Combined use of statistical and DInSAR data analyses to define the state of activity of slow-moving landslides

Statistical analyses have been often used for landslide susceptibility zoning at small to medium scale when relevant base and thematic maps are available. Since the beginning of the last decade, images remotely acquired by spaceborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and processed via Differential SAR Interferometry (DInSAR) proved extremely useful for non-invasive and non-destructive monitoring of displacements of the topographic surface. The present paper proposes an original procedure for the definition of the state of activity of slow-moving landslides via the combined use of multivariate statistical analyses and DInSAR data. The procedure is based on the following essential elements: distinction between terrain units used for computational purposes and the final zoning units; independent statistical and DInSAR analyses and activity models leading to first-level state of activity zoning maps; a consistency model between statistical and DInSAR analyses; two confidence and combination models leading, respectively, to second- or third-level state of activity zoning maps. The application in a test area including 19 municipalities in southern Italy, where slow-moving landslides are widespread and accurately mapped by using geomorphological criteria, allowed the generation of the three above-mentioned levels of zoning maps. The results were successfully crosschecked by exploiting a different DInSAR dataset and the results of previous works based on the use of slow-moving landslide-induced damage to facilities surveys.     

Impact of event landslides on road networks: a statistical analysis of two Italian case studies

Despite abundant information on landslides, and on landslide hazard and risk, in Italy, little is known on the direct impact of event landslides on road networks and on the related economic costs. We investigated the physical and economic damage caused by two rainfall-induced landslide events in Central and Southern Italy, to obtain road restoration cost statistics. Using a GIS-based method, we exploited road maps and landslide event inventory maps to compute different metrics that quantify the impact of the landslide events on the natural landscape and on the road networks, by road type. The maps were used with cost data obtained from multiple sources, including local authorities, and specific legislation, to evaluate statistically the unit cost per metre of damaged road and the unit cost per square metre of damaging landslide, separately for main and secondary roads. The obtained unit costs showed large variations which we attribute to the different road types in the two study areas and to the different abundance of landslides. Our work confirms the long-standing conundrum of obtaining accurate landslide damage data and outlines the need for reliable, standardized methods to evaluate landslide damage and associated restoration costs that regional and local administrations can use rapidly in the aftermath of a landslide event. We conclude recommending that common standardized procedures to collect landslide cost data following each landslide event are established, in Italy and elsewhere. This will allow for more accurate and reliable evaluations of the economic costs of landslide events.     

The free jet as a means to improve water quality: Destratification and oxygen enrichment

Rivers, lakes, and coastal waters are chaotic systems — physical, chemical, and biological parameters influence their development. Each parameter itself is influenced by the system. Human interaction has led to fast eutrophication. Oxygen input and artificial mixing have been considered as tools to overcome the biggest problems of fish kills, algal blooms, and bad odour. The favoured technology for destratification and oxygen input so far is the bubble curtain. This technology has been applied successfully in several cases. But often, this technology could not be implemented because of high investment and operating costs.

Alternatively, the free jet is discussed as an efficient and low investment and operating cost technology. The free jet may transport oxygen-rich water from the surface down into the hypolimnion, thereby destratifying a water system. A free jet entrains on its way down even more oxygen rich and warm epilimnic water. This water will finally — if some mixing with the cold hypolimnic water occurs — be transferred to the metalimnion. The density differences will make this water travel long distances.

The energy input may be very low and the objective must not be to totally overturn a system. A jet started in early spring may help a lake to have a deep enough epilimnion, relatively large in volume in respect to the hypolimnion, and the normal wind will recirculate the water transferring enough oxygen to the deeper part, thus expanding the fish habitat and enabling benthic fauna. Literature also shows that the occurrence of massive algal blooms may be reduced.

The oxygen efficiency can be multifold compared to standard technologies.     

Toe-of-slope of a Cretaceous carbonate platform in outcrop,seismic model and offshore seismic data (Apulia,Italy)

Synthetic seismic models of outcrops in the Early Cretaceous slope of a carbonate platform on the Gargano Promontory (southern Italy) were compared to an offshore seismic section south of the Promontory. Outcrops of the same age on the promontory have the same sequence stratigraphic characteristics as their offshore equivalent, and are the only areas where the transition from platform to basin of Early Cretaceous is exposed on land. Two adjacent outcrop areas were combined into one seismic-scale lithologic model with the aid of photo mosaics, measured sections, and biostratigraphic data. Velocity, density, and porosity measurements on spot samples were used to construct the impedance model. Seismic models were generated by vertical incidence and finite difference programs. The results indicate that the reflections in the seismic model are controlled by the impedance contrast between low porous intervals rich in debris from the platform and highly porous intervals of pelagic lime mudstone, nearly devoid of debris. Finite difference seismic display showed best resemblance with the real seismic data, especially by mapping a drowning unconformity.     

Effets de la vitesse d'écoulement sur le transport et la cinétique de dépôt de particules en suspension en milieu poreux saturé

We study in this paper the transport and deposition of suspended particles in saturated porous media. Some chromatographic short-pulse tests were performed in a laboratory column with a tracer and two types of suspended particles. A mathematical model was used to determine the hydrodispersive parameters and deposition rates from the breakthrough curves. The results show that the fitted parameters obtained vary with the flow rate and the characteristics of the suspended particles. We also observe, at high flow rates, that particles have a migration velocity higher than that of the conservative tracer. To cite this article: A. Benamar et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).     

