Deciphering factors controlling trace element distribution in the soils of Karaduvar industrial-agricultural area (Mersin,SE Turkey)

In this study, 30 topsoil samples were collected from Karaduvar area (Mersin, SE Turkey) where at present various industrial and agricultural activities are occurring. Using a five-step ultrasound-assisted sequential extraction (UASE) procedure, trace elements in soil samples were partitioned into the following: (1) soluble-exchangeable; (2) bound to carbonates; (3) bound to Fe- and Mn-oxides; (4) bound to organic matter and sulfide compounds, and (5) residual fraction. Concentrations of 11 trace elements in the extracts were determined using ICP-MS. Total concentrations ranged between (in mg kg⁻¹) 3.35 and 7.26 for As; 1.18 and 3.96 for Cd; 10.76 and 20.26 for Co; 37.99 and 63.48 for Cr; 18.55 and 243.1 for Cu; 338.7 and 565.6 for Mn; 4.42 and 6.44 for Mo; 148 and 279.3 for Ni; 10.12 and 73.71 for Pb; 17.93 and 36.55 for V, and 25.46 and 331.7 for Zn. Factor analysis was applied to dataset in order to discriminate between natural and anthropogenic pollution sources and factors controlling the spatial distribution of trace elements in the area. Results suggest that distributions of Co, Cr, Mn, and Ni are mainly controlled by lithological factors, whereas, distributions of Cu, Pb, and Zn can be attributed to agricultural activities such as pesticide/herbicide use and fertilizer application, as well as irrigation with petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated groundwater. Highest concentrations of Cd and Mo are generally observed around the diesel-fired thermal power plant and ATAŞ refinery. Highest concentrations of As and V are generally observed at the NW sector of the area; however, no definitive source can be designated for both of these elements.     

Understanding the 2007-2008 eruption of Anak Krakatau Volcano by combining remote sensing technique and seismic data

One of the most violent volcanic eruptions in recorded history is the Krakatau eruption on August 27, 1883. This caldera-forming eruption destroyed two thirds of the Krakatau volcanic island in the Sunda Strait resulting in the remaining three small islands later known as the Krakatau complex. From 1927 to 1929, eruptions in the center of Krakatau complex have produced a new volcano named Anak Krakatau, which continuously builds its body through eruptions until now. One eruption event took place between 2007 and 2008 with several eruptions that lasted in total from the end of October 2007 to August 2008. Eruptions were characterized by Strombolian activity with ash columns 1 km high, as well as pyroclastic and lava flows. We monitored the ground deformation of Anak Krakatau Volcano by interfering PALSAR data from June 2007 to February 2009. The result of InSAR technique shows a complex pattern of ground deformation. Inflation up to 4 cm, together with subsidence around the crater, was measured for almost three months before the eruption with a volume increase of approximately 1 × 10⁶ m³. After the eruption, the southwest side of the volcanic cone subsided by 18 cm, whereas the northeast side of the cone uplifted 12 cm in almost two years. The observed ground deformation after the eruption can be explained by 4 m of tensile opening along a dipping rectangular tensile dislocation buried in an elastic half-space, approximately 400 m below sea level.     

Settling of Kaolinite in Different Aqueous Environment

Settling characteristics of soils carry great importance for geotechnical engineers since sediments properties are formed during the settling of soil particles in an aqueous environment. In this study, settling characteristics of kaolinite are investigated. Different ionic strengths of NaCl, CaCl₂ and AlCl₃ were considered as a function of pH in aqueous environment of varying solid concentrations. Factors affecting the settling characteristics and fabric of kaolinitic sediments have been identified. The results of the study reveal that kaolinite settles in either flocculated or dispersed forms depending on pH and ion concentration. Flocculated settling occurs in acidic pH due to formation of flocs in edge-to-face structure with increasing positive charges at the particle edges. Dispersed settling occurs in alkaline pHs when ionic strength is low. When ionic strength is increased in alkaline pHs, kaolinite particles settle in flocculated form. Furthermore, the results show that pH has a significant role on the final sediment thickness or void ratio of kaolinite. Densely packed structures in alkaline and loosely packed structures in acidic aqueous environments are formed depending on pH level. Results also show that as the solid concentration increases, the settling rate decreases due to buoyancy effect. Finally, the zeta potential of kaolinite is correlated with the final sediment thickness or void ratio of kaolinite as a function of pH. This correlation proves that there is a good agreement between zeta potential and the final sediment thickness or void ratio, especially when the soil is settled in a dispersed form.     

