Geosciences最新文献

{"title":"Investigation and Monitoring for Ever-Updating Engineering Geological Models: The Example of the Passo della Morte Landslide System","authors":"Angelo Ballaera, Pietro Festi, Lisa Borgatti, G. Bossi, G. Marcato","doi":"10.3390/geosciences14040094","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14040094","url":null,"abstract":"In mountainous regions, where large valleys are essential corridors for settlements and infrastructures, landslide hazard management is a pressing challenge. Large, slow-moving landslides are sometimes difficult to detect. On the one hand, the identification of geomorphological evidence supported by a detailed analysis of possible geological predisposing factor is crucial. On the other hand, to confirm the state of activity of the landslide, displacements should also be detected through monitoring. However, monitoring is challenging when large areas and volumes are involved and when cost effectiveness is an issue. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the Passo della Morte landslide system, located in the Carnian Alps, which has historically posed a significant threat to critical road infrastructures, including a 2200 m long tunnel. The area is exploited as an example of how an iterative 3M approach (Monitoring, Modeling, and Mitigation), can inform and update engineering geological models of unstable slopes by enabling a detailed comprehension of landslide dynamics, facilitating in turn the development of more effective strategies for risk management and mitigation. Through detailed investigation and continuous monitoring over nearly two decades, the engineering geological model has been refined, integrated with new field data, and has progressively improved understanding of slope instability processes. This work underscores the importance of a dynamic and adaptive approach to geological hazard management, providing a valuable framework for similar challenges in other regions.","PeriodicalId":509137,"journal":{"name":"Geosciences","volume":"107 51","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140380425","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":"Effect of Freeze–Thaw and Wetting–Drying Cycles on the Hydraulic Conductivity of Modified Tailings","authors":"Longlong Meng, Liangxiong Xia, Min Xia, Shaokai Nie, Jiakai Chen, Wenyuan Wang, Aifang Du, Haowen Guo, Bate Bate","doi":"10.3390/geosciences14040093","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14040093","url":null,"abstract":"Mine tailings have shown viability as the fine–grained layer in a capillary barrier structure for controlling acid mine drainage in a circular economy. Their saturated hydraulic conductivities (ksat) under wetting–drying cycles and freeze–thaw cycles remain unexplored. In this study, modified tailings with a weight ratio of 95:5 (tailings/hydrodesulfurization (HDS) clay from waste–water treatment) and an initial water content of 12% were used. The ksat of specimens was measured after up to 15 wetting–drying cycles, each lasting 24 h, with a drying temperature of 105 °C. The ksat for wetting–drying cycles decreased from 3.9 × 10−6 m/s to 9.5 × 10−7 m/s in the first three cycles and then stabilized in the subsequent wetting–drying cycles (i.e., 5.7 × 10−7 m/s–6.3 × 10−7 m/s). Increased fine particles due to particle breakage are the primary mechanism for the ksat trend. In addition, the migration of fines and their preferential deposition near the pore throat area may also promote this decreasing trend through the shrinking and potentially clogging–up of pore throats. This could be explained by the movement of the meniscus, increased salinity, and, subsequently, the shrinkage of the electrical diffuse layer during the drying cycle. Similar specimens were tested to measure ksat under up to 15 freeze–thaw cycles with temperatures circling between −20 °C and 20 °C at 12 h intervals. Compared to the untreated specimen (i.e., 3.8 × 10−6 m/s), the ksat after three freeze–thaw cycles decreased by 77.6% (i.e., 8.5 × 10−7 m/s) and then remained almost unchanged (i.e., 5.6 × 10−7 m/s–8.9 × 10−7 m/s) in subsequent freeze–thaw cycles. The increased fine grain content (i.e., 3.1%) can be used to explain the decreased ksat trend. Moreover, the migration of fines toward the pore throat area, driven by the advancing and receding of ice lens fronts and subsequent deposition at the pore throat, may also contribute to this trend.","PeriodicalId":509137,"journal":{"name":"Geosciences","volume":"116 51","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140381665","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":"Correlation of Geotechnical and Mineralogical Properties of Lithomargic Clays in Uttara Kannada Region of South India","authors":"Deepak Nayak, Purushotham G. Sarvade, H. N. Udayashankar, B. Maddodi, M. P. Kumar","doi":"10.3390/geosciences14040092","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14040092","url":null,"abstract":"The present study explores the intricate relationship between the geotechnical and mineralogical properties of lithomargic clays in the Uttara Kannada region of south India. Lithomargic clays, characterized by their unique composition of clay minerals and calcareous content, play a crucial role in the geotechnical behavior of soils. The study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between the mineralogical composition and engineering characteristics of lithomargic clays, shedding light on their