Three-dimensional inversion of magnetotelluric data including sea effects obtained in Pohang, Korea

Magnetotelluric (MT) surveys were conducted in Pohang, Korea, for low-temperature geothermal exploration in 2002 and 2003. Pohang is located in the southeastern part of the Korean Peninsula and close to the East Sea. In the interpretation of MT data from a coastal environment, sea effects must be correctly included because seawater is a strong conductor. We first constructed a five-layered earth model with a realistic coastline and bathymetry to investigate sea effects on MT data measured in Pohang. This model clearly shows that the Pohang data are significantly influenced by sea water at frequencies blow 1 Hz at the whole measurement sites. Next, we utilized a three-dimensional inversion algorithm based on the Gauss–Newton approach to produce a reliable resistivity model. Seawater is excluded from the inversion domain to fix the resistivity, while included in the modeling domain to simulate sea effects on MT responses. Blocks for the sub-seafloor are included in unknown parameters since they are sufficiently close to the survey area to affect MT responses in Pohang. Static shifts are also considered in inversion for more accurate interpretation. The rms data misfit is smoothly reduced from 11.2 to 1.87 after 7 iterations. The resulting resistivity model shows a pattern of low–high–low resistivity with depth. The model is compatible with resistivity logs obtained from four boreholes in the survey area, and can explain major geological features in Pohang.     

Using Environmental Isotope Method to Study the Air Temperature Variations of the Earth

Using environmental isotopes to study the variations in air temperature is a relatively new method in Vietnam. This is a new and reliable method. Using environmental isotopes to study the temperature variations in the past and predict the future changes is a matter of being interested and applied. This paper used the results of isotope analysis (T, D, 18O, 13C and 14C) to study the change in temperature of the air environment in the past and then projected to 2050. From contents of isotopes, based on the correlation with temperature, water age we could calculate air temperature conditions in the past and predict future changes. Results from the study showed that about 500 years ago to present, air temperature in Red River area continuously rises and amplitude ranges from 0.05 to 0.06 °C /year. By 2030 the average temperature of the air environment will be 23.75 °C, by 2040 would be 24.10 °C and by 2050 is 25.20 °C     

Methane Flux into the Atmosphere in the South China Sea

Doklady Earth Sciences - The regional gas geochemical profile was first performed in the South China Sea in the north–south direction in January 2017 (42nd cruise of the R/V Akademik Boris...     

Thermodynamic mixing properties of olivine derived from lattice vibrations

We use a lattice vibrational technique to derive thermophysical and thermochemical properties of fayalite, Fe₂SiO₄. This semi-empirical technique is based on an extension of Kieffer’s model to incorporate details of the phonon spectrum. It includes treatment of intrinsic anharmonicity and electronic effects based on crystal field theory. We extend it to predict thermodynamic mixing properties of olivine (Mg,Fe)₂SiO₄ solid solutions by using results of our previous work on the system MgO–SiO₂. Achieving this requires a relation between phonon frequency and composition and a composition relation for the energy of the static lattice. Directed by experimental Raman spectroscopic data for specific optic modes in magnesium–iron solid solutions of olivine and pyroxene we use an empirical relation for the composition dependence for phonon frequencies. We show that lattice vibrations have a large effect on the excess entropy and that the static lattice contribution and lattice vibrations have a large impact on excess enthalpy and excess Gibbs energy. Our model indicates that compositional effects in electronic and magnetic properties are negligible. The compositional variation the Néel temperature has a large impact on excess heat capacity for temperatures below 100 K.     

Crustal anisotropy in southwest Ireland from analysis of controlled source shear-wave data

Results from a travel-time analysis of three-component shear-wave (S-wave) data recorded in southwest Ireland during a controlled source seismic experiment have been used to investigate the magnitude of crustal anisotropy. The data used were recorded from 20 in-line shots on three-component short-period stations deployed at approximately 1-km spacing along two parallel profiles. Analysis of the travel-time differences between vertically and horizontally polarised S-waves recorded on vertical, radial and transverse seismometer components was undertaken using seismic phases travelling near the Earth's surface (S_g) and reflected from the Moho (S_mS). Travel-time differences between the components for both phases scatter largely within the range ± 0.2 s, which is about the uncertainty in the measurements, with no observed coherent variation with shot-receiver offset. Synthetic S-wave seismograms were also computed from 1-D S-wave velocity models with varying degrees of anisotropy in the upper and in the lower crusts. Travel-time differences of S_g and S_mS phases picked from these synthetic seismograms confirm that for anisotropies with probable symmetries of magnitude 1–2% in either the upper or lower crust should result in an observable variation of the travel-time differences between the transverse and radial, and transverse and vertical components with source–receiver offset. The study shows that crustal anisotropy does not contribute significantly to the marked anisotropy recently deduced from SKS and SKKS measurements in Ireland, which is therefore confirmed to reside at sub-crustal and deeper mantle levels.     

