Influence of porefluid salinity on instability of sensitive marine clays: A new approach to an old problem

The geographic association between earthflow occurrence, sensitivity of the sediment and salinity of the interstitial fluid has been examined in an area of exposed marine (Champlain Sea) deposits in the Lachute region northwest of Montreal, Quebec. Mapping of earth resistivity, as a means of calculating porefluid salinity, revealed that areas of large earthflows (>20 ha) coincided with sediment of very low porefluid salinity. Earthflow scars were absent from intervening areas of higher salinity (>5 gl^?1). Mapping of the thickness of the clay deposit by seismic refraction showed, furthermore, that low porefluid salinity occurred only in areas of relatively thin (<25 m) deposits resting upon more permeable drift or rock. Finally, laboratory tests confirmed that high sensitivity was restricted to areas of low porefluid salinity. The study thus provides a geomorphological verification of the importance of ‘salt depletion’ as a prerequisite for earthflow occurrence, and, by implication, presents mapping of porefluid salinity as a method of delineating zones which should be safe from landslide retrogression in this type of sediment.     

Orientation and motion of water molecules in cordierite: A proton nuclear magnetic resonance study

Conventional and solid state proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques have been used to examine water molecules in the channels of a single crystal of cordierite, (Mg, Fe)₂Al₄Si₅O₁₈, as a function of temperature, magnetic field, and orientation. Only one type of water was found rather than water in two distinct rigid orientations which were indicated by earlier infrared spectral studies. However, the measured dipolar splittings indicate that this water is in rapid motion. Shifts in the dipolar doublet due to Fe²⁺ impurities indicate that the water molecules are not moving among adjacent channel sites along a channel cavity. A two-site hopping model is proposed involving the major residence time spent with the hydrogen-hydrogen vector parallel to the channels, a minor residence time spent with the hydrogen-hydrogen vector perpendicular to the channels, and a short time (<1 μs) in transit. This model fits both the present NMR data and previously reported infrared absorption data and is compared to previously reported neutron diffraction data.     

DEVELOPMENT OF AN INEXPENSIVE ANALYTICAL PLOTTER

The author continues the discussion of a Norwegian project to develop a stereoscopic instrument which will reduce the cost of analytical photogrammetry. Parts I and II of the project were presented at the 1984 Thompson Symposium; the objective at that stage was to build an image space plotter. This paper covers Part III of the project and the extended objective to develop an inexpensive analytical plotter which links with a modern microcomputer.     

Flooding in the Red River Basin – Lessons from Post Flood Activities

Flood of 1997 affected a large number of residents in the Red River Basin. Life disruption, economic damage, lengthy recovery process, physical and emotional trauma motivated a number of main initiatives to improve the level of preparedness in case of future floods. This review will focus on the involvement of the International Joint Commission (IJC). Personal experience is used in this review to emphasize a number of important lessons, of special relevance to Canadian portion of the basin, from the post flood activities. Level of preparedness for, and potential damage from future floods will benefit from focusing very serious effort on the improvement of the Canadian database, exchange of data with the U.S. and standardization of data collection, exchange and use. Tools for sustainable floodplain management are improving. However, the Red River Basin with its characteristics requires a special set of sophisticated tools that will enhance flood flow forecasting, planning of new flood control measures (structural and non-structural) and emergency operations of existing flood protection system. City of Winnipeg, being the largest population centre in the basin deserves a special attention. Additional protection of 670,000 people is required that will take into consideration temporal and spatial distribution of economic and social costs and benefits.     

Hydration of eclogite, Pam Peninsula, New Caledonia

Garnet glaucophanite and greenschist facies assemblages were formed by the recrystallization of barroisite-bearing eclogite facies metabasites in northern New Caledonia. The mineralogical evolution can be modelled by calculated P–T and P–X _H2O diagrams for appropriate bulk rock compositions in the model system CaO–Na₂O–FeO–MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂–H₂O. The eclogites, having developed in a clockwise P–T path that reached P ≈19 kbar and T  ≈590 °C, underwent decompression with the consumption of free H₂O as the volume of hydrous minerals increased. Eclogite is preserved in domains that experienced no fluid influx following the loss of this fluid. Garnet glaucophanite formed at P ≈16 kbar during semi-pervasive fluid influx. Fluid influx, after further isothermal decompression, was focused in shear zones, and resulted in chlorite–albite-bearing greenschist facies mineral assemblages that reflect P ≈9 kbar.     

Study and suppression of anomalous fast events in inorganic scintillators for dark matter searches

The status of dark matter searches with inorganic scintillator detectors at Boulby mine is reviewed and the results of tests with a CsI(Tl) crystal are presented. The objectives of the latter experiment were to study anomalous fast events previously observed and to identify ways to remove this background. Clear indications were found that these events were due to surface contamination of crystals by alphas, probably from radon decay. A new array of unencapsulated NaI(Tl) crystals immersed either in liquid paraffin or pure nitrogen atmosphere is under construction at Boulby. Such an approach allows complete control of the surface of the crystals and the ability to remove any surface contamination. First data from the unencapsulated NaI(Tl) do not show the presence of anomalous fast events.     

Rising powers: the evolving role of BASIC countries

The exponential growth in global populations, economic activity and resource utilization means it is becoming increasingly difficult to satisfy global demand for a number of fundamental resources, while some key ecosystems services are under stress. The likelihood of future resource scarcities have begun to influence the positions taken within international climate change negotiations by fast-growing developing countries. When Brazil, South Africa, India, and China formed the BASIC group it took many by surprise. The coordination needed to align this heterogeneous group of countries cannot simply be understood in terms of a set of shared interests around climate policy. How the BASIC group emerged and the nature of its cooperation on climate change are examined within the broader context in which these increasingly powerful countries came to join forces. Although traditionally aligned with the G77 group of developing countries, recent strategising as a group of emerging economies reflects their realization that there are insufficient global resources available to follow the same development pathway as industrialized countries. Hence, they must seek alternative growth pathways, which requires establishing common ground while also keeping track of each others' positions on important global issues like climate change.