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Ice melt water from a 22.27 m ice core which was drilled from the East Rongbuk Glacier, Mt. Everest was incubation in two incubation ways: plate melt water directly and enrichment melt water prior plate, respectively. The abundance of cultivable bacteria ranged from 0–295 CFU mL −1 to 0–1720 CFU mL −1 in two incubations with a total of 1385 isolates obtained. Comparing to direct cultivation, enrichment cultivation recovered more bacteria. Pigment-producing bacteria accounted for an average of 84.9% of total isolates. Such high percentage suggested that pigment production may be an adaptive physiological feature for the bacteria in ice core to cope with strong ultraviolet radiation on the glacier. The abundances of cultivable bacteria and pigment-producing isolates varied synchronously along depth: higher abundance in the middle and lower at the top and bottom. It indicated that the middle part of the ice core was hospitable for the microbial survival. Based on the physiological properties of the colonies, eighty-nine isolates were selected for phylogenetic analysis. Obtained 16S rRNA gene sequences fell into four groups: Firmicutes , Alpha-Proteobacteria , Gamma-Proteobacteria , and Actinobacteria , with the Firmicutes being dominant. Microbial compositions derived from direct and enrichment cultivations were not overlapped. We suggest that it is a better way to explore the culturable microbial diversity in ice core by combining the approaches of both direct and enrichment cultivation.

Most Phanerozoic oolites are marked by ooids with a diameter less than 2 mm. Observations on a Neoproterozoic oolite have resulted in a change of concept. The term “pisolite” that traditionally referred to oolites with a grain size of more than 2 mm, is now restricted to those coated carbonate grains formed by meteoritic freshwater diagenesis; oolites with a grain size of more than 2 mm are now defined as “giant”. Particular unusual giant oolites within a set of oolitic-bank limestones with thicknesses of more than 40 m in the top part of the Lower Triassic (Induan) Daye (Ruiping) Formation at the Lichuan section in the western part of Hubei Province in South China, represent an important sedimentological phenomenon in both the specific geological period and the geological setting that is related to the end-Permian biological mass extinction. Like the giant oolites of the Neoproterozoic that represent deposits where oolites formed in a vast low-angle carbonate ramp at that special geological period, the Triassic Daye Formation at the study section are significant because they provide a comparative example to help understand the evolving carbonate world reflected by oolites, the origin of which is still uncertain, and they give insight into the sedimentation pattern of the desolate sea floor, which resulted from the mass extinction at the turn of the Permian into the Triassic.

The Erlangmiao granite intrusion is located in the eastern part of the East Qinling Orogen. The granite contains almost 99 vol.% felsic minerals with accessory garnet, muscovite, biotite, zircon, and Fe-Ti oxide. Garnet is the dominant accessory mineral, shows zoned texture, and is rich in w (FeO) (14.13%–16.09%) and w (MnO) (24.21%–27.44%). The rocks have high SiO 2 , alkalis, FeO t /MgO, TiO 2 /MgO and low Al 2 O 3 , CaO with w (Na 2 O)/ w (K 2 O)> 1. Their Rb, Ga, Ta, Nb, Y, and Yb contents are high and Sr, Ba, Eu, Zr, P, and Ti contents are low. These features indicate that the Erlangmiao granite is a highly evolved metaluminous A-type. Garnet crystallized at the expense of biotite from the MnO-rich evolved melt after fractionation of biotite, plagioclase, K-feldspar, zircon, apatite, and ilmenite. The relatively high initial 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios (0.706–0.708), low and negative ɛ Nd (120 Ma) values (−6.6 to −9.0), and old Nd model ages (1.5–1.7 Ga) suggest that the rocks were probably formed by partial melting of the Paleoproterozoic granitic gneisses from the basement, with participation of depleted mantle in an extensional setting.

The Yan'an Formation of the Ordos Basin is a sequence of four members, consisting of siliciclastic sediments deposited in alluvial, lacustrine and mire settings during the Middle Jurassic. Samples collected from Members Two and Four contain abundant blackened plant material identified through standard analytical techniques as fusain (fossil charcoal). The occurrence of fusain in fluvial sandstones at multiple horizons in the outcrops, combined with the previously reported high concentration of inertinite in the coals of Member One, indicates that paleowildfire was a common occurrence in the Ordos Basin during Yan'an deposition. Sedimentary evidence from Yan'an outcrops suggests that the paleoclimate was seasonal during deposition of Members Two through Four, which may have contributed to the wildfire frequency. The presence of fusain in the Yan'an Formation indicates that atmospheric oxygen levels were clearly above the minimum required for sustained combustion during the Middle Jurassic. This conclusion contradicts previous geochemical models for paleoatmospheric composition, but supports more recent studies.

This study presents promising variants of genetic programming (GP), namely linear genetic programming (LGP) and multi expression programming (MEP) to evaluate the liquefaction resistance of sandy soils. Generalized LGP and MEP-based relationships were developed between the strain energy density required to trigger liquefaction (capacity energy) and the factors affecting the liquefaction characteristics of sands. The correlations were established based on well established and widely dispersed experimental results obtained from the literature. To verify the applicability of the derived models, they were employed to estimate the capacity energy values of parts of the test results that were not included in the analysis. The external validation of the models was verified using statistical criteria recommended by researchers. Sensitivity and parametric analyses were performed for further verification of the correlations. The results indicate that the proposed correlations are effectively capable of capturing the liquefaction resistance of a number of sandy soils. The developed correlations provide a significantly better prediction performance than the models found in the literature. Furthermore, the best LGP and MEP models perform superior than the optimal traditional GP model. The verification phases confirm the efficiency of the derived correlations for their general application to the assessment of the strain energy at the onset of liquefaction.

The standard picture of planet formation posits that giant gas planets are over-grown rocky planets massive enough to attract enormous gas atmospheres. It has been shown recently that the opposite point of view is physically plausible: the rocky terrestrial planets are former giant planet embryos dried of their gas "to the bone" by the influences of the parent star. Here we provide a brief overview of this "Tidal Downsizing" hypothesis in the context of the Solar System structure.

A new model is suggested for the history of the Baikal Rift, in deviation from the classic two-stage evolution scenario, based on a synthesis of the available data from the Baikal Basin and revised correlation between tectonic–lithological–stratigraphic complexes (TLSC) in sedimentary sections around Lake Baikal and seismic stratigraphic sequences (SSS) in the lake sediments. Unlike the previous models, the revised model places the onset of rifting during Late Cretaceous and comprises three major stages which are subdivided into several substages. The stages and the substages are separated by events of tectonic activity and stress reversal when additional compression produced folds and shear structures. The events that mark the stage boundaries show up as gaps, unconformities, and deformation features in the deposition patterns. The earliest Late Cretaceous–Oligocene stage began long before the India–Eurasia collision in a setting of diffuse extension that acted over a large territory of Asia. The NW–SE far-field pure extension produced an NE-striking half-graben oriented along an old zone of weakness at the edge of the Siberian craton. That was already the onset of rift evolution recorded in weathered lacustrine deposits on the Baikal shore and in a wedge-shaped acoustically transparent seismic unit in the lake sediments. The second stage spanning Late Oligocene–Early Pliocene time began with a stress change when the effect from the Eocene India–Eurasia collision had reached the region and became a major control of its geodynamics. The EW and NE transpression and shear from the collisional front transformed the Late Cretaceous half-graben into a U-shaped one which accumulated a deformed layered sequence of sediments. Rifting at the latest stage was driven by extension from a local source associated with hot mantle material rising to the base of the rifted crust. The asthenospheric upwarp first induced the growth of the Baikal dome and the related change from finer to coarser molasse deposition. With time, the upwarp became a more powerful stress source than the collision, and the stress vector returned to the previous NW–SE extension that changed the rift geometry back to a half-graben. The layered Late Pliocene–Quaternary subaerial tectonic–lithological–stratigraphic and the Quaternary submarine seismic stratigraphic units filling the latest half-graben remained almost undeformed. The rifting mechanisms were thus passive during two earlier stages and active during the third stage. The three-stage model of the rift history does not rule out the previous division into two major stages but rather extends its limits back into time as far as the Maastrichtian. Our model is consistent with geological, stratigraphic, structural, and geophysical data and provides further insights into the understanding of rifting in the Baikal region in particular and continental rifting in general.

