Soil erosion susceptibility assessment and validation using a geostatistical multivariate approach: a test in Southern Sicily

A certain number of studies have been carried out in recent years that aim at developing and applying a model capable of assessing water erosion of soil. Some of these have tried to quantitatively evaluate the volumes of soil loss, while others have focused their efforts on the recognition of the areas most prone to water erosion processes. This article presents the results of a research whose objective was that of evaluating water erosion susceptibility in a Sicilian watershed: the Naro river basin. A geomorphological study was carried out to recognize the water erosion landforms and define a set of parameters expressing both the intensity of hydraulic forces and the resistance of rocks/soils. The landforms were mapped and classified according to the dominant process in landsurfaces affected by diffuse or linear water erosion. A GIS layer was obtained by combining six determining factors (bedrock lithology, land use, soil texture, plan curvature, stream power index and slope-length factor) in unique conditions units. A geostatistical multivariate approach was applied by analysing the relationships between the spatial distributions of the erosion landforms and the unique condition units. Particularly, the density of eroded area for each combination of determining factors has been calculated: such function corresponds, in fact, to the conditional probability of erosion landforms to develop, under the same geoenvironmental conditions. In light of the obtained results, a general geomorphologic model for water erosion in the Naro river basin can be depicted: cultivated areas in clayey slopes, having fine-medium soil texture, are the most prone to be eroded; linear or diffuse water erosion processes dominate where the topography is favourable to a convergent or divergent runoff, respectively. For each of the two erosion process types, a susceptibility map was produced and submitted to a validation procedure based on a spatial random partition strategy. Both the success of the validation procedure of the susceptibility models and the geomorphological coherence of the relationships between factors and process that such models suggest, confirm the reliability of the method and the goodness of the predictions.     

Environmental hydrogeology of the southern sector of the Samborombon Bay wetland,Argentina

The Samborombon Bay wetland is located on the west margin of the Rio de la Plata estuary, in the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. This paper analyses the geological, geomorphologic, soil and vegetation characteristics of the southernmost sector of this wetland and their influence on surface water and groundwater. The study area presents three hydrologic units: coastal dunes, sand sheets and coastal plain. Coastal dunes and sand sheets are recharge zones of high permeability with well-drained, non-saline soils, and a few surface water flows. Changes in the water table are related to rainfall. Groundwater in coastal dunes is Ca–Mg–HCO₃ to Na–HCO₃, and of low salinity (590 mg/l). Groundwater in sand sheets is mainly Na–HCO₃ with a salinity of about 1,020 mg/l. The coastal plain exhibits medium to low permeability sediments, with submerged saline soils poorly drained. Groundwater is Na–Cl with a mean salinity of 16,502 mg/l. A surface hydrological network develops in the coastal plain. Surface water levels near the shoreline are affected by tidal fluctuations; far from the shoreline water accumulates because of poor drainage. Both sectors have Na–Cl water, but the former is more saline. Human intervention and sea level rise may affect the wetland severely.     

Interference of Multiple Strip Footings on Sand Using Small Scale Model Tests

By using small scale model tests, the interference effect on the vertical load-deformation behavior of a number of equally spaced strip footings, placed on the surface of dry sand, was investigated. At any stage, all the footings were assumed to (i) carry exactly equal magnitude of load, and (ii) settle to the same extent. No tilt of the footing was permitted. The effect of clear spacing (s) among footings on the results was explored. A new experimental setup was proposed in which only one footing needs to be employed rather than a number of footings. The bearing capacity increases continuously with decrease in spacing among the footings. The interference effect becomes further prominent with increase in soil friction angle. In contrast to an increase in the bearing capacity, with decrease in spacing of footings, an increase in the footing settlement associated with the ultimate state of shear failure was observed. The present experimental observations were similar to those predicted by the available theory, based on the method of characteristics. As compared to the theory, the present experimental data, however, indicates much greater effect of interference especially for larger spacing among footings.     

Analysis of the 2003 Varunawat Landslide,Uttarkashi, India using Earth Observation data

Mass movements such as landslides in mountainous terrains are natural degradation processes and one of the most important landscape-building factors. Varunawat Parbat overlooking Uttarkashi town witnessed a series of landslides on 23 September 2003 and the debris slides and rock falls continued for 2 weeks. This landslide complex was triggered due to the incessant rainfall prior to the event, and its occurrence led to the blockage of the pilgrim route to Gangotri (source of the Ganges river) and evacuation of thousands of people to safer places. Though there was no loss of lives due to timely evacuation, heavy losses to the property were reported. High-resolution stereoscopic earth observation data were acquired after the incidence to study the landslide in detail with emphasis on the cause of the landslide and mode of failure. Areas along the road and below the Varunawat foothill region are mapped for landslide risk. It was found that the foothill region of the Varunawat Parbat was highly disturbed by man-made activities and houses are dangerously located below steep slopes. The potential zones for landslides along with the existing active and old landslides are mapped. These areas are critical and their treatment with priority is required in order to minimise further landslide occurrences.     

Finite Element Modeling of Swelling Soil Pressures Using Joint/Interface Elements

There could be some discontinuities in a soil media such as layers, earth structures, cracks, and fissures so that estimation of stresses and deformations in these types of soil masses are somewhat different from continuous masses. The discontinuities in a soil mass could be considered as a special link between two blocks. Transmitted swelling pressures affected by the soil properties of the backfill especially at the interface between the backfill and retaining wall. In order to estimate the transmitted swelling pressure distribution behind a retaining wall, using with interface element, a new finite element model and a code (SWELPRES) have been developed. To evaluate the effect of backfill characteristics and interface element from the transmitted lateral swelling pressures, four cases of thickness of backfills with or without interface elements are investigated.     

