Evaluation of site conditions for the Ankara Basin of Turkey based on seismic site characterization of near-surface geologic materials

Regional site conditions relevant for seismic hazard studies can be derived from various geologic, seismologic, and geotechnical sources. In this study, site conditions are derived for the Ankara Basin in Turkey by merging in-situ seismic measurements of dynamic properties, geologic information, and some geotechnical boring information. Field seismic refraction surveys were performed at 259 sites in the project area to classify and characterize Plio–Pleistocene fluvial deposits and Quaternary alluvial and terrace deposits. The shear-wave velocity profiles of the near-surface geologic units are used to characterize site classes according to the International Building Code [International Code Council, ICC. International Building Code. Structural and fire- and life-safety provisions (seismic, wind, accessibility, egress, occupancy and roof codes), 2006. Whittier, CA.] and the Turkish Seismic Code [Ministry of Public Works and Settlement, 1998. Turkish Seismic Code, Specification for Structures to be Built in Disaster Areas, Ankara, Turkey], and to develop a regional model for the average shear-wave velocity in the top 30 m. The resulting maps of site class indicate that the classification system for the Turkish Seismic Code results in a significant portion of the Ankara Basin being classified as Z4, the softest site class. The International Building Code site classification system results in most of the Ankara Basin being classified as D, stiff soil. These differences are caused by the Turkish Seismic Code incorporating information from only the surface layer, while the International Building Code incorporates information from the top 30 m.     

Geochemistry of the Pliocene basalts erupted along the Malatya-Ovacik fault zone (MOFZ), eastern Anatolia, Turkey: Implications for source characteristics and partial melting processes

The study area is located on the middle sector of the Malatya-Ovacık Fault Zone (MOFZ) in the eastern Anatolia. Four basaltic flows from bottom to top, which are tholeiitic in character and intercalated with Pliocene sedimentary rocks, were erupted along this fault zone. Chemical compositions of these flows reveal some differences between the first flow and others in terms of high-field strength elements (HFSEs) (e.g. Ti, Zr, Nb). Limited variations in compositions within the first flow and upper flows suggest a limited fractionation range. Trace-element patterns exhibit that all the flows have similar and OIB-like patterns without positive peak at Pb and a trough at Nb—Ta, indicating minimal or no crustal contribution. Rare-earth element (REE) patterns indicate that the first flow has flat patterns with negative Eu anomaly, whereas the upper flows have variable enrichments in LREE and depletions in HREE. La/Sm_N, Dy/Yb_N and Zr/Y ratios exhibit that the degree of partial melting decreases from the first flow to upper flows. Higher values of La/Yb_N ratio for the upper flows and depletions at Y and Yb on the trace-element patterns suggest the presence of garnet as a residual phase, which imply that the depth of partial melting took place solely in the garnet-stability field. OIB-like trace-element patterns and trace-element ratios (e.g. La/Nb, Ce/Y and Zr/Nb) emphasize that the melts forming the Arguvan basalt were originated from the asthenospheric mantle rather than the lithospheric mantle.     

Stratigraphy and palaeoenvironment of the Lower-“middle” Oligocene units in the northern part of the Western Taurides (İncesu area,Isparta, Turkey)

This study describes the stratigraphic and palaeoenvironmental significance of the Lower-“middle” Oligocene sediments based on the fauna from the Delikarkas? Formation and the microflora from the ?ncesu Formation of the ?ncesu area (northern part of the western Taurides, Isparta province, Turkey). In the area, the Oligocene sediments show a regressive succession, which begins with the limestones of the Delikarkas? Formation indicating marine conditions followed by conglomerates, sandstones and coaly mudstones of alluvial and fluvial (shallow marine-continental) origin. A well preserved foraminiferal assemblage including Nummulites intermedius, Nummulites vascus and Halkyardia maxima proves an Early Oligocene age for the Delikarkas? Formation. Due to palynological markers such as Boehlensipollis hohli, Slowakipollis hippophaëoides, Dicolpopollis kockelii, Magnolipollis neogenicus ssp. minor, Plicapollis pseudoexcelsus, Caryapollenites simplex and Intratriporopollenites instructus the ?ncesu Formation, which concordantly rests on the Delikarkas? Formation, may be assigned to the Early-“middle” Oligocene. From the palynomorph assemblage, three zones have been recognised according to abundance of species. Zone 1 is characterized by predominance of C. simplex and Momipites punctatus and rarely presence of tricolpate and tricolporate pollen. Zone 2 consists mainly of Inaperturopollenites dubius, Leiotriletes maxoides ssp. maximus, Verrucatosporites favus, Verrucatosporites alienus and infrequently marine dinoflagellate cysts. Zone 3 is characterized by a high percentage of ferns such as Echinatisporis?chattensis and Polypodiaceoisporites saxonicus. The presence of marine dinoflagellate cysts like Apectodinium sp. and Cleistosphaeridium sp., back-mangrove elements such as Acrostichum aureum and lepidocaryoid palms (e.g. Longapertites discordis, Longapertites punctatus and Longapertites psilatus) in the sediments of the ?ncesu Formation imply coastal or near-coastal conditions. Terrestrial palynomorphs in more inland settings were transported by running water towards the sea. Conifers are represented by poorly preserved and rare pollen grains of Pityosporites, Cathayapollis and Piceapollis which may have been transported by wind. In this study, the terrestrial climate of the ?ncesu Formation is also discussed on the basis of the Coexistence Approach method. The climate was warm at the coast (over 20 °C), as evidenced by A. aureum and lepidocaryoid palms, whereas there was a mean annual temperature of 17.2–17.4 °C must be assumed for the upland environment(s).     