Multiple sets of thick coal beds characterized by simple structure and shallow burial depth were developed in the Early and Middle Jurassic strata of the Ordos Basin, northwestern China. The huge reserves of this high quality coal have a high commercial value. We studied the coal’s petrologic characteristics and its maceral distribution to determine the maceral’s contribution to generation of oil and gas. The results show that the Jurassic coals in the Ordos Basin have special petrological features because of the Basin’s unique depositional environment which was mainly a series of high-stand swamps in the upper fluvial system. These petrographic features are a result of the development of typical inland lakes where some sand bodies were formed by migrating rivers. After burial, the peat continued to undergo oxidizing conditions, this process generated extensive higher inertinite contents in the coals and the vitrinite components were altered to semi-vitrinite. The macroscopic petrographic types of these Jurassic coals are mainly semi-dull coal, dull coal, semilustrous and lustrous coal. The proportions of semi-dull coal and dull coal are higher in the basin margins, especially in the area near the northern margin. The numbers of semilustrous and lustrous coals increase southwards and towards the central basin. This situation indicates that different coal-forming swamp environments have major controlling effects on the coal components. Another observation is that in the Ordos’ coal sequences, especially in the lower part, some sandstone beds are thick, up to 20 m with a coarse grain size. The higher fusinite content in the macerals accompanies a higher semi-vitrinite content with more complete and regular plant cell structure. The fusinite structure is clear and well preserved. After burial, the lithology of the roof and floor rocks can continue to affect the evolution of coal petrology. The sand bodies in the roof and floor exhibit good physical conditions so that pore water can maintain a long-term state of oxidation, circulation and connection to the coal. So coal components remain in an oxidation environment for a long time. Conversely, in the basin center, lacustrine facies developed and peat was rapidly covered by mudstone after burial and subsequent coal beds rapidly entered a reducing environment. As a result, abundant gelatification occurred and the vitrinite content increased. Exinite often accumulated in a specific position in the coal bed. Although the average exinite content is not high on the whole, it does significantly contribute to the total hydrocarbon generation. The exinite content has been underestimated, especially the amorphous bituminous fluid and its importance is emphasized here. The reason is that the fluid flows easily into fusinite which has strong rigidity, or flows into some fissures, where it is commonly neglected.

Integrating solar energy into modern aircraft technology has been a topic of interest and has received a lot of attention from researchers over the last two decades. A few among the many potential applications of this technology are the possibility of continuous self sustained flight for purposes such as information relay, surveillance and monitoring. This paper discusses the altitude and payload mass, as independent parameters, and their influence on the size and design of the aircraft. To estimate available solar power, two different models have been presented; one for low altitudes and the other for high altitudes. An engineering ground model was built to simulate the power and propulsion system over 24 h of continuous operation. The paper presents data from tests performed till date and lessons learnt while dealing with the construction of the engineering ground model as well as changes that can be made to improve the design.

By applying the ‘theory of synchronization’ from the science of complexity to studying the regional regularity of ore formation within the Nanling region of southern China, a characteristic target-pattern regional ore zonality has been discovered. During the early and late Yanshanian epoch (corresponding respectively to the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods), two centers of ore formation emerged successively in the Nanling region; the former is mainly for rare metals (W, Sn, Mo, Bi, Nb) and one rare-earth element (La) and was generated in the Jurassic period; whereas the latter is mainly for base metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Sb, Hg), noble metals (Au, Ag), and one radioactive element (U) and was generated in the Cretaceous period. Centers of ore formation were brought about by interface dynamics respectively at the Qitianling and Jiuyishan districts in southern Hunan province. The characteristic giant nonlinear target-pattern regional ore zonality was generated by spatio-temporal synchronization process of the Nanling complex metallogenic system. It induced the collective dynamics and cooperative behavior of the system and displayed the configuration of the regional ore zonality. Then dynamical clustering transformed the configuration into rudimentary ordered coherent structures. Phase dynamics eventually defined the spatio-temporal structures of the target-pattern regional ore zonality and determined their localization and distribution. A new methodology for revealing regional ore zonality is developed, which will encourage further investigation of the formation of deep-seated ore resources and the onset of large-scale mineralization.

Satellite data product validation and algorithm development activities both require the substantial accumulation of high-quality in situ observations. Data were acquired from Ocean Colour Monitor (OCM) and in situ observations for tuning of Tassan’s algorithm (Tassan, 1994) to retrieve the suspended sediment concentration (SSC) in the coastal waters off southern Karnataka, India. Tassan’s algorithm has been modified regionally by adopting statistical/graphical criteria to characterize the spatial and seasonal distribution of SSC. A concurrent and collocated datasets (n = 120) of in situ SSC and OCM based remote sensing reflectance [Rrs(λ) in bands 490, 555 and 670 nm] were regressed. The linear fit yielded regionally tuned new coefficients which were replaced in place of Tassan’s global coefficients. The tuned algorithm was shown to retrieve SSC with range of 1.1–37.12 mg/l, which means it can be used for coastal waters. Since in situ samples were collected within the continental margin (average depth of ∼20 m), we retain the global SSC algorithm (Tassan, 1994) approach for deeper bathymetric values (>50 m depth) where we have no in situ measurements. Comparative analysis indicated statistically significant relationship (R2 = 0.99; n = 45; p

The origin of PGE–Cu–Ni sulfide deposits of Norilsk and Talnakh located in the northwest flank of the Triassic basalt trap formation of Siberia is considered. It is shown that ore elements of these deposits (probably, except Fe) are derived from the crust rather than from the mantle. They entered the basalts owing to a remobilization (recycling) of ore elements from the Paleoproterozoic sediments and from the rocks of the Siberian platform’s basement. Prospecting criteria for similar deposits are as follows: (1) a presence of a large Paleoproterozoic aulacogen and a related magmatic sulfide Cu–Ni mineralization; (2) a confinement of perspective areas to troughs associated with long-lived deep fault zones; (3) association with mobile orogenic belts, island-arc systems and tectonomagmatic activation zones; (4) temporal association with boundaries of global periods characterized by active processes of continental breakup and large-scale trap magmatism. A combination of several factors (the first one is obligatory) is favorable for the discovery of a large ore body.

