Cadomian volcanosedimentary complexes across the Ediacaran–Cambrian transition of the Eastern Pyrenees,southwestern Europe

International Journal of Earth Sciences - The volcanism hosted by the Ediacaran–Terreneuvian Canaveilles Group of the Eastern Pyrenees displays two distinct geochemical affinities: (1)...     

An investigation of lead chromate (crocoite-PbCrO4) and other inorganic pigments in aged traffic paint samples from Hamilton,Ohio: implications for lead in the environment

Traffic paint samples collected from roads in the City of Hamilton, Butler County, OH, USA were investigated to determine whether or not pigments are hazardous and are of environmental concern. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicate that white and gray paint samples are dominated by calcite, rutile, anatase and quartz and blue traffic paint samples are dominated by calcite and barite. XRD and SEM indicate that most yellow traffic paints have lead chromate (crocoite-PbCrO₄) with common particle sizes that are typically 125–350 nm in length and 75–200 nm in width. Larger aggregates of several micrometers in diameter are also observed. The solubility of PbCrO₄ (1.34 × 10^?7 mol/L at 25 °C) combined with an increase in solubility with exposure to 0.05–0.25 M NaCl and CaCl₂ road treatments solutions as demonstrated by basic batch experiments likely makes PbCrO₄ from traffic paint a potential source for lead pollution in surface water and groundwater that is not fully recognized.     

Hydrogeochemistry approach to the identification of flow components under the descending limb conditions of a hydrograph (Corbeira stream,Spain)

This paper presents a method based on hydrogeochemical signatures for the identification of flow components, from the descending limb to the baseflow, without the direct support of hydrographs. The proposed model was built using chemical analysis of waters from a small agro-forestry catchment having a temperate climate. The sampling was performed every 15 days at the Corbeira stream outlet, from 2004 to 2008. A statistical approach was used with particulate P/dissolved P (PP/DP) values, resulting in a global histogram, within which mini-Gaussian distributions were highlighted. The mean of each group of highlighted PP/DP values, as well as all other selected analytical parameters, were calculated and plotted in Cartesian diagrams. The results showed the hydrogeochemical signatures of the Corbeira stream in the descending limb to baseflow conditions. Scatterplots of the migration of particulate matter showed linear regressions forming α ≠ 0 to the X-axis, while dissolved compounds showed parallel linearity (α = 0) in relation to the same axis. Deflections in the linear behavior point to significant changes in the chemical concentrations from different types of aqueous inputs. Flow components in the descending limb show distinct ranges along the X-axis: the mean PP/DP values. The ranges varying from 3.3 to 2.0 correspond to its upper phases from 2.0 to 0.9 suggests mixtures between inflows and from 0.9 to 0.3 denote subsurface flow dominance. Finally, PP/DP < 0.3 indicates exclusive baseflow conditions. These intervals are specific to the Corbeira catchment as a consequence of its geographical characteristics and should be numerically different from the proposed method if applied to other catchments. However, this method remains valid for application in other small catchments as the PP/DP ranges in the descending limb are defined by the relative behavior between the linear correlations from the hydrogeochemical concentrations plotted in a Cartesian diagram.     

Methods for point source analysis in high energy neutrino telescopes

Neutrino telescopes are moving steadily toward the goal of detecting astrophysical neutrinos from the most powerful galactic and extragalactic sources. Here we describe analysis methods to search for high energy point-like neutrino sources using detectors deep in the ice or sea. We simulate an ideal cubic kilometer detector based on real world performance of existing detectors such as AMANDA, IceCube, and ANTARES. An unbinned likelihood ratio method is applied, making use of the point spread function and energy distribution of simulated neutrino signal events to separate them from the background of atmospheric neutrinos produced by cosmic ray showers. The unbinned point source analyses are shown to perform better than binned searches and, depending on the source spectral index, the use of energy information is shown to improve discovery potential by almost a factor of two.     

Guidelines on the use of inverse velocity method as a tool for setting alarm thresholds and forecasting landslides and structure collapses

Predicting the time of failure is a topic of major concern in the field of geological risk management. Several approaches, based on the analysis of displacement monitoring data, have been proposed in recent years to deal with the issue. Among these, the inverse velocity method surely demonstrated its effectiveness in anticipating the time of collapse of rock slopes displaying accelerating trends of deformation rate. However, inferring suitable linear trend lines and deducing reliable failure predictions from inverse velocity plots are processes that may be hampered by the noise present in the measurements; data smoothing is therefore a very important phase of inverse velocity analyses. In this study, different filters are tested on velocity time series from four case studies of geomechanical failure in order to improve, in retrospect, the reliability of failure predictions: Specifically, three major landslides and the collapse of an historical city wall in Italy have been examined. The effects of noise on the interpretation of inverse velocity graphs are also assessed. General guidelines to conveniently perform data smoothing, in relation to the specific characteristics of the acceleration phase, are deduced. Finally, with the aim of improving the practical use of the method and supporting the definition of emergency response plans, some standard procedures to automatically setup failure alarm levels are proposed. The thresholds which separate the alarm levels would be established without needing a long period of neither reference historical data nor calibration on past failure events.     

