Ignimbrites of Hungary with regard to their genetics and classification

Bulletin of Volcanology -     

Reconstruction of Last Glacial to early Holocene monsoon variability from relict lake sediments of the Higher Central Himalaya,Uttrakhand, India

Proglacial lake sediments at Goting in the Higher Central Himalaya were analyzed to reconstruct the summer monsoon variability during the Last Glacial to early Holocene. Sedimentary structures, high resolution mineral magnetic and geochemical data suggest that the lacustrine environment experienced fluctuating monsoonal conditions. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating indicates that the lake sedimentation occurred before 25 ka and continued after 13 ka. During this period, Goting basin witnessed moderate to strengthened monsoon conditions around 25 ka, 23.5 ka–22.5 ka, 22 ka–18 ka, 17 ka–16.5 ka and after14.5–13 ka. The Last Glacial phase ended with the deposition of outwash gravel dated at ～11 ka indicating glacial retreat and the onset of Holocene condition. Additionally, centennial scale fluctuations between 16.5 ka and 12.7 ka in the magnetic and geochemical data are seen.A close correspondence at the millennial scale between our data and that of continental and marine records from the Indian sub-continent suggests that Goting basin responded to periods of strengthened monsoon during the Last Glacial to early Holocene. We attribute the millennial scale monsoon variability to climatic instability in higher northern latitudes. However, centennial scale abrupt changes are attributed to the result of albedo changes on the Himalaya and Tibetan plateau.     

Appropriate viscous damping for nonlinear time‐history analysis of base‐isolated reinforced concrete buildings

There is no consensus at the present time regarding an appropriate approach to model viscous damping in nonlinear time‐history analysis of base‐isolated buildings because of uncertainties associated with quantification of energy dissipation. Therefore, in this study, the effects of modeling viscous damping on the response of base‐isolated reinforced concrete buildings subjected to earthquake ground motions are investigated. The test results of a reduced‐scale three‐story building previously tested on a shaking table are compared with three‐dimensional finite element simulation results. The study is primarily focused on nonlinear direct‐integration time‐history analysis, where many different approaches of modeling viscous damping, developed within the framework of Rayleigh damping are considered. Nonlinear direct‐integration time‐history analysis results reveal that the damping ratio as well as the approach used to model damping has significant effects on the response, and quite importantly, a damping ratio of 1% is more appropriate in simulating the response than a damping ratio of 5%. It is shown that stiffness‐proportional damping, where the coefficient multiplying the stiffness matrix is calculated from the frequency of the base‐isolated building with the post‐elastic stiffness of the isolation system, provides reasonable estimates of the peak response indicators, in addition to being able to capture the frequency content of the response very well. Furthermore, nonlinear modal time‐history analyses using constant as well as frequency‐dependent modal damping are also performed for comparison purposes. It was found that for nonlinear modal time‐history analysis, frequency‐dependent damping, where zero damping is assigned to the frequencies below the fundamental frequency of the superstructure for a fixed‐base condition and 5% damping is assigned to all other frequencies, is more appropriate, than 5% constant damping. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A case-study of the low-latitude thermosphere during geomagnetic storms and its new representation by improved MSIS model

The thermospheric temperatures from low and equatorial latitudes during geomagnetically disturbed periods are known to exhibit significant deviations from atmospheric model predictions. Also, the oscillatory features seen in the observations are not accounted for by the models. A simple relation has been established between the difference in the observed and model-predicted temperatures and the rate of change of Dst, the magnetic index representing the ring current variabilities. Using this relation, a correction term has been added to the latest MSIS-90 model algorithm and almost all the observed variations in neutral temperatures spectroscopically determined from Mt. Abu, a low-latitude station in India, are successfully reproduced for two moderate geomagnetic storms.     

