Adaptive state estimation of groundwater contaminant boundary input flux in a 2-dimensional aquifer

In many circumstances involving heat and mass transfer issues,it is considered impractical to measure the input flux and the resulting state distribution in the domain.Therefore,the need to develop techniques to provide solutions for such problems and estimate the inverse mass flux becomes imperative.Adaptive state estimator(ASE)is increasingly becoming a popular inverse estimation technique which resolves inverse problems by incorporating the semi-Markovian concept into a Bayesian estimation technique,thereby developing an inverse input and state estimator consisting of a bank of parallel adaptively weighted Kalman filters.The ASE is particularly designed for a system that encompasses independent unknowns and/or random switching of input and measurement biases.The present study describes the scheme to estimate the groundwater input contaminant flux and its transient distribution in a conjectural two-dimensional aquifer by means of ASE,which in particular is because of its unique ability to efficiently handle the process noise giving an estimation of keeping the relative error range within 10%in 2-dimensional problems.Numerical simulation results show that the proposed estimator presents decent estimation performance for both smoothly and abruptly varying input flux scenarios.Results also show that ASE enjoys a better estimation performance than its competitor,Recursive Least Square Estimator(RLSE)due to its larger error tolerance in greater process noise regimes.ASE's inherent deficiency of being slower than the RLSE,resulting from the complexity of algorithm,was also noticed.The chosen input scenarios are tested to calculate the effect of input area and both estimators show improved results with an increase in input flux area especially as sensors are moved closer to the assumed input location.     

Geophysical interpretation of the Rashidpur structure Surma Basin,Bangladesh

The Rashidpur structure is located in the southern part of the Surma Basin, Bangladesh. This paper presents an integrated interpretation of seismic and other geophysical data considering the available geologic information in terms of hydrocarbon potential of this structure. The study area lies within a gravity high and a high magnetic intensity. Fifteen seismic sections of the study area have been analyzed to interpret the subsurface geology, structure and stratigraphy. Based on the analysis of seismic sections and correlation with well data, four prominent reflecting horizons have been identified. The litho-stratigraphy of the Rashidpur structure is prepared on the basis of well information. The lithological sequences encountered in the Rashidpur structure range in age from Miocene to Plio-Pliestocene. The gas producing sands of the structure are within Bokabil to Bhuban Formations of the Miocene age. The seismic study indicates that the Rashidpur structure is a narrow, NS elongated anticline affected by a major reverse fault on the eastern flank. It is an asymmetrical anticline with the axis swinging slightly to the east on the northern plunge and thus attaining a slight concavity to the east. There are various geophysical indications of hydrocarbons in this structure.     

Aeromagnetic data over Harrat Lunayyir and surrounding areas,western Saudi Arabia

Harrat Lunayyir is one of the smaller lava fields in western Saudi Arabia that is of current interest due to a dike intrusion episode in 2009, an ongoing swarm of earthquakes and the possible hazard that pose. In addition to seismology, other geophysical data have been used to study the structure of the area, and the available aeromagnetic information is shown and discussed here. The reduced to the pole (RTP) magnetic grid and its enhancements have been used to define some of the main anomalies, and these have been correlated with the known geology, including the Red Sea coastal dike system. There are numerous linear features that are possibly related to the dikes or faulting, but within the area of the harrat, details due to the underlying structure are largely obscured by the magnetic surface lavas. Northeasterly trends in the magnetic data may indicate old zones of weakness that intersect one of the main coastal dikes at the location of the recent seismic activity and surface fissure, suggesting that this is a point of weakness resulting in the volcanism and seismicity that also appears to be largely limited to two of the NE trends. The association of the recent seismicity with a known geological and aeromagnetic feature is important in determining the seismic hazard for the region, especially if the location of future activity can be used to reduce overall uncertainty in the analysis by identifying potential fault sources. Here, the seismicity appears to lie on one of the NNW-trending coastal dikes that have been reactivated recently along a section between two NE-trending older faults.     

Sedimentology and depositional environments of the Ordovician Umm Sahm Sandstone Formation in southern Jordan

