Near-surface Conditions Research Articles

Coupling damage effects of simultaneous underwater explosions of double charge on multi-cabin structures

The damage mechanisms of ship structures subjected to underwater explosions are critical for marine engineering safety. Previous research has predominantly focused on the effects of single charges on simplified plates, often neglecting the coupling effects of multiple charges and the complex characteristics of ship structures. This study addresses these gaps by investigating the coupling damage effects of double-charge underwater explosions on complex multi-cabin structures under near-surface conditions using experimental and numerical methods. Our experimental and simulation results demonstrate that shock waves and bubbles couple in the central region, exacerbating structural damage. The relative position of charges alters coupling characteristics. Furthermore, the study highlights that pre-cut holes in the structure significantly influence load transmission and damage mechanisms, leading to tearing and severe internal damage. This research addresses a crucial knowledge gap, providing new insights and methodologies for enhancing blast-resistant design in ship engineering.

Low-temperature crystallization of kumdykolite, a polymorph of albite, during mineral carbonation within fluid inclusions in hornblendite from the Dabie orogen, central China

Abstract Kumdykolite is a polymorph of albite that has been predominantly identified within crystallized melt inclusions in high-temperature metamorphic rocks. This study reports a new occurrence of kumdykolite that formed during internal mineral carbonation within amphibole-hosted fluid inclusions in postcollisional hornblendite from the Dabie orogen, central China. Amphibole in the hornblendite trapped CO2-rich fluid inclusions at magmatic stage, and mineral carbonation, referring to the reaction of mineral rich in divalent cations and CO2 into carbonate, occurred in situ within the fluid inclusions due to interaction between trapped CO2-rich fluids and host amphibole during cooling of the hornblendite. Kumdykolite was produced along with calcite, dolomite, chlorite, talc, a SiO2 phase (quartz or cristobalite), a TiO2 phase (rutile or anatase), and mica during internal mineral carbonation within the fluid inclusions. It is estimated that kumdykolite in the fluid inclusions crystallized under near-surface conditions, which are significantly different from the conditions of crystallization proposed in previous studies. It is further inferred that kumdykolite may crystallize metastably across the stability field of albite, and presence of kumdykolite is not indicative of extreme thermobaric and fluid-absent conditions.

Diagenetic evolution and origin of cements of the Cretaceous carbonates in the Akal Block, southeast Gulf of Mexico

The Cretaceous succession of deep marine facies (580 m-thick) of the Akal Block, southeast of the Gulf of Mexico, is dominated by lime mudstones that have been extensively affected by dolomitization. Petrographic examination, including cathodoluminescence (CL), and microthermometry reveal three phases of dolomitization that occurred as replacement and pore-/fracture-filling cements. These are (1) an early replacement dolomicrite (D1, <50 μm) with dull orange CL, (2) eu-to subhedral dolomite (D2, 60 μm–150 μm) with distinctive cloudy cores (dull CL) and clean edges (non-luminescent to dull CL), and intercrystalline porosity (6 %), and (3) anhedral vug-/fracture-filling dolomite (D3, 200 μm–500 μm) exhibiting CL zonation. The mean δ18O values of those dolomites show a trend of slight decrease from D1 to D3 (D1 = 0.0 ± 1.3‰ VPDB, D2 = −0.2 ± 1.1‰ VPDB, D3 = −1.2 ± 1.6‰ VPDB), which reflects the influence of progressive burial. The low Sr contents (101 ± 29 ppm) of D1, along with its near-micritic grain size and estimated δ18OD1fluid of parent dolomitizing fluid (−3.6‰–1.9‰ SMOW), support early-stage dolomitization at low temperature of near-surface conditions from solutions of mixed meteoric and seawaters. The higher estimated δ18Ofluid values of D2 and D3 (3.0–13.9‰ SMOW) are expected for fluids in burial settings of high temperatures. The homogenization temperatures of the primary two-phase fluid inclusions of D2 (Th = 99.1 ± 7.9 °C) and D3 (Th = 89.5 ± 11.2 °C) suggest precipitation at deeper burial settings, which is also consistent with their lower Sr contents (80 ± 14 ppm and 98 ± 33 ppm, respectively). The lower mean Th value of D3 than that of D2 likely reflects the influence of tectonic uplift that affected the Akal Block. The shale-normalized (REESN) patterns of the dolomites mimic that of modern seawater and those of D1 and D2, in particular, coincide with that of the lime mudstones (C1), thus suggesting that C1 was their precursor and also D3 originated almost from the same parent fluid that its geochemical composition evolved with progressive burial. The latest fracture-filling calcite cement (C2) postdated D3. The investigation of the products of burial diagenesis, such as fracturing, dissolution, and dolomitization events and their relationship with the tectonic uplift of the Akal Block allows a better understanding of the factors controlling the quality of Cretaceous reservoir rocks.

