Monitoring, prediction, and early warning using ground-based radar interferometry

In order to define adequate prevention measures and to manage landslide emergencies, real-time monitoring is required. This paper presents two different applications of the remote sensing technique: the ground-based synthetic aperture radar interferometry, here proposed as a monitoring and early warning support for slope instability. Data acquisitions carried out through a ground-based synthetic aperture radar interferometer, operating in K_u band, installed in front of the observed slopes, are discussed. Two case studies, based on the use of the same apparatus (formerly developed by the Joint Research Center of the European Commission and by Ellegi-LiSALab srl), are reported: the first one concerns the monitoring of a large landslide, named Ruinon (Valfurva, Italy). The second one deals with the monitoring of the NW unstable slope in the Stromboli island aimed to implementing an early warning system. Acquired interferometric data are processed to provide displacements and velocity maps of the monitored area. The monitoring services ongoing on the Ruinon landslide and on Stromboli demonstrate the capability of this technique to operate in different operative settings (i.e., different phenomena and geological framework) and for different aims (monitoring for prevention, early warning, and emergency assessment). This methodology has also been proved by national and regional authorities of civil protection in order to provide a real-time monitoring for emergency management.     

Hydrothermal dolomitization in platform and basin carbonate successions during thrusting: A hydrocarbon reservoir analogue (Mesozoic of Venetian Southern Alps,Italy)

The Early Jurassic dolomitized carbonates in the Venetian Alp, represent a surface analogue of the hydrocarbon exploration targets in Adriatic offshore and Po Plain, Italy. Dolomitization affected the carbonate platform of Monte Zugna Formation (Lower Jurassic) and the Neptunian dikes breccia in the pelagic Maiolica Formation (Uppermost Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous) improving the poro-perm characteristics. Petrography, stable isotope, strontium isotope ratio, trace element and fluid inclusion analyses were carried out on samples from the Monte Grappa Anticline, which is the direct analogue for subsurface. The petrographic analyses showed a first pervasive, replacement dolomitization phase (D1) followed by volumetrically less important dolomite cement precipitation phases (D2, D3, DS). The same, quite wide range of oxygen isotope (?9 to ?2‰ V-PDB) is observed in all dolomite types. The δ¹³C range is in the positive field of marine derived carbonate (from +0.5 to +3.2‰ PDB). The trace element analysis showed a slight enrichment in Fe and Mn contents in the Monte Zugna dolostones with respect the original limestone. The same dolomite precipitation temperature (up to 105 °C Th) was observed in the replacement and cement dolomites, suggesting a unique dolomitization event. This temperature, largely higher than the maximum burial temperature (about 50 °C), supports a hydrothermal origin of the dolomitizing fluids, which had a seawater to brackish composition. The data collected suggest a hydrothermal dolomitization occurring during to the South Alpine thrusting according to the “squeegee model”. The interpretation is consistent with the dolomitization model proposed for similar Jurassic successions in the Central Southern Alps. This study indicates that the deformed foreland and thrust fold belts carbonates in Po Plain and Adriatic offshore are suitable to be dolomitized, and therefore reflect an efficient hydrocarbon exploration play.     

Preliminary paleolimnological study of rocha lagoon, SE Uruguay

Physical, chemical and biological data from a sedimentary profile of Rocha lagoon (Uruguay) are presented. Analyses of silica remains showed that opal phytoliths, diatoms, sponge spicules and chrysophyte cysts were the most important contributors to biogenic silica. Organic matter, total nitrogen and total phosphorus were used to infer past trophic development. Physical analysis of sediments allowed us to identify five lithological units related to sea level variation and climatic events.     

Low-cost long-term monitoring of global climate forcings and feedbacks

We describe the rationale for long-term monitoring of global climate forcings and radiative feedbacks as a contribution to interpretation of long-term global temperature change. Our discussion is based on a more detailed study and workshop report (Hansenet al., 1993b). We focus on the potential contribution of a proposed series of inexpensive small satellites, but we discuss also the need for complementary climate process studies and ground-based measurements. Some of these measurements could be made inexpensively by students, providing both valuable climate data and science educational experience.     

Solitary rossby waves over variable relief and their stability. Part II: numerical experiments

The barotropic, quasi-geostrophic vorticity equation describing large scale, rotating flows over zonal relief supports nonlinear permanent form solutions, namely nonlinear topographic Rossby waves. Through an analytical theory, these solutions have been shown to be neutrally stable to infinitesimal perturbations.Numerical algorithms, which necessarily truncate the infinite number of degrees of freedom of any continuum model to a finite number, are capable of reproducing the numerical equivalent of these form-preserving solutions. Moreover, these numerical solutions are shown to preserve their shape throughout the numerical experiment not only in the limit of small amplitude, but also for high amplitude (Rossby number → O(1)).Through numerical simulation, the stability analysis is carried far beyond the analytical limit of infinitesimal perturbations. The solutions maintain their stability in agreement with the analytical theory, up to perturbations having intensities almost of the same order as the solutions themselves. For higher-amplitude perturbations, the solutions break up and typical turbulent behavior ensues. The passage from wave-like to turbulent behavior, upon surpassing a critical perturbation value, can be observed in the sudden loss of phase locking of the permanent solution Fourier modes.     

