Deep reflection seismic imaging of iron-oxide deposits in the Ludvika mining area of central Sweden

Reflection seismic data were acquired within two field campaigns in the Blötberget, Ludvika mining area of central Sweden, for deep imaging of iron-oxide mineralization that were known to extend down to 800–850 m depth. The two surveys conducted in years 2015 and 2016, one employing a seismic landstreamer and geophones connected to wireless recorders, and another one using cabled geophones and wireless recorders, aimed to delineate the geometry and depth extent of the iron-oxide mineralization for when mining commences in the area. Even with minimal and conventional processing approaches, the merged datasets provide encouraging information about the depth continuation of the mineralized horizons and the geological setting of the study area. Multiple sets of strong reflections represent a possible continuation of the known deposits that extend approximately 300 m further down-dip than the known 850 m depth obtained from historical drilling. They show excellent correlation in shape and strength with those of the Blötberget deposits. Furthermore, several reflections in the footwall of the known mineralization can potentially be additional resources underlying the known ones. The results from these seismic surveys are encouraging for mineral exploration purposes given the good quality of the final section and fast seismic surveys employing a simple cost-effective and easily available impact-type seismic source.     

Field Study of Vertical Screening Distance Criteria for Vapor Intrusion of Ethylene Dibromide

Several regulatory agencies recommend screening petroleum vapor intrusion (PVI) sites based on vertical screening distance between a petroleum hydrocarbon source in soil or groundwater and a building foundation. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) indicate the risk of PVI is minimal at buildings that are separated by more than 6 feet (1.8 m) from a dissolved-phase source and 15 feet (4.6 m) from a light nonaqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) source. This vertical screening distance method is not, however, recommended at sites with leaded gasoline sources containing ethylene dibromide (EDB) because of a lack of field data to document EDB attenuation in the vadose zone. To help address this gap, depth-discrete soil-gas samples were collected at a leaded gasoline release site in Sobieski, Minnesota (USA). The maximum concentration of EDB in groundwater (175 μg/L) at the site was high relative to those observed at other leaded gasoline release sites. Soil gas was analyzed for EDB using a modification of U.S. EPA Method TO-14A that achieved analytical detection limits below the U.S. EPA Vapor Intrusion Screening Level (VISL) for EDB based on a 10⁻⁶ cancer risk (<0.16 μg/m³). Concentrations of EDB in soil gas above LNAPL reached as high as 960 μg/m³ and decreased below the VISL within a source-separation distance of 7 feet. This result coupled with BioVapor model predictions of EDB concentrations indicate that vertical screening distances recommended by regulatory agencies at PVI sites are generally applicable for EDB over the range of anticipated source concentrations and soil types at most sites.     

'Muddy glee': rounding out the picture of women and physical geography fieldwork

Fieldwork in geography has come under close scrutiny from feminist and postcolonial scholars in recent years. In relation to physical geography, commentators have pointed to a range of practices and images (notably the 'heroic', masculinist 'ideal') that have acted to deter and exclude women, from undergraduates to senior academics. For some, fieldwork is one of the key sites of gender discrimination for women in physical geography. This paper starts from a position of agreement with many of these critiques, but also seeks to 'reclaim' some more positive accounts and perspectives on the subject. In doing so, it aims to critique and disrupt the dominant image of physical geography fieldwork as essentially a masculinist endeavour, and encourage a wider view of the challenges and pleasures of fieldwork for women in physical geography.     

Stratigraphic expression of the lateral propagation and growth of isolated fault-related uplifts

The lateral propagation of faults and folds is known to be an important process during the development of mountain belts, but little is known about the manner in which along‐strike fault–fold growth is expressed in pre‐ and syntectonic (growth) strata. We use a coupled tectonic and stratigraphic model to investigate the along‐strike stratigraphic expression of fault‐related folds/uplifts that grow in both the transport and strike directions. We consider faults that propagate following a quadratic (nonself‐similar evolution) or linear (self‐similar evolution) scaling law, using different slip distributions per episode of fault propagation, under general background sedimentation. We find that the long‐strike geometry of pre‐ and syntectonic strata and the geometry of growth axial surfaces reflect the mode of fault propagation. The geometry of strata observed in the model is similar to that observed in natural contractional structures when: (1) the evolution of the fault is nonself‐similar, or (2) the fault grows as a result of thrust faulting events with similar displacements along strike that are terminated abruptly at the fault tips.     

Comparative aeronomy in the solar system

The coupled upper atmospheres, ionospheres and magnetospheres of the planets were the subject of a joint RAS–G/MIST discussion meeting hosted by the RAS on 10 January 2003, organized by Ingo Mueller-Wodarg and Emma Bunce . The scientific programme consisted of 10 presentations by speakers from the UK, France, USA and Australia.     