Source and parental melts of poikilitic shergottites: Implications for martian magmatism

Martian poikilitic shergottites are cumulate rocks that can help advance the understanding of magmatic evolution from near the base of the crust (∼10 kbar) to near-surface conditions. Through a comprehensive petrographic and geochemical study, we aim to better understand poikilitic shergottite formation and the evolution in the martian interior. A suite of poikilitic shergottites, including Northwest Africa (NWA) 7755, NWA 11043, NWA 11065, NWA 10618 and Alan Hills (ALHA) 77005, were investigated for their major, minor, and trace element compositions of olivine-hosted melt inclusions (MI). The MI occur within both the early-evolutional stage textural and late-evolution stage textural domains in olivine. Major element compositions of MI indicate fractional crystallization between the early and late-crystallizing domains. Calculated parental melt compositions from these MI data yielded results that also petrogenetically link the poikilitic shergottites with the olivine-phyric shergottite subgroup. Trace element compositions of MI show that the later-crystallizing MI could have undergone open-system processes, such as fluid exsolution. Lutetium-Hf and Sm-Nd isotopic analyses were performed on NWA 7755 and NWA 11043 to constrain their age and source isotopic compositions. Northwest Africa 7755 shows a 176Lu/177Hf crystallization age of 223 ± 46 Ma, which fits into the expected range for enriched shergottites of ∼165 Ma to 225 Ma. A similar crystallization age and 176Lu/177Hf and 147Sm/144Nd source composition of NWA 7755 to the other enriched shergottites suggest that this specimen likely shares a long-lived geochemical source with these samples that has lasted for at least 60 Ma. Northwest Africa 11043 shows scatter throughout the Lu-Hf and Sm-Nd isotopic data, suggesting that this sample is not in isotopic equilibrium. This sample was possibly inherited from high-temperature processes, such as incomplete magmas mixing from a similar, but distinct, source. We conducted in situ U-Th-Pb isotope analyses of Ca-phosphate minerals for NWA 11043 and found an unreliable crystallization age of 59.2 ± 138.4 Ma: phosphates are likely recording the period of shock metamorphism related to the ejection event. Consistent crystallization ages and magmatic histories support previous work that suggest there is a common magmatic system on Mars that is responsible for the formation of enriched shergottites.

Evaluating the performance of WRF in simulating winds and surface meteorology during a Southern California wildfire event

The intensity and frequency of wildfires in California (CA) have increased in recent years, causing significant damage to human health and property. In October 2007, a number of small fire events, collectively referred to as the Witch Creek Fire or Witch Fire started in Southern CA and intensified under strong Santa Ana winds. As a test of current mesoscale modeling capabilities, we use the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model to simulate the 2007 wildfire event in terms of meteorological conditions. The main objectives of the present study are to investigate the impact of horizontal grid resolution and planetary boundary layer (PBL) scheme on the model simulation of meteorological conditions associated with a Mega fire. We evaluate the predictive capability of the WRF model to simulate key meteorological and fire-weather forecast parameters such as wind, moisture, and temperature. Results of this study suggest that more accurate predictions of temperature and wind speed relevant for better prediction of wildfire spread can be achieved by downscaling regional numerical weather prediction products to 1 km resolution. Furthermore, accurate prediction of near-surface conditions depends on the choice of the planetary boundary layer parameterization. The MYNN parameterization yields more accurate prediction as compared to the YSU parameterization. WRF simulations at 1 km resolution result in better predictions of temperature and wind speed than relative humidity during the 2007 Witch Fire. In summary, the MYNN PBL parameterization scheme with finer grid resolution simulations improves the prediction of near-surface meteorological conditions during a wildfire event.

