Simultaneous use of geochemical and geophysical methods to characterise abandoned landfills

. Groundwater sampling and geophysical methods determined a serious contamination problem associated with refilled exploitation sites at the Cal Dimoni area, Llobregat delta, Barcelona, Spain. To characterise this process, hydrogeochemical analyses were performed and showed the following modifications to groundwater chemical composition: increasing pH values, changing redox conditions, significant increases in total organic carbon (TOC) and certain trace elements, and high groundwater conductivity values. Major ion content accumulations were found under the refilled area. In contrast, elements involved in the oxidation–reduction processes, such as iron, manganese and nitrates, clearly diminished. Electromagnetic prospecting methods were also performed and delineated the contamination plume extent. These methods also showed separate sources of contamination, one clearly related to the groundwater–refilled zone leachate interaction, another as a consequence of the manure–accumulation surface site. Geochemical and geophysical methods have shown similar results for locating groundwater contamination sources, and for determining leachate generation mechanisms and flow paths.     

Image analysis applied to quantitative evaluation of chromatic impact generated by open-pit quarries and mines

One of the most important environmental impacts resulting from opencast mining, and especially quarries, is the visual impact. Evaluation of this impact considers two aspects: first, the area occupied by the quarry as seen by an observer from a specific place, and, second, the chromatic contrast existing between landscape and exploitation. In this study we develop a methodology to assess the chromatic impact in an objective and comparable form. To assess this impact we developed a method based on image analysis that allows us to obtain from a picture or image its equivalent as a function of chromatic impact, according to the sensibility of the human eye to different wavelengths. The methodology was applied to the Martinenca limestone quarry (Alcanar, Tarragona) and to Cerro Kori Kollo mine, La Joya district (Bolivia).     

Une méthode de quantification de la dégradation d'un escarpement de faille au cours des cycles climatiques du Quaternaire : la faille de Jobourg (Nord Cotentin,France)Quantification of a fault-scarp degradation through Quaternary: the Jobourg fault (North Cotentin,France)

The degradation of the Jobourg fault-scarp occurred by cryoclastic processes in a periglacial environment during a part of Quaternary time. An attempt of quantification indicates a bulk scarp erosion of about 39 m³ m^?2, while the head accumulated at the bottom of the fault scarp only represents 4.6 m³ m^?2. To cite this article: M. Font et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 171–178.     

The dynamics of phytoplankton, bacteria and heterotrophic flagellates at two Banks near Magdeburg in the River Elbe (Germany)

The main objectives of this study were to describe the seasonal standing stock dynamics of phytoplankton, bacterioplankton and heterotrophic flagellates in the highly eutrophic River Elbe (Germany), and to compare the seasonal patterns observed with other streams. Emphasis was placed on examining and assessing abiotic and biotic controlling factors influencing the structure and dynamics of the riverine plankton. All the physico-chemical and biological parameters determined were within the range or somewhat higher (in the case of phytoplankton abundance and biomass) than reported for other large streams. The underwater light conditions resulting from atypically short phytoplankton growth periods of about 6 months per year and the low phytoplankton carbon to chl a ratio of 23 were identified as a major limiting factor for phytoplankton development in the River Elbe. The seasonal distribution pattern of bacterioplankton indicated probable tight trophodynamical coupling both with phytoplankton and with heterotrophic flagellates, whereas heterotrophic flagellates showed a more trophic link with bacterial densities. Although approximately constant DOC and DON levels throughout the year sustained bacterial growth rates, during the phytoplankton growing season an increase of bacterial standing stocks was observed. Although the left-bank sampling site of the Elbe is strongly influenced by the tributaries Mulde and Saale containing higher concentrations of chloride, nitrogen nutrients, heavy metals and organic pollutants, no clear differences were observed between the two sides of the river concerning the biological parameters measured. Possible reasons and the slightly higher phytoplankton abundance and diversity at the right bank are discussed.     

