Delineating subsurface heterogeneity at a loop of River Steinlach using geophysical and hydrogeological methods

Stratigraphic heterogeneity is a key controlling factor for flow and transport in groundwater systems. In this case study, we have combined two- and three-dimensional images of electric resistivity with hydrogeological data to delineate such stratigraphic heterogeneity at a loop of River Steinlach close to Tübingen, Germany, where we estimated spatially varying aquifer parameters using established evaluation techniques. We developed a three-layer stratigraphic model consisting of heterogeneous sandy gravel overlain by a fine alluvium including top soil, and underlain by sandstone weathered at its top. The sandy gravel makes up the aquifer unit while we interpret the sandstone as aquitard. We classified the area into two stratigraphic segments based on resistivity data. The Southern segment consists of a thicker alluvium where the aquifer material contains more clay than in the Northern segment. Two different stratigraphic structures were also delineated at the Southern and Northern segments, respectively. These structures are visible in inversion results as low-resistivity features trending in the SE–NW in the Southern segment and NE–NW in the Northern segment. Both structures may be previous flow paths of River Steinlach, and the low permeability material overlying them may impair flow exchange in the area. We performed slug and pumping tests to estimate the hydraulic conductivity (K) of the aquifer. The K distributions show slight variation with higher values obtained at wells within the Northern segment and close to the river bank. A qualitative comparison of measured hydraulic conductivities with the resistivity distribution shows good agreement of the spatial patterns. The stratigraphic and hydraulic heterogeneities delineated in this work are important for experimental and modeling studies of flow, transport, and hyporheic exchange at the site.     

Integrated remote sensing and GIS for surface water development. Case study: Ras El Hekma area, northwestern coast of Egypt

The surface water development can help to address the growing demand for water resources and the effects of stormwater flooding on the local environment. The study area was chosen according to its special conditions where it represents one of the main headlands along the southern Mediterranean coast and receives amount of rainfall during the winter season. The main objective of this paper is to monitor and record data about the current surface water status as well as to have a systematic understanding of the water resources base in the study area, and this assessment will contribute in the exploitation of the surface water. The current research is integration between geomorphology, geology, remote sensing, and the applications of geographical information system. The total amount of annual rainfall and surface runoff are estimated (annual rainfall is 23.345 million m³ and surface runoff is 1.167 million m³). On the other hand, the surface runoff which has been resulted from one event (storm) is also estimated to be 483,000 m³/day. The present study introduce some recommendations; the cisterns should be established in the vicinities of the watersheds and on the downstream of the drainage basins to store water before draining to the sea, the dug should be in oolitic limestone to reduce drilling costs, the water reservoirs should be established to store large amount of surface water (from 2,000 to 3,000 m³). Dams are necessary to protect the agriculture activities from any flash hazard which is expected any time.     

A multi-proxy approach to assessing isolation basin stratigraphy from the Lofoten Islands, Norway

This study takes a comprehensive approach to characterizing the isolation sequence of Heimerdalsvatnet, a coastal lake in the Lofoten Islands, northern Norway. We use established methods and explore new techniques to assess changes in marine influence. Bathymetric and sub-bottom profiles were acquired to examine basin-wide sedimentation and a 5.8 m sediment core spanning the last 7800 cal yr BP was analyzed. We measured magnetic susceptibility, bulk organic matter properties, molecular biomarkers, diatom assemblages, and elemental profiles acquired by scanning X-ray fluorescence. These characteristics of the sediment reflect detailed changes in salinity and water column conditions as the lake was progressively isolated. Three distinct litho/chemo-stratigraphic units represent a restricted marine phase (7800-6500 cal yr BP), a transitional phase characterized by intermittent marine influence (6500-4900 cal yr BP), and complete isolation and freshwater sedimentation (4900 cal yr BP to present). Although there are uncertainties in the estimate of the threshold elevation of the lake, the timing of these phases generally corresponds with previous interpretations of the local relative sea-level history. This record captures sea-level regression following the Tapes transgression and supports the interpretation of a subsequent sea-level stillstand, dated in Heimerdalsvatnet from 6500 to 4900 cal yr BP.     

