Application of micro-computed X-ray tomography for improving the hole erosion test analysis on high plastic clay

Acta Geotechnica - The hole erosion test (HET) was developed to simulate piping erosion and to study the erosion parameters of cohesive soils. The erosion rate in the HET is evaluated by the...     

Formation of lunar mare domes along crustal fractures: Rheologic conditions, dimensions of feeder dikes, and the role of magma evolution

In this study we examine a set of lunar mare domes located in the Hortensius/Milichius/T. Mayer region and in northern Mare Tranquillitatis with respect to their formation along crustal fractures, their rheologic properties, the dimensions of their feeder dikes, and the importance of magma evolution processes during dome formation. Many of these domes display elongated summit vents oriented radially with respect to major impact basins, and several dome locations are also aligned in these preferential directions. Analysis of Clementine UV/VIS and Lunar Prospector gamma ray spectrometer data reveals that the examined mare domes formed from low-Si basaltic lavas of high FeO and low to moderate TiO₂ content. Based on their morphometric properties (diameter, height, volume) obtained by photoclinometric and shape from shading analysis of telescopic CCD images, we derive rheologic quantities (lava viscosity during eruption, effusion rate, duration of the effusion process, magma rise speed) and the dimensions of the feeder dikes. We establish three rheologic groups characterised by specific combinations of rheologic properties and dike dimensions, where the most relevant discriminative parameter is the lava viscosity η. The first group is characterised by and contains the domes with elongated vents in the Milichius/T. Mayer region and two similar domes in northern Mare Tranquillitatis. The second group with comprises the very low aligned domes in northern Mare Tranquillitatis, and the third group with the relatively steep domes near Hortensius and in the T. Mayer region. The inferred dike dimensions in comparison to lunar crustal thickness data indicate that the source regions of the feeder dikes are situated within the upper crust for six of the domes in northern Mare Tranquillitatis, while they are likely to be located in the lower crust and in the upper mantle for the other examined domes. By comparing the time scale of magma ascent with the time scale on which heat is conducted from the magma into the host rock, we find evidence that the importance of magma evolution processes during ascent such as cooling and crystallisation increases with lava viscosity. We conclude that different degrees of evolution of initially fluid basaltic magma are able to explain the broad range of lava viscosities inferred for the examined mare domes. The spectral data reveal that differences in TiO₂ content may additionally account for the systematic difference in lava viscosity between the two examined lunar regions. We show that the described mechanisms are likely to be valid also for other lunar mare domes situated near Cauchy and Arago, regarded for comparison. On the other hand, we find for the Gruithuisen and Mairan highland domes that despite their inferred high lava viscosities of , no significant magma cooling in the dike occurred during ascent, supporting previous findings that the highland domes were formed during a specific phase of non-mare volcanism by highly silicic viscous lavas.     

Review on toxicity testing with marine macroalgae and the need for method standardization--exemplified with copper and phenol

Toxic effects on macroalgae have been compiled. Eighty-two articles have been found in literature during 1959-2000. A total of 120 substances were investigated using 65 different macroalgae species. About one-third of the tested compounds were organic substances (33%), another third metal-organic substances (35%), and the last third were oils (14%), metals (8%), detergents (7.5%) and other inorganic chemicals (2.5%). Half of the substances were only tested once on a single species. Likewise, toxicity data has only been reported for one chemical tested on a single occasion for about half of the 65 species. Thus little is known about the toxic effects on marine macroalgae. The objectives of the previous studies undertaken varied and therefore the toxicity data was presented in numerous ways, e.g. using different exposure times, temperature, light intensity, light regime, salinity, and nutrients, which makes a direct comparison of the data difficult. This review also shows that many stages in the lifecycle of macroalgae are often more sensitive to toxic substances than other aquatic organisms. Consequently, tests using macroalgae may discover toxicity earlier, which would in turn also protect the fauna. If toxic compounds have a negative affect on the distribution and growth of structurally and functionally dominating macroalgae, there may indirectly be a large and harmful influence on the whole marine coastal ecosystem. For this reason tests on macroalgae should be included in control programs along the coasts.     

