattern of potential mechanisms that triggered the initiation of salt structures over the area studied and summarized them for distinct regions (sub‐basins, platforms, etc.). The data base compiled and the set of maps produced from it provide a detailed overview of the spatial and temporal distribution of salt tectonic activity enabling the correlation of tectonic phases between specific regions of the entire Southern Permian Basin. Accordingly, salt movements were initiated in deeply subsided graben structures and fault zones during the Early and Middle Triassic. In these areas, salt structures reached their phase of main activity already during the Late Triassic or the Jurassic and were mostly buried during the Early Cretaceous. Salt structures in less subsided sub‐basins and platform regions of the Southern Permian Basin mostly started to grow during the Late Triassic. The subsequent phase of main activity of these salt structures took place from the Late Cretaceous to the Cenozoic. The analysis of the trigger mechanisms revealed that most salt structures were initiated by large‐offset normal faults in the sub‐salt basement in the large graben structures and minor normal faulting associated with thin‐skinned extension in the less subsided basin parts.