Coupling isotopic and piezometric data to infer groundwater recharge mechanisms in arid areas: example of Samail Catchment,Oman

Hydrochemistry and well hydrographs are coupled to assess groundwater recharge in the regional catchment of Samail, Oman. The complex geology comprises three aquifers: limestones of the Hajar Supergroup (HSG) at the highlands of North Oman Mountains (NOM); fractured/weathered ophiolites; and Quaternary alluvium. Groundwater flows south–north from the NOM to the coast. Samples from groundwater wells and springs (38) were analyzed for isotopes and major ions. Corrected ¹⁴C dating reveals modern groundwater across the entire catchment, while ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.70810–0.70895) shows greater homogeneity. Groundwater in the upper catchment is depleted in ²H and ¹⁸O, indicating a high-altitude recharge source (NOM), and becomes enriched downstream, with a slope indicating an evaporation effect. The hydrographs of nested piezometers located in the upper, middle and lower catchment show different recharge responses between deep and shallower depths. Head difference in response to recharge is observed upstream, suggesting a lateral recharge mechanism, contrary to vertical recharge downstream reflected in identical recharge responses. The homogeneous ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio, head changes, downstream enrichment of ²H and ¹⁸O, and the presence of modern groundwater throughout the catchment suggest that groundwater recharge takes place across the entire catchment and that the three aquifers are hydraulically connected. The recharge estimated using the chloride mass balance method is in the range of 0–43% of the mean annual rainfall.     

A hybrid model using machine learning methods and GIS for potential rockfall source identification from airborne laser scanning data

The main objectives of this paper are to design and evaluate a hybrid approach based on Gaussian mixture model (GMM) and random forest (RF) for detecting rockfall source areas using airborne laser scanning data. The former model was used to calculate automatically slope angle thresholds for different type of landslides such as shallow, translational, rotational, rotational-translational, complex, debris flow, and rockfalls. After calculating the slope angle thresholds, a homogenous morphometric land use area (HMLA) was constructed to improve the performance of the model computations and reduce the sensitivity of the model to the variations in different conditioning factors. After that, the support vector machine (SVM) was applied in addition to backward elimination (BE) to select and rank the conditioning factors considering the type of landslides. Then, different machine learning methods [artificial neural network (ANN), logistic regression (LR), and random forest (RF) were trained with the selected best factors and previously prepared inventory datasets. The best fit method (RF) was then used to generate the probability maps and then the source areas were detected by combining the slope raster (reclassified according to the thresholds found by the GMM model) and the probability maps. The accuracy assessment shows that the proposed hybrid model could detect the potential rockfalls with an accuracy of 0.92 based on training data and 0.96 on validation data. Overall, the proposed model is an efficient model for identifying rockfall source areas in the presence of other types of landslides with an accepted generalization performance.     

Delineation using geophysical data of the hydrocarbon bearing zone in the Begumganj structure, Hatia Trough, southern Bengal Basin, Bangladesh

The Begumganj structure of the Hatia Trough in Bengal Basin has proved it’s hydrocarbon potentiality. Several seismic sections have been analyzed to construct different maps and to interpret subsurface geology, structure and stratigraphy. These maps reveal that the Begumganj structure is an elongated to oval shaped asymmetrical anticline having the general trend NNW-SSE. No major faults affecting the structure could have been identified. Most of the reflectors are strongly affected by channels, especially at the western flank. Based on the analysis of seismic and available well data, the only gas bearing strata at depth of 2995 m (or TWT 2.02 seconds) has been identified. The structure is interpreted as a strati-structure entrapment because shale fill channel truncated this layer on western flank and at the crestal part of the anticline. The structure probably formed after the deposition of sediments. The channel has formed after the corresponding unit cut has been deposited. The channels eroding the reservoir unit range from Late Miocene to Early Pliocene age where the anticline probably begun to form during the Pliocene. Strong increase in amplitude (bright spot), possibly associated with hydrocarbon, has been apparent on seismic lines BG 9 and BG 10. The stratigraphic succession based on the information of the wells drilled on this structure and it’s surrounding fields reveals that the lithological sequences range from Miocene to Recent age where the only proven gas producing sand zone is located in the Bhuban Formation.     

