Source mechanisms of the June 2004 Tabuk earthquake sequence, Eastern Red Sea margin, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

A sequence of earthquakes took place in June 2004 approximately 60 km southeast of Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The first felt event (M _W = 3.9) occurred on June 9 and caused minor damage in the epicentral area according to the National Earthquake Information Center and the local reports. Another moderate size event occurred on June 22 (M _W = 5.1) and was followed by a few felt aftershocks without any reported damage. This earthquake sequence caused considerable alarm at Tabuk and highlights the fact that damaging earthquakes can occur in this region away from the major plate boundary in the Red Sea. Being the largest well-recorded event in the area for which the digital and broadband records from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Cyprus, and Kuwait are available, it provides an excellent opportunity to study the tectonic process and present day stress field acting on this area. The digital records from these regional networks were used to relocate the largest three events of this sequence. Focal mechanisms were obtained from full waveform inversion and indicate normal faulting mechanisms with two nodal planes oriented NW–SE in parallel to the faults bounding the Tabuk graben and the Red Sea rift axis. These events originated at shallow focal depths of 4–5 km, possibly contributing to the widely felt ground motions. These events offer a unique opportunity to study the active tectonics of the region as well as inform future studies of seismic hazard in northwestern Saudi Arabia, the Gulf of Aqaba, and eastern Egypt.     

The October 11, 1999 and November 08, 2006 Beni Suef Earthquakes

Two felt moderate-sized earthquakes with local magnitudes of 4.9 on October 11, 1999 and 4.3 on November 08, 2006 occurred southeast of Beni Suef and Cairo cities. Being well recorded by the digital Egyptian National Seismic Network (ENSN) and some regional broadband stations, they provided us with a unique opportunity to study the tectonic process and present-day stress field acting on the northern part of the Eastern Desert of Egypt. In this study, we analyze the main shocks of these earthquakes and present 15 well recorded aftershocks (0.9 ≤ ML ≤ 3.3) which have small errors on both horizontal and vertical axes. The relocation analysis using the double difference algorithm clearly reveals a NW trending fault for the 1999 earthquake. The spatial distribution of its aftershocks indicates a propagation of rupture from the SW towards the NW along a fault length ~5 km dipping nearly ~40°SW. We also determined the focal mechanisms of the two main shocks by two methods (polarities and amplitudes ratios of P, S_V and S_H and regional waveform inversion). Our results indicate a normal faulting mechanism with a slight shear component for the first event, while pure normal faulting for the second one. The spatial distribution of the 1999 aftershocks sequence along with the retrieved focal mechanism confirmed the NW plane as the true fault plane. While for the 2006 event, the few aftershocks do not reveal any fault geometry; its focal mechanism indicated a pure normal fault nearly trending WNW-ESE that corresponds more likely to the extension of the 1999 earthquake fault. The seismicity distribution between the two earthquake sequences reveals a noticeable gap that may be a site of a future event. The NNE-SSW extensional stress indicated by the mechanisms of these events is in agreement with the regional stress field and the rifting of the northern Red Sea in its northern branches (Gulf of Suez and Gulf of Aqaba). The source parameters (seismic moment, moment magnitude, fault radius, stress drop and displacement across the fault) were also estimated and compared based on both the regional waveform inversion and the displacement spectra and interpreted in the context of the tectonic setting. The obtained results imply a reactivation of the pre-exiting NW-SE faults as a result of extensional deformation from the northern Red Sea-Gulf of Suez rifts.     

Gravimetric geoid for Egypt implementing Moho depths and optimal geoid fitting approach

The aim of this paper is to investigate the effect of implementing the experimentally determined GEMMA Moho depths (GOCE Exploitation for Moho Modeling and Applications), which are partly seismically estimated, in gravimetric geoid computation in Egypt. The window remove-restore technique has been proposed to avoid the double consideration of the topographic-isostatic masses in the neighbourhood of the computational point. The plate loading theory has been used to model the seismically determined Moho depths. A constant density contrast between the lower crust and the upper mantle has been postulated. The tailored geopotential model EGTGM2014 has been used for the long wavelength contributions of the Earth’s gravity field. A comparison with a geoid computed using the EGM2008 and Airy floating hypothesis has been made. For all cases, a gravimetric geoid for Egypt has been computed using Stokes’ integral in the frequency domain by 1-D FFT technique. The computed geoids are fitted to the GPS-levelling derived geoid using an optimum geoid fitting technique for Egypt introduced by the author. The results show that using the seismically determined Moho depths within the plate loading theory and the EGTGM2014 tailored geopotential model gives a geoid with external accuracy of about 16 cm.     

