Estimation of the maximum credible hazard in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore due to gigantic Sumatran megathrust earthquakes: based on a comparative study on attenuation laws

Natural Hazards - This paper has classified nine attenuation laws derived for subduction interface earthquakes through a comparative study based on the peak ground accelerations (PGAs) recorded in...     

High latitude helical surge of May 22, 1989

A helical surge (S 72, W 90) was recorded by a monochromatic filter at the University Observatory of Istanbul. It is a significient one at a very high latitude and without any center of activity. A sequence of the filtergrams showed some condensed points from which the motions of the plasma are traced. Different velocities were determined on each of the branches of the helical surge during its evolution. The surge reached its maximum height of 298 000 km and the maximum velocity of this upper region was 250 km s^–1.     

Results of a walk-above vertical seismic profiling survey acquired at the Thônex-01 geothermal well (Switzerland) to delineate fractured carbonate formations for geothermal development

This paper deals with the design, acquisition and processing of vertical seismic profiling data collected in 2016 at the directional Thônex-01 geothermal well, drilled in 1993 in the Geneva Canton (Switzerland). The aim of the study was to obtain additional information from existing-abandoned well for downhole geophysical characterization of potential geothermal reservoirs in the Geneva area. The main results obtained by this study allowed an improved subsurface image by multi-offset acquisitions near and around the deviated well. Specifically we were able to (1) improve the velocity model of the Geneva Basin, which, at present, is only constrained by one unique deep exploration well, located at the south-west of the basin, far away from the study area; (2) image the transition between the Tertiary Molasse siliciclastic sediments and the Mesozoic carbonates; (3) define an acquisition strategy for future vertical seismic profiling surveys in support of the geothermal exploration campaigns in the area. This study has demonstrated the value of vertical seismic profiling method for the refinement of the subsurface geology at local scale, and its usefulness to assist the planning of second well associated with geothermal doublets.     

Predictability performance enhancement for suspended sediment in rivers:Inspection of newly developed hybrid adaptive neuro-fuzzy system model

Reliable modeling of river sediments transport is important as it is a defining factor of the economic viability of dams, the durability of hydroelectric-equipment, river susceptibility to pollution, suitability for navigation, and potential for aesthetics and fish habitat. The capability of a new machine learning model, fuzzy c-means based neuro-fuzzy system calibrated using the hybrid particle swarm optimization-gravitational search algorithm（ANFIS-FCM-PSOGSA） in improving the estimation accur...     

Geomorphology of the Alluvial Sediments and Bedrock in an Intermontane Basin: Application of Variogram Modeling to Electrical Resistivity Soundings

The study describes a methodology used to integrate legacy resistivity data with limited geological data in order to build three-dimensional models of the near subsurface. Variogram analysis and inversion techniques more typically found in the petroleum industry are applied to a set of 1D resistivity data taken from electrical surveys conducted in the 1980s. Through careful integration with limited geological data collected from boreholes and outcrops, the resultant model can be visualized in three dimensions to depict alluvium layers as lithological and structural units within the bedrock. By tuning the variogram parameters to account for directionality, it is possible to visualize the individual lithofacies and geomorphological features in the subsurface. In this study, an electrical resistivity data set collected as part of a groundwater study in an area of the Peshawar basin in Pakistan has been re-examined. Additional lithological logs from boreholes throughout the area have been combined with local outcrop information to calibrate the data. Tectonic activity during the Himalayan orogeny has caused uplift in the area and generated significant faulting in the bedrock resulting in the formation of depressions which are identified by low resistivity values representing clays. Paleo-streams have reworked these clays which have been eroded and replaced by gravel–sand facies along paleo-channels. It is concluded that the sediments have been deposited as prograding fan-shaped bodies and lacustrine deposits with interlayered gravel–sand and clay–silt facies. The Naranji area aquifer system has thus been formed as a result of local tectonic activity with fluvial erosion and deposition and is characterized by coarse sediments with high electrical resistivities.     

