Geosciences (Switzerland)最新文献

{"title":"Fractal Patterns in Groundwater Radon Disturbances Prior to the Great 7.9 Mw Wenchuan Earthquake, China","authors":"Aftab Alam, Dimitrios Nikolopoulos, Nanping Wang","doi":"10.3390/geosciences13090268","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13090268","url":null,"abstract":"This study reports a fractal analysis of one-year radon in groundwater disturbances from five stations in China amidst the catastrophic Wenchuan (Mw = 7.9) earthquake of 12 May 2008 (day 133). Five techniques are used (DFA, fractal dimensions with Higuchi, Katz, Sevcik methods, power-law analysis) in segmented portions glided throughout each signal. Noteworthy fractal areas are outlined in the KDS, GS, MSS data, whilst the portions were non-significant for PZHS and SPS. Up to day 133, critical epoch DFA-exponents are 1.5≤α<2.0, with several above 1.8. The fractal dimensions exhibit Katz’s D around 1.0–1.2, Higuchi’s D between 1.5 and 2.0, and Sevcik’s D between 1.0 and 1.5. Several power-law exponents are above 1.7, and numerous are above 2.0. All fractal results of the KDS-GS-MSS are further analysed using a novel computerised methodology that locates the exact out-of-threshold fractal areas and combines the outcomes of different methods per five, four, three, and two (maximum 13 combinations) versus nineteen Mw≥ 5.5 earthquakes of the greater area. Most coincidences using different techniques are before the great Wenchuan earthquake and after the earthquake. This is not only with one method but with 13 different methods. Other interpretations are also discussed.","PeriodicalId":38189,"journal":{"name":"Geosciences (Switzerland)","volume":"43 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77339712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Monitoring CO2 Hazards of Volcanic Origin: A Case Study at the Island of Vulcano (Italy) during 2021–2022","authors":"S. Gurrieri, R. D. Di Martino, M. Camarda, Vincenzo Francofonte","doi":"10.3390/geosciences13090266","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13090266","url":null,"abstract":"The La Fossa volcano is near the inhabited zone of the island of Vulcano and is a suitable case for studying gas sources of different geological origins. Since the last eruption, fumarolic-solfataric activity has interested this area with fumarolic emissions, mainly at the top of the volcanic cone and at Vulcano Porto. In recent decades, the anomalous degassing zones on the island have not significantly changed their location. On the contrary, there have been several significant changes in the emission rate due to the addition of volcanic gas. In these zones, CO2 flux from the ground is responsible for a decrease in the indoor air quality. A recent increase in volcanic degassing led to an increase in the gas hazard in the inhabited area of Vulcano Island, and people were temporarily displaced from Vulcano Porto. The results of this study show that a monitoring system can be used for the early detection of transients in soil CO2 flux (φCO2) in the anomalous degassing zone of Vulcano. Synchronous monitoring of φCO2 and outdoor air CO2 concentration has shown variations in volcanic degassing that affect outdoor air CO2 concentration in the populated zone of Faraglione.","PeriodicalId":38189,"journal":{"name":"Geosciences (Switzerland)","volume":"67 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87422807","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Flood-Prone Zones of Meandering Rivers: Machine Learning Approach and Considering the Role of Morphology (Kashkan River, Western Iran)","authors":"K. Ghahraman, Balázs Nagy, Fatemeh Nooshin Nokhandan","doi":"10.3390/geosciences13090267","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13090267","url":null,"abstract":"We utilized the random forest (RF) machine learning algorithm, along with nine topographical/morphological factors, namely aspect, slope, geomorphons, plan curvature, profile curvature, terrain roughness index, surface texture, topographic wetness index (TWI), and elevation. Our objective was to identify flood-prone areas along the meandering Kashkan River and investigate the role of topography in riverbank inundation. To validate the flood susceptibility map generated by the random forest algorithm, we employed Sentinel-1 GRDH SAR imagery from the March 2019 flooding event in the Kashkan river. The SNAP software and the OTSU thresholding method were utilized to extract the flooded/inundated areas from the SAR imagery. The results showed that the random forest model accurately pinpointed areas with a “very high” and “high” risk of flooding. Through analysis of the cross-sections and SAR-based flood maps, we discovered that the topographical confinement of the meander played a crucial role in the extent of inundation along the meandering path. Moreover, the findings indicated that the inner banks along the Kashkan river were more prone to flooding compared to the outer banks.","PeriodicalId":38189,"journal":{"name":"Geosciences (Switzerland)","volume":"103 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90346890","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Geochemical