Ability to make yield prediction before harvest using satellite remote sensing is important in many aspects of agricultural decision-making. In this study, canopy reflectance band and different band ratios in form of vegetation indices (VI) with leaf area index (LAI) were used to generate remotely sensed pre-harvest empirical rice yield prediction models. LAI measurements, spectral data derived from two SPOT data acquired on August 24, 2008 and August 23, 2009 and observed rice yield were used as main inputs for rice yield modeling. Each remotely sensed factor was used separately and in combination with LAI to generate the models. The results showed that green spectral band, middle infra-red spectral band and green vegetation index (GVI) did not show sufficient capability as rice yield estimators while other inputs such as red spectral band, near infrared spectral band and vegetation indices that are algebraic ratios from these two spectral bands when used separately or in combined with leaf area index (LAI) produced high accurate rice yield estimation models. The validation process was carried out using two statistical tests; standard error of estimate and the correlation coefficient between modeled and predicted yield. The validation results indicated that using normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) combined with leaf area index (LAI) produced the model with highest accuracy and stability during the two rice seasons. The generated models are applicable 90 days after planting in any similar environmental conditions and agricultural practices.

The Polar Urals region of northern Russia is well known for large chromium (Cr)-bearing massifs with major chromite orebodies, including the Centralnoye I deposit in the Ray-Iz ultramafic massif of the Ural ophiolite belt. New data on platinum (Pt)-group elements (PGE), geochemistry and mineralogy of the host dunite shows that the deposit has anomalous iridium (Ir) values. These values indicate the predominance of ruthenium–osmium–iridium (Ru–Os–Ir)-bearing phases among the platinum-group mineral (PGM) assemblage that is typical of mantle-hosted chromite ores. Low Pt values in chromites and increased Pt values in host dunites might reflect the presence of cumulus PGM grains. The most abundant PGM found in the chromite is erlichmanite (up to 15 μm). Less common are cuproiridsite (up to 5 μm), irarsite (up to 4–5 μm), and laurite (up to 4 μm). The predominant sulfide is heazlewoodite, in intergrowth with Ni–Fe alloys, sporadically with pentlandite, and rarely with pure nickel. Based on the average PGE values and estimated Cr-ore resources, the Centralnoye I deposit can be considered as an important resource of PGE.

The resolution is considered as one of the most important factors which controls the quality of the printed image, whether input resolution (digital camera–scanner) or output resolution (printer–computer to film, plate or paper). The research discusses the accuracy of the input resolution of image processing equipment for digital files through using two different sets of resolution, one low (72 dpi) and another high (300 dpi) and to print the files by using a digital toner printer. Which produce with a high output resolution up 2400 × 2400 dpi and use the same type of paper for printing these files. Then quality measurements (characteristic curve–dot gain–density) are performed to determine the accuracy effect of input resolution on the quality of the printed images. In this research the researchers used scientific and practical analysis methods to analysis this problem and to determine the accuracy effect of input resolution on the quality of printed images. It has been concluded that the differences of the input resolution do not obviously affect of quality measurements that the results are largely close, despite the quality difference of the two cases (low resolution–high resolution) are easily noticed to the naked eye while zooming images at appropriate level.

The present study highlights the importance of Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and satellite images for assessment of drainage and extraction of their relative parameters for the Orr watershed Ashok Nagar district, M.P., India. Hydrological parameters such as drainage analysis, topographic parameters and land use pattern were evaluated and interpreted for watershed management of the area. Hydrological module of ARC GIS software was utilized for calculation and delineation of the watershed and morphometric analysis of the watershed using SRTM DEM. The stream order of watershed ranges from first to sixth order showing dendritic type drainage network which is a sign of the homogeneity in texture and lack of structural control of the watershed. The drainage density in the area has been found to be low to medium which indicates that the area possesses highly permeable soils and low relief. The bifurcation ratio varies from 4.74 to 5 and the elongation ratio is 0.58 which reveals that the basin belongs to the elongated shaped basin category. The mean R b of the entire basin is 4.62 which indicates that the drainage pattern is not much influenced by geological structures. Land use map of the watershed was generated from latest available multispectral satellite data and whole watershed covers under agricultural land, settlement, fallow land, forest, mining areas and water body. The present study reveals that SRTM DEM based hydrological evaluation at watershed scale is more applied and precise compared to other available techniques.

Against the current background of global climate change, the study of variations in the soil carbon pool and its controlling factors may aid in the evaluation of soil’s role in the mitigation or enhancement of greenhouse gas. This paper studies spatial and temporal variation in the soil carbon pool and their controlling factors in the southern Song-nen Plain in Heilongjiang Province, using soil data collected over two distinct periods by the Multi-purpose Regional Geochemical Survey in 2005–2007, and another soil survey conducted in 1982–1990. The study area is a carbon source of 1479 t/km 2 and in the past 20 years, from the 1980s until 2005, the practical carbon emission from the soil was 0.12 Gt. Temperature, which has been found to be linearly correlated to soil organic carbon, is the dominant climatologic factor controlling soil organic carbon contents. Our study shows that in the relevant area and time period the potential loss of soil organic carbon caused by rising temperatures was 0.10 Gt, the potential soil carbon emission resulting from land-use change was 0.09 Gt, and the combined potential loss of soil carbon (0.19 Gt) caused by warming and land-use change is comparable to that of fossil fuel combustion (0.21 Gt). Due to the time delay in soil carbon pool variation, there is still 0.07 Gt in the potential emission caused by warming and land-use change that will be gradually released in the future.

TeleDensity is a very important tool to show the trend of economic development at the country level. There is a big gap in the value of TeleDensity between the Least Developed Countries and developed countries. In general, TeleDensity is usually measured at the National level. The calculated TeleDensity value of Egypt in 2010 is more than the world average value and less than the average value of Europe. This study aims at introducing a new approach to breakdown TeleDensity from the National to Sector level, and estimates the occupied fixed lines (OFL) at both Sector and Shiyakha levels. Alexandria Governorate that is located at the northern coast of Egypt was selected as a case study in this research. Detailed analysis was applied at the Shiyakha level inside the El-Montazah sector. The proposed GIS-based approach is used to project the Exchanges and their spatial coverage extent at the Shiyakha level. TeleDensity was calculated at the Governorate and Sector levels. The resultant TeleDensity was used to estimate the OFL at the Sector and Shiyakha levels. The results indicated that the TeleDensity of Alexandria Governorate (24.1%) is considered among the highest values, whereas El-Fayoum Governorate is considered as having the lowest TeleDensity value in Egypt. In general, the lowest TeleDensity values were observed at the Governorates of Upper Egypt. It is noticed that the highest OFL values were concentrated on the northern sectors of the Alexandria Governorate study area. It is concluded that the GIS plays an important role in visualizing and analyzing the telecom infrastructure.

