The GEF/UNDP/IMO Malacca Straits Demonstration Project: Sources of Pollution

The Straits of Malacca is subjected to a great variety of environmental stresses due to its strategic location as a major international shipping lane and the concentration of agriculture, industry and urbanisation which predominate on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. This paper gives an overview of the study conducted in the Malacca Straits as part of the GEF/UNDP/IMO Regional Programme on the Prevention and Management of Marine Pollution in the East Asian Seas, in particular pertaining to the identification of land and sea-based sources of pollution in Malaysia which contributes to the pollution load in the Straits, as well as the assessment of the relative contribution of each source.     

Group velocity dispersion analysis in northern Peninsular Malaysia

The crustal structure beneath three seismic stations over Malaysia has been investigated with the application of the group velocity dispersion analysis of the northern Sumatra earthquake data which occurred on 06 April 2010. Eighteen crustal layer models are constructed to assess the structure. Group velocity dispersions have been computed for the recorded earthquake data using a graphical method and modified Haskell matrix method for the models. Both dispersions have been presented for the interpretation of crustal layers. Findings have shown four major crustal layers having thicknesses of 2.5–4.0, 2.0–5.5, 5.0–8.0, and 8.5–9.0 km, while in Terengganu, it has shown three layers. Density, shear, and compressional wave velocities used in models have suggested that the crustal structure of the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia is crystalline. Major crustal minerals are of quartz, plagioclase, and mica. Most layers seem to have upward directions toward Perak from Kedah and Terengganu.     

Tracer-based estimation of temporal variation of water sources: an insight from supra- and subglacial environments

ABSTRACT

The temporal variations in electrical conductivity and the stable isotopes of water, δD and δ¹⁸O, were examined at Chhota Shigri Glacier, India, to understand water sources and flow paths to discharge. Discharge is highly influenced by supraglacially derived meltwater during peak ablation, and subglacial meltwaters are more prominent at the end of the melt season. The slope of the best fit linear regression line for δD versus δ¹⁸O, for both supraglacial and runoff water, is lower than that for precipitation (snow and rain) and surface ice, indicating strong isotopic fractionation associated with the melting processes. The slope of the local meteoric water line (LMWL) is close to that of the global meteoric water line (GMWL), reflecting that the moisture source is predominantly oceanic. The d-excess variation in rainwater confirms that the southwest monsoon is the main contributor during summer while the remainder including winter is mostly influenced by westerlies.     

A 3-tier tsunami vulnerability assessment technique for the north-west coast of Peninsular Malaysia

The 2004 tsunami that struck the Sumatra coast gave a warning sign to Malaysia that it is no longer regarded as safe from a future tsunami attack. Since the event, the Malaysian Government has formulated its plan of action by developing an integrated tsunami vulnerability assessment technique to determine the vulnerability levels of each sector along the 520-km-long coastline of the north-west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The scope of assessment is focused on the vulnerability of the physical characteristics of the coastal area, and the vulnerability of the built environment in the area that includes building structures and infrastructures. The assessment was conducted in three distinct stages which stretched across from a macro-scale assessment to several local-scale and finally a micro-scale assessment. On a macro-scale assessment, Tsunami Impact Classification Maps were constructed based on the results of the tsunami propagation modelling of the various tsunami source scenarios. At this stage, highly impacted areas were selected for an assessment of the local hazards in the form of local flood maps based on the inundation modelling output. Tsunami heights and flood depths obtained from these maps were then used to produce the Tsunami Physical Vulnerability Index (PVI) maps. These maps recognize sectors within the selected areas that are highly vulnerable to a maximum tsunami run-up and flood event. The final stage is the development of the Structural Vulnerability Index (SVI) maps, which may qualitatively and quantitatively capture the physical and economic resources that are in the tsunami inundation zone during the worst-case scenario event. The results of the assessment in the form of GIS-based Tsunami-prone Vulnerability Index (PVI and SVI) maps are able to differentiate between the various levels of vulnerability, based on the tsunami height and inundation, the various levels of impact severity towards existing building structures, property and land use, and also indicate the resources and human settlements within the study area. Most importantly, the maps could help planners to establish a zoning scheme for potential coastline development based on its sensitivity to tsunami. As a result, some recommendations on evacuation routes and tsunami shelters in the potentially affected areas were also proposed to the Government as a tool for relief agencies to plan for safe evacuation.     