Characteristics of the Volcanic Rocks Associated with Boron-Rich Deposits from the Xiongba Basin, Qinghai–Tibet Plateau","authors":"Wenxi Chen, Xifang Liu, Yuanyi Zhao, Yongjie Lin","doi":"10.3390/geosciences13090265","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13090265","url":null,"abstract":"The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) hosts significant lacustrine sedimentary boron-rich deposits, with the Xiongba Basin being a prominent region housing two large sedimentary boron-rich deposits. These deposits are closely associated with extensive Neogene volcanic rocks. This study investigates the origin and boron sources of Miocene volcanic rocks in the Xiangqu River area, located within the Xiongba Basin. The volcanic rocks in the basin comprise ultrapotassic andesites, ultrapotassic trachyte, potassic trachyte, and potassic trachyandeiste. The trace element content and the active/inert elements ratios of the studied volcanic rocks have indicated that they were generated in a subduction environment and were influenced by enrichment fluids derived from deep-sea sediments or altered oceanic crust during their formation. Accordingly, the studied volcanic rocks exhibit significant boron enrichment. The eruption of magma and subsequent hydrothermal activity released boron, which became the primary source for the lacustrine sedimentary boron-rich deposits within the basin. The arc-like trace element features (e.g., Nb-Ta depletion relative to La and K) and high B concentrations in these rocks were inherited from the mantle source, which had been enriched by melt/fluid of the subducted sediments. A two-stage evolutionary model is proposed to explain the enrichment of B in subduction environments, as well as the subsequent melting of the B-enriched source during a post-collisional setting. These findings highlight the potential for boron and lithium mineralization in similar volcanic rock-bearing regions across the QTP. Future exploration efforts in such areas could provide valuable insights into the formation processes of lacustrine sedimentary boron-rich deposits and contribute to the understanding of boron and lithium resource potential.","PeriodicalId":38189,"journal":{"name":"Geosciences (Switzerland)","volume":"3 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79718741","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multi-Parameter Statistical Analysis of K, Th, and U Concentrations in Eastern Senegal: Implications for the Interpretation of Airborne Radiometrics","authors":"Aissata Thiam, D. Baratoux, M. Fall, G. Faye, G. Ouattara","doi":"10.3390/geosciences13090263","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13090263","url":null,"abstract":"In geological mapping, maps of K, Th, and U concentrations provided by airborne radiometric surveys are widely used to delineate geological units in tropical regions from the few rare outcrops. Indeed, thanks to their specific geochemical properties and behaviors, K, Th, and U allow us to trace geological processes. However, the combination of the concentrations of these radioelements does not allow us to determine the lithology in a unique way. We examined the potential of delineating the statistical parameters of K, Th, and U concentrations for geological mapping using the purpose airborne radiometric data in eastern Senegal. The mean, standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis were calculated and mapped at a baseline of 3000 m. We noted the narrow dispersion of skewness and kurtosis values away from the expected curve for the log-normal distribution, implying that log-normal distributions dominate at the scale of analysis. The higher moments (kurtosis and skewness) varied more over shorter distances than lower order moments (mean and standard deviation). Mixtures of log-normal distributions across some lithological contacts with large differences in statistical parameters may account for this behavior. The area covered by the airborne radiometric data was classified into eight units according to the statistical parameters. The eight clusters do not show obvious correlations with geological units, but they may be interpreted in terms of the superposition of lithology and recent superficial processes (erosion and weathering).","PeriodicalId":38189,"journal":{"name":"Geosciences (Switzerland)","volume":"69 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82552617","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Multicloud Model for Coastal Convection","authors":"Abigail Dah, B. Khouider, C. Schumacher","doi":"10.3390/geosciences13090264","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13090264","url":null,"abstract":"Coastal convection is often organized into multiple mesoscale systems that propagate in either direction across the coastline (i.e., landward and oceanward). These systems interact non-trivially with synoptic and intraseasonal disturbances such as convectively coupled waves and the Madden–Julian oscillation. Despite numerous theoretical and observational efforts to understand coastal convection, global climate models still fail to represent it