| 1. |
- Ferraro, Mattia, et al.
(författare)
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Multi-century reconstruction of environmental conditions in Lurefjorden, Norway.
- 2024
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Ingår i: 24th Nordic Geological Winter Meeting, 10-12th Jan, 2024, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Benthic foraminiferal assemblages are identified to reconstruct changes in environmental conditions over the last few centuries in Lurefjorden, a western Norwegian fjord. From ca. 1970 until present days the relative abundance of Brizalina skagerrakkensis, an efficient bio-indicator for organic matter fluxes, is enhanced relative to the preceding time interval. Hence, our results suggest that there is an increase of the organic matter within the Lurefjorden basin in the last 50 years. Over the same period, there is also an increase in the absolute abundance of agglutinated species, indicating lower oxygen concentration in the water. A lowering of the oxygen concentrations may have taken place as a response of a greater oxygen consumption caused by a higher organic matter supply in the water column. Accoridng to Aksnes (2009), Lurefjorden was subject to an increased freshening of Norwegian coastal waters (NCW), which has led to a decrease in sunlight penetration into the water column, affecting the oxygen levels and the behavior of marine life within the basin, between 1935 and 2007. Furthermore, we used diversity indices to study the ecological status of the area, showing significant growth in diversity, abundance, and richness within the benthic foraminiferal community over the past 50 years. Our observations highlight that an increase in the input of organic matter over the last century has led to a change in the benthic foraminifera community in the Lurefjorden basin.
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| 4. |
- Sopher, Daniel
(författare)
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Characterization of the structure, stratigraphy and CO2 storage potential of the Swedish sector of the Baltic and Hanö Bay basins using seismic reflection methods
- 2016
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- An extensive multi-channel seismic dataset acquired between 1970 and 1990 by Oljeprospektering AB (OPAB) has recently been made available by the Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU). This thesis summarizes four papers, which utilize this largely unpublished dataset to improve our understanding of the geology and CO2 storage capacity of the Baltic and Hanö Bay basins in southern Sweden.A range of new processing workflows were developed, which typically provide an improvement in the final stacked seismic image, when compared to the result obtained with the original processing. A method was developed to convert scanned images of seismic sections into SEGY files, which allows large amounts of the OPAB dataset to be imported and interpreted using modern software. A new method for joint imaging of multiples and primaries was developed, which is shown to provide an improvement in signal to noise for some of the seismic lines within the OPAB dataset. For the first time, five interpreted regional seismic profiles detailing the entire sedimentary sequence within these basins, are presented. Depth structure maps detailing the Outer Hanö Bay area and the deeper parts of the Baltic Basin were also generated. Although the overall structure and stratigraphy of the basins inferred from the reprocessed OPAB dataset are consistent with previous studies, some new observations have been made, which improve the understanding of the tectonic history of these basins and provide insight into how the depositional environments have changed throughout time. The effective CO2 storage potential within structural and stratigraphic traps is assessed for the Cambrian Viklau, När and Faludden sandstone reservoirs. A probabilistic methodology is utilized, which allows a robust assessment of the storage capacity as well as the associated uncertainty. The most favourable storage option in the Swedish sector of the Baltic Basin is assessed to be the Faludden stratigraphic trap, which is estimated to have a mid case (P50) storage capacity of 3390 Mt in the deeper part of the basin, where CO2 can be stored in a supercritical phase.
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| 5. |
- Fredricsson, Malin, et al.
(författare)
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Nationell luftövervakning Sakrapport med data från övervakning inom Programområde Luft t.o.m 2019
- 2021
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Naturvårdsverket ansvarar för den nationella luftövervakningen i bakgrundsmiljö i Sverige. I rapporten redovisas resultat från verksamheten inom Programområde Luft avseende mätningar (genomförda av IVL, SU, SLU och SMHI) till och med 2019 och regionala modellberäkningar (utförda av SMHI) till och med 2018.För flertalet av de luftföroreningskomponenter som övervakas inom den nationella miljöövervakningen har det, sedan mätningarna startade för mellan 20 och 40 år sedan, generellt sett skett en avsevärd förbättring avseende såväl halter i luft som deposition i bakgrundsmiljö. Utvecklingen har dock varierat i något olika utsträckning beroende på komponenter och lokalisering i landet. Föroreningsbelastningen är oftast lägre ju längre norrut i landet man kommer.För de flesta ämnen som det finns miljökvalitetsnormer (MKN) respektive miljömål för ligger halterna i regional bakgrund avsevärt lägre än angivna gräns- och målvärden. Halterna av ozon överskrider dock i dagsläget (2019) MKN för hälsa.
