Slope stability analysis of the Rangamati District using geotechnical and geochemical parameters

Natural Hazards - Landslide and human mortality have been a common phenomenon in the Rangamati district over the past several years. This study examined the geotechnical properties (e.g., grain...     

珠江口盆地西部文昌A凹陷断裂特征与成因探讨

在前人勘探解释的基础上,通过三维高分辨率地震资料,应用相干属性分析等技术对区域断裂进行精细化解释。研究表明盆地内发育着典型的犁式、花状构造、旋转正断层等伸展构造样式,在珠三南断裂影响下,南部边界断裂以阶梯状排列形成断阶构造。始新世—中中新世,断裂走向在持续右旋张扭应力场下以NE→EW→NWW顺时针方向旋转,张裂强度逐渐减弱。晚始新世—早渐新世,盆地在太平洋板块俯冲后退、印亚板块碰撞、古南海向南俯冲下发育EW向断裂,晚渐新世在南海扩张事件影响下前期右旋应力场得到加强,形成大量近EW向断裂,中新世后演化为NWW向断裂。文昌A凹陷断裂构造的演化、成因机制与南海北部陆缘应力场变化一致。该研究有利于进一步了解南海北部陆缘含油气盆地的构造特征和演化规律,提高油气勘探开发的效率。     

Soil erosion assessment on hillslope of GCE using RUSLE model

A new method for obtaining the C factor (i.e., vegetation cover and management factor) of the RUSLE model is proposed. The method focuses on the derivation of the C factor based on the vegetation density to obtain a more reliable erosion prediction. Soil erosion that occurs on the hillslope along the highway is one of the major problems in Malaysia, which is exposed to a relatively high amount of annual rainfall due to the two different monsoon seasons. As vegetation cover is one of the important factors in the RUSLE model, a new method that accounts for a vegetation density is proposed in this study. A hillslope near the Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE), Malaysia, is chosen as an experimental site whereby eight square plots with the size of \(8\times 8\) and \(5\times 5\) m are set up. A vegetation density available on these plots is measured by analyzing the taken image followed by linking the C factor with the measured vegetation density using several established formulas. Finally, erosion prediction is computed based on the RUSLE model in the Geographical Information System (GIS) platform. The C factor obtained by the proposed method is compared with that of the soil erosion guideline Malaysia, thereby predicted erosion is determined by both the C values. Result shows that the C value from the proposed method varies from 0.0162 to 0.125, which is lower compared to the C value from the soil erosion guideline, i.e., 0.8. Meanwhile predicted erosion computed from the proposed C value is between 0.410 and \(3.925\, \hbox {t ha}^{-1 }\,\hbox {yr}^{-1}\) compared to 9.367 to \(34.496\, \hbox {t ha}^{-1}\,\hbox {yr}^{-1 }\) range based on the C value of 0.8. It can be concluded that the proposed method of obtaining a reasonable C value is acceptable as the computed predicted erosion is found to be classified as a very low zone, i.e. less than \(10\, \hbox {t ha}^{-1 }\,\hbox {yr}^{-1}\) whereas the predicted erosion based on the guideline has classified the study area as a low zone of erosion, i.e., between 10 and \(50\, \hbox {t ha}^{-1 }\,\hbox {yr}^{-1}\).     

Radar rainfall uncertainty modelling influenced by wind

Radar‐based estimates of rainfall are affected by many sources of uncertainties, which would propagate through the hydrological model when radar rainfall estimates are used as input or initial conditions. An elegant solution to quantify these uncertainties is to model the empirical relationship between radar measurements and rain gauge observations (as the ‘ground reference’). However, most current studies only use a fixed and uniform model to represent the uncertainty of radar rainfall, without consideration of its variation under different synoptic regimes. Wind is such a typical weather factor, as it not only induces error in rain gauge measurements but also causes the raindrops observed by weather radar to drift when they reach the ground. For this reason, as a first attempt, this study introduces the wind field into the uncertainty model and designs the radar rainfall uncertainty model under different wind conditions. We separate the original dataset into three subsamples according to wind speed, which are named as WDI (0–2 m/s), WDII (2–4 m/s) and WDIII (>4 m/s). The multivariate distributed ensemble generator is introduced and established for each subsample. Thirty typical events (10 at each wind range) are selected to explore the behaviours of uncertainty under different wind ranges. In each time step, 500 ensemble members are generated, and the values of 5th to 95th percentile values are used to produce the uncertainty bands. Two basic features of uncertainty bands, namely dispersion and ensemble bias, increase significantly with the growth of wind speed, demonstrating that wind speed plays a considerable role in influencing the behaviour of the uncertainty band. On the basis of these pieces of evidence, we conclude that the radar rainfall uncertainty model established under different wind conditions should be more realistic in representing the radar rainfall uncertainty. This study is only a start in incorporating synoptic regimes into rainfall uncertainty analysis, and a great deal of more effort is still needed to build a realistic and comprehensive uncertainty model for radar rainfall data. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Geochemistry,petrogenesis and tectonic significance of the basic volcanic units of the Zildat ophiolitic mélange,Indus suture zone,eastern Ladakh (India)