Our blue planet Earth has long been regarded to carry full of nutrients for hosting life since the birth of the planet. Here we speculate the processes that led to the birth of early life on Earth and its aftermath, finally leading to the evolution of metazoans. We evaluate: (1) the source of nutrients, (2) the chemistry of primordial ocean, (3) the initial mass of ocean, and (4) the size of planet. Among the life-building nutrients, phosphorus and potassium play a key role. Only three types of rocks can serve as an adequate source of nutrients: (a) continent-forming TTG (granite), enabling the evolution of primitive life to metazoans; (b) primordial continents carrying anorthosite with KREEP (Potassium, Rare Earth Elements, and Phosphorus) basalts, which is a key to bear life; (c) carbonatite magma, enriched in radiogenic elements such as U and Th, which can cause mutation to speed up evolution and promote the birth of new species in continental rift settings. The second important factor is ocean chemistry. The primordial ocean was extremely acidic (pH = 1–2) and enriched in halogens (Cl, F and others), S, N and metallic elements (Cd, Cu, Zn, and others), inhibiting the birth of life. Plate tectonics cleaned up these elements which interfered with RNA. Blue ocean finally appeared in the Phanerozoic with pH = 7 through extensive interaction with surface continental crust by weathering, erosion and transportation into ocean. The initial ocean mass was also important. The birth of life and aftermath of evolution was possible in the habitable zone with 3–5 km deep ocean which was able to supply sufficient nutrients. Without a huge landmass, nutrients cannot be supplied into the ocean only by ridge-hydrothermal circulation in the Hadean. Finally, the size of the planet plays a crucial role. Cooling of massive planets is less efficient than smaller ones, so that return-flow of seawater into mantle does not occur until central stars finish their main sequence. Due to the suitable size of Earth, the dawn of Phanerozoic witnessed the initiation of return-flow of seawater into the mantle, leading to the emergence of huge landmass above sea-level, and the distribution of nutrients on a global scale. Oxygen pump also played a critical role to keep high-PO 2 in atmosphere since then, leading to the emergence of ozone layer and enabling animals and plants to invade the land. To satisfy the tight conditions to make the Earth habitable, the formation mechanism of primordial Earth is an important factor. At first, a ‘dry Earth’ must be made through giant impact, followed by magma ocean to float nutrient-enriched primordial continents (anorthosite + KREEP). Late bombardment from asteroid belt supplied water to make 3–5 km thick ocean, and not from icy meteorites from Kuiper belt beyond cool Jupiter. It was essential to meet the above conditions that enabled the Earth as a habitable planet with evolved life forms. The tight constraints that we evaluate for birth and evolution of life on Earth would provide important guidelines for planetary scientists hunting for life in the exo-solar planets.

Accurate geological and lineament mapping is a critical task for structural analysis and tectonic interpretation in stable platform domain. Efforts in structural mapping and tectonic interpretation in the South Jenein area and its surrounding are hindered by the difficult access to the outcropping features, where some of the stratigraphic sequences and structures are buried under the sand of the “grand Erg oriental”. This study involves the use of spot Landsat images and Digital elevation model (DEMs) for lineament and fracture analysis. The obtained lineament results showed two major directions of faults: the main lineament direction was 035–065° (NE–SW) whereas the secondary lineament direction was 110–130° (NW–SE). The other directions were roughly E–W and N–S. These results were confirmed by the measurement and analysis of fracture and lineament on the field of the studied area. These structures were the origin of the tilted blocks delimited by fracture and folding of the Upper Cretaceous series (i.e., Senonian). An extensive structural analysis was carried out to precise the kinematic and geodynamic contact in terms of stress tensor in a domain that was considered as a stable platform for longtime. The results will be compared with the surface data in the Mesozoic series of the Tataouine basin and the subsurface data of the northern border of the Palaeozoic Ghadames basin. The fracture measurements and their distribution provided a good opportunity to characterize the petroleum reservoir in this area.

The Panguan Syncline contains abundant coal resources, which may be a potential source of coalbed methane. In order to evaluate the coalbed methane production potential in this area, we investigated the pore-fracture system of coalbed methane reservoirs, and analyzed the gas sorption and seepage capacities by using various analytical methods, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy, mercury-injection test, low-temperature N 2 isotherm adsorption/desorption analyses, low-field nuclear magnetic resonance and methane isothermal adsorption measurements. The results show that the samples of the coal reservoirs in the Panguan Syncline have moderate gas sorption capacity. However, the coals in the study area have favorable seepage capacities, and are conductive for the coalbed methane production. The physical properties of the coalbed methane reservoirs in the Panguan Syncline are generally controlled by coal metamorphism: the low rank coal usually has low methane sorption capacity and its pore and microfractures are poorly developed; while the medium rank coal has better methane sorption capacity, and its seepage pores and microfractures are well developed, which are sufficient for the coalbed methane’s gathering and exploration. Therefore, the medium rank coals in the Panguan Syncline are the most prospective targets for the coalbed methane exploration and production.

The present study illustrates an integrated approach of remote sensing and GIS (Geographical Information System), i.e., Geospatial techniques for assessment of land use/cover dynamics of a town located in the foothill zone of the Uttarakhand State viz., the Ramnagar. Landsat satellite imageries of two different time periods, i.e., Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) of 1990 and 2010 were acquired by USGS Earth Explorer and quantified the land use/cover changes in the Ramnagar town from 1990 to 2010 over a period of two decades. Supervised Classification methodology has been employed using Maximum Likelihood Technique in ERDAS 9.3. The images of the study area were categorized into five different classes, viz. built-up area, vegetation, agricultural land, water bodies and sand bar. The results indicate that during the last two decades, built-up area and sand bar of the Ramnagar town area have been increased about 8.88% (i.e., 2.83 km2) and 3.98% (i.e., 1.27 km2), respectively, while area under other land categories such as vegetation, agricultural land and water body have decreased about 9.41% (i.e., 3.00 km2), 0.69% (i.e., 0.22 km2) and 2.76% (i.e. 0.88 km2), respectively. The study reveals that the Ramnagar town is expanding maximum towards the southern direction along the National Highway-121. The paper also highlights the importance of digital change detection techniques for nature and location of change of the Ramnagar Town area.

The Burullus Lagoon is one of the most severely impacted water bodies in the Nile Delta. A set of six satellite images acquired between 1973 and 2011 was employed to map the change of the surface area of the Burullus Lagoon in the Nile Delta using the water indices approach. In this paper we applied the non-traditional normalized difference water index (NDWI) and the modified normalized difference water index (MNDWI) to quantify the change in the water body area of the lagoon during the study period. Results showed that the lagoon lost 42.8% of its open water area due to the severe anthropogenic activities, such as the reclaiming of its southern margins for agricultural purposes and the filling caused by the discharge of agricultural wastes. Proper management should be adopted to sustain the vitality of the Burullus wetland ecosystem.

Examining the descriptions of piezometric heads at two points in both the salt water and fresh water zones reveals that when the groundwater flow system is in steady state and satisfies the Dupuit assumption, the location of the fresh water–salt water interface in a homogeneous, isotropic, and unconfined coastal aquifer can be estimated based on a piezometric head of fresh water at a point in the fresh water zone (from the water table to the interface) vertically lined up with a piezometric head of salt water at a point in the salt water zone (from the interface down). Research shows that the new method is a general relation and that both the Hubbert relation describing the location of the interface and the Ghyben–Herzberg relation are special cases of this method. The method requires two piezometric wells to be close to each other and each tapping into a different zone. Measurements of piezometric heads at a well cluster consisting of piezometric wells tapping separately into fresh water and salt water zones near Beihai, China at 5-day intervals for 15 months are used to illustrate the estimation of interface location. The depth of the interface for well H5 ranges from 32 to 72 m below the sea level.

The main objective of the current work is to investigate the variation of the soil properties along the landforms of the arid zone around Idku Lake, northwest of the Nile Delta. Remote sensing data and Geographical Information System (GIS) were used as the main tools in this study. Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and Landsat ETM+ image were used for mapping the landforms of the area. Field work has been completed to check the accuracy of the landform units, describe the land surface features and collect soil samples. The recognized landforms comprised; river terraces, river levees, basins, sand sheets, sand dunes, hammocks, clay flats, former lake-bed, fish ponds, sabkhas and swamps. Fifty top-soil samples (0–50 cm) representing the different landforms have been collected and analyzed. The laboratory analyses were linked with their relevant geographical locations, and then the thematic maps of the soil properties were produced using Arc-GIS 9.2 software. The spatial distribution of CaCO3, EC, OM, pH, N, P, K, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn over the different landforms was discussed in detail. The results indicate that the variation of CaCO3, EC and OM is minimal in the landforms of sand sheets, hammocks, sabkhas, clay flats and former lake-bed. On the other hand the variations of macro and micronutrients are wide-ranging in the landforms of basins river terraces and levees. The interpretation of the spatial distribution could serve as the scientific basis for land use management and the application of variable rate technology in each landform.

