Temperature,composition, and f O2 effects on intersite distribution of Mg and Fe2+ in olivines

Single-crystal X-ray structure refinement of natural olivines equilibrated at high temperature under controlled oxygen fugacity (f _O2) conditions, coupled with a structure-energy model were used to establish the influence of T, f _O2 and bulk chemistry on intracrystalline disorder.The results are: 1) The k _D (k _D = [(Fe M1·Mg M2)/(Fe M2·Mg M1)]) factor describing site population on M1, M2 polyhedra increases from values lower than 1 at T below 400–600° C (depending on composition) to values higher than 1 at higher temperature. 2) The increase of k _D with T is quite regular. 3) At constant temperature and pressure, k _D increases with increasing fayalite content in the mixture; 4) Contrary to previous observations (Will and Nover 1979; Nover and Will 1981) varying f _O2, within the stability range of the substance, has a negligible influence on intracrystalline disorder. 5) As ancillary results, the model confirms the defect scheme of Nakamura and Schmalzried (1983) for the investigated solids. Moreover, it shows that cationic vacancies are always created on M 1 site at the expense of Mg ions, while trivalent iron is always stabilized on M2 site. This explains the marked anisotropies observed in Fe-Mg interdiffusion (Buening and Busek 1973; Misener 1974; Schock et al. 1989).     

Petrology of Santorini Volcano, Cyclades, Greece

The Pliocene to Recent lavas, dyke rocks, and cognate xenolithsof Santorini island group belong to four distinct series, eachof high-alumina basalt-andesite-dacite type. The oldest seriesincludes hornblende dacites and minor basaltic andesites. Theformer contain hornblende-rich cognate xenoliths of basalticcomposition, which consist essentially of crystals ‘floating’in residual acid liquid (glass). The chemical variation of theseries, like that of lavas of volcanic centres north-west ofSantorini, is of ‘calc-alkali’ type. The second and third series consist of a range of lavas frombasalt to rhyodacite. No hydrous mineral occurs as a stablephase. Augite is the phenocrystal pyroxene of basalts; augiteand hypersthene of andesites and dacites. The groundmass pyroxenesof basalts and most andesites are augite and pigeonite, whiledistinctive hornblende xenocryst-bearing andesites of the secondseries, and acid lavas of both second and third, carry augiteand hypersthene in the groundmass. Interstitial glass increasesin proportion from basalts to andesites, and forms a major componentof acid lavas. The second series, like the oldest, lacks absoluteiron enrichment. The third, however, shows weak iron enrichmentof andesitic relative to basaltic compositions. Of the youngest (historic) series, only the acid members (hyalodacites)have been extruded as lavas. The more basic members are representedby non-cumulate xenoliths of basaltic to andesitic compositionwhich, like those of the oldest series, consist of a mesh ofcrystals set in abundant glass. This modern series also displaysfeeble absolute iron enrichment. The compositional range of minerals other than plagioclase isvery limited in the two xenolithic series, but much greaterin the two lava series. Glass compositions are virtually constantwithin individual series. Estimates of temperatures and oxygenfugacities of Fe-Ti oxide mineral equilibration, and deductionsfrom liquid compositional trends indicate that the oldest serieswas characterized by higher f_O2, and f_H2O, and lower temperaturesthan the three younger, ‘dry’ series. Its silicaenrichment trend appears to have been controlled chiefly byfractionation of silica-poor hornblende, rather than magnetiteas in the younger series. The presence, in all series, of xenolithsof gabbroic cumulates, and the constancy of glass compositionssuggests that each series was generated by the tapping of adifferentiating highalumina basalt magma in a high level magmachamber.     

Ground water flow analysis of a mid-Atlantic outer coastal plain watershed, Virginia, U.S.A

Models for ground water flow (MODFLOW) and particle tracking (MODPATH) were used to determine ground water flow patterns, principal ground water discharge and recharge zones, and estimates of ground water travel times in an unconfined ground water system of an outer coastal plain watershed on the Delmarva Peninsula, Virginia. By coupling recharge and discharge zones within the watershed, flowpath analysis can provide a method to locate and implement specific management strategies within a watershed to reduce ground water nitrogen loading to surface water. A monitoring well network was installed in Eyreville Creek watershed, a first-order creek, to determine hydraulic conductivities and spatial and temporal variations in hydraulic heads for use in model calibration. Ground water flow patterns indicated the convergence of flow along the four surface water features of the watershed; primary discharge areas were in the nontidal portions of the watershed. Ground water recharge zones corresponded to the surface water features with minimal development of a regional ground water system. Predicted ground water velocities varied between < 0.01 to 0.24 m/day, with elevated values associated with discharge areas and areas of convergence along surface water features. Some ground water residence times exceeded 100 years, although average residence times ranged between 16 and 21 years; approximately 95% of the ground water resource would reflect land use activities within the last 50 years.     