The first identification of cronstedtite in Cu–Ni–PGE ores of the Talnakh intrusion

We present new mineralogical data of cronstedtite from the Southern-2 orebody, located in the South-Western branch of the Talnakh intrusion (Noril’sk area) composed of massive sulfides in which the total amount of oxides and silicates does not exceed 1–3 vol%. The petrographic and mineralogical features of these ores indicated occurrence of fine-grained, fibrous needle like clusters < 50-µm-sized grains of cronstedtite (7.09 Å along its c-axis). This mineral confirmed by a number of analytical techniques (powder X-ray diffraction of balk samples, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Raman and Infrared spectroscopy). Cronstedtite sporadically contains signals of Al, Ni, Ca and filling the cracks and cavities between sulfides of copper (chalcopyrite) and iron (pyrrhotite, pentlandite). In some cases, cronstedtite contains micron-sized PGM, and associates with magnetite. According the X-ray diffraction analysis of the bulk massive ores besides cronstendtite are established kaolinite, gypsum, calcite, quartz, and cristobalite. The findings of cronstedtite in Noril’sk area have never been mentioned publicly before. Its occurrence is the northernmost known locality in the world. Our results imply that the formation of cronstedtite in the Talnakh intrusion could be possible by the active participation low-temperatures fluids within the relatively near-surface (< 2 km of paleosurface) conditions of intrusion emplacement, in contrast to other deep-seated supergiant Cu–Ni–PGE deposits in the world. The conditions of formation in isolated cavities in fresh pyrrhotite-pentlandite-chalcopyrite massive ores of deep level of the Talnakh intrusion could be favorable for the formation of cronstendtite.

Hurricane Observations by Uncrewed Systems

Abstract On 30 September 2021, a saildrone uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) was steered into category 4 Hurricane Sam, the most intense storm of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. It measured significant wave heights up to 14 m (maximum wave height = 27 m) and near-surface winds exceeding 55 m s−1. This was the first time in more than seven decades of hurricane observations that in real time a USV transmitted scientific data, images, and videos of the dynamic ocean surface near a hurricane’s eyewall. The saildrone was part of a five-saildrone deployment of the NOAA 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Observations Mission. These saildrones observed the atmospheric and oceanic near-surface conditions of five other tropical storms, of which two became hurricanes. Such observations inside tropical cyclones help to advance the understanding and prediction of hurricanes, with the ultimate goal of saving lives and protecting property. The 2021 deployment pioneered a new practice of coordinating measurements by saildrones, underwater gliders, and airborne dropsondes to make simultaneous and near-collocated observations of the air–sea interface, the ocean immediately below, and the atmosphere immediately above. This experimental deployment opened the door to a new era of using remotely piloted uncrewed systems to observe one of the most extreme phenomena on Earth in a way previously impossible. This article provides an overview of this saildrone hurricane observations mission, describes how the saildrones were coordinated with other observing platforms, presents preliminary scientific results from these observations to demonstrate their potential utility and motivate further data analysis, and offers a vision of future hurricane observations using combined uncrewed platforms.

Modeling Near-Surface Turbulence in Large-Eddy Simulations of a Tornado: An Application of Thin Boundary Layer Equations

Abstract Unsteadiness and horizontal heterogeneities frequently characterize atmospheric motions, especially within convective storms, which are frequently studied using large-eddy simulations (LES). The models of near-surface turbulence employed by atmospheric LES, however, predominantly assume statistically steady and horizontally homogeneous conditions (known as the equilibrium approach). The primary objective of this work is to investigate the potential consequences of such unrealistic assumptions in simulations of tornadoes. Cloud Model 1 (CM1) LES runs are performed using three approaches to model near-surface turbulence: the “semi-slip” boundary condition (which is the most commonly used equilibrium approach), a recently proposed nonequilibrium approach that accounts for some of the effects of turbulence memory, and a nonequilibrium approach based on thin boundary layer equations (TBLE) originally proposed by the engineering community for smooth-wall boundary layer applications. To be adopted for atmospheric applications, the TBLE approach is modified to account for the surface roughness. The implementation of TBLE into CM1 is evaluated using LES results of an idealized, neutral atmospheric boundary layer. LES runs are then performed for an idealized tornado characterized by rapid evolution, strongly curved air parcel trajectories, and substantial horizontal heterogeneities. The semi-slip boundary condition, by design, always yields a surface shear stress opposite the horizontal wind at the lowest LES grid level. The nonequilibrium approaches of modeling near-surface turbulence allow for a range of surface-shear-stress directions and enhance the resolved turbulence and wind gusts. The TBLE approach even occasionally permits kinetic energy backscatter from unresolved to resolved scales. Significance Statement The traditional approach of modeling the near-surface turbulence is not suitable for a tornado characterized by rapid evolution, strongly curved air parcel trajectories, and substantial horizontal heterogeneities. To understand the influence of statistically unsteady and horizontally heterogeneous near-surface conditions on tornadoes, this work adopts a fairly sophisticated approach from the engineering community and implements it into a widely used atmospheric model with necessary modifications. Compared to the traditional approach, the newly implemented approach produces more turbulent near-surface winds, more flexible surface-drag directions, and stronger wind gusts. These findings suggest a simulated tornado is very sensitive to the modeling approach of near-surface turbulence.

