Relations for local magnitude at seismic station Berggiesshübel

Summary New calibrating functions for the local magnitude M_L based on the maximum ratio of amplitude and period of the S_g - wave, the short-period surface wave and the duration of the whole seismogram and its part starting with the arrival of the S_g -wave recorded by the short-period vertical seismograph at Berggiesshübel (BRG) have been derived. The consistency of these magnitudes was tested for weak earthquakes and industrial blasts in the magnitude range of 1.7–3.5 and epicentral distances up to 80 km. Their differences were 0.2 of a magnitude unit at most, with the exception of the surface wave magnitudes which were systematic by about 0.9 of a magnitude unit greater. The calibrating function for the S_g - wave was compared with the functions for M_L(POT) and M_L(TRI) which were derived by other authors for several Central European seismic stations, including BRG.     

A neural network based general reservoir operation scheme

Construction of dams and the resulting water impoundments are one of the most common engineering procedures implemented on river systems globally; yet simulating reservoir operation at the regional and global scales remains a challenge in human–earth system interactions studies. Developing a general reservoir operating scheme suitable for use in large-scale hydrological models can improve our understanding of the broad impacts of dams operation. Here we present a novel use of artificial neural networks to map the general input/output relationships in actual operating rules of real world dams. We developed a new general reservoir operation scheme (GROS) which may be added to daily hydrologic routing models for simulating the releases from dams, in regional and global-scale studies. We show the advantage of our model in distinguishing between dams with various storage capacities by demonstrating how it modifies the reservoir operation in respond to changes in capacity of dams. Embedding GROS in a water balance model, we analyze the hydrological impact of dam size as well as their distribution pattern within a drainage basin and conclude that for large-scale studies it is generally acceptable to aggregate the capacity of smaller dams and instead model a hypothetical larger dam with the same total storage capacity; however we suggest limiting the aggregation area to HUC 8 sub-basins (approximately equal to the area of a 60 km or a 30 arc minute grid cell) to avoid exaggerated results.     

Effect of organic solvent type on the removal of nitrate ion using liquid membrane technique

In this study, the removal of nitrate ions from aqueous solutions with liquid membrane technique has been investigated for different organic solvent types in which solubilized tetradecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (TDTMABr) as carrier. n-butyl alcohol, chloroform, and mixture of chloroform + n-hexane (n-hexane 85% + chloroform 15%) were used as organic solvent. Kinetic parameters (k _1d, k _2m, k _2a, t _max, R _m^max, J _m^max, J _a^max) were calculated from obtained data. time R _a values of mixture, butyl alcohol, and chloroform are 0.81, 0.78, and 0.55, respectively. Similarly R _d, R _m, and t _max values of the mixture equal to 0.14, 0.04, and 87.92 min, respectively. This behavior of the system shows the organic solvent type is an effective parameter on separation yield. It can be concluded that the mixture is the most effective organic solvent type among the investigated ones, because liquid membrane systems should be operated within the range of having the R _m, R _d, and t _max values are minimum while R _a values are maximum.     

Inverting full waveforms into 1D seismic velocity model of the upper crust by neighborhood algorithm - Corinth Gulf,Greece

We investigated inversion of full waveforms into formal 1D velocity models. ‘Formal’ means that the models are primarily intended to simulate complete seismograms close to real records, rather than to reflect the true crustal structure from the geological point of view. The method is demonstrated for a magnitude M_w 5.3 earthquake (centroid depth of 4.5 km), recorded at 8 three-component stations in the Corinth Gulf region, Greece, spanning the epicentral distance range from 15 to 102 km, and frequency range from 0.05 to 0.2 Hz. The forward problem was solved by the discrete wavenumber method, while the inversion was performed with the neighborhood algorithm. As such, not only the best-fit models, but also suites of the models almost equally well satisfying data were obtained. The best resolution was found in the topmost ～10 km. Extensive testing of the model parametrization enabled identification of the most robust features of the solution. The P- and S-wave velocities are characterized by a strong increase with depth in the topmost ～4–5 km. This part of the model can be approximated by a layer with constant velocity gradient. Compared to a previously existing model of the region, the satisfactory waveform match was extended from the maximum frequency of 0.1 Hz up to 0.2 Hz. This extension will improve calculation of the seismic source parameters in the region, e.g. determination of source time functions and slip distributions of potential future M_w > 6 events.     

