Investigation of fractured rock aquifer in South China using electrical resistivity tomography and self-potential methods

Assessment of fractured rock aquifers in many parts of the world is complicated given their strong heterogeneity. Delineation of the subsurface geological formation in the weathered terrain is essential for groundwater exploration. To achieve this goal, 2D electrical resistivity tomography(ERT) and self-potential(SP) in combination with joint profile method(JPM) and boreholes have been carried out to delineate the subsurface geological units, detect the fracture/fault zones in hard rock, monitor the groundwater flow, and estimate the groundwater reserves contained within the weathered terrain at a complex heterogeneous site of Huangbu, South Guangdong of China. The integration of resistivity images with the borehole lithology along three profiles delineates three subsurface distinct layers namely topsoil cover, weathered and unweathered layers. The incorporation of ERT and SP with JPM reveal five fractures/faults, i.e., F_1, F_2, F_3, F_4 and F_5. 2D ERT models interpret the less resistive anomalies as the fractures/faults zones, and high resistive anomalies as the fresh bedrock. The inversion program based on the smoothness-constraint is used on the resistivity field data to get more realistic three layered model. SP measurements are obtained along the same electrical profiles which provide the negative anomalies clearly indicating the groundwater preferential flow pathways along the fracture/fault zones. Hydraulic parameters namely hydraulic conductivity and transmissivity were determined to estimate the groundwater resources contained within the fractures/faults. The integrated results suggest that the fractures/faults zones are most appropriate places of drilling for groundwater exploration in the investigated area. Geophysical methods coupled with the upfront borehole data provides better understanding about the conceptual model of the subsurface geological formations. The current investigation demonstrates the importance of the integrated geophysical methods as a complementary approach for groundwater assessment in the hard rock weathered areas.     

青藏高原中部色林错湖泊沉积物色度反映末次冰盛期以来区域古气候演化

色林错湖位于青藏高原内部,是西藏第一大咸水内陆湖。研究区剖面选自色林错第三湖泊阶地,利用常用气候替代指标色度,结合粒度、碳酸盐含量［CaCO³（%）］、矿物分析和全有机质（TOC）等进行对比分析,同时采用¹⁴C测年方法对剖面进行准确的年代划分,初步探讨了末次冰盛期以来色林错湖泊沉积物色度增强机制的差异性。研究表明： a^*、b^*与中粗粒砂、磁化率具有较好的相关性;亮度L^*与CaCO³（%）具较好相关性;因而沉积物色度变化可反应区域古气候变化。同时对湖泊沉积物矿物分析发现,影响色度变化的制色矿物主要是针铁矿,且以还原环境为主。红度a^*高值与亮度L^*低值对应气候暖湿气候环境,沉积物粒度较粗,碳酸盐含量低,有机质含量高,磁化率较高值;反之,红度a^*低值,L^*高值,粒度较细,碳酸盐含量高,有机质含量低,磁化率低值,对应干冷气候。在17.4～15.5 cal ka BP阶段,对应干冷的气候特点;在15.5～10.4 cal ka BP阶段,对应温暖湿润的气候;在10.4～5.2 cal ka BP阶段,整体属于温暖湿润的气候特点;其中,在9.7～9.4 cal ka BP和8.75～8.5 cal ka BP为两个重要的冷事件,属于干湿的气候特点;在5.2～1.2 cal ka BP阶段,反映了干冷的气候特征;在4.3～4.0 cal ka BP,3.3～3.0 cal ka BP和2.4～1.75 cal ka BP,反映了干旱温暖的气候特点;在1.2 cal ka BP以后,色林错湖湖水迅速下降。     

社区化新零售的布局选址与优化发展研究——以南京市盒马鲜生为例

社区化新零售是新兴的商业模式,也是商业与社区互动的重要场域,值得从城市空间视角深入探究。基于南京市盒马鲜生及相关兴趣点(point of interest,POI)与兴趣面(area of interest,AOI)数据,综合运用空间分析、定量统计、实地调研等方法,解析盒马鲜生的服务类型及对象、空间布局特征、区位选址因素,并提出优化发展建议。研究发现：① 南京市盒马鲜生服务对象以社区为主,酒店、写字楼为辅;服务客户以具有一定经济基础和消费能力的中青年人群为主。② 空间布局总体呈现南—北走向的主城区+近郊区的“5+7三组团”格局,均为“点”状门店+不规则“面”状服务区相结合的“中心—外围”结构,实际配送范围与3 km缓冲区存在差异。③ 区位选址主要受社区密度和交通环境的影响,对商圈、地价具有依赖性,竞争对手对门店选址影响较小;主要位于社区与道路密度中高值区、商圈边缘地带、主干道两侧及地价中等区域,并利用面状服务区延伸服务范围,获取更多潜在目标客户群。最后从消费群体、运营成本、品牌竞争3个方面探索其区位选址的影响机制,并基于区位选址特征提出优化发展建议。     