Early Holocene history of the Baltic Sea, as reflected in coastal sediments in Blekinge, southeastern Sweden

Integrated palaeoecological studies of two fiord sediment sequences in the province of Blekinge, SE Sweden, covering the time span 11,000–5000 cal BP, reveal the timing and the environment for the Ancylus Lake/Littorina Sea transition 9800–8500 cal BP. The first ingression of saline water into the Baltic Sea through the Danish Straits occurred earlier than formerly assumed. New evidence, particularly mineral magnetic and palaeobotanical analyses, demonstrate that on the general trend of the eustatically caused Littorina transgression several minor fluctuations of the water level can be identified between 8500 and 5000 cal years BP. A distinct regression phase around 8100 cal BP is correlated with the Greenland ice-core cold event dated to 8200 ice-core years BP. This is described as a regional climatic catastrophe for the Baltic Sea region. The coastal stratigraphy is compared with the offshore stratigraphy earlier studied. A tentative shore displacement curve for Early and Middle Holocene is presented.     

Content of radio caesium in the water of the Northern North Atlantic during the year 1985

The relative great number of data of the radio caesium activity concentrations in the water of the northern North Atlantic gained in 1985 from a station network between 60°N to 80°N and 16°W to 22°E provides a good basis for a fairly realistic calculation of the inventory of radio caesium in this region. In the area taken into account for the calculation, between 60°N to 80°N and 20°W to 22°E, an inventory of about 11000 TB_q (including background activity from fallout) has been found. That corresponds to about 40% of the caesium 137 released by the Scllafield Works between 1958 and 1980 and La Hague between 1966 and 1980, decay corrected to 1985.     

Distribution and content of different artifical radio nuclides in the water of the North Sea during the years 1977 to 1981 (complemented with some results from 1982 to 1984)

Summary The measured concentrations of¹³⁷Cs in the water of the North Sea gained during the years 1977 to 1982 largely confirm the results found in the preceding years (Fig. 1). After a distinct maximum in 1978 — brought about by a particularly strong influx during 1977 — the total quantity of¹³⁷Cs present in the North Sea has reced, to around half of these peak values by the year 1982 (Table 1).On the way from the Sellafield Works near the Irish Sea as far as into the North Sea, a strong shift of the¹³⁷Cs:⁹⁰Sr ratio in favour of the⁹⁰Sr can be observed.By following the temporal course of that ratio at different measurement points, a transport time can be deduced of around 3 years between the Sellafield Works and the Pentland Firth; a further year would be needed to reach into the southeastern North Sea.The ratio Cs:Sr furthermore permits, in the southeastern North Sea, a good distinction between the watermasses comming from the north into the North Sea with respect to those that come through the Channel from the South. These masses practically flow side by side until about the entrance to the Skagerrak.The vertical distribution of the¹³⁷Cs shows, as is to be expected, seasonally conditioned differences. However, effects also occur, which — on the basis of the data available to date — do not yet permit a clear explanation.The⁹⁰Sr, as well as the^239+240Pu, present in the North Sea show an analogous distribution scheme compared with that of the¹³⁷Cs. Their concentrations lie far below that of the¹³⁷Cs (⁹⁰Sr 17.5%;^239+240Pu 0.03%).Tritium, on the other hand — with essentially higher concentrations — shows a completely different distribution, because it is principly introduced via the freshwater flowing in from the land.

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Verteilung und Gehalt verschiedener künstlicher Radionuklide im Wasser der Nordsee in den Jahren 1977 bis 1981 (ergänzt durch einige Ergebnisse von 1982 bis 1984)

