Duration Magnitude Scale and Site Residuals for Northern Morocco

— The first empirical duration magnitude (M_D) formula is developed and tested for the Northern Morocco Seismic Network (NMSNET). This relationship is obtained by relating the IGN (Instituto Geografico National, Madrid) body-waves mbLg^IGN to the duration (), and the epicentral distance (), at 25 analogue stations of the NMSNET for 479 earthquakes with 2.5 mb 5.4, from March 1992 to February 2001. M_D estimates are significantly more precise while introducing a correction term for each of these stations, cSta_j. The magnitude for the i^th event (M_D)_i is the mean value of individual M_Dij=–0.14+1.63log₁₀(_ij)+0.031(_ij)+cSta_j. The cSta_j corrections reduce considerably the local site effects which influence the recorded durations and cause stations to either overestimate, or underestimate M_D up to 0.5 magnitude units. Average station M_D residuals (–cSta_j) are found to be independent of the distance from the epicenter to at least 10 degrees. It seems evident that regional geological features in the immediate behavior of stations have a systematic effect on the corresponding obtained residuals: older well-consolidated Precambrian crystalline rocks produce high negative residuals (shorter durations), younger unconsolidated sediments produce high positive residuals (longer durations), whereas, intermediate M_D site residuals appear to be the result of the effect of various factors, principally age and state of consolidation of the bedrock, combined with the local tectonic.     

The paranthurid isopod crustacean Paranthura nigropunctata (Lucas, 1846): first record from the Atlantic coast of Morocco

The littoral paranthurid isopod crustacean Paranthura nigropunctata (Lucas, 1846) is recorded for the first time from the littoral of El Jadida located on the Atlantic northwest coast of Morocco. Specimens were obtained from the invasive brown seaweed Sargassum muticum and the natives Bifurcaria bifurcata and Cystoseira tamariscifolia in January 2015. This new record further confirms a significant southward distribution of P. nigropunctata and contributes to the knowledge of the biogeography of this isopod. Heretofore, the species was only known from the western and eastern Mediterranean and some Atlantic coasts. The present finding is the first of the species from Moroccan Atlantic shores, and suggests that the species may also be present in other coastal localities from Morocco and Africa. Some data on morphology, ecology and spatial distribution of the species are provided.     

Impact of wastewater effluent on the diatom assemblages structure of a brackish small stream: Oued Hassar (Morocco)

The impact of the wastewater input of Médiouna agglomeration (southeastern area of Casablanca) on the diatom flora and water quality of Oued Hassar stream (Morocco) was studied from July 1997 to August 1998. This wastewater effluent, which was highly loaded with ammonia, orthophosphates and organic matters, had disturbed the diatom assemblages structure and water quality of this stream.The study of the epilithic algal assemblages revealed the presence of 130 taxa of diatoms, 21 of which, according to the available literature, were recorded for the first time in the Moroccan inland waters. Almost all the latter taxa are mesohalobic or oligohalobic-indifferent. Nitzschia inconspicua Grun. was the most abundant species (47.7%) and grows particularly at the source of the stream. Navicula subminuscula Manguin, Nitzschia capitellata Hust. and Nitzschia desertorum Hust. have their dominance in the highly polluted zones, especially downstream the wastewater input.     

Using Active Faults and Seismicity for the Strong Motion Modeling in the Eastern Rif (Northern Morocco)

— The aim of this study is to conduct a probabilistic seismic hazard analysis for the eastern Rif area in northern Morocco. The source zones were established on the basis of the seismicity database, the fracturing analysis deduced from Landsat7 ETM digital enhancement and marine seismic reflection profiles. By the use of this information together with the selected attenuation relationship, the peak ground acceleration contour maps are produced for specific return periods. The map has been divided into intervals of 0.1 degrees in both latitude and longitude to calculate the values at each grid point and draw the seismic hazard curves. The results of seismic hazard assessment are displayed as iso-acceleration contours expected to be exceeded during typical economic life times of structures.     

On the focal mechanism of the 26.05.1975 North Atlantic event contribution from tsunami modeling

The 1975 May 26 earthquake, of magnitude Ms = 7.9, occurred in the North Atlantic close to the Azores Archipelago. Its epicentre, as given by US Geological Survey, was 17.5° W, 35.9° N, 200 km south of the Gloria Fault. Several authors determined the focal mechanism as a dextral strike-slip event with no significant dip-slip component, compatible with the relative motion between Eurasia and Nubia plates but away from the presumed plate boundary. The 1975 earthquake generated a tsunami of small amplitude, recorded at the Portuguese tide-gauge network, in Spain and Northern Africa. The peculiar location of the earthquake and tsunami source and the generation of a noticeable tsunami were already discussed by several authors, but up to now, no direct modelling of the tsunami generation and propagation was made to judge the set of source solutions obtained by seismological analysis. In this paper, we present tsunami simulations, backward ray tracing and forward non-linear shallow water simulations using data from Iberia and Azores and Northern Africa. We show that a good fit between observed data and synthetic waveforms can be obtained with a focal mechanism with no significant dip-slip component, favouring its interpretation as almost pure dextral strike-slip event located in an old fracture zone south of Gloria Fault.     