Landfill site selection and landfill liner design for Ankara, Turkey

Considering the high population growth rate of Ankara, it is inevitable that landfill(s) will be required in the area in the near future to sustain the sanitary waste disposal needs of the city. The main scope of this study is to select alternative landfill sites for Ankara based on the growing trends of Ankara toward the northwest, particularly toward the Sincan municipality, and to eventually select the best alternative through utilizing multi-criteria decision making. Landfill site selection was carried out utilizing Geographic Information System (GIS) and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis. A number of criteria, namely, settlement, slope, proximity to roads, geology, availability and proximity of landfill containment material (i.e., clay for composite lining system), suitability for agriculture, erosion, vegetation cover and lineament system were gathered in a GIS environment. Each criterion was assigned a weight value by applying the Pairwise Comparison Method and the Analytical Hierarchy Method. In order to choose the best alternative, the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to the Ideal Solution, which is regarded as an ideal point method, was applied and a landfill site was selected. The geotechnical properties of the so-called “Ankara clay” that shows widespread distribution in Ankara were reviewed and assessed for its suitability as a compacted clay liner.     

Anisidine adsorption on Co-supported pumice

In this study, the adsorption of 2-, 3-, 4-anisidines on metal (Co)-supported pumice has been performed. The amount of cobalt on pumice was measured by ICP-OES analysis. Scanning electron microscopy indicated the formation of metal modification on the pumice surface. The samples were examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis of the adsorption process. The data show that after cobalt cation was supported on pumice, the adsorption of 2-, 3-, 4-anisidines was characterized by the bands at 2,958, 1,633, 1,450, 760, and 734 cm^?1. Adsorption of anisidines was observed only on Co-supported pumice, not on bulk pumice. The results show that the main adsorption process can only occur on the metal cation and metal oxide surface of pumice. Geometrical effects of isomers were monitored after adsorption.     

Magmatic processes and mixing origin of andesite: Miocene Karamağara volcanics,Central Anatolia,Turkey

The Miocene Karamağara volcanics (KMV) crop out in the Saraykent region (Yozgat) of Central Anatolia. The KMV include four principal magmatic components based on their petrography and compositional features: basaltic andesites (KMB); enclaves (KME); andesites (KMA); and dacites (KMD). Rounded and ellipsoidal enclaves occur in the andesites, ranging in diameter from a few millimetres to ten centimetres. A non‐cognate origin for the enclaves is suggested due to their mineralogical dissimilarity to the enclosing andesites. The enclaves range in composition from basaltic andesite to andesite. Major and trace element data and primitive mantle‐normalized rare‐earth element (REE) patterns of the KMV exhibit the effects of fractional crystallization on the evolution of the KME which are the product of mantle‐derived magma. The KMA contain a wide variety of phenocrysts, including plagioclase, clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, hornblende and opaque minerals. Comparison of textures indicates that many of the hornblende phenocrysts within the KMA were derived from basaltic andesites (KMB) and are not primary crystallization products of the KMA. Evidence of disequilibrium in the hybrid andesite includes the presence of reacted hornblendes, clinopyroxene mantled by orthopyroxene and vice versa, and sieve‐texture and inclusion zones within plagioclase. The KMV exhibit a complex history, including fractional crystallization, magma mixing and mingling processes between mantle and crust‐derived melts. Textural and geochemical characteristics of the enclaves and their hosts require that mantle‐derived basic magma intruded the deep continental crust followed by fractional crystallization and generation of silicic melts from the continental material. Hybridization between basic and silicic melts subsequently occurred in a shallow magma chamber. Modelling of major element geochemistry suggests that the hybrid andesite represents a 62:38 mix of dacite and basaltic andesite. The implication of this process is that calc‐alkaline intermediate volcanic rocks in the Saraykent region represent hybrids resulting from mixing between basic magma derived from the mantle and silicic magma derived from the continental crust. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bottom-up climate risk assessment of infrastructure investment in the Niger River Basin

