Landslide susceptibility assessment using three bivariate models considering the new topo-hydrological factor: HAND

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to assess the relative contribution of the state-of-the-art topo-hydrological factor, known as height above the nearest drainage (HAND), to landslide susceptibility modellling using three novel statistical models: weights-of-evidence (WofE), index of entropy and certainty factor. In total, 12 landslide conditioning factors that affect the landslide incidence were used as input to the models in the Ziarat Watershed, Golestan Province, Iran. Landslide inventory was randomly divided into a ratio of 70:30 for training and validating the results of the models. The optimum combination of conditioning factors was identified using the principal components analysis (PCA) method. The results demonstrated that HAND is the defining factor among hydrological and topographical factors in the study area. Additionally, the WofE model had the highest prediction capability (AUPRC = 74.31%). Therefore, HAND was found to be a promising factor for landslide susceptibility mapping.     

Application of multivariate statistical methods to indicate the origin and geochemical behavior of potentially hazardous elements in sediment around the Sarcheshmeh copper mine,SE Iran

Multivariate statistical techniques, i.e., correlation coefficient analysis, principal components analysis (PCA), and hierarchical cluster analysis (CA), were applied to the total and water-soluble concentrations of potentially hazardous metals in sediments associated with the Sarcheshmeh mine, one of the largest Oligo-Miocene porphyry copper deposits in the world. The samples were analyzed for hazardous metal concentration levels by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry method. Results indicate that the contaminant metals As, Cd, Cu, Mo, S, Sb, Sn, Se, Pb, and Zn were positively correlated with the total concentrations. These hazardous metals also have strong association in the PCA and CA results. Different anthropic versus natural sources of contaminant metals were distinguished by using CA method. Water-soluble fraction of hazardous metals showed that the hydro-geochemical behavior of these metals in sediments is different considerably. Elements such as Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, S, and Zn are readily water soluble from contaminated samples, especially from evaporative mineral phases, while the release of As, Mo, Sb, and Pb into the water is limited by adsorption processes. Results obtained from the application of multivariate techniques on the water-soluble fraction data set show that the hazardous metals are categorized into three groups including (1) Ni, S, Co, Cu, Cr, and Fe; (2) Se, Mn, Cd, and Zn; and (3) Sb, As, Mo, and Sn. This classification describes the hydro-geochemical behavior of hazardous metals in water–sediment environments of the Sarcheshmeh porphyry copper mine and can be used as a basis in remedial and treatment strategies.     

Paleoenvironmental reconstruction using biological markers for the Upper Triassic-Middle Jurassic sedimentary succession in Tabas Basin, central Iran

The Upper Triassic-Middle Jurassic sedimentary succession in the Tabas Basin, with a thickness of about 1600 m, provides a case showing geochemical property changes through the Triassic-Jurassic boundary. The studied section (Kamarmacheh Kuh) is composed of the marine Nayband Formation (Norian-Rhaetian) overlain by siliciclastic sediments of Ab-e-Haji Formation (Lower Jurassic-Aalenian). Detailed geochemical analyses were conducted on selected samples from both formations and the results were used to infer paleo-depositional conditions. Most of the studied samples contain <1 wt% TOC composed mostly of oxidized organic matter with insignificant generative potential. Extract analysis of four representative samples indicate that the rocks also contain minor amounts of preserved algal organic matter along with a secondary contribution of higher plant organic matter from the adjacent watershed. Biomarker analyses show subtle variations in the relative contribution of land plant material that are consistent with the widespread occurrence of coal seams in the upper parts of the Nayband and basal parts of the Ab-e-Haji formations. Although the samples from the Kamarmacheh Kuh Section have low source potential, the extractable hydrocarbons indicate that conditions existed that were conducive to organic matter preservation and that regions of the Tabas Basin with higher primary productivity or lower sedimentation rates may have greater potential.     

Hydrochemistry, mineralogy and chemical fractionation of mine and processing wastes associated with porphyry copper mines: A case study from the Sarcheshmeh mine, SE Iran