Impact of grazing on soil,vegetation and ewe production performances in a semi-arid rangeland

Controlled grazing is considered a good management strategy to maintain or increase the live weight of livestock and to reduce vegetation degradation of rangelands. The present study investigated soil characteristics, aboveground vegetation biomass dynamics and controlled grazinginduced changes in the live weight of local ewes in the semi-arid rangeland of Ahmadun, Ziarat, Balochistan province of Pakistan. An area of 115 ha was protected from livestock grazing in April 2014. In June 2015, soil characteristics within 0-30 cm depth i.e. soil organic matter (SOM), mineral nitrogen, pH and texture in controlled and uncontrolled grazing sites were assessed. Aboveground vegetation biomass measured in early (June) and late summer (August) in 2015 and 2016. The nutritional value i.e. crude protein, phosphorus (P), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and potassium (K) of dominant plant species were assessed at the beginning of experiment in 2015. Vegetation cover of controlled and uncontrolled grazing sites was also measured during the two years of the study period using the VegMeasure software. From June to November in 2015 and 2016, controlled and uncontrolled livestock grazing sites were grazed on a daily basis by local ewes with a stocking rate of 2 and 1 head ha-1 respectively. Results reveal that the organic matter contents of coarse-textured, slightly alkaline soil of the study site were in the range of 9.4 - 17.6 g kg-1 soil and showed a strong positive correlation with aboveground vegetation biomass. The biomass of plants was 56.5% and 33% greater at controlled than uncontrolled grazing site in 2015 and 2016 respectively and plant cover was also higher at controlled than uncontrolled grazing site in both years. The nutrient contents were significantly (P<0.05) lower in grasses than shrubs. In both years, the controlled grazing increased the weight gain of ewes about two folds compared to the uncontrolled grazing. The results indicate that controlled grazing improved the vegetation biomass production and small ruminant productivity.     

Projection of future streamflow of the Hunza River Basin,Karakoram Range (Pakistan) using HBV hydrological model

Hydrologiska Byrans Vattenbalansavdeling(HBV) Light model was used to evaluate the performance of the model in response to climate change in the snowy and glaciated catchment area of Hunza River Basin. The study aimed to understand the temporal variation of streamflow of Hunza River and its contribution to Indus River System(IRS). HBV model performed fairly well both during calibration(R2=0.87, Reff=0.85, PBIAS=-0.36) and validation(R2=0.86, Reff=0.83, PBIAS=-13.58) periods on daily time scale in the Hunza River Basin. Model performed better on monthly time scale with slightly underestimated low flows period during bothcalibration(R2=0.94, Reff=0.88, PBIAS=0.47) and validation(R2=0.92, Reff=0.85, PBIAS=15.83) periods. Simulated streamflow analysis from 1995-2010 unveiled that the average percentage contribution of snow, rain and glacier melt to the streamflow of Hunza River is about 16.5%, 19.4% and 64% respectively. In addition, the HBV-Light model performance was also evaluated for prediction of future streamflow in the Hunza River using future projected data of three General Circulation Model(GCMs) i.e. BCC-CSM1.1, CanESM2, and MIROCESM under RCP2.6, 4.5 and 8.5 and predictions were made over three time periods, 2010-2039, 2040-2069 and 2070-2099, using 1980-2010 as the control period. Overall projected climate results reveal that temperature and precipitation are the most sensitiveparameters to the streamflow of Hunza River. MIROC-ESM predicted the highest increase in the future streamflow of the Hunza River due to increase in temperature and precipitation under RCP4.5 and 8.5 scenarios from 2010-2099 while predicted slight increase in the streamflow under RCP2.6 during the start and end of the 21 th century. However, BCCCSM1.1 predicted decrease in the streamflow under RCP8.5 due to decrease in temperature and precipitation from 2010-2099. However, Can ESM2 predicted 22%-88% increase in the streamflow under RCP4.5 from 2010-2099. The results of this study could be useful for decision making and effective future strategic plans for water management and their sustainability in the region.     