Sediment rejection by recent scleractinian corals: a key to palaeo-environmental reconstruction

26 of the 59 living species of scleractinian corals found in Western Atlantic and Caribbean waters, less than 68 metres deep, and two fungiid genera from the Pacific are analysed in terms of their behaviour, sediment rejecting properties, functional morphology and distribution patterns.The contrasting behaviour and skeletal structure of the two solitary fungiids provides evidence for the construction of a theoretical mechanical model which is applied to the subsequent interpretation of the more complex colonial reef corals from the Atlantic province.Regional distribution patterns, growth forms and calical orientations of the Atlantic species and their associated sediment types were noted in dives across transects in extreme environments in the Caribbean. Representative samples were then selected from the five functional ecological niches in the Florida keys, and subjected to inundations of sized and painted carbonate sand particles in the laboratory. The coral was filmed before the sedimentary influx, on impact and during rejection. The skeletons were then extracted and dissected to construct a mechanical model compatible with their behavioural functions.There are four means of sediment rejection: distension by the stomodeal up-take of water, tentacular action, ciliary beat, and mucus entanglement. Differences in sediment rejection are ascribed to two factors (1) variations in the polyps' distensional capacity, and (2) the geometry of the calice.A theoretical model of characteristic scleractinian distribution patterns on an Atlantic patch reef mirrors regional distribution patterns. The sediment rejecting experiments are used as additional evidence for interpreting other behavioural activities of greater consequence e.g. food gathering and the removal of excrement.Theoretical models are described for the relationship of calical form to polypal function and calcical orientation to distribution patterns on the corallum; and also variations in growth form. Ecological distributions, in local patch reef and regional occurrences, are outlined in terms of the recent scleractinian corals of the Atlantic province. These models are tested against some rugose and tabulate coral distributions in the Irish Carboniferous.

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Zusammenfassung 26 der 59 Korallenarten (Scleractinia), die im westlichen Atlantik und der Karibischen See in weniger als 68 m Wassertiefe leben, und 2 Fungia-Gattungen des Pazifiks werden auf Verhalten, Fähigkeit Sediment abzuschütteln und funktioneller Morphologie untersucht. Aufgrund der Gegensätze in Verhalten und Skelettstruktur der beiden Fungia-Einzelkorallen wird ein theoretisches Modell erarbeitet, das dann auf die komplizierteren koloniebildenden Korallen angewandt wird.Regionale Verteilung, Wuchsformen und Kelchorientierung der atlantischen Korallen und die dazugehörigen Sedimente wurden in Tauchgängen in extremen Bereichen der Karibischen See erfaßt. Repräsentative Korallen-Exemplare wurden dann von fünf ökologisch definierten Bereichen der Florida Keys gesammelt und im Labor mit sortierten und gefärbten Karbonatsandkörnern überschüttet. Die Korallen wurden vor dem Experiment, während des Schüttens und des Abschüttelns gefilmt. Danach wurden die Skelette herauspräpariert und ein mechanisches Modell entwickelt, das die verhaltensbedingten Funktionen berücksichtigt.Das Sediment wird mit Hilfe von vier Mechanismen abgeschütteln: Ausdehnung der Weichteile durch Aufnahme von Wasser, Tentakelbewegungen, Ziliarbewegungen und Schleimumwicklung. Unterschiede in der Fähigkeit, Sediment abzuschütteln, wurden auf 1. Unterschiede in der Fähigkeit des Polypen, sich auszudehnen, und 2. Unterschiede in der Kelchform zurückgeführt.Ein theoretisches Modell der Korallenverteilung auf einem isolierten Riff spiegelt die Grundzüge regionaler Verteilung wider. Die Sedimentabschüttel-Experimente ergeben zusätzliche Anhaltspunkte für die Interpretation anderer Verrichtungen von größerer Bedeutung, z. B. Nahrungsaufnahme und Entfernung von Exkrementen. Theoretische Modelle für das Verhältnis von Kelchform zu Polypenfunktion und von Kelchorientierung zur Position auf dem Korallenstock und zu Wuchformunterschieden werden beschrieben.Ökologische Verteilungen, lokal und regional, werden anhand der rezenten Korallen des Atlantiks aufgezeigt. Diese Modelle werden dann am Beispiel der Verteilung rugosen und tabulaten Korallen im Karbon Irlands getestet.

