Hydrodynamics in the Gulf of Aigues-Mortes,NW Mediterranean Sea: In situ and modelling data

The Gulf of Aigues-Mortes (NW Mediterranean Sea) is a midshelf zone whose scale is an intermediate between the nearshore scale (0–10 m depth) and the coastal scale (including the whole continental shelf). Its hydrodynamics is investigated for the first time. ADCP, CTD and thermosalinograph data were collected during three short cruises (HYGAM; March 6–7, 20–21, April 5–6, 2005). They were scheduled approximately every 15 days to sample the gulf circulation under different weather conditions. Moreover, the cruise data were used to validate the Symphonie model, a 3D primitive equations circulation model. The circulation features displayed by in situ data were well reproduced by Symphonie. A downscaling modelling approach was implemented, the largest scale being obtained by the replay of the MFSTEP regional model of the North-Western Mediterranean Sea.     

Obtaining natural oscillatory modes of bays and harbors via Empirical Orthogonal Function analysis of tsunami wave fields

To a tsunami wave, bays and harbors represent oscillatory systems, whose resonance (normal) modes determine the response to tsunami and consequently the potential hazard. The direct way to obtain the resonance modes of a water reservoir is by solving the boundary problem for the eigenfunctions of the linearized shallow-water wave equation. The principal difficulty of posing such a problem for a basin coupled to an ocean is specifying the boundary between the two. The technique developed in this work allows the normal modes of a semi-enclosed water body to be obtained without a-priori restricting the resonator area. The technique utilizes complex Empirical Orthogonal Function analysis of modeled tsunami wave fields. On the examples of Poverty Bay in New Zealand and Monterey Bay in California (United States), we demonstrate that the normal modes can be identified and isolated using the EOFs of a data set comprised of the concatenated time-series collected from different tsunami scenarios in a basin. The analysis of the modeled tsunami wave fields for the normal modes can also answer the question of how likely and under which conditions the different modes are exited, due to feasible natural events.     

Effects of hillslope dynamics and network geometry on the scaling properties of the hydrologic response

This paper investigates the specific contributions of river network geomorphology, hillslope flow dynamics and channel routing to the scaling behavior of the hydrologic response as function of drainage area. Scaling relationships emerged from the observations of geomorphological and hydrological data and were reproduced in previous works through mathematical models, for both idealized self-similar networks and natural basins. Recent literature highlighted that scale invariance of hydrological quantities depends not only on the metrics of the drainage catchment but also on effective flow routing. In this study we employ a geomorphological width function scheme to test the simple scaling hypothesis adopting more realistic dynamic conditions than in previous approaches, specifically taking into account the role of hillslopes. The analysis is based on the derivation of the characteristic distributions of path lengths and travel times, inferred from DEM processing and measurements of rainfall and runoff data. The study area is located in the Tiber River region (central Italy).Results indicate that, while scaling properties clearly emerge when the hydrologic response is defined on the basis of the sole geomorphology, scale invariance is broken when less idealized flow dynamics are taken into account. Lack of scaling appears in particular as a consequence of the catchment to catchment variability of hillslope velocities.     

A comparison of continuous mass‐lumped finite elements with finite differences for 3‐D wave propagation

The finite‐difference method on rectangular meshes is widely used for time‐domain modelling of the wave equation. It is relatively easy to implement high‐order spatial discretization schemes and parallelization. Also, the method is computationally efficient. However, the use of finite elements on tetrahedral unstructured meshes is more accurate in complex geometries near sharp interfaces. We compared the standard eighth‐order finite‐difference method to fourth‐order continuous mass‐lumped finite elements in terms of accuracy and computational cost. The results show that, for simple models like a cube with constant density and velocity, the finite‐difference method outperforms the finite‐element method by at least an order of magnitude. Outside the application area of rectangular meshes, i.e., for a model with interior complexity and topography well described by tetrahedra, however, finite‐element methods are about two orders of magnitude faster than finite‐difference methods, for a given accuracy.     

Raman study of MgCO3–FeCO3 carbonate solid solution at high pressures up to 55 GPa

Magnesite, siderite and ferromagnesites Mg_1?x Fe _x CO₃ (x = 0.05, 0.09, 0.2, 0.4) were characterized using in situ Raman spectroscopy at high pressures up to 55 GPa. For the Mg–Fe-carbonates, the Raman peak positions of six modes (T, L, ν₄, ν₁, ν₃ and 2ν₂) in the dependence of iron content in the carbonates at ambient conditions are presented. High-pressure Raman spectroscopy shows that siderite undergoes a spin transition at ~40 GPa. The examination of the solid solutions with compositions Mg_0.6Fe_0.4CO₃, Mg_0.8Fe_0.2CO₃, Mg_0.91Fe_0.09CO₃ and Mg_0.95Fe_0.05CO₃ indicates that with increase in the amount of the Fe spin transition pressure increases up to ~45 GPa.     

Bounds on the complex conductivity of geophysical mixtures

Following previous work on bounds for complex dielectrics, bounds on the complex conductivity of a mixture of two isotropic components can be developed which are independent of any special assumption concerning the geometry of the mixture. If certain broad restrictions are assumed, such as isotropy of the mixture, then the bounds can be made more restrictive. These bounds reveal the range of the induced polarization response which can be caused by a mixture of two materials of known complex conductivity. The bounds can also be generalized for spectral responses. The bounds are conservative lithologically in the sense that many of the special models corresponding to boundary responses have lithological counterparts. The chief use for the given bounds is to gain insight into the nature of the induced polarization response. It is also possible to use the bounds to estimate the volume fractions of the components. We illustrate how this is done for the case of a general anisotropic medium.     

