Infiltration and solute transport under a seasonal wetland: bromide tracer experiments in Saskatoon,Canada

In the northern glaciated plain of North America, the duration of surface water in seasonal wetlands is strongly influenced by the rate of infiltration and evaporation. Infiltration also plays important roles in nutrient exchange at the sediment–water interface and groundwater recharge under wetlands. A whole‐wetland bromide tracer experiment was conducted in Saskatchewan, Canada to evaluate infiltration and solute transport processes. Bromide concentrations of surface water, groundwater, sediment pore water and plant tissues were monitored as the pond water‐level gradually dropped until there was no surface water. Hydraulic head gradients showed strong lateral flow from under the wetland to the treed riparian zone during the growing season. The bromide mass balance analysis showed that in early spring, almost 50% of water loss from the wetland was by infiltration, and it increased to about 70% in summer as plants in and around the wetland started to transpire more actively. The infiltration contributed to recharging the shallow, local groundwater under the wetland, but much of it was taken up by trees without recharging the deeper groundwater system. Emergent plants growing in the wetlands incorporated some bromide, but overall uptake of bromide by vegetation was less than 10% of the amount initially released. After one summer, most of the subsurface bromide was found within 40–80 cm of the soil surface. However, some bromide penetrated as deep as 2–3 m, presumably owing to preferential flow pathways provided by root holes or fractures. Copyright © 2004 Crown in the Right of Canada. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Continuity and change in commuter partnerships: avoiding or postponing family migration

While most people in post-industrial societies, such as The Netherlands, continue to live as nuclear families, new household arrangements have emerged in which couples no longer commit to living in one shared residence. One such household arrangement is the commuter partnership, in which one partner lives near work part of the time. The objective in this article was to gain a better understanding of the sustainability of commuter partnerships and to contribute to uncovering the function that this household arrangement can have in the coordination of parallel careers of different household members over time. The study draws on in-depth interviews with both individual partners in 30 commuter partnerships with at least one residence located in The Netherlands, and a follow-up survey of the same commuter couples several years later. Our findings indicate that, for most couples, the commuter partnership should not be regarded as a prelude to family migration, but rather as a household arrangement by which family migration is avoided altogether, either for a limited period, or as a long-term alternative to the nuclear family. The findings further indicate that, when couples look on their commuter partnership as the result of their individual choice, they generally envision the future duration of their commuter partnership quite accurately. When their choice is guided by the external circumstances of job contracts, couples appear to be less accurate in predicting the future duration of their commuter partnerships.

Experimental and numerical study of hygro-thermo-mechanical properties of “Schilfsandstein” from Baden-Württemberg

In the present paper the results of experimental and numerical investigations of hygro-thermo-mechanical properties of “Schilfsandstein” from Baden-Württemberg are presented and discussed. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of extreme environmental conditions causing severe damage that can often be observed on various monuments during restoration and reconstruction process. In the experimental investigations the stone specimen was exposed to extreme hygro-thermal conditions, which caused significant damage (cracking). During the experiment the ultrasonic and acoustic emission analyses were performed. Subsequently, a 3D finite element analysis was carried out using a coupled hygro-thermo-mechanical model for stone. The experimental and numerical results indicate that wetting in combination with either decrease or increase of temperature lead to severe damage. The most critical locations for initialization of cracks are sharp spikes (notches), or acute angles that are inward or outward oriented (corners). Stiff but brittle layers, like late diagenetic iron cementations, might be a weak point for the initialization of crack. Furthermore, the bedding direction (anisotropy) seems to be a preferred direction for crack propagation. The results of the numerical analysis are in relatively good agreement with experimental observations.     

The European level in EU governance: territory, authority and trans-scalar networks

This article offers an analysis of the emerging scalar configuration of the governance of the European Union. It discusses how European integration stands for a move from a collection of territorially homogenous systems of rule towards a new assemblage of territories, authorities and rights. The paper first questions the stretchy territoriality of the seemingly obvious European level. Second it analyses the sectoral differences in the evolution of the width and the depth of integration, measured as the transfer of competencies to the EU level between the Rome Treaty (1958) and the Lisbon Treaty (200y). Third it turns to the day-to-day decision-making to assess the relations between players in EU governance and finally it looks more closely at the administrative wheels of the EU machinery.     

