Microtremor response of a mass movement in Federal District of Brazil

The present study provides a brief description of the ambient noise recorded at a slow moving mass movement in Ribeirão Contagem Basin. The area is an interesting natural laboratory as river detachment processes in a number of different stages can be identified and are easily accessible. We investigate the site dynamic characteristics of the study area by recording ambient noise time-series at nine points, using portable nine three-component short period seismometers. The time-series are processed to give both horizontal to vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) curves as well as time-frequency plots of noise power spectral density (SPD). The HVSR curves illustrate and quantify aspects of site resonance effects due to underlying geology. Probability density function (PDF) shows that noise level lies well between new high noise model (NHNM) and new lower noise model (NLNM) and their probabilities are higher above 2 Hz. HVSR curves present a uniform lithologically controlled peak at 2 Hz. Directional properties of the wavefield are determined by beamforming method. The f-k analysis results in the E-W component show that at 5 Hz phase velocities are close to 1700 m/s while at 10 Hz dropped to 250 m/s. We observed that between 5 and 16 Hz the incoming wavefield arrive from 260 degrees. Further studies will apply a detailed noise analysis for the understanding of dynamics of the mass movement, which is triggered by the river erosion

Microtremor Response of a Mass Movement in Federal District of Brazil

The present study provides a brief description of the ambient noise recorded at a slow moving mass movement in Ribeirão Contagem Basin. The area is an interesting natural laboratory as river detachment processes in a number of different stages can be identified and are easily accessible. We investigate the site dynamic characteristics of the study area by recording ambient noise time-series at nine points, using portable nine three-component short period seismometers. The time-series are processed to give both horizontal to vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) curves as well as time-frequency plots of noise power spectral density (SPD). The HVSR curves illustrate and quantify aspects of site resonance effects due to the local geological setting. Probability density function (PDF) shows that noise level lies well between new high noise model (NHNM) and new lower noise model (NLNM) and their probabilities are higher above 2 Hz. HVSR curves present a uniform lithologically controlled peak at 2 Hz. Directional properties of the wavefield are determined by beamforming method. The f-k analysis results in the E-W component show that at 5 Hz phase velocities are close to 1700 m/s while at 10 Hz dropped to 250 m/s. We observed that between 5 and 16 Hz the incoming wavefield arrive from 260 degrees. Further studies will apply a detailed noise analysis for relating the dynamics of the landslide (which can be retriggered by river erosion as well as rainfalls and seismic shaking) to possible changes in detectable physical properties

ANALYSIS OF SURFACE WAVES RECORDED AT A MASS MOVEMENT IN BRASÍLIA, BRAZIL: AN IMPLICATION IN HAZARD MITIGATION

Ever increasing urbanization over the thick and less cohesive soil of the Federal District (DF), Brazil has increased area's vulnerability to natural hazards, especially the soil erosion and mass movement. This preliminarily study applied noise based geophysical techniques like power spectral density (PSD), horizontal to vertical spectral ratio (HVSR), multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) and noise interferometry to a mass movement in Brasilia for the understating of geodynamic processes working in the background of these hazards. Here obtained results show a uniform stratigraphic peak at 2 Hz observed on all HVSR curves, a four layered shear wave section was obtained by MASW. Dispersion curve (frequency vs phase velocity) shows first and second fundamental modes at frequencies of 5 and 25 Hz, respectively. Noise correlograms show time delay larger than +- 0.5 sec on the waveforms of ZR (vertical-radial) component, mainly in acausal part. Relative velocity changes calculated by stretching technique show anomalous trends in response to rainfall events. Follow research will focus on the detection of possible changes in noise records within mass movement mainly related to natural triggering factors (rainfall and river erosion) under more controlled data conditions

Suitability Analysis of Groundwater for Eco-friendly Agricultural Growths in Food Basket of Pakistan

Water is an important component of earth’s atmosphere and it sustains ecosystems, agriculture and human settlements on earth (Samson et al., 2010). Salinity, sodicity and toxicity generally need to be considered for the evaluation of suitable quality of groundwater for irrigation (Khan et al., 2014; Cobbina et al., 2012; Todd and Mays, 2005). In Thal Doab Aquifer (TDA) groundwater occurs as a layer of fresh water over saline water and its availability is subjected to recharging potency of the Indus and Chenab rivers (Hussain et al., 2017 a, 2016 a)

Variation in Rayleigh wave ellipticity as a possible indicator of earthflow mobility: a case study of Sobradinho landslide compared with pile load testing

Rainfall-induced landslides pose a significant risk to communities and infrastructures. To improve the prediction of such events, it is imperative to adequately investigate the rainfall-dependent dynamics (leading to fluidization) and any associated internal sliding along shear planes within clayey slopes. Therefore, the present study adopted ambient noise analysis based on the Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) method, to measure the seasonal variation of Rayleigh wave ellipticity as an indicator for the internal deformation and transition in the material state. The methodology was applied to an existing landslide, where variations in soil stiffness and internal sliding were expected to occur in response to rainfall. To improve the interpretation of the HVSR results (and hence the prediction of landslide’ reactivation by rainfall), HVSR measurements were also conducted on a field-scale pile load test. The pile test allowed a comparison of the seismic data generated by the soil movement along shear planes. The HVSR curves of this field test showed two frequency peaks with no changes in the resonance. In comparison with the data obtained from the landslide, the resultant HVSR curves showed three frequency patterns: ubiquitous (2Hz), landslide (4-8Hz), and flat (no peak). However, the HVSR curves did not show any response to the expected seasonally induced variations in the landslide mass because of the relatively short data acquisition. Nevertheless, time-lapse HVSR is a promising technique that can complement other geophysical methods for improving landslide monitoring.The National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), the Federal District Foundation (FAP-DF), the University of Brasilia and, the Pool of Brazilian Equipments (PegBr), Rio de Janeiro

