A new hydrostratigraphic model of Venice area (Italy)

Two environmental problems affect the Venice area: subsidence, which has been increasing due to the intensive water abstraction after the Second World War, and contamination of the soil and shallow aquifers. In order to address these problems, which are decisive factors in the entire Venetian ecosystem, the aquifer structure must be known in detail. The lithologic data are abundant and of good quality up to a depth of 50 m, whereas boreholes beyond this depth are much rarer and more dispersed, making their associated lithological data unreliable. This work, which uses the available data together with fast and low cost passive seismic measurements, provides an improved understanding of the deeper hydrogeologic domain. For this purpose, a MATLAB package (Modalstrata) has been developed to improve the correlation of the stratigraphic succession for each selected homogeneous sub-area and applied to obtain a new, upgraded hydrostratigraphic model. The horizontal to vertical spectral ratio passive seismic surveys have confirmed the lateral correlations among the sample areas at least for the two main aquifer horizons. Analysis and comparisons of several previous studies performed on the data related to the only drilling continuous coring 951 m deep in the Tronchetto Island (Venice), have allowed a satisfactory validation of the proposed hydrogeological model.     

Use of recession-curve analysis for estimation of karstification degree and its application in assessing overflow/underflow conditions in closely spaced karstic springs

In the southern part of the Slovensky Kras Mountains, located on the Hungarian–Slovakian border, a transboundary karstic aquifer Dolny vrch/Alsóhegy underlies the structure and discharges groundwater flow to 15 major karst springs around its margin. Hydrograph recession curves from nine-gauged springs on the Slovak part of the aquifer were analysed, and for each individual spring, depletion hydrograph equations were classified into different categories based on recessional parameters quantitatively describing individual groundwater flow sub–regimes. Discharge depletion was used to create recessional equations, and these were linked to karstification degree, a qualitative scale ranging from 1 to 10. A new application of hydrograph separation was based on examining and combining pairs of springs that likely fit into the category of overflow/underflow springs for a single groundwater reservoir. Recession-curve analysis performed on coupled discharges of two pairs of neighbouring springs was conducted to examine their possible linkage as a single groundwater reservoir, with an overflow outlet and underflow outlet. In the process of discharge coupling, discharges of the springs, hypothesized to be branches of the same source and observed at the same time were simply added together. By analyzing the resulting new time series, a new classification of sub-regimes could be generated. Surprisingly, new facts were revealed about the overflow/underflow springs, which primarily were not recognized previously as being connected components of a single groundwater reservoir. Summations of combined overflow/underflow discharge volumes of a single spring reservoir led to discovery of apparent presence of turbulent flow sub-regimes on the coupled recession curve. Presence of possible overflow/underflow springs of a single groundwater basin should be considered during hydrograph analyses if the springs have attributes that suggest they may be part of a combined flow system. Treating these springs as separate entities as a result can produce significant misinterpretation of drainage parameters. Furthermore, identification of overflow branches facilitates the generation of new research ideas for further speleological investigations nearby, and for assessing the system in a more effective manner.     

Spatially distributed rainfall thresholds for the initiation of shallow landslides

The evaluation of the combined influence of rainfall patterns (in terms of mean intensity and duration) and the geomorphological and mechanical characteristics of hillslopes on their stability conditions is a major goal in the assessment of the shallow landslide triggering processes. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) represent an important tool to develop models that combine hydrological and geomechanical analyses for the evaluation of slope stability, as they allow to combine information concerning rainfall characteristics with topographic and mechanical properties of the slopes over wide areas. In this paper, a GIS-based code is developed to determine physically based intensity/duration rainfall thresholds at the local scale. Given the rainfall duration and the local geometric, hydrological and mechanical characteristics of the slopes, the code evaluates the spatial distribution of the minimum rainfall intensity that triggers shallow landslides and debris flows over a given area. The key feature of the code is the capability of evaluating the time t _p required to reach the peak pore pressure head on the failure surface and computing the corresponding critical intensity/duration thresholds based on post-event peak pore pressures. The reliability of the model is tested using a set of one-dimensional analyses, comparing the physically based thresholds obtained for three different slopes with some empirical rainfall thresholds. In a log–log scale, the thresholds provided by the model decrease linearly with increased rainfall duration and they are bracketed by the empirical thresholds considered. Finally, an example of application to a study area of the Umbria region in central Italy is presented, describing the capability of the model of providing site-specific thresholds for different rainfall scenarios.     

