Advances and Practices on the Research,Prevention and Control of Land Subsidence in Coastal Cities

Land subsidence severely threatens most of the coastal plains around the world where high productive industrial and agricultural activities and urban centers are concentrated. Coastal subsidence damages infrastructures and exacerbates the effect of the sea-level rise at regional scale. Although it is a well-known process, there is still much more to be improved on the monitoring, mapping and modeling of ground movements, as well as the understanding of controlling mechanisms. The International G...     

Superconducting critical field in cold magnetic white dwarfs and in neutron stars

For an evaluation of the superconducting critical fieldH _c as a function of the mass-density in the external layers of cold magnetic white dwarfs and in the superconducting proton fluid in neutron stars, we use the solution of a differential equation involvingH _c as a function of the pressure. The differential equation and its solution are obtained by pure thermodynamic way.Finally other thermodynamic quantities are calculated for the above superconducting astrophysical systems.     

Response of the bacterial community to in situ bioremediation of organic-rich sediments

A field trial experiment was carried out to assess the potential of bioremediation for mobilisation of carbon in organic-rich sediments. Both bioaugmentation (bio-fixed microorganisms) and biostimulation (oxygen release compounds--ORC) protocols have been tested and the response of the bacterial community has been described to assess the baseline for bioremediation potential. Multifactorial ANOVA revealed that bioaugmentation protocol had an effect in stimulate mobilisation processes and significantly enhanced extra-cellular enzymatic activity rates. In contrast biostimulation treatment did not have an effect on mobilisation rates but contributed to enhance bacterial efficiency through a maximization of the bacterial production:enzymatic activity ratio. Average calculation of net mobilised carbon showed that 23% increase of mobilised pool was accounted for bioaugmentation in summer. Although biostimulation accounted for a smaller increase in mobilised carbon (<10%), the use of ORC resulted in an increased mineralisation and net carbon loss via respiration. Based on our results, a conceptual model for application of bioremediation to face the problem of sediment eutrophication is discussed.     

Magma generation and crustal accretion as evidenced by supra-subduction ophiolites of the Albanide–Hellenide Subpelagonian zone

Abstract Ophiolites of the Mirdita–Subpelagonian zone form a nearly continuous belt in the Albanide–Hellenide orogen, including mid‐ocean ridge basalt (MORB) associations in the western Mirdita sector and supra‐subduction zone (SSZ) complexes, with prevalent island arc tholeiitic (IAT) and minor boninitic affinities in the eastern part of the belt (i.e. eastern Mirdita, Pindos, Vourinos). In addition, basalts with geochemical features intermediate between MORB and IAT (MORB/IAT) are found in the central Mirdita and in the Aspropotamos sequence (Pindos). These basalts alternate with pure MORB and are cut by boninitic dykes. The distinctive compositional characteristics of the mafic magmas parental to the different ophiolitic suites can be accounted for by partial melting of mantle sources progressively depleted by melt extractions. Partial melting processes (10–20%) of lherzolitic sources generated pure MORB, leaving clinopyroxene‐poor lherzolite as a residuum. Approximately 10% water‐assisted partial melting of this latter source, in an SSZ setting, may in turn generate basalts with MORB/IAT intermediate characteristics, whereas IAT basalts and boninites may have been derived from 10–20% and 30% partial melting, respectively, of the same source variably enriched by subduction‐derived fluids. In addition, boninites may also have been derived by comparatively lower degrees of hydrated partial melting of more refractory harzburgitic sources. A generalized petrologic model based on mass balance calculations between bulk rock and mineral compositions, indicate that most of the intrusives (from ultramafic cumulates to gabbronorites and plagiogranites), as well as sheeted dykes and volcanics (from basalts to rhyodacites) forming the bulk crustal section of the SSZ ophiolites, may be accounted for by shallow fractional crystallization from low‐Ti picritic parental magmas very similar in composition to IAT picrites from Pacific intraoceanic arcs. The most appropriate tectono‐magmatic model for the generation of the SSZ Tethyan ophiolites implies low velocity plate‐convergence of the intraoceanic subduction and generation of a nascent arc with IAT affinity and progressive slab roll‐back, mantle diapirism and extension from the arc axis to the forearc region, with generation of MORB/IAT intermediate basalts and boninitic magmas.     