Knowledge-guided data-driven evidential belief modeling of mineral prospectivity in Cabo de Gata,SE Spain

Spurious evidence and spurious spatial associations between target mineral deposits and certain classes of spatial data undermine GIS-based data-driven modeling of mineral prospectivity. In a case study application of data-driven evidential belief functions, such problems were recognized and then, based on sound geological judgment, were addressed accordingly. By invoking knowledge of genetic associations between mineral deposits of the type sought and spatial geological attributes (lithology, fault/fracture density, hydrothermal alteration intensity), spurious spatial associations depicted in ‘original’ evidence maps were addressed by treatment of input spatial data via applications of certain basic GIS functionalities in order to derive ‘treated’ evidence maps. By invoking knowledge of geological processes involved in the formation of mineral deposits of the type sought and knowledge of how operations to combine evidence maps function, the integration of evidence maps was guided such that the inter-play of geological processes involved in the formation of mineral deposits of the type sought is represented in the modeling procedure and such that spurious evidence is filtered and not transmitted into the output map representing likelihood of mineral deposit occurrence in every location within a study area. The results show that: (a) using ‘treated’ evidence maps, instead of ‘original’ evidence maps, results in better mineral prospectivity maps and, thus, (b) knowledge-guided data-driven modeling of mineral prospectivity is better than a ‘purely’ data-driven modeling of mineral prospectivity.     

The geology and structure of the Rustenburg Layered Suite in the Potgietersrus/Mokopane area of the Bushveld Complex,South Africa

A new geological map of the Rustenburg Layered Suite south of the Ysterberg–Planknek fault of the northern/Potgietersrus limb of the Bushveld Complex is presented, displaying features that were not available for publication in the past and are considered contributing to the complexity of this region. The northern limb is known for the Platreef, atypical mafic lithologies in sections of the layered sequence and the unusual development of the ultramafic Lower Zone as satellite bodies or offshoots at the base of the intrusion. The outcrop and suboutcrop pattern of Lower Zone Grasvally body and its relation to the surrounding geology of Main Zone, Critical Zone, and floor rocks is described. The extent of the base metal sulfide (BMS) and platinum-group element (PGE)-mineralized cyclic unit 11 of the Drummonlea harzburgite–chromitite sub zone is shown. Only that which is considered to be the equivalents of the mafic Upper Critical Zone has thus far been traced south of Potgietersrus/Mokopane. The Platreef is traced from the farm Townlands and further northwards. The presence of Platreef proper south of Potgietersrus/Mokopane appears to be speculative. However, Merensky Reef, UG 2, and equivalent layers outcrop or were intersected to the south of the town. The Kleinmeid Syncline comprising Main Zone/Critical Zone layers and its structure is discussed. The lateral lithological transfomation of the Merensky Reef/UG 2 and equivalent layers south of the Ysterberg–Planknek fault to Platreef north of this fault is recorded. Attenuation of both the Main Zone and Upper Zone is observed from the northwest towards the town and resulted in only the lower units being developed. The lateral change of Main Zone and Upper Zone lithologies from the northwest towards the town is described. The PGE and BMS economic potential south of the town are briefly tabulated.     

阿尔金断裂带康西瓦段晚第四纪以来的左旋滑移速率及其大地震复发周期的探讨

在高分辨率Ikonos卫星影像（1m分辨率）分析基础上,结合野外考察和定量测量,详细研究了阿尔金断裂带西段康西瓦段三十里营房地区晚第四纪以来的变形特征,在三十里营房东侧塔尔萨依吉勒尕河下游地区,断裂切割了一系列发育完好的冲积扇和阶地。6级不同阶地陡坎和邻近冲积扇面上冲沟的左旋位错量分别为251±4m,250±5m,198±4m,22±2m,12±1m和约6m。T2表面的放弃年龄约10.9±0.2ka（10Be）所限定的位错量22²00m,得到左旋滑移速率为2¹8mm/a;而T4阶地的最大累积位错可能达500m,暗示的左旋滑移速率约4⁵mm/a。最近一次大地震造成的最新地貌左旋水平位错量约6m,该地震同震地表破裂带沿喀拉喀什河谷延伸长达100km,估算为Mw7.4地震,约12m的位错量可能是公元975¹020年（AMS14C）以来最近两次大地震的累积同震地表位错,约6m的特征滑移量暗示该地段发生类似约Mw7.4地震的复发周期约370⁵00 a。这些结果表明,在青藏高原北缘,阿尔金断裂带西段为大型的左旋走滑断裂,它吸收了印度/欧亚大陆碰撞产生的较大部分应变,并使高原西部物质向东运移。