Wind-induced sediment resuspension as a potential factor sustaining eutrophication in large and shallow Lake Peipsi

Using sediment traps, we aimed to elucidate the temporal and spatial variations in sediment fluxes in large and shallow Lake Peipsi, over the May to October 2011 period, and analyze the factors behind those variations. The effects of weather factors (mean and maximum wind velocity, water level and water temperature) on sediment resuspension and the concentrations of suspended solids (SS), total phosphorus (TP), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), and chlorophyll a (Chl a) were investigated. Moreover, the internal loading of TP due to sediment resuspension was determined. The sediment resuspension rates were significantly higher in the shallower waters than in the deeper parts of the lake. Resuspension was a major factor in sedimentation dynamics of the lake, which is presently subject to eutrophication. The rates of sediment resuspension followed the same pattern as gross sedimentation during the study period, and their respective values differed significantly between sampling dates. The highest resuspension rates were observed in September (mean 55.4 g dw m^?2 day^?1), when the impacts of wind events were particularly pronounced. Weather factors that were recorded approximately 2 weeks before water and sediment sampling affected the gross sedimentation and sediment resuspension. The water quality variables of SS, TP, SRP, Chl a were similarly affected. During the study, TP concentrations of the water were mainly determined by the resuspension of sediments containing a large pool of organic material. Although internal loading of TP due to resuspension was several times greater than external loading, external loading determines the amount of phosphorus that enters the lake and can be resuspended.     

Timing,magnitude and geochemistry of major Southeast Asian volcanic eruptions: identifying tephrochronologic markers

We review the current knowledge about Southeast Asian volcanoes and their eruption histories, and focus on identifying tephrochronologic markers representing major explosive eruptions in order to further future palaeoclimate and volcanological studies. Forty-one volcanic edifices in Southeast Asia have been classified as large calderas by Whelley et al. (2015) and thus have, or are likely to have, produced large explosive eruptions with a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 6–8. Unfortunately, only 20 such eruptions have known ages, spanning from 1.2 Ma to 1991 ad , and fewer have geochemical data that can be used for tephrostratigraphic correlations. Volcanic products from different geodynamic regions and different sources can generally be distinguished on major element plots (e.g. K₂O versus CaO) of matrix glass composition. However, the distinction of multiple eruptions from the same source often requires additional data such as trace element compositions of matrix glass and/or mineral compositions. Biotite, but also magnetite compositions (MgO and TiO₂ content in particular) appear to be very discriminating. Up to nine tuffs in addition to the three to four Toba tuffs can be utilised as widespread tephrochronologic markers and span a range from 1.2 to 1.6 Ma to recent. As only a few Holocene major eruptions have been well characterised and dated, many large calderas are still unstudied, and many distal tephra layers are still lacking a source, more tephrochronologic markers can certainly be defined in the future.     

Multi-methodological investigation of kunzite, hiddenite, alexandrite, elbaite and topaz, based on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and conventional analytical techniques for supporting mineralogical characterization

Gem-quality alexandrite, hiddenite and kunzite, elbaite and topaz minerals were characterized through a multi-methodological investigation based on EMPA-WDS, LA-ICP-MS, and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). With respect to the others, the latter technique enables a simultaneous multi-elemental composition without any sample preparation and the detection of light elements, such as Li, Be and B. The criteria for the choice of minerals were: (a) the presence of chromophore elements in minor contents and/or as traces; (b) the presence of light lithophile elements (Li, Be and B); (c) different crystal chemistry complexity. The results show that LIBS can be employed in mineralogical studies for the identification and characterization of minerals, and as a fast screening method to determine the chemical composition, including the chromophore and light lithophile elements.     

Determination of Trace Elements (Ag, B, Ge, Mo, Sn, W, Tl) in Reference Samples of Soils and Bottom Sediments by Atomic Emission Spectrometry: A Traceability and Fitness-for-Purpose Study

Reference samples of soils from the Institute of Applied Physics, Irkutsk (RIAP), the Institute of Geochemistry, Irkutsk (IGI) and the United States Geological Survey, Reston (USGS) were analysed with the aim of determining Ag, B, Ge, Mo, Sn, Tl and W abundances by an atomic emission method with air-stabilised D.C. arc excitation. Two series of reference samples of soils and bottom sediments, GSS-1-8 and GSD-1-12 (IGGE), were used to ensure the traceability link for the analytical results. Traceability was also demonstrated through the comparison of measured results by AES and ICP-MS methods. It is shown that the reference samples GSS-1-8 and GSD-1-12 satisfied the "fitness-for-purpose" criterion (uncertainty U of the certified value should be one-third to one-tenth the magnitude of routine laboratory data uncertainty S (S/U > 3-10)) and can be applied for calibrating AES techniques.     