The Ordovician Umm Sahm Sandstone Formation of Jordan comprises approximately 200-m-thick succession of fluvial quartzarenites with subordinate claystone and siltstone lithologies of shallow marine conditions. The Umm Sahm Formation is characterized by its dark brown color, frequent jointing, and steep scarps. The Umm Sahm Formation is bounded by the marine claystones of Hiswah Formation at the top and the fluvial sandstones of the Disi Formation at the bottom. The Umm Sahm Formation is composed of two main facies: fluvial facies and tidal facies. The fluvial facies constitutes about 93% of the total thickness. The lower few meters of the succession passes upward from the Disi Sandstone Formation into similar massive white sandstone facies exhibiting similar white color, fine- to coarse-grained sandstone, with round-shaped pebbles. Trough and planar cross-bedding show a northwest unidirectional palaeocurrent trend. Light brown colored quartzarenites similar to those of the Cambrian Umm Ishrin Sandstone Formation are most common in the upper part of the succession. The tidal facies occupies three intervals in the middle part of the succession. It is composed of laminated and thin-bedded sandstones, siltstones, and claystones. They are rippled and varicolored with abundant trace fossils (Cruziana, Harlania, ruzophycus). The presence of hummocky cross stratification indicates the earliest short-lived tempestite conditions during the Paleozoic erathem of Jordan. The first appearance of Graptolites in the Ordovician rocks of Jordan was recorded during this study in the tidal facies of the Umm Sahm Formation. The vertical arrangement of both fluvial and tidal facies indicates three successive short-lived transgressions and regressions. These marine incursions indicate the successive shoreline advances of the Tethys Ocean, which was located northward, and inundated the southern braid plain. The three short-lived transgressive events took place, and the Tethys marine margin was displaced southward, giving rise to deposition of tidal facies in an open coast tidal flat. Following the transgressive events, renewed progradation and strandline retreat took place, fed by large amounts of siliciclastics derived from the continent and transported by braided streams across the intertidal zone.     

Validation of TRMM 3B42 V6 for estimation of mean annual rainfall over ungauged area in semiarid climate

This research compares data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission 3B42 V6 with data obtained from 19 synoptic rain gauges during the period 1998–2010 over the semiarid climate of Khorasan Razavi, Iran. Validation was performed using three spatial extents, including 1 TRMM grid face from the synoptic station (1PTRM), 3 TRMM points surrounding the synoptic station (3PTRM) and 5 TRMM points surrounding the synoptic station (5PTRM), using ArcGIS 10.2 software. The perfect and poor r were obtained at stations S08 and S19, with values of 0.92 and 0.26, respectively. According to the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient, the TRMM satellite can predict the spatial variation of the mean annual rainfall by 0.23, 0.43 and 0.38 for 1PTRM, 3PTRM and 5PTRM, respectively, at 19 stations. The agreement significantly increases by 0.88, 0.83 and 0.80 for 1PTRM, 3PTRM and 5PTRM, respectively, when gauges S05, S07, S11 and S13 are excluded from the dataset, which may be associated with orographic or instrumental error at the stations.     

Modelling of Riparian-Imitated Constructed Wetland for Fish Habitat

This paper presents a hydrodynamic-based investigation of constructed wetland suitability for fish habitat. A constructed wetland adjacent to river is manoeuvred to imitate riparian fish habitat by means of computer modelling. Flow-velocity conditions, water depths and effects of macrophytes to resistance of flow in constructed wetland are modelled and steered towards creating a favourable ground for natural substrate spawning of native fish species. The model suggests combination of two zones, which are a macrophyte zone for typical functions of a wetland and an open water zone with gravel bed to support fish reproductive cycles.     

Sr–Nd isotopes and geochemistry of the infrastructural rocks in the Meatiq and Hafafit core complexes, Eastern Desert, Egypt: Evidence for involvement of pre-Neoproterozoic crust in the growth of Arabian–Nubian Shield

Abstract Meatiq and Hafafit core complexes are large swells in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, comprising two major tectono‐stratigraphic units or tiers. The lower (infrastructure) unit is composed of variably cataclased gneissose granites and high‐grade gneisses and schists. It is structurally overlain by Pan–African ophiolitic mélange nappes (the higher unit). The two units are separated by a low‐angle sole thrust, along which mylonites are developed. Major and trace element data indicate formation of the gneissose granites in both volcanic arc and within‐plate settings. Nevertheless, all analyzed gneissose granites and other infrastructural rocks, exhibit low initial ratios (Sr_i) (<0.7027), positive ε_Nd(t) (+4.9 to +10.3) and Neoproterozoic Nd model age (T_DM) (592–831 Ma for the gneissose granite samples). Although these values are compatible with other parts of the Arabian– Nubian Shield considered to be juvenile, the ε_Nd(t) values and several incompatible element ratios of the gneissose granites are too low to be derived from a mantle source without contribution from an older continental crust. Our geological, Sr–Nd isotopic and chemical data combined with the published zircon ages indicate the existence of a pre‐Neoproterozoic continent in the Eastern Desert that started to break up at ca 800 Ma. Rifting and subsequent events caused the formation of oceanic crust and emplacement within‐plate alkali basalts in the hinterland domains of the old continent. The emplacement of basaltic magma might have triggered melting of lower crust in the old continent and resulted in emplacement of the within‐plate granite masses between 700 Ma and 626 Ma. The granite masses and other rocks in the old continent have been subjected to deformation during the over‐thrusting of Pan–African nappes, probably because of the oblique convergence between East and West Gondwanaland. Rb–Sr isotopes of the gneissose granites in both Meatiq and Hafafit core complexes defines an isochron age of 619 ± 25 Ma with Sr_i of 0.7009 ± 0.0017 and mean squares of weighted deviates = 2.0. We interpret this age as the date of thrusting of the Pan–African nappes in the Eastern Desert. Continued oblique convergence between East and West Gondwanaland could have resulted in the formation northwest–southeast‐trending Meatiq and Hafafit anticlinoriums.     

