LAND SUBSIDENCE IN THE LOS BANOS–KETTLEMAN CITY AREA,CALIFORNIA: PAST AND FUTURE OCCURRENCE

Land subsidence in the western San Joaquin Valley has been studied and monitored for almost six decades. Especially in the 1950s and 1960s, land subsidence had tremendous negative environmental and socioeconomic implications. The rate of land subsidence in the Los Banos–Kettleman City area, however, has decreased during the last three decades as a result of a decrease in groundwater withdrawal, following the importation of surface water to the Valley in late 1960s. The land subsidence in the Valley potentially could be a serious issue if the existing surface water supplies cannot meet increasing water demands during future critical drought periods. In this respect, this paper proposes a preliminary analysis to predict magnitudes of subsidence for the period 2000 to 2040, based on historical occurrences. In this study, extrapolation from earlier subsidence is based on: (1) knowledge of recent post-drought records at extensometers, (2) assumption of a single time porosity scenario, and (3) the premise that pumpage from the confined aquifer gradually will decrease as a result of progressive water quality degradation. Predicted magnitudes of land subsidence in the Los Banos–Kettleman City area are expected to be in the range 0.5 to 4.0 m for the next 4 to 5 decades under the scenario considered in this paper. [Key words: subsidence, groundwater extraction, aquitard, inelastic compaction, active porosity, Los Banos-Kettleman City, California.]     

Phytoplankton distribution and productivity in a highly turbid, tropical coastal system (Bach Dang Estuary, Vietnam)

Phytoplankton diversity, primary and bacterial production, nutrients and metallic contaminants were measured during the wet season (July) and dry season (March) in the Bach Dang Estuary, a sub-estuary of the Red River system, Northern Vietnam. Using canonical correspondence analysis we show that phytoplankton community structure is potentially influenced by both organometallic species (Hg and Sn) and inorganic metal (Hg) concentrations. During March, dissolved methylmercury and inorganic mercury were important factors for determining phytoplankton community composition at most of the stations. In contrast, during July, low salinity phytoplankton community composition was associated with particulate methylmercury concentrations, whereas phytoplankton community composition in the higher salinity stations was more related to dissolved inorganic mercury and dissolved mono and tributyltin concentrations. These results highlight the importance of taking into account factors other than light and nutrients, such as eco-toxic heavy metals, in understanding phytoplankton diversity and activity in estuarine ecosystems.     

Seyfert galaxies and the cosmic γ-ray diffuse background

Three active galaxies, generally classified as Seyferts, have been discovered recently to be powerful, low energy -ray sources. The similarity between their spectral characteristics and those of the cosmic background at -ray energies suggests that these objects could make a significant contribution to this diffuse flux. This contribution has been assessed using two different number densities of -ray-emitting Seyfert galaxies based on optical and X-ray data. The comparison of the estimated and measured diffuse -ray background intensities is used to gain a deeper understanding of the metabolism of Seyfert galaxies.     

Water level changes in Lake Van,Turkey, during the past ca. 600 ka: climatic,volcanic and tectonic controls

Sediments of Lake Van, Turkey, preserve one of the most complete records of continental climate change in the Near East since the Middle Pleistocene. We used seismic reflection profiles to infer past changes in lake level and discuss potential causes related to changes in climate, volcanism, and regional tectonics since the formation of the lake ca. 600 ka ago. Lake Van’s water level ranged by as much as 600 m during the past ~600 ka. Five major lowstands occurred, at ~600, ~365–340, ~290–230, ~150–130 and ~30–14 ka. During Stage A, between about 600 and 230 ka, lake level changed dramatically, by hundreds of meters, but phases of low and high stands were separated by long time intervals. Changes in the lake level were more frequent during the past ~230 ka, but less dramatic, on the order of a few tens of meters. We identified period B1 as a time of stepwise transgressions between ~230 and 150 ka, followed by a short regression between ca. 150 and 130 ka. Lake level rose stepwise during period B2, until ~30 ka. During the past ~30 ka, a regression and a final transgression occurred, each lasting about 15 ka. The major lowstand periods in Lake Van occurred during glacial periods, suggesting climatic control on water level changes (i.e. greatly reduced precipitation led to lower lake levels). Although climate forcing was the dominant cause for dramatic water level changes in Lake Van, volcanic and tectonic forcing factors may have contributed as well. For instance, the number of distinct tephra layers, some several meters thick, increases dramatically in the uppermost ~100 m of the sediment record (i.e. the past ~230 ka), an interval that coincides largely with low-magnitude lake level fluctuations. Tectonic activity, highlighted by extensional and/or compressional faults across the basin margins, probably also affected the lake level of Lake Van in the past.     