Monitoring Large-Scale Tests for Nuclear Waste Disposal

Two large-scale “in situ” demonstration experiments and their instrumentation are described. The first test (FEBEX Experiment) involves the hydration of a compacted bentonite barrier under the combined effect of an inner source of heat and an outer water flow from the confining saturated granite rock. In the second case, the progressive de-saturation of Opalinus clay induced by maintained ventilation of an unlined tunnel is analyzed. The paper shows the performance of different sensors (capacitive cells, psychrometers, TDR’s) and a comparison of fill behaviour with modelling results. The long term performance of some instruments could also be evaluated specially in the case of FEBEX test. Capacitive sensors provide relative humidity data during long transient periods characterised by very large variations of suction within the bentonite.     

西准噶尔克拉玛依蛇绿混杂岩中的石榴角闪岩

本文报道在准噶尔地区发现的石榴角闪岩,该岩石产在克拉玛依蛇绿混杂岩带的百口泉地区.石榴角闪岩主要由钙质角闪石、富钠斜长石和黝帘石组成,含少量钛铁矿、绿帘石、绿泥石、榍石、石榴石、普通辉石、金红石、磷灰石、钠长石、石英和锆石.石榴石中常包裹磷灰石、金红石、钛铁矿、石英和锆石.黝帘石 富钠斜长石组合中出现少量钙铝榴石残余.百口泉石榴角闪岩中石榴石的化学组成特征以及其中出现的金红石-钛铁矿-磷灰石-石英-锆石包体组合说明,该岩石不是异剥钙榴岩退变质的产物,而是榴辉岩退变的产物(辅助证据包括二辉橄榄岩中发育的辉石出溶结构和辉石塑性变形特征).百口泉石榴角闪岩至少记录了四个阶段:石榴石-单斜辉石-金红石-磷灰石-石英-锆石组成的阶段Ⅰ(可能为榴辉岩相),普通辉石-钛铁矿-磷灰石-角闪石组成的退变阶段Ⅱ,角闪石-斜长石-榍石-钛铁矿构成的阶段Ⅲ(角闪岩相),以及绿帘石-石英-绿泥石构成的绿片岩相变质阶段Ⅳ.尽管上述演化历史存在一些不确定性,石榴角闪岩的发现为深入研究西准噶尔地区古生代洋壳俯冲带的性质及其演化过程提供了新的物质基础.     

江西永平铜矿区花岗岩热液蚀变与岩石成因:矿物化学、元素地球化学和Sr-Nd-Hf同位素制约

永平铜矿床是位于华南钱塘江-信江断裂坳陷带中的一个大型铜矿床.矿区内出露的岩浆岩主要有似斑状黑云母花岗岩体和少量石英斑岩脉,黑云母花岗岩岩体内及接触带发育斑岩型和矽卡岩型铜钼钨多金属矿化.对岩体中黑云母的电子探针成分分析表明,似斑状黑云母花岗岩中黑云母具有富镁贫铁高钛的特点,Fe/(Fe Mg)为0.21～0.33,TiO2含量为2.12%～4.28%;而石英斑岩脉中黑云母更加富镁贫铁,Fe/(Fe MS)为0.10～0.15,TiO2含量为2.43%～3.86%.黑云母的化学组成表明花岗质岩浆形成时的氧逸度很高,与长江中下游地区其他含铜花岗质岩体相吻合.永平花岗岩体遭受了较强的热液蚀变作用,部分黑云母蚀变为绿泥石.石英斑岩中绿泥石具有富铁贫镁低钛的特征(Fe/(Fe Mg)=0.72～0.76;TiO2=0.02%～0.06%),其形成温度为139～224℃.而似斑状黑云母花岗岩中绿泥石相对贫铁富镁高钛(Fe/(Fe Mg)=0.36～0.44;TiO2=0.05%～0.36%),形成温度稍高,为229～346℃,与该矿床流体包裹体研究获得的成矿温度(220～400℃)基本吻合.Sr-Nd-Hf同位素综合研究表明,永平似斑状黑云母花岗岩具有变化较大且相对较高的εHf(t)值(-0.1～-10.3)和εNd(t)值(-5.83～-7.95),反映岩石具有明显的壳幔混合成因特征.而石英斑岩的εHf(t)值(-8.4～-12.5)和εNd(t)值(-9.93～-10.2)均稍低于似斑状黑云母花岗岩,反映其形成过程中幔源物质贡献相对较小.永平岩体的地壳端元很可能就是该区中元古代基底地层重熔的产物.     

浙江省小流域山洪灾害临界雨量确定方法分析

小流域山洪灾害具有突发性,预测预警难度较大.本文结合浙江省小流域山洪灾害防御的实践经验,研究提出了以水位反推法计算临界雨量,简单实用,具有较好的实践价值和推广意义.     

鱼耳石微化学特征在湖库水质评价中的标型意义——以河北白洋淀和北京密云水库野生鲤鱼为例

对河北白洋淀和北京密云水库的野生鲤鱼耳石和水体中的微量元素进行了定量分析。白洋淀鱼耳石中诸微量元素含量均高于密云水库的鱼耳石,反映了白洋淀各水体较密云水库水体的环境复杂,污染程度高。统计分析结果表明,在鱼耳石中大致存在两类生物地球化学习性不同的元素,水体中第一类元素的变化不会引起耳石中相应元素的响应,如Au、K和Na;第二类元素的变化会引起耳石中相应元素的强烈响应,如As、Ba、Co、Cr、Fe、Sr和Zn。诸微量元素在耳石中富集的强弱顺序为,Zn>Sr>Se>Fe>As>Ba>K>Co>Au>Na>Cr。通过相关性分析发现,白洋淀和密云水库的鱼耳石和水体中对应微量元素平均含量的自然对数值之间均存在良好的线性关系。