Dereverberation of marine reflection seismic data by a spatial combination of predictive deconvolution and velocity filtering

Contamination of seismic reflection records at early times by first-order water reverberations can be especially severe during survey operations over hard and flat sea floors on the continental shelf or in lake environments. A new dereverberation scheme based on two classical techniques — predictive deconvolution and velocity filtering — has been developed to address this problem. The techniques are combined spatially to take advantage of their complementary offset- and time-dependent properties. Stage I of the scheme consists of applying predictive deconvolution at short offset. The data are previously conditioned by a normal moveout correction with the water velocity which restores the periodicity of the reverberations in the offset-time plane and enhances the performance of deconvolution. Stage II of the scheme involves velocity filtering in the common-midpoint domain which is particularly effective at long offset where the moveout difference between primary reflections and reverberations is largest. The dereverberation scheme is well suited for the initial processing of large volumes of data due to the general availability of cost-effective deconvolution and velocity filtering algorithms in seismic processing software packages. Practical implementation issues are illustrated by a field example from the GLIMPCE survey in Lake Superior.Lithoprobe Publication No. 475.     

New paleomagnetic result from the Ethiopian flood basalts in the Abbay (Blue Nile) and Kessem gorges

New paleomagnetic investigations on the Ethiopian trap series have been undertaken at the Abbay and Kessem gorges in an attempt to better constrain the 30 Ma paleomagnetic pole of Africa. We sampled six thick massive basaltic lava flows, totaling 230 m, from Abbay Gorge and 10 lava flows, 180 m in thickness, from Kessem Gorge. Detailed paleomagnetic analyses disclosed that the carriers of the characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) are different in different lava flows. These are mostly titanomagnetites, titanomaghemites, and magnetite minerals with a broad range of coercive force and blocking temperatures. The heating and cooling susceptibility vs. temperature curves, many of which are irreversible, may indicate chemical remagnetization, notably low temperature maghemitization. Only one flow (KS04) with a clear 580°C Curie temperature was apparently unaffected by chemical remagnetization. The ChRM direction of this flow is identical to that in other flows, which suggests that if and when remagnetization occurred, this was shortly after emplacement of the lava flows. All of the flows sampled have normal polarity. However, a reversed component of low to medium coercive force and low to medium unblocking temperature occurs in flow KS01 at Kessem Gorge. The ChRM directions for the 16 sites are D=3.1°, I=5.8° (α₉₅=12.7°). The paleomagnetic pole obtained from these is at λ=83.0°N, φ=193.3°E (A₉₅=9.0°). Comparison with three previous studies of the traps shows remarkable consistency and a number of means are derived and discussed. Two final preferred poles for the traps are at λ=79.0°N, φ=196.9°E (A₉₅=2.8°) when all 112 published flows are used, and λ=78.7°N, φ=209.4°E (A₉₅=3.4°) when only the 76 flows from the four more recently analyzed sections are included. Both are compatible with the recent reference synthetic pole for Africa of Courtillot and Besse [J. Geophys. Res. (2002) in press]. In that sense, the Ethiopian trap pole is not anomalous and does not require more of a non-dipolar contribution than indicated by analyses of the global paleomagnetic data base covering the last few million years.     

Curvature analysis of triangulated surfaces in structural geology

This paper addresses the problem of characterizing the shape of a geological surface on the basis of its principal curvatures. The surface is assumed to be modeled as a set of adjacent triangles defined by the location of their vertices and a method is proposed for estimating numerically the principal curvatures at the vertices of the triangles using a local C² interpolant. Also shown is how principal curvatures can be useful for studying the deformation of a geological surface (with application to 3D balanced unfolding), and analyzing the folding or faulting of the interface between two adjacent layers.     

The Role of Pre-existing Structures in the Origin, Propagation and Architecture of Faults in the Main Ethiopian Rift

Four major fault systems oriented N–S to NNE–SSW, NE–SW, E–W and NW–SE are identified from Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) images and a high resolution digital elevation model (DEM) over the Ethiopian Rift Valley and the surrounding plateaus. Most of these faults are the result of Cenozoic - extensional reactivation of pre-existing basement structures. These faults interacted with each other at different geological times under different geodynamic conditions. The Cenozoic interaction under an extensional tectonic regime is the major cause of the actual volcano-tectonic landscape in Ethiopia. The Wonji Fault Belt (WFB), which comprises the N–S to NNE–SSW striking rift floor faults, displays peculiar propagation patterns mainly due to interaction with the other fault systems and the influence of underlying basement structures. The commonly observed patterns are: curvilinear oblique-slip faults forming lip-horsts, sinusoidal faults, intersecting faults and locally splaying faults at their ends. Fault-related open structures such as tail-cracks, releasing bends and extensional relay zones and fault intersections have served as principal eruption sites for monogenetic Plio-Quaternary volcanoes in the Main Ethiopian Rift (MER).     

The role of climate change and human interventions in affecting watershed runoff responses

Identifying the role of the two main driving factors—climate change and human interventions—in influencing runoff processes is essential for sustainable water resources management. For this purpose, runoff regime change detection methods were used to divide the available hydroclimatic variables into a baseline and a disturbed period. We applied hydrological modelling and the climate elasticity of runoff method to determine the contribution of climate change and human interventions to changes in runoff. The hydrological model, SWAT, was calibrated during the baseline period and used to simulate the naturalized runoff pattern for the disturbed period. Significant changes in runoff in the study watershed were detected from 1982, suggesting that human interventions play a dominant role in influencing runoff. The combined effects of climate change and human interventions resulted in a 41.3 mm (23.9%) decrease in runoff during the disturbed period, contributing about 40% and 60% to the total runoff change, respectively. Furthermore, analysis of changes in land cover dynamics in the watershed over the past four decades supported these changes in runoff. Contrary to other decades, the discrepancy between naturalized and observed runoff was small in the 2010s, likely due to increased baseflow as a result of storage and/or release of excess water during the dry season. This study contributes to our understanding of how climate change and human interventions affect hydrological responses of watersheds, which is important for future sustainable water management and drought adaptation.     