Electrochemical reactions driving Mn-enrichment in Fe[sbnd]Mn supergene ores: A mineralogical perspective

Iron and manganese oxides embody a geochemical system of great environmental, biological, and economical relevance. Chemical equilibria and the stability of FeMn phases under surface or near-surface conditions can influence the fate of contaminants in the environment, impact biological metabolic processes, or Fe and Mn phase distribution in weathered ores. In the present work, we focus on the textural, mineralogical, and chemical study of FeMn ores from the weathered zone of a vein-hosted deposit outcropping in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, SW Portugal, by means of micro-Raman spectroscopy coupled with electron microprobe microanalysis. The aims of our investigation are i) identifying the several Fe and Mn phases occurring in differently enriched ores samples, ii) relating their chemical composition with possible mineralization mechanisms, and iii) defining the mineral paragenetic pathway related to the observed textural features. Our approach enabled both the identification of the coexisting Fe and Mn phases, and unravelling paragenetic pathways leading to supergene enrichment mineralizations. Collected evidence demonstrates that changes in Eh/pH can lead to goethite dissolution under reductive conditions, promoting the release of Fe2+ into solution, whose electrochemical interaction with Mn4+ results in the formation of several types of Mn oxides, and secondary goethite. Our data shows a clear relationship between the type of Mn oxide crystallized and the ratio of aqueous Mn3+/Mn4+, alongside other prevalent cations, incorporated into tunnel or interlayer structural sites, which may be also desorbed/solubilized from primary goethite.

Petrographic and geochemical characteristics of the Middle−Upper Cambrian Xixiangchi dolomites in the central Sichuan Basin, southwest China: Implications for dolomite origins and dolomitization mechanisms

The Middle−Upper Xixiangchi Formation of the Sichuan Basin consists of mixed carbonates and siliciclastics. The carbonates are dominated by dolomitized lime-mudstones and dolo–grainstones of shallow warm-water environments. Petrographic examination of carbonates reveals two types of dolomite: (i) fabric retentive dolomicrite (D1, micritic to near-micritic, 4–50 μm) and (ii) fabric-destructive dolomite (eu-to subhedral crystals with cloudy cores and clear rims, 50–300 μm). The mean ∑REE values of D1 (15.3 ± 6.3 ppm) and D2 (14.6 ± 7.1 ppm) and the nearly identical mean PAAS-normalized patterns that coincide at some points, suggest an origin from similar parent fluids that were not dramatically changed by water-rock interaction through basinal sedimentary rocks. The estimated Sr/Ca molar ratios of D1 (0.0043–0.0055) parent fluids and their estimated δ18O values imply an origin from a mixture of meteoric and seawaters, which is also consistent with the petrographic evidence. The partially coinciding normalized REE pattern of D2 with that of the earlier D1 suggests that the latter was formed at a mid-burial setting rather than deep burial, which is consistent with higher homogenization temperatures of primary two-phased fluid inclusions retained in D2 (Th = 118.1 ± 5.3 °C). Therefore, D1 is suggested to have formed (1) during a penecontemporaneous period that resulted from a slight evaporative pumping effect within a near-surface diagenetic environment, and/or (2) during post-penecontemporaneous or penecontemporaneous seepage-reflux dolomitization, induced by sea-level fluctuations, during early stages of diagenesis at near-surface conditions. D2 formed likely through the recrystallization of D1 or a continuation of reflux dolomitization of the same precursor at mid-burial rather than deep burial settings.

