Temporal changes of warm-season pan evaporation in a semi-arid basin in Western Turkey

Warm-season (from May to September) pan evaporation series recorded at nine sites in semi-arid Büyük Menderes Basin in Western Turkey were analyzed for evidence of long-term changes using non-parametric Mann–Kendall test. Only two sites showed significant linear trends, one in decreasing direction and the other in increasing direction. Area-averaged normalized anomalies of pan evaporation stayed unchanged over the period 1975–2006. Based on correlation and multiple regression analysis with visual inspection of the time series plots, sunshine duration which is used as a proxy for global radiation was found to be the major factor explaining the change and variability of pan evaporation in warm-season in semi-arid Büyük Menderes Basin. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed no significant effect of rainfall on pan evaporation, which means that the effect of complementary relationship is rather weak and even non-existent.     

Groundwater quality assessment in urban environment

The assessment of environmental effects generated by urban areas (with various activities as agriculture, industry, human activities) on groundwater quality became essential for the use and conservation of the water resources. The main objective was to apply a water quality index to the groundwater sources using the specific methodology, establishing the suitability for drinking for groundwater. Water resources were monitored in October 2011, the samples were collected from 22 points for groundwater, and more parameters were analyzed: pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, oxygen regime, hardness, alkalinity, nutrients regime (nitrates, ammonium, phosphates) which were considered important and utilized for water quality index computation that reveal poor quality for groundwater. The oxidability should be included in computation formula and the final results used for water management, taking into consideration the limits of the current model. Multivariate statistical analysis was used to indicate the influence of urban area on the quality of groundwater resources. Results of the analysis highlight an influence of geology and a contamination of agricultural origin.     

Investigation of the failure mechanism and stabilization of a landslide in weathered tuffite,Giresun, northeastern Turkey

This study investigates the causes and failure mechanism of the Aksu landslide that occurred during the construction of the Giresun–Espiye road between KM: 1 + 030–1 + 170 in northern Turkey and recommends proper stabilization techniques. For the purpose of investigating the causes and mechanism of this slope failure, engineering geological mapping, geotechnical investigation and rock mass characterization were performed. From top to bottom, weathered tuffite, tuffite, flysch, and dacitic tuffite were the major units in the study area. The disturbance of the slope by the excavations performed at the toe of the slope (i.e., due to the foundation excavation for the Tünel restaurant building and for the road cut) led to a “translational slide”. The “translational slide” occurred in completely weathered tuffite due to the disturbance of the stability of the slope by the excavations performed at the toe of the slope, particularly for the foundation excavation of the Tünel restaurant building and for the road cut along the Giresun–Espiye road. The rise in the groundwater level was also another important factor that has contributed to the occurrence of the landslide. After establishing the geometry of the landslide in detail, the shear strength parameters of the failure surface were determined by the back analysis method. Sensitivity analyses were performed and landslide failure mechanisms were modeled to quantify the contributing factors that have caused the formation of the Aksu landslide. The influence of an earthquake was investigated through pseudostatic slope stability analysis. Toe buttressing, ground water drainage, and surface water drainage alternatives were considered for stabilizing the slope.     

Groundwater quality assessment and its suitability in Çeltikçi plain (Burdur/Turkey)

The Çeltikçi (Burdur) plain is located in the southwest of Turkey and is a semi-closed basin. Groundwater is densely used as drinking, irrigation and domestic water in the plain. Hydrogeochemical processes controlling groundwater chemistry and geochemical assessment of groundwater were investigated in the Çeltikçi (Burdur/Turkey) plain. In this study, groundwater samples for two seasons were analyzed and major ion chemistry of groundwater was researched to understand the groundwater geochemistry. Two major hydrochemical facies (Ca–HCO₃ and Ca–Mg–HCO₃) were determined in the area. Various graphical plots and multivariate statistical analysis were used for identifying the occurrence of different geochemical processes. In the study area, weathering is one of the key geochemical processes which controlled the solute concentration in groundwater. Chemical indexes such as sodium adsorption ratio, %Na, residual sodium carbonate, magnesium hazard and permeability index were calculated and results show that groundwater is suitable for irrigation purpose except for permeability index values. Concentrations of Mn, NO₃ and total hardness exceed the prescribed limits of WHO and are the major limiting parameters of groundwater use for potable and domestic purposes.     