Zusammenfassung Die in den Jahren 1977 bis 1982 gewonnenen Meßdaten der Aktivitätskonzentrationen von¹³⁷Cs im Wasser der Nordsee bestätigen weitgehend die in den vorhergehenden Jahren gefundenen Ergebnisse (Fig. 1) Nach einem deutlichen Maximum im Jahre 1978 — hervorgerufen durch eine besonders starke Zufuhr im Jahre 1977 —ist die in der Nordsee insgesamt vorhandene Menge an¹³⁷Cs bis zum Jahre 1982 wieder auf rund die Hälfte zurückgegangen (Tab. 1).Auf dem Weg von den Sellafield Works an der Irischen See bis in die Nordsee ist eine starke Verschiebung des¹³⁷Cs:⁹⁰Sr Verhältnisses zugunsten des⁹⁰Sr zu beobachten.Aus dem zeitlichen Verlauf dieses Verhältnisses an verschiedenen Meßpunkten ergeben sich Transportzeiten zwischen den Sellafield Works und dem Pentland Firth von rund 3 Jahren; bis in die südöstliche Nordsee wird ein weiteres Jahr benötigt.Das Verhältnis Cs:Sr erlaubt außerdem in der südöstlichen Nordsee eine gute Unterscheidung der aus der Nordsee bzw. durch den Kanal von Süden kommenden Wassermassen, die praktisch nebeneinander her bis etwa zum Beginn des Skagerraks fließen.Die Vertikalverteilung des¹³⁷Cs zeigt, wie zu erwarten ist, jahreszeitlich bedingte Unterschiede. Es treten aber auch Effekte auf, die sich anhand der bisher vorliegenden Daten noch nicht eindeutig erklären lassen.Das in der Nordsee vorhandene⁹⁰Sr sowie das^239+240Pu zeigen ein analoges Verteilungsschema verglichen mit dem des¹³⁷Cs. Ihre Konzentrationen liegen weit unter der des¹³⁷Cs (⁹⁰Sr 17,5%,^239+240Pu 0,03%).Das Tritium zeigt bei wesentlich höheren Konzentrationen dagegen eine völlig andere Verteilung, da seine Hauptzufuhr im wesentlichen über das von Land her zufließende Süßwasser erfolgt.

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Distribution et teneur de differents radionucleides artificiels, dans les eaux de la Mer du Nord entre les années 1977 et 1981 (completes par quelques résultats de 1982 à 1984)

Résumé Les mesures de concentration du Césium 137 dans les eaux de la Mer du Nord, acquises entre les années 1977 et 1982, confirment largement les résultats obtenus au cours des années précédentes. Après un net maximum en 1978 — occassionné par un apport particulièrement fort en 1977 — la quantité totale de Césium 137 présent en Mer du Nord a régressé,jusqu'en 1982, aux alentours de la moitié de ces valeurs maximales.Il a pu être observé une modification importante du rapport Césium 137/Strontium 90, en faveur du Strontium 90, sur le trajet de Sellafield Works prés de la Mer d'Irlande jusqu'à la Mer du Nord.En suivant l'évolution temporelle de la valuer de ce rapport en différents points de mesure, on peut en déduire une durée de transport d'environ 3 ans entre Sellafield Works et Pentland Firth; une année supplémentaire est ensuite nécessaire pour pénétrer en Mer du Nord Sud-orientale.En Mer du Nord Sud-orientale, le rapport Césium/Strontium permet en outre d'effectuer une nette distinction entre les masses d'eau pénétrant respectivement par le Nord dans la Mer du Nord et celles pénétrant par le Sud et venant de la Manche. Ces masses d'eau s'écoulent pratiquement côte à côte jusqu'à l'entrée du Skagerrak.Comme l'on pouvait s'y attendre, la distribution verticale du Césium est différente suivant les saisons. Cependant il apparaît également des effects qui, sur la base des données disponibles à ce jour, ne s'expliquent pas encore clairement.Le Strontium 90 aussi bien que le Plutonium 239+240 présent dans la Mer du Nord, montrent une distribution comparable, analogue à celle du Césium 137. Leurs concentrations sont bien inférieures à celle du Césium 137 (Strontium 90 17,5%; Plutonium 239+240 0,03%).Le tritium d'autre part, — avec des concentrations significativement plus fortes —montre une distribution complètement différente, due principalement au fait qu'il est introduit par l'intermédiaire de l'écoulement d'eau douce provenant de la terre.