Evaluating Groundwater Interbasin Flow Using Multiple Models and Multiple Types of Data

The groundwater interbasin flow, Q_y, from the north of Yucca Flat into Yucca Flat simulated using the Death Valley Regional Flow System (DVRFS) model greatly exceeds assessments obtained using other approaches. This study aimed to understand the reasons for the overestimation and to examine whether the Q_y estimate can be reduced. The two problems were tackled from the angle of model uncertainty by considering six models revised from the DVRFS model with different recharge components and hydrogeological frameworks. The two problems were also tackled from the angle of parametric uncertainty for each model by first conducting Morris sensitivity analysis to identify important parameters and then conducting Monte Carlo simulations for the important parameters. The uncertainty analysis is general and suitable for tackling similar problems; the Morris sensitivity analysis has been utilized to date in only a limited number of regional groundwater modeling. The simulated Q_y values were evaluated by using three kinds of calibration data (i.e., hydraulic head observations, discharge estimates, and constant‐head boundary flow estimates). The evaluation results indicate that, within the current DVRFS modeling framework, the Q_y estimate can only be reduced to about half of the original estimate without severely deteriorating the goodness‐of‐fit to the calibration data. The evaluation results also indicate that it is necessary to develop a new hydrogeological framework to produce new flow patterns in the DVRFS model. The issues of hydrogeology and boundary flow are being addressed in a new version of the DVRFS model planned for release by the U.S. Geological Survey.     

The chemical composition including the Rare Earth Elements of the three major glass types of Europe and the Orient used in late antiquity and the Middle Ages

Sets of 20 soda ash glasses, 16 soda lime glasses and 23 wood ash glasses mainly from excavations in Europe (additional soda ash glasses from Egypt) were analysed on 61 chemical elements. Average SiO₂ is about 62% in soda glasses and 50% in wood ash glasses. The three groups of glasses contain on average 13% Na₂O, 18% Na₂O and 13% K₂O as fluxes to lower the melting temperature of quartz at their production. The starting materials beside quartz were halophytic plant ash for soda ash glass, trona (Na₃H(CO₃)₂·2H₂O) and lime (clamshells) for soda lime glass and beech ash for wood ash glass. Each of the three major glass types contains specific Rare Earth Element (REE) concentrations mainly contained in quartz and its intergrown minerals. 50 Paleozoic and Mesozoic sandstones from Central Europe represent the quartz composition. The REE pattern of these glasses apparently indicates major compositional stages of the Continental Earth's Crust. The boron to lithium and sodium to potassium ratios as in seawater suggest reactions of materials for soda glass with seawater. Negative Ce anomalies in the three glasses are caused by reactions of quartz with seawater.     

Bodenfeuchtemessung mit Gipsscheibenelektroden

Zusammenfassung In zahlreichen Versuchen mit Gipsscheibenelektroden wird festgestellt, daß das Meßergebnis nicht nur vom Wassergehalt des Gipses, sondern auch von Temperatur, Bodenart und Individualität der Elektrode bestimmt wird. Von diesen Faktoren kann der Temperatureinfluß durch gleichzeitige Bodentemperaturmessung erfasst und ausgeschaltet werden. Bodenart und Individualität der Gipsscheibe erfordern Eichung einer jeden Elektrode in dem Boden, in welchem gemessen werden soll. Fehlerquellen ergeben sich durch das angegebene Eichverfahren, da sich der «natürliche» Boden nicht vollkommen reproduzieren läßt, sowie durch vorzeitige Korrosion der Elektrodengitter. Als Endergebnis wird festgestellt, daß Messungen mit Gipsscheibenelektroden im natürlichen ungedüngten Boden brauchbare Bodenfeuchtewerte ergeben.

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Summary The resistance of gypsum disk units for soil moisture measurements is destined not only by the amount of water of gypsum, but also by temperature, quality of soil and individuality of the unit. The influence of temperature can be got and disconnected by simultaneous measuring of soil temperature. Quality of soil and individuality of the unit require calibration of each unit in the soil to be measured. Sources of error result from the applied procedure of calibration because the «natural» soil cannot be reproduced completely, and by premature corrosion of the electrods. Measurements by gypsum disk units supply useful amounts of soil moisture in natural unfertilized soils.

     

Die Bestimmung einer Geoiderhebung aus Messungen mit der Drehwaage von Eötvös

Zusammenfassung Aus Drehwaagenmessungen des Bundesamtes für Eich- und Vermessungegswesen wird in einem Spezialfall die Geoidhebung eines fast isolierten Gebirgsstockes durch zweimalige Integration von bestimmt. Direkte Berechnung des Potentials führt zum gleichen Resultat.

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Résumé Au moyen de mesures faites avec la balance de torsion d'Eötvös effectuées par le Service Fédéral Autrichien de Géodésie, de Cartographie, du Cadastre et des Poids et Mesures, un cas particulier d'élévation du géoide produite par un massif de montagne presque isolé est déterminé par intégration réitérée de . Le calcul direct du potentiel a conduit au même résultat.

     

Zur Vergleichbarkeit der magmatischen Gesteine aus dem Adamello mit den Tonalitgraniten aus den Hohen Tauern

Ohne ZusammenfassungMit 15 Textabbildungen     

Der Ssiwasch Ein großes Haff im semiariden Klimabereich

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

The GeoCitizen-approach: community-based spatial planning – an Ecuadorian case study

Over the last years, geospatial web platforms, social media, and volunteered geographic information (VGI) have opened a window of opportunity for traditional Public Participatory GIS (PPGIS) to usher in a new era. Taking advantage of these technological achievements, this paper presents a new approach for a citizen-orientated framework of spatial planning that aims at integrating participatory community work into existing decision-making structures. One major cornerstone of the presented approach is the application of a social geoweb platform (the GeoCitizen platform) that combines geo-web technologies and social media in one single tool allowing citizens to collaboratively report observations, discuss ideas, solve, and monitor problems in their living environment at a local level. This paper gives an account of an ongoing participatory land-zoning process in the Capital District of Quito, Ecuador, where the GeoCitizen platform is applied in a long-term study.     

U–Pb and Hf isotopic analysis of zircon in lower crustal xenoliths from the Navajo volcanic field: 1.4 Ga mafic magmatism and metamorphism beneath the Colorado Plateau

Zircon from lower crustal xenoliths erupted in the Navajo volcanic field was analyzed for U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopic compositions to characterize the lower crust beneath the Colorado Plateau and to determine whether it was affected by ∼1.4 Ga granitic magmatism and metamorphism that profoundly affected the exposed middle crust of southwestern Laurentia. Igneous zircon in felsic xenoliths crystallized at 1.73 and 1.65 Ga, and igneous zircon in mafic xenoliths crystallized at 1.43 Ga. Most igneous zircon has unradiogenic initial Hf isotopic compositions (ɛ_Hf=+4.1–+7.8) and 1.7–1.6 Ga depleted mantle model ages, consistent with 1.7–1.6 Ga felsic protoliths being derived from “juvenile” Proterozoic crust and 1.4 Ga mafic protoliths having interacted with older crust. Metamorphic zircon grew in four pulses between 1.42 and 1.36 Ga, at least one of which was at granulite facies. Significant variability within and between xenoliths in metamorphic zircon initial Hf isotopic compositions (ɛ_Hf=−0.7 to +13.6) indicates growth from different aged sources with diverse time-integrated Lu/Hf ratios. These results show a strong link between 1.4 Ga mafic magmatism and granulite facies metamorphism in the lower crust and granitic magmatism and metamorphism in the exposed middle crust.