Seismic hazard assessment and rheological implications: a case study selected for cities of Saudi Arabia along the eastern coast of Red Sea

A probabilistic approach is used to evaluate the seismic hazard for 12 strategic cities in Saudi Arabia along the eastern coast of Red Sea. The focal depth variations controlled by rheological characteristics are taken into account for hazard calculations, and its creditability is tested through sensitivity analysis for hazard results. This study presents a neo-probabilistic seismic hazard assessment methodology in which the focal depth distribution of earthquakes within seismogenic layer is divided into three depth slices. These depth slices are based upon rheological characteristic of seismogenic layer. The hazard results are obtained using this depth-slice methodology and conventional approach in which uniform distribution of seismicity within seismogenic layer is assumed. The sensitivity analysis culminated in underestimation of hazard values in higher frequencies for uniform distribution of seismicity within seismogenic layer. Foregoing the observations recorded above, it can be concluded that the exploitation of depth-slices biased by the rheology to calculate hazard is relatively preferable in the situations demanding safety measures.     

Estimation of rock engineering properties using hardness tests

In engineering projects such as tunnels, dams, foundations, and slope stability, the strength and elastic properties of the intact rock affect both the project design and the construction operation. It is sometimes expensive and time consuming to perform direct tests to evaluate the engineering properties (such as strength, modulus of elasticity, and Poisson's ratio) of the intact rock. The purpose of this work is to investigate the relationships between the engineering properties of the intact rock and the different types of hardness (Schmidt, shore scleroscope, abrasion, and total hardness), which are relatively cheap and easy to evaluate. In this study, dolomite, dolomitic limestone, and shale rocks were used. For simplicity, linear statistical analyses were performed. The results show that there are good relationships between the engineering properties of the intact rock and its hardness. Also, the results of this study are compared well with the results obtained by other investigators conducted on different types of rocks.     

Interactive effects of cadmium and benzo[a]pyrene on metallothionein induction in mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus).

Previous experiments demonstrated that exposure of mummichog to cadmium (Cd) in combination with benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) caused a higher mortality than would be expected from simple additive effects. Experiments are described here that investigated whether BaP exposure inhibits the induction of metallothionein (MT), a major detoxifying protein for Cd, or if reactive BaP metabolites compete with Cd for binding sites on MT. Fish were injected with or without BaP (18 mg/kg) in combination with a low (1 mg/kg) or high (3.2 mg/kg) dose of Cd, and in one treatment BP was dosed 4 days after Cd. The results showed a rapid induction of MT to 1.5 mg/g wet weight liver, 1 day after injecting the low Cd dose. Simultaneous BaP exposure significantly delayed the induction of MT, for both low and high Cd doses, and BaP temporarily lowered the induced MT concentration when dosed 4 days after induction by Cd. To test if binding of BaP metabolites to MT reduces the detoxification potential for Cd, microsomes of CYP1A-induced fish were incubated with MT and radiolabeled BaP. Active metabolism of BaP was observed by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis, but no association of BaP metabolites with MT was found. Neither could this be demonstrated in vivo, in liver MT isolated from mummichog dosed with 3H-BaP and Cd. These results suggest that increased toxicity of Cd in combination with BaP exposure is likely to be caused by inhibited MT synthesis, rather than by interference of BaP metabolites with Cd binding on MT.     

松辽盆地隆起区地壳反射结构与“断开”莫霍界面

在我国松辽盆地内实施了4条近垂直反射地震法地壳精细结构探测, 获得了双程旅行时为15 s的松辽盆地地壳叠后偏移反射剖面. 重点研究松辽盆地东南隆起区与东北隆起区反射结构特征. 发现松辽盆地隆起区内整体上表现出：由西至东沉积层厚度变薄, 由北向南沉积层厚度增厚; 无论是东南隆起区还是东北隆起区, 壳内反射图案在南北向与东西向均变化剧烈; 东北隆起区莫霍界面双程反射旅行时变化范围为9.6~11.0 s, 深度范围为30~34 km, 东南隆起区莫霍界面双程反射旅行时变化范围为9.7~10.4 s, 深度范围为30~32 km. 由叠偏剖面资料分析可见松辽盆地隆起带内莫霍界面反射出现特异的断开特征, 错距达0.1~0.5 s, 约合2 km左右. 断开带附近存在多组剪切断裂并表现出隆起带内断开宽、两隆起带交界部位窄的空间分布规律. 这些反射图像与特异莫霍界面反射被推断为多期次黑龙江微陆块弱碰撞、太平洋板块向西俯冲等动力因素耦合作用的结果.     