The Niger River is the third largest river in the African continent. Nine riparian countries share its basin, which rank all among the world’s thirty poorest. Existing challenges in West Africa, including endemic poverty, inadequate infrastructure and weak adaptive capacity to climate variability, make the region vulnerable to climate change. In this study, a risk-based methodology is introduced and demonstrated for the analysis of climate change impacts on planned infrastructure investments in water resources systems in the Upper and Middle Niger River Basin. The methodology focuses on identifying the vulnerability of the Basin’s socio-economic system to climate change, and subsequently assessing the likelihood of climate risks by using climate information from a multi-run, multi-GCM ensemble of climate projections. System vulnerabilities are analyzed in terms of performance metrics of hydroelectricity production, navigation, dry and rainy season irrigated agriculture, flooding in the Inner Delta of the Niger and the sustenance of environmental flows. The study reveals low to moderate risks in terms of stakeholder-defined threshold levels for most metrics in the 21st Century. The highest risk levels were observed for environmental flow targets. The findings indicate that the range of projected changes in an ensemble of CMIP3 GCM projections imply only relatively low risks of unacceptable climate change impacts on the present large-scale infrastructure investment plan for the Basin.     

Development of a geotechnical and geophysical database for seismic zonation of the Ankara Basin,Turkey

The Kocaeli earthquake (M _w = 7.4) of 17 August 1999 occurred in the Eastern Marmara Region of Turkey along the North Anadolu Fault and resulted in a very serious loss of life and property. One of the most important geotechnical issues of this event was the permanent ground deformations because of both liquefaction and faulting. These deformations occurred particularly along the southern shores of ?zmit Bay and Sapanca Lake between the cities of Yalova and Adapazar? in the west and east, respectively. In this study, three sites founded on delta fans, namely De?irmendere Nose, Yeniköy tea garden at Seymen on the coast of ?zmit Bay, and Vak?f Hotel site on the coast of Sapanca Lake were selected as typical cases. The main causes of the ground deformations at these sites were then investigated. Geotechnical characterization of the ground, derivation of displacement vectors from the pre- and post-earthquake aerial photographs, liquefaction assessments based on field performance data, and analyses carried out using the sliding body method have been fundamental in this study. The displacement vectors determined from photogrammetric evaluations conducted at De?irmendere and Seymen showed a combined movement of faulting and liquefaction. But except the movements in the close vicinity of shorelines, the dominant factor in this movement was faulting. The results obtained from the analyses suggested that the ground failure at De?irmendere was a submarine landslide mainly because of earthquake shaking rather than liquefaction. On the other hand, the ground failures at the Yeniköy tea garden on the coast of Seymen and the hotel area in Sapanca town resulted from liquefaction-induced lateral spreading. It was also obtained that the ground deformations estimated from the sliding body method were quite close to those measured by aerial photogrammetry technique.     

Long period multiple suppression by predictive deconvolution in the x–t domainl1

There are two forms of systematic error in conventional deconvolution as applied to the problem of suppressing multiples with periodicities longer than a hundred milliseconds. One of these is the windowing effect due to the assumption that a true autocorrelation function can be computed from a finite portion of data. The second form of error concerns the assumption of periodicity, which is strictly true only at zero offset for a 1D medium. The seriousness of these errors increased with the lengthening of the multiple period. This paper describes and illustrates a rigorous 2D solution to the predictive deconvolution equations that overcomes both of the systematic errors of conventional 1D approaches. This method is applicable to both the simple or trapped system and to the complex or peg-leg system of multiples. It does not require that the design window be six to ten times larger compared to the operator dimensions and it is accurate over a wide range of propagation angles. The formulation is kept strictly in the sense of the classical theory of prediction. The solution of normal equations are obtained by a modified conjugate gradient method of solution developed by Koehler. In this algorithm, the normal equations are not modified by the autocorrelation approximation. As with all linear methods, approximate stationary attitude in the multiple generating process is assumed. This method has not been tested in areas where large changes in the characteristic of the multiple-generating mechanism occur within a seismic spread length.