Quantitative geophysical investigations of granular aquifers

Groundwater flow and storage in granular aquifers are much more amenable to analysis than in fissured reservoirs. The hydrological parameters used to describe the behaviour of a granular aquifer have been seen to be related to geophysical parameters in diverse water-bearing formations. This means that certain geophysical survey techniques are potentially useful as quantitative hydrogeological tools. Yet the study of these basic relationships and their subsequent field application have been disjointed and lacking in overal co-ordination. Consequently these quantitative hydrogeophysical procedures have not been applied to maximum advantage. The role of geophysics in quantitative studies of granular aquifers is reviewed in terms of the prediction of effective porosity and intergranular permeability from geophysical measurement. The potential usefulness of these methods manifests itself through the degree of correlation between hydrological and geophysical parameters observed from laboratory studies, borehole logging investigations or field survey data. Their application is exemplified through an ordered series of hydrogeophysical case histories. It is contended that the potential of geophysical methods in quantitative studies of this kind has by no means been fully exploited.     

From regulated access to transferable harvesting rights: Policy insights from New Zealand

The dramatic decline in yields from many of the world's fisheries has prompted an assessment of traditional regulatory approaches to management. Transferable harvesting rights provide an alternative institutional structure in fisheries management. This paper has two aims. First, it links outcomes in the fishery with institutional structure. Second, the paper identifies several important institutional variables if a transition is to be made to from command-and-control management to tradeable rights. In particular, the transition phase must deal with the expectations that attach to the status quo structure of rights in the fishery. The paper's empirical content is drawn from New Zealand's experience with the introduction of transferable harvesting rights.     

Inertia-gravity waves in the troposphere and lower stratosphere associated with a jet stream exit region

Radar measurements at Aberystwyth (52.4°N, 4.1°W) of winds at tropospheric and lower stratospheric heights are shown for 12–13 March 1994 in a region of highly curved flow, downstream of the jet maximum. The perturbations of horizontal velocity have comparable amplitudes in the troposphere and lower stratosphere with downward and upward phase propagation, respectively, in these two height regions. The sense of rotation with increasing height in hodographs of horizontal perturbation velocity derived for hourly intervals show downwards propagation of energy in the troposphere and upward propagation in the lower stratosphere with vertical wavelengths of 1.7 to 2.3 km. The results indicate inertia-gravity waves propagating in a direction similar to that of the jet stream but at smaller velocities. Some of the features observed contrast with those of previous observations of inertia-gravity waves propagating transverse to the jet stream. The interpretation of the hodographs to derive wave parameters has taken account of the vertical shear of the background wind transverse to the direction of wave propagation.     

Laboratory estimates of normal and shear fracture compliance

Laboratory estimates of the normal (B_n) and shear (B_t) compliance of artificial fractures in samples of Jurassic and Carboniferous limestone under wet and dry conditions are presented. The experiments were performed over a range of confining pressures (from 5 MPa up to 60 MPa), at ultrasonic frequencies in a Triaxial Hoek cell, using the pulse‐echo reflection technique. The results of this study confirm that the B_n/B_t ratio of a fracture is dependent on the fluid fill. A value of B_n/ B_t of less than 0.05 was obtained for our wet (honey saturated) sample which is consistent with the prediction that this ratio should be close to zero for fluid saturated fractures. Values of B_n/B_t for the dry sample are significantly higher and increase with confining pressure from 0.2 to 0.5. It is suggested that a Bn/Bt ratio of 0.5 is probably a more representative value to use in modelling studies of gas filled fractures than the common assumption that Bn ≈ Bt.     

Deep groundwater flow and geochemical processes in limestone aquifers: evidence from thermal waters in Derbyshire, England, UK

Thermal waters potentially provide information on geochemical processes acting deep within aquifers. New isotopic data on groundwater sulphate, inorganic carbon and strontium in thermal and non-thermal waters of a major limestone aquifer system in Derbyshire, England, UK, are used to constrain sulphate sources and groundwater evolution. Shallow groundwaters gain sulphate from oxidation of sulphide minerals and have relatively ¹³C-depleted dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). Thermal waters have relatively high Sr/Ca and more ¹³C-enriched DIC as a result of increased water–rock interaction. In other respects, the thermal waters define two distinct groups. Thermal waters rising at Buxton have higher Mg, Mn and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and lower Ca and SO₄, indicating flow from deep sandstone aquifers via a high permeability pathway in the limestone. By contrast, Matlock-type waters (97% of the thermal flux) have elevated sulphate concentrations derived from interaction with buried evaporites, with no chemical evidence for flow below the limestone. About 5% of the limestone area's groundwater flows to the Matlock group springs via deep regional flow and the remainder flows via local shallow paths to many non-thermal springs. Gypsum dissolution has produced significant tertiary porosity and tertiary permeability in the carbonate aquifer and this is an essential precursor to the development of karstic drainage.