Laboratory Studies of Brine Growth Kinetics Relevant to Deliquescence on Mars

Although previous studies have shown that the near-surface environmental conditions on Mars may permit salt deliquescence and therefore brine production, there is significant uncertainty in the kinetics of the process. Indeed, experimental studies have shown that deliquescence is either very rapid or too slow to be relevant to Mars. To resolve this uncertainty, we performed laboratory experiments to investigate the growth rate of Mars-relevant calcium perchlorate brines over a range of temperatures (184–273 K) and water vapor pressures (0.2–220 Pa). We show that the brine growth is faster at higher water vapor pressures and lower temperatures and for smaller particles. From our data, we determined a temperature-dependent net uptake coefficient for gas phase water molecules colliding with a perchlorate brine surface in the range of 3.8 × 10−4 at 185 K to 4.2 × 10−6 at 273 K. These values suggest that deliquescence on Mars is likely to be slow even when conditions thermodynamically permit a brine to form. We find that along the Curiosity rover traverse at Gale Crater, the near-surface conditions would only allow particles <1 μm to fully deliquesce over a typical sol. At the higher-latitude Phoenix landing site, deliquescence may be 30% faster due to the higher water vapor pressures, but still, only micron-scale salt grains or coatings would be expected to deliquesce during a typical sol. These results suggest that brines formed via deliquescence on the surface of Mars are likely only present on small scales that may not be readily detected using conductivity or imaging techniques.

Investigating the vertical and spatial extent of radon-based classification of the atmospheric mixing state and impacts on seasonal urban air quality

A recently-developed radon-based method for combined classification of both diurnal and synoptic timescale changes in the atmospheric mixing state is applied to 1-year of observations in Ljubljana (capital of Slovenia). Five diurnal-timescale mixing classes (#1 to #5) were defined for each season along with an additional mixing class (#6) in non-summer months, representative of synoptic-timescale changes of the atmospheric mixing state associated with “persistent temperature inversion” (PTI) events. Seasonal composite radiosonde profiles and mean sea level pressure charts within each mixing class are used to demonstrate the link between prevailing synoptic conditions and the local mixing state, which drives changes in urban air quality. Diurnal cycles of selected pollutants (BC, NO2, CO, PM10, SO2 and O3) exhibited substantial seasonality as a result of changing mixing conditions, source types and strengths. For the more well-mixed conditions (classes #2 to #3), surface wind speeds were 3 times higher than during class #6 (PTI) conditions, resulting in a 3-fold reduction of primary pollutant accumulation. Daily-mean PM10 concentrations only exceeded EU and WHO guideline values in winter and autumn for two of the radon-defined mixing classes: (i) class #5 (strongly stable near-surface conditions associated with passing synoptic anti-cyclone systems), and (ii) class #6 (PTI conditions driven by regional subsidence in the presence of the “Siberian High”). Both mixing states were associated with low mean wind speeds (∼0–0.7 m s−1) and strong thermal stratification, as indicated both by pseudo-vertical temperature gradients (∆T/∆z) and radiosonde profiles. Diurnal ∆T/∆z values indicated limited opportunity for convective mixing of pollutants from the basin atmosphere under these conditions. The demonstrated consistency in atmospheric mixing conditions (vertically and spatially) across the diurnal cycle within each of the defined mixing classes suggests the radon-based classification scheme used in conjunction with 3-D urban sensor networks could be well suited to evaluate mitigation schemes for urban pollution and urban climate.

СЕРЕБРЯНАЯ МИНЕРАЛИЗАЦИЯ В ГЛУБИННЫХ МАГМАТОГЕННЫХ СИСТЕМАХ ДРЕВНИХ ОСТРОВНЫХ ДУГ: ИЛЬДЕУССКИЙ УЛЬТРАОСНОВНОЙ МАССИВ, СТАНОВОЙ МОБИЛЬНЫЙ ПОЯС (ДАЛЬНИЙ ВОСТОК РОССИИ)