Advanced sensitivity calibration of the Los Angeles strong motion array

Results are presented of recent sensitivity calibration of 76 accelerographs (SMA-1) of the Los Angeles Strong Motion Array. These have pendulum-like transducers and optical recording system. One characteristic of their design is off-axis sensitivity, which is magnified by transducer misalignment. A new calibration procedure was applied, which considers off-axis sensitivity and measures the angles of misalignment (φ and ψ), as well as the incident angle of the light beam onto the film (θ₀). These are required (1) for accurate estimation of sensitivity, and (2) for proper instrument correction of recorded accelerograms which considers also cross-axis sensitivity and misalignment. These effects are important near large acceleration peaks (approaching and exceeding 1g), e.g. like the ones recorded near the source of the 1994 Northridge earthquake (M_L=6·4). This earthquake was recorded by 65 stations of the Los Angeles Strong Motion Array, at epicentral distances from 2 to 85 km. Histograms showing distribution of the misalignment angles, light beam incidence angle θ₀ (for unloaded position) and the transducer sensitivities are presented. These indicate that the misalignment angles are typically 1–1·5°, but may also be 3–4°. Angle θ₀ (usually neglected), is mostly between ±8°, but may reach ±12°. Assuming θ₀=0 leads to systematically smaller values of the measured sensitivity (e.g. by ∼3% for θ₀=8° and ∼4% for θ₀=12°). Comparison of the newly measured sensitivities with those measured prior to installation (in 1979/1980), s^old, shows that, in general, the new values are systematically smaller. The difference is typically within 5 per cent, but in some cases is as large as 10 per cent. Other principal sources of the observed differences and their mechanisms are discussed. Those include long-term changes in the transducers (e.g. change of stiffness, reflected in changes of the natural frequency) and differences in the calibration procedure (e.g. errors associated with manual reading film records with tilt test data, and with transducer and instrument housing misalignment). The presented results may be considered typical of similar strong motion arrays worldwide. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Arsenic Remediation Field Study Using a Sulfate Reduction and Zero‐Valent Iron PRB

Toxic and carcinogenic effects of arsenic in drinking water continue to impact people throughout the world and arsenic remains common in groundwater at cleanup sites and in areas with natural sources. Advances in groundwater remediation are needed to attain the low concentrations that are protective of human health and the environment. In this article, we present the successful use of a permeable reactive barrier (PRB) utilizing sulfate reduction coupled with zero‐valent iron (ZVI) to remediate the leading edge of a dissolved arsenic plume in a wetland area near Tacoma, Washington. A commercially available product (EHC‐M®, Adventus Americas Inc., Freeport, Illinois) that contains ZVI, organic carbon substrate, and sulfate was injected into a reducing, low‐seepage‐velocity aquifer elevated in dissolved arsenic and iron from a nearby, slag‐containing landfill. Removal effectiveness was strongly correlated with sulfate concentration, and was coincident with temporary redox potential (Eh) reductions, consistent with arsenic removal by iron sulfide precipitation. The PRB demonstrates that induced sulfate reduction and ZVI are capable of attaining a regulatory limit of 5 µg/L total arsenic, capturing of 97% of the arsenic entering the PRB, and sustaining decreased arsenic concentrations for approximately 2 years, suggesting that the technology is appropriate for consideration at other sites with similar hydrogeochemical conditions. The results indicate the importance of delivery and longevity of minimum sulfate concentrations and of maintaining sufficient dissolved organic carbon and/or microscale ZVI to precipitate FeS, a precursor phase to arsenic‐bearing pyrite that may provide a stable, long‐term sink for arsenic.     

Effects of suspended sediments from reservoir flushing on fish and macroinvertebrates in an alpine stream

The downstream ecological consequences of two controlled “free flow” flushing operations designed to remove sediments accumulated in an alpine reservoir are described. The main objectives of the study were (a) to verify to what extent the suspended solid concentration (SSC) in the receiving water course can be controlled by flushing operations, (b) to determine the biological consequences of flushing operations, and (c) to produce technical guidelines for the future planning and monitoring of these activities. We found that the flushing of large volumes of accumulated sediment had clear effects on the stream ecosystem due to the unpredictability of short duration SSC peaks (70–80 g L⁻¹) and the high average SSC (4–5 g L⁻¹) within flushing periods. The main impacts were decreased fish densities (up to 73%) and biomass (up to 66%). A greater mortality recorded for juveniles will likely result in long-term impairment of the age-structures of future fish populations. The zoobenthic assemblages, despite exhibiting a drastic reduction in abundance following the first floods, showed substantial recovery within 3 months of the beginning of flushing operations. Regular sediment removal by yearly flushing is recommended in order to avoid SSC peaks and to facilitate the control of scouring effects caused by the water used to wash out sediments. We also recommend maximum allowable SSCs of 10 g L⁻¹ (daily average) and 5 g L⁻¹ (overall average) for flushing operations carried out in similar environmental contexts.