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| 6. |
- Bernhardson, Martin
(författare)
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Aeolian dunes of central Sweden
- 2018
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In the Swedish inland there are aeolian deposits present, ranging from scattered single dunes to dune fields of more than 10 km2. These dune fields often pass unnoticed since they presently are covered by vegetation. However, they contain a rich palaeoenvironmental archive. Only a few research papers have been published regarding these aeolian deposits during the last 90 years. The primary scope of this thesis has been to determine why these dunes formed, when they formed, and what they can tell us about the environment during their formation. The results from these investigations are presented in four research papers.The shape and orientation of a dune is determined by the local environment during its formation, such as the abundance of sediment available for entrainment by the wind, groundwater table fluctuations, changes to precipitation and temperature, presence/absence of vegetation, mode of the wind et cetera. By determining the type of dunes it is possible to determine the local environment during their formation. If one also can determine when these dunes formed and stabilised one can determine the palaeoenvironment, and in extension the palaeoclimate, during a specific time period.In this thesis, new findings are presented regarding the geomorphology, geochronology and palaeoenvironment of a number of dunes and dune fields in south and central Sweden, based on state-of-the-art methods, such as LiDAR (light detection and ranging) based remote sensing and optically stimulated luminescence dating. The previous hypotheses concerning the formation of these dunes have also been evaluated.The findings show that the dunes of central Sweden are primarily of a transverse type, i.e. their dune ridges are transverse to the dune forming winds and they were formed in a setting devoid of vegetation and with an abundance of sediment. The primary dune forming winds for these transverse dunes appear to have been north-westerly and westerly winds. The investigated dunes further to the south show signs of having been reworked after their initial formation and are often of a parabolic type, i.e. curved/crescentic in shape with their arms facing upwind. These dunes have been described as strongly linked to the presence of vegetation, and can often be considered secondary dune forms. These more southern dunes appear to also mainly have been formed by north-westerly and westerly winds, although they display a bigger scatter in wind directions than the more northern dunes.The luminescence ages suggest that most of the dunes formed during the early Holocene, and later events of sand drift have been uncommon with only minor impact on the dune morphology. There seems to have been a primary dune stabilisation phase ~10-9 ka, irrespective of the latitude of the dune fields. This means that some dune fields formed close after local deglaciation, while others formed millennia later. This suggests that dune formation and dune stabilisation of central Sweden have been controlled by regional environmental conditions. Extremely low lake levels in southern and south-central Sweden 10.5-9.5 ka BP in conjunction with an unstable climate during early Holocene probably delayed dune stabilisation by vegetation. After the vegetation had stabilised the dunes, they became much more resilient to further fluctuations in the climate.
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| 7. |
- Margold, Martin, 1981-, et al.
(författare)
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Late-glacial ice dynamics of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet in northern British Columbia and southern Yukon Territory : retreat pattern of the Liard Lobe reconstructed from the glacial landform record
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The Liard Lobe formed a part of the northeastern sector of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet and drained ice from accumulation areas in the Selwyn, Pelly, Cassiar and Skeena mountains. This study reconstructs the ice retreat pattern of the Liard Lobe during the last deglaciation from the glacial landform record that is comprised of glacial lineations and landforms of the meltwater system such as eskers, meltwater channels, perched deltas and outwash fans. The spatial distribution of these landforms defines the successive configurations of the ice sheet during the deglaciation. The Liard Lobe retreated to the west and southwest across the Hyland Highland from its local Last Glacial Maximum position in the southeastern Mackenzie Mountains where it coalesced with the Laurentide Ice Sheet. The retreat across the Liard Lowland and a subsequent splitting of the thus far uniform ice surface into several ice lobes is evidenced by large esker complexes that stretch across the Liard Lowland cutting across the contemporary drainage network. Ice margin positions from the late stage of deglaciation are reconstructed locally at the foot of the Cassiar Mountains and farther up-valley in an eastern facing valley of the Cassiar Mountains. The presented landform record indicates that the deglaciation of the Liard Lobe was accomplished mainly by active ice retreat and that ice stagnation did not play a significant role in the deglaciation of this region.