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Résumé 26 espèces vivantes de coraux scléractiniens sur 59, furent découvertes dans l'Atlantique-Ouest et les eaux des Caraïbes, à moins de 68 m de fond; 2 genera fungiid du Pacifique sont analysés en fonction de leur comportement, des propriétés de rejet des sédiments dont ils font preuve, de leur morphologie fonctionelle et de leurs reséaux de distribution.Le contraste dans le compartement et dans la structure squelettique des deux fungiids solitaires, justifie la construction d'un modèle théorique mécanique qui est appliqué à l'interprétation suivante des coraux de récif coloniaux et plus complexes que l'on trouve dans la région atlantique.Les réseaux de distribution régionale, les formes de croissances d'orientations calicales de l'espèce atlantique et les types de sédiments qui leur sont associés, ont été remarqués lors de plongées aux environs extrêmes de la mer Caraïbe. Des échantillons représentatifs ont ensuite été sélectionnés dans les cinq niches écologiques fonctionelles des cayes de Floride. Puis ont été soumis, en laboratoire à des inondations de particules de sable carbonaté taillées et teintes. Le corail a été filmé avant l'entrée des sédiments, pendant l'opération et pendant le rejet. Les squelettes, ont ensuite été extraits et disséqués pour construire un modèle mécanique compatible avec leurs fonctions de compartement.Il existe quatre modes de rejet des sédiments: dilatation par absorbsion stomodéal d'eau, action tentaculaire, action ciliaire et enveloppement de mucus.Les différences dans le rejet de sédiments sont imputables a deux facteurs (1) les variations de la capacité dimensionelle du polype et (2) la géométrie du calice. Un modèle théorique des réseaux le distribution scléractiniènne, charactéristique sur un petit récif atlantique, réflecte des sébeaux de distribution régionale. Les expériences sur le rejet de sédiments, sont utilisées comme preuve supplémentaire à l'interprétation d'autres activités de comportement, comme par exemple, la recherche de nourriture ou l'émission d'éxcréments.Les modèles théoriques sont décrits pour permettre le rapport entre la forme calicale et la fonction polypale, plus entre l'orientation calicale et les résaux de distribution sur le corallum, ainsi que pour étudier les variations dans les formes de croissance. L'étude des coraux scléractiniens récents de la province atlantique, permet d'établir une ébauche de leur répartition écologique, aussi bien sur les petits récifs locaux qu'au niveau des incidences régionales. Les modèles sont également testés grace à des répartitions de coraux rugueux et tabulates dans le Carbonifière Irlandais.

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Variations in Melt Productivity and Melting Conditions along SWIR (70{degrees}E-49{degrees}E): Evidence from Olivine-hosted and Plagioclase-hosted Melt Inclusions

Melt inclusion and host glass compositions from the easternend of the Southwest Indian Ridge show a progressive depletionin light rare earth elements (LREE), Na₈ and (La/Sm)_n, but anincrease in Fe₈, from the NE (64°E) towards the SW (49°E).These changes indicate an increase in the degree of mantle meltingtowards the SW and correlate with a shallowing of the ridgeaxial depth and increase in crustal thickness. In addition,LREE enrichment in both melt inclusions and host glasses fromthe NE end of the ridge are compatible with re-fertilizationof a depleted mantle source. The large compositional variations(e.g. P₂O₅ and K₂O) of the melt inclusions from the NE end ofthe ridge (64°E), coupled with low Fe₈ values, suggest thatmelts from the NE correspond to a variety of different batchesof melts generated at shallow levels in the mantle melting column.In contrast, the progressively more depleted compositions andhigher Fe₈ values of the olivine- and plagioclase-hosted meltinclusions at the SW end of the studied region (49°E), suggestthat these melt inclusions represent batches of melt generatedby higher degrees of melting at greater mean depths in the mantlemelting column. Systematic differences in Fe₈ values betweenthe plagioclase- and the olivine-hosted melt inclusions in theSW end (49°E) of the studied ridge area, suggest that theplagioclase-hosted melt inclusions represent final batches ofmelt generated at the top of the mantle melting column, whereasthe olivine-hosted melt inclusions correspond to melts generatedfrom less depleted, more fertile mantle at greater depths. KEY WORDS: basalt; melt inclusions; olivine; plagioclase; Southwest Indian Ridge     