Exploration of the extension of two lava tubes,faults and dikes using very low frequency-electromagnetic technique in NE Jordan

The very low frequency-electromagnetic (VLF-EM) technique was used to delineate two sub-parallel lava tubes, faults and dikes in Umm El-Quttein area, NE Jordan. The investigation of the lava tubes was conducted through 22 VLF-EM profiles across lava strike; the length of profiles ranged from 700 to 1700 m. The lava tubes outcrop at two sites: Azzam cave and Al-Howa tunnel, characterized by slightly weathered basalt, columnar joints and fissure zones; qualitative interpretation of Fraser and Karous-Hjelt maps differentiate those zones as linear, elongated and circular anomalous zones. The 2-D tipper inversion of VLF-EM data and resistivity imaging had the potential to screen out three anomalous zones of likely resistivity contrast: the lava tube body with resistivity over 2500 Θ·m, the fractured zones with resistivity less than 500 Θ·m, and the host vesicular basalt with resistivity of 1500 Θ·m. The strike of lava tubes varied from SW to NE direction with depth less than 20 m and width from 10 to 30 m.     

Flood susceptibility modelling using advanced ensemble machine learning models

Floods are one of nature's most destructive disasters because of the immense damage to land, buildings, and human fatalities.It is difficult to forecast the areas that are vulnerable to flash flooding due to the dynamic and complex nature of the flash floods.Therefore, earlier identification of flash flood susceptible sites can be performed using advanced machine learning models for managing flood disasters.In this study, we applied and assessed two new hybrid ensemble models, namely Dagging and Random Subspace(RS) coupled with Artificial Neural Network(ANN), Random Forest(RF), and Support Vector Machine(SVM) which are the other three state-of-the-art machine learning models for modelling flood susceptibility maps at the Teesta River basin, the northern region of Bangladesh.The application of these models includes twelve flood influencing factors with 413 current and former flooding points, which were transferred in a GIS environment.The information gain ratio, the multicollinearity diagnostics tests were employed to determine the association between the occurrences and flood influential factors.For the validation and the comparison of these models, for the ability to predict the statistical appraisal measures such as Freidman, Wilcoxon signed-rank, and t-paired tests and Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve(ROC) were employed.The value of the Area Under the Curve(AUC) of ROC was above 0.80 for all models.For flood susceptibility modelling, the Dagging model performs superior, followed by RF,the ANN, the SVM, and the RS, then the several benchmark models.The approach and solution-oriented outcomes outlined in this paper will assist state and local authorities as well as policy makers in reducing flood-related threats and will also assist in the implementation of effective mitigation strategies to mitigate future damage.     

The geochemistry of aliphatic and polar organic tracers in sediments from Lake Bera, Malaysia

The molecular distributions of homologous aliphatic lipid compounds (n-alkanes, n-alkanoic acids, n-alkanols, n-alkanals and n-alkan-2-ones) were investigated in sediments of Lake Bera, Malaysia as well as in plant waxes from the vicinity using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In addition, triterpenoids of the oleanane, ursane, lupane and friedelane series, and their diagenetic products were also identified. Using the aquatic proxy P_aq, it was found that the n-alkanes present in surface sediments S1, S5 and S6 correspond to an input from emergent macrophytes, whereas in sediments collected from open water (S2, S3 and S4) they correspond to input from submerged/floating macrophytes. The presence of n-alkan-2-ols, a commonly found homologous series in the sediments as well as in the plant wax, is novel here. In addition, the presence of 24-methylcycloart-22-enol and 24-ethylcycloart-22-enol in sediments as well as the plant wax of Pandanus helicopus, a dominant reed around the lake, also supports the input of plant biomarkers to the sediments. The occurrence of 5-membered ring triterpenoid derivatives as major diagenetic products of the triterpenoids identified (e.g. friedelan-2,3-dione) shows that the degradation of the organic matter in the sediments occurs mainly under oxic conditions. Also, the presence of ring-A degraded triterpenoids (dihydroputranjivic acid, 3-nor-2,4-seco-friedelane, 4α- and 4β-3-norfriedelanes, A-norfriedel-10-one, and A-norfriedel-8-en-10-one) and the aromatized triterpenoid hydrocarbons (mono- and triaromatic derivatives) as minor diagenetic products indicates photochemical and microorganism-mediated alteration reactions of natural products in the sediments. Additional novel polyfunctional friedelane derivatives, namely friedelane-2,3-dione, friedelane-1,3-diol-2-one and friedel-1(10)-ene-1,3-diol-2-one were identified for the first time in this study. These novel polyfunctional triterpenoids were inferred to derive from the oxidation of the triterpenoids from higher plants in this oxic tropical environment. For future reference purposes, the mass spectra of the identified polar triterpenoids are also presented here. This study provides important data on the biogeochemistry of organic matter in a tropical lake of SE Asia.