The Eastern Pontides orogenic belt in the Black Sea region of Turkey offers a critical window to plate kinematics and subduction polarity during the closure of the Paleotethys. Here we provide a brief synthesis on recent information from this belt. We infer a southward subduction for the origin of the Eastern Pontides orogenic belt and its associated late Mesozoic-Cenozoic magmatism based on clear spatial and temporal variations in Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic arc magmatism, together with the existence of a prominent south-dipping reverse fault system along the entire southern coast of the Black Sea. Our model is at variance with some recent proposals favoring a northward subduction polarity, and illustrates the importance of arc magmatism in evaluating the geodynamic milieu associated with convergent margin processes. © 2011, China University of Geosciences (Beijing) and Peking University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştirma Kurumu, TÜBITAK: 108Y309 We gratefully acknowledge the research grant from The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK-Grant 108Y309 ). 2-s2.0-79551560591

The Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem (CVRP) is a well known optimization problem applied in numerous applications. It consists of delivering items to some geographically dispersed customers using a set of vehicles operating from a single depot. As the CVRP is known to be NP -hard, approximate methods perform well when generating promising sub-optimal solutions in a reasonable computation time. In this paper, we develop a Decision Support System (DSS) for solving the CVRP that integrates a Geographical Information System (GIS) enriched by a Tabu search (TS) module. In order to demonstrate the performance of the proposed DSS in terms of CPU runtime and minimized traveled distance, we apply it on a large-sized real case. The results are then highlighted in a cartographic format using Google Maps.

The self-similar is a common phenomena arising in the field of geology. It has been shown that geochemical element data, mineral deposits, and spacial distribution conform to a fractal structure. A fractal distribution requires that the number of objects larger than a specified size have a power-law dependence on size. This paper shows that a number of distributions, including power-function, Pareto, lognormal, and Zipf, display fractal properties under certain conditions and that this may be used as the mathematical basis for developing fractal models for data exhibiting such distributions. The summation method is developed on the basis of fractal models to determine thresholds for Au data in Shandong Province, China. The anomalous area is enclosed by contours which have contour values greater than or equal to threshold (200 × 10 −9 ) and contains known large-sized and super large-sized gold mineral deposits.

Bauxite deposits are studied because of their economic value and because they play an important role in the study of paleoclimate and paleogeography of continents. They provide a rare record of the weathering and evolution of continental surfaces. Geomicrobiological analysis makes it possible to verify that microorganisms have played a critical role during the formation of bauxite with the possibility already intimated in previous studies. Ambient temperature, abundance of water, organic carbon and bioavailable iron and other metal substrates provide a suitable environment for microbes to inhabit. Thiobacillus, Leptospirilum, Thermophilic bacteria and Heterotrophs have been shown to be able to oxidize ferrous iron and to reduce sulfate-generating sulfuric acid, which can accelerate the weathering of aluminosilicates and precipitation of iron oxyhydroxides. Microorganisms referred to the genus Bacillus can mediate the release of alkaline metals. Although the dissimilatory iron-reducing and sulfate-reducing bacteria in bauxites have not yet been identified, some recorded authigenic carbonates and “bacteriopyrites” that appear to be unique in morphology and grain size might record microbial activity. Typical bauxite minerals such as gibbsite, kaolinite, covellite, galena, pyrite, zircon, calcium plagioclase, orthoclase, and albite have been investigated as part of an analysis of microbial mediation. The paleoecology of such bauxitic microorganisms inhabiting continental (sub) surfaces, revealed through geomicrobiological analysis, will add a further dimension to paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental studies.

The advancement in satellite technology in terms of spatial, temporal, spectral and radiometric resolutions leads, successfully, to more specific and intensified research on agriculture. Automatic assessment of spatio-temporal cropping pattern and extent at multi-scale (community level, regional level and global level) has been a challenge to researchers. This study aims to develop a semi-automated approach using Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellite data and associated vegetation indices to extract annual cropping pattern in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar, India at a fine scale (1:50,000). Three vegetation indices (VIs) – NDVI, EVI2 and NDSBVI, were calculated using three seasonal (Kharif, Rabi and Zaid) IRS Resourcesat 2 LISS-III images. Threshold reference values for vegetation and non-vegetation thematic classes were extracted based on 40 training samples over each of the seasonal VI. Using these estimated value range a decision tree was established to classify three seasonal VI stack images which reveals seven different cropping patterns and plantation. In addition, a digitised reference map was also generated from multi-seasonal LISS-III images to check the accuracy of the semi-automatically extracted VI based classified image. The overall accuracies of 86.08%, 83.1% and 83.3% were achieved between reference map and NDVI, EVI2 and NDSBVI, respectively. Plantation was successfully identified in all cases with 96% (NDVI), 95% (EVI2) and 91% (NDSBVI) accuracy.

We have carried out zircon U-Pb SHRIMP dating and Hf isotope determinations on a biotite paraschist and on a tonalitic orthogneiss of the Yaminué Complex, and re-evaluate this complex in the broader context of the tectonic evolution of the Patagonia composite terrane. In the metasedimentary unit (msuYC), the youngest detrital zircon dated at 318 ± 5 Ma (Mississippian/Pennsylvanian boundary) indicates a Pennsylvanian (or younger) depositional age. The three main age populations peak at 474, 454 and 374 Ma. Preliminary Hf isotope data for two detrital zircons (447 and 655 Ma) yielded ε(Hf) values of −0.32 and 0.48, indicating that their primary sources contained small amounts of recycled crustal components (of Calymmian age; TDM 1.56 Ga). Zircons from the orthogneiss (miuYC; intrusive into msuYC) show a crystallization age of 261.3 ± 2.7 Ma (Capitanian; late middle Permian) which is broadly coeval with deformation, and Neoarchean–Paleoproterozoic inheritance. Meaningful core-rim relationship between Neoarchean zircon cores and late Permian rims is well defined, indicating the occurrence of Archean crust in this sector of Patagonia. Hf TDM of Permian zircons is mainly Meso-Paleoarchean (2.97–3.35 Ga), with highly negative ε(Hf) values (ca. −33). Hf TDM of inherited Neoarchean zircon cores is also Meso-Paleoarchean (3.14–3.45 Ga) but more juvenile (ε(Hf) = −0.3). Hf isotopes reinforce the presence of unexposed ancient crust in this area. Combining geological and isotope data, as well as geophysical models, we identify the Yaminué Complex within the La Esperanza-Yaminué crustal block flanked by two other, distinct crustal blocks: the Eastern block which forms part of the Patagonia terrane sensu stricto, located in the eastern Patagonian region, and the Western block forming part of the Southern Patagonia terrane. Their origins and timing of amalgamation to form the Patagonia composite terrane are also discussed. Fil: Chernicoff, Carlos Jorge. Secretaría de Industria y Minería. Servicio Geologico Minero Argentino; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Zappettini, Eduardo Osvaldo. Secretaría de Industria y Minería. Servicio Geologico Minero Argentino; Argentina Fil: Santos, João O. S.. University of Western Australia; Australia. Redstone Resources; Australia Fil: Mcnaughton, Neal J.. Curtin University. John de Laeter Centre ; Australia Fil: Belousova, E.. Macquarie University. ARC National Key Centre for Geochemical Evolution and Metallogeny of Continents; Australia