Wild and farmed salmon in Norway—A review

The Salmon industry in Norway includes three sectors, namely sea and river fishing for wild salmon, and salmon farming, or aquaculture. The three sectors provide different social, economic and cultural benefits to society, but also face many problems and challenges. They have different interests, practices, traditions and audiences, and are also administered by different authorities and regulated under varying management regimes and legislations. On the one hand, they complement each other in terms of product supply, employment creation and income; on the other hand, they face conflicts over management objectives and strategies. This paper provides an overview of the salmon sectors associated with their status, challenges and management regimes. It further analyzes their interests and conflicts over economic contribution and management. Finally, some potential solutions are suggested in an attempt to solve these conflicts.     

Nachweis von Vulkanismus in Sedimenten der Unter- und Oberkreide in Norddeutschland

Zusammenfassung In Kreidesedimenten Norddeutschlands wird vom Apt an eine hohe Montmorillonitführung beobachtet. Während z. B. in der Fraktion < 0,63 des Barreme nur 5% Montmorillonit nachgewiesen wurden, steigt der Montmorillonitgehalt von 20% im Apt über 50% im Alb auf 70% im Santon an. Dieser Montmorillonit ist im wesentlichen ein Umwandlungsprodukt basischer, vulkanischer Tuffe, wie Reste vulkanischen Glases mit einer Lichtbrechung bis zu 1,6 beweisen. Dabei scheint die Tuffzufuhr im wesentlichen untermeerisch erfolgt zu sein. Der Vulkanismus selber tritt zum ersten Mal in Verbindung mit tektonischer Tätigkeit in der oberen Unterkreide auf. Er ist also eng mit der geologischen und tektonischen Entwicklung dieses Raumes verbunden.Bei chemischen Untersuchungen zeigte sich in Übereinstimmung mit dem tonmineralogischen Wechsel eine Veränderung in der Konzentration einiger Elemente. So nimmt z B. der Al₂O₃- und der K₂O-Gehalt ab, der MgO- und Fe₂O₃-Gehalt dagegen zu. Zum Beispiel beträgt die Fe₂O₃-Konzentration im Barreme 5,8%, im Alb aber 8,7%. Die Anreicherung des Eisens im Alb, möglicherweise eine Folge der vulkanischen Tätigkeit, könnte die Bildung von zahlreichen Fe-Geoden in diesen Sedimenten gefördert haben. Aus diesen Geoden sind dann während der senonen Transgression die Eisenerze der Oberkreide bei Peine entstanden.

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High montmorillonite contents have been observed at the beginning of the Aptian age (lower cretaceous) in cretaceous sediments from Northern Germany. In the < 0.63 fraction the montmorillonite content is 5% in the Barremian, which is under the Aptian, and increases from 20% in the Aptian to over 50% in the Albian to 70% in the Santonian (upper cretaceous). These montmorillonite rich sediments contain fragments of volcanic glass with a refractive index of up to 1.6, indicating that they were partly derived from alteration of intermediate to basic volcanic material. The volcanism is thought to be of submarine origin and the first volcanic activity seems to be contemporaneous with the beginning of the tectonic deformation of lower cretaceous sediments.In addition to the marked changes in clay mineralogy, the Al₂O₃ and K₂O contents decrease whereas the MgO and Fe₂O₃ contents increase. For example the Barremian has 5.8% Fe₂O₃ whereas the Albian has 8.7% Fe₂O₃. This high Fe concentration, perhaps from volcanic activity, may have influenced the formation of the large number of Fe-geodes in the Albian. These geodes were eroded and redeposited during the Senonian transgression and formed the Fe ore deposit of the upper cretaceous near the town of Peine.