Assessment of trace metal contents in water and bottom sediments from Eğirdir Lake,Turkey

The concentration of metals (Pb, As, Co, Cu, Ni, Zn, Fe and Mn) was investigated in water and sediment samples of E?irdir Lake. The Lake is the second largest fresh water lake of Turkey and it is used as drinking water in the region. The anthropogenic pollutants are primary sources of trace metals which are negatively affected lake water quality. These negative effects were observed in both lake water and bottom sediments. According to obtained data, Pb, Cu, Ni, Fe and Zn have significant enrichment in sediments samples. In addition, the hydrodynamic model of the lake was determined as effectively for Pb, Co, Cu, Ni, Zn, Fe and Mn accumulations. Also, the effect of anthropogenic pollutants was found to be more dominant than geogenic effect in metal accumulation of the lake bottom sediments. Therefore, anthropogenic pollutants within the lake basin should be consistently controlled for the sustainable usage of the lake.     

Variation in time-to-compliance for pump-and-treat remediation of mass transfer-limited aquifers with hydraulic conductivity heterogeneity

In this study, the impact of correlation length (λ) of hydraulic conductivity (K) heterogeneity on pump-and-treat (P&T) remediation period (time-to-compliance) for a mass transfer-limited aquifer is evaluated. Additionally, impacts of variance (σ ²), different distributions of high and low K zones and different initial contaminant masses are explored. Two different P&T policies including different number of wells pumping at different rates are employed for the investigation. Simulation–optimization approach in which a genetic algorithm (GA) is linked with a groundwater flow and contaminant transport model is used. Results show that K heterogeneity, in terms of λ _ln K , s_ln K² \sigma_{\ln \,K}^{2} and respective locations of low and high K zones, significantly impacts the time-to-compliance. Contaminant presence at low K zones can increase the time required to clean up the aquifer. Lower variation is observed in time-to-compliance for the remediation design utilizing higher number of wells pumping at slower rates compared to the design with a single well pumping at a higher rate. Higher number of wells increases the robustness of P&T remediation system when aquifer is heterogeneous in K.     

Metal (Al, Fe, Mn and Cu) distributions and origins of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the surface sediments of the Marmara Sea and the coast of Istanbul, Turkey

In this study, total metal (Al, Fe, Mn and Cu) and PAHs analyses have been done in the surface sediments. Sediment samples have been collected from seven parts of the Marmara Sea and the coast of Istanbul during 2009. Total Al, Fe, Mn and Cu contents vary between 1.8% and 5.4%; 1.1% and 2.8%; 122 and 259 μg g⁻¹; 27 and 416 μg g⁻¹, respectively. EF and CF values of Fe and Mn are lower than 1.5 and 1, respectively, in all the stations. Total PAH contents range between 135 and 6009 ng g⁻¹ in the surface sediments. The origin of PAHs has been found pyrolitic according to the Phe/Ant ratio in the all stations. Contrastingly, at K0, MKC and MY1 Stations, PAH origins have been observed petrogenic according to the Flu/Pyr ratio.     