Seismicity associated with active, new-born, and re-awakening basaltic volcanoes: case review and the possible scenarios for the Harraat volcanic provinces, Saudi Arabia

During April–June 2009, a swarm of more than 30,000 earthquakes struck the Harrat Lunayyir, situated in the north-western end of the Saudi Arabian Harraat, east of the Red Sea. This sharp increase in the seismic activity in the region of ancient basaltic volcanic centers indicated a likelihood of a future eruption. To check the situation, a short review of the best-documented seismic activity associated with active, new-born, and re-awakening basaltic volcanoes is presented in this article. Basing on the review, some regularity in the development of seismic activity associated with basaltic eruptions was formulated. Three stages in the development of seismic activity were identified: preliminary, preceding, and continuous. The duration of preceding stage varies from a few hours for active and re-awakened volcanoes to some weeks for new-born volcanoes and may serve as a criterion for discriminations of different types of basaltic eruptions. The duration of the seismic activity during the 2009 episode at Harrat Lunayyir was longer than any activity preceding the basaltic eruptions of different types. Therefore, the most probable scenario is the arrest of sub-surface intrusion without any eruption in the region of Harrat Lunayyir. The next probable scenario would be the dike injections along the rift zones. The re-awakening of the old Harrat Lunayyir volcano or the birth of a new volcano at Harrat Lunayyir is less probable.     

Infracambrian superimposed tectonics in the Late Proterozoic units of Mount Ablah area, southern Asir Terrane, Arabian Shield, Saudi Arabia

Mount Ablah is a mining prospect, hosted by a dioritic igneous body that is bound to the east by greenschist grade metamorphic rocks and to the west by Ablah group volcano–sedimentary rocks. Rock units of Mount Ablah area were remapped through field investigations, petrological studies, and analysis of enhanced TM Landsat data. Ablah group rocks were divided into lower tuffaceous and upper epiclastic units. The epiclastic unit was divided into three subunits. During remapping, a sliver of serpentinite was discovered, which occurs between the dioritic igneous body and Ablah group rocks. The greenschist grade metamorphic rocks were intruded by Late Proterozoic quartz diorite prior to deposition of Ablah group rocks. The epiclastic unit is an infracambrian molassic unit that filled a graben, known as the Ablah graben. The Mount Ablah area was intruded by post-tectonic granitic rocks and affected by two superimposed F1-F2 folding events, associated with thrust and dextral faults, respectively. The first folding event involved N–S folding and thrusting. Simultaneously, stress partitioning at E–W accommodations zones produced E–W minor folds (F2) and associated E–W dextral faults. The F1–F2 folding events are contemporaneous with the Pan African deformation event, also known as the East African Orogeny (EAO). The EAO is infracambrian in age and culminated in development of the Najd sinistral fault system. The E–W dextral faults were probably reactivated during Cenozoic Red Sea rifting. The Ablah graben's infracambrian sedimentary rocks, such as siltstone, sandstone, and limestone that are mainly bound within the Ablah graben were not deformed prior to F1–F2 folding. Thus, the upper epiclastic unit of the Ablah group rocks is rheologically different from the surrounding greenschist rocks, responded to the late E–W compression in a more ductile manner than the surrounding greenschist rocks. Therefore, the Ablah graben was inverted, refolded, and crosscut by E–W dextral faults during the infracambrian EAO event, prior to development of Najd sinistral fault system, which are evident in Asir Terrane and crosscut Ablah graben.     

Structural and geomorphic features accommodating groundwater of Al-Madinah City, Saudi Arabia