Tectonic role of ophiolite-bearing terranes in the development of the Southern Apennines orogenic belt

New data on ophiolite-bearing terranes of the Liguride Complex, together with some information on the terranes of the Sicilide Complex, result in a better understanding of the role and tectonic significance of these units in the construction of the Southern Apennines orogenic belt. The Liguride Complex is composed of two main tectonic units overlain by a thick turbiditic sequence of Late Oligocene-Middle Miocene age. The uppermost one (Frido Unit) is a polydeformed and polymetamorphosed sequence, composed of two tectonic subunits of shales and calc-schists, respectively, containing blocks of ophiolite, garnet gneiss, amphibolites and granitoids. This unit is thrust over the un-metamorphosed terranes (Calabro–Lucano Flysch Unit) consisting of a broken formation with blocks of Late Jurassic ophiolite and their sedimentary cover, Cretaceous-Eocene pelagic sediments and Late Oligocene volcaniclastic deposits. The Frido Unit underwent HP/LT metamorphism (P= 8–10 Kb; T= 400–500 °C) resulting in glaucophane and lawsonite assemblages in the ophiolitic rocks and aragonite in the meta-limestones and calc-schists, followed by greenschist fades metamorphism (P= 4 Kb; T= 300–350 °C). From a structural point of view units of the Liguride Complex comprise structures developed at different structural levels, indicating progressive non-coaxial deformation in response to tectonic transport towards the N-NE. The ophiolite-bearing terranes of the Liguride Complex can be considered as a remnant of an accretionary complex in which the Calabro Lucano Flysch Unit represents the toe of the wedge where frontal accretion processes occur and the Frido Unit is a deeper portion. Emplacement of the Frido Unit is explained as being due to formation of a deep duplex structure during the early stage of continental collision processes. The polarity of tectonic transport provides new evidence that the Liguride Complex represents a suture zone between the Apulian and the Calabrian blocks. The age of collision appears to be not older than late Oligocene. The allochtonous terranes of the Liguride and Sicilide Complexes, therefore, represent a complete accretionary wedge which records, first, subduction of the Neotethys ocean beneath the Calabrian (Europe) continental margin and, later, continental collision with the African block.     

Effective Hamiltonian for the D'Alembert Planetary Model Near a Spin/Orbit Resonance

The D'Alembert model for the spin/orbit problem in celestial mechanics is considered. Using a Hamiltonian formalism, it is shown that in a small neighborhood of a p:q spin/orbit resonance with (p,q) different from (1,1) and (2,1) the 'effective' D'Alembert Hamiltonian is a completely integrable system with phase space foliated by maximal invariant curves; instead, in a small neighborhood of a p:q spin/orbit resonance with (p,q) equal to (1,1) or (2,1) the 'effective' D'Alembert Hamiltonian has a phase portrait similar to that of the standard pendulum (elliptic and hyperbolic equilibria, separatrices, invariant curves of different homotopy). A fast averaging with respect to the 'mean anomaly' is also performed (by means of Nekhoroshev techniques) showing that, up to exponentially small terms, the resonant D'Alembert Hamiltonian is described by a two-degrees-of-freedom, properly degenerate Hamiltonian having the lowest order terms corresponding to the 'effective' Hamiltonian mentioned above.     

Geochemical and O-isotope constraints on the evolution of lithospheric mantle in the Ross Sea rift area (Antarctica)

