Scleractinian coral communities of Hormuz Island in the Persian Gulf

The abundance and health of scleractinian coral communities of Hormuz Island were investigated. For this purpose, we employed 20 m line intercept transects—12 in the intertidal zone and 15 subtidally to evaluate coral cover and community composition. The estimated dead coral coverage was 6.21%±0.81%, while live coral coverage was 16.93%±1.81%, considered as very poor. Totally, 12 genera were recorded, of which Porites with 11.9%±1.4% live cover was the dominant, while Goniopora had the least cover (0.07%±0.08%). Based on Mann-Whitney U-test, live coral coverage, dead coral coverage, algal coverage, cover of other benthic organisms and abiotic components showed significant univariate differences between zones (p<0.05). The Spearman correlation test between the abundance of biotic and abiotic components indicated significant negative correlation of live coral and sand with zoantharian and significant positive correlation of algae and other benthic organisms with rubble. The reef health indices used for the corals indicated that, in general, the environmental conditions were not suitable, which could be attributed to both natural and anthropogenic factors, the most important of which was zoantharian’ overgrowth on the scleractinian corals in this region.     

Assessing prediction models of advance rate in tunnel boring machines—a case study in Iran

Tunnel boring machine applies in tunnel construction and in mining operation. During the last years, different methods have been introduced to analyze and assess suitable operations of digging systems presented. These methods are divided in two groups: (1) the first group is based on mathematical equations and shear strength applied on each cutter, (2) the second group is based on databanks and experimental relationship. This paper compares and analyzes two experimental methods as introduced by Barton and Norwegian Institute of Technology (NTNU) as well as using a mathematic model introduced by Colorado School of Mines and analyzed the validity scope of each of them. A case study is made in the 16-km Karaj–Tehran water supply tunnel. At the end, it is concluded that mathematical models are not suitable because they are highly dependent on the results of special laboratory tests; also, it attends less to rock mass characteristics. In jointed or nonhomogen rocks, as well as in this project with less value of laboratory data, using Barton model is more creditable. It enjoys high ability for definite measurement. Also, NTNU model attend to machine parameters and in case of availability of laboratory tests data, NTNU model is a suitable method. According to the available information and executing conditions of Karaj–Tehran water supply tunnel project including geology of area, experimental parameters, etc, the Barton method is more valid than the other methods.     

The origin of oil in the Cretaceous succession from the South Pars Oil Layer of the Persian Gulf

The origin of the oil in Barremian–Hauterivian and Albian age source rock samples from two oil wells (SPO-2 and SPO-3) in the South Pars oil field has been investigated by analyzing the quantity of total organic carbon (TOC) and thermal maturity of organic matter (OM). The source rocks were found in the interval 1,000–1,044 m for the Kazhdumi Formation (Albian) and 1,157–1,230 m for the Gadvan Formation (Barremian–Hauterivian). Elemental analysis was carried out on 36 samples from the source rock candidates (Gadvan and Kazhdumi formations) of the Cretaceous succession of the South Pars Oil Layer (SPOL). This analysis indicated that the OM of the Barremian–Hauterivian and Albian samples in the SPOL was composed of kerogen Types II and II–III, respectively. The average TOC of analyzed samples is less than 1 wt%, suggesting that the Cretaceous source rocks are poor hydrocarbon (HC) producers. Thermal maturity and Ro values revealed that more than 90 % of oil samples are immature. The source of the analyzed samples taken from Gadvan and Kazhdumi formations most likely contained a content high in mixed plant and marine algal OM deposited under oxic to suboxic bottom water conditions. The Pristane/nC₁₇ versus Phytane/nC₁₈ diagram showed Type II–III kerogen of mixture environments for source rock samples from the SPOL. Burial history modeling indicates that at the end of the Cretaceous time, pre-Permian sediments remained immature in the Qatar Arch. Therefore, lateral migration of HC from the nearby Cretaceous source rock kitchens toward the north and south of the Qatar Arch is the most probable origin for the significant oils in the SPOL.     

Impact-induced mantle dynamics on Mars

At least 20 impact basins with diameters ranging from 1000 to 3380 km have been identified on Mars, with five exceeding 2500 km. The coincidental timing of the end of the sequence of impacts and the disappearance of the global magnetic field has led to investigations of impact heating crippling an early core dynamo. The rate of core cooling (and thus dynamo activity) is limited by that of the overlying mantle. Thus, the pre-existing thermal state of the mantle controls the extent to which a sequence of impacts may affect dynamo activity. Here, we examine the effects of the initial thermal structure of the core and mantle, and the location of an impact with respect to the pre-existing convective structure on the mantle dynamics and surface heat flux.We find that the impacts that formed the five largest basins dominate the impact-driven effects on mantle dynamics. A single impact of this size can alter the entire flow field of the mantle. Such an impact promotes the formation of an upwelling beneath the impact site, resulting in long-lived single-plume convection. The interval between the largest impacts is shorter than the initial recovery time for a single impact. Hence, the change in convective pattern due to each impact sets up a long term change in the global heat flow. These long-term changes are cumulative, and multiple impacts have a synergistic effect.     