About the observed and future changes in temperature extremes over India

An attempt is made in the present study to analyse observed and model simulated temperature extremes over Indian region. Daily maximum and minimum temperature data at 121 well-distributed stations for the period 1970–2003 have been used to study the observed changes in objectively defined values of temperature extremes. In addition, an assessment of future scenarios of temperature extremes associated with increase in the concentration of atmospheric greenhouse gases is done using simulations of a state-of-the-art regional climate modelling system known as PRECIS (Providing Regional Climate for Impact Studies) performed to generate the climate for the present (1961–1990) and future projections for the period 2071–2100. Observational analysis done with 121 stations suggests the widespread warming through increase in intensity and frequency of hot events and also with decrease in frequency of cold events. More than 75% stations show decreasing trend in number of cold events and about 70% stations show increasing trend in hot events. Percentage of stations towards the warming through intensity indices of highest maximum temperature, lowest minimum temperature is 78 and 71% stations, respectively. Remaining stations show opposite trends, however, most of them are statistically insignificant. Observational analysis for India as a whole also shows similar results. Composite anomalies for monthly temperature extremes over two equal parts of the data period show increase (decrease) in the frequency of hot (cold) events for all months. In general, PRECIS simulations under both A2 and B2 scenarios indicate increase (decrease) in hot (cold) extremes towards the end of twenty-first century. Both show similar patterns, but the B2 scenario shows slightly lower magnitudes of the projected changes. Temperatures are likely to increase in entire calendar year, but the changes in winter season are expected to be prominent. Diurnal temperature range is expected to decrease in winter (JF) and pre-monsoon (MAM) months.     

Geo-hydrological database modeling for integrated multiple hazards and risk assessment in Lesser Himalaya: a GIS-based case study

The main objective of the study was to assess the integrated multiple hydrological hazards and their environmental and socio-economic risks in Himalaya through geographical information system (GIS) and database management system (DBMS). The Dabka Watershed constitutes a part of the Kosi Basin in the Kumaun Lesser Himalaya has been selected for the case illustration. The Dabka DBMS is constituted of three GIS modules, that is, geo-informatics, hydro-informatics and hazard-informatics. Through the integration and superimposing of these modules prepared Hydrological Hazard Index to identify the level of vulnerability for existing hydrological hazards and their socio-economic and environmental risks. The results suggested that geo-environmentally most stressed barren land areas have high rate of runoff, flood magnitude, erosion sediment load and denudation during rainy season particularly in the month of August (i.e., respectively, 84.56 l/s/km², 871.80 l/s/km², 78.60 t/km² and 1.21 mm/year), which accelerates high hazards and their socio-economic and environmental risks, whereas geo-environmentally least stressed dense forest areas experience low rate of stream runoff, flood magnitude, erosion sediment load and denudation in the same season and month (i.e., respectively, 20.67 l/s/km², 58.12 l/s/km², 19.50 t/km² and 0.20 mm/year) comparatively have low hazards and their socio-economic and environmental risks. The other frazzled geo-environment that also found highly vulnerable for natural hazards and their risks is agricultural land due to high stream runoff, flood magnitude, erosion sediment load and denudation rates (i.e., respectively, 53.15 l/s/km², 217.95 l/s/km², 90.00 t/km² and .92 mm/year). This makes it necessary to take up an integrated and comprehensive sustainable land use policy for the entire Himalaya region based on the scientific interpretation of the crucial linkages between land use and hydrological hazards, that is, floods, erosion, landslides during rainy season and drought due to dry-up of natural springs and streams during summer season. The study would help the village, district and state development authority to formulate decision support system for alternate planning and management for the Himalaya region.     

Development of magmas and igneous rocks in the tertiary volcanism of Hungary

In the Tertiary history of the Pannonian massif — typical example of median masses — the most remarkable features are the considerable thinning out and the increase of accessibility of the crust. Diversities of its behaviour with respect to ascending selective (ionic) currents — which are considered as primary causes of volcanism — are manifest in the distribution and characteristics of igneous products: on the culmination area (core) of the mantle dome Neogene volcanism is represented exclusively by huge ash-flow blankets (in three cycles) totalling 15,000 cu. kms in volume, while famous volcanic mountains of the border area consist of andesitic explosion, effusion and shallow intrusion products of much less (5000 cu. kms) extension. The two distinct trends of composition and petrogenetic features are explained by different conditions of ascent of the igneous material: 1. diffuse and extremely slow rise combined with intense contaminations yields ash-flow outpourings of rhyolitic composition; 2. speedy issue along chimneys controlled by the border fractures of the median mass feed normal andesitic volcanism.

