Kinematics of a twisted surge

Using the H-alpha solar filtergrams taken at Kandilli Observatory, we have studied the motion of a twisted surge, from the kinematic point of view. We applied the Palu (1972) method to two knots of the twisted surge occurred at 10 November, 1967. The results are discussed.     

Degradation of digested sewage sludge residue under anaerobic conditions for mine tailings remediation

Previous studies showed that 85 % of total organic matter (TOM) in digested sewage sludge (biosolids) used as a sealing layer material over sulfide tailings at the Kristineberg Mine, northern Sweden, had been degraded 8 years after application, resulting in a TOM reduction from 78 to 14 %. To achieve a better understanding of the field observations, laboratory studies were performed to evaluate biodegradation rates of the TOM under anaerobic conditions. Results reveal that the original biosolid consisted of ca. 60 % TOM (48.0 % lignin and 11.8 % carbohydrates) that had not been fully degraded. The incubation experiments proved that 27.8 % TOM in the biosolid was further degraded anaerobically at 20–22 °C during the 230 days’ incubation period, and that a plateau to the biodegradation rate was approached. Based on model results, the degradation constant was found to be 0.0125 (day^?1). The calculated theoretical gas formation potential was ca. 50 % higher than the modeled results based on the average degradation rate. Cumulated H₂S equated to 0.65 μmoL g^?1 of biosolid at 230 days. However, the large sulfurous compounds reservoir (1.76 g SO₄ ^2? kg^?1 biosolid) together with anaerobic conditions can generate high concentrations of this gas over a long-term perspective. Due to the rate of biodegradability identified via anaerobic processes, the function of the biosolid to serve as an effective barrier to inhibit oxygen migration to underlying tailings, may decrease over time. However, a lack of readily degradable organic fractions in the biosolid and a large fraction of organic matter that was recalcitrant to degradation suggest a longer degradation duration, which would prolong the biosolid material’s function and integrity.     

The Inference of Geo-Mechanical Properties of Soft Rocks and their Degradation from Needle Penetration Tests

Needle penetration tests (NPTs) are used for inferring the uniaxial compressive strength of soft rocks, particularly in tunneling through squeezing rocks and foundations on weathered rocks in Japan. The device measures the applied load and the penetration depth of its needle. The ratio of applied load to penetration depth was originally called the needle penetration index (NPI). In this study, this device has been used to infer the geo-mechanical properties of soft rocks from Japan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Egypt. Various equations are presented to infer the geo-mechanical properties in terms of the NPI and compared with the experimental results. The possibility of evaluating the anisotropy of geo-mechanical properties is shown. Furthermore, the characterization of geo-mechanical properties of fault/fracture and slip (shear) surfaces is explained. Some additional equations are given to consider the degradation of geo-mechanical properties as a function of water content, weathering state, and number of cycles of freezing–thawing. Furthermore, the possibility of evaluating the time-dependency characteristics of soft rocks by needle penetration testing is discussed through experiments. It is shown that the effects of water content, weathering state, and number of cycles of freezing–thawing and time-dependency can be evaluated using the NPT technique.     

New lessons for technology policy and climate change: investment for innovation

The direction of UK energy policy requires a renewed impetus if the goal of climate change stabilization is to be met. Cost is not the main issue: a transformation to a low-carbon energy system may be no more expensive than meeting future energy demands with fossil fuels. Institutional barriers are preventing the large-scale adoption of the necessary technologies. New institutions to promote low-carbon technologies have not yet led to investment on the necessary scale. Further changes to the operation of the UK electricity markets to create a ‘level playing field’ for small-scale and intermittent generation are necessary. UK policy can contribute to international agreements following on from the Kyoto Accord, which also need to address the institutional barriers to energy technology development and transfer.     

Fluid inclusion and sulfur isotope thermometry of the Inkaya (Simav-Kütahya) Cu-Pb-Zn-(Ag) mineralization, NW TURKEY

The Inkaya Cu-Pb-Zn-(Ag) mineralization, located about 20 km west of the Simav (Kütahya-Turkey), is situated in the northern part of the Menderes Massif Metamorphics. The mineralization is located along an E-W trending fault in the Cambrian Simav metamorphics consisting of quartz-muscovite schist, quartz-biotite schist, muscovite schist, biotite schist and the Ar?kayas? formation composed of marbles. Mineralized veins are 30–35 cm in width. The primary mineralization is represented by abundant galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, fahlore and minor amounts of cerussite, anglesite, digenite, enargite, chalcocite, covellite, bornite, limonite, hematite and goethite with gangue quartz. Fluid inclusion studies on the quartz samples collected from the mineralized veins indicate that the temperature range of the fluids is 235°C to 340°C and the salinities are 0.7 to 4.49 wt. % NaCl equivalent. The wide range of homogenization temperatures indicates that two different fluid generations were trapped in quartz. Sulfur isotope studies of the sulfide minerals showed that all of the δ ³⁴S values are between ?2.1 and 2.6 per mil. These values are a typical range for hydrothermal sulfide minerals that have sulfur derived from a magmatic source. Pyrite-galena and pyrite-chalcopyrite sulfur isotope fractionation is consistent with an approach to isotopic equilibrium, and calculated temperatures are 254.6 and 277.4°C for pyrite-galena and 274.7°C for pyrite-chalcopyrite. The microthermometric data and sulfur isotope thermometry indicate the existence of a hydrothermal fluid that circulated along the fault crossing the Simav metamorphics and Ar?kayas? formation. Fluid inclusion and sulfur isotope thermometry can be used in combination with ore petrographical and geological information to provide site-specific targets for meso-hypothermal metal concentrations.     

