Paleogene of the southwestern Volgograd region (Borehole 13, Gremyach’e Area). 1. Biostratigraphy

The stratigraphy of Paleocene-Eocene rocks based on assemblages of dinocysts, benthic and planktonic foraminifers, nannoplankton, diatoms, and nummulites was refined in the sedimentary sequence penetrated by borehole (BH) 13 in the Gremyach’e potassium salt deposit. The rocks were subdivided into local lithostratigraphic units with refined ages and more substantiated reference to the general and regional scales. In addition to formations of the Volga-Caspian region: Saratov, Kamyshin, Tsaritsyn, Mechetka and Elshanka, for the Paleogene of the southwestern Volgograd region there were used formations of neighbor regions as well: Eisk Formation (Paleocene) in the eastern Donetsk Basin and the Sergeevka, Tishki and Kas’yanovka formations (Middle and Upper Eocene) in the Voronezh Anteclise. The presence of the Oligocene in the section of the Maikop Group has been established for the first time. New biostratigraphic units based on dinocysts and foraminifers were suggested.     

Optimal pumping from Palmela water supply wells (Portugal) using simulated annealing

Aquifer systems are an important part of an integrated water resources management plan as foreseen in the European Union’s Water Framework Directive (2000). The sustainable development of these systems demands the use of all available techniques capable of handling the multidisciplinary features of the problems involved. The formulation and resolution of an optimization model is described for a planning and management problem based on the Palmela aquifer (Portugal), developed to supply a given number of demand centres. This problem is solved using one of the latest optimization techniques, the simulated annealing heuristic method, designed to find the optimal solutions while avoiding falling into local optimums. The solution obtained, providing the wells location and the corresponding pumped flows to supply each centre, are analysed taking into account the objective function components and the constraints. It was found that the operation cost is the biggest share of the final cost, and the choice of wells is greatly affected by this fact. Another conclusion is that the solution takes advantage of the economies of scale, that is, it points toward drilling a large capacity well even if this increases the investment cost, rather than drilling several wells, which together will increase the operation costs.     

Corrections to temperature measurements with a sonic anemometer

Methods of correcting the temperature output of a sonic anemometer-thermometer are examined. The errors in the temperature variance and flux are evaluated as a function of stability and examples given of correcting the sonic-derived temperature point by point. It is concluded that, in general, both humidity and crosswind corrections must be included.     

Infrared spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction characterization of the nature of adsorbed arsenate on ferrihydrite

Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to characterize arsenate-ferrihydrite sorption solids synthesized at pH 3-8. The speciation of sorbed arsenate was determined based on the As-O stretching vibration bands located at 650-950 cm⁻¹ and O-H stretching vibration bands at 3000-3500 cm⁻¹. The positions of the As-O and O-H stretching vibration bands changed with pH indicating that the nature of surface arsenate species on ferrihydrite was strongly pH dependent. Sorption density and synthesis media (sulfate vs. nitrate) had no appreciable effect. At acidic pH (3, 4), ferric arsenate surface precipitate formed on ferrihydrite and constituted the predominant surface arsenate species. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses of he sorption solids synthesized at elevated temperature (75 °C), pH 3 clearly showed the development of crystalline ferric arsenate (i.e. scorodite). In neutral and alkaline media (pH 7, 8), arsenate sorbed as a bidentate surface complex (in both protonated FeO₂As(O)(OH)⁻ and unprotonated forms). For the sorption systems in slightly acidic media (pH 5, 6), both ferric arsenate and surface complex were probably present on ferrihydrite. It was further determined that the incorporated sulfate in ferrihydrite during synthesis was substituted by arsenate and was more easily exchangeable with increasing pH.     

Transport in fracture processes: Fragmentation and slip

We present a new development in the asymmetric continuum theory with the shear oscillations (twist motions) and independent spin; these motions (displacement velocities and spin) can be shifted in phase to describe the independent rebound processes. Our approach provides an extension of the asymmetric continuum theory by including the microfragmentation processes with a double transport which may appear in an advanced fracture process under very high load. The related nonlinear equations, leading to soliton solutions, are derived.     

Paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the Early to Middle Miocene Central Paratethys using stable isotopes from bryozoan skeletons

Stable carbon and oxygen isotope values from single bryozoan colonies were used to reconstruct the paleoenvironments of the Early to Middle Miocene (Ottnangian to Badenian) sediments of the Central Paratethys. This approach utilizes a locally abundant allochem while avoiding matrix and multiple allochem contamination from bulk rock samples. Bryozoan colonies (and a few foraminifera and rock matrix samples) from 14 localities yielded 399 carbon and oxygen isotope values. Data from six of the localities (15 % of the total number of samples) were interpreted as having been diagenetically altered and were rejected. The remaining data indicate a primarily localized upwelling signal with lesser variation caused by global climatic and regional tectonic forcing of sea level, salinity, and temperature. Paleotemperatures were calculated to range from 12 to 21 °C. Despite potential taxonomic and diagenetic problems, bryozoan colonies are a powerful, underutilized source of paleoenvironmental carbon and oxygen isotope data.     

Wind gradients at meteor heights over mid-latitude stations

The gradients of amplitude and phase of diurnal and semidiurnal components of zonal and meridional winds in the height intervals of 80–90 km and 90–100 km are studied using the meteor wind radar data collected at Atlanta (34°N, 84°W) during the period August 1974–March 1978. The results are compared with those at Adelaide (35°S, 139°E). It is found that the gradients vary in an opposite manner between the two height intervals.     

The inception of novae transition zone oscillations

The nature of semi-regular oscillations in the transition zones of certain novae is discussed. It is found that hydrostatic collapse following a reduction of radiative support for the photospheric layers is a likely explanation of transition zone inception.