The Sarcheshmeh is one of the largest Oligo-Miocene porphyry Cu deposits in the world. Comparative hydrochemical, mineralogical and chemical fractionation associated with mining efflorescence salts and processing wastes of this mine are discussed. Hydrochemical results showed that rock waste dumps, reject wastes and old impoundments of tailings are the main sources of acid mine drainage waters (AMD) that contain potentially toxic metals such as Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni and Zn as well as Al. Episodic fluxes of highly contaminated acidic waters were produced in a tailings dam over a short period of time. Secondary soluble minerals provide important controls on the quality of AMD produced, especially in old, dry tailings impoundments. Secondary sulfate minerals such as gypsum, magnesiocopiapite, hydronium jarosite, kornelite and coquimbite were found in rock waste drainages and in old weathered reject wastes. Highly soluble secondary minerals such as gypsum, eriochalcite, and bonattite are also observed in an evaporative layer on old tailings impoundments. Chemical fractionation patterns of potentially toxic elements showed that the geochemical behavior of metals is primarily controlled by the mineralogical composition of waste samples. Elements such as Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni and Zn are readily released into the water soluble fraction from efflorescence salts associated with rock waste drainages, as well as from the evaporative layer of old tailings. Potentially toxic elements, such as As, Mo and Pb, are principally adsorbed or co-precipitated with amorphous and crystalline Fe oxides, but they may also be associated with oxidizing, primary sulfides and residual fractions. Following the development of the dammed tailings pond, the secondary minerals were dissolved, producing acidic waters contaminated by Al (154 mg L⁻¹), Cu (150 mg L⁻¹), Cd (0.31 m gL⁻¹), Co (2.13 mg L⁻¹), Mn (73.7 mg L⁻¹), Ni (1.74 mg L⁻¹), Zn (20.3 mg L⁻¹) and Cl (1690 mg L⁻¹). Therefore, the potential use of recycled water from the Sarcheshmenh dammed tailings pond is diminished by the presence of corrosive ions like Cl⁻ in highly acidic fluids that promote corrosion of pipes and pumps in the water recycling system.     

Study on infiltration rate based on primary particle size distribution data in arid and semiarid region soils

Soil particle size distribution (PSD) is used to estimate some soil processes, soil moisture characteristics, and infiltration rate (IR). Prediction of infiltration rate from soil texture data requires an accurate characterization of PSD. The objective of this study was to determine more important primary particle diameters that control IR. The experiments were conducted using double-ring method with constant head of 5 cm in 15 different soils and three replications. The range of measured IR for studied soils varied from 1.6 to 30.66 cm h^?1. The results indicated that the primary PSD had a significant influence on IR. In other words, most D _n fractions had significant positive effect on the final IR. Among different fractions, D ₃₀, D ₄₀, and D ₆₀ showed higher relationships with IR than the others. These diameters are attributed to particles with diameter of 0.05, 0.08, and 0.16 mm, respectively. The results also showed that increasing the percent of sand have intensified influence on increasing the final IR. Reversely, clay and silt contents showed negative effects on final IR. Furthermore, the CaCO₃ had a meaningful effect on the IR that showed the importance of lime in arid and semiarid regions. Finally, it is revealed that the role of texture was important, especially in behavior of infiltration, runoff, and production capability.     

The hazard potential of the western segment of the Makran subduction zone, northern Arabian Sea

Evaluating the hazard potential of the Makran subduction zone requires understanding the previous records of the large earthquakes and tsunamis. We address this problem by searching for earthquake and tectonic proxies along the Makran Coast and linking those observations with the available constraints on historical seismicity and the tell-tale characteristics of sea floor morphology. The earthquake of Mw 8.1 of 1945 and the consequent tsunami that originated on the eastern part of the Makran are the only historically known hazardous events in this region. The seismic status of the western part of the subduction zone outside the rupture area of the 1945 earthquake remains an enigma. The near-shore shallow stratigraphy of the central part of Makran near Chabahar shows evidence of seismically induced liquefaction that we attribute to the distant effects of the 1945 earthquake. The coastal sites further westward around Jask are remarkable for the absence of liquefaction features, at least at the shallow level. Although a negative evidence, this possibly implies that the western part of Makran Coast region may not have been impacted by near-field large earthquakes in the recent past??a fact also supported by the analysis of historical data. On the other hand, the elevated marine terraces on the western Makran and their uplift rates are indicative of comparable degree of long-term tectonic activity, at least around Chabahar. The offshore data suggest occurrences of recently active submarine slumps on the eastern part of the Makran, reflective of shaking events, owing to the great 1945 earthquake. The ocean floor morphologic features on the western segment, on the contrary, are much subdued and the prograding delta lobes on the shelf edge also remain intact. The coast on the western Makran, in general, shows indications of progradation and uplift. The various lines of evidence thus suggest that although the western segment is potentially seismogenic, large earthquakes have not occurred there in the recent past, at least during the last 600?years. The recurrence period of earthquakes may range up to 1,000?years or more, an assessment based on the age of the youngest dated coastal ridge. The long elapsed time points to the fact that the western segment may have accumulated sufficient slip to produce a major earthquake.     