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Résumé Les sédiments crétaciques de l'Allemagne septentrionale ont un contenu élevé en montmorillonite à partir de l'Aptien. Tandis que dans le Barrémien, par exemple, la fraction inférieure à 0,63 ne continent que 5% de montmorillonite, sa teneure monte de 20% dans l'Aptien à plus de 50% dans l'Albien, et jusqu'à 70% dans le Santonien. Cette montmorillonite est essentiellement un produit de la transformation de tufs volcaniques basiques, ainsi que le montrent des résidus de verre volcaniques d'indice de réfraction allant jusque 1,6. Il semble donc que l'apport tuffique se soit produit essentiellement en milieu marin. Le volcanisme lui-même s'est produit pour la première fois en relation avec une activité tectonique à la fin du Crétacique inférieur. Il est donc ainsi en étroite relation avec le développement géologique et tectonique de cette région. - Les recherches chimiques montrent la concordance entre le changement dans la minéralogie argileuse et la modification dans la concentration de quelques éléments. C'est ainsi que par ex. la diminution de la teneur en Al₂O₃ s'accompagne de l'augmentation de la teneur en MgO et Fe₂O₃. Sie par ex., la concentration en Fe₂O₃ dans le Barrémien est de 5,8%, elle est dans l'Albien de 8,7%. L'enrichissement du fer dans l'Albien, conséquence possible de l'activité volcanique, pourrait avoir conduit à la formation de nombreuses géodes à base de fer dans ces sédiments. C'est à partir de ces géodes que se seraient formés au cours de la transgression sénonienne les minerais de fer du Crétacique supérieur près de Peine.

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. .: < 0,63 5 % , 20 % , 50 % 70 % . . . , 1,6. , . . . . .: l₂₃ K₂ , MgO Fe₂O₃ . .: Fe₂O₃ 5,8»/ 8,7 %. , , , , . .

     

Geometric modelling and object-oriented software concepts applied to a heterogeneous fractured network from the Grimsel rock laboratory

Discrete fracture network simulations are computationally intensive and usually time-consuming to construct and configure. This paper presents a case study with techniques for building a 3D finite element model of an inhomogeneous fracture network for modelling flow and tracer transport, combining deterministic and stochastic information on fracture aperture distributions. The complex intersected fractures represent a challenge for geometrical model design, mesh quality requirements and property allocations. For the integrated and holistic modelling approach, including the application of numerical and analytical simulation techniques, new object-oriented concepts in software engineering are implemented to ensure a resourceful and practicable software environment.     

Comparison of Phytoscreening and Direct‐Push‐Based Site Investigation at a Rural Megasite Contaminated with Chlorinated Ethenes

The reliable characterization of subsurface contamination of spatially extended contaminated sites is a challenging task, especially with an unknown history of land use. Conventional technologies often fail due to temporal and financial constraints and thus hinder the redevelopment of abandoned areas in particular. Here we compare two site screening techniques that can be applied quickly at relatively low cost, namely Direct Push (DP)‐based groundwater sampling and tree core sampling. The effectiveness of both methods is compared for a rural megasite contaminated with chlorinated hydrocarbons. Unexpected pollution hot spots could be identified using both of these methods, while tree coring even enabled the delineation of the contaminant plume flowing into an adjacent wetland inaccessible for DP units. Both methods showed a good agreement in revealing the spatial pattern of the contamination. The correlation between groundwater concentrations and equivalent concentrations in wood was linear and highly significant for trichloroethene. Correlation was less obvious for its metabolite cis‐dichloroethene, but still significant. As outcome of our study we recommend tree coring and for initial screening in combination with a DP sampling to retrieve quantitative data on groundwater pollutants in order to assess the contamination situation of a non‐ or only partly investigated site. The subsequent placement of monitoring wells for long‐term monitoring of contamination levels is recommended. A combination of methods would achieve more relevant information at comparable or possibly even lower efforts in comparison to a conventional site investigation.     

Use of a parsimonious rainfall–run‐off model for predicting hydrological response in ungauged basins

