How does the Red Sea outflow water interact with Gulf of Aden Eddies?

As the Red Sea overflow water (RSOW) enters the Gulf of Aden (GOA), it interacts with a sequence of nearly barotropic, mesoscale eddies originating in the Indian Ocean. To investigate how these eddies impact the dispersal and eastward transport of the RSOW toward the Indian Ocean, a high resolution 3D regional model is employed to explore systematically the interaction between the RSOW and mesoscale eddies. Two types of experiments are conducted. In the first set, we simulate the behavior of RSOW in the presence of an idealized cyclone and an idealized anticyclone. The second type of simulation involves nesting of the regional model (ROMS) within a data-assimilating global model (HYCOM), in which a sequence of mesoscale eddies entering the Gulf of Aden is realistically captured. This simulation is integrated for one year, and includes a simple representation of the seasonality of the RSOW.Bower et al. (2002) suggest that the Red Sea overflow might be a western boundary undercurrent. Consistent with these expectations, the idealized simulations show that the preferred pathway of the RSOW in the absence of eddies is along the coast of Somalia (southern continental shelf) as a western boundary undercurrent. Simultaneously, a cyclonic circulation is generated in the far western GOA due to vortex stretching by the descending outflow. The presence of a cyclone in the western GOA increases the peak RSOW transport, but the cyclone itself rapidly loses its coherence after interacting with the rough topography in the western GOA. The presence of an anticyclone tends to block the preferred boundary pathway and inhibits the eastward transport of the RSOW. The eddies also result in substantially increased mixing of the RSOW in the western GOA.On the basis of the more realistic ROMS experiment, it is found that the modeled RSOW leaves the western part of the Gulf of Aden in short episodic bursts with transports that are an order of magnitude greater than that associated with the quasi-steady RSOW inflow into GOA. Such enhancement in RSOW transport is shown to be induced by cyclonic eddies that cause a rapid discharge of RSOW from the western part of the GOA. We conclude that mesoscale eddies play a key role in the transport and mixing of the RSOW within GOA.     

Determining and Mapping Eco-Cultural Subregions Using GIS and Simos Procedure

Immovable cultural properties constituting cultural heritage centre upon regions that have the level of natural features required for basic human needs. Such regions constitute a space with characteristics of an eco-cultural subregion and they do not have any administrative or geographical boundaries. Aims of this study are to introduce the concept of eco-cultural subregion, which is the holistic expression of natural features together with cultural heritage, to the literature; to present a method in identifying geographical boundaries of subregions; and to formulate a classification system. The research was conducted in the Phrygian Valley, which is one of the most important centres of ancient Phrygians in Western Anatolia, using a method based on GIS-MCDM (Geographic Information System-Multiple Criteria Decision Making). The selected MCDM technique was Simos Procedure. Natural features and cultural heritage were considered together and the entire Phrygian Valley was approached as both an ecological and a cultural region. Ecological features were analysed using 7 main and 17 subfactors, while cultural heritage was analysed using 2 main factors and 15 subfactors. Simos Procedure was employed in the assignment of weight for main factors and subfactors. First 17 ecological subregions with similar characteristics under 4 levels were identified. Considering their cultural heritage values, a classification system was formulated and eco-cultural subregions were expressed in level/degree in this system. In consequence of this procedure boundaries of eco-cultural subregions were drawn and mapped. This classification also enabled to identify the concept of eco-cultural subregion which is not found in the literature. It is expected that eco-cultural subregions will provide to discuss ecological features and cultural heritage holistically in conservation and planning studies.     

GIS-based microzonation of the Niksar settlement area for the purpose of urban planning (Tokat, Turkey)

Niksar (Tokat) is an urban area located in a seismically active zone of Turkey. The aim of this study is to prepare a GIS-based microzonation map of the Niksar settlement area for the purpose of urban planning. Liquefaction, activity, slope, aspect, fault proximity, ground amplification, and lithology are considered during the overlay analysis, using a multicriteria decision-making analysis of the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and simple additive weighing (SAW) methods. Based on the resulting evaluations, the study area is divided into four different zones, namely (1) areas suitable for settlement, (2) provisional settlement areas, (3) areas requiring detailed geotechnical investigation, and (4) unsuitable areas. Maps prepared by the SAW and AHP methods are found to be consistent with each other. However, the microzonation map prepared by the AHP method is recommended for the purpose of urban planning because it is able to check its own consistency.     

Adaptation of hurricane risk perception scale to earthquake risk perception and determining the factors affecting women's earthquake risk perception

Natural Hazards - Worldwide studies show that gender is an important variable affecting disaster risk perception and that women have high levels of disaster risk perception. The objective of this...     