Polycyclic aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons pollution at the coast of Aliağa (Turkey) ship recycling zone

Alia?a Bay is one of the most important maritime zones of Turkey where shipping activity, shipbreaking industry, steel works and petrochemical complexes exist together. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and aliphatic hydrocarbons in sediment of the Alia?a Bay were investigated to evaluate an environmental risk assessment from PAHs contamination in 2009-2010. Aliphatic and PAHs diagnostic ratios were showed to be mainly petroleum-originated and pyrolitic contaminations, respectively. The TEL/PEL analysis suggests that Alia?a sediments were likely to be contaminated by acutely toxic PAH compounds.     

Seismic crust structure beneath the Aegean region in southwest Turkey from radial anisotropic inversion of Rayleigh and Love surface waves

The Turkish plate is covered by hundreds of accelerometer and broadband seismic stations with less than 50 km inter-station distance providing high-quality earthquake recordings within the last decade. We utilize part of these stations to extract the fundamental mode Rayleigh and Love surface wave phase and group velocity data in the period range 5–20 s to determine the crust structure beneath the Aegean region in southwest Turkey. The observed surface wave signals are interpreted using both single-station and two-station techniques. A tomographic inversion technique is employed to obtain the two-dimensional group velocity maps from the single-station group velocities. One-dimensional velocity–depth profiles under each two-dimensional mesh point, which are jointly interpreted to acquire the three-dimensional image of the shear-wave velocities underneath the study area, are attained by utilizing the least-squares inversion technique, which is repeated for both Rayleigh and Love surface waves. The isotropic crust structure cannot jointly invert the observed Rayleigh and Love surface waves where the radial anisotropic crust better describes the observed surface wave data. The intrusive magmatic activity related to the northward subducting African plate under the Turkish plate results the crust structure deformations, which we think, causing the observed radial anisotropy throughout complex pattern of dykes and sills. The magma flow resulting in the mineral alignment within dykes and sills contributes to the observed anisotropy. Due to the existence of dykes, the radial anisotropy in the upper crust is generally negative, i.e., vertically polarized S-waves (Vsv) are faster than horizontally polarized S-waves (Vsh). Due to the existence of sills, the radial anisotropy in the middle-to-lower crust is generally positive, i.e., horizontally polarized S-waves (Vsh) are faster than vertically polarized S-waves (Vsv). Similar radial anisotropic results to those of the single-station analyses are obtained by the two-station analyses utilizing the cross-correlograms. The widespread volcanic and plutonic rocks in the region are consistent with the current seismic interpretations of the crustal deformations.     

Selective Preconcentration of Trace Amounts of Cu(II) With Surface‐Imprinted Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

In this study, a new sorbent is synthesized using surface imprinting technique. Cu(II)‐imprinted multiwalled carbon nanotube sorbent (Cu(II)‐IMWCNT) is used as the solid phase in the solid‐phase extraction method. After the preconcentration procedure, Cu(II) ions are determined by high‐resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry. A total of 0.1 mol L^?1 ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is used to remove Cu(II) ions from the sorbent surface. The optimum experimental conditions for effective preconcentration of Cu(II), parameters such as pH, eluent type and concentration, flow rate, sample volume, sorbent capacity, and selectivity are investigated. The synthesized solid phase is characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The maximum adsorption capacities of Cu(II)‐IMWCNT and non‐imprinted solid phases are 270.3 and 14.3 mg g^?1 at pH 5, respectively. Under optimum experimental conditions for Cu(II) ions, the limit of detection is 0.07 μg L^?1 and preconcentration factor is 40. In addition, it is determined to be reusable without significant decrease in recovery values up to 100 adsorption–desorption cycles. Cu(II)‐IMWCNT have a high stability. To check the accuracy of the developed method, certified reference materials, and water samples are analyzed with satisfactory analytical results.