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Zusammenfassung Das pannonische Massiv, ein typisches Beispiel für die Zwischenmassive, ist in seiner tertiären Entwicklung neben bedeutender Ausdünnung durch eine erhöhte Penetrierbarkeit der Kruste gekennzeichnet. Ihr verschiedenes Verhalten gegenüber emporsteigenden, selektiven ionischen Strömungen, die als Ursachen der vulkanischen Erscheinungen angenommen werden, kommt in der Verteilung und im Charakter der vulkanischen Produkte klar zum Audruck: das zentrale Kulminationsgebiet der Mantelwölbung wurde in drei Hauptzyklen von riesigen, rhyolithischen Ignimbritdecken überflutet (etwa 15 000 km³), an den Randpartien erhoben sich dagegen andesitische Vulkangebirge, bestehend aus explosiven, effusiven und seichtintrusiven Bildungen (etwa 5000 km³). Abweichungen der Zusammensetzung und Ausbildung werden mit Verschiedenheiten des Aufstiegs erklärt: 1. schwache Wegsamkeit, sehr langsames Emporsteigen, bis zur Oberfläche anhaltende Kontamination Rhyolith-Fluttuffe; 2. rascher Magmenaufstieg, durch Randbrüche gefördert normaler andesitischer Vulkanismus.

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Résumé Dans l'évolution tertiaire du massif pannonien — exemple le plus typique des « median mass » — c'est l'atténuation considérable de la croûte et l'augmentation de sa pénétrabilité qui sont les traits les plus remarquables. La résistance différentielle de l'écorce contre les courants ascendants (ioniques) sélectifs sortants des sources infracrustales (auxquels l'initiation du volcanisme est attribuée) vient d'être exprimée tout à fait nettement dans la répartition et faciès des produits ignés: au sommet de la protubérance du manteau (partie centrale) le volcanisme néogène consiste essentiellement en épanchements immenses (à trois reprises) du tuf rhyolithique soudé (ignimbrite) ( 15.000 km³), tandis qu'aux bords ce sont des montagnes « andesitiques » édifiées de produits d'explosion, d'effusion et de ceux d'intrusions peu profondes ( 5.000 km³). Les différences de composition et des caractères pétrogénétiques sont expliquées par les manières différentes de la montée des matériaux ignés: 1. pénétrabilité diffuse, soulèvement extrêmement lent, contaminations s'avançant jusqu'à la surface épanchements ignimbritiques à composition rhyolithique; 2. montée plus rapide par conduits le long des fractures marginales volcanisme habituel andesitique.

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Landslides and neotectonic activities in the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) zone: Southeastern Kumaun,Uttarakhand

Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) zone is constituted of some of the landslide prone areas in southeastern part of Kumaun Sub-Himalaya. Role of landslides as natural hazard and hill slope modifying agent is well documented from various part of Himalayan region and southern hills of Kumaun particularly in the MBT zone, which are susceptible to various type of mass movement. The rocks making up the slopes has been put to a number of brittle deformation phases during the movement along the MBT, and are traversed by number of joint sets. In the open slope these intersecting joint sets forms wedges and are the most favorable site for initiation of rockfalls and other types of landslides. Landslides are taking place primarily due to high angle slopes, formation of structural wedges along the free steep slopes, sheared nature of the rocks due to proximity to the MBT and neotectonic activities along the MBT and other transverse faults. Wedge failure is a common type of landslides in rock slopes characterized by multiple joints and acts as sliding planes for the failed blocks. Field observations and wedge failure analysis indicates most of the landslides taking place in MBT zone of Kumaun Sub-Himalaya are joint controlled. Safety Factor analysis suggests MBT zone of Kumaun Sub-Himalayan region is prone to landslides and related mass movements. This zone is also neotectonically active as indicated by various geomorphic signatures such as structurally controlled drainage pattern, offsetting of fan by MBT and formation of number of small lakes.     

Structural performance of a base-isolated reinforced concrete building subjected to seismic pounding

The effects of seismic pounding on the structural performance of a base-isolated reinforced concrete (RC) building are investigated, with a view to evaluate the influence of adjacent structures and separation between structures on the pounding response. In particular, seismic pounding of a typical four-story base-isolated RC building with retaining walls at the base and with a four-story fixed-base RC building is studied. Three-dimensional finite element analyses are carried out considering material and geometric nonlinearities. The structural performance of the base-isolated building is evaluated considering various earthquake excitations. It is found that the performance of the base-isolated building is substantially influenced by the pounding. The investigated base-isolated building shows good resistance against shear failure and the predominant mode of failure due to pounding is flexural. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.