Compatible ground-motion prediction equations for damping scaling factors and vertical-to-horizontal spectral amplitude ratios for the broader Europe region

In a companion article Akkar et al. (Bull Earthq Eng, doi:10.1007/s10518-013-9461-4, 2013a; Bull Earthq Eng, doi:10.1007/s10518-013-9508-6, 2013b) present a new ground-motion prediction equation (GMPE) for estimating 5 %-damped horizontal pseudo-acceleration spectral (PSA) ordinates for shallow active crustal regions in Europe and the Middle East. This study provides a supplementary viscous damping model to modify 5 %-damped horizontal spectral ordinates of Akkar et al. (Bull Earthq Eng, doi:10.1007/s10518-013-9461-4 2013a; Bull Earthq Eng, doi:10.1007/s10518-013-9508-6, 2013b) for damping ratios ranging from 1 to 50 %. The paper also presents another damping model for scaling 5 %-damped vertical spectral ordinates that can be estimated from the vertical-to-horizontal (V/H) spectral ratio GMPE that is also developed within the context of this study. For consistency in engineering applications, the horizontal and vertical damping models cover the same damping ratios as noted above. The article concludes by introducing period-dependent correlation coefficients to compute horizontal and vertical conditional mean spectra (Baker in J Struct Eng 137:322–331, 2011). The applicability range of the presented models is the same as of the horizontal GMPE proposed by Akkar et al. (Bull Earthq Eng, doi:10.1007/s10518-013-9461-4 2013a; Bull Earthq Eng, doi:10.1007/s10518-013-9508-6, 2013b): as for spectral periods $0.01 \hbox { s}\le \,\hbox {T}\le \,4\hbox { s}$ as well as PGA and PGV for V/H model; and in terms of seismological estimator parameters $4\le \hbox {M}_\mathrm{w} \le 8, \hbox { R} \le 200 \hbox { km}, 150\hbox { m/s}\le \hbox { V}_\mathrm{S30}\le $ 1,200 m/s, for reverse, normal and strike-slip faults. The source-to-site distance measures that can be used in the computations are epicentral $(\hbox {R}_\mathrm{epi})$ , hypocentral $(\hbox {R}_\mathrm{hyp})$ and Joyner–Boore $(\hbox {R}_\mathrm{JB})$ distances. The implementation of the proposed GMPEs will facilitate site-specific adjustments of the spectral amplitudes predicted from probabilistic seismic hazard assessment in Europe and the Middle East region. They can also help expressing the site-specific design ground motion in several formats. The consistency of the proposed models together with the Akkar et al. (Bull Earthq Eng, doi:10.1007/s10518-013-9461-4 2013a; Bull Earthq Eng, doi:10.1007/s10518-013-9508-6, 2013b) GMPE may be advantageous for future modifications in the ground-motion definition in Eurocode 8 (CEN in Eurocode 8, Design of structures for earthquake resistance—part 1: general rules, seismic actions and rules for buildings. European Standard NF EN 1998-1, Brussels, 2004).     

Mineralogy,diagenesis and hydrochemical evolution in a probertite–glauberite–halite saline lake (Miocene,Emet Basin,Turkey)

The Emet basin is one of the Neogene basins in western Turkey containing significant amounts of borate minerals, mainly colemanite. The petrologic study of core samples from two exploratory wells in the Do?anlar sector, under optic and electron microscopy, reveals a complex mineral association in which probertite, glauberite, and halite constitute the major primary phases (without mineral precursors) precipitated in a saline lake placed in a volcano-sedimentary context. Other sulfates (anhydrite, gypsum, thenardite, celestite and kalistrontite), borates (colemanite, ulexite, hydroboracite, tunellite, kaliborite and aristarainite), and sulfides (arsenopyrite, realgar and orpiment) are attributed to early diagenesis. So far, the Do?anlar deposit is the most important deposit of probertite known up to now.Chemical changes in the groundwater inflow led to the precipitation of Ca-bearing borates (colemanite) in the tuff-flat environment surrounding the lake, while Na–Ca sulfates and borates (glauberite and probertite) precipitated in the center of the lake. Fluid inclusion compositions in halite indicate that the advanced brines correspond to the Na-K-Cl-SO₄ type. During restricted stages of the saline lake, the residual brines seeped through the tuff-flat sediments, leading to transformations of previous precipitates that resulted in the formation of K-bearing minerals.The abundance of coccoid-like biogenic dolomite, colloidal arsenopyrite and the isotopic composition of sulfates are indicative of bacterial sulfate reduction. In contrast, arsenic sulfides are attributed to acidophilic micro-organisms in oxidizing conditions. Fluctuations of redox conditions in both free and interstitial brines control the biological influence in some diagenetic transformations.     

