Seismic risk evaluation of highway tunnel groups

Natural Hazards - Tunnels allow the continuity of rural road and urban transportation networks. Their shutdown provokes a loss in the transport system’s level service, which entails higher...     

Retreat dynamics of the eastern sector of the British–Irish Ice Sheet during the last glaciation

The findings of BRITICE-CHRONO Transect 2 through the North Sea Basin and eastern England are reported. We define ice-sheet marginal oscillation between ~31 and 16 ka, with seven distinctive former ice-sheet limits (L1–7) constrained by Bayesian statistical analysis. The southernmost limit of the North Sea Lobe is recorded by the Bolders Bank Formation (L1; 25.8–24.6 ka). L2 represents ice-sheet oscillation and early retreat to the northern edge of the Dogger Bank (23.5–22.2 ka), with the Garret Hill Moraine in north Norfolk recording a significant regional readvance to L3 at 21.5–20.8 ka. Ice-marginal oscillations at ~26–21 ka resulted in L1, L2 and L3 being partially to totally overprinted. Ice-dammed lakes related to L1–3, including Lake Humber, are dated at 24.1–22.3 ka. Ice-sheet oscillation and retreat from L4 to L5 occurred between 19.7 and 17.3 ka, with grounding zone wedges marking an important transition from terrestrial to marine tidewater conditions, triggered by the opening of the Dogger Lake spillway between 19.9 and 17.5 ka. L6 relates to ice retreat under glacimarine conditions and final ice retreat into the Firth of Forth by 15.8 ka. L7 (~15 ka) represents an ice retreat from Bosies Bank into the Moray Firth.     

Analysing Pairwise Logratios Revisited

Mathematical Geosciences - Even though the logratio methodology provides a range of both generic, mostly exploratory, and purpose-built coordinate representations of compositional data, simple...     

Evaluation of the climate prediction center (CPC) morphing technique (CMORPH) rainfall product on hourly time scales over the source of the Blue Nile River

Limited availability of surface‐based rainfall observations constrains the evaluation of satellite rainfall products over many regions. Observations are also often not available at time scales to allow evaluation of satellite products at their finest resolutions. In the present study, we utilized a 3‐month rainfall data set from an experimental network of eight automatic gauges in Gilgel Abbay watershed in Ethiopia to evaluate the 1‐hourly, 8 × 8‐km Climate Prediction Center morphing technique (CMORPH) rainfall product. The watershed is situated in the Lake Tana basin which is the source of the Blue Nile River. We applied a suite of statistical metrics that included mean difference, bias, standard deviation of differences and measures of association. Our results indicate that the accuracy of the CMORPH product shows a significant variation across the basin area. Its estimates are mostly within ±10 mm h^?1 of the gauge rainfall observations; however, the product does not satisfactorily capture the rainfall temporal variability and is poorly correlated (<0.27) to gauge observations. Its poor rain detection capability led to significant underestimation of the seasonal rainfall depth (total bias reaches up to ?52%) with large amounts of hit rain bias as well as missed rain and false rain biases. In the future refinement of CMORPH algorithm, more attention should be given to reducing missed rain bias over the mountains of Gilgel Abbay, whereas equal attention should be given to hit, missed rain and false rain biases over other parts of the watershed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Drainage water temperature as a basis for verifying drainage runoff composition on slopes

Tile drainage water temperatures and discharge rates were measured in five highland watersheds of which most are underlain by acid crystalline rock. One of them, Dehtá?e in the Bohemo‐Moravian highland (Czech Republic), was studied in greater detail. The aim was to evaluate water temperature monitoring as a means of determining the source and pathway of drainage runoff during high‐flow events. Rapid increase in drainage discharge was accompanied by rapid change in water temperature. In winter, the rising limb of the hydrograph was accompanied by a decrease in temperature, and the falling limb was associated with a corresponding temperature increase. In summer, the trends were reversed. These data suggest that the water temperature changes are caused by the fastest component of drainage runoff, water from a precipitation event or snowmelt, which can be separated from the remainder of the hydrograph. Measurements of hydraulic conductivity, soil moisture content, soil temperature, and groundwater table level indicate that the major portion of the event water causing this effect infiltrates in the watershed recharge zone where soils are permeable, enters the weathered bedrock, flows preferentially and rapidly down the slope along disjoint fissures in the bedrock, finally emerging as ascending springs, and is, for the most part, intercepted by the tile drainage systems. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seismic wave propagation in laterally inhomogeneous poroelastic media via BIEM