High-order Stochastic Simulation of Complex Spatially Distributed Natural Phenomena

Spatially distributed and varying natural phenomena encountered in geoscience and engineering problem solving are typically incompatible with Gaussian models, exhibiting nonlinear spatial patterns and complex, multiple-point connectivity of extreme values. Stochastic simulation of such phenomena is historically founded on second-order spatial statistical approaches, which are limited in their capacity to model complex spatial uncertainty. The newer multiple-point (MP) simulation framework addresses past limits by establishing the concept of a training image, and, arguably, has its own drawbacks. An alternative to current MP approaches is founded upon new high-order measures of spatial complexity, termed “high-order spatial cumulants.” These are combinations of moments of statistical parameters that characterize non-Gaussian random fields and can describe complex spatial information. Stochastic simulation of complex spatial processes is developed based on high-order spatial cumulants in the high-dimensional space of Legendre polynomials. Starting with discrete Legendre polynomials, a set of discrete orthogonal cumulants is introduced as a tool to characterize spatial shapes. Weighted orthonormal Legendre polynomials define the so-called Legendre cumulants that are high-order conditional spatial cumulants inferred from training images and are combined with available sparse data sets. Advantages of the high-order sequential simulation approach developed herein include the absence of any distribution-related assumptions and pre- or post-processing steps. The method is shown to generate realizations of complex spatial patterns, reproduce bimodal data distributions, data variograms, and high-order spatial cumulants of the data. In addition, it is shown that the available hard data dominate the simulation process and have a definitive effect on the simulated realizations, whereas the training images are only used to fill in high-order relations that cannot be inferred from data. Compared to the MP framework, the proposed approach is data-driven and consistently reconstructs the lower-order spatial complexity in the data used, in addition to high order.     

Numerical analysis of the response of battered piles to inclined pullout loads

This paper presents a three‐dimensional finite element analysis of the response of battered piles to the combined lateral and vertical pullout loads. Analyses are carried out using an elastoplastic constitutive law based on the non‐associated Mohr–Coulomb criterion. The influence of the contact condition at the pile–soil interface is also investigated. Analyses show that the load's inclination with regard to the pile's axis affects both the lateral and axial response of the battered piles. Analyses also show that the pullout capacity of battered piles is affected by the pile's inclination regarding the vertical axis as well as the load's inclination regarding the pile's axis. The investigation of the influence of the contact condition at the soil–pile interface shows that the possibility of sliding at the soil–pile interface affects the response of battered piles subjected to loads with low inclination regarding the pile's axis. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

科尔沁沙地沙丘植被对丘间低地水体的影响北大核心CSCD

在流动沙丘以建立固沙植被的方式向固定沙丘转化的过程中,植被将改变沙丘水分再分配过程,影响沙丘的水文调节功能,甚至可能引起沙丘生态系统水资源失衡。为探明植被对沙丘水文调解功能的影响,以科尔沁沙地不同植被盖度的沙丘-丘间地水体组合体为研究对象,于2021年生长季开展了沙丘植被盖度、丘间低地水体变化特征、气象因素的动态观测,以期明确沙丘植被变化对丘间低地水体的影响。结果表明:(1)沙丘植被盖度影响沙丘水分对外补给能力,随着沙丘表面固沙植被盖度增加,单位面积沙丘对外水分补给能力降低,表现为流动沙丘(58.25 mm)>半固定沙丘(24.75 mm)>固定沙丘(14.87 mm),占同期降水量的比例分别为21.39%、9.09%、5.46%。(2)生长季流域降水补给量、植被盖度、气温显著影响沙丘对丘间低地水体的水分补给量,丘间低地水体获补量与流域降水补给量显著正相关,与植被盖度、气温极显著负相关。(3)依据水量平衡原理推导出沙丘水分对外补给量(Y)与影响因素(降水补给量X_(1),植被盖度X_(2),平均气温X_(3))的关系模型,Y=1052.737+0.1X_(1)-11.459X_(2)-37.585X_(3),R2=0.641。可根据模型预测沙丘水分对外补给量,为流动沙丘生物治理模式的合理选择提供支持。     

