Microstructures associated with static and dynamic recrystallization of Carrara marble (Alpi Apuane,NW Tuscany,Italy)

The present contribution summarizes the first results of a study focusing on microstructures from Alpi Apuane marbles. Its aim is both an analysis of the evolution of the metamorphic complex recorded in marbles and the supply of basic material for process-oriented studies on calcite microstructures due to natural deformation. Quantitative analysis of the variations of statically recrystallized microstructures suggest a relationship with the peak metamorphic temperatures. Previously unrecognized post-thermal peak shear zones, showing overprint microstructures typical of grain-boundary migration and dynamic recrystallization, are described; they document the natural deformation of Carrara marble.     

3D hydrocarbon migration by percolation technique in an alternate sand–shale environment described by a seismic facies classified volume

Modelling hydrocarbon migration in complex depositional environments is a difficult task. This paper illustrates a workflow that has been developed in order to make use of information at seismic resolution for migration modelling purposes. After a regional identification of the main seismic sequence boundaries and systems tracts, the first step of the workflow consists in a semi-automatic classification of the sand and shale prone seismic facies that are interpretable in the seismic volume. A software based on supervised neural network techniques and textural seismic attributes supports volumetric classification. Each class represents a different facies with specific petrophysical properties (threshold pressure, porosity, irreducible water saturation, etc.), assigned according to concurrent sedimentological studies; the result is a 3D lithofacies model. Petroleum system modelling is performed on a 3D regional model up to the calculation of hydrocarbon quantities expelled from the source rock. Then migration modelling is performed on the smaller area covered by the 3D lithofacies model. Invasion percolation approach has been chosen because it allows to perform migration modelling at a scale that is small enough to maintain a sufficient detail of the channels' shape and of their connections. A probabilistic approach allows to estimate charge risk in new prospects and to check modelling consistency. This workflow has been applied in a deep water setting in West Africa, characterized by an interconnected channel system, where a number of prospects had to be evaluated. A well was drilled in the area prior to this study, resulting dry in spite of being located in a position where the source rock is present and is deemed to have expelled interesting amounts of hydrocarbons. This study has shown that hydrocarbons expelled from the source appear to be deviated laterally by the presence of a local seal and therefore do not reach the channel system in the well location.     

Understanding hydrological processes in glacierized catchments: Evidence and implications of highly variable isotopic and electrical conductivity data

The spatial and temporal characterization of geochemical tracers over Alpine glacierized catchments is particularly difficult, but fundamental to quantify groundwater, glacier melt, and rain water contribution to stream runoff. In this study, we analysed the spatial and temporal variability of δ²H and electrical conductivity (EC) in various water sources during three ablation seasons in an 8.4‐km² glacierized catchment in the Italian Alps, in relation to snow cover and hydro‐meteorological conditions. Variations in the daily streamflow range due to melt‐induced runoff events were controlled by maximum daily air temperature and snow covered area in the catchment. Maximum daily streamflow decreased with increasing snow cover, and a threshold relation was found between maximum daily temperature and daily streamflow range. During melt‐induced runoff events, stream water EC decreased due to the contribution of glacier melt water to stream runoff. In this catchment, EC could be used to distinguish the contribution of subglacial flow (identified as an end member, enriched in EC) from glacier melt water to stream runoff, whereas spring water in the study area could not be considered as an end member. The isotopic composition of snow, glacier ice, and melt water was not significantly correlated with the sampling point elevation, and the spatial variability was more likely affected by postdepositional processes. The high spatial and temporal variability in the tracer signature of the end members (subglacial flow, rain water, glacier melt water, and residual winter snow), together with small daily variability in stream water δ²H dynamics, are problematic for the quantification of the contribution of the identified end members to stream runoff, and call for further research, possibly integrated with other natural or artificial tracers.     

Finite element evaluation of the effects of faulting on a shallow tunnel in alluvial soil

A numerical estimation is presented on the effects induced in an existing tunnel by the development of a fault from the deep bedrock during a seismic event. The spreading of the fault within the alluvial deposit hosting the tunnel, and the consequent effects on its permanent liner, are studied in static conditions through a series of elastic-plastic, plane strain finite element analyses. They account for the reduction of the shear strength and stiffness characteristics of the faulting zone with increasing irreversible strains. Even though the calculations require only “standard”, e.g. peak and residual, material parameters it is shown that these properties can hardly be obtained for the alluvial deposit at hand. To overcome this drawback a relatively large scale in-situ tests could be performed and its results could be interpreted through a suitable back analysis. This would permit characterizing the numerical model to be subsequently adopted for the analysis of the faulting process.     