Peridotite xenoliths found in Cenozoic alkali basalts of northern Victoria Land, Antarctica, vary from fertile spinel-lherzolite to harzburgite. They often contain glass-bearing pockets formed after primary pyroxenes and spinel. Few samples are composite and consist of depleted spinel lherzolite crosscut by amphibole veins and/or lherzolite in contact with poikilitic wehrlite. Peridotite xenoliths are characterized by negative Al₂O₃–Mg# and TiO₂–Mg# covariations of clino- and orthopyroxenes, low to intermediate HREE concentrations in clinopyroxene, negative Cr–Al trend in spinel, suggesting variable degrees of partial melting. Metasomatic overprint is evidenced by trace element enrichment in clinopyroxene and sporadic increase of Ti–Fe_tot. Preferential Nb, Zr, Sr enrichments in clinopyroxene associated with high Ti–Fe_tot contents constrain the metasomatic agent to be an alkaline basic melt. In composite xenoliths, clinopyroxene REE contents increase next to the veins suggesting metasomatic diffusion of incompatible element. Oxygen isotope data indicate disequilibrium conditions among clinopyroxene, olivine and orthopyroxene. The highest δ¹⁸O values are observed in minerals of the amphibole-bearing xenolith. The δ¹⁸O_cpx correlations with clinopyroxene modal abundance and geochemical parameters (e.g. Mg# and Cr#) suggest a possible influence of partial melting on oxygen isotope composition. Thermobarometric estimates define a geotherm of 80°C/GPa for the refractory lithosphere of NVL, in a pressure range between 1 and 2.5 GPa. Clinopyroxene microlites of melt pockets provide P–T data close to the anhydrous peridotite solidus and confirm that they originated from heating and decompression during transport in the host magma. All these geothermometric data constrain the mantle potential temperature to values of 1250–1350°C, consistent with the occurrence of mantle decompressional melting in a transtensive tectonic regime for the Ross Sea region.     

Global change and relative sea level rise at Venice: what impact in term of flooding

Relative sea level rise (RSLR) due to climate change and geodynamics represents the main threat for the survival of Venice, emerging today only 90 cm above the Northern Adriatic mean sea level (msl). The 25 cm RSLR occurred over the 20th century, consisting of about 12 cm of land subsidence and 13 cm of sea level rise, has increased the flood frequency by more than seven times with severe damages to the urban heritage. Reasonable forecasts of the RSLR expected to the century end must be investigated to assess the suitability of the Mo.S.E. project planned for the city safeguarding, i.e., the closure of the lagoon inlets by mobile barriers. Here we consider three RSLR scenarios as resulting from the past sea level rise recorded in the Northern Adriatic Sea, the IPCC mid-range A1B scenario, and the expected land subsidence. Available sea level measurements show that more than 5 decades are required to compute a meaningful eustatic trend, due to pseudo-cyclic 7–8 year long fluctuations. The period from 1890 to 2007 is characterized by an average rate of 0.12 ± 0.01 cm/year. We demonstrate that linear regression is the most suitable model to represent the eustatic process over these 117 year. Concerning subsidence, at present Venice is sinking due to natural causes at 0.05 cm/year. The RSLR is expected to range between 17 and 53 cm by 2100, and its repercussions in terms of flooding frequency are associated here to each scenario. In particular, the frequency of tides higher than 110 cm, i.e., the value above which the gates would close the lagoon to the sea, will increase from the nowadays 4 times per year to a range between 20 and 250. These projections provide a large spread of possible conditions concerning the survival of Venice, from a moderate nuisance to an intolerable aggression. Hence, complementary solutions to Mo.S.E. may well be investigated.     

Theoretical Derivation of a Peak Particle Velocity–Distance Law for the Prediction of Vibrations from Blasting

I would like to suggest a theoretical justification for the mathematical structure of some laws for predicting the maximum particle velocity vibration from blasting operations in the light of some basic notions of elastic and anelastic wave theory. Within this point of view, in dimensionally correct expressions, the terms pertaining to the rock, to the blast and to the seismic wave become evident and recognisable. A law is presented that can be used to forecast the maximum particle velocity on the basis of some blast design and rock parameters. Four tests of the proposed law performed with real data sets seem to confirm fairly well its reliability.     

AVES: A high performance computer cluster array for the INTEGRAL satellite scientific data analysis

In this paper we describe a new computing system array, designed, built and now used at the Space Astrophysics and Planetary Institute (IAPS) in Rome, Italy, for the INTEGRAL Space Observatory scientific data analysis. This new system has become necessary in order to reduce the processing time of the INTEGRAL data accumulated during the more than 9 years of in-orbit operation. In order to fulfill the scientific data analysis requirements with a moderately limited investment the starting approach has been to use a ??cluster?? array of commercial quad-CPU computers, featuring the extremely large scientific and calibration data archive on line.