Effect of different wavelengths of light on the antioxidant and immunity status of juvenile rock bream, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oplegnathus fasciatus</Emphasis>, exposed to thermal stress

We investigated the effect of light wavelengths on antioxidant and immunity parameters in juvenile rock bream, Oplegnathus fasciatus, exposed to thermal stress (25 and 30°C). We exposed the fish to light emitting diodes (LEDs) emitting green (520 nm) and red light (630 nm) of 0.25 and 0.5 W/m² intensity, and measured the activity, and mRNA and protein expression levels of the antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. We also determined the levels of plasma hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), melatonin, and lysozyme. Furthermore, the mRNA and protein levels of caspase-3 were measured and terminal transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assays were performed. We observed that mRNA expression and activities of antioxidant enzymes and plasma H₂O₂ levels were significantly higher after exposure to high temperatures. However, increases in these parameters were significantly lower after exposure to green LED light. The plasma melatonin and lysozyme levels were significantly lower in the different groups after exposure to high temperatures; however, in groups exposed to green LED light, their levels were significantly higher than those in the control group. The expression pattern of caspase-3 mRNA was similar to that of H₂O₂. The TUNEL assay showed that apoptosis was markedly higher at higher water temperatures than that at 20°C. These results indicate that high water temperatures induce oxidative stress and decrease the immunity in juvenile rock bream but green LED light inhibits the rise in oxidative stress and combats the decrease in immunity and should, thus, be useful in the culture of rock bream.     

Reclamation of mine-degraded agricultural soils from metal mining: lessons from 4 years of monitoring activity in Korea

The environmental issues associated with mining have damaged the industry’s substantial global economic value. In particular, the mining industry has a negative legacy of contaminated land. The effective reclamation of contaminated soil is therefore required before former mining land can be further developed for residential and commercial purposes. The objective of this study was to technically evaluate the feasibility of reclamation techniques for agricultural soils contaminated with toxic elements (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) associated with metal mining. The reclamation methods investigated were covering without stabilization, covering with stabilization, and exchange with stabilization. The thickness of the soil layer used in covering and exchange was in the range of 30–50 cm. Limestone, furnace slag, and a mixture of limestone and furnace slag were applied as soil amendments. After reclamation, the contamination level in surface tillage soils and crops was monitored regularly. Four years of monitoring data revealed that surface soil contamination levels could be maintained at acceptable levels, although at some sites, the metal levels in crops exceeded legislative limits. Soil reclamation at former mining sites in Korea has not yet been perfected, but the results of this study show that there is potential for safe agricultural operations on large sites in a cost-effective manner, as long as the appropriate control of surface soil contamination and adequate agronomic management is undertaken.     

Seismic fragility of lightly reinforced concrete frames with masonry infills

Seismic fragility of lightly reinforced concrete frames with masonry infills is assessed through numerical simulations considering uncertainty in ground motion and building materials. To achieve this aim, a numerical model of the components is developed, a rational approach to proportion and locate individual struts in the equivalent three‐strut model is proposed, and an explicit nonlinear column shear response model accounting for the infill–column interaction and soft‐story mechanism is employed. The proposed numerical model is used to (1) generate probabilistic seismic demand models accounting for a wide range of ground motion intensities with different frequency content and (2) determine limit state models obtained from nonlinear pushover analysis and incremental dynamic analysis. Using the demand and limit state model, fragility curves for the masonry‐infilled frames are developed to investigate the impact of various infill properties on the frame vulnerability. It is observed that the beneficial effect of the masonry infill diminishes at more severe limit states because of the interaction with the boundary frame. In some cases, this effect almost vanishes or switches to an adverse effect beyond a threshold of ground motion intensities. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Framework of aftershock fragility assessment–case studies: older California reinforced concrete building frames

Current seismic design codes and damage estimation tools neglect the influence of successive events on structures. However, recent earthquakes have demonstrated that structures damaged during an initial event (mainshock) are more vulnerable to severe damage and collapse during a subsequent event (aftershock). This increased vulnerability to damage translates to increased likelihood of loss of use, property, and life. Thus, a reliable risk assessment tool is required that characterizes the risk of the undamaged structure subjected to an initial event and the risk of the damaged structure under subsequent events. In this paper, a framework for development of aftershock fragilities is presented; these aftershock fragilities define the likelihood that a building damaged during a mainshock will exhibit a given damage state following one or more aftershocks. Thus, the framework provides a method for characterizing the risk associated with damage accumulation in the structure. The framework includes the following: (i) creation of a numerical model of the structure; (ii) characterization of building damage states; (iii) generation of a suite of mainshock–aftershocks; (iv) mainshock–aftershock analyses; and (v) development of aftershock fragility curves using probabilistic aftershock demand models, defined as a linear regression of aftershock demand–intensity pairs in a logarithmic space, and damage‐state prediction models. The framework is not limited to a specific structure type but requires numerical models defining structural response and linking structural response with damage. In the current study, non‐ductile RC frames (low‐rise, mid‐rise, and high‐rise) are selected as case studies for the application of the framework. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evolution of calc-alkaline to alkaline magmatism through Carboniferous convergence to Permian transcurrent tectonics,western Chinese Tianshan

Continuous magmatic activity occurred in the western Chinese Tianshan, Central Asia, from the Carboniferous to the Permian, i.e. before and after the Late Carboniferous amalgamation of Junggar and the Yili Blocks. Zircon U–Pb LA-ICPMS and Ar–Ar data reveal a coincidence in time between regional wrench faulting and granitoid emplacement. Permian post-collisional granitoids crop out within or at the margins of large-scale dextral strike-slip shear zones, some of them show synkinematic fabrics. The whole rock geochemical features of the Early-Middle Permian granitoids indicate an evolution from high-K calc-alkaline towards alkaline series. In other places of the North Tianshan, alkaline magmatism occurred together with deep marine sedimentation within elongated troughs controlled by wrench faults. Therefore, in contrast with previous interpretations that forwarded continental rift or mantle plume hypotheses, the coexistence of diverse magmatic sources during the same tectonic episode suggests that post-collisional lithosphere-scale transcurrent shearing tightly controlled the magmatic activity during the transition from convergent margin to intraplate anorogenic processes.