Atmospheric concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in an urban traffic site in Erzurum,Turkey

This study presents daily and seasonal variations of PAH concentrations in Erzurum atmosphere in summer season of 2008 and in winter seasons of 2008 and 2009. Sampling location at Erzurum urban center was selected to represent the effects of traffic (University junction). 18 PAH compounds were analyzed by GC–MS. Average total PAH concentration (gas + particulate) of 18 PAH compounds were measured during 2008 winter (431 ngm^?3) and summer (103 ngm^?3) seasons at the University junction. Daily and seasonal variations of PAH compounds were investigated and compared with other urban centers in the literature. Multiple linear regression and artificial neural network (ANN) models were constructed to determine the impacts of meteorological parameters on measured individual PAH concentrations. Results of the multiple linear regression and ANN models indicated that wind speed, wind direction and intensity of total solar radiation were the most significant factors for the measured concentrations of PAH compounds.     

Determining the degree of saturation of rocks as a function of time: A case study from mountainous area of Turkey

The aim of this study is to scrutinize whether, in terms of saturation, the 48 hour duration suggested by ISRM(International Society for Rock Mechanics) methods and ASTM(American Society for Testing and Materials) standard in rocks is sufficient or not, and to examine how the degree of saturation of rocks may be determined as a function of time. For this purpose, samples from five different rock groups including igneous(andesite, granite, andesitic tuff) and sedimentary(limestone, sandstone) exposed in Gümü?hane city which is from mountainous area of north-eastern Turkey, have been compiled. Measurements were taken on the samples left for saturation under laboratory conditions as a result of which the degree of saturation values at the end of these time periods were determined. Similarly, at the end of 48 hours, the samples were left to dry under atmospheric conditions in the laboratory environment and their time dependent degree of saturation were also calculated at different times. The changes as a function of time in the degree of saturation were then examined mathematically using non-linear, exponential and logarithmic functions. Graphs and equations related with the acquired time-degree of saturation values and the correlation coefficient(r) values for these equalities have indicated a high accordance between time and degree of saturation for the studied rock groups. The applied methodology will be beneficial for determining the degree of saturation based on time for engineering studies that will be carried out in similar lithologies.     

Late Pleistocene–Holocene history of the Golden Horn Estuary,Istanbul

The historical Golden Horn Estuary (GHE), near the confluence of the Istanbul Strait (Bosphorus) and the Sea of Marmara in the European part of Istanbul, has been used as a natural harbor since 330 a.d. The sedimentary infill of the GHE is 15–46 m thick, deposited unconformably above the turbiditic sandstones of the Carboniferous Trakya Formation. Chronostratigraphic and paleontological analyses of the infill sequence indicate that the GHE was a fluvial channel prior to 13,500 cal. a (calibrated to calendar years) B.P. It subsequently became gradually influenced by marine waters, and was a brackish-water environment until 9,500 cal. a B.P. Normal marine salinities prevailed at ca. 9,500−5,600 cal. a B.P., with suboxic/dysoxic bottom-water conditions. The increase in salinity at 9,500 cal. a B.P. was most likely caused by Mediterranean water outflow into the Black Sea through the Istanbul Strait. The estuary was influenced by large fluvial inputs between 5,600 and 1,000 cal. a B.P., possibly during a distinct pluvial period, as shown by coarse siliciclastic sediments deposited on the flanks. It has become a highly polluted environment with marked anthropogenic inputs during the last millennium. The finding that the sediment infill sequence above the Carboniferous basement is not older than about 20 ka strongly suggests that the Golden Horn Estuary acquired its present-day morphology during the late glacial–Holocene period.     

Determination of the tectonic evolution of the Edremit Gulf based on seismic reflection studies

The Edremit Gulf, which developed during the Neogene-Quaternary, is a seismically active graben in NW Anatolia (Turkey) surrounded by the Sakarya continent. The sedimentary deposits in the gulf overlie the bedrock unconformably and can be separated into two parts as upper and lower deposits based on similarity of their seismic characteristics, and because the contact between them is clear. The lower deposits are characterized in the seismic profiles by the absence of well defined, continuous reflectors and are strongly disturbed by faults. A tectonic map and structural model of the Edremit Gulf was derived from interpreting 21 deep seismic profiles trending NE–SW and NW–SE within the gulf. Two fault systems were distinguished on the basis of this compilation. The NNW–SSE trending parallel faults are low-angle normal faults formed after compression. They controlled and deformed the lower basin deposits. A syncline and anticline with a broad fold-curvature length resulted in folds that developed parallel to basin boundaries in the lower basin deposits. The ENE–WSW trending high-angle faults have controlled and deformed the northern basin of the Edremit Gulf. The folds developed within the northern lower deposits originated from the listric geometry of the faults. These faults are normal faults associated with regional N–S extension in western Anatolia. The Edremit Gulf began to open under the control of low-angle NNW–SSE trending faults that developed after the compression of western Anatolia in an E–W direction in the early Neogene. Subsequently, regional N–S extensional stress and high-angle normal faults cut the previous structures, opened the northern basin, and controlled and deformed the lower basin deposits in the gulf. As a result, the Edremit Gulf has not been controlled by any strike-slip faults or the Northern Anatolian Fault. The basin developed in the two different tectonic regimes of western Anatolia as an Aegean type cross-graben from the Neogene to Holocene.     

