Discovery of the Late Triassic (Middle Carnian–Rhaetian) radiolarians in the volcano-sedimentary sequences of the Kocali Complex,SE Turkey: Correlation with the other Tauride units

The Kocali Complex in SE Turkey includes pelagic sediments (pelagic limestones, cherts, etc.), basic volcanic rocks of oceanic crust origin together with platform-derived sediments. Its depositional age was previously assigned as Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous. In order to study the radiolarian contents of volcano-sedimentary sequences in this complex, six stratigraphic sections have been measured mainly at the NE and NW Adiyaman city.Radiolarian faunas from these stratigraphic sections reveal that the age of these sequences ranges from middle Carnian to Rhaetian. Based on these data, the depositional age of the complex is older than the previously assigned. Lithological characteristics (widespread Triassic basic volcanic rocks associated with pelagic sediments) and radiolarian contents of these sequences have close similarities with the sequences of the Alakircay Nappe of the Antalya Nappes in western and central Taurides.Based on taxonomic studies, 99 taxa have been determined of which one genus (Adiyamanium) and four species (Monocapnuchosphaera kocaliensis, Paronaella speciosa, Ferresium okuyucui and Adiyamanium crassum) are described as new.     

An Assessment on Metal Sources by Multivariate Analysis and Speciation of Metals in Soil Samples Using the BCR Sequential Extraction Procedure

The concentrations of Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb metals in soil samples (N = 21) were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The modified Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) sequential extraction procedure (three‐step) was used in order to evaluate mobility, availability, and persistence of heavy metals in soil samples taken from an agricultural area in Erciyes University Campus. The operationally defined fractions isolated using the BCR procedure were: acid extractable, reducible, and oxidizable. The mobility sequence based on the sum of the BCR sequential extraction stages was: Mn (70.2%) > Pb (62.9%) > Ni (26.7%) > Cr (15.4%) > Zn (14.4%) > Cu (12.9%) > Fe (1.24%). Multivariate statistical analysis was used to define the possible origin of heavy metals in soils. Correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and cluster analysis (CA) were applied to the data matrix to evaluate the analytical results and to identify the possible pollution sources of heavy metals. PCA results revealed that the sampling area was mainly influenced from three sources, namely natural, airborne emissions from domestic heating and traffic.     

Inhomogeneous cylindrically-symmetric models in string cosmology

In this paper, the Einstein field equations have been solved for inhomogeneous cylindrically symmetric space times with string source. Certain physical and geometrical properties of the models have been examined.     

Microbial transport in soils and groundwater: A numerical model

To serve as a tool in the long term evaluation of the risk of accumulation of microbial contaminants (bacteria and viruses) entering soil and groundwater, a mathematical model is developed to predict the spatial and temporal distribution of pollutant concentration. The governing equation for bacterial transport is coupled with a transport equation for the bacterial nutrient present in the seeping wastewater. The deposition and declogging mechanisms are incorporated into the model as a rate process for bacteria and as an equilibrium partitioning for viruses. While the decay is assumed to be a first order reaction and the growth of bacteria is assumed to follow the Monod equation, the model equations exhibit nonlinearity and coupling. A simplified set of equations is solved analytically to test the numerical results. Coupled numerical solutions in one and two dimensions are obtained by the Galerkin method at spatial and temporal locations of interest. Cases studied included a soil column and a horizontal two-dimensional field coupled with the one dimensional solution. For these examples, the bacteria are removed almost totally within the top 7 cm of soil with minimal risk of clogging.     

Shear wave splitting in the Isparta angle,southwestern Turkey: Anisotropic complexity in the mantle

This study presents shear wave splitting analysis results observed at ISP (Isparta) broadband station in the Isparta Angle, southwestern Turkey. We selected 21 good quality seismic events out of nearly 357 earthquakes and calculated splitting parameters (polarization direction of fast wave, ϕ and delay time between fast and slow waves, δt) from mainly SKS and a few SKKS phases of the selected 21 seismic events. Then, we compared calculated splitting parameters at ISP station (56° ≤ ϕ ≤ 205°; 0.37 s ≤ δt ≤ 4 s) with those previously calculated at ANTO (Ankara) and ISK (İstanbul) stations (27° ≤ ϕ ≤ 59°; 0.6 s ≤ δt ≤ 2.4 s and 26° ≤ ϕ ≤ 54°; 0.6 s ≤ δt ≤ 1.5 s) which are located at 230 and 379 km away from ISP station in central and northwestern Turkey, respectively. The backazimuthal variations of the splitting parameters at ISP station indicate a different and complex mantle polarization anisotropy for the Isparta Angle in southwestern Turkey compared to those obtained for Ankara and İstanbul stations.     

Landscape planning and management strategies for the Zir Valley,near Ankara,Turkey

This paper proposes a landscape planning and management method for river basins within the context of the European Landscape Convention (ELC) and European Water Framework Directive (WFD). This method has been applied to the Zir Valley in Ankara, Turkey. Landscape planning is identified by the ELC (European Treaty Series No. 176, 2000) as an important, forward-looking action to enhance, restore or create landscapes. The ELC also states that landscape management should promote sustainable development to ensure the non-degradation of landscapes and to help harmonize inevitable changes. The WFD (Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, 2000) is a set of guidelines for managing large bodies of water. Its principle directive is to identify water bodies and the adjacent land areas that influence, and are influenced by, those water bodies. These are called River Basin Districts, and act as essential physiographic landscape units. While several regulations related to environmental planning, and used on a national as well as European basis, tend to utilize the same tools in practice, there are dissimilarities in how they are specifically applied and little effort is being made to promote a cooperative approach. In this paper, a National Approach for River Basin Management is proposed. This approach, which includes a landscape planning and management method based on landscape form and function, was developed to address the common purposes of the ELC and WFD.