A new estimate of global methane flux from onshore and shallow submarine mud volcanoes to the atmosphere

A new estimate of global methane emission into the atmosphere from mud volcanoes (MVs) on land and shallow seafloor is presented. The estimate, considered a lower limit, is based on 1) new direct measurements of flux, including both venting of methane and diffuse microseepage around craters and vents, and 2) a classification of MV sizes in terms of area (km²) based on a compilation of data from 120 MVs. The methane flux to the atmosphere is conservatively estimated between 6 and 9 Mt y^–1. This emission from MVs is 3–6% of the natural methane sources and is comparable with ocean and hydrate sources, officially considered in the atmospheric methane budget. The total geologic source, including MVs, seepage from seafloor, microseepage in hydrocarbon-prone areas and geothermal sources, would amount to 35–45 Mt y^–1. The authors believe it is time to add this parameter in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change official tables of atmospheric methane sources.GEM     

A field evaluation of enhanced reductive dechlorination of chlorinated solvents in groundwater,New York Metropolitan Area

An initial assessment of an old manufacturing site with groundwater impacted by trichloroethene (TCE) contamination in the metropolitan New York area showed that the TCE was being removed naturally by reductive dechlorination. However, complete dechlorination was not expected at the site because the process was progressing too slowly under transitional to aerobic conditions at a degradation constant of –0.0013 and a TCE half life of 533 days. A pilot test was conducted at the site in which a carbohydrate substrate (molasses) was injected into the groundwater to create an In-Situ Reactive Zone (IRZ). Post-pilot test groundwater sampling and analysis indicated that an IRZ was created successfully as the total organic carbon (TOC) content and conductivity increased significantly while oxidation-reduction (REDOX) potential and dissolved oxygen (DO) decreased. The created IRZ caused enhanced reductive dechlorination of TCE at the site, found to proceed with a degradation constant of –0.0158 and a TCE half life of 44 days.     

Trace elements in medium-temperature (40–80 °C) thermal waters from the Mura basin (North-Eastern Slovenia)

Medium-temperature thermal waters in the Mura basin occur in hydrogeological systems different in age, burial depth, temperature, porosity and permeability, and the presence of free carbon dioxide which penetrates through the fractures from pre-Tertiary basement. The waters commonly belong to sodium-bicarbonate hydrogeochemical facies, but may have significantly different amounts of total dissolved solids, including trace elements. Thermal waters occurring in low-permeable, well-compacted and moderately fractured Tertiary sediments older than Upper Pliocene are the richest in trace elements, although their abundance may be very variable from one aquifer to another. The ratios of major alkaline and alkaline earth elements (Na, K, Ca) and trace elements (Li, Rb, Cs, Ba, Sr) commonly show relative enrichment in highly mineralised waters with respect to the waters with lower mineralisation. Rare earth elements (REEs) and Y show only minor fractionation in the highly mineralised waters, whereas in the waters with lower mineralisation strong fractionation of heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) over light rare earth elements (LREEs) occurs, along with a pronounced positive europium anomaly. Positive Th/U ratios are commonly observed, although both actinide elements occur in the range of some hundredths of ppb to some ppb. Trace elements were particularly useful in the study of well cycling in two hydraulically interconnected geothermal wells in the town of Murska Sobota, which produce a mixture of low- and high-mineralised waters.     

A comparison of the GIS based landslide susceptibility assessment methods: multivariate versus bivariate

The purpose of this study is to evaluate and to compare the results of multivariate (logical regression) and bivariate (landslide susceptibility) methods in Geographical Information System (GIS) based landslide susceptibility assessment procedures. In order to achieve this goal the Asarsuyu catchment in NW Turkey was selected as a test zone because of its well-known landslide occurrences interfering with the E-5 highway mountain pass.Two methods were applied to the test zone and two separate susceptibility maps were produced. Following this a two-fold comparison scheme was implemented. Both methods were compared by the Seed Cell Area Indexes (SCAI) and by the spatial locations of the resultant susceptibility pixels.It was found that both of the methods converge in 80% of the area; however, the weighting algorithm in the bivariate technique (landslide susceptibility method) had some severe deficiencies, as the resultant hazard classes in overweighed areas did not converge with the factual landslide inventory map. The result of the multivariate technique (logical regression) was more sensitive to the different local features of the test zone and it resulted in more accurate and homogeneous susceptibility maps.     

Seasonal variations and mechanisms of groundwater nitrate pollution in the Gaza Strip

Nitrate represents one of the major pollutants of groundwater in the Gaza Strip. Several cases of blue babies disease were reported in the last couple of years. The present study is an investigation of the seasonal variations in nitrate concentration to better understand the mechanisms and parameters controlling this perilous pollutant. Nitrate was analysed in 100 wells (47 agricultural and 53 domestic) in five governorates. The results showed that 90% of the tested wells have nitrate far beyond the allowed values set by the World Health Organization (WHO). The average concentration of nitrate in domestic wells is 128 mg/L in June-July and 118 mg/L in Jan-Feb, and for the agricultural wells, the average is 100 mg/L in June-July, and 96 mg/L for Jan-Feb. The results suggest that the seasonal differences in nitrate concentrations of the domestic wells are slightly more observable than those of the agricultural wells. The environmental factors that control nitrate in groundwater are: a partially-confined aquifer, lack of a sewage system, population density, the presence of refugee camps, the presence of fertilizers and the annual rain. The variations in nitrate concentration of the domestic wells are not of considerable values. It is suggested that concrete policies in pollution control and/or prevention measures could be formulated upon better understanding of the environmental factors.     