Magnetostratigraphy of the late Tertiary Verde Formation,central Arizona

Paleomagnetic polarity data were obtained from nine sections of the Verde Formation, a late Tertiary carbonate-bearing lacustrine unit in central Arizona. This study tested the applicability of magnetostratigraphy as a geochronologic technique in a restricted terrestrial sedimentary basin, and its objective was to better define the age of the Verde Formation.Intensities of natural remanent magnetism (NRM) ranged from <10^?7 to >10^?4 gauss. Although secondary components of viscous magnetization commonly were observed, alternating field demagnetization was successful in revealing the polarity of the primary NRM at almost all sites. Thermomagnetic analysis, partial thermal demagnetization of NRM, and polished section analysis together indicate that the primary NRM is a depositional remanence carried by detrital magnetite. Intrabasin stratigraphic correlation of the sections, together with K-Ar ages on interbedded and underlying volcanic rocks has allowed construction of a composite magnetostratigraphic column for the Verde Formation that is correlated with the late Cenozoic polarity time scale. The correlation indicates nearly continuous sedimentation in the Verde basin from ～7.5 to ～2.5 m.y. ago.     

Transformation of Trichloroethylene to Predominantly Non‐Regulated Products under Stimulated Sulfate Reducing Conditions

Anaerobic microcosms containing sediment and water were amended to generate a range of mass loadings of FeS. Microcosms were then spiked with trichloroethylene (TCE) and the concentration of TCE and possible volatile reaction products monitored over time. The lowest yields of TCE, as well as the lowest yields of reaction products regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act (i.e., dichloroethylene isomers and vinyl chloride), were observed at FeS mass loadings at or above 20 g/L. Sixty eight days after spiking with TCE, selected microcosms were amended with sulfate and lactate, or sulfate, Fe(II), and lactate, and the effect of these amendments on TCE transformation and yield of regulated products was compared to microcosms that did not receive any amendments. Addition of sulfate, Fe(II), and lactate led to the greatest improvement on TCE depletion rates and the lowest yields of regulated reaction products compared with addition of sulfate and lactate, or no amendments. Analysis of kinetic modeling suggests that microbial and abiotic processes acted in concert to promote TCE transformation to a relatively low yield of regulated products in microbially active microcosms that contained high mass loadings of FeS.     

Equation of state fits to the lower mantle and outer core

The lower mantle and outer core are subjected to tests for homogeneity and adiabaticity. An earth model is used which is based on the inversion of body waves and Q-corrected normal-mode data. Homogeneous regions are found at radii between 5125 and 4825 km, 4600 and 3850 km, and 3200 and 2200 km. The lower mantle and outer core are inhomogeneous on the whole and are only homogeneous in the above local regions.Finite-strain and atomistic equations of state are fit to the homogeneous regions. The apparent convergence of the finite-strain relations is examined to judge their applicability to a given region. In some cases the observed pressure derivatives of the elastic moduli are used as additional constraints. The effect of minor deviations from adiabaticity on the extrapolations is also considered. An ensemble of zero-pressure values of the density and seismic velocities are found for these regions. The range of extrapolated values from these several approaches provides a measure of uncertainties involved.     

Archaeological geophysics investigation of the Wright Brothers 1910 hangar site

An archaeological geophysics investigation was conducted at the site of the Wright Brothers' 1910 hangar near Dayton, Ohio. The hangar was destroyed as part of base renovation during the buildup to World War II, and its exact location is unknown. The purpose of the investigation is to confirm the exact location of the hangar and to locate any buried artifacts from the Wright Brothers occupation of the site. Ground penetrating radar (GPR), electromagnetic, and magnetic surveys were conducted over a 68 × 100 m area, approximately centered on the suspected location of the hangar. Localized anomalies as well as areal anomalies are identified in the geophysical data. Rectangular anomalous areas are identified that are generally consistent with the suspected location of the hangar. A 1924 aerial photograph showing the hangar was digitally scanned and georeferenced to the site survey area. Two of the rectangular geophysical anomalous areas are consistent with the hangar location from the aerial photograph location. A third rectangular area, defined from GPR survey data, is immediately adjacent to the aerial photograph location. It is postulated that base engineers may have bulldozed the hangar debris onto an area adjacent to its original location and either burned it there or buried it in a trench. A prioritized exploratory program is proposed for investigating the sources of the geophysical anomalies. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.