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| 8. |
- Salas Romero, Silvia
(författare)
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Multidisciplinary Near-Surface Investigation of a Quick-Clay Landslide Prone Area in Southwest Sweden
- 2019
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Quick-clay landslides are considered one of the most important geohazards in Sweden, Norway, and Canada. The deposits involved are glacial and postglacial clays and silty clays, which are very sensitive to increased stress that may collapse their structure and cause liquefaction.A multidisciplinary approach was adopted in this study of quick clays in an area of southwest Sweden that is prone to landslides. It was mainly based on geophysical methods, but was complemented and validated with geotechnical, geological, and hydrological data. Downhole geophysics, land and river reflection seismics, radio magnetotellurics, P-wave refraction tomography, magnetics, and multichannel analysis of surface waves comprised the main geophysical methods used in this research. Laboratory measurements of core samples, such as grain size analysis, mineral magnetic properties, fossil content, X-ray fluorescence, cation exchange capacity, X-ray powder diffraction, electrical conductivity, and pH were also taken. Hydrological modelling was used to obtain information on the properties of groundwater within a coarse-grained layer, given the importance of this information in the formation of quick clays.The evaluation of the physico-chemical properties of the coarse-grained layer revealed high values of magnetic susceptibility, probably as a result of fluvial sorting, which tends to accumulate denser minerals such as magnetite. Potential quick clays were visually observed above this layer, and their presence was also confirmed by geotechnical data acquired in previous studies. Marine fossils identified within the coarse-grained layer confirmed the glaciomarine origin of the clays. Geophysical results revealed the presence of large-scale structures, an undulating fractured bedrock and a coarse-grained layer sandwiched between clay deposits, with leached sediments on top and unleached sediments below. This layer, important for the development of quick clays in the area, was 3D modelled in a regional context. Magnetic data also revealed that the coarse-grained layer together with quick clays, have the potential to act as a sliding prone layer. Multichannel analysis of surface waves helped to geotechnically characterize the area. Although the results could not reach the deeper layers, it did yield information about the shallower layers of clay, silt and sand. The VS30 values indicated the presence of soft soils, as well as soft clays/silts with high plasticity index and high water content.This PhD is expected to improve the current knowledge of quick-clay landslides and how they are preconditioned. Climate change will probably affect the study area in the near future, most likely increasing landslide risk, therefore, research should continue and advance to new levels. Application of other geophysical methods such as borehole or geophysical monitoring, and induced polarization, could provide more information about the formation of quick clays and associated landslides.
