Environmental impact assessment using rapid impact assessment matrix (RIAM) for Russeifa landfill, Jordan

An environmental impact assessment (EIA) study for the solid waste landfill was prepared for the Russeifa area, northeast Jordan. As landfill was not subjected to sophisticated EIA, serious environmental problems are still occurring, such as groundwater contamination and air pollution. Three alternatives were proposed to rehabilitate the landfill: upgrading the existing landfill, construction of a biogas plant and its relocation. The EIA for the three options was carried out using the rapid impact assessment matrix (RIAM), it applies a consistent and recordable assessment of the importance of the different components. The scoping components included in the RIAM were: physical/chemical, biological/ecological, social/cultural and economic/operational components. The RIAM analysis showed that the least negative impacts would be to relocate to a better-managed sanitary landfill. The most serious negative impacts were the contamination of groundwater, air pollution and public health. These impacts can be mitigated through a comprehensive environmental management plan for the Russeifa landfill to address the deterioration of environmental components in the vicinity of landfill.     

Emeishan large igneous province, SW China

In recent years, there have been major advances in our understanding of the Emeishan large igneous province (LIP) of SW China following publication of a number of LIP-focused investigations of the terrain and associated rocks. This paper reviews the current state of knowledge. The volcanic and upper-intrusive portion of the province is relatively small (0.3×10⁶ km³), even when offset fragments, eroded sections and buried portions are included in the volume calculation. The most reliable radiometric age dates (zircon U–Pb SHRIMP from an associated layered intrusive body several kilometers in area) indicate generation at 259 Ma, consistent with the end-Guadalupian (end Middle Permian) stratigraphic age. In addition, several Ar–Ar dating studies have been carried out, mainly on the volcanic rocks, with a number of reported dates 253–251 Ma (Late Permian), but a consensus is emerging that these ages are problematic because they are in conflict with the stratigraphic data (possibly due to a monitor standard miscalibration). The Ar–Ar investigations have also yielded a large number of secondary ages, which are clustered at 175, 142, 98 and 42 Ma, and these are inferred to record sub-regional tectonic events that affected the western Yangtze Block as East Asia was assembled and later deformed by India’s collision–indentation into Asia. Magnetostratigraphic data and field observations suggest that the bulk of the volcanic sequence formed within 1–2 my. The geochemistry of the volcanic rocks and bio-lithostratigraphic studies of the underlying Maokou Formation suggests a mantle plume generated the province. The basalts can be classified into low and high Ti groups with different parental magmas. The low Ti basalts are confined to the western part of the province and are overlain by the high Ti basalts. The low Ti magmas formed at shallow mantle depths in the spinel–garnet field transition zone (60–80 km), whereas the high Ti magmas formed by low degrees of partial melting within the deeper garnet stability field. This observation suggests a deepening of the melting column as the lithosphere thickened due to under-plating and a transition from peak basalt generation to the waning stage. Outstanding issues, which might focus future studies, are also outlined.     

Visibility Analysis In Vision Metrology Network Design

The aim of this paper is to present a method whereby accuracy enhancement of an existing photogrammetric network is achieved through the automatic selection of additional camera stations. The determination of the positions of these 'accuracy fulfilment' camera stations is based upon what has been termed 'visibility uncertainty prediction modelling' of visibility constraints derived from the existing network geometry. Following a review of vision constraints in network design, the concepts of visibility uncertainty prediction and visibility uncertainty spheres are introduced. These provide a mechanism to predict the visibility of current object target points for the new accuracy fulfilment images. This in turn aids in network design improvement. The visibility uncertainty modelling is then illustrated for two close range photogrammetric network configurations, for which the test results demonstrate that the proposed model can reliably predict target visibility with an overall certainty of 75%.     

Optimum design of structures against earthquake by wavelet neural network and filter banks

Optimum design of structures for earthquake is achieved by simulated annealing. To reduce the computational work, a fast wavelet transform is used by means of which the number of points in the earthquake record is decreased. The record is decomposed into two parts. One part contains the low frequency of the record, and the other contains the high frequency of the record. The low‐frequency content is the effective part, since most of the energy of the record is contained in this part of the record. Thus, the low‐frequency part of the record is used for dynamic analysis. Then, using a wavelet neural network, the dynamic responses of the structures are approximated. By such approximation, the dynamic analysis of the structure becomes unnecessary in the process of optimization. The wavelet neural networks have been employed as a general approximation tool for the time history dynamic analysis. A number of structures are designed for optimal weight and the results are compared to those corresponding to the exact dynamic analysis. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Halley and the London Queen Anne Churches

Edmond Halley's work on two London churches makes them the first buildings planned using modern scientific techniques, argue Jason R Ali and Peter Cunich.     

Determination of aquifer susceptibility to pollution using statistical analysis

 The use of statistical techniques in studying the causes of geochemical variations in aquifers can provide important results which cannot be derived in other ways. In this study, data from the Wadi Shueib catchment area in Jordan is evaluated, using principle component factor and multivariate factor analysis in order to better understand the variablility in groundwater chemistry and evaluate the sources of pollution and the susceptibility of these aquifers to the different sources of pollution. This study clearly demonstrates that these statistical techniques can help determine the various mechanisms causing chemical variation in the aquifers and the relative susceptibility of each aquifer to different types of pollution. Received: 13 March 1996 · Accepted: 18 June 1996     

Partial molar volume of water in phonolitic glasses and liquids

The volumes and expansivities of four hydrous phonolite glasses and liquids have been measured by dilatometry from 300 K up to the glass transition and over a 50 K interval just above the glass transition. The partial molar volume of water is independent of the water content for the glass and liquid phases, with values of about 11.0ǂ.5 and 17.1ǂ.9 cm³/mol at 300 and 800 K, respectively. The partial molar thermal expansivity of water in phonolite glasses is about 8᎒^-5 K^-1, a result similar to recently published values for different silicate compositions, and about 36.5᎒^-5 K^-1 in phonolite liquids. The implications for melt density and water dissolution are discussed.