Temporal and spatial variation of infilling processes in a landslide scar in a steep mountainous region,Japan

The duration of the soil‐depth recovery needed for reoccurrence of shallow colluvial landslides at a given site in humid regions is much longer than the return period of rainfall needed to generate sufficient pore water pressure to initiate a landslide. Knowledge of the rate of change in soil depth in landslide scars is therefore necessary to evaluate return intervals of landslides. Spatial variation in sediment transport at the Kumanodaira landslide scar in central Japan was investigated by field observations. Spatial distribution of the rate of change in soil depth was estimated using sediment transport data and geographic information system (GIS) analysis. Observations revealed that the timing of sediment transport differed for shallow and deep soil layers. Near‐surface sediment transport (mostly dry ravel and some shallow soil creep at depths ≤0·05 m) measured in sediment traps was active in winter and early spring and was affected by freezing–thawing; soil creep of subsoil (i.e. >0·05 m), monitored by strain probes, was active in summer and autumn when precipitation was abundant. Near‐surface sediment flux was estimated by a power law function of slope gradient. Deeper soil creep was more affected by relative location to the landslide scar, which influences soil depth, than by slope gradient. Our study indicated that the rate of soil‐depth recovery is high just below the head scarp of the landslide. Abrupt changes in the longitudinal slope topography immediately above, within and just below the head scarp became smoother with time due to degradation proximate to the landslide head scarp and flanks, as well as aggradation just below the head scarp. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Twenty years of Belgian North Sea aerial surveillance: a quantitative analysis of results confirms effectiveness of international oil pollution legislation

Over the years many policy measures have been taken to prevent illegal oil discharges from ships, like the MARPOL 73/78 Convention (1983) and the Bonn Agreement (1969/1983). However, the number of discharges remained high, leading to chronic oiling of seabirds and sensitive coastlines, therefore further measures were taken. The aim of this study is to quantify the effectiveness of two key legislative regulations: the IMO-designation of the North Sea as MARPOL Special Area which took effect in 1999, and the adoption of the EU Directive on Port Reception Facilities in 2000. Under study is the heavily navigated Belgian Surveillance Area, monitored since 1991, characterised by shallow waters with ecologically important sandbanks. The aerial surveillance data from 1991 to 2010 show a stepwise decrease in ship-source oil pollution. Three time periods can be distinguished with two turning points coinciding with the actual implementation of these key legislative measures, confirming their effectiveness.     

Numerical modeling of environmental flows using DAM: Some preliminary results

Development of closures and parameterizations for subgrid scale effects is a significant and longstanding problem in the numerical simulation of environmental flows. The model described herein uses a rigorous approach for developing double-averaged governing equations — first a traditional Reynolds averaging to derive the Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equation (RANS), then a volume average to derive a set of double-averaged equations (DANS). An existing finite element flow model is then modified to accommodate these equations. This process gives rise to several new terms that require closures, as well as a new equation for free surface elevation. This paper is directed toward model development and uses several existing closure schemes as test cases.     

Shear wave velocities of Mississippi embayment soils from low frequency surface wave measurements

Deep unconsolidated sediments in the Mississippi embayment will influence ground motions from earthquakes in the New Madrid seismic zone. Shear wave velocity profiles of these sediments are important input parameters for modeling wave propagation and site response in this region. Low-frequency, active-source surface wave velocity measurements were performed to develop small-strain shear wave velocity (V_S) profiles at eleven deep soil sites in the Mississippi embayment, from north of New Madrid, Missouri to Memphis, Tennessee. A servo-hydraulic, low-frequency source was used to excite surface wave energy to wavelengths of 600 m, resulting in V_S profiles to depths of over 200 m. The average V_S profile calculated from the eleven sites is in good agreement with common reference V_S profiles that have been used in seismic hazard studies of this region. The variability in V_S profiles is shown to be associated with changes in formation depth and thickness from site-to-site. Using lithologic information at each site, average formation velocities were developed and compared to previous studies. We found average V_S values of about 193 m/s for alluvial deposits, 400 m/s for the Upper Claiborne formations, and 685 m/s for the Memphis Sand formation.     

基于测井、VSP和地面地震数据最佳拟合的子波估计(英文)

本文提出了基于测井、VSP和地震数据拟合的子波估计方法,从输入输出都包含随机噪声的统计模型出发,采用相关性拟合技术来提取子波。拟合度和误差分析为整个过程提供了定量的质量控制手段,可以评估数据拟合和子波估计的可靠性。实际数据试算表明,该方法在含有噪声的实际数据中稳定而有效,在地震频带内的子波估计和数据拟合是可靠的。该方法无需对子波相位和振幅谱进行任何假设,其主要优点在于确定相位的能力。     

Soil Carbon and Nutrient Accumulation under Forest Plantations in Jharkhand State of India