Coprecipitation with Cu(II)‐4‐(2‐Pyridylazo)‐resorcinol for Separation and Preconcentration of Fe(III) and Ni(II) in Water and Food Samples

The coprecipitation method is widely used for the preconcentration of trace metal ions prior to their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). A simple and sensitive method based on coprecipitation of Fe(III) and Ni(II) ions with Cu(II)‐4‐(2‐pyridylazo)‐resorcinol was developed. The analytical parameters including pH, amount of copper (II), amount of reagent, sample volume, etc., were examined. It was found that the metal ions studied were quantitatively coprecipitated in the pH range of 5.0–6.5. The detection limits (DL) (n = 10, 3s/b) were found to be 0.68 µg L^?1 for Fe(III) and 0.43 µg L^?1 for Ni(II) and the relative standard deviations (RSD) were ≤4.0%. The proposed method was validated by the analysis of three certified reference materials (TMDA 54.4 fortified lake water, SRM 1568a rice flour, and GBW07605 tea) and recovery tests. The method was successfully applied to sea water, lake water, and various food samples.     

Ambient vibration based seismic evaluation of isolated Gülburnu highway bridge

This paper describes ambient vibration based seismic evaluation procedure of an isolated highway bridge. The procedure includes finite element modeling, ambient vibration testing, finite element model updating and time history analysis. Gülburnu Highway Bridge located on the Giresun–Espiye state highway is selected as a case study. Three dimensional finite element model of the bridge is created by SAP2000 software to determine the dynamic characteristics analytically. Since input force is not measured, Operational Modal Analysis is applied to identify dynamic characteristics. Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition and Stochastic Subspace Identification methods are used to obtain experimental dynamic characteristics. Analytical and experimental dynamic characteristic are compared with each other and finite element model of the bridge is updated by changing of material properties to reduce the differences between the results. Analytical model of the bridge after model updating is analyzed using 1992 Erzincan earthquake record to determine the seismic behavior. EW, NS and UP components of the ground motion are applied to the bridge at the longitudinal, transverse and vertical directions, respectively. It is demonstrated that the ambient vibration measurements are enough to identify the most significant modes of highway bridges. Maximum differences between the natural frequencies are reduced averagely from 9% to 2% by model updating. It is seen from the earthquake analyses that friction pendulum isolators are very effective in reducing the displacements and internal forces.     

Widespread overspill from a saline density‐current channel and its interaction with topography on the south‐west Black Sea shelf

Seaward of the Bosphorus Strait, the south‐west Black Sea shelf is dominated by the world's largest channel network maintained by a quasi‐continuous saline (ca 35 → 31 psu) underflow. Calculations indicate that >85% of the initial discharge of ca 10⁴ m³s^?1 spills overbank before the shelf edge. This paper documents interaction of the overspill with sea bed topography using multibeam bathymetry, echo‐sounder images of the water column, conductivity–temperature–depth profiles and sediment cores. Overbank spill is widespread, particularly through crevasse channels and on the middle shelf where confinement by channel banks is negligible. Towards the outer shelf, the wind‐driven Rim Current advects mud along the shelf, contributing to levée successions and deposition on stoss sides of elongate transverse ridges. Echo‐sounder profiles reveal metre‐scale eddies over megaflutes, and breaking lee waves and internal hydraulic jumps over ridges. Megaflutes reach 600 m long and 7 m deep, yet form where the underflow, outside the flute, is no thicker than ca 2 to 5 m. Two types of elongate seaward‐facing ridges are recognized. Type 1 ridges, 2 to 5 m high, consist of bivalve‐rich muddy sand in low‐angle (3·5° to 6°) cross‐sets created by the underflow. Type 2 ridges, ca 5 m high, have crests up to 2 km long and a buried wedge‐shaped foundation (the ‘ridge‐core’) comprised of facies similar to Type 1 ridges. These ridge‐cores are blanketed on the landward side by stratified muds, and are capped by obliquely oriented ribs supporting a diverse benthic community. This facies distribution is interpreted to result from stoss‐side and lee‐side velocity and turbulence fluctuations induced by internal hydraulic jumps and breaking lee waves in overspilling portions of the underflow. Experimental results published by W.H. Snyder and co‐workers effectively explain ridge evolution and flow across the ridges, and therefore can be applied with confidence to less easily studied deep‐marine settings swept by turbidity currents.