suitability for various construction and infrastructure projects. The research methodology involves a systematic analysis of lithomargic clay samples collected from different locations in the Uttara Kannada region. Geotechnical investigations, including particle size distribution, Atterberg limits, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), California bearing ratio (CBR) and triaxial tests, are conducted to assess the engineering properties of the clays. Concurrently, mineralogical analyses, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), are employed to identify and quantify the clay mineral constituents within the samples. The findings of this study reveal correlations between specific mineralogical features and geotechnical behaviors of lithomargic clays. Understanding these relationships is crucial for predicting the response of these clays to different engineering applications, including slope stability, foundation design and embankment construction. The research contributes valuable insights to the scientific and engineering communities, aiding in the informed utilization of lithomargic clays in geotechnical projects in the Uttara Kannada region and beyond. The outcomes of this investigation, such as the correlation of geotechnical properties with the variation in minerals in various sample locations, enhance our understanding of the complex nature of lithomargic clays, providing a foundation for more sustainable and effective engineering practices in the geologically diverse landscapes of south India.","PeriodicalId":509137,"journal":{"name":"Geosciences","volume":" 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140386840","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":"Depositional Setting, Diagenetic Processes, and Pressure Solution-Assisted Compaction of Mesozoic Platform Carbonates, Southern Apennines, Italy","authors":"Simona Todaro, C. Manniello, Alessia Pietragalla, N. Preto, F. Agosta","doi":"10.3390/geosciences14040089","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14040089","url":null,"abstract":"Pressure solution processes taking place during diagenesis deeply modify the hydraulic properties of carbonates, affecting their mechanical layering and hence the dimension, distribution, and connectivity of high-angle fractures. The formation of stylolites is controlled by the texture of the host rock and therefore by the depositional environment and the diagenetic processes that involve it. This study reports the results of a multidisciplinary study carried out on a Jurassic–Cretaceous carbonate platform in southern Italy. The goal is to unravel the control exerted by single carbonate textures and specific diagenetic processes on the formation of bed-parallel stylolites. Microfacies analyses of thin sections are aimed at obtaining information regarding the composition and texture of the carbonates. Petrographic observations coupled with CL analyses are key to deciphering their diagenetic history. Results are consistent with carbonates originally deposited in a shallow-water realm in which carbonate mud is occasionally abundant. In this environment, early cementation inhibits their chemical compaction. In grain-supported facies, pressure solution is only localized at the grain contacts. During shallow burial diagenesis, precipitation of blocky calcite predates the formation of bed-parallel stylolites in the grain-supported facies. Contrarily, mud-supported facies favor chemical compaction, which results in stylolites showing a good lateral extension and thick sediment infill. A classification of different types of stylolite morphology is attempted in relation to facies texture. In detail, rougher morphology (sharp-peak) characterizes the stylolites nucleated in grain-supported facies, while smoother morphology (rectangular to wave-like) is observed in stylolites on mud-supported facies. Application of this knowledge can be helpful in constraining the diagenetic history of carbonate rocks cored from depth, and therefore predict the fracture stratigraphy properties of carbonates buried at depth.","PeriodicalId":509137,"journal":{"name":"Geosciences","volume":" 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140214213","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":"Structural Control at Monte Somma and Vesuvio during the Last 5600 Years through Time and Space Distribution of Volcanic Vents","authors":"C. Principe, Daniele Giordano, Annarita Paolillo, S. Arrighi, D. Brocchini, Sonia La Felice","doi":"10.3390/geosciences14040091","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14040091","url":null,"abstract":"Vesuvio is likely the most if not one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. It is an active volcano, quiescent since 1944. The activity of the Monte Somma and Vesuvio volcanic complex is commonly referred to as two central volcanic edifices, namely Monte Somma and Vesuvio. Nevertheless, the opening of numerous eruptive fissures and related vents have characterized Monte Somma and Vesuvio throughout their lives. Spatter cones, spatter ramparts, and related eruptive fissures are disseminated downslope of Vesuvio’s main cone and on the southern slopes of the volcano. Similarly, cinder cones, spatter cones, and welded spatters are distributed in the sequence cropping out on the Monte Somma cliff and on the northern slopes of Monte Somma. In this work, a total of 168 eruptive vents have been identified and characterized in a GIS