Vibration analysis of stepped-pipe strings for mining from deep-sea floors

The present study addresses essentially to the investigation of the longitudinal vibrations of a stepped-pipe string for mining from deep-sea floors. The stepped-pipe string, consisting of four parts having different physical properties in each pipe string segment, is assumed to have two pump modules and a buffer, each of which is equipped with a vibration absorber. Moreover, the pipe string is subjected to external viscous damping because of the surrounding medium. A theoretical analysis has been made for a simplified model of the system, in which it is assumed that both the pump modules and buffer can be considered as concentrated masses, the fluid inside of the pipe string vibrates together with the string, and that the flexible pipe does not affect the vibration of the pipe string. Furthermore, absorbers are modeled as concentrated masses, each of which is attached to pump modules and the buffer by springs and dampers. Applying the method of separation of variables, exact analytical solutions for damped free and forced responses of the system subjected to heave motion of the mining ship are determined with and without absorbers, in which overdamped and underdamped modes are determined and studied separately too. It is important to note that the solutions obtained are expressed in terms of parameters characterizing the physical properties of the system under consideration. Numerical applications show that the attachment of convenient vibration absorbers causes the longitudinal displacements at the certain locations to decrease to very small values, where the vibration absorbers are adjusted to the excitation frequency.     

Seasonal and spatial changes in water and sediment quality variables in Bafa Lake

The brackish Bafa Lake located in the southwestern part of Turkey is under stress because of both natural and untreated wastewater effluents. The purpose of this research is to determine spatiotemporal distributions of some physicochemical variables in water column (temperature, salinity, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, NH₄–N, NO₂–N, NO₃–N, oPO₄–P, TPO₄–P, chlorophyll-a, total suspended solids) and sediment (TN, TC, TOC, TP) and their relationships at coastal stations. In the water column, nitrate and phosphate concentrations showed seasonal variations with high values recorded in winter period. Ammonium was determined as a main source of TIN component. During summer period, a large amount of total phosphorus was found as dissolved organic form. However, in the winter period, inorganic phosphate levels increased at sampling stations. N limitation was a common feature throughout the lake where P-limitation was only observed in summer period. The total phosphorus levels which showed hypereutrophic condition at the western part of the lake changed between 1.55 and 4.99 μM and did not remain in the range for uncontaminated condition. In the lake sediment, a strong relationship was found between TOC and TC levels. Generally, the mean TOC concentrations constitute small amount of TC values in the sampling stations. The results also indicated that a strong correlation exists between TOC and TN values, and TN was greatly regulated by organic sources. In the lake, TOC:TN ratios changed between 5 and 13; the ratio greater than 10 could be an indicator of algal and land plant sources mixing as an organic matter.     

Heavy metal contamination of soils and tea plants in the eastern Black Sea region,NE Turkey

The study area covers two geologically different regions which have intensively been carpeted by tea plants in the eastern Black Sea. The rocks exposed in the region contain considerable amount of trace metals due to Upper Cretaceous massive sulfide formations and tertiary epithermal mineralizations. Tea plants that grow in soils derived from such mineralized rocks contain different concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn, Fe, Cd, P, Al, Na, K, and S. The content ratios of most of the analyzed elements except Al are higher in basaltic and sedimentary rocks. To describe the transfer of metals from soil to tea leaf, the Freundlich-type model (log c _plant = ac _soil + log b) is used. The metal concentrations in leaves of tea plant in the studied soils are ranked as Zn > Cu > Pb > Al > Cd > Fe. The capacity of the plant to affect the metal accumulation decreased as follows: Fe > Cd > Pb > Cu > Zn > Al. Negative correlations were found between pH and availability of Cu, Pb, Zn, Mn, and Al elements by the tea plant. Experimental applications indicated that tea plant leaves growing on soils with high metal contents show some signs of toxicity. In soils where, particularly, ammonium sulfate fertilizer is used, metal uptake by the tea plant was found to be significantly higher as a result of extremely acidic character of the soil.     

Snow avalanche incidents in north-western Anatolia,Turkey during December 1992

Snow avalanches take place in the mountainous regions of Turkey mostly in the eastern Anatolia Region with an average annual death toll of 23 people and much damage to property. However, in the mountainous areas of the Kastamonu and Sinop provinces in the western part of the Black Sea Region of Turkey between 25 and 30 December 1992, blizzards with heavy snowfall caused roof collapses and major avalanche events whereby 16 people were killed and 2 injured. When past records were investigated, there was no evidence that avalanche accidents had been encountered in the region where the dominant precipitation type is rain in the coastal zones and snow over the mountains. Moreover, avalanche prevention measures are so limited that the resettlement of villages or hamlets located in risk zones is common practice. In this article, avalanche formation associated with the meteorological conditions and geomorphologic features is discussed.This study was partially supported by Tübitak (Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey) with Project No. YBAG-0067.