Anodic Oxidation as Green Alternative for Removing Diethyl Phthalate from Wastewater Using Pb/PbO2 and Ti/SnO2 Anodes

The electrochemical oxidation (EO) of diethyl phthalate (DEP) in aqueous solution was studied at Pb/PbO₂ and Ti/SnO₂ anode materials under galvanostatic‐experimental conditions. Results obtained clearly demonstrated that the anode plays a significant role for the optimization of the oxidation process, deciding the mechanisms and by‐products formed. DEP and by‐products of oxidation were also analyzed during various stages of the electrolysis reaction by HPLC and GC/MS techniques. Before the analysis by GC/MS technique, the samples were treated by solid phase microextraction (SPME) in order to concentrate the compounds from the reaction solution and identify all electrolysis intermediates. Current efficiencies (instantaneous current efficiency; ICE and total current efficiency; TCE) achieved during EO experiments were dependent on anode used and current density (20–40 mA cm^?2) at 40°C. The results obtained demonstrated that the environmental electrochemical methods can be a feasible alternative for the wastewater treatment containing hazardous phthalates.     

High angular resolution millimeter observations of circumstellar disks

In this lecture, we review the properties of protoplanetary disks as derived from high angular resolution observations at millimeter wavelengths. We discuss how the combination of several different high angular resolution techniques allow us to probe different regions of the disk around young stellar objects and to derive the properties of the dust when combined with sophisticated disk models. The picture that emerges is that the dust in circumstellar disks surrounding pre-main sequence stars is in many cases significantly evolved compared to the dust in molecular clouds and the interstellar medium. It is however still difficult to derive a consistent picture and timeline for dust evolution in disks as the observations are still limited to small samples of objects.We also review the evidence for and properties of disks around high-mass young stellar objects and the implications on their formation mechanisms. The study of massive YSOs is complicated by their short lifetimes and larger average distances. In most cases high angular resolution data at millimeter wavelengths are the only method to probe the structure of disks in these objects.We provide a summary of the characteristics of available high angular resolution millimeter and submillimeter observatories. We also describe the characteristics of the ALMA observatory being constructed in the Chilean Andes. ALMA is going to be the world leading observatory at millimeter wavelengths in the coming decades, the project is now in its main construction phase with early science activities envisaged for 2010 and full science operations for 2012.     

Distribution and thickness of sedimentary facies in the coastal dune, beach and nearshore sedimentary system at Maspalomas, Canary Islands

Numerous studies have shown that most beaches and coastal dune systems of the world are currently eroding but very few have investigated the combined sediment budgets of subaerial and nearshore submarine systems. In the case of the dune field of the Maspalomas Natural Special Reserve (in the south of Gran Canaria), the adjacent Maspalomas and El Inglés beaches and the adjacent submarine platform, the sediment budgets have been severely affected by erosion over the past few decades. The objectives of this study were to investigate the availability of sand within the modern sedimentary system, including the coastal dunes, the beaches and the submerged shelf, but also to assess local sediment sinks. An isopach map generated on the basis of topo-bathymetric data and seismic-reflection profiles revealed that sediment thickness varies from 0–22 m in the study area. Expanses of relatively low sediment thickness were identified in the south-western sector of the coastal dune field along Maspalomas beach, and in the nearshore region to the south of this beach. These localized sediment-deficit areas earmark Maspalomas beach as the most vulnerable shore strip threatened by erosion. The shallow seismic data also revealed that the submarine platform south of Maspalomas represents a marine terrace cut into an ancient alluvial fan, thus documenting an influence of the geomorphological heritage on the present-day morphodynamics. A side-scan sonar mosaic of this nearshore platform enabled the delimitation of areas covered by rock, boulders and gravel, vegetated sand patches and a mobile sand facies, the latter including ripple and megaripple fields. The megaripple field in a valley close to the talus of the marine terrace has been identified as a major sediment sink of the Maspalomas sedimentary system. It is fed by south-westerly storm-wave events. The sediment deficit in the coastal dune field and along Maspalomas beach can therefore only be explained by a currently faster loss of sediment to an offshore sink than can be compensated by the supply of sand from outside the system.     

The Effect of Velocity Inversions on H/V

We analyzed the phenomenology of microtremor H/V curves under inversions in the shear-wave velocity (V_s) profile in the subsoil. Under no V_s inversion the spectral signature of the H/V peaks is found to be ‘eye-shaped’ with the horizontal components higher than the vertical. Conversely, under negative velocity gradients, numerous of differences emerge. I) A H/V ratio below 1 is observed for a wide range of frequencies, due to the decrease of the horizontal components below the vertical one. II) In the presence of persistent H/V < 1, small bumps in the H/V ratio given by local minima in the vertical spectral component may represent the relics of the peaks indicating resonances and stratigraphic discontinuities. As a consequence, in the presence of velocity inversions the H/V > 2 SESAME (2004) criterion fails but a stratigraphic interpretation may still be possible. III) The H/V curves should always be interpreted together with the single component spectra. IV) Microtremor H/V measurements for stratigraphic/microzonation purposes on stiff artificial soils, (asphalt, concrete, cement, pavements) should always be avoided since the latter often produce velocity inversions. This may have consequences in the intermediate to high frequency domain ( > 1 Hz) also in the application of reference site methods, like H_site/H_bedrock, to microtremor. Theoretical modeling confirms these experimental findings.     

