Integrated use of archival aerial photogrammetry,GNSS, and InSAR data for the monitoring of the Patigno landslide (Northern Apennines,Italy)

Landslides - The morphological changes of unstable areas can be identified using different methodologies that allow repeated surveys over time. The integration between the data obtained from...     

Development of methods to collect and analyze gasoline range (C5–C12) hydrocarbons from seabed sediments as indicators of subsurface hydrocarbon generation and entrapment

Gasoline range hydrocarbons (C₅–C₁₂) are usually associated with petroleum generation, yet few surface geochemical surveys have attempted to evaluate the gasoline range hydrocarbons in near-surface marine sediments. This is due to the difficulty in capturing and analyzing this volatile range of hydrocarbons with minimum loss and evaporative fractionation. In this study, a Headspace Solid Phase Microextraction (HSPME) method was developed and evaluated for the purpose of capturing the gasoline range of hydrocarbons within unconsolidated sediment using a solventless protocol.     

A technique to test finite difference schemes to model some geophysical processes in a geological structure

A preliminary problem to solve in the set-up of a mathematical model simulating a geophysical process is the choice of a suitable discrete scheme to approximate the governing differential equations. This paper presents a simple technique to test finite difference schemes used in the modeling of geophysical processes occurring in a geological structure. This technique consists in generating analytical solutions similar to the ones characterizing a geophysical process, given general information on some relevant parameters. Useful information for the choice of the discrete scheme to employ in the mathematical model simulating the original geophysical process can be obtained from the comparison between the analytical solution and the approximated numerical solutions generated by means of different discrete schemes. Two classes of numerical examples approximating the differential equation that governs the steady state earth's heat flow have been treated using three different finite differences schemes. The first class of examples deals with media whose phenomenological parameters vary as continuous space functions; the second class, instead, deals with media whose phenomenological parameters vary as discontinuous space functions. The finite difference schemes that have been utilized are: Centered Finite Difference Scheme (CDS), Arithmetic Mean Scheme (AMS), and Harmonic Mean Scheme (HMS).The numerical simulations showed that: the CDS may yield physically inconsistent solutions if the lattice internodal distance is too large, but in case of phenomenological parameters varying as a continuous function, this pitfall can be avoided increasing the lattice node refinement. In case of phenomenological parameters varying as a discontinuous function, instead, the CDS may yield physically inconsistent solutions for any lattice-node refinement. The HMS produced good results for both classes of examples showing to be a scheme suitable to model situations like these.     

引发意大利托斯卡纳区滑坡的区域降水阈值体系的定义——统计与环境分析(英文)

The aim of this work is the determination of regional-scale rainfall thresholds for the triggering of landslides in the Tuscany Region(Italy).The critical rainfall events related to the occurrence of 593 past landslides were characterized in terms of duration(D) and intensity(I).I and D values were plotted in a log-log diagram and a lower boundary was clearly noticeable:it was interpreted as a threshold representing the rainfall conditions associated to landsliding.That was also confirmed by a comparison with many literature thresholds,but at the same time it was clear that a similar threshold would be affected by a too large approximation to be effectively used for a regional warning system.Therefore,further analyses were performed differentiating the events on the basis of seasonality,magnitude,location,land use and lithology.None of these criteria led to discriminate among all the events different groups to be characterized by a specific and more effective threshold.This outcome could be interpreted as the demonstration that at regional scale the best results are obtained by the simplest ap-proach,in our case an empirical black box model which accounts only for two rainfall pa-rameters(I and D).So a set of thresholds could be conveniently defined using a statistical approach:four thresholds corresponding to four severity levels were defined by means of the prediction interval technique and we developed a prototype warning system based on rainfall recordings or weather forecasts.     

Stability of streambanks formed in partially saturated soils and effects of negative pore water pressures: the Sieve River (Italy)

Streambanks of alluvial channels are usually composed of loose materials, which are unsaturated in ambient conditions. Unsaturated soils are subject to negative pore water pressures, which cause an apparent cohesion. The latter is the main factor in allowing the stability of near-vertical banks. Even during moderate in-bank flow events, the apparent cohesion can be strongly reduced as the material approaches full saturation; therefore, during the drawdown phase, as the confining pressure of the water in the channel disappears, a bank failure is likely to occur. Channel bed-level lowering along the Sieve River, Central Italy, has caused widespread bank instability. A geomorphological reconnaissance of forms and processes was followed by in situ tests to determine the shear strength of the banks. Interpretation of the tests and a streambank stability analysis were based on concepts of soil mechanics for unsaturated soils, in order to obtain relations between bank angle and height in limit equilibrium conditions. A stability chart was obtained with curves for different apparent cohesion values, and a stability analysis was performed taking into account the effects of flow events. In order to investigate the pore pressure effects, a series of piezo-tensiometers were installed in a streambank of the Sieve River. Data from a 1 year monitoring period show variations in pore water pressure and matric suction as a consequence of rainfall, evapotranspiration, and water stage variations. A planar failure with a tension crack occurred in the upper cohesive part of the bank during December 1996. The safety factor has been expressed as a function of the geometry of the bank and of the shear strength of the material. Safety factor variations through time are therefore shown as a function of seasonal variations in matric suction.     

Effect of Pumice and Sand on the Sustainability of Granular Iron Beds for the Aqueous Removal of CuII,NiII, and ZnII

Current knowledge of the basic principles underlying the design of Fe⁰ beds is weak. The volumetric expansive nature of iron corrosion was identified as the major factor determining the sustainability of Fe⁰ beds. This work attempts to systematically verify developed concepts. Pumice and sand were admixed to 200 g of Fe⁰ in column studies (50:50 volumetric proportion). Reference systems containing 100% of each material have been also investigated. The mean grain size of the used materials (in mm) were 0.28 (sand), 0.30 (pumice), and 0.50 (Fe⁰). The five studied systems were characterized (i) by the time dependent evolution of their hydraulic conductivity (permeability) and (ii) for their efficiency for aqueous removal of Cu^II, Ni^II, and Zn^II (about 0.3 mM of each). Results showed unequivocally that (i) quantitative contaminant removal was coupled to the presence of Fe⁰, (ii) additive admixture lengthened the service life of Fe⁰ beds, and (iii) pumice was the best admixing agent for sustaining permeability while the Fe⁰/sand column was the most efficient for contaminant removal. The evolution of the permeability was well‐fitted by the approach that the inflowing solution contained dissolved O₂. The achieved results are regarded as starting point for a systematic research to optimize/support Fe⁰ filter design.     

Biostratinomy and facies analysis of the upper Cretaceous oyster storm shell beds of the Duwi formation, Qusseir District, Red Sea Region, Egypt

The Maastrichtian oyster Lopha villei (Coquand) occurs abundantly in the upper part of the Duwi Formation in the Red Sea region, Egypt. It forms thin undulating sharp-based shell beds that comprise both reclining and encrusting morphotypes of Lopha villei. Bed-by-bed biostratinomic and facies analyses of these shell beds confirm their shallow marine origin and formation by storm events. A tempestite model, explaining the mode of formation and the idealized sequence of events of such storm shell beds, has been inferred.