The Triassic (232–233 Ma) Ildeus mafic-ultrabasic massif is a fragment of a large mineralized magmatogenic system formed within the Stanovoy mobile belt at the Mesozoic stage of its evolution. Ultrabasic rocks are represented by cumulative plagioclase- and amphibole-bearing dunites, peridotites, websterites, and pyroxenites; basic rocks are gabbro-anorthosites, norites, and two-pyroxene gabbro. Most intrusive rocks of the Ildeus magmatogenic system experienced ultramafic (serpentine, chlorite, talc, carbonates) and acidic (quartz, biotite, potassium feldspar, secondary micas) metasomatism. Geochemical characteristics (calc-alkaline differentiation trend, negative anomalies of highly charged incoherent elements) indicate the subduction nature of the primary magma in the Ildeus system. The ultrabasic rocks are intruded by intermediate-acid intrusions with geochemical characteristics of adakite. Magmatic-stage silver mineralization is represented by microinclusions of cuprous silver, alloys of silver, copper, gold and zinc, acanthite and silver halides in association with pentlandite, chalcopyrite, bornite, and pyrrhotite. These rocks are characterized by microinclusions of native platinum, gold, tungsten, bismuth, lead, PGE alloys, W-Co-Ti, Sb-Pb, Cu-Zn-Sn, minerals of Ag-Cu-Sb-Se-S and Zn-Ni systems -Co-Fe-S, barite, chlorapatite and Bi-Sn-Pb chlorides. At the metasomatic stage, native silver, Au-Ag alloys, silver and copper chlorides, acanthite, silver and lead tellurides coexist with digenite, heathlewoodite, pyrite, sphalerite, galena, native nickel and gold, Cu-Zn alloys, sulfides of the Pb-As- Cu-Fe-S and bismuth chloride. At the magmatic stage, silver minerals crystallized under reducing conditions in the presence of high-temperature aqueous fluids enriched in sulfide sulfur, halogens, and volatile siderophile (W, Pt) and chalcophile (Ag, Bi, Sn, Sb, Pb) metals that entered the primary melt from serpentinites, metamorphosed gabbroids, and metal-bearing pelagic sediments of the subducting oceanic plate. Metasomatic parageneses of silver minerals were formed under oxidized near-surface conditions with the participation of low-temperature water-salt solutions with elevated concentrations of sulfate sulfur, arsenic, and tellurium. A two-stage model is proposed for the formation of silver mineralization in island arc magmatic systems, in which the high-temperature magmatic stage of formation in deep crustal parts is replaced by low-temperature hydrothermal ore formation processes in near-surface conditions.

Spring heat waves drive record western United States snow melt in 2021

Throughout the western US snow melted at an alarming rate in April 2021 and by May 1, hydrologic conditions were severely degraded with declining summer water supply forecasts compared to earlier in the winter. The objectives of this study are to (a) quantify the magnitude and climatological context of observed melt rates of snow water equivalent (SWE) and (b) underpin the hydrometeorological drivers during April 2021 based on atmospheric reanalysis and gridded meteorological data. Peak SWE indicated snow drought conditions were widespread (41% of stations between 5th and 20th percentile) but not necessarily extreme (only 9% of stations less than 5th percentile). Here, using observations from the Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL) network we found record 7 day snow melt rates (median of −99 mm; ±one standard deviation of 61 mm) occurred at 24% of SNOTEL sites and in all 11 Western states. Strong upper atmospheric ridging that began initially in the north Pacific with eastward propagation by mid-April to the Pacific Northwest Coast led to near-surface conditions across the western US conducive to rapid snow loss. One heat wave occurred inland across the Rockies the first week of April and then later in April, a second heat wave impacted the Cascades and northern California. We find that ripening of the snowpack by both record high surface solar radiation and air temperatures were factors in driving the rapid snow melt. Equatorial Pacific sea surface temperatures and the La Niña pattern that peaked in winter along with an eastward propagating and intensifying Madden–Julian Oscillation were likely responsible for driving the placement, strength, and progression of the north Pacific Ridge. This study documents the role of two extreme spring ‘sunny heat wave’ events on snowpack, and the cascading drought impacts which are anticipated to become more frequent in a warming world.

Effect of Source Mispositioning on the Repeatability of 4D Vertical Seismic Profiling Acquired with Distributed Acoustic Sensors.

