A case study: travel time inversion for P-wave velocity using OBS data of South China Sea

It is very important for converting the seismic data from the time domain to the depth domain. Here we discuss the approaches of inverse modeling of travel times for determination of the P-wave velocity (Vp). The migration section of the single channel seismic data is used to define the model horizons and help to control their geometry. Wide angle hydrophone data of OBS are used to determine P-wave travel times. The picked travel times from various shots are inverted for P-wave interval velocities using RayInvr, which calculated theoretical travel times via ray tracing. Damped least squares optimization is performed to fine tune the fits between observed and calculated travel times. In the end, the Vp curve is achieved and the results are compared with that derived from the conventional hyperbolic curve velocity analysis method, the shape of the two curves are similar, and the velocity increases in the layer where gas hydrates are present.     

NOISE,TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT,AND LONG TIME STABILITY OF ELECTRODES FOR TELLURIC OBSERVATIONS*

Numerous electrodes, already used in geophysics or just perfected by us, have been compared by measuring the three main characteristics which interest the user: noise spectrum, temperature coefficient and polarization with its stability versus time. Among the most used unpolarizable electrodes, silver-silver chloride (Ag-AgCl) are the best ones. But a systematic research of all different possible metal-salt couples, have led us to use lead-lead chloride (Pb-PbCl₂) for the following reasons: noise as low as the one of Ag-AgCl at 1 Hz and even lower for the low frequencies (0.4 μV at 1 Hz and 1.2 μV at 0.01 Hz for peak to peak value and ΔF=F), temperature coefficient about ten times weaker (?40 μV/°C instead of ?450 μV/°C) and also better long time stability of the polarization (1 mV/month instead of 2 at 10 mV/month). We have been using these electrodes since 1977 as “tube” electrodes which are very easy to use. They allow us to record correctly the fast variations thanks to their low noise, the very slow variations, their low temperature coefficient and their stability, and this with telluric lines only about 100 m long.     

Nature and origins of internal sediments in Jurassic limestones of Burgundy (Franc) and Fnoud (Algeria)

ABSTRACT Numerous hard-grounds and palaeo-emersion surfaces in Middle Jurassic grainstones of Burgundy (France) and Upper Jurassic micritic limestones of the Fnoud region (Algeria) exhibit a variety of diagenetic cements and internal sediments. Four types of internal sediments have been defined, each being the product of a particular environment: Type 1, unsorted microbioclastic wackestone characterizes submarine hard-grounds; Type 2, pelleted grainstone with inverse graded bedding occurs in microcaverns developed in palaeobeach rocks; Type 3, centrifugal micrite seems to characterize relatively dry supratidal substrates; Type 4, crystal silt is associated with early sparitic cements and dissolution phenomena indicating the influence of non-marine waters. Within a given pore space, a centripetal succession of various cements and internal sediments seems to reflect the lateral evolution of the tidal-flat or beach; at any given pore space interstitial waters have evolved progressively as the intertidal zone advanced or receded. Thus, internal sediments and related early diagenetic phenomena are valid criteria both for particular environments and for the general evolution of the coastal plain. Finally, although internal sediments may accumulate both within grainstones (Burgundy) and mudstone substrates (Fnoud), these textural differences may influence the type and frequency of internal sedimentation. RESUME De multiples ciments diagénétiques et sédiments internes précoces ont été reconnus dans les nombreuses surfaces durcies et surfaces d'émersion des calcaires grainstones du Jurassique moyen de Bourgogne (France) et des calcaires micritiques de la région des Fnoud (Algérie). Quatre types principaux de sédiments internes ont été définis, chacun étant le produit d'un milieu diagénétique particulier; Le Type 1 est un wackestone rnicrobioclastique non classé qui caractérise les surfaces durcies sousmarines; Le Type 2 est un micrograinstone à pellets avec granoclassement inverse qui existe dans les microcavernes developpées dans les paléo-grés de plage; Le Type 3 est une micrite centrifuge qui se developpe dans des conditions supratidales; Le Type 4 consiste en un silt à débris de cristaux, associé aux ciments sparitiques précoces et aux phénomènes de dissolution caractérisant ainsi l'influence d'eaux non marines. Dans un pore donné, la succession centripète entre ciment et sédiments internes reflète I'evolution latérale de la plaine côtière ou de la plage suivant le régime sédimentaire. Dans cet espace poreux, les eaux intersticielles evoluent progressivement au fur et à mesure que la zone intertidale s'accro?t ou se réduit. Ainsi les sédiments internes et les phénomenes diagénétiqués associes constituent de bons critères pour la detérmination d'un environnement particulier et pour retracer I'évolution générale de la plaine côtiere. Enfin, bien que les sediments internes se déposent au sein de calcaires grainstones (Bougogne) ou de calcaires mudstones (Fnoud), les différences texturales du sédiment hôte peuvent influencer sur le type et la fréquence de la sédimentation interne.     