Seagrass landscapes and their effects on associated fauna: A review

Seagrasses comprise some of the most heterogeneous landscape structures of shallow-water estuarine/marine ecosystems in the world. However, while knowledge at the molecular, organism, patch and community scale is pervasive, understanding of seagrass landscape ecology is more fragmentary and has not been synthesized. The growth and recruitment dynamics of seagrasses as well as man-made and/or natural disturbances create complex spatial configurations of seagrass over broad (metres to kilometres) spatial scales. Hence, it is important to identify mechanisms maintaining and/or threatening the diversity-promoting function of seagrass meadows and to understand their effects on benthic populations and communities. Although landscape ecology has recently become more integrated into seagrass research, our understanding of animal responses to variability in seagrass landscape structure is still fragmentary. By reviewing the literature to date, this paper evaluates studies on seagrass landscape ecology, testing the general null hypothesis that concepts developed in terrestrial settings can be generalized across landscapes, and (a) presenting definitions and terms used in seagrass landscape ecology, (b) reviewing geographical patterns of seagrass landscape studies to identify possible key regions and target species, (c) evaluating different methodological approaches, (d) describing the spatial and temporal scales used to describe organism responses to seagrass landscape structure, and (e) placing seagrass landscapes into an applied context.     

A Conceptual Framework for Enhancing the Utility of Rainfall Hazard Forecasts for Agriculture in Marginal Environments

Semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas (especially in the tropics) are characterized by high inter-annual and intra-seasonal rainfall variability. Agriculture, which employs the bulk of the rapidly increasing populations, is largely rain-fed, low-input based and highly resource dependent. Recent spates of drought have, therefore, exacerbated the now-too-familiar specter of famine and starvation in these areas with glaring examples being the recurring episodes in sub-Saharan Africa since the great Sahel drought of 1969–1973. A great need for accurate and timely hazard forecast products in aid of agriculture thus exists.Several schemes are currently employed by various agencies around the globe in this direction. There does remain, however, a gap between product provision and user expectations. This paper examines this gap suggesting a five-point framework within which it can be addressed as an action agenda for the climate science community. The paper posits that changes are possible to existing methodologies (related to three of these points), which, within the context of current science, can greatly enhance the utility of forecast products for agriculture in marginal areas. The remaining two points have, however, been identified as requiring additional applied research and necessary pointers for addressing these issues are provided. First is the need for appropriate impact-related indicators for intra-seasonal and interannual rainfall variability that are easy to compute, amenable to forecasting and follow closely the experiences of farmers in marginal areas. The second is a consideration of appropriate forecast information formatting and communication medium that guarantee effective feedback between forecast producers and users. Specific examples of the status quo and of work currently underway are cited from southern Africa – a region currently attracting international attention as a result of recent droughts and the threat of famine.     

The Tornquist Sea and Baltica–Avalonia docking

Early Ordovician (Late Arenig) limestones from the SW margin of Baltica (Scania–Bornholm) have multicomponent magnetic signatures, but high unblocking components predating folding, and the corresponding palaeomagnetic pole (latitude=19°N, LONGITUDE=051°E) compares well with Arenig reference poles from Baltica. Collectively, the Arenig poles demonstrate a midsoutherly latitudinal position for Baltica, then separated from Avalonia by the Tornquist Sea.Tornquist Sea closure and the Baltica–Avalonia convergence history are evidenced from faunal mixing and increased resemblance in palaeomagnetically determined palaeolatitudes for Avalonia and Baltica during the Mid-Late Ordovician. By the Caradoc, Avalonia had drifted to palaeolatitudes compatible with those of SW Baltica, and subduction beneath Eastern Avalonia was taking place. We propose that explosive vents associated with this subduction and related to Andean-type magmatism in Avalonia were the source for the gigantic Mid-Caradoc (c. 455 Ma) ash fall in Baltica (i.e. the Kinnekulle bentonite). Avalonia was located south of the subtropical high during most of the Ordovician, and this would have provided an optimum palaeoposition to supply Baltica with large ash falls governed by westerly winds.In Scania, we observe a persistent palaeomagnetic overprint of Late Ordovician (Ashgill) age (pole: LATITUDE=4°S, LONGITUDE=012°E). The remagnetisation was probably spurred by tectonic-derived fluids since burial alone is inadequate to explain this remagnetisation event. This is the first record of a Late Ordovician event in Scania, but it is comparable with the Shelveian event in Avalonia, low-grade metamorphism in the North Sea basement of NE Germany (440–450 Ma), and sheds new light on the Baltica–Avalonia docking.     

The effect of low‐permeability fault zones on groundwater flow in a compartmentalized system. Experimental evidence from a carbonate aquifer (Southern Italy)

The hydrogeological behaviour of fault zones in carbonate aquifers is often neglected in conceptual and numerical models. Furthermore, no information is available regarding the relationships between piezometric levels when significant compartmentalization occurs due to the occurrence of low‐flow fault zones. The aim of this study was to refine the conceptualization of subsurface flow in faulted carbonate aquifers and to analyse relationships between sub‐basins within a compartmentalized aquifer system in Southern Italy. The interactions between compartments that straddle low‐flow faults were investigated over four hydrologic years using a statistical approach to compare (i) the hydraulic heads within two wells located up‐ and down‐gradient of tectonic discontinuities as well as (ii) the rainfall and piezometric levels. The results of this study suggest that a set of barriers exists between the wells, and, therefore, the total head loss observed between the wells (approximately 80 m) should be distributed across several aquitards, with one aquitard exhibiting a relatively high permeability or low degree of integrity. Due to slight differences in permeability, transient conditions in aquitards can occur over relatively short periods, which is in agreement with the results of the statistical data analysis. Consequently, rather than being caused by pure aquitards, aquifer system compartmentalization likely results from slight differences in the permeability between lower‐permeability fault zones and adjacent higher‐permeability protoliths. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.