Joint interpretation of the size and time distributions of seismic activity around the Hengill triple junction (SW Iceland) between 1993 and 1999

A newly developed clustering algorithm is described which uses the Unified Scaling Law for earthquakes to identify correlations between events that lead to clustering. This algorithm is applied to a dataset from the Hengill triple junction in south west Iceland to separate spatially and temporally overlapping earthquake sequences. We show that the algorithm successfully identifies spatio-temporally clustered events.A search for certain patterns in the identified clusters is performed. These patterns emerged in numerical simulations of seismicity performed by Hainzl (2003) when viscous coupling was introduced in order to reproduce features of swarm earthquakes. Namely we look for a combination of increased Gutenberg-Richter b-value and decreased exponent of the waiting-time distribution α. This pattern, indicating the strongest influence of viscous coupling on the characteristics of the seismicity, could be localized beneath an extinct volcano approximately 5 km north of an area of recent crustal uplift.     

Correction to: Atmospheric Turbulence Measurements at a Coastal Zone with and without Fog

Boundary-Layer Meteorology -     

The chemistry of geothermal waters in Iceland. II. Mineral equilibria and independent variables controlling water compositions

The major element chemistry of Icelandic geothermal waters is predictable provided two parameters are known. This follows from an attainment of, or a close approach to, an overall chemical equilibrium in the geothermal systems at temperatures as low as 50°C. It is considered that the geothermal system composition, temperature and kinetic factors determine which alteration minerals form. The system composition is not so much fixed by rock composition as by the rate of leaching of the various constituents from the fresh rock and the composition of inflowing water. The water chemistry is determined by the system composition and the external variables acting on the system. They include temperature and the mobility of chloride. Pressure, which theoretically should be regarded as an external variable, has insignificant effect on water compositions in the range (1–200 bars) occurring in the geothermal systems.     

The chemistry of geothermal waters in Iceland. I. Calculation of aqueous speciation from 0° to 370°C

A computer programme has been developed to calculate the composition and aqueous speciation of geothermal reservoir waters including pH, redox potential and gas partial pressures. The programme is specifically suited to handle geochemical data from wet-steam wells, hot-water wells and boiling hot springs, but it may also be used for non-thermal waters. Solubility data for selected geothermal minerals are incorporated to facilitate the study of $\text{solution}\text{mineral}$ equilibria. The programme may also be used to study chemical changes in water chemistry accompanying boiling, variable degassing and cooling, and how these changes disturb $\text{solution}\text{mineral}$ equilibria.     

Experiments on non-channelized turbidity currents and their deposits

Large-scale experiments on non-channelized turbidity currents show that a wide flow opening angle forms and a rapid dilution of the current with distance takes place. The thickness of the deposit decreases radially away from the source, resulting in tongue-shaped isopachs. The mean grain diameter also decreases with distance while the sorting improves. With increasing distance, the following succession of bedforms was observed: (Non-deposition) → parallel lamination → ripples → parallel lamination. This corresponds to the B, C and D division of the Bouma sequence for turbidites. The experiments are in good agreement with the models presented by Bouma, Mutti and Ricci Lucchi, and Walker for classical turbidites in the depositional lobes of submarine fans.     

Aquifer chemistry of four high-temperature geothermal systems in Iceland

The deep water feeding wet-steam wells in four high-temperature geothermal areas in Iceland have highly variable salinity as reflected in the chlorine concentrations which vary from 20 to 19000 ppm. Using available values for equilibrium constants, the activities of 26 chemical species involving the major components of the reservoir water have been calculated and quantitative evaluations of solute/ solute, mineral/solute chemical equilibria in these geothermal systems have been made.The unflashed reservoir water is just saturated with calcite. The saline geothermal waters, which represent heated sea-water, are just saturated with anhydrite, but the dilute waters, which are of meteoric origin, are somewhat undersaturated with this mineral. The fluoride mobility is thought to be limited by an ionic exchange reaction where F^? replaces some of the OH^? in the layered silicates. The pH of the unflashed reservoir water is governed by ionic exchange equilibrium in which all the major cations participitate. At a given temperature it seems likely that the activity of one cation fixes the activities of all the other major cations and hydrogen ion. If this is so and we take all the other chemical equilibria which have been demonstrated to exist for granted, it turns out that the major element composition of the unflashed high-temperature geothermal waters is controlled by two independent variables only. These variables are the temperature and the supply to the water of the incompatible element chlorine, incompatible indicating that this element is not incorporated in the geothermal minerals.     

New gas geothermometers for geothermal exploration—calibration and application

Calibration of five gas geothermometers is presented, three of which used CO₂, H₂S and H₂ concentrations in fumarole steam, respectively. The remaining two use $\text{CO}{}_2\text{H}{}_2$ and $\text{H}{}_2\text{S}\text{H}{}_2$ ratios. The calibration is based on the relation between gas content of drillhole discharges and measured aquifer temperatures. After establishing the gas content in the aquifer, gas concentrations were calculated in steam formed by adiabatic boiling of this water to atmospheric pressure to obtain the gas geothermometry functions. It is shown that the concentrations of CO₂, H₂S and H₂ in geothermal reservoir waters are fixed through equilibria with mineral buffers. At temperatures above 230°C epidote + prehnite + calcite + quartz are considered to buffer CO₂. Two buffers are involved for H₂S and H₂ and two functions are, therefore, presented for the geothermometers involving these gases. For waters containing less than about 500 ppm chloride and in the range 230–300°C pyrite + pyrrholite + epidote + prehnite seem to be involved, but pyrite + epidote + prehnite + magnetite or chlorite for waters above 300°C and waters in the range 230–300°C, if containing over about 500 ppm.The gas geothermometers are useful for predicting subsurface temperatures in high-temperature geothermal systems. They are applicable to systems in basaltic to acidic rocks and in sediments with similar composition, but should be used with reservation for systems located in rocks which differ much in composition from the basaltic to acidic ones. The geothermometry results may be used to obtain information on steam condensation in upflow zones, or phase separation at elevated pressures.Measured aquifer temperatures in drillholes and gas geothermometry temperatures, based on data from nearby fumaroles, compare well in the five fields in Iceland considered specifically for the present study as well as in several fields in other countries for which data were inspected. The results of the gas geothermometers also compare well with the results of solute geothermometers and mixing models in three undrilled Icelandic fields.