Flood hydrograph reconstruction from the peak flow value in ephemeral streams using a simplified robust single‐parameter model

Flood hydrographs from ephemeral streams in arid areas provide valuable information for assessing run‐off and groundwater recharge. However, such data are often scarce or incomplete, especially in hyper‐arid regions. The hypothesis of this study was that it is possible to reconstruct a hydrograph of a specific point along an ephemeral stream with the knowledge of only the peak flow rate of a flood event at that point and that this can be done at almost every point along the stream. The feasibility of this approach lies in the shape of the recession stage of the flood hydrograph, which is known to be a repeating phenomenon. The recession stage comes immediately after the peak flow rate, when it begins its decline, and lasts until the flood is extinguished. A general shape of the flood recession stage can be provided. Because the recession stage represents ~80% of the duration of a flood event, it can provide a general idea of the flood hydrograph's shape. A simple model based on geometric progression is suggested to describe the repeating recession stage of a flood. The advantage of the proposed model is that it requires only one parameter: the recession characteristic at a fixed point along the ephemeral stream, termed recession coefficient q. By knowing the recession coefficient of a fixed point and the peak flow rate of a flood event at that point, one can plot the flood hydrograph. A good agreement is shown between the observed and computed values of the recession stage. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Water relations and resistance to desiccation in three Israeli desert snails, Eremina desertorum, Euchondrus desertorum and Euchondrus albulus

We compared water relations and resistance to desiccation in three sympatric desert land snails, Eremina desertorum, Euchondrus desertorum and Euchondrus albulus. Ermina was the most resistant and Eu. albulus the least resistant to desiccation. Juveniles of both Euchondrus species were more susceptible to desiccation than adults. The rate of mass loss, during desiccation, of Eremina is comparable to values previously measured in other desert species. Its resistance to desiccation may be correlated with its more exposed micro-habitat (it lives on bushes) and/or with its Saharan origin. On the other hand, Euchondrus is an under-stone dweller of a northern origin and thus has an almost Mediterranean-type water economy.     

Mechanisms of sulfur introduction chemically controlled: δS imprint

Organic sulfur in marine sediment is ³⁴S enriched relative to the co-existing pyrite. This phenomenon is still enigmatic. Timing of the sulfur incorporation, immobilization and different sulfur species involved are part of the explanations. The reduced sulfur species incorporation into organic matter (OM) is generally assumed to have negligible δ³⁴S fractionation. This assumption has never been confirmed by laboratory experimental data. The present study measures the δ³⁴S changes resulting from reduced sulfur species (sulfides and polysulfide anions) incorporation into organic model compounds in an aquatic and low temperature (25 °C) system that simulates diagenetic marine environment. In addition, we also investigate the δ³⁴S fractionation and the isotope chemical mixing in the formation of polysulfide anions produced from elemental sulfur and sulfide anions. The results showed total isotope mixing between the two species in the formation of polysulfides. Acidification of the polysulfides solution caused δ³⁴S fractionation between the released elemental sulfur and H₂S. The incorporation of polysulfides and sulfides into carbonyl groups, caused ³⁴S enrichment relative to the starting polysulfides and sulfide of 4–5‰. The ³⁴S enrichment of the sulfurized carbonyl groups showed a minimal effect by temperature (0–70 °C) and is not affected by salinity, polysulfides composition, reaction time or solubility in water. The incorporation of polysulfides and sulfides into brominated organic compounds was negligibly ³⁴S enriched. The chemical mechanisms controlling the polysulfides incorporation into OM depend mostly on the functional groups and determine the ³⁴S enrichment of the sulfurized OM. The results presented in this study can explain part of the difference between pyrite δ³⁴S and sulfurized OM δ³⁴S in natural marine sediments.     

Stable sulfur isotope partitioning during simulated petroleum formation as determined by hydrous pyrolysis of Ghareb Limestone, Israel

Hydrous pyrolysis experiments at 200 to 365°C were carried out on a thermally immature organic-rich limestone containing Type-IIS kerogen from the Ghareb Limestone in North Negev, Israel. This work focuses on the thermal behavior of both organic and inorganic sulfur species and the partitioning of their stable sulfur isotopes among organic and inorganic phases generated during hydrous pyrolyses. Most of the sulfur in the rock (85%) is organic sulfur. The most dominant sulfur transformation is cleavage of organic-bound sulfur to form H₂S_(gas). Up to 70% of this organic sulfur is released as H₂S_(gas) that is isotopically lighter than the sulfur in the kerogen. Organic sulfur is enriched by up to 2‰ in ³⁴S during thermal maturation compared with the initial δ³⁴S values. The δ³⁴S values of the three main organic fractions (kerogen, bitumen and expelled oil) are within 1‰ of one another. No thermochemical sulfate reduction or sulfate formation was observed during the experiments. The early released sulfur reacted with available iron to form secondary pyrite and is the most ³⁴S depleted phase, which is 21‰ lighter than the bulk organic sulfur. The large isotopic fractionation for the early formed H₂S is a result of the system not being in equilibrium. As partial pressure of H₂S_(gas) increases, retro reactions with the organic sulfur in the closed system may cause isotope exchange and isotopic homogenization. Part of the δ³⁴S-enriched secondary pyrite decomposes above 300°C resulting in a corresponding decrease in the δ³⁴S of the remaining pyrite. These results are relevant to interpreting thermal maturation processes and their effect on kerogen-oil-H₂S-pyrite correlations. In particular, the use of pyrite-kerogen δ³⁴S relations in reconstructing diagenetic conditions of thermally mature rocks is questionable because formation of secondary pyrite during thermal maturation can mask the isotopic signature and quantity of the original diagenetic pyrite. The main transformations of kerogen to bitumen and bitumen to oil can be recorded by using both sulfur content and δ³⁴S of each phase including the H₂S_(gas). H₂S generated in association with oil should be isotopically lighter or similar to oil. It is concluded that small isotopic differentiation obtained between organic and inorganic sulfur species suggests closed-system conditions. Conversely, open-system conditions may cause significant isotopic discrimination between the oil and its source kerogen. The magnitude of this discrimination is suggested to be highly dependent on the availability of iron in a source rock resulting in secondary formation of pyrite.     