New insights into the mineralogy and weathering of the Meridiani Planum meteorite,Mars

Meridiani Planum is the first officially recognized meteorite find on the surface of Mars. It was discovered at and named after the landing site of the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity. Based on its composition, it was classified as a IAB complex iron meteorite. Mössbauer spectra obtained by Opportunity are dominated by kamacite (α‐Fe‐Ni) and exhibit a small contribution of ferric oxide. Several small features in the spectra have been neglected to date. To shed more light on these features, five iron meteorite specimens were investigated as analogs to Meridiani Planum with a laboratory Mössbauer setup. Measurements were performed on (1) their metallic bulk, (2) troilite (FeS) inclusions, (3) cohenite ((Fe,Ni,Co)₃C) and schreibersite ((Fe,Ni)₃P), and (4) corroded rims. In addition to these room‐temperature measurements, a specimen from the Mundrabilla IAB‐ungrouped meteorite was measured at Mars‐equivalent temperatures. Based on these measurements, the features in Meridiani Planum spectra can be explained with the presence of small amounts of schreibersite and/or cohenite and iron oxides. The iron oxides can be attributed to a previously reported coating on Meridiani Planum. Their presence indicates weathering through the interaction of the meteorite with small amounts of water.     

Preliminary seismic microzonation of Sivas city (Turkey) using microtremor and refraction microtremor (ReMi) measurements

Sivas city, located in the inner east part of Anatolia (Turkey), is far from seismic sources. However, the city is under risk owing to strong earthquakes occurring around the area, and different soil conditions that can produce variation in the ground motion amplification. Microzonation of cities provides a basis for site-specific hazard analysis in urban settlements. In particular, seismic microzonation can be achieved by means of detailed seismic assessment of the area, including earthquake recordings and geological studies. In this paper, we propose a preliminary microzonation map for the city of Sivas, based on the variation in the dominant periods of the sediments covering the area. The periods are retrieved from microtremor measurements conducted at 114 sites, using the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio technique. The results of microtremor analysis were compared with those obtained from refraction microtremor measurements at two profiles crossing the studied area. According to the classification of dominant periods, Sivas area can be divided into four zones, probably prone to different levels of seismic hazard. However, specific studies including analysis of weak earthquakes are required in the future to validate our microzonation map.     

The importance of ambient and forced vibration measurements for the results of seismic performance assessment of buildings obtained by using a simplified non-linear procedure: case study of an old masonry building

The seismic performance assessment of existing masonry buildings involves many uncertainties, whose impact can be reduced to some extent by using non-destructive in-situ tests of such buildings, at least when destructive in-situ tests, which can provide more reliable results, cannot be performed. In this paper the extent of the potential beneficial effects achievable by calibration of a structural model of a building to its experimentally estimated vibration periods has been investigated. This was done by performing measurements of ambient and forced vibrations on an old two-storey masonry building, and by then assessing its seismic performance using a simplified nonlinear method. The results of numerical investigations revealed that the natural vibration periods of such buildings can be reproduced with sufficient accuracy, although it is possible that they will be overestimated or underestimated by analysts by up to around 40 %. This means that the accuracy of the prediction of the intermediate results of the seismic performance assessment of any particular building can be significantly increased by calibration of the structural model. Additionally, the beneficial effects of such calibration were observed even in the case of the final outcome of the nonlinear analysis, which is expressed through the near-collapse limit state capacity in terms of the peak ground acceleration.     

Lösmaterialackumulationer i blockhaven på Varangerhalvön i Nordnorge—en problemdis- kussion

Malmström, B. og Palmér, O.: Lösmaterialackumulationer i blockhaven på Varangerhalvön i Nordnorge—en problemdiskussion. Geografisk Tidsskrift 82: 82–87, Lund, 15. november 1982.

A type of mounds consisting of unconsolidated deposits mainly situated in blockfields is presented. Comparisons are made with pingo-like remnants in northern Scandinavia described by other authors.