Residual and Fully Softened Strength Evaluation of Soils using Artificial Neural Networks

A backpropagation artificial neural network (ANN) model is developed to predict the secant friction angle of residual and fully softened soils, using data reported by Stark et al. (J Geotech Geoenviron Eng ASCE 131:575–588, 2005). In the ANN model, index properties such as liquid limit, plastic limit, activity, clay fraction and effective normal stress are used as input variables while secant residual friction angle is used as output variable. The model is verified using data that were not used for model training and testing. The results also indicate that the secant residual friction angle of cohesive soils can be predicted quite accurately using liquid limit, clay fraction and effective normal stress as input variables with R ² = 0.93. The sensitivity analysis results indicate that plastic limit and activity have no appreciable effect on ANN predicted secant friction angles. The secant friction angle predictions of the ANN model were also compared with those of Stark’s et al. (2005) curves and the empirical formulas suggested for the same data sets by Wright (Evaluation of soil shear strengths for slope and retaining wall stability with emphasis on high plasticity clays, 2005). The comparison shows that the ANN model predictions are very close to those suggested by the Stark et al. (2005) curves but much better than the prediction of Wright’s (2005) empirical equations. The results also show that ANN is an alternative powerful tool to predict the secant friction angle of soils.     

Investigation of radio astronomical windows between 1 MHz and 2060 MHz in Universiti Malaya,Malaysia

An indoor and an outdoor radio frequency survey was conducted in Universiti Malaya, Malaysia, as a test site, for the purpose of developing radio astronomy research in Malaysia. This is the first radio astronomical survey of any such done in Malaysia. Observation and analysis were done in the radio frequency spectrum between 1 MHz and 2060 MHz. In this paper, the experimental setup and procedure of surveying are outlined and the measured data are interpreted. The eight radio astronomical windows were investigated from a 24 h observation, with the emphasis on two of the most important radio astronomical windows which are protected by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). Some intermittent observations were also done for referencing purposes. The radio frequency interferences (RFIs) are found to be relatively low. The overall relative Interference-to-Noise ratio (INR) at this test site ranges between 5.72% and 11.74%. The average strength of RFI in the eight focused radio astronomical windows at this site ranges between ?100 dBm and ?90 dBm (equivalently between 9.23 × 10⁴ Jy and 93.29 × 10⁴ Jy at resolution bandwidth of 125 kHz).     

Direct interpretation of magnetotelluric sounding data based on the frequency-normalized impedance function

An important aspect of any non-linear inversion method is the generation of a suitable or good initial model as this controls the rate of convergence and accuracy of the result. To overcome the problem, a numerical method is presented for direct interpretation of magnetotelluric sounding data based on the frequency-normalized impedance (FNI) function. The expressions used to calculate the parameters are developed, first for a two-layer case under the assumption that deeper layers do not contribute to the early part of the FNI curve, and they are then generalized for an n -layer situation. The parameters of the first layer are computed by using successive sample values and the final estimate is obtained from the arithmetic mean of selected values by excluding unacceptable results in the logarithmic space. The top layer is then removed using a reduction equation. The repetition of the procedure on successive branches of the FNI function gives successive layer parameters, the resistivity of the substratum being obtained at the final step, when the reduction equation becomes equal to the square root of that resistivity.   The proposed method can be used as a complementary method for iterative inversion as it creates an initial guess which is close to the optimal solution. The solution produced by the direct interpretation may also be modified by the interpreter to incorporate prior geological information before being input to iterative interpretation schemes.     