Effect of soil hydraulic properties model on slope stability analysis based on strength reduction method

Soil hydraulic properties models which have been proposed were derived based on the empirical fitting curve such as Brooks-Corey model (BC) and Van Genuchten model (VG), or based on soil pore radius distribution such as Lognormal model (LN). Each model has different accuracy for predicting soil moisture distribution. In the analysis of rainfall-induced slope failure, the soil hydraulic properties model was needed to describe the physical phenomena of behavior characteristic of water in unsaturated soil. As moisture content has an effect on soil strength, it is vital to select the suitable soil hydraulic properties model for predicting Factor of Safety (FOS) especially in forecasting landslide hazard. In this study, a numerical model of seepage finite element analysis using BC, VG, and LN model were used and compared in order to analyze the soil moisture distribution, water movement phenomenon, and slope stability characteristic in unsaturated soil slope based on the strength reduction method (SRM). The results showed that the variations of the parameters predicting the moisture content of soil leads to differences of FOS in some cases. The parametric study showed that for the unsaturated soil condition, BC model has the greatest FOS value than the other model, while VG model has the lowest. On the other hand, the FOS of all models have the same result for the saturated condition. Other than that, it was found that the increasing of ESP value in the surface layer has significant effect in the sub-surface layer.     

REE mineralization in the carbonatites of the sung valley ultramafic-alkaline-carbonatite complex,Meghalaya, India

The Early Cretaceous Sung Valley Ultramafic-Alkaline-Carbonatite (SUAC) complex intruded the Proterozoic Shillong Group of rocks and located in the East Khasi Hills and West Jaintia Hills districts of Meghalaya. The SUAC complex is a bowl-shaped depression covering an area of about 26 km² and is comprised serpentinised peridotite forming the core of the complex with pyroxenite rim. Alkaline rocks are dominantly ijolite and nepheline syenite, occur as ring-shaped bodies as well as dykes. Carbonatites are, the youngest intrusive phase in the complex, where they form oval-shaped bodies, small dykes and veins. During the course of large scale mapping in parts of the Sung Valley complex, eleven carbonatite bodies were delineated. These isolated carbonatite bodies have a general NW-SE and E-W trend and vary from 20–125 m long and 10–40 m wide. Calcite carbonatite is the dominant variety and comprises minor dolomite and apatite and accessory olivine, magnetite, pyrochlore and phlogopite. The REE-bearing minerals identified in the Sung Valley carbonatites are bastnäsite-(Ce), ancylite-(Ce), belovite-(Ce), britholite-(Ce) and pyrochlore that are associated with calcite and apatite. The presence of REE carbonates and phosphates associated with REE-Nb bearing pyrochlore enhances the economic potential of the Sung Valley carbonatites. Trace-element geochemistry also reveals an enrichment of LREEs in the carbonatites and average ΣREE value of 0.102% in 26 bed rock samples. Channel samples shows average ΣREE values of 0.103 wt%. Moreover, few samples from carbonatite bodies has indicated relatively higher values for Sn, Hf, Ta and U. Since the present study focuses surface evaluation of REE, therefore, detailed subsurface exploration will be of immense help to determine the REE and other associated mineralization of the Sung Valley carbonatite prospect.     

Predicting the geotechnical performance of Lisan Marl using finite element analysis,Dead Sea area

This paper investigates the changes in Lisan Marl properties upon leaching the soluble minerals and collapse potential. Finite element method was used to model dike construction and the relationships between soil parameters. To validate the chosen model and obtain the required input data, one dimensional oedometer and drained direct shear tests were carried out. The models were further validated by comparing the results with available published data. The results proved that the chosen model is efficient in assessing the geotechnical behavior of the studied soil.     

