Preprints
Filtering by Subject: Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Boundary element methods for earthquake modeling with realistic 3D geometries
Published: 2019-04-01
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geophysics and Seismology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Boundary element methods have become a foundational tool in earthquake science for the modeling of earthquake cycle kinematics. Despite their wide use and convenience typical rectangular and triangular constant slip dislocation methods produce stress singularities at the edges of every element rendering these models physically unrealistic. As we demonstrate, in an earthquake cycle simulation [...]
A global survey on the perceptions and impacts of gender inequality in the Earth and space sciences
Published: 2019-04-01
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Environmental Studies, Physical Sciences and Mathematics, Social and Behavioral Sciences
The leaky pipeline phenomenon refers to the disproportionate decline of female scientists at higher academic career levels and is a major problem in the natural sciences. Identifying the underlying causes is challenging, and thus, solving the problem remains difficult. To better understand the reasons for the leaky pipeline, we assess the perceptions and impacts of gender bias and imbalance—two [...]
A simplified seasonal forecasting strategy, applied to wind and solar power in Europe
Published: 2019-04-01
Subjects: Applied Statistics, Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Physical Sciences and Mathematics, Physics, Probability, Statistics and Probability, Sustainability
We demonstrate levels of skill for forecasts of seasonal-mean wind speed and solar irradiance in Europe, using seasonal forecast systems available from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). While skill is patchy, there is potential for the development of climate services for the energy sector. Following previous studies, we show that, where there is skill, a simple linear regression-based [...]
The Cyclic Preservation of Clastic and Evaporitic Sabkha Sediments: Insights from the Cedar Mesa Sandstone Formation of the Cutler Group, Utah, USA
Published: 2019-04-01
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics, Sedimentology
The strata of arid continental basins commonly comprise evaporitic sediments deposited in sabkha settings combined with clastic sediments derived from aeolian, fluvial and/or lacustrine settings. The sedimentary character of these mixed successions and the degree to which evaporitic strata influence their composition, both contribute towards the economic potential of the evaporitic and the [...]
A macroscale hydrogeological numerical model of the Suio hydrothermal system (central Italy)
Published: 2019-04-01
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Geochemistry, Geology, Natural Resources and Conservation, Physical Sciences and Mathematics, Water Resource Management
The complex behaviour of the Suio hydrothermal system (central Italy) and its potential exploitation as a renewable energy source are still unclear. To quantitatively evaluate the geothermal resource, the Suio hydrothermal system has been investigated with a hydrogeological numerical model that couples fluid flow, thermal convection, and transport of diluted species inside a hybrid [...]
Observation and explanation of spurious seismic signals emerging in teleseismic noise correlations
Published: 2019-04-01
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geophysics and Seismology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Deep body waves have been reconstructed from seismic noise correlations in recent studies. The authors note their great potential for deep-Earth imaging. In addition to the expected physical seismic phases, some spurious arrivals having no correspondence in earthquake seismograms are observed from the noise correlations. The origins of the noise-derived body waves have not been well understood. [...]
Audit of Petroleum Exploration Wells in the UK Rockall Basin: 1980-2006
Published: 2019-04-01
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
The UK Rockall Basin is one of the most underexplored areas of the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) with only 12 exploration wells drilled since 1980, in a basin area that is equal in size to the entire North Sea hydrocarbon province (NNS, CNS & SNS). With only one discovery, made in 2000 (Benbecula South 154/1-1 Gas discovery), the general view of the basin from an exploration viewpoint has not [...]
The flow of fresh groundwater and solutes to the world’s oceans and coastal ecosystems
Published: 2019-03-31
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Hydrology, Oceanography, Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
The flow of fresh groundwater towards the world oceans may provide substantial inputs of nutrients and solutes to the oceans. Here we present a spatially resolved global model of coastal groundwater discharge to show that the contribution of fresh groundwater is lower than most previous estimates and accounts for only ~0.6% of the freshwater input and ~2% of the solute input to the oceans. [...]
Minimal surfaces in porous media: pore-scale imaging of multiphase flow in an altered-wettability Bentheimer sandstone
Published: 2019-03-28
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Fluid Dynamics, Physical Sciences and Mathematics, Physics
We observed features of pore scale fluid distributions during oil-brine displacement in a mixed-wet sandstone rock sample. High-resolution X-ray imaging was used in combination with differential pressure measurements to measure relative permeability and capillary pressure simultaneously during a steady-state waterflood experiment on a sample of Bentheimer sandstone 51.6 mm long and 6.1 mm in [...]
Comment on “Long-term strain oscillations related to the hydrogeological interaction between aquifers in intra-mountain basins: A case study from Apennines chain (Italy)” by Devoti, Riguzzi, Cinti and Ventura
Published: 2019-03-28
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geology, Geomorphology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics, Tectonics and Structure
The paper by Devoti et al. (2018) analyses the GPS time series from seventeen stations located inside and in the neighboring of the L’Aquila intermountain basin. The authors suggest that the observed movements are due to regional hydrological processes likely associated with multi-annual climatic variations. The analysis performed by Devoti et al. (2018) contains an issue in the GPS-InSar [...]
Balancing Open Science and Data Privacy in the Water Sciences
Published: 2019-03-28
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Studies, Geographic Information Sciences, Geography, Hydrology, Library and Information Science, Nature and Society Relations, Physical Sciences and Mathematics, Remote Sensing, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Spatial Science, Water Resource Management
Open science practices such as publishing data and code are transforming water science by enabling synthesis and enhancing reproducibility. However, as research increasingly bridges the physical and social science domains (e.g., socio-hydrology), there is the potential for well-meaning researchers to unintentionally violate the privacy and security of individuals or communities by sharing [...]
Role of strain-dependent weakening memory on the style of mantle convection and plate boundary stability
Published: 2019-03-28
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geophysics and Seismology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
How plate tectonic surface motions relate to the convecting mantle remains one of the major problems in geosciences. In particular, the cause and consequence of strain localization at plate boundaries remains debated, even though strain memory, i.e. the ability to preserve and reactivate tectonic inheritance over geological time, appears to be a critical feature in plate tectonics. Here, we [...]
3-D seismic images of an extensive igneous sill in the lower crust
Published: 2019-03-28
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
When continents rift, magmatism can produce large volumes of melt that migrate upwards from deep below the Earth’s surface. To understand how magmatism impacts rifting, it is critical to understand how much melt is generated and how it transits the crust. Estimating melt volumes and pathways is difficult, however, particularly in the lower crust where the resolution of geophysical techniques is [...]
Seismic expression of shear zones: insights from 2-D convolution seismic modelling
Published: 2019-03-28
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geophysics and Seismology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
During extension, compression or strike-slip motion, shear zones accommodate large amountsof strain in the crust. Our understanding of these processes critically depends on our ability torecognize shear zones in the subsurface. The exact signature of shear zones in seismic reflectiondata is however not well understood. To advance our understanding, we simulate how threeoutcrop examples of [...]
Agriculture-aquaculture transitions on the lower Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta, 1972-2017
Published: 2019-03-25
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment, Environmental Monitoring, Environmental Sciences, Natural Resources and Conservation, Natural Resources Management and Policy, Other Earth Sciences, Other Environmental Sciences, Physical Sciences and Mathematics, Sustainability
Recent decades have seen a considerable increase in shrimp aquaculture in tropical and subtropical developing countries. This practice is controversial due to its potential for serious economic, food security, and environmental impacts. Of particular concern is the widespread practice of intensive aquaculture in and near mangrove ecosystems where many shrimp species spawn. However, while [...]