This study investigates the mechanism of formation of convection plumes of mushroom shape in sub-solidus mantle and their prediction. The seismic-tomographic images of columnar structures of several hundreds kilometers in diameter have been reported by several researchers, while the much cherished mushroom-shaped plume heads could only be found in computational geodynamics (CGD) models and simple small-scale laboratory analogue simulations. Our theory of transient instability shows that the formation of convection plumes is preceded by the onset of convection caused by unsteady-state heat conduction at the boundaries, from which filamentous plumes first appear. The plumes generated at the Core Mantle Boundary (CMB) and lithosphere rising and falling through the mantle have been predicted simply with our theory for various heat fluxes and viscosities, which still remain uncertain amongst geoscientists. The sizes of mushroom plumes in the sub-solidus mantle caused by heat fluxes of 20 and 120 mW/m 2 at the CMB are found to be 1842 km and 1173 km with critical times over 825 Myr and 334 Myr respectively. They are comparable to some large continental flood basalt provinces, and they number between 17 and 41. The thickness of the thermal boundary layers at the CMB from which convection plumes evolved are found to be 652 km and 415 km for 20 and 120 mW/m 2 respectively. Top cooling may produce plunging plumes of diameter of 585 km and at least 195 Myr old. The number of cold plumes is estimated to be 569, which has not been observed by seismic tomography or as cold spots. The cold plunging plumes may overwhelm and entrap some of the hot rising plumes from CMB, so that together they may settle in the transition zone.

The Moyar Shear Zone (MSZ) of the South Indian granulite terrain hosts a prominent syenite pluton (∼560 Ma) and associated NW-SE to NE-SW trending mafic dyke swarm (∼65 Ma and 95 Ma). Preliminary magnetic fabric studies in the mafic dykes, using Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibly (AMS) studies at low-field, indicate successive emplacement and variable magma flow direction. Magnetic lineation and foliation in these dykes are identical to the mesoscopic fabrics in MSZ mylonites, indicating shear zone guided emplacement. Spatial distribution of magnetic lineation in the dykes suggests a common conduit from which the source magma has been migrated. The magnetic foliation trajectories have a sigmoidal shape to the north of the pluton and curve into the MSZ suggesting dextral sense of shear. Identical fabric conditions for magnetic fabrics in the syenite pluton and measured field fabrics in mylonite indicate syntectonic emplacement along the Proterozoic crustal scale dextral shear zone with repeated reactivation history.

The present work utilizes the aeromagnetic data supported by geology and remote sensing satellite data, to delineate surface and subsurface structural elements in north Gebel El Shallul area. Geologically, the area is covered by Precambrian basement rocks to the East (metasediments, metavolcanics, Hammamat sediments and younger granites) and Phanerozoic sediments to the West (Nubian Sandstones and Qouseir clastics). The Landsat image of the area gave additional detailed litholgic information which is very useful in identifying and discriminating the different lithologic rocks exposed in the area. Analysis of the structural lineaments of the Landsat image and the compiled geological map show that most of the well-developed structural lineaments have NW, NNW and ENE trends. The aeromagnetic data were analyzed and processed by several advanced techniques; reduction to the pole, regional-residual separation, second vertical derivative (SVD), analytical signal, Euler deconvolution and shadowgrams. The application of local power spectrum on the reduced to North Pole (RTP) aeromagnetic data indicated that the average depths to the near–surface and deep-seated causative magnetic bodies were found to attain 0.5 and 1.8 km, respectively. Therefore, the filtering of the aeromagnetic data at the two assigned interfaces was conducted to assist the discrimination of the residual (near-surface) and regional (deep–seated) magnetic anomalies. The prepared aeromagnetic maps have been interpreted qualitatively and quantitatively to deduce the structural elements which were used to construct a basement tectonic map for the area. The used analysis techniques helped to reveal many structural elements such as faults of different orders, uplifted blocks (antiforms or horsts) and subsided blocks (basins or synforms). It has been found that the NNW pronounced linear magnetic anomalies, normally and reversely magnetized, are associated with deep-seated diabasic dykes. The interpretation of the basement tectonic map of the area indicated the presence of a set of unexposed subsurface basic dykes running generally in NNW–SSE direction controlling the courses of major wadis in the study area. This set of NNW–SSE basic dykes are dissected by a NE–SW fault system. These two sets of fault systems were found to be matched well with that obtained from the Landsat image and geological map. It was found that the pronounced NNW direction is a predominant structural trend controlling the structural framework of the area.

This research aims at integrating remote sensing data and field studies for lithological mapping of different rock units. Geological interpretation of Landsat ETM+ image and field studies revealed that the study area is mainly covered by ophiolitic ultramafic rocks, ophiolitic metgabbros, schistose metavolocanics and alkaline granites. The serpentinites masses occur in the form of dipping or steeply inclined sheets or lenses generally emplaced along thrust faults .They are elongated in a ENE-WSW direction. They are composed essentially of antigorite, clinochrysotile and lizardite with subordinate amount of magnesite, chromite, magnetite, talc and chlorite. Geochemically, the studied serpentinites are rich in MgO, Cr, Ni and high Ni/Co ratio. The examined serpentinites belong to the ultramafic cumulate ophiolite rocks and it was originally a harzburgite that represents a fragment of the oceanic lithosphere formed in a back arc basin, i.e., they belong to an ophiolitic mantle sequence which was formed above subduction zone (SSZ). Several mineral deposits are associated with the ophiolitic ultramafic rocks such as magnesite, talc and chromite. Chromite lenses are mainly encountered at wadi level in a podiform shape. Microprobe analyses of chromite show that the chromite is an aluminum chromite type. The podiform chromite is characterized by low TiO2 (

The use of processed Landsat ETM + images and the application of geomorphotectonic concepts supplemented by extensive geological field work enabled the effective record of iron occurrences in the area located to the west of Lake Nasser. Three clearly newly differentiated landforms are evaluated for the possible presence of iron occurrences. Each landform is controlled by a specific tectonic environment and includes one of the three stratigraphic formations hosting iron deposits in the area. These landforms are: Area 1 (Kurkur landform), including plunging anticlines and domes affecting the Abu Aggag Formation. This formation is unconformably overlain by horizontal sandstone beds belonging to the Temsah Formation. The unconformity surface includes paleosols rich in limonite, crystallized gypsum in the form of roses and clay minerals. Area 2 (Tushka landform) extends to the south of the Allaqi fault. The area includes yardangs carved in horizontal sandstone beds interstratified with some hematite bed, in addition to several fragments of hematite and magnetite as wadi deposits and desert varnish. Area 3 (Abu Simbel landform) includes conical hills constituted by flattened horizontal beds belonging to the El Burg Formation. Each hill is capped by thick hematite/magnetite beds extending from Tushka to the border with Sudan. The Nubia Sandstone, here, includes three formations, namely: the Abu Aggag, Temsah, and Um Baramil.