environment in which field data have been merged with relevant information from historical maps and documents. These vents have been arranged into units bounded by unconformities (Unconformity Bounded Stratigraphic Units) defining the eruptive history of the volcano. Alignments of vents and eruptive fissures within each unit have been compared with regional tectonic elements and the volcano-tectonic features affecting Monte Somma and Vesuvio during the last 5600 years, thus inferring that different structural trends were active in the different stratigraphic units. In particular, we show that the N300°–320° regional, Apennine, left-lateral, strike-slip fault system, the N040°–055° Torre del Greco direct fault system, the N70° and the EW fault system, and the generally NS oriented group of local brittle elements, all analyzed here, were differently active during the investigated time span. These tectonic trends might control the position of the eruptive fissures and vents in case of future unrest of the volcano.","PeriodicalId":509137,"journal":{"name":"Geosciences","volume":" 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140387158","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":"Geocryological Conditions of Small Mountain Catchment in the Upper Kolyma Highland (Northeastern Asia)","authors":"O. Makarieva, A. Zemlianskova, Dmitriy Abramov, N. Nesterova, A. Ostashov","doi":"10.3390/geosciences14040088","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14040088","url":null,"abstract":"This research presents a comprehensive environmental assessment of a small mountain permafrost catchment of the Anmangynda River in the Upper Kolyma Highland (Northeastern Asia) over the period of 2021–2023. The study reveals significant diversity in climatic, geocryological, and hydrogeological conditions within this confined area, emphasizing the need for extensive field data collection and monitoring in vast permafrost regions with limited data availability. Key findings include variations in ground temperature, maximum seasonal thaw depth, and depths of zero annual amplitudes of ground temperature at different elevations and landscape types. Groundwater and surface flow dynamics within spring aufeis basins exhibit complex geocryological regimes influenced by icing processes. The presence of aufeis and its impact on local hydrology highlight the ecological significance of this phenomenon. Future research should focus on long-term trends in permafrost dynamics and their relationship with climate change, as well as the ecological effects of aufeis formation on local ecosystems. The study underscores the importance of a multi-faceted approach to environmental assessment, incorporating various environmental parameters and processes, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the intricate interactions within the cryosphere and their responses to changing climate conditions. Such knowledge is essential for addressing broader questions related to climate change, ecosystem resilience, and sustainable resource management in Northeastern Siberia.","PeriodicalId":509137,"journal":{"name":"Geosciences","volume":" 41","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140213469","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":"Sustainable Retaining Wall Solution as a Mitigation Strategy on Steep Slopes in Soft Rock Mass","authors":"P. Jelušič, Goran Vlastelica, B. Zlender","doi":"10.3390/geosciences14040090","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14040090","url":null,"abstract":"Steep slopes in soft rock are characterized by their susceptibility to instability (rockfall, rockslide) due to weathering and erosion of the slope surface. This article deals with the problem of adapting to the increasing height of the scree slope. The construction of a retaining wall in a scree slope in front of a slope of soft rock with a steep face, where a very rapid weathering and erosion process of weathered material takes place, and the simultaneous deposition of material in front of the steep slope is a common solution. Changes in the geometry of the slope and the front scree are taken into account, and at the same time, sufficient safety against rockfall must be ensured. The analysis is shown on a specific example of a steep flysch slope near Split, Dalmatia. The retaining wall solutions are compared in terms of function, cost and sustainability. The construction of a single colossal, reinforced concrete retaining wall shows that this solution is not feasible due to the high construction costs and CO2 emissions of the retaining wall. A model was therefore developed to determine the height of the retaining walls for different construction time intervals and distances from the original rock face. The critical failure modes were investigated for various retaining wall solutions with regard to the highest degree of utilization of the resistance, which also allows the cost-optimized solutions to be determined. By building two or more successive retaining walls at suitable intervals and at an appropriate distance from the original rock face, construction costs and CO2 emissions can be significantly reduced.","PeriodicalId":509137,"journal":{"name":"Geosciences","volume":" 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140387501","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":"Attenuating Anthropogenic Impact on Subterranean Micro-Climate: Insights from the Biospeleological Station in Postojna