Atmospheric and Surface Water Pollution Interpretation in the Gdańsk Beltway Impact Range by the Use of Multivariate Analysis

The present study deals with the application of the hierarchical cluster analysis and non‐parametric tests in order to interpret the Gdańsk Beltway impact range. The data set represents concentration values for major inorganic ions (Na⁺, NH, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, F⁻, Cl⁻, NO, and SO) as well as electrolytic conductivity and pH measured in various water samples [precipitation, throughfall water, road runoff, and surface water (drainage ditches, surface water reservoirs, and spring water)] collected in the vicinity of the beltway. Several similarity groups were discovered both in the objects and in the variables modes according to the water sample. In the majority of cases clear anthropogenic (fertilizers usage and transport, road salting in winter) and semi‐natural (sea salt aerosols, erosion of construction materials) impacts were discovered. Spatial variation was discovered for road runoff samples and samples collected from surface water reservoirs and springs. Surprisingly no clear seasonal variability was discovered for precipitation chemistry, while some evidences for existing of summer and winter specific chemical profile was discovered for road runoff samples. In general, limited range of the Gdańsk Beltway impact was proven.     

Prospects for Scrutiny of Pulsars with Polish Part of LOFAR

LOFAR (LOw Frequency ARray) is a new generation digitally controlled radio telescope consisting of phased array antenna stations with sensitivity, bandwidth, range of frequency, and digital processing power that makes it an excellent tool for observations of pulsars. This interferometric instrument is able to work in a single-station mode as well as in group-of-selected-stations mode. This article discusses the great opportunity for conducting unique and independent research of pulsar sources with the three LOFAR stations located in Poland and maintained by the POLFAR consortium.     

Comparison of Two Nonstationary Flood Frequency Analysis Methods within the Context of the Variable Regime in the Representative Polish Rivers

Changes in river flow regime resulted in a surge in the number of methods of non-stationary flood frequency analysis. Common assumption is the time-invariant distribution function with time-dependent location and scale parameters while the shape parameters are time-invariant. Here, instead of location and scale parameters of the distribution, the mean and standard deviation are used. We analyse the accuracy of the two methods in respect to estimation of time-dependent first two moments, time-invariant skewness and time-dependent upper quantiles. The method of maximum likelihood (ML) with time covariate is confronted with the Two Stage (TS) one (combining Weighted Least Squares and L-moments techniques). Comparison is made by Monte Carlo simulations. Assuming parent distribution which ensures the asymptotic superiority of ML method, the Generalized Extreme Value distribution with various values of linearly changing in time first two moments, constant skewness, and various time-series lengths are considered. Analysis of results indicates the superiority of TS methods in all analyzed aspects. Moreover, the estimates from TS method are more resistant to probability distribution choice, as demonstrated by Polish rivers’ case studies.     

Very Low Frequency Electromagnetic Induction Surveys in Hydrogeological Investigations; Case Study from Poland

In 2011, a geophysical survey was carried out in the surroundings of the Jagiellonian University in Cracow, using a Very Low Frequency method. The measurements were designed to determine the reason of frequent flooding of the lowest level of the building. The main objective of the study was to find out from where and in which way the rainwater seeps into the building and how this problem can be solved in the least invasive manner. The aim of geophysical methods was also to provide necessary information that will enable the construction of a hydro-geological model of the local environment. The interpretation revealed the presence of a sandy gutter surrounded by impermeable clay. There is a big resistivity contrast between those layers. Their location and approximate dimensions were determined.     

Seismic view on the svalbard passive continental margin

Deep seismic sounding measurements were performed in the continent-ocean transition zone of the western Svalbard and Barents Sea margin, during the expeditions in 1985–2008. Seismic energy (airgun and TNT shots) was recorded along several profiles by onshore seismic stations and ocean bottom seismometers, and hydrophone systems. Good quality reflected and refracted P waves provided an excellent data base for a seismic modelling along the profiles. TNT sources were recorded even up to 300 km distances. A minimal depth of about 6 km of the Moho interface was found east of the Molloy Deep. The Moho discontinuity dips down to 28 km beneath the continental part of the northernmost profile and down to maximum 32 km beneath other profiles. The evolution of the region is considered to be within a shearrift tectonic setting. The continent-ocean transition zone along the northernmost profile is mostly dominated by extension; therefore, the last stage of the development of the margin can be classified as rifting. The uplifted Moho interface close to the Molloy Deep can be interpreted as a south-western end of the Molloy Ridge. The margin of the southern Spitsbergen is rather of sheared character while the western Barents Sea margin is of slow to ultraslow spreading type.     