The continuum and line spectra of SGR 1806-20 bursts

The defining property of Soft Gamma Repeaters is the emission of short, bright bursts of X-rays and soft γ-rays. Here we present the continuum and line spectral properties of a large sample of bursts from SGR 1806-20, observed with the Proportional Counter Array (PCA) onboard the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). Using 10 trail spectral models (5 single and 5 two component models), we find that the burst continua are best fitted by the single component models: cutoff power-law, optically thin bremsstrahlung, and simple power-law. Time resolved spectroscopy show that there are two absorption lines at ∼5 keV and 20 keV in some bursts. The lines are relatively narrow with 90% upper limit on the line widths of 0.5–1.5 keV for the 5 keV feature and 1–3 keV for the 20 keV feature. Both lines have considerable equivalent width of 330–850 eV for the 5 keV feature and 780–2590 eV for the 20 keV feature. We examined whether theses spectral lines are dependent upon the choice of a particular continuum model and find no such dependence. Besides, we find that the 5 keV feature is pronounced with high confidence in the cumulative joint spectrum of the entire burst sample, both in the individual detectors of the PCA and in the co-added detectors spectrum. We confront the features against possible instrumental effects and find that none can account for the observed line properties. The two features do not seem to be connected to the same physical mechanism because (1) they do not always occur simultaneously, (2) while the 5 keV feature occurs at about the same energy, the 20 keV line centroid varies significantly from burst to burst over the range 18–22 keV, and (3) the centroid of the lines shows anti-correlated red/blue shifts. The transient appearance of the features in the individual bursts and in portions of the same burst, together with the spectral evolution seen in some bursts point to a complex emission mechanism that requires further investigation.      

Numerical Simulation of Groundwater Flow and Vulnerability in Wadi El-Natrun Depression and Vicinities,West Nile Delta,Egypt

During the last 25 years, rapid and unplanned land reclamation activity has been carried out in the areas located in both south and east of Wadi El - Natrun Depression of Egypt. Accordingly, negative effects on groundwater levels and vulnerability are frequently caused by localized high levels of abstraction and the return-flow of polluted irrigation water respectively. A groundwater model is a computational method that presents an approximation of an underground water system. In this study the groundwater system is simulated both in quantity and quality by using Mass Balance Transfer Model (NETPATH), Groundwater Modeling System (GMS) and DRASTIC Model to investigate the water - rock interactions, groundwater levels drawdown and vulnerability respectively. Three main geochemical processes namely dedolomitisation, dissolution of halite and silicate weathering were estimated during the flow path. The present over-abstraction of groundwater (105.84 million m³/year) has induced a general head drawdown from 3 to 40 m in years 2015 and 2050 respectively. Best estimate using a 3D GMS hydraulic model was (157000 m³/day) a strategy proposed for the management of groundwater without critical depletion (second scenario). The results document the extent to which a high drawdown can greatly reach 4 m by the end of simulation year 2050. The vulnerability maps of groundwater were constructed using the DRASTIC index method. The results indicated that, the southeastern and central portions of the study area are having high vulnerability rate (> 110). Modified DRASTIC map showed many more dominant high risk areas in the eastern parts of the study area that were low risk, which may be attributed to return flow of polluted irrigation water.     

Adaptive boxcar background filtering for real-time GPR utility detection

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) investigation tools are increasingly used for real-time detection of underground utilities. Background noise is an annoying problem, because it sometimes masks the reflection from objects of interest. This study introduces an efficient background removal algorithm, which is so simple that it can be incorporated into GPR logging devices. The algorithm is based on the recently published outliers-out algorithm for stacking seismic data. Experiments conducted on both synthetic and field GPR data show that proposed background removal algorithm yields much better results than the commonly used average trace subtraction algorithm in a relatively comparable computational time.