The application of an indirect electromagnetic geothermometer to temperature extrapolation in depth

We study the feasibility of the application of an indirect EM geothermometer, developed recently, to the temperature extrapolation in depth using magnetotelluric data collected in the seismically active northern Tien Shan faulted area (Bishkek Geodynamic Test Site, Kyrgyzstan) and Hengill geothermal zone (Iceland). The approach used is based on the artificial neural network technique, which does not imply the prior knowledge of the electrical conductivity mechanisms on the one hand and provides temperature estimates based on the analysis of the implicit conductivity-temperature relations, on the other.
The samples for neuronet teaching consisted in the well temperature records and electrical conductivity values determined for the same depths from the magnetotelluric data measured in the vicinities of eight boreholes in each testing area. The testing of the taught neuronets was carried out using the temperature records not involved in the teaching process. The results indicate that the temperature extrapolation accuracy essentially depends on the ratio between the well length and the extrapolation depth. In particular, in extrapolation to a depth twice as large as the well depth the relative error is 5–6% and in case of threefold excess, the error is around 20%. This result makes it possible to increase significantly the depth of indirect temperature estimation in the Earth's interior (in particular, for geothermal exploration) based on the available temperature logs.
The practical application of an indirect electromagnetic geothermometer could provide the following facilities: 1) more exact temperature estimation in the extrapolation mode; 2) remote temperature estimates in the boreholes in areas characterized by extreme conditions for conventional geothermometers.     

Influence of the spatial distribution of energy-dissipating bracing elements on the seismic response of multistorey frames

Several reinforced concrete frames with different dissipator distributions, and a conventional moment-resisting frame, are compared in order to select the best dissipator distribution from the point of view of seismic response and structural design. The structures with dissipators are designed according to a criterion proposed in the present paper. Each frame is excited with a set of eleven simulated accelerograms. The choice of the best dissipation distribution is based mainly on the differences between the mean of the maximum overturning moments developed at the base of the frames and between the weights of steel reinforcement and concrete resulting from the structural design of each frame. A comparison of initial construction costs of a building with dissipators and a conventional building shows that the former is 3·5 per cent more expensive.     

Seismological and SAR signature of unrest at Nisyros caldera, Greece

Nisyros island, a Quaternary volcanic center located at the SE of the Aegean Volcanic Arc, has been in the past characterized by periods of intense seismic activity accompanied sometimes by hydrothermal explosions, the last one being in 1887. The recent long lasting episode of unrest (1995–1998) in the area is the first instrumentally documented providing information on the behavior of the volcano. Evidence from seismicity and SAR interferometry suggests that the presently active part of the Kos–Nisyros volcano-tectonic complex is located at the NW coast of Nisyros island defining an area much smaller than the whole volcano-tectonic area. Seismicity patterns vary both temporally and spatially consistently with different rates of vertical ground deformation inferred from SAR interferometry. These observations help us to discuss the different elements controlling the behavior of the volcanic system such as: the existence, location and timing of magma chamber inflation, the occurrence of tensile failure at the boundaries of the chamber and the possibility of magmatic fluids being expelled to form a shallow magmatic intrusion, the seismic failure and migration of hypocenters indicating shallow magma transport.     

An accurate momentum advection scheme for a z-level coordinate models

In this paper, we focus on a conservative momentum advection discretisation in the presence of z-layers. While in the 2D case conservation of momentum is achieved automatically for an Eulerian advection scheme, special attention is required in the multi-layer case. We show here that an artificial vertical structure of the flow can be introduced solely by the presence of the z-layers, which we refer to as the staircase problem. To avoid this staircase problem, the z-layers have to be remapped in a specific way. The remapping procedure also deals with the case of an uneven number of layers adjacent to a column side, thus allowing one to simulate flooding and drying phenomena in a 3D model.