Al-Madinah City is located in the western part of Saudi Arabia on the Arabian Shield. The area underwent several tectonic events that developed its structural and geomorphic features, such as the Infracambrian Najd strike-slip faults, development of the Cenozoic basaltic flows of Northern Harrat Rahat, and Cenozoic N–S and E–W transtensional faults, related to the Red Sea rifting. These successive events formed a deltaic-shaped basin of Al-Madinah. The Al-Madinah basin is part of a 400?×?150-km² Wadi Qanah–Al-Hamd watershed, which exhibits mainly parallel drainage pattern. Sub-basins, within the main basin, exhibit trellised and radial drainage patterns. The trellised drainage pattern reflects control of the Cenozoic faults, whereas the radial drainage pattern reflects volcanic-related system. Rotation of the Arabian Plate after several extensional events that lead to the opening of the Red Sea influenced the drainage flow to be going from east to west. This geological history that include eruption, normal faulting, and erosion prior to and during the Red Sea rifting formed relief inversion geomorphology of Tertiary basalts that cap Precambrian rocks of the Ayr and Jammah Mountains in western Al-Madinah. The groundwater in the central area is part of the northern Harrat Rahat basaltic aquifer in which the groundwater level rises up in the central area due to the blocking of groundwater flow by constructions below the central area and due to reduced groundwater abstraction. Building a dam 60 km northwest of Al-Madinah would preserve more surface water than the Al-Bayda dam, in which all main valleys join in at the suggested location.     

Distribution, classification, petrological and related gochemical (SRA) characteristics of a tropical lowland peat dome in the Kota Samarahan-Asajaya area, West Sarawak, Malaysia

Petrographic studies indicate that lateral variations in the decomposition levels of peat are associated with the predominantly occurring peat macerals. Source Rock Analyzer (SRA) results indicate lateral variation in peat organic matter types from type II to III and back again to type II, occurring laterally within the top 0-m to 0.5-m layer at the basin margin to the midsection and further towards the near-center areas of the peat dome. This variation is most likely caused by a combination of factors: (a) Horizontal zonation and lateral variation of the dominant species of plant assemblages (b) Fibric (marginal) peats and hemic to sapric peats associated with type II organic matter (kerogen). Sample organic matter (coal-equivalent kerogen) typing indicates that the relative abundance of phytoclasts and palynomorphs generally supports the organic matter classification obtained by the SRA method. Lateral variations in the peat organic matter types may support the lateral vegetation variation concept. The classification of peat organic matter types (interpreted from visual analyses of palynological slides) occurring from the basin periphery to the mid-section and further towards the basin center yields organic matter of type II to type III and mixed types II to III (coal kerogen-equivalent), respectively.     

Development of the models to estimate particulate matter from thermal infrared band of Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper

Particulate matter concentration and assessment of its movement pattern is crucial in air pollution studies. However, no study has been conducted to determine the PM₁₀ concentration using atmospheric correction of thermal band by temperature of nearest dark pixels group (TNDPG) of this band. For that purpose, 16 Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper plus ETM+ images for Sanandaj and Tehran in Iran were utilized to determine the amount of PM₁₀ concentration in the air. Thermal infrared (band 6) of all images was also used to determine the ground station temperature (GST b6) and temperature of nearest dark pixels group. Based on atmospheric correction of images using temperature retrieval from Landsat ETM+, three empirical models were established. Non-linear correlation coefficient with polynomial equation was used to analyze the correlations between particulate matter concentration and the ground station temperature for the three models. Similar analyses were also undertaken for three stations in Klang Valley, Malaysia, using 11 Landsat ETM+ images to show the effectiveness of the model in different region. The data analysis indicated a good correlation coefficient R = 0.89 and R = 0.91 between the trend of the result of temperature of nearest dark pixels group b6 ? (GST b6 ? GST) model and the trend of PM₁₀ concentration in Iran and Malaysia, respectively. This study reveals the applicability of the thermal band of Landsat TM and ETM+ to determine the PM₁₀ concentration over large areas.     

Current Status of Textile Industry Wastewater Management and Research Progress in Malaysia: A Review

Textile industry is one of the fastest growing industries and significantly contributes to the economic growth in Malaysia. However, this industry also has high water consumption and subsequently produces high discharge rate of wastewater with high load of contaminants. The release of dyes into the environment during textile fiber dyeing and finishing processes is a main source of water pollution. Individual wastewater treatment through physical, biological, or chemical method is often very costly and results in large amount of sludge. Thus, there is a need to look for alternative treatment processes that covers from pre to post wastewater treatment stage. This paper reviews the current scenario with respect to textile industry effluent in Malaysia and technologies available for the treatment of the effluent. Prospects, challenges, and recommendations for future direction as well as on‐going research works dedicated to the treatment of textile wastewater are also reviewed in detail.