adequately, mainly because of limitations in spatial resolution and shortcomings in the underlying cumulus parameterization schemes. Here, we use a simplified climate model of intermediate complexity to simulate coastal convection under the influence of the diurnal cycle of solar heating. Convection is parameterized via a stochastic multicloud model (SMCM), which mimics the subgrid dynamics of organized convection due to interactions (through the environment) between the cloud types that characterize organized tropical convection. Numerical results demonstrate that the model is able to capture the key modes of coastal convection variability, such as the diurnal cycle of convection and the accompanying sea and land breeze reversals, the slowly propagating mesoscale convective systems that move from land to ocean and vice-versa, and numerous moisture-coupled gravity wave modes. The physical features of the simulated modes, such as their propagation speeds, the timing of rainfall peaks, the penetration of the sea and land breezes, and how they are affected by the latitudinal variation in the Coriolis force, are generally consistent with existing theoretical and observational studies.","PeriodicalId":38189,"journal":{"name":"Geosciences (Switzerland)","volume":"55 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72389790","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Soil Erosion in a British Watershed under Climate Change as Predicted Using Convection-Permitting Regional Climate Projections","authors":"R. Ciampalini, E. Kendon, J. Constantine, Marcus Schindewolf, I. Hall","doi":"10.3390/geosciences13090261","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13090261","url":null,"abstract":"Climate change can lead to significant environmental and societal impacts; for example, through increases in the amount and intensity of rainfall with the associated possibility of flooding. Twenty-first-century climate change simulations for Great Britain reveal an increase in heavy precipitation that may lead to widespread soil loss by rising the likelihood of surface runoff. Here, hourly high-resolution rainfall projections from a 1.5 km (‘convection-permitting’) regional climate model are used to simulate the soil erosion response for two periods of the century (1996–2009 and a 13-year future period at ~2100) in the “Rother” catchment, West Sussex, England. Modeling soil erosion with EROSION 3D, we found a general increase in sediment production (off-site erosion) for the end of the century of about 43.2%, with a catchment-average increase from 0.176 to 0.252 t ha−1 y−1 and large differences between areas with diverse land use. These results highlight the effectiveness of using high-resolution rainfall projections to better account for spatial variability in the assessment of long-term soil erosion than other current methods.","PeriodicalId":38189,"journal":{"name":"Geosciences (Switzerland)","volume":"431 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72434552","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Comparative Study of Gender Disparities in Geoscience and Mining in Mongolia","authors":"G. Ochir, Munkhtsengel Baatar, M. Sanjaa, Helen M. Williams","doi":"10.3390/geosciences13090262","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13090262","url":null,"abstract":"Mongolian women enjoy equal rights and actively participate in various sectors of the national economy, including the mineral and mining industry. The Mongolian University of Science and Technology (MUST), the largest university in Mongolia, plays a crucial role in preparing engineers for the Mongolian industry. Within MUST, the School of Geology and Mining Engineering (SGME) stands out as one of the largest schools, boasting a dedicated team of 136 staff members. Impressively, 92 of these staff members are female, constituting a remarkable 67.65% of the total staff. The directorial board of SGME, consisting of 12 members, also demonstrates a noteworthy level of gender diversity, with 5 of its members being female. This represents a proportion of 41.67% and highlights the inclusion of women in decision-making positions. Additionally, it is worth noting that the Geology and Hydrogeology department, one of the five departments within the School, is led by a capable female leader. However, despite the encouraging representation of women among staff and in leadership roles, there is a noticeable disparity in the enrollment and graduation rates of students at SGME. Currently, these rates stand at only about 20–24 percent, indicating the need for further efforts to encourage and support female students in pursuing geology and mining engineering studies. Outside of academia, within the mining industry, the Oyu Tolgoi large-scale mine, which in 2022 employed 20,328 workers, faces a significant gender imbalance. Out of this workforce, only 3577 are women, comprising a mere 18% of the total employees, while the remaining 82% are men. Among the 2997 total employees in the open pit mine, 737 women are employed in various roles, including 66 engineers and technicians, with the remaining 671 in other positions. In the newly opened