Stream flow variability and drought severity in the Songhua River Basin,Northeast China

A slight variation in the magnitude of stream flow can have a substantial influence on the development of water resources. The Songhua River Basin (SRB) serves as a major grain commodity basin and is located in the northeastern region of China. Recent studies have identified a gradual decrease in stream flows, which presents a serious risk to water resources of the region. It is therefore necessary to assess the variation in stream flow and to predict the future of stream flows and droughts to make a comprehensive plan for agricultural irrigation. The simulation of monthly stream flows and the investigation of the influence of climate on the stream flow in the SRB were performed by utilizing the Integrated Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) tool coupled with observed precipitation data, as well as the Asian Precipitation-Highly-Resolved Observational Data Integration towards Evaluation of Water Resources (APHRODITE’s Water Resources) precipitation product. The Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient (NSC) was used to assess the WEAP efficiency. During the time of calibration, NSC was obtained as 0.90 and 0.67 using observed and APHRODITE precipitation data, respectively. The results indicate that WEAP can be used effectively in the SRB. The application of the model suggested a maximum decline in stream flow, reaching 24% until the end of 21st century under future climate change scenarios. The drought indices (standardized drought index and percent of normal index) demonstrated that chances of severe to extreme drought events are highest in 2059, 2060 and 2085, while in the remaining time period mild to moderate drought events may occur in the entire study area. The drought duration, severity and intensity for the period of 2011–2099 under all scenarios, [(A1B: 12, ? 1.55, ? 0.12), (A2: 12, ? 1.41, ? 0.09), (max. wetting and warming conditions: 12, ? 1.37, ? 0.11) and (min. wetting and warming conditions: 12, ? 1.69, ? 0.19)], respectively.     

Numerical investigation of the impact of uncertainties in satellite rainfall estimation and land surface model parameters on simulation of soil moisture

This study aims at evaluating the uncertainty in the prediction of soil moisture (1D, vertical column) from an offline land surface model (LSM) forced by hydro-meteorological and radiation data. We focus on two types of uncertainty: an input error due to satellite rainfall retrieval uncertainty, and, LSM soil-parametric error. The study is facilitated by in situ and remotely sensed data-driven (precipitation, radiation, soil moisture) simulation experiments comprising a LSM and stochastic models for error characterization. The parametric uncertainty is represented by the generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation (GLUE) technique, which models the parameter non-uniqueness against direct observations. Half-hourly infra-red (IR) sensor retrievals were used as satellite rainfall estimates. The IR rain retrieval uncertainty is characterized on the basis of a satellite rainfall error model (SREM). The combined uncertainty (i.e., SREM + GLUE) is compared with the partial assessment of uncertainty. It is found that precipitation (IR) error alone may explain moderate to low proportion of the soil moisture simulation uncertainty, depending on the level of model accuracy—50–60% for high model accuracy, and 20–30% for low model accuracy. Comparisons on the basis of two different sites also yielded an increase (50–100%) in soil moisture prediction uncertainty for the more vegetated site. This study exemplified the need for detailed investigations of the rainfall retrieval-modeling parameter error interaction within a comprehensive space-time stochastic framework for achieving optimal integration of satellite rain retrievals in land data assimilation systems.     

Developing a novel methodology for ecological risk assessment of thiosalts

A new methodology is developed to estimate an aquatic community toxicity threshold concentration based on the limited toxicity data that are available for thiosalts. To analyze the indirect effect of thiosalts on decreasing pH, an exposure model is developed that estimates the residual concentration of thiosalts and pH in the water body. The results from this model are incorporated in thiosalts risk assessment and a case study is used to illustrate the applicability of the proposed model. In this study, the exposure model predicts that, trithionate and tetrathionate degraded to $ {{\text{SO}}_{4}}^{2 - } $ ions, $ {{\text{HSO}}_{3}}^{ - } $ ions, $ {{\text{SO}}_{3}}^{2 - } $ ions and elemental sulfur. The concentration of thiosulfate, trithionate and tetrathionate, initially at 25, 40 and 6 mg/L, respectively are expected to decrease. Over the duration of 77 h, thiosulfate degrades completely, while the estimated residual trithionate and tetrathionate concentrations are 13 and 5.77 mg/L, respectively. pH of the undiluted effluent is estimated to decrease from 9.2 to 5.6 within an hour of the effluent discharge and decreases further to 4 over a period of next 3 days. A framework and methodology developed in this paper can be utilized to estimate the potential direct and indirect risk of thiosalts exposure to ecological entities.     

Origin of Quartz Cement in the Paleogene Sandstone Reservoir of Shahejie Formation, Bohai Bay Basin, China

The precipitation of authigenic quartz plays a significant role to reduce the reservoir characteristics and enhance the stiffness of the rock.The Es₁ sandstone of Shahejie Formation is acting as a significant hydrocarbon producing rock in the Nanpu Sag.Various methods like thin section petrography,cathodoluminescence(CL),scanning electron microscope(SEM,with EDS),and electron microprobe analysis has been used to reveal the origin of quartz cement as well as to evaluate the effect of quartz cement on reservoir quality.The studied sandstone is classified as immature to mature feldspathic litharenite and lithic arkose and consists of quartz,feldspar,rock fragments and micas.Petrographic studies and SEM analysis shows that the authigenic quartz is acting a significant cement that reduces the reservoir quality.Whereas clay minerals(kaolinite and mixed layer illite to smectite)are dominant in the Es₁ sandstone,that can reduce the reservoir quality.SEM,CL and thin section analysis reveal that there are two stages of quartz cement in the studied samples;that are pore filling authigenic cement and quartz overgrowth cement.Fluid inclusion homogenization temperatures shows that stages of quartz cement were developed with continuous process from 70℃ to 130℃.Quartz cements were generally originated from I/S reaction,feldspar dissolution,conversion of rock fragments and pressure solution.Feldspar dissolution(K-feldspar)and kaolinite to illite reaction is an insignificant silica source for the silica cement which is internally precipitated in a close system with diffusion transporting mechanism.Overall,quartz cement significantly enhance the rock strengthen and brittleness effectively as well as it reduce the overall reservoir quality.