---

Resumen Las aguas termales potencialmente proporcionan información sobre procesos geoquímicos que actúan a profundidad en acuíferos. Nuevos datos isotópicos de sulfatos, carbón inorgánico y estroncio en aguas termales y no-termales de un acuífero importante de caliza en Derbyshire, Inglaterra se utilizan para delinear las fuentes de sulfato y la evolución de aguas subterráneas.Las aguas subterráneas no muy profundas adquieren sulfato a través de la oxidación de minerales de sulfuro y poseen carbón inorgánico disuelto (DIC) relativamente deplatado de ¹³C. Las aguas termales muestran un ratio Sr/Ca relativamente alto y poseen (DIC) más enriquecido en¹³C, como resultado de la mayor interacción de roca-agua. En otros aspectos, los aguas termales definen dos grupos distintivos. Las aguas termales que ascienden en Buxton tienen mas Mg, Mn y ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr y menos Ca and SO₄, indicando flujo de acuíferos de areniscas profundas por un sendero de alta permeabilidad en la caliza.En contraste el tipo de agua - Matlock (97% del flujo termal) posee altas concentraciones de sulfato, derivado por interacción con evaporitas enterradas, sin evidencia química de flujo debajo de la caliza. Aproximadamente 5% del agua del área de la caliza se fluye al grupo de manantiales de Matlock a través de un flujo regional profundo y el resto fluye por senderos locales poco profundos a muchos de los manantiales no-termales. La disolución de yeso ha producido porosidad terciaria importante así como permeabilidad en el acuífero de carbonato y este es un precursor esencial del desarrollo de drenaje kárstico.

---

Résumé Les eaux thermales peuvent apporter des informations sur les processus géochimiques dans les aquifères profonds. De nouvelles données isotopiques sur les sulfates présents dans les eaux souterraines, le carbone inorganique et le strontium dans les eaux thermales et non thermales d'un système aquifère calcaire majeur dans le Derbyshire, Angleterre, Royaume Uni, sont utilisées pour comprendre les sources de sulfates et l'évolution des eaux souterraines. Les eaux souterraines phréatique s'enrichissent en sulfate via l'oxydation des minéraux sulfatés et ont un Carbone Inorganique Dissous (DIC) relativement appauvri en¹³C. Les eaux thermales ont un rapport Sr/Ca relativement plus élevé et un DIC plus enrichi en¹³C, du fait de l'interaction accrue des eaux avec les roches. En d'autres mots, les eaux thermales définissent deux groupes distincts. Les eaux thermales remontant à Buxton ont un Mg, un Mn et un rapport ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr plus hauts, mais un Ca et SO₄ plus faible, indiquant un écoulement à travers les zones perméables des aquifers gréseux. Par contraste, les eaux du type de Matlock (97% du flux thermique), possèdent des concentrations élevées en sulfates, provenant de l'interaction des eaux avec les évaporites enfouies, tandis qu'il n'existe aucune évidence chimique d'un écoulement sous les calcaires. Sur environ 5% de la surface des calcaires, les eaux souterraines alimentent des sources non-thermales. La dissolution du Gypse a produit une porosité tertiaire significative et une perméabilité dans les aquifères calcaires, et ceci est un précurseur essentiel au développement du drainage karstique.

     

The case for near-zero production of Antarctic Bottom Water

The most generally accepted production rate of Antarctic Bottom Water is 20 × 10⁶ m³/sec required by the Stommel and Arons (1960) abyssal circulation model. According to this model, after sinking in the Weddell Sea, this water flows northward into the ocean basins and upwells through the thermocline. Antarctic Bottom Water is rich in dissolved silicon but the thermocline and surface waters are almost silicon-free. If the model is valid, it follows that a removal of silicon must take place from the upwelled waters before they return southward as required by mass conservation. In the Pacific, the amount of silicon removal necessary to satisfy the model is calculated for a transpacific (SCORPIO) section at 28°S. This calculated removal is 30 × 10¹⁴g SiO₂/yr, which is many times the rate of silicon input to the world oceans. Two mechanisms for silicon removal north of 28°S are discussed, but reasons are given for rejecting both of them. It is concluded that production of Antarctic Bottom Water is negligible at the present time.     

