Relative Recovery of Thermal Energy and Fresh Water in Aquifer Storage and Recovery Systems

This paper explores the relationship between thermal energy and fresh water recoveries from an aquifer storage recovery (ASR) well in a brackish confined aquifer. It reveals the spatial and temporal distributions of temperature and conservative solutes between injected and recovered water. The evaluation is based on a review of processes affecting heat and solute transport in a homogeneous aquifer. In this simplified analysis, it is assumed that the aquifer is sufficiently anisotropic to inhibit density‐affected flow, flow is axisymmetric, and the analysis is limited to a single ASR cycle. Results show that the radial extent of fresh water at the end of injection is greater than that of the temperature change due to the heating or cooling of the geological matrix as well as the interstitial water. While solutes progress only marginally into low permeability aquitards by diffusion, conduction of heat into aquitards above and below is more substantial. Consequently, the heat recovery is less than the solute recovery when the volume of the recovered water is lower than the injection volume. When the full volume of injected water is recovered the temperature mixing ratio divided by the solute mixing ratio for recovered water ranges from 0.95 to 0.6 for ratios of maximum plume radius to aquifer thickness of 0.6 to 4.6. This work is intended to assist conceptual design for dual use of ASR for conjunctive storage of water and thermal energy to maximize the potential benefits.     

Short and medium term dynamics of the carbon exchange between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea

A detailed analysis of the short and medium term dynamics of the carbon exchange between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea is presented. To quantify the carbon fluxes distinguishing the Baltic and North Sea water masses, the salinity-based End Members (EM) method was successfully applied. The results of 0.63±0.25×10¹² mol C year⁻¹ identify the Baltic Sea as a net source of carbon for the North Sea. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was found to contribute significantly (22%) to the bulk of exported carbon. The levels determined suggest the hydrology-dependence of the carbon fluxes in the Danish Straits, which stimulates the high variability of carbon fluxes at both interseasonal and interannual scales.     

Extending the double difference location technique—improving hypocenter depth determination

Locating the seismic event hypocenter is the very first issue undertaken when studying any seismological problem. Thus, the accuracy of the obtained solution can significantly influence consecutive stages of an analysis, so there is a continuous demand for new, more efficient, and accurate location algorithms. It is well recognized that there exists no single universal location algorithm which performs equally well in all situations. Seismic activity and its spatial variability over time, seismic network geometry, and the controlled area’s geological complexity are factors influencing the performance of location algorithms. For example, in the case of mining applications, the planarity of the seismic network usually operated at the exploitation level becomes an important issue limiting the accuracy of location of the hypocenter depths. In this paper, we push forward the discussion on the performance of the newly proposed location algorithm called the extended double difference (EDD), concentrating on the reliability of source depth estimation for mining-induced seismic events. We demonstrate that the EDD algorithm very efficiently uses information originating from the nonplanarity of the seismic network, improving the hypocenter depth estimates with respect to the classical double difference technique. Methodological considerations are illustrated by real data analysis of selected events from the Rudna copper mine (Poland).     

Pleistocene sandur rhythms,cycles and megacycles: Interpretation of depositional scenarios and palaeoenvironmental conditions

The Drawa sandur, which is the largest, coarse‐grained sandur in Poland, dates from the Pomeranian phase of the Weichselian glaciation (c. 16 ka BP). Using Markov chain analysis we infer that five cycles and five rhythms occur in its proximal part. The cycles dominated by Gt and St lithofacies in the lower part of the sandur succession and by a GDm lithofacies in the upper part, are fining‐upward cycles deposited in braided channels during large ablation floods. Three groups of cycles are distinguished based on their genesis: (i) cycles due to channel‐sheet evolution during large floods; (ii) cycles due to braid‐bar development during initial and advanced diminishing of floods; and (iii) cycles developed in the thalweg or interbar channels. The succession as a whole forms a large‐scale coarsening‐up megacycle (‘sandur megacycle’) which corresponds to a phase of ice‐sheet advance. Because the cyclicity was evident from Markov chain analysis of the sedimentary succession, we suggest that this statistical tool is valuable for reconstruction of glacifluvial sedimentary conditions, particularly as it can shed new light on the palaeogeographical development of sandar.     

Dinosaur- and mammal-bearing aeolian and associated deposits of the Upper Cretaceous in the Gobi Desert (Mongolia)

The Barun Goyot Formation (? Campanian-Maastrichtian) consists of continental red-bed type sandstones. The formation was interpreted in terms of intertonguing and/or alternating dune deposits and sediments of intermittent lakes and streams. The mega cross-stratified sandstone units which show considerable lateral continuity and little variation of foresets dip were described as buried transverse dunes. They are rather poor in animal fossils. Most dinosaurs and mammals occur in water-deposited interdune sediments. This is due to ecological differences between bare dunes and the interdune depression which had a vegetation cover.     