Reclamation of calcareous saline–sodic soil using different amendments: Time changes of soluble cations in leachate

Soil salinity and sodicity are escalating problems worldwide, especially in arid and semiarid regions. A laboratory experiment was conducted using soil column to investigate leaching of soluble cations during reclamation process of a calcareous saline–sodic soil (CaCO₃?=?20.7%, electrical conductivity (EC)?=?19.8 dS m^?1, sodium absorption ratio (SAR)?=?32.2[meq L^?1]^0.5). The amendments consisted of control, cattle manure (50 g kg^?1), pistachio residue (50 g kg^?1), gypsum (5.2 g kg^?1; equivalent of gypsum requirement), manure + gypsum and pistachio residue + gypsum, in three replicates which were mixed thoroughly with the soil, while sulfuric acid as an amendment was added to irrigation water. To reflect natural conditions, after incubation period, an intermittent irrigation method was employed every 30 days. The results showed that EC, SAR, and soluble cations of leachate for the first irrigation step were significantly higher than those of the subsequent leaching runs. Moreover, the concentration of removed soluble cations was lower for the control and gypsum-treated soils. It was found that among applied amendments, treatments containing cattle manure showed higher concentrations of sodium, calcium, and magnesium in the leachate, while due to pistachio residue application, further amount of potassium was removed out of soil column. The addition of pistachio residue resulted in the highest reduction in soil salinity and sodicity since the final EC and exchangeable sodium percentage dropped to 18.0% and 11.6% of their respective initial values, respectively. In the calcareous soil, solubility of gypsum found to be limited, in contrast, when it was added in conjunction with organic amendments, greater amounts of sodium were leached.     

Non-equilibrium interphase heat and mass transfer during two-phase flow in porous media—Theoretical considerations and modeling

Mass and heat transfer occurring across phase-interfaces in multi-phase flow in porous media are mostly approximated using equilibrium relationships or empirical kinetic models. However, when the characteristic time of flow is smaller than that of mass or heat transfer, non-equilibrium situations may arise. Commonly, empirical approaches are used in such cases. There are only few works in the literature that use physically-based models for these transfer terms. In fact, one would expect physical approaches to modeling kinetic interphase mass and heat transfer to contain the interfacial area between the phases as a variable. Recently, a two-phase flow and solute transport model was developed that included interfacial area as a state variable [36]. In that model, interphase mass transfer was modeled as a kinetic process.     

A study of crude oil‐degrading bacteria from mangrove forests in the Persian Gulf

Mangroves are coastal ecosystems, found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. They are found in the transitional zones between land, sea, and rivers. Petroleum hydrocarbons are the most common environmental pollutants, and oil spills pose a great hazard to mangroves forests. This research was focused on the isolation and characterization of crude oil‐degrading bacteria from mangrove ecosystems at the Persian Gulf. Sixty‐one crude oil‐degrading bacteria were isolated from mangrove samples (plant, sediment, and seawater) that enriched in ONR7a medium with crude oil as only carbon source. Some screening tests such as growth at high concentration of crude oil, bioemulsifier production, and surface hydrophobicity were done to select the most efficient strains for crude oil degradation. Molecular identification of strains was carried out by amplification of the 16S rRNA gene by PCR. The results of this study were indicated that the quantity of crude oil‐degrading bacteria was higher in the root of mangrove plants compare to other mangrove samples (sediment and seawater). Also, identification results confirmed that these isolated strains belong to Vibrio sp. strain NW4, Idiomarina sp. strain BW32, Kangiella sp. strain DP40, Marinobacter sp. strain DW44, Halomonas sp. strain BS53, and Vibrio sp. strain DS35. The application of bioremediation strategies with these bacteria can reduce crude oil pollution in this important marine environment.     

Experimental study on the effect of bottomless structure in front of a bottom outlet on a sediment flushing cone

One of the main problems in reservoirs is sedimentation which reduces the operating life of dams if a proper plan and analysis method are not in place.The techniques to manage sediment in reservoirs include several sustainable management techniques that route sediment through or around the reservoir.One of the main economical methods in arid and semi-arid regions is pressurized flushing using moderate drawdown of the water level of the reservoir to evacuate sediment deposited behind dams.In the current study,the effect of a new structure called a dendritic bottomless extended(DBE)outlet structure at three angles of 30°,45°,and 60°
on pressurized flushing efficiency was investigated.Consequently,45 experiments were designed for three discharge rates (Qo),three sediment levels(Hs),four types of structure,and a no-structure condition(reference test).The results indicated that the DBE structure with a 30°angle between the branches,a sedimentary dimensionless index of Hs/Do=4.59,and a flow dimensionless index of Qo=/√gD05=1:43(where g is the acceleration of gravity and Do is the diameter of the bottom outlet)lead to 10-fold increase in the sediment flushing cone dimensions and sediment removal efficiency compared to the results of the reference test.Finally,according to a statistical analysis of the results,a dimensionless equation for calculating the sediment flushing cone dimensions was developed for the tested sediment characteristics.