Non-axisymmetric relativistic Bondi–Hoyle accretion on to a Schwarzschild black hole

We present the results of an exhaustive numerical study of fully relativistic non-axisymmetric Bondi–Hoyle accretion on to a moving Schwarzschild black hole. We have solved the equations of general relativistic hydrodynamics with a high-resolution shock-capturing numerical scheme based on a linearized Riemann solver. The numerical code was previously used to study axisymmetric flow configurations past a Schwarzschild black hole. We have analysed and discussed the flow morphology for a sample of asymptotically high Mach number models. The results of this work reveal that initially asymptotic uniform flows always accrete on to the hole in a stationary way, which closely resembles the previous axisymmetric patterns. This is in contrast with some Newtonian numerical studies where violent flip-flop instabilities were found. As discussed in the text, the reason can be found in the initial conditions used in the relativistic regime, as they cannot exactly duplicate the previous Newtonian setups where the instability appeared. The dependence of the final solution on the inner boundary condition as well as on the grid resolution has also been studied. Finally, we have computed the accretion rates of mass and linear and angular momentum.     

Structural characteristics of the halite fabric type ‘Kristallbrocken’ from the Zechstein Basin with regard to its development

The Kristallbrocken are a characteristic centimetre- to decimetre-sized, laminated halite fabric type occurring in the Stassfurt Formation in the Zechstein Basin. Up to now, the nature of the Kristallbrocken, i.e. if they are relics of fine-grained, polycrystalline halite beds or clasts of ‘single crystal-layers’, as well as the deformation mechanisms of this halite type, were not clear from the literature. Drill core material from the salt deposit Teutschenthal at the southern rim of the Zechstein Basin now allowed investigating less intensely deformed samples for the first time. The deformational behaviour of these Kristallbrocken ranges from brittle to ductile, which is evidenced by fractured Kristallbrocken on the one hand and weakly bent or even folded Kristallbrocken on the other hand. Local X-ray texture measurements demonstrated that the Kristallbrocken are definitely single crystals and that they can be regarded as relics of formerly larger ‘single crystal-layers’ of up to several dm² in size. The folded Kristallbrocken clearly display by their single grain texture characteristics that their crystal lattice is bent, which was most likely enabled by a kind of flexural-shear folding, and did not develop after deformation from a fine-grained aggregate by recrystallisation. Due to their monocrystallinity, their originally large size, and the solid inclusions forming the internal lamination, the Kristallbrocken have clearly stronger rheological properties than the surrounding fine- to coarse-grained polycrystalline rock salt, and thus also deform by fracturing.     

Patterns of Irrigated Agricultural Land Conversion in a Western U.S. Watershed: Implications for Landscape-Level Water Management and Land-Use Planning

In irrigated agricultural landscapes, land-use conversion may have landscape-level social, hydrological, and ecological effects. We used geographic information systems (GIS) and interviews to analyze development effects on irrigation in the Henry's Fork Watershed, Idaho. Farmers developed irrigation there in the 19th century, and incidental recharge from canal seepage and flood irrigation raised groundwater levels and expanded wetlands. Cohesive culture in agricultural communities sustained irrigation systems until amenity-driven demographic shifts beginning in the 1970s led to development approved by local governments with land-use planning but no water-management authority. Although only 5% of irrigated land has been converted, development has fragmented irrigated landscapes and made canal-system operation more difficult, potentially reducing groundwater levels, wetland extent, and return flows critical to downstream irrigators and fish and wildlife. We discuss future scenarios, highlighting the need for increased communication among local and state governments regarding land use and water management in irrigated landscapes across the West.