Activation of cloud droplets in bin-microphysics simulation of shallow convection

This paper describes implementation of the warm-rain bin microphysics in a LES model based on the EULAG fluid flow solver. The binmicrophysics EULAG is applied to the case of shallow nonprecipitating tropical convection to investigate the impact of the secondary activation of cloud droplets above the cloud base. In a previous study applying the EULAG model with the double-moment bulk warm-rain microphysics scheme, the in-cloud activation was shown to have significant implications for the mean microphysical and optical characteristics of the cloud field. By contrasting the simulations with and without in-cloud activation as in the previous study, we show that the in-cloud activation has qualitatively similar but quantitatively smaller effect. In particular, the concentration of cloud droplets in the bin simulation without in-cloud activation decreases with height not as strongly as in corresponding simulations applying the double-moment bulk scheme.     

Extending the double-difference location technique to mining applications part I: Numerical study

The location of the seismic event hypocenter is the very first task undertaken when studying any seismological problem. The accuracy of the solution can significantly influence consecutive stages of analysis, so there is a continuous demand for new, more efficient and accurate location algorithms. It is important to recognize that there is no single universal location algorithm which will perform equally well in any situation. The type of seismicity, the geometry of the recording seismic network, the size of the controlled area, tectonic complexity, are the most important factors influencing the performance of location algorithms. In this paper we propose a new location algorithm called the extended double difference (EDD) which combines the insensitivity of the double-difference (DD) algorithm to the velocity structure with the special demands imposed by mining: continuous change of network geometry and a very local recording capability of the network for dominating small induced events. The proposed method provides significantly better estimation of hypocenter depths and origin times compared to the classical and double-difference approaches, the price being greater sensitivity to the velocity structure than the DD approach. The efficiency of both algorithms for the epicentral coordinates is similar.     

K‐Ar ages of Cainozoic volcanic suites,Bowen‐St Lawrence Hinterland,North Queensland (with some implications for petrologic models)

Thirty K‐Ar dates on Cainozoic volcanic rocks lying at the north end of the Bowen Basin suggest that several episodes of volcanism took place at major structural weaknesses. The oldest volcanism (ca 54 m.y.) was located outside the basin structure. The main volcanism (Nebo and East Clermont Provinces) extended from early Oligocene (34–35 m.y.) to mid‐Cainozoic time (21–22 m.y.?). Isolated Pliocene activity is tentatively suggested by dates on Mt St Martin (ca 3 m.y.).

Dating of the Nebo central volcano (31–33 m.y.) supports the model of Wellman &; McDougall, with volcanic activity related to migration of Australia northwards over a mantle magma source. Consideration of the Nebo dates with those of other central volcanoes in north Queensland, suggests that central felsic activity was surrounded by broad zones of peripheral eruptives, petrologically zoned from outer undersaturated basalts to inner saturated basalts. These zones (super provinces) delineate the size and profile of underlying magma sources and appear to trend back in time and space to sea‐floor spreading episodes in the Coral Sea—southeastern Papua region (55 m.y.).

The basalt dates also assist in fixing periods of lateritization (mid‐Oligocene) and in determining approximate minimum erosion rates in the northern Bowen Basin since the Eocene (3–5m/m.y.).     

Late thermal events based on zircon fission track ages in northeastern New South Wales and southeastern Queensland: Links to Sydney Basin seismicity?

Zircon, concentrated from basaltic terrains in northeastern New South Wales and southeastern Queensland, reveals some unexpectedly young fission track peaks. Between 2 to 13 Ma in age, these peaks are younger than known Tertiary basaltic ages from these regions which match older fission track peaks. Analysis of the fission track data suggests that the young dates are probably not reset ages due to recent heating events such as bush fires, but more likely mark thermal resetting by later volcanic eruptions.

The young ages decrease southwards from Queensland through northern New South Wales and trend toward seismic zones within the Sydney Basin in the Newcastle, Blue Mountains and Illawarra regions. A model based on northward motion of the Australian plate over a hot asthenospheric source (0.75° latitude/Ma over 12 Ma)) predicts the positions of most young zircon ages to within ± 70 km in latitude when projected from seismic sites at Newcastle and Bowral‐Robertson.

A minor hot spot source is proposed, some 250 km across, which triggered isolated basaltic and zircon‐bearing eruptions every few million years and now underlies the southern Sydney Basin. This would bring Sydney Basin seismicity into line with other seismic zones known at present hot spot positions across southeastern Australia and the Tasman Sea. It raises questions concerning activation of local seismicity, potential for volcanic risk and distribution of young uplift in the Sydney region. Similar studies are needed to test other puzzling seismic zones (e.g. the Dalton‐Gunning Zone).