Stratigraphy,age and petrography of the Beni Issef successions (External Rif; Morocco): Insights for the evolution of the Maghrebian Chain

In the Beni Issef Massif, nearly 30 km west of Chefchaouen (Morocco), the thickest post-nappe succession within the Rifian sector of the Maghrebian Chain seals the tectonic contact between the Intrarifian External Tanger and Loukkos Units, related to the Rifian External Domain. This succession is very important for the reconstruction of the deformation timing of the Rifian Maghrebids. The age of its base, in fact, is an important constraint for defining an upper boundary to the stacking of both the Intrarifian and Maghrebian Flysch Basin Units, because clasts fed by the Melloussa and Numidian Flysch Nappes are abundant in the conglomerate layers. Field and biostratigraphic analyses pointed out the presence of a Lower Beni Issef Fm, unconformable on the Intrarifian External Tanger and Loukkos Units, and an Upper Beni Issef Fm, unconformable on both the Intrarifian Units and the Lower Beni Issef Fm. The Lower Beni Issef Fm, 150 m thick, consists of lenticular conglomerates with huge blocks in a marly-clayey matrix, followed by marls and minor sandstones. It deposited in a siliciclastic platform, shows a fining upward trend and is affected by metre- to hectometre-sized, locally reversed, folds. Samples collected 45–50 m above the base of the formation resulted not older than Late Tortonian in age, but an older age for the base of the formation cannot be excluded. The Upper Beni Issef Fm, up to 550 m thick, starts with coarse conglomerates followed by medium- to coarse-grained well-bedded sandstones and by grey-blue marls and mudrocks. It indicates deposition in a channelized marine delta, with evolution towards pro-delta pelites, and shows sub-horizontal or gently dipping beds towards the east. Biostratigraphic data indicate a probable Messinian age for this formation. The composition of the arenites of both Lower Beni Issef and Upper Beni Issef Fms is quartzolithic and all samples show a notable content of monocrystalline well-rounded quartz and sedimentary lithic fragments. Detrital modes, all falling in the Quartzose Recycled and Transitional Recycled fields, suggest a provenance from recycling of sedimentary successions, easily recognizable in the Flysch Basin and External Units, mainly the Numidian Nappe sandstones. A Tortonian age of the Lower Beni Issef Fm would agree with the Late Serravallian age of the uppermost beds of the External Tanger Unit and indicate that the most probable age for the stacking of the Intrarifian Units falls in the Late Serravallian-Middle Tortonian time span. The Lower Beni Issef Fm was involved in a compressive tectonic phase testified by north-south striking folds. Later, probably during Messinian, the Upper Beni Issef Fm deposited in a younger intramontane basin, resting on both the Intrarifian Units and the Lower Beni Issef Fm. Successively, the Upper Beni Issef Fm was passively transported piggyback on top of the fold and thrust belt during later tectonic evolution of the Rifian Maghrebids. This tectonic evolution results quite similar to that recognized in the Tellian and Sicilian Maghrebids and also in the southern Apennines.     

Grain-size distribution and subsurface mapping at the Setiu wetlands,Setiu, Terengganu

A study was carried out around the lagoon and coastal area of Setiu wetlands to determine the general characteristics and grain-size distribution of their sediments. Sediment samples were collected from 39 stations of the lagoon area and 8 stations of the coastal area, and were analyzed for their sedimentological characteristics (mean, sorting, skewness and kurtosis). The sediment mean size ranged between 0.06–2.52 and 2.12–2.69 phi (Ø) for both lagoon and coastal sea-bottom sediments, respectively. Generally, the sediments in the study area consist mostly of coarse to fine particles. The major portions of the sediment are negatively skewed. This indicates that the study area is under the influence of the rather strong wave and current action. The study also encompassed the geophysical survey that was conducted near the coastal zone of the study area. The high-resolution seismic sub-bottom profiling technique is the standard method employed to map geological features and locate structures below the surface of the seafloor. Data obtained from seismic records were used to interpret the seismic reflectors. Three main reflectors (layers), which consist of the seabed and the seabed multiple, were traced using Sonar Web Pro software, and the results showed a uniform distribution pattern for all stations surveyed. It is envisaged that this method could be an effective way to image the marine subsurface structures; thus, its use is anticipated in the higher degrees of sedimentary research and marine resource exploration.