DNA based association and description of the larval stage of Drusus melanchaetes McLachlan, 1876 (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae: Drusinae) with notes on ecology and zoogeography

At three alpine locations in Switzerland adults of Drusus melanchaetes and unknown Drusinae larvae which could not be identified with existing keys were sampled. Based on DNA association with adults, we identified the unknown larvae as D. melanchaetes. To further support the association of specimens a phylogeny was estimated with the putative closest relatives of D. melanchaetes – D. monticola and D. nigrescens – and five other species of Drusus (D. chrysotus, destitutus, discolor, muelleri and romanicus). A highly supported monophyletic clade groups unknown larvae and D. melanchaetes specimens from the central Alps and Austria (Vorarlberg), confirming the association.Based on morphology, larvae of D. melanchaetes key out together with D. destitutus in existing keys. D. melanchaetes is separated from the latter species by the shape of the lateral head profile which is almost straight and shows a small step at the height of the antenna, whereas in D. destitutus the lateral head profile is evenly rounded. In addition, in frontal view, the shape of the lateral head outline is straight in D. melanchaetes and rounded in D. destititus. There are also differences in the shape of the pronotum and in the number of the posterodorsal setae at the eighth abdominal dorsum.     

Geophysical greenfield exploration in the permo‐carboniferous Saar–Nahe basin—The Wiesbaden Geothermal Project,Germany

Structurally bound upwelling and outflowing hot fluids in the city of Wiesbaden suggest an interesting geothermal potential at the northern margin of the permo‐carboniferous Saar–Nahe basin, Germany. The Saar–Nahe basin in the Wiesbaden area was previously not a target for intensive geophysical prospecting of the deep underground. We present an exploration concept to investigate potential geothermal reservoirs near Wiesbaden for heat and power production. The acquired geophysical exploration data give new insights into the local geometry and internal structure of the Saar–Nahe basin. The exploration combines a wide range of methods, including the analysis of data, a dense grid gravity survey, as well as two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional seismic surveys. The resulting data, which for the first time reveal the deep structure of the Mainz and Saar–Nahe basins near Wiesbaden down to a depth of c. 4,000 m, show that the Saar–Nahe basin is strongly segmented and contains deep‐reaching active faults. Combining these information with numerical models of the stresses in the fault system and of the temperature distribution in the exploration area, a promising drilling target has been identified, which promise high permeability at a low risk of induced or triggered seismicity.     

An assessment of monitoring requirements and costs of 'Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation'

Background  

Negotiations on a future climate policy framework addressing Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) are ongoing. Regardless of how such a framework will be designed, many technical solutions of estimating forest cover and forest carbon stock change exist to support policy in monitoring and accounting. These technologies typically combine remotely sensed data with ground-based inventories. In this article we assess the costs of monitoring REDD based on available technologies and requirements associated with key elements of REDD policy.     

地下水人工回灌堵塞问题研究进展

地下水人工回灌堵塞问题的产生与回灌水质、入渗介质的矿物成分及颗粒组成特征等多种因素有关,通常根据成因将堵塞分为物理堵塞、化学堵塞和生物堵塞3种类型。大颗粒悬浮物的物理堵塞效应与机理的研究比较成熟,但对于中间颗粒,尤其是胶体颗粒物的堵塞作用机制的研究还相对比较薄弱;化学堵塞的机理复杂,影响因素众多,水文地球化学模拟技术在化学堵塞机理的研究中显示了良好的应用前景;生物堵塞主要由回灌水中细菌和藻类等微生物的繁殖和代谢导致,大量的研究集中在细菌方面,对藻类引起的堵塞问题研究尚不深入;多种堵塞的相互作用过程和作用机理是目前研究的难点问题。堵塞预测的方法主要包括3种:①指标法(如MFI、悬浮物浓度、浊度、AOC、BFR等),简单实用,但不能对堵塞演化过程进行描述或对堵塞程度进行定量表达;②经验公式法,受特定场地的条件限制,难以直接推广和利用;③解析公式法,对堵塞机理的表达更加科学、合理,但模型的建立与求解难度较大。通过合理的水质预处理技术和合理的回灌工艺,可以有效延迟堵塞发生的时间、减缓堵塞累积的程度。开发快速、高效、简单的堵塞处理技术对于延长工程使用寿命和降低经济成本具有重要的现实意义。     

Forward model nonlinearity versus inverse model nonlinearity

The issue of concern is the impact of forward model nonlinearity on the nonlinearity of the inverse model. The question posed is, “Does increased nonlinearity in the head solution (forward model) always result in increased nonlinearity in the inverse solution (estimation of hydraulic conductivity)?” It is shown that the two nonlinearities are separate, and it is not universally true that increased forward model nonlinearity increases inverse model nonlinearity.     