Pyroclastic flow erosion and bulking processes: comparing field-based vs. modeling results at Tungurahua volcano,Ecuador

Pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) are high-temperature and high-velocity mixtures that threaten populations in the vicinity of many active volcanoes. Deciphering the cause of their remarkable mobility is essential for volcanic hazard analysis, but remains difficult because of the complex processes occurring within the flows. Here, we investigate the effect of bulking on dense PDC mobility by means of a double approach. First, we estimate the amount of material incorporated into scoria flows emplaced during the August 2006 eruption of Tungurahua volcano, Ecuador. For this, we carry out a detailed analysis of 3D-corrected digital images of well-exposed scoria flow deposits. Componentry analysis indicates that PDC bulking occurs principally on the steep (>25°) upper slope of the volcano, and the deposits typically comprise 40–50 wt% of non-juvenile (i.e., accessory and accidental) material. Secondly, we develop a simple stress-related grain-by-grain equation of erosion combined with two simple depth-averaged geophysical mass-flow models that compare the bulking mechanism to a non-fluidized and a fluidized flow. Two behaviors based on Coulomb and plastic rheologies are used to reproduce, on a first order basis, the 2006 Tungurahua PDCs. Cross-check comparisons between these modeled cases and the erosion pattern inferred from field-based data allow us to evaluate the accuracy of our modeling assumptions. Regardless of the rheological regime, the PDC-induced erosion pattern of the 2006 Tungurahua eruption can only be reproduced by fluctuations of the flow’s basal shear stress during emplacement. Such variations are controlled by flow thinning-thickening processes, notably through the formation of a thick non-erosive flow body that pushes a thin frictional erosive front during PDC emplacement. The input volume of juvenile material, as well as the thickness of the erodible layer available prior to the eruption, are additional key parameters. Our work highlights complexities in PDC erosion and bulking processes that deserve further study. In terms of hazard assessment, our findings reveal that incorporation and bulking translate into increased flow mobility, i.e., the augmented flow mass enhances both flow velocity and runout distance (up to 20 %). These outcomes should be considered closely for hazard analysis at many other andesitic volcanoes worldwide where similar PDC events are common.     

A relocatable ocean model in support of environmental emergencies

During the Costa Concordia emergency case, regional, subregional, and relocatable ocean models have been used together with the oil spill model, MEDSLIK-II, to provide ocean currents forecasts, possible oil spill scenarios, and drifters trajectories simulations. The models results together with the evaluation of their performances are presented in this paper. In particular, we focused this work on the implementation of the Interactive Relocatable Nested Ocean Model (IRENOM), based on the Harvard Ocean Prediction System (HOPS), for the Costa Concordia emergency and on its validation using drifters released in the area of the accident. It is shown that thanks to the capability of improving easily and quickly its configuration, the IRENOM results are of greater accuracy than the results achieved using regional or subregional model products. The model topography, and to the initialization procedures, and the horizontal resolution are the key model settings to be configured. Furthermore, the IRENOM currents and the MEDSLIK-II simulated trajectories showed to be sensitive to the spatial resolution of the meteorological fields used, providing higher prediction skills with higher resolution wind forcing.     

Simplified seismic soil classification: the Vfz matrix

Site effect assessment studies aim at predicting the effect of seismic shaking on structures by modeling the subsoil as an oscillator coupled to another oscillator representing the construction. The resulting amplification functions and response spectra depend on so many strong assumptions and parameters that, in the standard engineering practice, simplified seismic classifications appear preferable to complex modeling procedures which can only offer an illusory better accuracy. Since stratigraphic seismic amplification is not properly related to the absolute rigidity of subsoil but to impedance contrasts, the standard simplified approaches based on the ‘average’ rigidity of subsoil in the first few meters (e.g. Vs30) can hardly be effective. Here it is proposed a simplified soil classification approach that takes into account the basic Physics of seismic amplification and its parameters, i.e. the average shear wave velocity of the cover layer, the resonance frequency and the impedance contrast between the cover and the bedrock, which we summarize as VfZ. A possible classification approach is illustrated through a set of examples.