Constraints on primordial non-Gaussianity from a needlet analysis of the WMAP-5 data

We look for a non-Gaussian signal in the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe ( WMAP ) 5-year temperature anisotropy maps by performing a needlet-based data analysis. We use the foreground-reduced maps obtained by the WMAP team through the optimal combination of the W, V and Q channels, and perform realistic non-Gaussian simulations in order to constrain the non-linear coupling parameter f _NL. We apply a third-order estimator of the needlet coefficients skewness and compute the  χ²  statistics of its distribution. We obtain  −80 < f _NL < 120  at 95 per cent confidence level, which is consistent with a Gaussian distribution and comparable to previous constraints on the non-linear coupling. We then develop an estimator of f _NL based on the same simulations and we find consistent constraints on primordial non-Gaussianity. We finally compute the three-point correlation function in needlet space: the constraints on f _NL improve to  −50 < f _NL < 110  at 95 per cent confidence level.     

Optical afterglows of gamma-ray bursts: a bimodal distribution?

The luminosities of the optical afterglows of gamma-ray bursts, 12 h (rest-frame time) after the trigger, show a surprising clustering, with a minority of events being at a significantly smaller luminosity. If real, this dichotomy would be a crucial clue to understand the nature of optically dark afterglows, i.e. bursts that are detected in the X-ray band, but not in the optical. We investigate this issue by studying bursts of the pre- Swift era, both detected and undetected in the optical. The limiting magnitudes of the undetected ones are used to construct the probability that a generic burst is observed down to a given magnitude limit. Then, by simulating a large number of bursts with pre-assigned characteristics, we can compare the properties of the observed optical luminosity distribution with the simulated one. Our results suggest that the hints of bimodality present in the observed distribution reflect a real bimodality: either the optical luminosity distribution of bursts is intrinsically bimodal, or there exists a population of bursts with a quite significant grey absorption, i.e. wavelength-independent extinction. This population of intrinsically weak or grey-absorbed events can be associated with dark bursts.     

Estuarine Biotope Mosaics and Habitat Management Goals: An Application in Tampa Bay,FL, USA

Many types of anthropogenic stress to estuaries lead to destruction and conversion of habitats, thus altering habitat landscapes and changing the “arena” in which the life history interactions of native fauna take place. This can lead to decreased populations of valued fauna and other negative consequences. The Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP) pioneered a system-wide management framework that develops estuarine habitat restoration and protection goals based on supporting estuarine-dependent species and the habitat landscapes they require (for example, the extent of seagrass beds, mangrove forests, oyster reefs, or oligohaline marshes) within an estuary. We describe this framework and provide related statistics as methods to help managers set system-wide ecological goals using larger conceptual approaches that are easily communicated to stakeholders and the public; we also discuss applications of the approach to existing and evolving paradigms of estuarine management. The TBEP and partners used this framework to combine a simple and unifying vision with a diverse and complex set of management tools, resulting in greatly improved environmental conditions within Tampa Bay.     

The S2N2 metallicity calibrator and the abundance gradient of M 33

We introduce the log(Hα/[S  ii ]λλ6717+6731) versus log(Hα/[N  ii ]λ6583) (S2N2) diagnostic diagram as a metallicity and ionization parameter indicator for H  ii regions in external galaxies. The location of H  ii regions in the S2N2 diagram was studied both empirically and theoretically. We found that, for a wide range of metallicities, the S2N2 diagram gives single-valued results in the metallicity–ionization parameter plane. We demonstrate that the S2N2 diagram is a powerful tool to estimate metallicities of high-redshift  ( z ∼ 2)  H  ii galaxies. Finally, we derive the metallicity for 76 H  ii regions in M 33 from the S2N2 diagram and calculate an O/H abundance gradient for this galaxy of −0.05 (±0.01) dex kpc⁻¹.