Estimativa de Velocidade de Onda de Cisalhamento pela Inversão Conjunta de Curvas HVSR e f-k sob a Hipótese do Campo Difuso: um Estudo de Caso do Deslizamento de Sobradinho

Made available in DSpace on 2019-10-06T15:53:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2019-01-01 Brazilian landslides are characterized as shallow, clay rich and are commonly triggered by the summer rainfalls. Therefore, the landslide geological information, such as shear surface location, has a paramount importance in their mechanism comprehension. The most adapted methods for the estimation of shear wave velocity profile are borehole stratigraphic logs or Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and Cone Penetration Test (CPT). However, the present study applied shear wave velocity estimation of Sobradinho landslide (SLS) by a joint inversion of horizontal to vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) curve and dispersion curve (DC) extracted from frequency-wavenumber (f-k) analysis of ambient noise records. HVSR curves at all the stations in the area exhibit the ubiquitous resonance frequency peak at 2 Hz indicates that at these stations the substratum is common. The f-k results for E-W component let us obtain an acceptable DC between 5 and 7 Hz range. Finally, joint inversion was interpreted based on the diffuse field assumption. The initial model was proposed to be a three-layered over a half-space. Results of joint inversion indicate that the substratum is at 24 m depth, with Vs values close to 1500 m/s. DC defines two layers overlaying the substratum: Superficial layer with velocities near to 200 m/s (7m thick), and the second layer with Vs value of 1000 m/s. We think that abrupt rheology (stiffness) change between the first and the second layer could provide an evidence of the landslide re-activation during moderate to strong rainfall events. The proposed methodology will prove a reconnaissance survey for the detailed geotechnical investigations that will confirm the obtained results. University of Brasilia Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, SG-12, 70, DF National Autonomous University of Mexico Engineering Faculty, Av. Universidad, 3000, C. U., Coyoacán University of Brasilia Post-Graduation Program in Geography, ICC Norte, 70 University of Rome "Sapienza" Department of Earth Sciences and Research Center for Geological Risks (CERI), P.le A. Moro, 5 niversidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP),Geosciences and Exact Sciences Institute (IGCE), 24-A avenue, 1515 Bela Vista National University of Colombia at Medellı́n Faculty of Mines, Cl. 59a, No. 63-20 niversidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP),Geosciences and Exact Sciences Institute (IGCE), 24-A avenue, 1515 Bela Vist

Use of a gas-operated ventilator as a noninvasive bridging respiratory therapy in critically Ill COVID-19 patients in a middle-income country

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a notable undersupply of respiratory support devices, especially in low- and middle-income countries. As a result, many hospitals turned to alternative respiratory therapies, including the use of gas-operated ventilators (GOV). The aim of this study was to describe the use of GOV as a noninvasive bridging respiratory therapy in critically ill COVID-19 patients and to compare clinical outcomes achieved with this device to conventional respiratory therapies. Retrospective cohort analysis of critically ill COVID-19 patients during the first local wave of the pandemic. The final analysis included 204 patients grouped according to the type of respiratory therapy received in the first 24 h, as follows: conventional oxygen therapy (COT), n = 28 (14%); GOV, n = 72 (35%); noninvasive ventilation (NIV), n = 49 (24%); invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), n = 55 (27%). In 72, GOV served as noninvasive bridging respiratory therapy in 42 (58%) of these patients. In the other 30 patients (42%), 20 (28%) presented clinical improvement and were discharged; 10 (14%) died. In the COT and GOV groups, 68% and 39%, respectively, progressed to intubation (P ≤ 0.001). Clinical outcomes in the GOV and NIV groups were similar (no statistically significant differences). GOV was successfully used as a noninvasive bridging respiratory therapy in more than half of patients. Clinical outcomes in the GOV group were comparable to those of the NIV group. These findings support the use of GOV as an emergency, noninvasive bridging respiratory therapy in medical crises when alternative approaches to the standard of care may be justifiable

Multiple geophysical techniques for investigation and monitoring of sobradinho landslide, Brazil

Geophysical methods have a varying degree of potential for detailed characterization of landslides and their dynamics. In this study, the application of four well-established seismic-based geophysical techniques, namely Ambient Noise Interferometry (ANI), Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR), Multi-Channel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) and Nanoseismic Monitoring (NM), were considered to examine their suitability for landslide characterization and monitoring the effect of seasonal variation on slope mass. Furthermore, other methods such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and DC Resistivity through Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) were also used for comparison purpose. The advantages and limitations of these multiple techniques were exemplified by a case study conducted on Sobradinho landslide in Brazil. The study revealed that the geophysical characterization of the landslide using traditional techniques (i.e., GPR, ERT and MASW) were successful in (i) the differentiation between landslide debris and other Quaternary deposits, and (ii) the delineation of the landslide sliding surface. However, the innovative seismic based techniques, particularly ambient noise based (HVSR and ANI) and emitted seismic based (NM), were not very effective for the dynamic monitoring of landslide, which might be attributed to the short-time duration of the data acquisition campaigns. The HVSR was also unsuccessful in landslide site characterization i.e., identification of geometry and sliding surface. In particular, there was no clear evidence of the light seasonal variations, which could have been potentially detected from the physical parameters during the (short-time) ambient noise and microseismic acquisition campaigns. Nevertheless, the experienced integration of these geophysical techniques may provide a promising tool for future applicationsThis research was funded by Research of the Federal District Foundation (FAPDF), and The APC was funded by the Department of Geography, University of Brasilia