Interpretation of the microtremor spectra at the Zafarraya basin, southern Spain

The microtremor spectra observed at the sediment-filled basin of Zafarraya show a peak near 2·8 Hz, independent of the local basin depth. Based on geoelectric and geologic data we constructed a tentative model of the site. The seismic response for vertically incident plane waves, both SH and P-SV, was computed by the finite-difference method. The observed spectral peak was found to be due to a combined effect of the 2-D basin bottom shape and the horizontally layered basin fill. Neither of the two effects explain the spectra when treated separately. Synthetic seismo-grams indicate a transitional basin behaviour, little investigated so far, between that typical of local basin-induced surface waves and a global 2-D resonance. A practical conclusion is that the site effects cannot be simply assessed by means of the basin shape ratio (thickness to half-width ratio) and the velocity contrast at the bottom.     

Geologic hazards assessment of Cairo and vicinity

The greater area from Cairo to west of Suez and a smaller area directly around Cairo are subjected to general and detailed analysis of hazard due to geological fractures. Fracture density contour maps and rose diagrams of the fracture trends are provided. Possible natural geologic hazards which might affect the area are discussed. These include landslides, block failure, earthquakes, maars, fumarolic activity, hot springs, caves and possible rejuvenation of old fault systems.     

Croissance et reproduction de l'omble-chevalier,Salvelinus alpinus (L.), dans le lac de Neuchâtel (Suisse)

The arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) which has disappeared from Lake Neuchatel near 1963, has been reintroduced into this lake since 1979. In this study, growth and reproduction of char have been analyzed 4 years after reintroduction. Age determination based on scales were more reliable then those based on otoliths. Growth rate decreased from the cohort born in 1979 to the cohort born in 1982. Nevertheless growth of char in Lake Neuchatel is fast compared to other char populations. About 33% of the males were sexually mature in the second year of life. At this age, no females, and in the third year of life, only 18% of the females were mature. Most fish of both sex were mature at an age of 4 years. A high correlation was found for data taken from other authors between fecundity and length of char. The data from Lake Neuchatel char (this study) fit very well with this general relation.      

National minorities as an element of the demographic and spatial structure of the Alpine-Adriatic-Pannonian region

The paper discusses minorities and their problems along borders of post-WWII Europe and of nation states formed in the early 1990's. One focuses on the socio-geographic conditions of the territory settled by minorities. These territories are most often peripheral, less developed areas of the state and are, because of the constant ignorance of the local culture and language, conflict regions, where interests of the minority and majority population of the state, as well as of the neighboring countries clash. Finally, an attempt of a cross-cultural comparison is undertaken to distinguish among major elements of the minority (protection) arrangements of the Alpen-Adria region and of the areas along the long-time closed borders of Central Europe.     

U-Pb (zircon) ages for the gneissic terrane west of the Nile,southern Egypt

The first U-Pb zircon ages are reported for the gneissic bedrock inliers previously interpreted as part of the Nile Craton. The inliers crop out in the Egyptian Western Desert, east of the Uweinat area and west of the Eastern Desert. Multi- and single-grain zircon analyses of granitoid gneiss and migmatite from Gebel Um Shagir, Aswan, and another locality approximately 160 km south-west of Aswan, yield simple discordia with near modern day Pb loss trajectories, and the following Neoproterozoic crystallization ages: 626+4/–3, 634 ± 4 and 741 ± 3 Ma. In contrast, multi- and single-grain U-Pb analyses (zircon and sphene) from an anorthositic gabbro at Gebel Kamil (22°46N 26°21E) and an anorthosite at Gebel El Asr (22°46N 31°10E) yield Archean and Paleoproterozoic emplacement ages. The former yield a crystallization age of > 2.67 Ga and a metamorphic age of 2.0 Ga; the latter a metamorphic age of 0.69 Ga and an inheritance age of 1.9–2.1 Ga. Because high grade gneiss and migmatite of Neoproterozoic, Paleoproterozoic and Archean age crop out west of the Nile, pre-Neoproterozoic crust should no longer be identified by its metamorphic grade. By contrast, mapping the anorthosite and related rocks might provide first-order estimates for the extension of pre-Neoproterozoic crust in north-east Africa. It is suggested that Archean and Paleoproterozoic crust of the Uweinat and Congo Craton are contiguous because these U-Pb (zircon) data show no evidence for a Neoproterozoic thermal overprint in the Gebel Kamil area and there is no pronounced Neoproterozoic magmatic activity south of the Uweinat inlier and north of the Congo Craton.     

Using Active Faults and Seismicity for the Strong Motion Modeling in the Eastern Rif (Northern Morocco)

— The aim of this study is to conduct a probabilistic seismic hazard analysis for the eastern Rif area in northern Morocco. The source zones were established on the basis of the seismicity database, the fracturing analysis deduced from Landsat7 ETM digital enhancement and marine seismic reflection profiles. By the use of this information together with the selected attenuation relationship, the peak ground acceleration contour maps are produced for specific return periods. The map has been divided into intervals of 0.1 degrees in both latitude and longitude to calculate the values at each grid point and draw the seismic hazard curves. The results of seismic hazard assessment are displayed as iso-acceleration contours expected to be exceeded during typical economic life times of structures.     

Response of fixed offshore platforms to wave and current loading including soil–structure interaction

Fixed offshore platforms supported by pile foundations are required to resist dynamic lateral loading due to wave forces. The response of a jacket offshore tower is affected by the flexibility and nonlinear behaviour of the supporting piles. For offshore towers supported by clusters of piles, the response to environmental loads is strongly affected by the pile–soil–pile interaction. In the present study, the response of fixed offshore platforms supported by clusters of piles is investigated. The soil resistance to the pile movement is modelled using dynamic p–y curves and t–z curves to account for soil nonlinearity and energy dissipation through radiation damping. The load transfer curves for a single pile have been modified to account for the group effect. The wave forces on the tower members and the tower response are calculated in the time domain using a finite element package (ASAS). Several parameters affecting the dynamic characteristics of the platform and the platform response have been investigated.     

Three-dimensional nonlinear analysis for seismic soil–pile-structure interaction

A three-dimensional method of analysis is presented for the seismic response of structures constructed on pile foundations. An analysis is formulated in the time domain and the effects of material nonlinearity of soil on the seismic response are investigated. A subsystem model consisting of a structure subsystem and a pile-foundation subsystem is used. Seismic response of the system is found using a successive-coupling incremental solution scheme. Both subsystems are assumed to be coupled at each time step. Material nonlinearity is accounted for by incorporating an advanced plasticity-based soil model, HiSS, in the finite element formulation. Both single piles and pile groups are considered and the effects of kinematic and inertial interaction on seismic response are investigated while considering harmonic and transient excitations. It is seen that nonlinearity significantly affects seismic response of pile foundations as well as that of structures. Effects of nonlinearity on response are dependent on the frequency of excitation with nonlinearity causing an increase in response at low frequencies of excitation.     

Première datation UPb des orthogneiss œillés de la zone axiale de la Montagne noire (Sud du Massif central) : nouveaux témoins du magmatisme ordovicien dans la chaı̂ne Varisque

We present new U–Pb results on felsic Augen orthogneisses from the Axial Zone of the Montagne Noire (French Massif Central). The data indicate Ordovician ages, 456±3 and 450±6 Ma for two samples collected at ‘Pont-de-Larn’ and ‘Gorges d'Héric’, respectively. These ages are interpreted as the igneous emplacement age of the granitic protolith. To cite this article: F. Roger et al., C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).