The decrease and degradation of the tropical forests affect not only the production of timber but also the global environment in a large scale. The ability of soil to sustain and its supply of nutrients to a growing forest are controlled by a complex of biogeochemical processes. The purpose of the present study aims to assess the degraded forest fringe areas, to promote plantations of various types and to evaluate their impacts on the soil nutrients and carbon content accumulation. The soil organic carbon (SOC) and nutrient content were evaluated and compared between plantations of mixed native species (MNS), some native tree species as Shorea robusta, Dalbergia sissoo, Dendrocalamus spp., certain agro‐forestry species and some exotic varieties. The impacts of the plantations on the SOC and the nutrients were firstly analyzed through comprehensive chemical analyses and the results were compared with the soil samples collected prior to plantation forestry. Significant changes were observed in SOC content, in nutrients, and in amounts of exchangeable cations. Soil carbon levels were highest under the MNS, Dendrocalamus and Tectona grandis stands and lowest under D. sissoo and Terminalia arjuna. Total N showed highest levels under Dendrocalamus and Pongamia pinnata and significantly higher in stands of native species; lowest total N level was observed in D. sissoo plantations. The C/N ratios of the soil varied between 9.2 and 13.5 among the exchangeable cations. Ca²⁺ recorded the maximum levels and Na⁺ showed the lowest levels.     

Parametric study of factors affecting fluid flow through a fracture

Understanding the flow behavior through fractures is critically important in a wide variety of applications. In many situations, the fluid flow can be highly irregular and non-linear in nature. Numerical simulation can be employed to simulate such conditions which are difficult to replicate in laboratory experiments. Therefore, a parametric study has been conducted on the fluid flow through micro-fracture over a large range of inlet pressure, fluid density, fluid viscosity, temperature, joint roughness coefficient (JRC), and fracture using finite element analysis. Irregular fracture profiles were created using Barton’s joint roughness coefficient. The Navier-Stokes (NS) equation was used to simulate the flow of water in those micro-fractures. The result showed that the fracture, fluid, and ambient conditions have a wide and varied effect on the fluid flow behavior. The interrelationship between these parameters was also studied. The model simulation provided result in the form of velocity and pressure drop profile, which can be used to determine the behavior of flow under different condition. The volumetric flow was calculated for each condition and has been plotted against the corresponding parameter to study the interrelationship.     

Fractal analysis of logs to characterize the hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon zones of Bhogpara oil field,Northeast India

Identification with accuracy of prospective and dry zone from well log data is of prime importance in reservoir or hydrocarbon studies. This issue has greater stake, where in return many conventional methods have been established. The purpose of this study is to recognize the hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon bearing portion within a reservoir by using a non-conventional technique. Application of rescaled range (R/S) analysis and wavelet-based fractal analysis (WBFA) on the wire-line log data to obtain the pre-defined hydrocarbon (HC) and non-hydrocarbon (NHC) zones by their fractal nature is demonstrated in this paper. Among these two techniques, the WBFA tool has provided more prolific results. Applicability of the proposed approach is tested with the help of the most commonly used well log data like self-potential, gamma ray, and porosity log responses. These are used in the industry to distinguish several HC and NHC zones of all wells in the study region belonging to the Upper Assam Basin, India. The results are found to be of lower fractal dimension in this study for a particular log response having HC-bearing zones, which are mainly situated in a variety of sandstone lithology. On the other hand, NHC-bearing zones correspond to lithology with higher shale content categorized with higher fractal dimension. Hence, the WBFA technique can overcome the chance of misinterpretation, which is quite possible in the case of conventional reservoir characterization.     

The subsurface megascopic characteristics of basalt and basement rocks from Koyna-Warna area of Maharashtra,India

Vertical deep boreholes of depth up to 1522.50m have been drilled in Koyna-Warna area of Maharashtra State within the Deccan Volcanic Province to study the most outstanding example of Reservoir Triggered Seismicity (RTS). The drilling of 9 bore-holes in the area has provided a window to earth scientists to peep into geological details available below Deccan Trap.The 932.50m thick pile of Deccan basalt, consisting of 30 flows at Rasati, near Koyna, which has been physically seen through cores, present a marvellous geological repository for observations. The megascopic characteristics of various flows and variation in composition have been presented in this paper. The microscopic and geochemical characteristics have been kept out of this communication, as the relevant studies are not completed to draw any conclusion. This study records the presence of granite wash (≈1m thick) over basement and below basalt representing Late Archaean to Cretaceous period hiatus. The basement rocks, presumably of Late Archaean age have been described mega-scopically. A fair picture of sub-surface pre-Deccan topography is shown with the help of borehole data, which confirm the nearly flat topography of pre-Deccan surface especially in this part of the area occupied by 30 flows of Deccan basalt. Correlation of 30 flows with the established stratigraphy has also been attempted for subsurface existence of Ambenali (Upper) and Poladpur Formations of Wai Subgroup in Koyna-Warna area.