This study is the result of investigating the land use/cover surrounding Conakry city and its two neighboring cities from the past to the present periods which are herein after referred to as this “region” and the impact of numerous changes during that time. These changes have become a major concern for the Guinean government and scientific community. Using map interpretation with integration of remote sensing, GIS technology and a GIS method we investigated the land use/cover and a population dynamism model with the aims of promoting a sustainable recovery and future judicious utilization. We found out that these three cities are on the verge of being unified, as a result of the expansion of urban residential areas and the changing economic realities causing significant influences on this land use/cover change. The pattern of land cover 59 years ago presented a landscape relatively pristine, while that in the present period presents a landscape that is markedly in a degrading decline. During the past 59 years, land use/cover has been influenced by key factors that revolve around socio-economic development, climatic patterns, topography manipulation, and policy implementation influences. The level of degradation of the land use/cover has increased and will oblige the political, scientific and local communities to take note of the environmental changes and set up urgent, rigorous and coherent policies for the rational development and management of the land use/cover resources of this region. That can be part of a model for other countries to reclaim the past sustainable environment.

Today there is a widening in digital technologies and increasing in new multimedia services like: pay-per-view TV, interactive simulations, teleconferencing. So there is an increasing demand for multicast communication. There is a number of security issues in multicast communication directly related to the specific nature of multicast. In this paper, we propose a new scheme for authenticating streamed data delivered in real-time over an insecure network, and we concentrate on the multicast authentication problem. Important requirements of multicast communication protocols are: to perform authentication in real-time, to resist packet loss and to have low communication and computation overheads. In this paper, a new multicast authentication scheme is proposed. It is suitable for real time applications. It uses the advanced encryption standard algorithm to solve the problem of entrusted members. This scheme uses the idea of the new index number each time the member sends certain block of packets in the multicast group.

The coastal zone of the Nile Delta is wealthy of natural resources that currently accommodate and support not less than one third of the population. However, it is still a promising area for energy resources and industrial activities that initiated the country to develop new action plans for industrial estates and services; it is under extreme environmental pressure. The newly developed techniques of remote sensing offer effective tool to monitor such environment on a near-real time basis at minimum in situ sampling. Detection of water quality conditions and parameters is one of the major advantages of hyperspectral remote sensing technologies; which has been widely used to assess water quality conditions of many open water mass and aquatic ecosystems. This research looked at characterization of the water quality using the different functions of in situ measurements of hyperspectral sensors in conjunction with water quality multi-probe sensor. The spectral behaviour of the water at the outlets is quite different from the other sampling sites of the coastal water. Turbidity was recorded at high level of 65 (NTU) and chlorophyll was up to 147 mg/l at the outlets, which were positively correlated with the hyperspectral curve of the spectroradiometer and Hyperion data. The archived Hyperion data showed some similarities and differences with the in situ data that were mostly due to the timing differences between both datasets; it, however, enabled for understanding of the hyperspectral application in water quality.

Monitoring of regional groundwater levels provides important information for quantifying groundwater depletion and assessing impacts on the environment. Historically, groundwater level monitoring wells in Beijing Plain, China, were installed for assessing groundwater resources and for monitoring the cone of depression. Monitoring wells are clustered around well fields and urban areas. There is urgent need to upgrade the existing monitoring wells to a regional groundwater level monitoring network to acquire information for integrated water resources management. A new method was proposed for designing a regional groundwater level monitoring network. The method is based on groundwater regime zone mapping. Groundwater regime zone map delineates distinct areas of possible different groundwater level variations and is useful for locating groundwater monitoring wells. This method was applied to Beijing Plain to upgrade a regional groundwater level monitoring network.

The IAPWS-95 formulation explicit in Helmholtz free energy proposed by Wagner and Pruβ (2002) is the best equation of state of water, from which all thermodynamic properties can be obtained over a wide T – p range from 273.16 to 1273 K and from 0 to 1000 MPa with experimental accuracy. This paper reports the applications of the IAPWS-95 formulation in fluid inclusion and mineral-water phase equilibria. A reliable and highly efficient calculation method is presented for the saturated properties of water so that the formulation can be conveniently applied in the study of fluid inclusion, such as calculating homogenization pressures, homogenization densities (or molar volumes), volume fractions and isochores. Meanwhile, the univariant curves of some mineral-dehydration reactions are calculated based on the IAPWS-95 formulation. The computer code of the IAPWS-95 formulation can be obtained from the corresponding author.

In Egypt, the soil degradation is the main constraint to the development of agricultural sector. In the last few decades, the farmers and the government have made a great effort to resist soil degradation. The resistance of soils to degradation processes by human positive actions is known as soil resilience. This study aims to assess the soil degradation and resilience at northeast Nile Delta and evaluate their impact on the soil productivity. To fulfill these objectives, Landsat ETM+ images and digital elevation model were processed using ENVI 4.7 software to identify the main physiographic units in the area. The recognized units comprised; lacustrine, marine, and alluvial deposits. Twelve soil profiles were undertaken to represent the different mapped units, the locations of the soil profiles were selected to be the same sites previously studied by the Research Institute of Soils and Water (RISW) in 1976. Changes in soil properties and productivity index during the last 35 years (1976–2011) were identified. The status of soil degradation was evaluated; the results indicate that the most active soil degradation processes are water logging salinization, and alkalinization. The soil resilience against salinity, alkalinity and water logging was assessed. It was found that the soil productivity index reflects the balance between soil degradation and resilience. The soil degradation processes overcome the soil resilience in most of the study area where the soil productivity index was decreased in 45.82% of the total area.

A numerical model is developed for describing the transport of virus in a fracture-matrix coupled system with fracture-skin. An advective dispersive virus transport equation, including first-order sorption and inactivation constant is used for simulating the movement of viruses. Implicit finite-difference numerical technique is used to solve the coupled non-linear governing equations for the triple continuum model consisting of fracture, fracture-skin and the rock-matrix. A varying grid is adopted at the fracture and fracture-skin interface to capture the mass transfer. Sensitivity analysis was performed to investigate the effect of various properties of the fracture-skin as well as viruses on the virus concentration in the fractured formation with fracture-skin. Simulation results suggest that the virus concentration in the fracture decreases with increment in the fracture-skin porosity, fracture-skin diffusion coefficient, mass transfer coefficient, inactivation constant and sorption distribution coefficient, and with reduction in the fracture aperture. � 2012, China University of Geosciences (Beijing) and Peking University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Dakhla Oasis is located in the heart of the Western Desert of Egypt 190 km to the West of the Kharga Oasis where it contains highly fertile lands rich in water and it supports a higher population compared to the Kharga Oasis. The study area is mainly concentrated in the Rashda village where Well No. 3 Irrigation District is located to the northwest of the village. Satellite imageries of Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) 1972 and 1984, Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) 1988, and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) 2000 were used to determine the change in landuse and change in elevation with its relation to landuse. The automated unsupervised classification technique was applied to delineate the different landuse classes. Landsat – 5/TM and Landsat – 7/ETM + images in the period between 2001 and 2010 have been used to study crop rotation at the Rashda village to detect the amount of vegetation cover and its condition in the Well No.3 district. The land use change analysis showed that the extension of cultivated land was already completed by the 1980s in the North and South subdistricts, after which it spread toward the West. Because the altitude in the West subdistrict is lower than the wells, irrigation water could be distributed adequately if the condition of the irrigation channel was well maintained. The relationship between the irrigation level and plant production was not favorable in the West compared with other subdistricts. The cultivated area in the West district has been increasing since the 1970s. According to the crop rotation analysis, the different productivity of the subdistricts was caused by several factors, including the land altitude and the distance from the well, as well as other factors such as social relationships in the village.