The crystal structure of sarkinite,Mn2AsO4(OH)

Summary Sarkinite is a basic manganese arsenate, Mn₂AsO₄(OH). The lattice parameters are:a=12.779 (2) Å,b=13.596 (2) Å,c=10.208 (2) Å, =108°53 (6). Space groupP2₁/a,Z=16. The crystal structure has been solved by direct methods from three-dimensional X-ray diffractometer data and refined by least-squares methods toR=0.052 for 3519 independent reflections. The crystal structure is built up by a three-dimensional framework of MnO₄(OH)₂ octahedra, MnO₄(OH) trigonal bipyramids and AsO₄ tetrahedra, as found in wagnerite. Isotypy of sarkinite with triploidite is confirmed.

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Die Kristallstruktur des Sarkinits, Mn₂AsO₄(OH)

Zusammenfassung Die Kristallstruktur des basischen Manganarsenates Sarkinit, Mn₂AsO₄(OH), mit den Gitterkonstantena=12,779 (2) Å,b=13,596 (2) Å,c=10,208 (2) Å, =108°53 (6). RaumgruppeP2₁/a,Z=16, wurde mit dreidimensionalen Röntgendiffraktometermessungen durch direkte Methoden gelöst und nach dem kleinste-Quadrate-Verfahren verfeinert (R=0,052 für 3519 unabhängige Reflexe). Die Struktur besteht aus einem dreidimensionalen Gerüst aus MnO₄(OH)₂-Oktaedern, trigonalen Bipyramiden von MnO₄(OH) und AsO₄-Tetraedern wie in Wagnerit. Die Isotypie von Sarkinit mit Triploidit wurde bestätigt.

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With 1 Figure     

Microtremors and volcanic explosions at Stromboli — Part 2

A seismic survey was carried out at Stromboli volcano during August 1973. Statistical and spectral analyses of volcanic tremor and explosion quakes were performed. The statistical analysis has shown that the value of them coefficient in Ishimoto & Iida’s relation is high and that the hourly frequencies of events are fairly constant. The spectral analysis has shown a similarity in shape between tremors and explosion quakes. These events have the dominant frequency of 5 Hz at the craters area.     

Velocity and runout simulation of destructive debris flows and debris avalanches in pyroclastic deposits,Campania region,Italy

The Campanian Apennines are characterized by the presence of monocline ridges, mainly formed by limestone. During the periods of volcanic activity of the Somma-Vesuvius and Phlegrean Fields, the ridges were mantled with pyroclastic materials in varying thickness. The pyroclastics have been involved in destructive landslides both in historical time and in the recent past (1997, 1998, 1999). The landslides occur following intense and prolonged rainfalls. In some cases, landslides extended up to 4 km into the surrounding lowlands and reached towns, causing severe destruction and over 200 deaths. Generally, the landslides begin as small debris slides that develop into large, shallow debris avalanches or debris flows involving pyroclastic horizons and colluvial soils (0.5–2 m thick) on steep and vegetated slopes, often at the heads of gullies. During motion, the landslide materials eroded vegetation and soils from the slope, so that the moving material volume tended to increase. Then, proceeding towards and beyond the base of the slopes, the phenomena evolved into hyperconcentrated streamflow due to dilution by incorporating water. The results of motion analyses are described. An empirical rheological relationship was used including two principal terms that depend on the total normal stress and on the flow velocity. On this basis, the model has simulated the velocity and duration of debris avalanches and the distribution of the deposits. The selected areas were those of Sarno/Quindici and Cervinara, where a large amount of data is available both on the material properties and geomorphological setting. It was found that the majority of the cases at the two sites can be simulated successfully with only one specific pair of rheologic parameters. This provides the possibility for first-order predictions to be made of the motion of future landslides. Such predictions will be a valuable tool for outlining potential hazard areas and designing remedial measures.     

How Cr<Superscript>3+</Superscript> and Fe<Superscript>3+</Superscript> affect Mg–Al order–disorder transformation at high temperature in natural spinels

Three natural Mg(Al_2-yCr_y)O₄ spinels (y 0.07–0.16), highly ordered in terms of Mg–Al, and one Mg(Al_2–yFe³⁺_y)O₄ spinel (y0.08), highly ordered also in terms of Fe³⁺, were studied by means of X-ray single-crystal diffraction. All samples were heated in situ from 25 to 1000 °C in order to follow both thermal expansion and evolution of the structural state of spinel with temperature. Thermal expansion was monitored by means of the variation of cell edge a with temperature, and found to be well represented throughout the temperature range by a regression line a = a₀ (1+T), slightly different at lower and higher temperatures. Thermal expansion coefficient ₁, referring to the lower temperature range (i.e. during pure thermal expansion), was slightly lower than ₂, calculated only over the highest temperatures. The trend showed different slopes for individual crystals. Structural evolution with temperature was studied by means of the variation of oxygen positional parameter u, which is strongly influenced by intersite cation exchange and thus closely correlated with inversion parameter x. In particular, in the three Cr samples, in which Cr resides only in the octahedral site, u parameter variations and hence the order–disorder process, started at about 700 °C. Instead, in the Fe³⁺ sample, this process was triggered at lower temperatures, starting at 550 °C with Fe³⁺–Mg exchange followed at higher temperatures by that of Mg–Al. Cr contents in the Cr samples affected the occupancy of Al in the tetrahedral site at the highest temperatures. In both Mg–Al–Cr and Mg–Al–Fe³⁺ compositions, if CrFe³⁺, parameter u reached the same value only when the Mg–Al exchange was dominant, i.e. at the highest temperatures, but not before. Cation distribution at each temperature was obtained by the bond-length model, applying thermal expansion to pure bond lengths. This method is applied here to complex compositions for the first time.