Stakeholder's views on fisheries compliance: An Australian case study

This study presents the results of a field survey that focused on the views of Tasmanian abalone fishery stakeholders (commercial and non-commercial divers, processor, enforcement agency and management) with regards to non-compliance in the abalone fishery. The primary data was collected through 22 face-to-face interviews with stakeholders and the Wilcoxon's signed-rank test was used to determine if significant differences existed between the means of responses from primary and secondary stakeholders. It was found that there is no significant difference in mean responses of primary and secondary stakeholders in regard to the factors that have the potential in influencing the non-compliance in the fishery. The similarity of views between the regulators and resource users on the source and nature of non-compliance in the fishery would form the basis for improved compliance strategies.     

Effect of helix bending deflection on load settlement behaviour of screw pile

A screw pile has higher end bearing capacity than any other straight pipe piles due to its larger helix with respect to central shaft. However, larger helices are not frequently used as it will bend and may reduce the actual bearing capacity of the ground. In the present study, the effect of helix bending deflection on the load settlement behaviour and ultimate bearing capacity is investigated. To achieve the objectives, model scale pile load tests were conducted. The effect of helix bending on the load settlement behaviour at higher stress level was also investigated in this research. The helices with different helix-to-shaft-diameter ratios and thicknesses were used, so that clear difference of deformed and non-deformed screw piles in the load settlement behaviour can be observed. Dry Toyoura sand in dense state was used as a model ground. It is observed from test results that the helix bending deflection starts affecting the load settlement behaviour of the ground if it is more than the critical helix bending deflection. The ratio of critical helix bending deflection to outstand length decreases with increase in helix-to-shaft-diameter ratio, and its relationship is presented in this study. It is also observed that the Roark’s formula for flat circular plate having uniform load over a very small circular area with fixed outer edges showed good agreement with the measured helix bending deflection. In order to estimate the optimum helix thickness, the well-agreed equation is also modified with respect to critical helix bending deflection.

     

Improving soil moisture accounting and streamflow prediction in SWAT by incorporating a modified time‐dependent Curve Number method

The objective of this study is to incorporate a time‐dependent Soil Moisture Accounting (SMA) based Curve Number method (SMA_CN) in Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and compare its performance with the existing CN method in SWAT by simulating the hydrology of two agricultural watersheds in Indiana, USA. Results show that fusion of the SMA_CN method causes decrease in runoff volume and increase in profile soil moisture content, associated with larger groundwater contribution to the streamflow. In addition, the higher amount of moisture in the soil profile slightly elevates the actual evapotranspiration. The SMA‐based SWAT configuration consistently produces improved goodness‐of‐fit scores and less uncertain outputs with respect to streamflow during both calibration and validation. The SMA_CN method exhibits a better match with the observed data for all flow regimes, thereby addressing issues related to peak and low flow predictions by SWAT in many past studies. Comparison of the calibrated model outputs with field‐scale soil moisture observations reveals that the SMA overhauling enables SWAT to represent soil moisture condition more accurately, with better response to the incident rainfall dynamics. While the results from the modification of the CN method in SWAT are promising, more studies including watersheds with various physical and climatic settings are needed to validate the proposed approach. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Changes in seasonality and timing of peak streamflow in snow and semi‐arid climates of the north‐central United States, 1910–2012

Changes in the seasonality and timing of annual peak streamflow in the north‐central USA are likely because of changes in precipitation and temperature regimes. A source of long‐term information about flood events across the study area is the U.S. Geological Survey peak streamflow database. However, one challenge of answering climate‐related questions with this dataset is that even in snowmelt‐dominated areas, it is a mixed population of snowmelt/spring rain generated peaks and summer/fall rain generated peaks. Therefore, a process was developed to divide the annual peaks into two populations, or seasons, snowmelt/spring, and summer/fall. The two series were then tested for the hypotheses that because of changes in precipitation regimes, the odds of summer/fall peaks have increased and, because of temperature changes, snowmelt/spring peaks happen earlier. Over climatologically and geographically similar regions in the north‐central USA, logistic regression was used to model the odds of getting a summer/fall peak. When controlling for antecedent wet and dry conditions and geographical differences, the odds of summer/fall peaks occurring have increased across the study area. With respect to timing within the seasons, trend analysis showed that in northern portions of the study region, snowmelt/spring peaks are occurring earlier. The timing of snowmelt/spring peaks in three regions in the northern part of the study area is earlier by 8.7– 14.3 days. These changes have implications for water interests, such as potential changes in lead‐time for flood forecasting or changes in the operation of flood‐control dams. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.