Assessment of lacustrine/fluvial clays as liners for waste disposal (Lake Van Basin, Turkey)

Potential use of lacustrine/fluvial type clays in Lake Van Basin (Turkey) as liner material is investigated by studying their chemical, mineralogical and technological properties. The results show dominant clay minerals being Ca-smectite along with illite, swelling chlorite, and chlorite. Na-smectite, palygorskite, and kaolin group minerals with lesser quantities are also determined in some samples. Cation exchange capacities of samples are between 12 and 23?meq/100?g; plasticity index is between 13 and 39%; calculated hydraulic conductivity is between 2.7?×?10^?9 and 4.5?×?10^?11; volumetric swelling capacity is between 6 and 10%. It is concluded that clays in the basin have suitable properties to be used as liner materials, with some localities having better clays as liner materials than the others. The results also indicate economical potential of fluvial/lacustrine clays and highlight their important role in sustainable development of environmentally sensitive areas, among them the Lake Van Basin itself.     

铬污染土壤复电阻率频散特性

不同含水率、不同铬污染物浓度土壤的复电阻率频散实验,是复电阻率探测方法评价铬渣污染场地的物理基础。实验研究发现,土壤含水率和污染物浓度的不同均会对复电阻率幅值、复电阻率相角、同相电阻率和异相电阻率的测量结果产生影响,但是异相电阻率和相角具有明显的频散特性。研究结果表明,利用基于土壤频散特性发展起来的复电阻率探测技术,可快速有效地对铬渣污染场地进行评价。     

基坑工程设计中的专家系统

介绍了基坑工程及专家系统技术, 提出用专家系统解决基坑工程中的问题的观点, 并介绍了一个实例, 证明了专家系统作为基坑工程设计的计算机辅助手段是争实可行的。     

Behaviour of steel cushions subjected to combined actions

Mild steel is relatively low-cost and easily accessible material to fabricate some structural members. It would be a significant advantage if seismic energy dissipaters that are used in structures constructed in the earthquake prone areas, could also be produced on site. In this paper, a promising seismic energy dissipater made of mild steel, so-called steel cushion (SC) is presented. It is provided experimental and analytical responses of SCs subjected to bi-axial loadings. SC rolls under the lateral loading that allows relocation of the plasticized cross-section. Henceforth, SC dissipates considerable amount of seismic energy. A series of tests were performed to achieve experimentally the behavior of SC subjected to longitudinal and transversal loading. Finite Element Models (FEMs) were also generated to reproduce the experimental backbone curves and to predict the bi-directional response properties for discrete transversal forces and plate thicknesses. Closed-form equations were derived to determine yield and ultimate forces and the corresponding displacements as well as location of the plasticized sections. The behavior of SC could either be projected by the FEMs with the exhibited parameters or by means of the proposed closed-form equations and the normalized design chart.     

Correction to: Landslide susceptibility mapping of the Sera River Basin using logistic regression model

Natural Hazards - The article “Landslide susceptibility mapping of the Sera River Basin using logistic regression model,” written by Nussaïbah B. Raja, Ihsan Çiçek, Necla...     

Assessment of future olive crop yield by a comparative evaluation of drought indices: a case study in western Turkey

A comparative performance analysis was studied on well-known drought indices (Standardized Precipitation Index, Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) and its moisture anomaly index (Orig-Z), and self-calibrated Palmer Drought Severity Index (SC-PDSI) and its moisture anomaly index (SC-Z)) to determine the most appropriate index for assessing olive (O. europaea L.) yield for oil in seven crop regions (Mu?la, Ayd?n, ?zmir, Manisa, Bal?kesir, ?anakkale, and Bursa) in western Turkey and to evaluate the vulnerability of olive yield for oil to climate change with future projections provided by the Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research ENSEMBLES project (HadCM3Q0). A series of curvilinear regression-based crop yield models were developed for each of the olive-growing regions based on the drought indices. The crop yield model that performed the best was the SC-PDSI model in Mu?la, Ayd?n, ?zmir, and Manisa regions and the PDSI model in ?anakkale, Bal?kesir, and Bursa regions. The SC-PDSI index-based model described 65%, 62%, 61%, and 62% of the measured variability of olive yield in Mu?la, Ayd?n, ?zmir, and Manisa regions, respectively. The PDSI index-based model explained 59%, 58%, and 64% of the measured variability of olive yield in Bal?kesir, ?anakkale, and Bursa regions, respectively. The vulnerability of the olive yield for oil to HadCM3Q0 future climate projections was evaluated for Ayd?n and ?anakkale regions due to the resolution of the regional climate model. In terms of the future scenarios, the expected decrease in olive yield residuals was 2.5?ton (10³ trees)^?1 and 1.78?ton (10³ trees)^?1 in Ayd?n and ?anakkale regions, respectively.