A new parameter parsimonious rainfall–run‐off model, the Distance Distribution Dynamics (DDD) model, is used to simulate hydrological time series at ungauged sites in the Lygne basin in Norway. The model parameters were estimated as functions of catchment characteristics determined by geographical information system. The multiple regression equations relating catchment characteristics and model parameters were trained from 84 calibrated catchments located all over Norway, and all model parameters showed significant correlations with catchment characteristics. The significant correlation coefficients (with p‐value < 0.05) ranged from 0.22 to 0.55. The suitability of DDD for predictions in ungauged basins was tested for 17 catchments not used to estimate the multiple regression equations. For ten of the 17 catchments, deviations in Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) criteria between the calibrated and regionalised model were less than 0.1, and for two calibrated catchments within the Lygne basin, the deviations were less than 0.08. The median NSE for the regionalized DDD for the 17 catchments for two time series was 0.66 and 0.72. Deviations in NSE between calibrated and regionalised models are well explained by the deviations between calibrated and regressed parameters describing spatial snow distribution and snowmelt respectively. The quality of the simulated run‐off series for the ungauged sites in the Lygne basin was assessed by comparing flow indices describing high, medium and low flow estimated from observed run‐off at the 17 catchments and for the simulated run‐off series. The indices estimated for the simulated series were generally well within the ranges defined by the 17 observed series. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Intercalibration of Mg Isotope Delta Scales and Realisation of SI Traceability for Mg Isotope Amount Ratios and Isotope Delta Values

The continuous improvement of analytical procedures using multi‐collector technologies in ICP‐mass spectrometry has led to an increased demand for isotope standards with improved homogeneity and reduced measurement uncertainty. For magnesium, this has led to a variety of available standards with different quality levels ranging from artefact standards to isotope reference materials certified for absolute isotope ratios. This required an intercalibration of all standards and reference materials, which we present in this interlaboratory comparison study. The materials Cambridge1, DSM3, ERM‐AE143, ERM‐AE144, ERM‐AE145, IRMM‐009 and NIST SRM 980 were cross‐calibrated with expanded measurement uncertainties (95% confidence level) of less than 0.030‰ for the δ^25/24Mg values and less than 0.037‰ for the δ^26/24Mg values. Thus, comparability of all magnesium isotope delta (δ) measurements based on these standards and reference materials is established. Further, ERM‐AE143 anchors all magnesium δ‐scales to absolute isotope ratios and therefore establishes SI traceability, here traceability to the SI base unit mole. This applies especially to the DSM3 scale, which is proposed to be maintained. With ERM‐AE144 and ERM‐AE145, which are product and educt of a sublimation–condensation process, for the first time a set of isotope reference materials is available with a published value for the apparent triple isotope fractionation exponent θ_app, the fractionation relationship ln α(^25/24Mg)/ln α(^26/24Mg).     

Broad-band calibration of marine seismic sources used by R/V Polarstern for academic research in polar regions

Air guns and air-gun arrays of different volumes are used for scientific seismic surveys with R/V Polarstern in polar regions. To assess the potential risk of these research activities on marine mammal populations, knowledge of the sound pressure field of the seismic sources is essential. Therefore, a broad-band (0–80 kHz) calibration study was conducted at the Heggernes Acoustic Range, Norway. A GI (2.4 l), a G (8.5 l) and a Bolt gun (32.8 l) were deployed as single sources, 3 GI (7.4 l), 3 G (25.6 l) and 8 VLF™ Prakla-Seismos air guns (24.0 l) as arrays. Each configuration was fired along a line of 3–4 km length running between two hydrophone chains with receivers in 35, 100, 198 and 263 m depth. Peak-to-peak, zero-to-peak, rms and sound exposure levels (SEL) were analysed as functions of range. They show the typical dipole-like directivity of marine seismic sources with amplitude cancellation close to the sea surface, higher amplitudes in greater depths, and sound pressure levels which continuously decrease with range. Levels recorded during the approach are lower than during the departure indicating a shadowing effect of Polarsterns's hull. Backcalculated zero-to-peak source levels range from 224–240 dB re 1 μPa @ 1 m. Spectral source levels are highest below 100 Hz and amount to 182–194 dB re 1 μPa Hz^–1. They drop off continuously with range and frequency. At 1 kHz they are ∼30 dB, at 80 kHz ∼60 dB lower than the peak level. Above 1 kHz amplitude spectra are dominated by Polarstern's self-noise. From the rms and sound exposure levels of the deepest hydrophone radii for different thresholds are derived. For a 180 dB rms-level threshold radii maximally vary between 200 and 600 m, for a 186 dB SEL threshold between 50 and 300 m.