Understanding the impacts of climate change and human activities on streamflow: a case study of the Soan River basin,Pakistan

Urmia Lake, as one of the most valuable saline ecosystems in the world, has faced a sharp drop in the water level in recent years. The trend studies of climatic parameters can be effective in identifying the responsible factors and managing this crisis. This research investigated the frequency trend of daily precipitation in the ranges of less than 5 mm, 5–10 mm, 10–15 mm, 15–20 mm, and more than 20 mm in the Urmia Lake basin. The trend was assessed using Mann-Kendall, Spearman Rho and linear regression tests on 60 stations during a period of 30 years (1981 to 2011). The results showed that in all the three tests, the frequency of daily precipitation of less than 5 mm had a significant increase at 1% level. The 5–10 mm range displayed no significant trend, while the 10–15 mm range showed a significantly decreasing trend. The frequency in the 15–20 mm and above 20 mm ranges showed an insignificant falling trend. The analysis also indicated jumps in 1996 and 1999 (almost coinciding with the sharp drop in the lake’s water level). In other words, the frequency trends of daily precipitation with small amounts (as a result, high evapotranspiration loss) were increasing and with large amounts were decreasing. This can be a contributor to reduced run-off and, hence, decreased water entering the lake. The results emphasize the need for changes in the management and consumption of water resources in the basin, in order to adapt to the climatic change.     

Reservoir Potential Assessment of the Tortonian–Calabrian Sediments from Offshore Makran(Southwest Pakistan) through a Multidisciplinary Approach

The Tortonian–Calabrian strata of Offshore Makran(Pakistan) is investigated for the purpose of reservoir assessment. The stratigraphy and petrophysics indicate that the Neogene sediments have tight reservoir potential with porosities in the range of 3%–9% and 40%–50% water saturation. The mineralogical cross plots indicate a mixed lithology with an abundance of dolomite and calcite, together with minor quartz content and shale. The seismic interpretation demonstrates medium–high amplitude reflec...     

Coupled physicochemical and bacterial reduction mechanisms for passive remediation of sulfate- and metal-rich acid mine drainage

Treatment of acid mine drainage (AMD) highly rich in sulfate and multiple metal elements has been investigated in a continuous flow column experiment using organic and inorganic reactive media. Treatment substrates that composed of spent mushroom compost (SMC), limestone, activated sludge and woodchips were incorporated into bacterial sulfate reduction (BSR) treatment for AMD. SMC greatly assisted the removals of sulfate and metals and acted as essential carbon source for sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). Alkalinity produced by dissolution of limestone and metabolism of SRB has provided acidity neutralization capacity for AMD where pH was maintained at neutral state, thus aiding the removal of sulfate. Fe, Pb, Cu, Zn and Al were effectively removed (87–100%); however, Mn was not successfully removed despite initial Mn reduction during early phase due to interference with Fe. The first half of the treatment was an essential phase for removal of most metals where contaminants were primarily removed by the BSR in addition to carbonate dissolution function. The importance of BSR in the presence of organic materials was also supported by metal fraction analysis that primary metal accumulation occurs mainly through metal adsorption onto the organic matter, e.g., as sulfides and onto Fe/Mn oxides surfaces.     

Viséan Fossil Plants from the Jiujialu Formation in Central Guizhou Province: Implications for Age of Bauxite and Palaeoenvironment

Fossil plants from the carbonaceous shale of upper part of the Lower Carboniferous Jiujialu Formation in Lindai bauxite deposit fill a gap regarding the distribution of Early Carboniferous flora in Central Guizhou Province. Here the Lindai plant assemblage is systematically described, and its composition and geological age are discussed. Research demonstrates that 9 species in 6 genera of the fossil plants are discovered in this study, and they belong to lycopsids, sphenopsids and ferns, respectively. Based on the analysis of the floral composition, the geological age of the Lindai plant assemblage belongs to the Early Carboniferous Viséan. The discovery of Lindai plant assemblage not only provides a new fossil evidence to restrict the age of bauxite deposits in Lower Carboniferous Jiujialu Formation of Central Guizhou Province, but also has great significance to further research the palaeoecological setting and floral evolution during the Early Carboniferous.