Detection of model voids by identifying reverberation phenomena in GPR records

In order to improve the reliability of the ground penetrating radar (GPR) method in identifying subsurface sinkholes and karst cavities, laboratory investigations have been performed. The main objective of this work was to examine the relationship between horizontal/vertical voids dimensions and wavelengths of various antennas, and the corresponding GPR responses. Emphasis was given to the investigation of the factors that cause the appearance of reverberation phenomena in the signal pattern.The tests were conducted in 5 m × 10 m area by 2-m-deep trench filled with homogenous, dry sand. The voids models (empty fiberglass cylinders in diameters of 0.6 m, 1.0 m, 1.5 m and 2.4 m, with various heights) were buried vertically with their tops at depths of between 0.7 and 1.5 m. Investigations were performed for the various model conditions by towing 500, 300 and 100 MHz antennas along a pre-established grid, for the various model conditions.The GPR data collected using the 500 MHz bistatic antenna above the 1.0-m- and the 1.5-m-diameter cylinders, and using the 300 MHz bistatic antenna above the 1.5-m-diameter cylinder, confirmed the presence of a reverberation phenomenon, i.e. a strong convex signal pattern, containing a series of high amplitude extending oscillations with reduced frequency.Based on past practical GPR experience of void detection and presently obtained experimental data, two rules of thumbs may be adopted for the prediction of the appearance of resonant radar pictures:

1. The void diameter larger than the wavelength in air of the antenna used.

2. The vertical size of the empty void not significantly smaller than its horizontal dimension.

The strong reverberations generated by the inner surface of the void targets were found to approximate standing waves generated in cylindrical waveguides and waveguide resonators. The theoretical, experimental and practical results obtained concur.     

Electron spin resonance of stabilized free radicals in sedimentary organic matter

Electron spin resonance (ESR) is evaluated as a method to study the thermal degradation of sedimentary organic matter which consists mainly of kerogen. Whole rock and separated kerogen samples were pyrolysed stepwise (ambient to 700°C at 50°C increments), extracted and analysed for elemental composition and ESR spectra at each step. Whole rock samples give rise to complex spectra which include those of paramagnetic metals and are therefore unsuitable in most cases for this purpose.The ESR parameters g value, ΔH and N_g differ for different types of immature organic matter. An increase in N_g,shift of g value to 2.0026–2.0028 and reduction in h are the main trends during pyrolysis and in natural heating of sedimentary organic matter.The peak generations of liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons coincide with maxima of free radical density. ESR spectroscopy in combination with complementary geochemical characterization of the sedimentary organic matter can serve to indicate maturity with respect to peak oil-gas generation.     

Geogas transport in fractured hard rock – Correlations with mining seismicity at 3.54 km depth, TauTona gold mine, South Africa

An on-site gas monitoring study has been conducted in the framework of an earthquake laboratory (The International NELSAM–DAFGAS projects) at the TauTona gold mine, South Africa. Five boreholes up to 60 m long were drilled at 3.54 km depth into the highly fractured Pretorius Fault Zone and instruments for chemical and seismic monitoring installed therein. Over the span of 4 years sensitive gas monitoring devices were continuously improved to enable the direct observation of geogas concentration variations in the DAFGAS borehole. The major gas concentrations are constant and air-like with about 78% N₂, 21% O₂, 1% Ar. The geogas components CO₂, CH₄, He and H₂ show the most interesting trends and variations on the minute-by-minute basis and significantly correlate with seismic data, while the ²²²Rn activity remains constant. Time series and cross correlation analysis allow the identification of different gas components (geogas and tunnel air) and the identification of two processes influencing the borehole gas composition: (1) pumping-induced tunnel air breakthrough through networks of initially water-saturated fault fractures; and (2) seismicity induced permeability enhancement of fault fractures to above ∼5 × 10^-10 m². The current set-up of the gas monitoring system is sensitive enough to quantify the resulting geogas transport during periods of intense blasting activities (including recorded blasts with seismic moment ?1 × 10⁹ Nm, located within 1000 m of the cubby) and, it is suggested, also during induced earthquakes, a final goal of the project.     

Steady‐State Homogeneous Approximations of Vertical Velocity from EC Profiles

Electrical conductivity (EC) logs were obtained by both open‐borehole logging and passive multilevel sampling (MLS) in an observation borehole penetrating the Coastal Aquifer in Tel Aviv, Israel. Homogeneous vertical velocities for a 70‐m thick subaquifer were approximated from each profile using a steady‐state advection‐diffusion model. The open‐borehole log led to an overestimation of the steady‐state upward advective flux of deep brines (vertical velocity of 0.95 cm/yr as compared to 0.07 cm/yr for the MLS profile). The combination of depth‐dependent data and the suggested simple modeling approach comprises a method for assessing the vertical location of salinity sources and the nature of salt transport from them (i.e., advective vs. diffusive). However, in this case, the easily obtained open‐borehole logs should not be used for collecting depth‐dependent data.