Vertical seismic profiling (VSP) with distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) is an increasingly popular evolving technique for reservoir monitoring. DAS technology enables permanent fibre installations in wells and simultaneous seismic data recording along an entire borehole. Deploying the receivers closer to the reservoir allows for better detectability of smaller signals. A high level of repeatability is essential for the robust time-lapse monitoring of geological reservoirs. One of the prominent factors of repeatability degradation is a shift between source/receiver locations (mispositioning) during baseline and monitor surveys. While the mispositioning effect has been extensively studied for surface 4D seismic, the number of such studies for VSP is quite limited. To study the effects of source mispositioning on time-lapse data repeatability, we performed two VSP experiments at two on-shore sites with vibroseis. The first study was carried out at the Otway International Test Centre during Stage 3 of the Otway project and showed that the effect of source mispositioning on repeatability is negligible in comparison with the effect of temporal variations of the near-surface conditions. To avoid these limitations, we conducted a same-day controlled experiment at the Curtin University site. This second experiment showed that the effect of source mispositioning on repeatability is controlled by the degree of lateral variations of the near-surface conditions. Unlike in marine seismic measurements, lateral variations of near-surface properties can be strong and rapid and can degrade the repeatability for shifts of the source of a few meters. The greater the mispositioning, the higher the chance of such significant variations. When the near-surface conditions are laterally homogeneous, the effect of typical source mispositioning is small, and in all practical monitoring applications its contribution to non-repeatability is negligible.

Near-surface velocity estimation using shear-waves and deep-learning with a U-net trained on synthetic data

Estimation of good velocity models under complex near-surface conditions remains a topic of ongoing research. We propose to predict near-surface velocity profiles from surface-waves transformed to phase velocity-frequency panels in a data-driven manner using deep neural networks. This is a different approach from many recent works that attempt to estimate velocity from directly reflected body waves or guided waves. A secondary objective is to analyze the influence on the prediction accuracy of various commonly employed deep learning practices, such as transfer learning and data augmentations. Through numerical experiments on synthetic data as well as a real geophysical example, we demonstrate that transfer learning as well as data augmentations are helpful when using deep learning for velocity estimation. A third and final objective is to study lack of generalization of deep learning models for out-of-distribution (OOD) data in the context of our problem, and present a novel approach to tackle it. We propose a domain adaptation network for training deep learning models that uses a priori knowledge on the range of velocity values in order to constrain mapping of the output. The final comparison on field data, which was not part of the training data, show the deep neural network predictions compare favorably with a conventional velocity model estimation obtained with a dispersion curve inversion workflow.

A combined GA and DLS parallel algorithm for multimode Rayleigh wave inversion

Multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) is a vital method in near-surface exploration. Linear algorithms, such as damped least square method (DLS), are highly dependent on the initial model and are prone to trapping in local minima. While nonlinear algorithms such as genetic algorithm (GA) are globally optimal but inefficient, they are not very practical for complex calculations.In this paper, we propose a combined GA and DLS parallel algorithm (GA-DLS), which has a global search capability due to the GA framework, and has a quick local search capability due to the DLS parallel computing. To simulate the earth model in complex near-surface conditions, we set a low-velocity layer among a layered earth model (LVL) and a high-velocity layer among a layered earth model (HVL), we perform the inversion with DLS, GA, and GA-DLS, respectively. The comparison shows that the GA-DLS inversion gets an efficient and accurate result. Finally, we use the GA-DLS algorithm to invert the field data and achieve good results, verifying the effectiveness of the algorithm.

Geochemical distribution of helium, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane in Sakhalin Island mud volcanoes, hot springs, and cold seeps

The Asian-Pacific - continental margins have been the object of intensive geochemical research in recent years, as areas within this zone have been found to contain large hydrocarbon deposits in a variety of forms including: oil, natural gas, gas condensate, and gas hydrates. One such area is Sakhalin Island, located in Russia's Far Eastern Federal District. Genetically, the territory of Sakhalin Island is a part of the shelf of the Hokkaido-Sakhalin fold area, therefore, the nature of the sub-vertical gas migration is controlled by deep faults, along which the concentrations of natural gases change, and is also influenced by high seismotectonic activity of the Okhotsk region. This paper presents data regarding the distribution of helium, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and methane from mud volcanoes, thermal springs, mineral waters and other seep types on Sakhalin island and the surrounding marine margins, along with an interpretation of the geological and tectonic factors that have likely led to the present distribution of these gases. In general, the results of geothermometry equations based on the concentration and stable isotopic composition of carbon dioxide indicate much higher temperatures than equations involving the saturation concentrations of hydrogen gas. We interpret this to indicate that deeply-sourced carbon dioxide does not reequilibrate at near-surface conditions, whereas the equilibration time for hydrogen gas is relatively rapid. Areas on the island which are observed to have active degassing, coupled with high apparent reservoir temperatures also provide indicators of geodynamics along the regional tectonic structures. Mud volcanoes to the south of the island are predominantly situated at the juncture between NW-SE trending faults which extend the entire length of Sakhalin and continue as far south as Hokkaido Island, and more recently developed NE-SW trending faults. Despite the relatively low water temperatures of these mud volcanoes, the high reservoir temperatures indicated by gas chemistry suggest a source of fluids and gas at several km from the surface.