This work addresses in‐plane pressure P and vertically polarized shear SV seismic wave propagation in a finite, laterally inhomogeneous, multilayered poroelastic geological region resting on the homogeneous elastic half‐space. The particular approach followed here is based on a combination of the (i) viscoelastic approximation (isomorphism) to Biot's equations of dynamic poroelasticity and on the (ii) boundary integral equation method (BIEM) using frequency‐dependent fundamental solutions of the governing wave equations. The problem is formulated under plane strain conditions and time‐harmonic motions are assumed. Validation of the viscoelastic isomorphism and verification of the BIEM is done by solution of benchmark examples. These simulation studies reveal that the proposed methodology is able to depict a sensitivity of the seismic signals recovered to the following parameters: (i) poroelastic properties of fluid saturated layers; (ii) lateral geological inhomogeneity; (iii) surface topography and (iv) frequency content and direction of the incident wave. It is concluded that the combination of viscoelastic isomorphism with BIEM software provides an effective numerical tool for evaluating site‐effect phenomena in multilayered, fluid saturated geological regions with complex geometry. The numerical results obtained demonstrate that dynamic poroelasticity interacting with other physical peculiarities of the Earth's surface layers, such as lateral heterogeneity, material properties along the wave path, local geological profile and type of elastic wave, gives rise to complex seismic signals on the free surface at the site of interest. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Measurement of LNAPL flow using single-well tracer dilution techniques

This paper describes the use of single-well tracer dilution techniques to resolve the rate of light nonaqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) flow through wells and the adjacent geologic formation. Laboratory studies are presented in which a fluorescing tracer is added to LNAPL in wells. An in-well mixer keeps the tracer well mixed in the LNAPL. Tracer concentrations in LNAPL are measured through time using a fiber optic cable and a spectrometer. Results indicate that the rate of tracer depletion is proportional to the rate of LNAPL flow through the well and the adjacent formation. Tracer dilution methods are demonstrated for vertically averaged LNAPL Darcy velocities of 0.00048 to 0.11 m/d and LNAPL thicknesses of 9 to 24 cm. Over the range of conditions studied, results agree closely with steady-state LNAPL flow rates imposed by pumping. A key parameter for estimating LNAPL flow rates in the formation is the flow convergence factor alpha. Measured convergence factors for 0.030-inch wire wrap, 0.030-inch-slotted polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and 0.010-inch-slotted PVC are 1.7, 0.91, and 0.79, respectively. In addition, methods for using tracer dilution data to determine formation transmissivity to LNAPL are presented. Results suggest that single-well tracer dilution techniques are a viable approach for measuring in situ LNAPL flow and formation transmissivity to LNAPL.     

Dione’s spectral and geological properties

We present a detailed analysis of the variations in spectral properties across the surface of Saturn’s satellite Dione using Cassini/VIMS data and their relationships to geological and/or morphological characteristics as seen in the Cassini/ISS images. This analysis focuses on a local region on Dione’s anti-saturnian hemisphere that was observed by VIMS with high spatial resolution during orbit 16 in October 2005. The results are incorporated into a global context provided by VIMS data acquired within Cassini’s first 50 orbits. Our results show that Dione’s surface is dominated by at least one global process. Bombardment by magnetospheric particles is consistent with the concentration of dark material and enhanced CO₂ absorption on the trailing hemisphere of Dione independent of the geology. Local regions within this terrain indicate a special kind of resurfacing that probably is related to large-scale impact process. In contrast, the enhanced ice signature on the leading side is associated with the extended ejecta of the fresh impact crater Creusa (∼49°N/76°W). Although no geologically active regions could be identified, Dione’s tectonized regions observed with high spatial resolution partly show some clean H₂O ice implying that tectonic processes could have continued into more recent times.     

Anthropogenic hillslope terraces and swidden agriculture in Jiuzhaigou National Park, northern Sichuan, China

Small, irregular terraces on hillslopes, or terracettes, are common landscape features throughout west central China. Despite their prevalence, there is limited understanding of the nature of these topographic features, the processes that form them, and the role humans played in their formation. We used an interdisciplinary approach to investigate the geology, ecology, and cultural history of terracette development within Jiuzhaigou National Park, Sichuan Province, China. Terracettes occur on south facing, 20° slopes at 2500 m elevation, which appears to coincide with places people historically preferred to build villages. Ethnographic interviews suggest that traditional swidden agricultural cycles removed tree roots, causing the loess sediments to lose cohesion, slump, and the terrace risers to retreat uphill over time. This evidence is supported by landslide debris at terracette faces. Archaeological analysis of terracette sites reveal remains of rammed spread soil structures, bones, stone tools, and ceramics dating from at least 2200 years before present within a distinct paleosol layer. Radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence dating of terracette sediments ranged in age from between 1500 and 2000 ¹⁴C yr BP and between 16 and 0.30 ka, respectively. These multiple lines of evidence indicate a long history of human habitation within Jiuzhaigou National Park and, taken together, suggest strong links between terracette formation and human-landuse interactions.     

Gypsum karst evolution in a diapir: a case study (Pinoso,Alicante, Spain)

Gypsum deposits are highly soluble, and can undergo rapid weathering, especially where water intervenes, though certain human activities can accelerate the karstification processes. An example of karst formed in gypsum at Pinoso (Alicante, Spain) is analysed to show how human activity has impacted on its evolution. The karst here is associated with a huge diapir in the Triassic terrain that boasts of a large number of highly unusual exokarstic landforms. Here, rock salt has been extracted commercially for over 25 years using solution mining via deep boreholes. The brine extracted contains in excess of 300 g/L; over the whole period, more than 12 million tonnes of salt have been extracted using this method. After preliminary treatment to remove impurities, it travels along a brine pipeline to the coast. The enormous volume of the voids generated have probably favoured the acceleration of certain exokarstic and endokarstic processes.