Geotechnical and geophysical characterization of the Bouira-Algiers Highway (Ain Turck,Algeria) landslide

The Ain Turck (Bouira) landslide, in north-center Algeria, is one of the numerous instabilities recorded along the Lakhdaria-Bouira section of the 1200-km-long east-west Algerian highway. The locality of Ain Turck is known for its unstable slopes characterized by a very rough morphology with steep slopes (20 to 25%). This slide threatens the inhabitants of the Ibournanen village, located down the unstable slope, where parts of some houses have fallen into ruin, while others are cracked. It is characterized by an active movement extending over a more or less important slope, of the order of a hundred meters. The land mobilized by this movement corresponds to the layer of shale clays and clays overlaid by a backfill, placed there following the east-west highway works. Geological, geomorphologic, and geotechnical analysis allows determining the soil instability probably related to earthworks during the construction of the highway section a few years earlier, followed by a particularly rainy season in 2012. Acquisitions of ambient seismic noise and H/V ratio processing, as well as the acquisition of an electrical resistivity profile at the instability site, have reinforced our preliminary interpretations of depth and geometry of the sliding surface.     

Factors driving the seasonal distribution of planktonic and epiphytic ciliates in a eutrophicated Mediterranean Lagoon

We studied the distribution of planktonic and epiphytic ciliates coupled with environmental factors and microalgae abundance at five stations in Ghar El Melh Lagoon (Tunisia). Planktonic ciliates were monitored for a year and epiphytic ciliates were sampled during summer 2011 in concordance with the proliferation of the seagrass Ruppia cirrhosa. Ciliate assemblage was largely dominated by Spirotrichea followed respectively by Tintinnida of and Strombidiida. No significant difference was found in the distribution of ciliate species among the stations. Redundancy analysis indicates that abiotic factors (temperature and nutriments) have a significant effect on the dynamics of certain ciliates. For epiphytic ciliates, 4 species were identified: Tintinnopsis campanula, Aspidisca sp., Strombidium acutum and Amphorides amphora. Based on PERMANOVA analyses, ciliates exhibit significant correlations among months and stations. According to ACP, epiphyte distribution follows roughly those of R. cirrhosa and pH. Significant correlations were found between harmful dinoflagellates and both planktonic and epiphytic ciliates.     

Application des outils chimiques et isotopiques à l'étude de la relation hydrodynamique entre les aquifères profonds de Sfax et de la Djeffara de Gabès Nord (Sud-Est tunisien)

Résumé

L'étude des bassins côtiers de Sfax et de la Djeffara de Gabès Nord, basée sur l'interprétation des données hydrochimiques (éléments majeurs) et isotopiques (¹⁸O, ²H et ¹⁴C), a permis une meilleure compréhension du fonctionnement hydrodynamique de l'aquifère Miocène le long de la frange côtière. En effet, d'après les données géochimiques, apparaît la présence de deux types de faciès chimiques: chloruré sodique dans le bassin de Sfax et mixte à chloruré sodique dans le bassin de Gabès Nord. Cette transition d'un faciès à un autre souligne la variabilité des origines de minéralisation des eaux. L'utilisation des outils isotopiques a permis l'identification d'une eau relativement ancienne à l'exception de quelques poches de recharge récente matérialisées à partir du relief de Zemlet El Beida en amont du bassin de Gabès Nord. Ceci a été vérifié par les fortes activités en¹⁴C des eaux dans cette région. Par conséquent, on peut noter que le passage du Sud au Nord le long de la côte est marqué par une grande variation latérale de lithologie et d'épaisseur de la formation aquifère, soulignant ainsi l'indépendance de chacun des deux réservoirs de Sfax et de la Djeffara de Gabès en absence de toute continuité hydrodynamique entre les deux bassins.

Editeur Z.W. Kundzewicz; Editeur associé S. Faye

Citation Ben Cheikh, N., Zouari, K., et Abidi, B., 2012. Application des outils chimiques et isotopiques à l'étude de la relation hydrodynamique entre les aquifères profonds de Sfax et de la Djeffara de Gabès Nord (Sud-Est tunisien). Hydrological Sciences Journal, 57 (8), 1662–1671.     

Application of structural equation modeling for assessing relationships between organic carbon and soil properties in semiarid Mediterranean region

Restoration of atmospheric carbon in soils has principal many good effects. Arid lands cover more than 40 % of the global earth area, but only stock 16 % from the global carbon stock. It seems to be a suitable solution for this environmental issue, but still all variables controlling organic carbon in such kinds of soil, was ignored. This study aims to develop two models of organic carbon under clayey and sandy soils in semi-arid Mediterranean zones basing on physical and chemical soil properties. For establishing both models, structural equation modeling was used. For modeling organic carbon, two Tunisian soil databases composed from clayey and sandy soils made respectively, of 450 and 602 soil horizons were used. Using the two databases for all properties, the principal component analysis shows two components for clayey soil; (i) chemical properties and bulk density and (ii) physical properties. For the sandy soil it reveals two components; (i) chemical properties and (ii) physical properties. According to the derived components for each soil category, two models have been built. Structural equation modeling results show that clayey model has proved that organic carbon was controlled by chemical properties and bulk density more than physical properties and sandy model has proved that organic carbon was controlled by chemical properties more than physical properties. The root mean square errors of approximation were 0.079 and 0.050 for the clayey and sandy models, respectively. Then these two models were validated with two other databases from Tunisian dryland soils.