Water Circulation Off the Northeastern Coast of Sakhalin during the Passage of Three Types of Deep Cyclones over the Sea of Okhotsk

Based on the numerical simulation of water circulation in the Sea of Okhotsk in 1986 to 2015, the impact of deep cyclones on the circulation off the northeastern coast of Sakhalin is studied. The circulation in the Sea of Okhotsk is simulated with the COSMO-Ru-INMOM-CICE model configuration, where the COSMO-Ru and INMOM resolve explicitly the mesoscale atmosphere and ocean dynamics and the CICE resolves the ice cover evolution. The extreme atmospheric events associated with the intensive cyclone activity over the Sea of Okhotsk during the cold season are classified. It is found that high velocity is typical of the cyclones coming to the sea from Sakhalin, and wind speed on the periphery is higher for the cyclones coming to the Sea of Okhotsk from the south and southwest. The analysis of water circulation response off the northeastern coast of Sakhalin demonstrates that the meridional current velocity on the shelf increased by several times from the sea surface to the bottom for all types of cyclones. On the edge of the shelf, southern currents intensified in the surface and bottom layers during the passage of cyclones and at the intermediate depths during the passage of fronts. On the continental slope, southern currents intensified in the surface, intermediate, and bottom layers depending on the type of extreme events.

     

THE INFLUENCE OF SLOPE AND RAIN INTENSITY ON RUNOFF AND INFILTRATION / L'influence de l'inclinaison de terrain et de l'intensité de pluie sur l'écoulement et l'infiltration

Abstract

The design and construction of a special-purpose laboratory catchment and rainfall simulator is described. The equipment consists of a soil catchment area that can be inclined at various angles. Additional instrumentation then measures the flow of water across the surface of, and through, the soil bed. Precipitation is provided by a unit that simulates rainfall at particular rates with uniform distribution.

The equipment was used to examine infiltration, runoff and other hydrological properties of a number of soils under different rainfall intensities and with different catchment slopes. Correlations were obtained for these variables.     

Evaluation of site effects on ground motions based on equivalent linear site response analysis and liquefaction potential in Chennai,south India

We study local site effects with detailed geotechnical and geophysical site characterization to evaluate the site-specific seismic hazard for the seismic microzonation of the Chennai city in South India. A Maximum Credible Earthquake (MCE) of magnitude 6.0 is considered based on the available seismotectonic and geological information of the study area. We synthesized strong ground motion records for this target event using stochastic finite-fault technique, based on a dynamic corner frequency approach, at different sites in the city, with the model parameters for the source, site, and path (attenuation) most appropriately selected for this region. We tested the influence of several model parameters on the characteristics of ground motion through simulations and found that stress drop largely influences both the amplitude and frequency of ground motion. To minimize its influence, we estimated stress drop after finite bandwidth correction, as expected from an M6 earthquake in Indian peninsula shield for accurately predicting the level of ground motion. Estimates of shear wave velocity averaged over the top 30 m of soil (V_S30) are obtained from multichannel analysis of surface wave (MASW) at 210 sites at depths of 30 to 60 m below the ground surface. Using these V_S30 values, along with the available geotechnical information and synthetic ground motion database obtained, equivalent linear one-dimensional site response analysis that approximates the nonlinear soil behavior within the linear analysis framework was performed using the computer program SHAKE2000. Fundamental natural frequency, Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) at surface and rock levels, response spectrum at surface level for different damping coefficients, and amplification factors are presented at different sites of the city. Liquefaction study was done based on the V_S30 and PGA values obtained. The major findings suggest show that the northeast part of the city is characterized by (i) low V_S30 values (<?200 m/s) associated with alluvial deposits, (ii) relatively high PGA value, at the surface, of about 0.24 g, and (iii) factor of safety and liquefaction below unity at three sites (no. 12, no. 37, and no. 70). Thus, this part of the city is expected to experience damage for the expected M6 target event.     

Influence of rainfall on the deformation and stability of a slope in overconsolidated clays: a case study

The behaviour of an instrumented unstable slope in a profile of weathered overconsolidated clay has been analysed. Available field investigation data and laboratory tests were integrated in a coupled hydromechanical model of the slope. Particular attention was given to the unsaturated soil conditions above the water table and to the influence of the rainfall record. Recorded pore-water pressures helped to identify the hydrogeological conditions of the slope. The coupled model was used to compute slope deformations and the variation of safety with time. Actual rainfall records were also integrated into the analysis. Comparison of measurements and calculations illustrate the nature of the slope instability and the complex relationships between mechanical and hydraulic factors. Electronic Publication