underground mine, the total number of women employees stands at 2840, including 248 engineers and technicians and 2592 in other roles. Furthermore, on the Board of Directors, there are only 2 women out of a total of 23 managers, and a mere 104 women hold positions as senior staff and superintendents. A comparative analysis between Asia and other global regions reveals that female employment in Mongolia’s mining sector in general, at 18%, closely aligns with Oceania’s rates (17%) and surpasses those of both the broader Asian region (13%) and South America (11%). Addressing these statistical imbalances is crucial to improving gender equality in geoscience and mining. Historically, the mining industry has been male-dominated, but women-led professional geoscience and mining organizations in Mongolia play a vital role in promoting the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in these industries. Recognizing the significance of gender diversity, these organizations strive to increase the representation of women in leadership positions. Women in leadership bring unique perspectives that contribute to well-rounded decision-making pr","PeriodicalId":38189,"journal":{"name":"Geosciences (Switzerland)","volume":"78 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83649597","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Insights into Late Quaternary Rock Shelter Sedimentation at Santuario Della Madonna Cave (Northern Calabria, Italy)","authors":"G. Robustelli, F. Lucà","doi":"10.3390/geosciences13090260","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13090260","url":null,"abstract":"Shelter caves serve as crucial repositories that provide valuable insights into Late Pleistocene–Holocene depositional mechanisms and environmental changes. In this study, we conducted a stratigraphic analysis of the easternmost cave-fill succession within the Santuario della Madonna cave, located along the Tyrrhenian coasts of southern Italy. By examining the cave-fill deposits and their relationship with archaeological successions from previous excavation campaigns, we aimed to enhance our understanding of sedimentary evolution, specifically, the interplay between local and global environmental factors. A comprehensive sedimentological analysis was conducted, enabling the identification of three distinct sedimentary facies within the clastic succession that overlays the calcareous cave roof. Our findings reveal a noticeable shift in cave sedimentation processes, characterized by a gap in detritus accumulation followed by the deposition of flowstones. Furthermore, the presence of oversized boulders within the succession was attributed to failures from the cliffs that overhang the cave opening. We interpret these boulders as possible evidence of cave collapses induced by earthquakes, similarly to rockfall phenomena observed in the archaeological test pits within the shelter, which show a strong correlation with paleoseismic events.","PeriodicalId":38189,"journal":{"name":"Geosciences (Switzerland)","volume":"43 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75923571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multiscale Structural Analysis of Ediacaran–Cambrian Rocks on the Northeastern Edge of the Saghro Inlier (Eastern Anti-Atlas): Relevance of Post-Cambrian Deformation","authors":"Z. Yajioui, H. Sant’Ovaia, B. Karaoui, C. Cruz, Amar Karaoui, Abdelkader Mahmoudi, Hmidou El Ouardi, L. Badra","doi":"10.3390/geosciences13090258","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13090258","url":null,"abstract":"The Ediacaran–Cambrian rocks on the northeastern edge of the Saghro inlier experienced polycyclic tectono-thermal events, which are reported here based on a multiscale structural analysis, from field measurements to fluid inclusion planes. Three striking populations were identified, cutting across both the Ediacaran and Cambrian formations. These tectonic structures were generated during four tectonic events. (i) E-W-striking structures that host ore mineralized bodies (sulfide, oxide, quartz, and barite). They display a polyphase tectonic history, caused by a dextral movement in response to a NW–SE-oriented shortening, leading to the formation of quartz gashes and veins. This tectonic event took place during the Neovariscan. These E–W-striking structures were subsequently reactivated during the Mesozoic time under a sinistral strike-slip regime as a result of NE–SW shortening syn-kinematic with barite mineralization. (ii) NE–SW-striking strike-slip structures (dextral or sinistral) crosscut the E–W-striking veins. These faults are related to the NW–SE-oriented shortening that occurred during the Neogene. (iii) The last tectonic episode, related to the N–S shortening, took place during the late Neogene to the Quaternary period. It resulted in NW–SE to N–S-striking structures that were related to dextral and sinistral strike-slip movements, which crosscut the preexisting E–W structures.","PeriodicalId":38189,"journal":{"name":"Geosciences (Switzerland)","volume":"54 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90295671","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}