Geophysical survey for geological hazards assessment of Wadi Thuwal area, KSA: a case history

Magnetic and seismic methods have been used in this study as complementary methods to each other to construct a geologic hazard map for Wadi Thuwal area. Magnetic interpretation for deep-seated geologic structures has involved reduction to pole algorithm and downward continuation techniques. It showed that there are three major fault trends: NE-SW and NNE-SSW, NW-SE, and N-S. Furthermore, shear zone has been found close to Harrat Thuwal, which was confirmed by the seismic method. Seismic method revealed three lithologic layers where the depth of the bedrock was found to be ranging between 9?m at the southeastern part of the study area and 24?m at its northern part. It showed also five major fault trends: NW-SE, ENE-WSW, NE-SW, and nearly E-W. Supported by the surface geology, magnetic and seismic results showed that the Wadi Thuwal area can be divided into three zones on the basis of geologic hazards, depending on the presence of geologic features such as faults. It is recommended that before any development plan in Wadi Thuwal area, the delineated hazard zonation should be taken into account.     

High-resolution coastal hazard assessment along the French Riviera from co-seismic tsunamis generated in the Ligurian fault system

Natural Hazards - The French Riviera is a densely populated and touristic coast. It is also one of the most seismically active areas of the Western Mediterranean. This is evidenced by the Mw...     

Hartley spectral analysis of self-potential anomalies caused by a 2-D horizontal circular cylinder

The real spectral analysis of SP anomalies due to 2-D horizontal circular cylinder is carried out using Hartley transform. The Hartley transform is an alternate means of realizing spectral analysis in real domain unlike the Fourier spectral analysis. The Hartley transform yields a straightforward interpretation of SP anomalies caused by horizontal circular cylinder wherein all the parameters are derived independently as a function of frequency. A theoretical example illustrates the procedure. The effect of random noise, up to 10% of white Gaussian noise, on the interpretation scheme was also studied and found to be of negligible. The field example of the ??Sulleymonkey?? anomaly in the Ergoni copper district, Turkey exemplifies the applicability of the proposed method.     

Lack of mitochondrial genetic structure in the endangered giant clam populations of Tridacna maxima (Bivalvia: Cardiidae: Tridacninae) across the Saudi Arabian coast

The present investigation focuses on population genetic structure analysis of the endangered giant clam species Tridacna maxima across part of the Red Sea,with the main aim of assessing the influence of postulated potential barriers to gene flow(i.e.,particular oceanographic features and marked environmental heterogeneity)on genetic connectivity among populations of this poorly dispersive bivalve species.For this purpose,a total of 44 specimens of T.maxima were collected from five sampling locations along the Saudi Arabian coast and examined for genetic variability at the considerably variable mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase I(COI).Our results revealed lack of population subdivision and phylogeographic structure across the surveyed geographic spectrum,suggesting that neither the short pelagic larval dispersal nor the various postulated barriers to gene flow in the Red Sea can trigger the onset of marked genetic differentiation in T.maxima.Furthermore,the discerned shallow COI haplotype genealogy(exhibiting high haplotype diversity and low nucleotide diversity),associated with recent demographic and spatial expansion events,can be considered as residual effect of a recent evolutionary history of the species in the Red Sea.     

The diffraction of linear waves by a uniform vertical cylinder with cosine-type radial perturbations

The interaction of linear waves with a uniform, bottom-mounted, surface-piercing cylinder whose diameter exhibits a cosine-type variation is investigated. Two solution methods are presented. One method is based on a perturbation theory, using a perturbation parameter defined in terms of the surface geometry of the cylinder. The analysis includes terms up to the first-order in this parameter, where the zeroth-order solution corresponds to a circular cylinder. The velocity potentials at the zeroth and first orders are expressed as eigenfunction expansions involving unknown coefficients that are subsequently determined through the cylinder boundary conditions. The second method is based on Green's theorem and gives rise to an integral equation for the fluid velocity potential on the cylinder surface. A comparison between the results of these two methods has proved that they are in good agreement for small values of the perturbation parameter. Numerical results are presented that illustrate the influence of the magnitude and frequency of these perturbations on the resulting hydrodynamic force and the wave runup on the cylinder.     

The depth of seismicity in the Kermanshah region of the Zagros Mountains (Iran)

A detailed microearthquake survey in a small region of the Zagros Mountains in Iran failed to detect any shocks whose depths were greater than 20 km. One third of the shocks in the same area have depths greater than 50 km when located using teleseismic observations. Because of poor azimuthal coverage and lack of local stations these teleseismic locations are probably in error. There is therefore no reliable seismic evidence for the existence of oceanic lithosphere beneath the Zagros fold belt.