Evaluation of near-surface conditions for engineering site characterization using geophysical and geotechnical methods in Lagos, Southwestern Nigeria

ABSTRACT The geological condition of the site in Lagos was investigated using integrated methods. This was necessary following evidence of structural defects prevalent in the area. Against this backdrop, measurements were carried out using in-situ geotechnical and geophysical techniques. The techniques were the Standard Penetration Test, Cone Penetration Test, Electrical Resistivity and seismic refraction surface waves. The various data were collected along eight (8) traverses established strategically in the study area in order to obtain the most desirable results. The results obtained generally show that a low resistive and highly compressive soft soils of organic peats/clays are prevalent in the study area. These geomaterials are characterised with low SPT-N values, low penetrative resistance, low bearing capacities and low electrical resistivity values. The shear (weak) zones have also been identified particularly in the inverted resistivity models. These geomaterials are unfriendly, inimical and severe enough to cause instability in ground conditions. The peat/clay and the weak zones could possibly be responsible for the various degrees of structural defects observed in the study area and should be avoided as foundation placements.

Energy and mass exchange at an urban site in mountainous terrain – the Alpine city of Innsbruck

Abstract. This study represents the first detailed analysis of multi-year, near-surface turbulence observations for an urban area located in highly complex terrain. Using 4 years of eddy covariance measurements over the Alpine city of Innsbruck, Austria, the effects of the urban surface, orographic setting and mountain weather on energy and mass exchange are investigated. In terms of surface controls, the findings for Innsbruck are in accordance with previous studies at city centre sites. The available energy is partitioned mainly into net storage heat flux and sensible heat flux (each comprising about 40 % of the net radiation, Q*, during the daytime in summer). The latent heat flux is small by comparison (only about 10 % of Q*) due to the small amount of vegetation present but increases for short periods (6–12 h) following rainfall. Additional energy supplied by anthropogenic activities and heat released from the large thermal mass of the urban surface helps to support positive sensible heat fluxes in the city all year round. Annual observed CO2 fluxes (5.1 kg C m−2 yr−1) correspond well to modelled emissions and expectations based on findings at other sites with a similar proportion of vegetation. The net CO2 exchange is dominated by anthropogenic emissions from traffic in summer and building heating in winter. In contrast to previous urban observational studies, the effect of the orography is examined here. Innsbruck's location in a steep-sided valley results in marked diurnal and seasonal patterns in flow conditions. A typical valley wind circulation is observed (in the absence of strong synoptic forcing) with moderate up-valley winds during daytime, weaker down-valley winds at night (and in winter) and near-zero wind speeds around the times of the twice-daily wind reversal. Due to Innsbruck's location north of the main Alpine crest, southerly foehn events frequently have a marked effect on temperature, wind speed, turbulence and pollutant concentration. Warm, dry foehn air advected over the surface can lead to negative sensible heat fluxes both inside and outside the city. Increased wind speeds and intense mixing during foehn (turbulent kinetic energy often exceeds 5 m2 s−2) help to ventilate the city, illustrated here by low CO2 mixing ratios. Radiative exchange is also affected by the orography – incoming shortwave radiation is blocked by the terrain at low solar elevation. The interpretation of the dataset is complicated by distinct temporal patterns in flow conditions and the combined influences of the urban environment, terrain and atmospheric conditions. The analysis presented here reveals how Innsbruck's mountainous setting impacts the near-surface conditions in multiple ways, highlighting the similarities with previous studies in much flatter terrain and examining the differences in order to begin to understand interactions between urban and orographic processes.