Structural control of low-sulfidation epithermal gold mineralization in the Rosario–Bunawan district, East Mindanao Ridge, Philippines

The Rosario–Bunawan district is situated about 200 km north of Davao City, the capital of the Mindanao Island, Southern Philippines. Gold is produced from the Co-O mine, containing about 2,034,000 t of ore at 10.9 g/t Au, and in numerous small-scale operations by local miners. Epithermal gold mineralization in the Rosario–Bunawan district and the Co-O mine is confined to narrow (0.2–4 m) low-sulfidation quartz–chalcedony–calcite veins in volcanic and volcaniclastic wall rocks. Three major vein orientations are distinguished: (1) the NNW–SSE-trending set with a sinistral strike-slip sense of deformation (Philippine Fault trend); (2) the ENE–WSW-trending dextral strike-slip set (Palawan trend) and associated veins in the Riedel geometry; and (3) the WNW–ESE-trending conjugate set (Co-O trend). Three structural stages are defined: (1) extensional shear or shear veins formed in the Co-O, the Philippine Fault, and Palawan trends during regional NW–SE compression and near vertical vein opening (D₁); (2) reactivation of veins in the Philippine Fault, veins associated with the Palawan, and, to a lesser extent, the Co-O trends during E–W compression and near horizontal N–S-oriented vein opening (D₂). New D₂ extensional shear or shear veins formed in the Philippine Fault, and structures associated with the Palawan and associated Riedel trends; (3) the D₃-stage block faulting subsequently displaced all of the auriferous veins. The auriferous Rosario–Bunawan district is situated between two splays of the Philippine Fault, which acted as a lateral ramp system during the oblique convergence of the Philippine Sea plate and the Eurasian plate. The oblique convergence resulted in a change from a compressional (D₁) to a transpressional (D₂) regime, which was a prerequisite for the two-stage vein opening and hydrothermal mineralization, leading to an economic gold enrichment. D₁ compressional tectonics may have caused an elevated geothermal gradient in shallow crustal levels, forming the heat source for the fluid plumbing system, which is at variance to typical epithermal deposits formed in extensional zones. D₂ thrusting of a limestone nappe together with syn-tectonic diorite intrusions may have further increased the geothermal gradient, maintaining the fluid plumbing system. The limestone nappe may, at the same time, have represented an aquitard forcing the hydrothermal fluids into the volcanic and volcaniclastic wall rocks, which is regarded as critical for the two-stage gold mineralization in the Rosario–Bunawan district.     

A Lateglacial and Holocene lake record from the Nianbaoyeze Mountains and inferences of lake, glacier and climate evolution on the eastern Tibetan Plateau

Our 12.81 m long record from Lake Ximencuo provides insight into the Lateglacial and Holocene evolution of the lake and the Nianbaoyeze glacier in its catchment, and the regional climate history since 19 kyr. Lake Ximencuo was a permanent deep lake throughout its history. In contrast to numerous lakes on the Tibetan Plateau which experienced shallow lake levels or even desiccation during the Lateglacial, Lake Ximencuo was fed by large quantities of meltwater in the Lateglacial. The existence of glaciated upper catchment areas is apparently a prerequisite for lakes on the Tibetan Plateau which maintained relatively high water levels during the generally cold and dry periods following the global LGM (21 kyr). A minor re-advance of the Nianbaoyeze glacier was recorded coeval with the Greenland Stadial 2a (16.4 and 14.5 kyr), followed by rapid warming apparently synchronous with the Greenland Interstadial 1. Warmest conditions were recorded at Lake Ximencuo during the early Holocene which was punctured by a remarkable pulse of climate deterioration around 8.3 kyr. This spell represents probably the 8.2 kyr event of the North Atlantic region, suggesting that it had a significant impact on the Tibetan Plateau. Colder conditions of longer duration occurred from 4.7 to 3.7 kyr, apparently in phase with numerous records signalling colder and drier conditions on the Tibetan Plateau. Two minor spells of colder conditions and probably catchment erosion were recorded in the late Holocene between 2.0 and 1.4 kyr and between 0.5 and 0.1 kyr with the latter representing the Little Ice Age. It is unclear, whether human activities may have accelerated or even solely triggered the late Holocene erosion events.     

Comparison of approaches for the characterization of contamination at rural megasites

The present work focuses on approaches for the characterization of subsurface contamination, which need to be reliable and cost-effective, particularly for extended and remote areas aimed at being redeveloped. Requirements are discussed with respect to specific conditions at megasites, in order to enable site valorization. In a case study, two approaches are compared, comprising (1) conventional site investigation based on historical surveys and concentration measurements at monitoring wells installed in areas suspected of being polluted and (2) the use of direct push (DP) methods covering the complete area. The DP investigation provided information on the contamination distribution and yielded also important information on hydraulic conditions. Statistical analysis of the results applying indicator kriging revealed that the conventional approach is markedly risky when decision-making relies solely on historical and sparse data. The DP campaign remarkably reduced the uncertainty concerning the estimated occurrence of polluted groundwater at the whole site. Furthermore, monitoring measurements are analyzed showing the possible importance of temporal variability. Taking economical consideration into account, DP-based groundwater screening is recommended to obtain either first or complementary information on the entire site. Based on these data, also locations for a long-term monitoring could be selected if temporal variability is assumed relevant.