Interpolation processes using multivariate geostatistics for mapping of climatological precipitation mean in the Sannio Mountains (southern Italy)

The spatial variability of precipitation has often been a topic of research, since accurate modelling of precipitation is a crucial condition for obtaining reliable results in hydrology and geomorphology. In mountainous areas, the sparsity of the measurement networks makes an accurate and reliable spatialization of rainfall amounts at the local scale difficult. The purpose of this paper is to show how the use of a digital elevation model can improve interpolation processes at the subregional scale for mapping the mean annual and monthly precipitation from rainfall observations (40 years) recorded in a region of 1400 km² in southern Italy. Besides linear regression of precipitation against elevation, two methods of interpolation are applied: inverse squared distance and ordinary cokriging. Cross‐validation indicates that the inverse distance interpolation, which ignores the information on elevation, yields the largest prediction errors. Smaller prediction errors are produced by linear regression and ordinary cokriging. However, the results seem to favour the multivariate geostatistical method including auxiliary information (related to elevation). We conclude that ordinary cokriging is a very flexible and robust interpolation method because it can take into account several properties of the landscape; it should therefore be applicable in other mountainous regions, especially where precipitation is an important geomorphological factor. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Crustal and upper mantle structure of stable continental regions in North America and northern Europe

From an analysis of many seismic profiles across the stable continental regions of North America and northern Europe, the crustal and upper mantle velocity structure is determined. Analysis procedures include ray theory calculations and synthetic seismograms computed using reflectivity techniques. TheP wave velocity structure beneath the Canadian Shield is virtually identical to that beneath the Baltic Shield to a depth of at least 800 km. Two major layers with a total thickness of about 42 km characterize the crust of these shield regions. Features of the upper mantle of these region include velocity discontinuities at depths of about 74 km, 330 km, 430 km and 700 km. A 13 km thickP wave low velocity channel beginning at a depth of about 94 km is also present.A number of problems associated with record section interpretation are identified and a generalized approach to seismic profile analysis using many record sections is described. TheS wave velocity structure beneath the Canadian Shield is derived from constrained surface wave data. The thickness of the lithosphere beneath the Canadian and Baltic Shields is determined to be 95–100 km. The continental plate thickness may be the same as the lithospheric thickness, although available data do not exclude the possibility of the continental plate being thicker than the lithosphere.     

A dynamical model of lava flows cooling by radiation

The behaviour of a lava flow is reproduced by a two-dimensional model of a Bingham liquid flowing down a uniform slope. Such a liquid is described by two rheological parameters, yield stress and viscosity, both of which are strongly temperature-dependent. Assuming a flow rate and an initial temperature of the liquid at the eruption vent, the temperature decrease due to heat radiation and the consequent change in the rheological parameters are computed along the flow. Both full thermal mixing and thermal unmixing are considered. The equations of motion are solved analytically in the approximation of a slow downslope change of the flow parameters. Flow height and velocity are obtained as functions of the distance from the eruption vent; the time required for a liquid element to reach a certain distance from the vent is also computed. The gross features of observed lava flows are reproduced by the model which allows us to estimate the sensitivity of flow dynamics to changes in the initial conditions, ground slope and rheological parameters. A pronounced increase in the rate of height increase and velocity decrease is found when the flow enters the Bingham regime. The results confirm the observation according to which lava flows show an initial rapid advance, followed by a marked deceleration, while the final length of a flow is such that the Graetz number is in the order of a few hundreds.     

Determination creep, fatigue and activation energy from constant strain-rate experiments

It is found that the results of the experiments made with constant strain-rate give also the creep functions. This is determined with three different assumptions on the creep modelling function, and it is seen that, to find the long-term reaction of the material, experiments with duration longer than that of these already carried out are needed. It is also found that the classic stress-strain relations representing the anelasticity of materials imply stress hardening and possibly fatigue; a method to estimate the number of cycles which could give fatigue is suggested.As an application the creep of polycrystalline halite is obtained finding also its temperature dependence and the relation between the activation energy and the temperature.     

Charge distribution from least-energy structure in Ca - Mg orthosilicates

Calcium-olivine, γ-Ca₂SiO₄, larnite, β-Ca₂SiO₄, merwinite, Ca₃Mg(SiO₄)₂, and monticellite, CaMgSiO₄, are considered. According to a rigid oxyanion scheme, eulerian orientation angles of the SiO₄ tetrahedra and translation coordinates of Ca and Si atoms are specified as structural variables τk. All derivatives of the static energy (Born model) contain atomic charges and repulsive parameters as unknowns; the minimum energy conditions ?E _L/?τ_k=0 yield 34 equations which are solved by a least-squares method. The set of energy parameters fitting structural properties of all four phases together is: z _Ca=1.50, z _o=?1.10 e, r _Ca=1.05, ρ=0.25 Å; the Mg charge was fixed at 1.38 e, from a previous study on forsterite. An average shift of 0.04 Å is observed between experimental and least-energy calculated atomic positions. Results are compared with those of Mg₂SiO₄, where the fit was based both on thermoelastic and on structural properties. If no charge values were fixed “a priori”, just ratios between charges could be determined by fitting them to structural data only.