Cave","authors":"Stanka Šebela, Uroš Novak","doi":"10.3390/geosciences14030087","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14030087","url":null,"abstract":"The Biospeleological Station (BS) in Postojna Cave, with a volume of 36,000 m3, has served as an underground biological laboratory since 1931, receiving 100,000 visitors annually. Historical cave micro-climate monitoring was performed in 1933 and 1963, and continuous monitoring of cave air temperature and carbon dioxide concentration at hourly intervals started in 2015. Micro-climatic data collected between 2015 and 2024 has helped us to understand the relationship between natural underground environment and anthropogenic impact, thereby aiding expert recommendations to cave managers for the mitigation of anthropogenic micro-climatic effects. Results strongly support the policy that, during summer, when outdoor temperatures are higher than in the cave, solid metal doors connecting the BS with the rest of the cave (Stara Jama) should be kept open. Such a simple mitigation act helps to decrease anthropogenically increased air temperature and carbon dioxide concentrations, thereby maintaining suitable micro-climatic conditions for the exhibition of cave animals. Closure during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021) resulted in the lowest temperatures recorded. BS visitation increases air temperature by 1 °C, highlighting the need for management strategies to maintain suitable conditions for cave fauna exhibition.","PeriodicalId":509137,"journal":{"name":"Geosciences","volume":"19 S2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140222394","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":"Foraminiferal and Palynological Records of an Abrupt Environmental Change at the Badenian/Sarmatian Boundary (Middle Miocene): A Case Study in Northeastern Central Paratethys","authors":"D. Peryt, P. Gedl, E. Worobiec, G. Worobiec, T. Peryt","doi":"10.3390/geosciences14030086","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14030086","url":null,"abstract":"The Badenian/Sarmatian boundary in the Central Paratethyan basins is characterised by a change from open marine conditions during the late Badenian to the assumed brackish conditions during the early Sarmatian. The foraminiferal and palynological results of the Badenian/Sarmatian boundary interval in the Babczyn 2 borehole (in SE Poland) showed that the studied interval accumulated under variable, unstable sedimentary conditions. The Badenian/Sarmatian boundary, as correlated with a sudden extinction of stenohaline foraminifera, is interpreted as being due to the shallowing of the basin. The lack of foraminifera and marine palynomorphs just above the Badenian/Sarmatian boundary can reflect short-term anoxia. The composition of the euryhaline assemblages, characteristic for the lower Sarmatian part of the studied succession, indicates from marine to hypersaline conditions.","PeriodicalId":509137,"journal":{"name":"Geosciences","volume":"25 S61","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140224638","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":"Assessments of Gravity Data Gridding Using Various Interpolation Approaches for High-Resolution Geoid Computations","authors":"Onur Karaca, B. Erol, S. Erol","doi":"10.3390/geosciences14030085","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14030085","url":null,"abstract":"This article investigates the role of different approaches and interpolation methods in gridding terrestrial gravity anomalies. In this regard, first of all, simple and complete Bouguer anomalies are considered in gravity data gridding. In the comparison results of gridding these two Bouguer anomaly datasets, the effect of the high-frequency contribution of topographic gravitation (by means of the terrain correction) is clarified. After that, the role of the used interpolation algorithm on the resulting grid of mean gravity anomalies and hence on the geoid modeling accuracy is inspected. For this purpose, four different interpolation methods including geostatistical Kriging, nearest neighbor, inverse distance to a power (IDP), and artificial neural networks (ANNs) are applied. Here, the IDP and nearest neighbor methods represent simple-structured algorithms among the interpolation methods tested in this study. The ANN method, on the other hand, is preferred as a complex, optimization-based soft computing method that has been applied in recent years. In addition, the geostatistical Kriging method is one of the conventional methods that is mostly applied for gridding gravity data in geodesy and geophysics. The calculated gravity anomalies in grids are employed in high-resolution geoid model computations using the least squares modifications of Stokes formula with additive corrections (LSMSA) technique. The investigations are carried out using the test datasets of Auvergne, France that are provided by the International Service for the Geoid for scientific research. It is concluded that the interpolation algorithms affect the gravity gridding results and hence the geoid model determination. The ANN method does not provide superior results compared to the conventional algorithms in gravity gridding. The geoid model with 4.1 cm accuracy is computed in the test area.","PeriodicalId":509137,"journal":{"name":"Geosciences","volume":"37 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140229466","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}