Antimicrobial resistance and prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase genes in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> from major rivers in Podhale,southern Poland

The aim of this study was to assess the antimicrobial resistance and the prevalence of genes determining the presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) enzymes in Escherichia coli isolated from two major rivers of the Podhale region in southern Poland. In total, 196 E. coli isolates were analyzed—98 from each river—Bia?ka and Zakopianka, collected in 8 campaigns, over the period of two years. Antimicrobial resistance was assessed using disk diffusion method and PCR tests were conducted to detect the ESBL genes. In E. coli isolated from Bia?ka, the resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid was detected most frequently (54.08%) and ESBL was detected in 14.29% of strains. In strains isolated from Zakopianka, most frequent resistance was observed toward ticarcillin (51.02%), while ESBL was observed in 16.33% of isolates. In the total pool of isolates, the resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid was most frequent (48.98% of isolates) and ESBL producers comprised 15.30% of E. coli isolates derived from both rivers. Multidrug resistance was observed less frequently in strains derived from Bia?ka (4 isolates resistant to 10 and more antimicrobials) than from Zakopianka, where 10 isolates were resistant to 10 and more antibiotics. Out of the tested ESBL genes blaTEM was detected most frequently (45.4% of isolates), whereas blaCTX-M1 and blaCTX-M3 were recorded in one isolate.     

Characteristics of mining tremors within the near-wave field zone

Mining in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin, Poland, induces tremors with magnitudes ranging up to 4.3. The recordings of mining tremors from the near-wave fiel and the far-wave field show different characteristics of ground motion.Knowledge of these characrteristics, has an enormous practical importance when solving the problems of resistance of underground workings against seismic impacts. The near-wave field is characterized by a domination of the high frequency components of motion, and the seismograms often are a single pulse Geomechanical interpretation of them leads to the conclusion that this pulse corresponds to a single exciting force. This fact is also reflected in the rockbursts: the potentially damaging ground motion which is restricted to the seismic source region.The seismometric data have shown that the peak particle velocities from a hypocentral distance of 200–300 m, resulted in more than 3 cm/s. The peak ground velocities appear to be dependent on stress drop , and peak particle velocities reaching 5 m/s may occur. The computational example proves that in a thick coal seam the pulse with the stress =1.8 MPa from the tremor at the short source distance can generate the rockburst.     

Sublimation-driven evolution of the local radius and the moment of inertia of a long-period comet

In this paper we intend to analyze how the sublimation of ice from cometary nuclei affects changes of the moments of inertia. Our aim is to show general trends for different orientations of cometary nucleus’ rotation axis. Thus we apply numerical model of a hypothetical homogeneous and initially spherical nucleus composed of water ice and dust. As an example we present simulations for a model comet of the orbital elements and the nucleus size the same as determined for C/1995 O1 Hale-Bopp, a widely analyzed long-period comet. We calculated water production from the nucleus and changes of the shape (initially spherical) and of the moment of inertia versus time. Simulations are performed for the full range (0–90°) of inclinations I of the rotation axis. The second paramater related to the orientation of the rotation axis is the argument Φ (0–360°). The heat conductivity of the nucleus spans over the vast range, 0.04–4 W m⁻¹ K⁻1.     

Geostatistical evaluation of magnetic indicators of forest soil contamination with heavy metals

The goal of the study was the geostatistical evaluation of quantitative magnetic measures, which can be used for effective delineation of the extent of the area polluted with heavy metals. Several parameters of magnetic susceptibility, measured in the soil profile, were proposed as magnetic indicators of soil pollution and analyzed in detail. The following parameters were calculated: maximum magnetic susceptibility, magnetic susceptibility at the depth of 3 cm and 5 cm, and the area under the curve of magnetic susceptibility. Measurements were performed at two forested study areas, located in Upper Silesian Industrial Area (Poland). Analyses were performed using geostatistical methods, and the results were verified using dense chemical measurements. The results showed that the area under curve of magnetic susceptibility was the most effective magnetic indicator of soil contamination with heavy metals. It was possible to detect the entire polluted area, and only about 16% of the study area was assumed to be contaminated while being unpolluted. The results obtained with maximum magnetic susceptibility and magnetic susceptibility at the depth of 3 cm and 5 cm were less effective in comparison with the area under curve of magnetic susceptibility.     

Pre-Variscan basement rocks in southern Poland: Where is the southeastern margin of eastern Avalonia (Cadomia)?

Summary Pre-Variscan basement in southern Poland is poorly exposed and thus known mostly from subsurface data. The availability of the latter is reviewed for terrains located between the Sudetes and the East European Platform. In these terrains the following relationships have been documented: Cadomian granitoids capped by Variscan flysch, Palaeozoic platform strata, Palaeozic folded and partly thermally altered successions, and low-grade metamorphic rocks overlain by Middle Cambrian strata. In view of their interrelationships the location of the Avalonia-Baltica suture in southeastern Poland is uncertain.