云南个旧卡房铜矿床地质地球化学特征及其成因探讨

云南个旧是世界上最大的锡多金属矿田,卡房铜矿是个旧矿田主要的产铜区。卡房铜矿主要的矿床类型有两类:玄武岩层中或玄武岩与大理岩层间的似层状矿体以及花岗岩与围岩接触带矿体。围岩蚀变主要有夕卡岩化、阳起石化和金云母化。电子探针分析结果显示,卡房铜矿夕卡岩中的辉石主要为透辉石-钙铁辉石系列,石榴子石端元组分以钙铝榴石-钙铁榴石为主。流体包裹体及氢、氧同位素研究显示,从主成矿期到后成矿期,流体温度有显著降低(从260～360℃到160～280℃),而流体盐度则基本保持不变(从1.74%～12.51%到1.74%～11.93%)。氢、氧同位素组成表明,早期成矿流体主要以岩浆水为主,而晚期成矿流体可能在上升过程中与地层中的大气降水相混合。硫同位素分析结果表明,卡房铜矿似层状矿体中硫化物的硫来源于三叠系玄武岩,而燕山期花岗岩和三叠纪玄武岩共同为卡房铜矿接触带矿体提供了成矿所需的大部分的硫。铅同位素分析结果显示,卡房铜矿似层状矿体的成矿物质主要来源于三叠系玄武岩,而接触带矿体的铅可能主要来源于燕山期花岗岩。     

Letter to the editor Complete maps of the aspect sensitivity of VHF atmospheric radar echoes

Using the MU radar at Shigaraki, Japan (34.85°N, 136.10°E), we measure the power distribution pattern of VHF radar echoes from the mid-troposphere. The large number of radar beam-pointing directions (320) allows the mapping of echo power from 0° to 40° from zenith, and also the dependence on azimuth, which has not been achieved before at VHF wavelengths. The results show how vertical shear of the horizontal wind is associated with a definite skewing of the VHF echo power distribution, for beam angles as far as 30° or more from zenith, so that aspect sensitivity cannot be assumed negligible at any beam-pointing angle that most existing VHF radars are able to use. Consequently, the use of VHF echo power to calculate intensity of atmospheric turbulence, which assumes only isotropic backscatter at large beam zenith angles, will sometimes not be valid.     

Geology of a submarine volcanic caldera in the Tonga Arc: Dive results

A submersible dive conducted on Volcano #1 located near 21° 09′S–175° 45′W on the Tonga Arc showed that the volcanic edifice with a caldera floor area of 30 km² located at and 450 m deep (b.s.l.=below sea level) was constructed recently during episodic volcanism. The sequential volcanic events are recorded along a faulted terrain formed in response to the collapse of the caldera wall. The post-caldera events are marked by occasional eruptions that have built scoriaceous cones associated with low-temperature hydrothermal venting and localized small-scale collapse features. The stratigraphy of the caldera wall indicates that the volcano was built by explosive volcanism alternating with quieter eruptive events. The repeated, violent explosive events formed ≤ 20 m thick sequences composed of alternating fine-grained ash beds and sand- to boulder-sized pyroclastic layers. During quieter volcanic events, dykes and massive flows intruded and/or accompanied the eruption of the volcaniclastic deposits throughout the sections of the wall explored. Massive columnar-jointed flows consist of viscous, silica-rich lavas forming tabular and giant radial-jointed (GRJ) flows formed in large (> 8 m in diameter) conduits and extruded onto the sea floor. In addition, massive lava flows forming sill-like complexes were observed underneath and near the giant radial-jointed columnar flows. Also, an intermittent quiet type of eruption produced vesicular lava flows, which are interbedded within the pyroclastic layered deposits. The massive and vesicular lavas consist of andesites and dacites with Ca-depleted (pigeonite) and Ca-enriched (salite) pyroxene, and intermediate (andesine-labradorite) to calcic (bytownite) plagioclase. They are depleted in total alkalis (Na₂O + K₂O < 3%), K₂O (< 1%), Zr/Y (< 1.8), Nb/Zr (< 0.01) and light Rare Earth Elements. We interpret that these andesite–dacite series were erupted after undergoing crystal-liquid fractionation in a magma chamber located underneath the caldera floor.     

Scientific applications of downhole measurements in the ocean basins

Abstract The well logging activity of the Ocean Drilling Programme, which deploys the most technically advanced suite of downhole measurements available for routine use, is providing new opportunities for advancement in marine geoscience. Particular examples are cited of the application of wireline data to problems associated with global environmental changes, crust/ mantle interactions, crustal fluid circulation in the context of a global geochemical budget, lithospheric stress and deformation, and evolutionary processes in oceanic communities. Further technological developments will expand the scientific role of downhole measurements still further, especially in terms of the integration of geophysical data at different scales of measurement, and the interpretation of these data in accordance with; global scientific themes.