This research aims at integrating airborne gamma-ray spectrometric and remote sensing satellite data to appointment radioactivity of the rocks at Wadi Araba, which is located in the North Eastern Desert of Egypt. Airborne gamma-ray spectrometric data of the ore as well as construction of lithological and structural maps from Landsat ETM+ image are used to achieve the present study. The processing of airborne gamma-ray spectrometric data covering the area produced maps that showed the distribution and intensities of (eU), (eTh) and (40K%). These maps were correlated with lithologic and structural maps, which were interpreted from Landsat ETM+ image, to show the probably hosting zones of radioactive materials. This study is based on the differences of radiometric data, brightness Digital Number (DNs) values of the rocks, predominant trends and densities of the structural lineaments, shape and type of weathering products. The study area is divided into nine lithologic units according to the physical characteristic differences as well as gamma-ray spectrometer measurements to reveal the mineralized units and zones as well as the best conditions for exploration of radioactive materials. These studies recorded some uranium anomalies distributed along NE-SW trending fault zones. These occurrences are hosted in Rod El-Hamal, El Galala and Duwi Formations. The gamma-ray spectrometer measurements for some representative zones indicate the presence of eU up to 20 ppm in the northeast direction and exceeding more than 35 ppm along zones fault cutting G. El Galala El Bahariya and G. El Galala El Qibliya. The characteristic features responsible for the uranium mineralization are the high fracture density of the Rod El-Hamal, Sudr and Duwi Formations. These fractures acted as good channels for hydrothermal ascending fluids and/or the percolating meteoric water. The hematitization accompanied these zones leached uranium which is redeposited and adsorbed onto hematite especially at the sites of intersection of the main fractures. The study shows that integrated application of satellite remote sensing techniques and airborne processed data is a powerful tool in the exploration of radioactive materials.

The lithospheric structure of China and its adjacent area is very complex and is marked by several prominent characteristics. Firstly, China’s continental crust is thick in the west but thins to the east, and thick in the south but thins to the north. Secondly, the continental crust of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau has an average thickness of 60–65 km with a maximum thickness of 80 km, whereas in eastern China the average thickness is 30–35 km, with a minimum thickness of only 5 km in the center of the South China Sea. The average thickness of continental crust in China is 47.6 km, which greatly exceeds the global average thickness of 39.2 km. Thirdly, as with the crust, the lithosphere of China and its adjacent areas shows a general pattern of thicker in the west and south, and thinner in the east and north. The lithosphere of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and northwestern China has an average thickness of 165 km, with a maximum thickness of 180–200 km in the central and eastern parts of the Tarim Basin, Pamir, and Changdu areas. In contrast, the vast areas to the east of the Da Hinggan Ling–Taihang–Wuling Mountains, including the marginal seas, are characterized by lithospheric thicknesses of only 50–85 km. Fourthly, in western China the lithosphere and asthenosphere behave as a “layered structure”, reflecting their dynamic background of plate collision and convergence. The lithosphere and asthenosphere in eastern China display a “block mosaic structure”, where the lithosphere is thin and the asthenosphere is very thick, a pattern reflecting the consequences of crustal extension and an upsurge of asthenospheric materials. The latter is responsible for a huge low velocity anomaly at a depth of 85–250 km beneath East Asia and the western Pacific Ocean. Finally, in China there is an age structure of “older in the upper layers and younger in the lower layers” between both the upper and lower crusts and between the crust and the lithospheric mantle.

The government of Sri Lanka has embarked on a massive development programme of the country in all spheres of the economy, with the conclusion of war in May 2009. Sri Lanka is witnessing a new era with a rapid increase especially in infrastructure development projects. With the annihilation of the threats of terrorism, new prospects in satellite and space related technologies and their applications are flourishing. Navigation satellite (NAVSAT) technology plays the core role in a majority of the modern location based services (LBS) and consequent applications can be productively utilized for the development of the country. Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and related services are currently utilized in numerous location based applications in the country. India has launched navigation service providing satellite programmes, including a regional navigational satellite system. Whilst being covered under the footprint of Indian navigational satellite programmes, neighbouring countries of India can positively use their services for the benefit of the country through collaborative approaches. In this paper, positive impacts of 3 Indian Navigational Satellite programmes (GAGAN, IRNSS and INSAT-MSS reporting system) for the civilian applications over Sri Lanka are discussed. Other neighbouring countries covered under the footprint of Indian navigational satellite programmes can also employ these services for the location based applications productively.

The microbial diversity in Wuli Area, Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau was investigated using 16SrRNA gene phylogenetic analyses. A total of 117 bacterial and 66 archaeal 16S rRNA gene clones wereobtained from the Wuli cold springs. The bacterial clones could be classified into Proteobacteria, Acid-obacteria, Deinococci, Sphingobacteria, Flavobacteria, Nitrospirae, Actinobacteria, Gemmatimona-detes, and unclassified-bacteria; and the archaeal clones could be classified intoCrenarchaeota andThaumarchaeota. Among the major groups,Proteobacteria and Crenarchaeota were dominant in thebacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA gene clone libraries, respectively. The clone sequences obtained in Wulicold springs were closely related to those from cold habitats, such as snow/ice/soils on high mountains orat high latitude. Especially, the microbial community composition of Wuli Area was more similar to thatin Tibetan glaciers than cold environments of other locations. The data presented in this study have impli-cations for a better understanding of microbial diversity in cold springs on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.a 2011, China University of Geosciences (Beijing) and Peking University. Production and hosting byElsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A total of 103 surface sediment samples collected from the water depth range of 15–3300 m along Vijaydurg-Karwar stretch of central west coast of India were analyzed for foraminiferal content. Relict benthic foraminiferal assemblage was noted within 50–135 m water depth. The relict benthic foraminiferal assemblage that includes Amphistegina , Operculina and Alveolinella in sediment samples within the water depth of 85–135 m indicates presence of coral reef at this depth during Early Holocene. The presence of barnacle fouling on Relict foraminifera at 60–90 m confirms the paleo-shoreline. The shallow depth zone is characterized by presence of agglutinated relict foraminifera. The agglutinated forms indicate freshwater influx, which eventually increased the sea level and subsequently deteriorated the paleo-coral reef.

Nile River has about 144 islands from Aswan to the Mediterranean Sea. In this research remotely sensed images have been used for the assessment of land cover changes in the Al-Monib island as part of an ongoing sustainable development of this island. The island has witnessed high rates of change in land use in the past few years. An urbanization process continues and it causes serious increases in urban areas while decreasing the amount of green areas. The most common use of many of the change detection algorithms has been to identify the change in coarse to medium spatial resolution satellite imagery. Now there is great interest in identifying the change in high spatial resolution multispectral data such as SPOT5 and QuickBird. In order to improve the quality and accuracy, different cues have been extracted such as IHS or PCA and texture derived from color image. Fuzzy classification has been performed several times utilizing from Multi-Cue integration (resulted into six classifications) for each date. Assessment of different approaches of classification (six classifications) has been performed for each date. After that fuzzy post classification comparison has been made for the best case. Value of the urban expansions for the period of 2002–2009 was calculated as 0.11 km2. The urban expansion rate had been realized as 3.04%. Another significant change was the decline in agricultural lands result was estimated to be 8.29%. The changes of landscape pattern were then analyzed using a series of spatial metrics (class level) which were derived from FRAGSTATS software.