Therapeutic waters in the Polish geological and mining law

The Polish legislation gives groundwaters declared as curative ones a high rank of basic minerals or, in well-defined cases, of common minerals. Both kinds of minerals are subject of mining law regulations. This explains the use of the word deposit which, in the case of groundwaters, often does not reflect reality.     

Granulometric and chemical composition of the Sava River sediments upstream and downstream of the Krsko nuclear power plant

Total concentrations of 13 elements (K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Pb) in the size-fractionated Sava River sediments upstream and downstream of the Krsko nuclear power plant together with metal speciation within bulk sediment have been investigated. Trace metals generally increase with decreasing particle size, however, because of entrapment of organic matter in the 0.63–1 mm fraction, concentrations in the coarser sediment fraction are higher than expected. Exchangeable Pb, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cr and Fe are generally found to represent a negligible fraction of the total metal concentration of the bulk sediment. Seasonal variations of the Pb, Zn and Cu concentrations in the <0.5 mm fraction reflect decreased values during the spring period. Heavy metal concentrations in the 2003 waste water discharges from the Krsko nuclear power plant released into the Sava River were much lower than their maximum allowed values. Combined rubidium and organic matter normalization of the Zn, Pb and Cu concentrations, which was applied on the minus 0.063 mm fraction, indicated three potential sources of contaminants.     

Barium anomaly in the Cambrian-Vendian aquifer system in North Estonia

A barium anomaly with a maximum Ba²⁺ concentration of 6.37 mg/l was distinguished in a Cambrian-Vendian (Cm-V) aquifer system that is widely used as a drinking water source in the towns Kunda, Rakvere and Kohtla-Järve of North-Estonia. The modelling results show that at low sulphate concentrations (below 3 mg/l) Ba²⁺ contents can exceed the limit values for drinking water (such as 2 mg/l set by US EPA). Bicarbonate ions in their common concentration range in groundwater cannot limit Ba²⁺ at its content below 10 mg/l. The probable natural sources of the anomaly are the crystalline basement and its weathering zone. Groundwater in the clayey weathering core is hydraulically connected with the overlying Cm-V aquifer system, thus the upconing of deeper-seated groundwater, caused by intensive exploitation of wells, is possible.     

Effects of iron black varnish on petrophysical properties of building sandstone

In zones washed by rain (façades, pinnacles, pilasters), fine siliceous sandstones are covered by a black varnish, which gives a dirty appearance to monuments. In composition, structure and areas covered by it, it differs from the usual black gypsum crust. Experiments carried out on blocks covered by black varnish show the modifications due to their growth. Results show that despite their low thickness and the coherence of the stone below, the accumulation of hydrophobic matters and the wetting-drying cycles modify the transfer properties of sandstones several centimeters below the surface. Thus, although sandstones seem to be protected by the black varnish, in the long run, a flake detachment process, in the areas covered by it, affects them. Therefore, damage to sandstones by black varnish can be explained by the fact that a wetting and drying cycle modifies the pore network.     

Composition and assemblage characteristics of magnetic minerals in layer S<Subscript>5-1</Subscript> of Xifeng and Duanjiapo sections

Relatively strongly magnetic fine components (< 30μm, XS-4J and DS-4J) which are most environmentally sensitive were separated from layer S_5-1 in the Xifeng and Duanjiapo loess sections and analyzed by MPV-3 for their morphometric characteristics and reflectance, SEM-ESD for their element contents and XRD for their mineral phases, respectively. The results showed that minerals in both samples are dominated by detrial Fe-Ti oxides of aeolian origin. In sample XS-4J the reflectance and iron contents of magnetic minerals are usually high. In addition to magnetite (Fe₃O₄), maghemite (γFe₂O₃) and hematite (Fe₂O₃), some Fe-high oxide (72.25 wt%–86.67 wt%), ilmenite (FeTiO₃), and magnetite-ulvöspinel [Fe(FeCr)O₄, Fe (FeNi)O₄] were also detected. In sample DS-4J obvious negative linear correlations were found between Ti and Fe, and the contents of Mn, Si, Al and Ca are usually high and the minerals are dominated by magnetite (maghemite), goethite (FeOOH) and limonite (containing Si and OH). In addition, the signs of corrosion of magnetic minerals and newly crystallized magnetite (maghemite) were recognized. Differences in the composition and assemblage characteristics of magnetite minerals between XS and DS reflect significant differences in source rocks and preserving conditions.