Abstract

Basic volcanic rocks within the Zildat ophiolitic mélange of Indus suture zone in eastern Ladakh are medium to fine grained with partially preserved primary texture and mineralogy. These rocks are predominantly alkaline basalt with high Nb/Y and enriched incompatible trace element characteristics, similar to those of the oceanic island basalt (OIB). The minor sub-alkaline basaltic rocks resemble N-type mid ocean ridge basalt (N-MORB) but with much lower abundances of incompatible trace element including REE. The alkaline rocks probably generated through variable, but low degrees of partial melting of enriched mantle source and evolved through high pressure olivine and clinopyroxene fractionation. Low pressure plagioclase and Fe- Ti oxide do not appear to be major fractionating phases. Limited data on the sub-alkaline rocks suggest that their parental melts were derived from mantle sources some what similar to that of N- MORB. Significant role of added cumulates of olivine, clinopyroxene and Fe- Ti oxides is also indicated in their genesis. Ophiolitic mélanges all along the Indus suture zone appear to have formed due to the accumulation of mélange material in the upper part of the subduction zone where they suffered glaucophanitic (blueschist) metamorphism and retrograded partially to greenschist grade as these were subsequently obducted to its present position probably during the Cenozoic Himalayan orogeny due to collision of Indian and Eurasian plates.     

Mechanical Behavior and Sulfate Resistance of Alkali Activated Stabilized Clayey Soil

Clayey subgrade soil requires treatment in order to make the subgrade stable for pavement structures. Treatment of clayey soil i.e. stabilization of clayey soil by cement, lime, and fly ash are established techniques used in geotechnical and highway engineering. Stabilization by alkali activation of fly ash is reported recently but literatures are limited. Present study investigates the stress strain behavior, peak stress and ultimate strain of clayey soil stabilized by slag and slag-fly ash blending by alkali activation. The peak stress as high as 25.0 N/mm² may be obtained at 50% slags content when 12 molar sodium hydroxide solutions were used. Peak stress, ultimate strain and slope of stress–strain curve of stabilized clay are controlled by Na/Al and Si/Al ratios. Stress–strain response and peak stress of slag and fly ash blended specimen are not governed by Na/Al and Si/Al ratios; rather the behavior is dependent predominantly on slag content.     

Gamma and resistivity logs for characterization of Gondwana coal seams at the Northwestern part of Bangladesh

Different parameters obtained through geophysical borehole logging using self potential, resistivity, gamma–gamma, neutron, natural gamma, and acoustic tools, help in the identification of strata and estimation of the physical, electrical, and acoustical properties of the subsurface lithology. In the coal mining industry, currently, the main application for the logs is to determine coal seam depth, thickness together with coal seam quality, qualitatively. Gamma and resistivity logging in seven boreholes at the Phulbari Coal Basin show high resistivity value and low gamma count rate data in coal seams than the interbeds. An attempt has been made to identify and characterize Gondwana coal seams to a limited extent of seam depth, thickness, and quality in seven boreholes together with draw relationship between resistivity, gamma count rate, and ash content of coal at the Phulbari Coal Basin of Bangladesh.     

Differential cobalt-induced effects on plant growth,ultrastructural modifications,and antioxidative response among four <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis> (L.) cultivars

Despite the increasing environmental threat of cobalt in the modern era, less is known as its phytotoxicity behavior. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to assess the toxicity effects of cobalt and to understand the associated physio-biochemical response in Brassica napus, an economically important plant crop species. Five-day-old seedlings of four cultivars (Zheda 619, Zheda 622, ZS 758, and ZY 50) were exposed to five different levels of cobalt under hydroponic conditions. Results showed a concentration-dependent inhibition of plant growth, accompanied by notable chlorophyll loss, protein degradation, and accumulation of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde. Further, Co contents in different plants parts were found to be higher in Zheda 622 than all other cultivars. In all cultivars, the contents of enzymatic activities (SOD, POD, GR, and GSH) were markedly increased following cobalt exposure; by contrast, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activities declined with increased cobalt concentration in medium, which was also, echoed by the pattern of enzymes-related mRNA levels. Morphological observations, supported by ultrastructural analysis revealed clear differences in cobalt sensitivity among cultivars, with ZS 758 identified as less sensitive cultivar, and Zheda 622 the most sensitive one. In addition to revealing genotypic differences in cobalt sensitivity in B. napus, findings suggest the mechanisms of cobalt tolerance in this specie could, at least partially, in relation with the ability of plant to sustain the activity of superoxide dismutase and guaicol peroxidase and to maintain glutathione reduced pool through the action of glutathione reductase.     

Groundwater level estimation in northern region of Bangladesh using hybrid locally weighted linear regression and Gaussian process regression modeling

Theoretical and Applied Climatology - Urban groundwater resources (GWRs) have declined substantially in recent decades, due to rapid urbanization, population growth, groundwater exploitation, land...