Epithermal base-metal vein mineralization in the southern uplands of scotland: Nature and origin of the fluids

The sedimentary sequences of the Southern Uplands of Scotland host numerous lead-zinc-copper-silver vein deposits, the genesis of which has never been adequately explained. Fluid inclusion and stable isotope analysis of vein minerals from these deposits indicate that, for the vein stages studied, the mineralizing fluids were low temperature (< 150°C), high salinity (19 to 30 equiv. wt. % NaCl + CaCl₂) modified meteoric waters. A consideration of the availability of such fluids throughout the geological history of the Southern Uplands suggests a Lower Carboniferous (Dinantian) age for the mineralization.     

Geology, geochemistry and petrogenesis of intrusive rocks of the Wallagga area, western Ethiopia

Crystalline rocks from the western Ethiopian Precambrian terrain comprise two major rock groups: (1) the often migmatised eastern and western high-grade gneisses; and (2) the central low-grade metavolcanosedimentary rocks. Granitoid bodies of different ages and compositions intrude these rocks. Field observations, petrographic investigations, and geochemical features support a two-fold classification of the granitoid rocks. The volcanic arc granitoids (VAG) are most common and include the Ujjukka granite and granodiorite, and the Dhagaa Booqa and Guttin K-feldspar megacrystic granites. The second and geographically more restricted group represents within-plate or anorogenic (A-type) granitoids, typified by the Tullu Kapii syenite. Geochemically, the Tullu Kapii syenite is characterised by moderate to high contents of SiO₂, total alkalis, Y, Nb, Ta, Hf, Zn, Zr, Ga, ΣREE, higher ratios of Fe₂O_3(total)/MgO, , , and lower contents of CaO, MgO, Sr, and Ba, compared to the other granitoids. The VAG group shows chondrite-normalised REE patterns with slightly enriched LREE and flat HREE patterns without significant Eu anomalies. In contrast, the Tullu Kapii A-type granitoid is characterised by a nearly horizontal REE pattern with variable negative Eu anomalies. The Ujjukka granite and granodiorite; and the Dhagaa Booqa and Guttin K-feldspar megacrystic granites originated in a two-step process, which involves batch equilibrium melting of basaltic or andesitic material producing tonalitic magma, followed by fractional crystallisation. The Tullu Kapii syenite was the product of partial melting of source rocks enriched in high field strength elements.     

The polarization of starlight in NGC 654 and IC 5146

Two very young star clusters, NGC 654 and IC 5146 are studied using photographic polarization measures with limiting magnitudeB=15m,with a view to determining the nature of magnetic fields in the vicinities of these clusters.Starlight from NGC 654 is found to be polarized in a direction parallel to the galactic plane, the fainter members being more strongly polarized than the brighter ones.Polarization of starlight in IC 5146 is found to be very variable in both magnitude and direction, indicating the presence of complex magnetic fields within the cluster.     

Applying the HAZUS-MH software tool to assess seismic risk in downtown Ottawa,Canada

The aim of this paper is to present earthquake loss estimations for a portion of downtown Ottawa, Canada, using the HAZUS-MH (Hazards United States Multi-Hazard) software tool. The assessment is performed for a scenario earthquake of moment magnitude 6.5, at an epicentral distance of 15 km, occurring during business hours. A level 2 HAZUS-MH analysis was performed where the building inventory, microzonation studies, and site-specific ground motion hazard maps (2% exceedence probability in 50 years) were all improved based on local information. All collected data were assembled into a set of standard geodatabases that are compatible with the HAZUS-MH software using a GIS-specific procedure. The results indicate that the greatest losses are expected in unreinforced masonry buildings and commercial buildings. Sensitivity studies show that soil classes, the vulnerability of schools, and the spatial scale of loss estimations are also important factors to take into account.     

Assessment of uncertainties in the response of the African monsoon precipitation to land use change simulated by a regional model

Land use and land cover (LULC) over Africa have changed substantially over the last 60 years and this change has been proposed to affect monsoon circulation and precipitation. This study examines the uncertainties of model simulated response in the African monsoon system and Sahel precipitation due to LULC change using a set of regional model simulations with different combinations of land surface and cumulus parameterization schemes. Although the magnitude of the response covers a broad range of values, most of the simulations show a decline in Sahel precipitation due to the expansion of pasture and croplands at the expense of trees and shrubs and an increase in surface air temperature. The relationship between the model responses to LULC change and the climatologists of the control simulations is also examined. Simulations that are climatologically too dry or too wet compared to observations and reanalyses have weak response to land use change because they are in moisture or energy limited regimes respectively. The ones that lie in between have stronger response to the LULC changes, showing a more significant role in land–atmosphere interactions. Much of the change in precipitation is related to changes in circulation, particularly to the response of the intensity and latitudinal position of the African Easterly Jet, which varies with the changes in meridional surface temperature gradients. The study highlights the need for measurements of the surface fluxes across the meridional cross-section of the Sahel to evaluate models and thereby allowing human impacts such as land use change on the monsoon to be projected more realistically.