Investigation of groundwater contamination using electric and electromagnetic methods at an open waste-disposal site: a case study from Isparta, Turkey

 Geophysical methods, when integrated with soil chemical and hydrogeological methods, can be used to investigate groundwater contamination. Direct current (DC) resistivity geo-electrical sounding and very-low-frequency electromagnetic (VLF-EM) data were collected at an open waste site used by the municipality of the city of Isparta, Turkey. The groundwater at shallow depths in alluvium, which is composed of gravel, sand and clay, were expected to be hazardously contaminated under and around the open waste-disposal site, in which both household and industrial wastes are known to be disposed of improperly. In this study, we mapped the spread of groundwater contamination using a VLF-EM method, which allows fast and inexpensive data collection. The method complements the results of geo-electrical sounding. There is a good correlation between the results of the VLF-EM and the DC-resistivity methods employed for the investigation of subsurface structure of the site, where soil chemical and previous hydrogeological surveys have indicated high levels of chemical concentrations. Received: 17 January 2000 · Accepted: 12 August 2000     

The Geoelectrical Structure of Northwestern Anatolia,Turkey

The magnetotelluric method has been employed to generate a geoelectrical model that will reveal the rich geological pattern and dynamic character of western and northwestern Anatolia, Turkey. Magnetotelluric data were collected from 53 sites along a profile of 290 km from the Dardanelles to the Ala?ehir Graben. Magnetotelluric data were in the range of 0.00055 Hz to 320 Hz. The models were obtained through 2-D joint inversion of transverse electric and transverse magnetic modes. Lateral changes in geoelectrical models are verified by using gravity and magnetic data. In addition, some of the seismological data presented here agree with proposed models that suggest a brittle-ductile structure boundary at a depth of 20 km. Generally speaking, a regional extensional regime caused reduction in the thickness of the crust and consequent uplift towards the south. The constructed model delineates the western part of the North Anatolian Fault Zone along the Biga Peninsula. The current patterns of volcanic activity on the Biga Peninsula and at Kula are related to conductive spots presented in the models. The border of the Gördes Basin, located between the Izmir - Ankara suture zone and the Menderes Massif, is also well delineated. The North Anatolian Fault Zone presents a pattern in which density and susceptibility anomalies attain relatively high values. Fillings covering most of the surface have lower density and susceptibility values than those of underlying structures.     

Delineation of shallow resistivity structure in the city of Burdur,SW Turkey by vertical electrical sounding measurements

The city of Burdur, which is built on an alluvium aquifer, is located in one of the most seismically active zones in southwestern Turkey. The soil properties in the study site are characterized by unconsolidated and water-saturated sediments including silty, clayey and sandy units, and shallow groundwater level is the other characteristic of the site. Thus, the city is under soil liquefaction risk during a large earthquake. A resistivity survey including 189 vertical electrical sounding (VES) measurements was carried out in 2000 as part of a multi-disciplinary project aiming to investigate settlement properties in Burdur city and its vicinity. In the present study, the VES data acquired by using a Schlumberger array were re-processed with 1D and 2D inversion techniques to determine liquefaction potential in the study site. The results of some 1D interpretations were compared to the data from several wells drilled during the project. Also, the groundwater level map that was previously obtained by hydrological studies was extended toward north by using the resistivity data. 2D least-squares inversions were performed along nine VES profiles. This provided very useful information on vertical and horizontal extends of geologic units and water content in the subsurface. The study area is characterized by low resistivity distribution (<150 Ωm) originating from high fluid content in the subsurface. Lower resistivity (3–30 Ωm) is associated with the Quaternary and the Tertiary lacustrine sediments while relatively high resistivity (40–150 Ωm) is related to the Quaternary alluvial cone deposits. This study has also shown that the resistivity measurements are useful in the estimation of liquefaction risk in a site by providing information on the groundwater level and the fluid content in the subsurface. Based on this, we obtained a liquefaction hazard map for the study area. The liquefaction potential was classified by considering the resistivity distributions from 2D inversion of the VES profiles, the types of the sediments and the extended groundwater level map. According to this map, the study area was characterized by high liquefaction hazard risk.