Relationship between the velocity ellipsoids of galactic-disk stars and their ages and metallicities

The dependences of the velocity ellipsoids of F-G stars of the thin disk of the Galaxy on their ages and metallicities are analyzed based on the new version of the Geneva-Copenhagen Catalog. The age dependences of the major, middle, and minor axes of the ellipsoids, and also of the dispersion of the total residual velocity, obey power laws with indices 0.25, 0.29, 0.32, and 0.27 (with uncertainties ±0.02). Due to the presence of thick-disk objects, the analogous indices for all nearby stars are about a factor of 1.5 larger. Attempts to explain such values are usually based on modeling relaxation processes in the Galactic disk. Elimination of stars in the most numerous moving groups from the sample slightly reduces the corresponding indices (0.22, 0.26, 0.27, and 0.24). Limiting the sample to stars within 60 pc of the Sun, so that the sample can be considered to be complete, leaves both the velocity ellipsoids and their age dependences virtually unchanged. With increasing age, the velocity ellipsoid increases in size and becomes appreciablymore spherical, turns toward the direction of the Galactic center, and loses angular momentum. The shape of the velocity ellipsoid remains far from equilibrium. With increasing metallicity, the velocity ellipsoid for stars of mixed age increases in size, displays a weak tendency to become more spherical, and turns toward the direction of the Galactic center (with these changes occurring substantially more rapidly in the transition through the metallicity [Fe/H]≈−0.25). Thus, the ellipsoid changes similarly to the way it does with age; however, with decreasing metallicity, the rotational velocity about the Galactic center monotonically increases, rather than decreases (!). Moreover, the power-law indices for the age dependences of the axes depend on the metallicity, and display a maximum near [Fe/H] ≈−0.1. The age dependences of all the velocity-ellipsoid parameters for stars with equal metallicity are roughly the same. It is proposed that the appearance of a metallicity dependence of the velocity ellipsoids for thin-disk stars, recorded from the close to the Sun, is most likely due to the radial migration of stars.     

A framework for sourcing of evaporation between saturated and unsaturated zone in bare soil condition

ABSTRACT

Sourcing subsurface evaporation (E_ss) into groundwater (E_g) and unsaturated zone (E_u) components has received little scientific attention so far, despite its importance in water management and agriculture. We propose a novel sourcing framework, with its implementation in dedicated post-processing software called SOURCE (used along with the HYDRUS1D model), to study evaporation sourcing dynamics, define quantitatively “shallow” and “deep” water table conditions and test the applicability of water table fluctuation (WTF) and “bucket” methods for estimation of E_g and E_u separately.

For the “shallow” and “deep” water table we propose E_g?>?0.95E_ss and E_g = 0 criteria, respectively. Assessment of the WTF method allowed sourcing of very small fluxes otherwise neglected by standard hydrological methods. Sourcing with SOURCE software was more accurate than the standard “bucket” method mainly because of greater flexibility in spatio-temporal discretization. This study emphasized the dry condition relevance of groundwater evaporation which should be analysed by applying coupled flow of heat, vapour and liquid water.

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis; Associate editor S. Kanae     

Thermodynamic controls on element partitioning between titanomagnetite and andesitic–dacitic silicate melts

Titanomagnetite–melt partitioning of Mg, Mn, Al, Ti, Sc, V, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf and Ta was investigated experimentally as a function of oxygen fugacity (fO₂) and temperature (T) in an andesitic–dacitic bulk-chemical compositional range. In these bulk systems, at constant T, there are strong increases in the titanomagnetite–melt partitioning of the divalent cations (Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺) and Cu²⁺/Cu⁺ with increasing fO₂ between 0.2 and 3.7 log units above the fayalite–magnetite–quartz buffer. This is attributed to a coupling between magnetite crystallisation and melt composition. Although melt structure has been invoked to explain the patterns of mineral–melt partitioning of divalent cations, a more rigorous justification of magnetite–melt partitioning can be derived from thermodynamic principles, which accounts for much of the supposed influence ascribed to melt structure. The presence of magnetite-rich spinel in equilibrium with melt over a range of fO₂ implies a reciprocal relationship between a(Fe²⁺O) and a(Fe³⁺O_1.5) in the melt. We show that this relationship accounts for the observed dependence of titanomagnetite–melt partitioning of divalent cations with fO₂ in magnetite-rich spinel. As a result of this, titanomagnetite–melt partitioning of divalent cations is indirectly sensitive to changes in fO₂ in silicic, but less so in mafic bulk systems.     

Incorporating uncertainty of future sea-level rise estimates into vulnerability assessment: A case study in Kahului, Maui

Accurate sea-level rise (SLR) vulnerability assessments are essential in developing effective management strategies for coastal systems at risk. In this study, we evaluate the effect of combining vertical uncertainties in Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) elevation data, datum transformation and future SLR estimates on estimating potential land area and land cover loss, and whether including uncertainty in future SLR estimates has implications for adaptation decisions in Kahului, Maui. Monte Carlo simulation is used to propagate probability distributions through our inundation model, and the output probability surfaces are generalized as areas of high and low probability of inundation. Our results show that considering uncertainty in just LiDAR and transformation overestimates vulnerable land area by about 3 % for the high probability threshold, resulting in conservative adaptation decisions, and underestimates vulnerable land area by about 14 % for the low probability threshold, resulting in less reliable adaptation decisions for Kahului. Not considering uncertainty in future SLR estimates in addition to LiDAR and transformation has variable effect on SLR adaptation decisions depending on the land cover category and how the high and low probability thresholds are defined. Monte Carlo simulation is a valuable approach to SLR vulnerability assessments because errors are not required to follow a Gaussian distribution.