On the thermal history of the moon

A giant impact causes the lateral variations of the temperature distribution inside the Moon and it provides a thick lithosphere beneath the basin strong enough to support the mascon to be created in this region, and a thin lithosphere beneath the surrounding highland which supplies the lava filling of the basin.The Lunar Science Institute Contribution No. 132.     

Multigene genetic programming for sediment transport modeling in sewers for conditions of non-deposition with a bed deposit

It is known that construction of large sewers based on consideration of flow with non-deposition without a bed deposit is not economical. Sewer design based on consideration of flow with non-deposition with a bed deposit reduces channel bed slope and construction cost in which the presence of a small depth of sediment deposition on the bed increases the sediment transport capacity of the flow. This paper suggests a new Pareto-optimal model developed by the multigene genetic programming (MGGP) technique to estimate particle Froude number (Fr_p) in large sewers with conditions of sediment deposition on the bed. To this end, four data sets including wide ranges of sediment size and concentration, deposit thickness, and pipe size are used. On the basis of different statistical performance indices, the efficiency of the proposed Pareto-optimal MGGP model is compared to those of the best MGGP model developed in the current study as well as the conventional regression models available in the literature. The results indicate the higher efficiency of the MGGP-based models for Fr_p estimation in the case of no additional deposition onto a bed with a sediment deposit. Inasmuch as the Pareto-optimal MGGP model utilizes a lower number of input parameters to yield comparatively higher performance than the conventional regression models, it can be used as a parsimonious model for self-cleansing design of large sewers in practice.     

Geometric and thermodynamic properties in Gauss-Bonnet gravity

In this paper, the generalized second law (GSL) of thermodynamics and entropy is revisited in the context of cosmological models in Gauss-Bonnet gravity with the boundary of the universe is assumed to be enclosed by the dynamical apparent horizon. The model is best fitted with the observational data for distance modulus. The best fitted geometric and thermodynamic parameters such as equation of state parameter, deceleration parameter and entropy are derived. To link between thermodynamic and geometric parameters, the “entropy rate of change multiplied by the temperature” as a model independent thermodynamic state parameter is also derived. The results show that the model is in good agreement with the observational analysis.     

A stochastic framework to assess the performance of flood warning systems based on rainfall‐runoff modeling

Nowadays, Flood Forecasting and Warning Systems (FFWSs) are known as the most inexpensive and efficient non‐structural measures for flood damage mitigation in the world. Benefit to cost of the FFWSs has been reported to be several times of other flood mitigation measures. Beside these advantages, uncertainty in flood predictions is a subject that may affect FFWS's reliability and the benefits of these systems. Determining the reliability of advanced flood warning systems based on the rainfall–runoff models is a challenge in assessment of the FFWS performance which is the subject of this study. In this paper, a stochastic methodology is proposed to provide the uncertainty band of the rainfall–runoff model and to calculate the probability of acceptable forecasts. The proposed method is based on Monte Carlo simulation and multivariate analysis of the predicted time and discharge error data sets. For this purpose, after the calibration of the rainfall–runoff model, the probability distributions of input calibration parameters and uncertainty band of the model are estimated through the Bayesian inference. Then, data sets of the time and discharge errors are calculated using the Monte Carlo simulation, and the probability of acceptable model forecasts is calculated by multivariate analysis of data using copula functions. The proposed approach was applied for a small watershed in Iran as a case study. The results showed using rainfall–runoff modeling based on real‐time precipitation is not enough to attain high performance for FFWSs in small watersheds, and it seems using weather forecasts as the inputs of rainfall–runoff models is essential to increase lead times and the reliability of FFWSs in small watersheds. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Interaction of cataclasis and pressure solution in a low-temperature carbonate shear zone

The mineralogical and elemental variations across the main shear zone of the Saltville thrust at Sharp Gap in Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.A., were studied in a suite of deformed and undefromed carbonate rock samples using X-ray diffraction and electron microprobe methods. An examination of the samples for deformation effects at mesoscopic scale and under the optical microscope reveals familiar cataclastic deformation features including foliated cataclasites and microbreccias occurring in a well-defined, 1–2 m wide zone of intense deformation, plus evidence of hydrofracturing and extensive syndeformational pressure solution. There exists a clear correlation between the observed cataclastic deformation and mineral and elemental distribution which we interpret to result from a deformation-induced dolomite to calcite transformation in the shear zone. The transformation has resulted in removal of Mg from the shear zone, selective deposition of calcite as an intergranular cement in cataclasite/microbreccia units and a relative increase in the concentration of detrital quartz and feldspars.The compositional difference between the shear zone and wall rocks is explained in connection with cataclastic deformation features in terms of a model in which a dual pressure-solution/cataclastic flow mechanism leads to a gradual cementation-hardening of segments of the shear zone. Instabilities could occur via permeability reduction and increased pore pressure within these segments. Hydrofracturing of the hardened segments along with high strain rate reordering of the shear zone materials reset the ruptured zone back to the dual deformation mechanism regime. As a long-term effect, the compositional transformation of the shear zone is expected to prolong periods of creep and cause smaller coseismic stress drops since under the imposed conditions calcite is more ductile and soluble than dolomite.