The effect of the "Prestige" oil spill on the plankton of the N-NW Spanish coast

Chlorophyll, primary production, zooplankton biomass and the species composition of phytoplankton and zooplankton were studied in 2003, after the Prestige shipwreck. The information obtained was compared to previous data series available for the area affected by the spill. A large data series on plankton variables for the N-NW Spanish coast existed, and therefore a realistic evaluation of the effects by comparison with the range of natural variability could be carried out. We emphasized the evaluation of impact during the spring bloom, the first important biological event after the spill. Some minor changes were observed occasionally, but they did not show any clear pattern and were more related to the natural variability of the ecosystem than to effect of the spill. Plankton community structure did not undergo any changes. Only a few species were more abundant during spring 2003 than in previous years. No significant changes were detected in the planktonic community during productive periods, such as the spring bloom and the summer blooms related to intrusions of East North Atlantic Central Waters. The lack of evidence of the effects of the spill on planktonic communities is discussed in terms of the characteristics of the fuel, the high dynamics of the water masses, the biological mechanisms through which the fuel from the surface waters is transferred to the sea floor and, particularly, the influence of the natural variability by means of large and meso-scale hydrographic processes in the area under study. At the present time it is not possible to determine any minor effects the spill may have had on the plankton owing to the great variability of the planktonic cycles and the short-term impact of the oil from the Prestige on the pelagic system.     

Alluvial terraces on the Ionian coast of northern Calabria, southern Italy: Implications for tectonic and sea level controls

In this paper we present the results of an integrated geomorphological, pedological and stratigraphical study carried out along the Ionian coast of northern Calabria (southern Italy). This area is characterised by the occurrence of five orders of alluvial terraces that are striking features of the landscape, where large and steep catchments debouch from the mountain front to the hilly coastal belt.Field investigations indicate that the deposits of all five terraces are suggestive of shallow gravel-bed braided streams.On the basis of the age of the Pleistocene substratum and morphostratigraphic correlation with marine terraces cropping out in the nearby areas, each order has been associated to specific marine oxygen isotope stages.Consequently, we focused on the interplay of allocyclic factors influencing stream aggradation/degradation. Soil features and other climatic proxies suggest that climate didn't play an important role with respect to tectonic and base-level changes in controlling fluvial dynamics.In particular, we recognised that during the middle Pleistocene the study area experienced a period of subaerial landscape modelling, as suggested by the thick and complex alluvial sequence of the highest terrace (T1). The onset of regional uplift marks a change in the geomorphic scenario, with tectonic and eustatically driven changes in base-level working together in causing switches in fluvial aggradational/erosional phases (T2–T5 terraces). Because of the uplift, river dissection occurred during phases of sea level fall, whereas aggradation phases occurred during periods of climate amelioration (sea level rise) just before highstands were attained.As a consequence, the stepped terraces in the study area reflect the interplay between tectonics (uplift) and sea level changes, in which terraces define episodes of relative sea level fall during the late Quaternary.     

Numerical investigation of the seakeeping behavior of a catamaran advancing in regular head waves

A numerical study was undertaken in order to assess the capability of an unsteady RANS code to predict the seakeeping characteristics of a high-speed multi-hull vessel in high sea states. Numerical analysis includes evaluation of ship motions, effects of wave steepness on ship response, catamaran natural frequency and added resistance in waves. Computations were performed for the DELFT 372 catamaran by the URANS solver CFDSHIP-Iowa V.4. The code was validated with encouraging results for high ship speeds (0.3≤Fn≤0.75) and high wave amplitudes (0.025≤Ak≤0.1). Comparison with strip theory solutions shows that the RANS method predicts ship motions with higher accuracy and allows the detection of nonlinear effects. Current computations evidence that heave peaks occur at resonance for all Fn, and reach the absolute maximum at Fn=0.75. Maximum pitch occurs at frequencies lower than resonance, for each speed, and absolute maximum occurs at medium Fn=0.6. Maximum added resistance, R_aw, was computed at Fn=0.45, which, interestingly, is near the catamaran Fn_coincidence. Overall, we found similar results as Simonsen et al. (2008) for KCS containership, though, herein, a multi-hull geometry and higher speeds were tested. Also, our results are useful to further evaluate the exciting forces and their correlation with f_e and λ/L_pp.