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| 10. |
- Hossain, Mohammed, 1960-
(författare)
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Sustainable Arsenic Mitigation A Strategy for Scaling-up Safe Water Access : A Strategy for Scaling-up Safe Water Access
- 2015
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In rural Bangladesh, the drinking water supply is mostly dependent upon manually operated hand pumped tubewells, installed by the local community. The presence of natural arsenic (As) in groundwater and its wide scale occurrence has drastically reduced the safe water access across the country and put tens of millions of people under health risk. Despite significant progress in understanding the source and distribution of As and its mobilization through sediment-water interactions, there has been limited success in mitigation since the problem was discovered in the country’s water supply in 1993. This study evaluated the viability of other kinds of alternative safe drinking water options and found tubewells are the most suitable due to simplicity and technical suitability, a wide acceptance by society and above all low cost for installation, operation and maintenance. During planning and decision making in the process of tubewell installation, depth of the tubewell is a key parameter as it is related to groundwater quality and cost of installation. The shallow wells (usually < 80m) are mostly at risk of As contamination. One mitigation option are deep wells drilled countrywide to depths of around 250 m. Compared to safe water demand, the number of deep wells is still very low, as the installation cost is beyond affordability of the local community, especially for the poor and disadvantaged section of the society. Using depth-specific piezometers (n=82) installed in 15 locations spread over the 410 km2 area of Matlab (an As-hot spot) in southeastern Bangladesh, groundwater monitoring was done over a 3 year period (pre- and post-monsoon for 2009-2011 period). Measurements were performed for hydrogeological characterization of shallow, intermediate deep and deep aquifer systems to determine the possibility of targeting safe aquifers at different depths as the source of a sustainable drinking water supply. In all monitoring piezometers, As was found consistently within a narrow band of oscillation probably due to seasonal effects. Hydrogeochemically, high-As shallow groundwaters derived from black sands are associated with elevated DOC, HCO3, Fe, NH4-N and PO4-P and with a relatively low concentration of Mn and SO4. Opposite to this, shallow aquifers composed of red and off-white sediments providing As-safe groundwater are associated with low DOC, HCO3, Fe, NH4-N and PO4-P and relatively higher Mn and SO4. Groundwaters sampled from intermediate deep and deep piezometers which were found to be low in As, are characterized by much lower DOC, HCO3, NH4-N and PO4-P compared to the shallow aquifers. Shallow groundwaters are mostly Ca-Mg-HCO3 type and intermediate deep and deep aquifers’ groundwaters are mostly Na-Ca-Mg-Cl-HCO3 to Na-Cl-HCO3 type.A sediment color tool was also developed on the basis of local driller’s color perception of sediments (Black, White, Off-white and Red), As concentration of tubewell waters and respective color of aquifer sediments. A total of 2240 sediment samples were collected at intervals of 1.5 m up to a depth of 100 m from all 15 nest locations. All samples were assigned with a Munsell color and code, which eventually led to identify 60 color varieties. The process continued in order to narrow the color choices to four as perceived and used by the local drillers for identification of the targeted As-safe aquifers. Munsell color codes assigned to these sediments render them distinctive from each other which reduces the risk for misinterpretation of the sediment colors. During the process of color grouping, a participatory approach was considered taking the opinions of local drillers, technicians, and geologists into account. In addition to the monitoring wells installed in the piezometer nests, results from 87 other existing drinking water supply tubewells were also considered for this study. A total of 39 wells installed in red sands at shallow depths producing As-safe water providing strong evidence that red sediments are associated with As-safe water. Average and median values were found to be less than the WHO guideline value of 10 μg/L. Observations for off-white sediments were also quite similar. Targeting off-white sands could be limited due to uncertainty of proper identification of color, specifically when day-light is a factor. Elevated Mn in red and off-white sands is a concern in the safe water issue and emphasizes the necessity of a better understanding of the health impact of Mn. White sediments in shallow aquifers are relatively uncommon and seemed to be less important for well installations. Arsenic concentrations in more than 90% of the shallow wells installed in black sands are high with an average of 239 μg/L from 66 wells installed in black sediments. It is thereby recommended that black sands in shallow aquifers must be avoided. This sediment color tool shows the potential for enhancing the ability of local tubewell drillers for the installation of As-safe shallow drinking water tubewells.Considering the long-term goal of the drinking water safety plan to provide As-safe and low-Mn drinking water supply, this study also pioneered hydrogeological exploration of the intermediate deep aquifer (IDA) through drilling up to a depth of 120 m. Clusters of tubewells installed through site optimization around the monitoring piezometer showed a similar hydrochemical buffer and proved IDA as a potential source for As-safe and low-Mn groundwater. Bangladesh drinking water standard for As (50 µg/L) was exceeded in only 3 wells (1%) and 240 wells (99%) were found to be safe. More than 91% (n=222) of the wells were found to comply with the WHO guideline value of 10 µg/L. For Mn, 89% (n=217) of the wells show the concentration within or below the previous WHO guideline value of 0.4 mg/L, with a mean and median value of 0.18 and 0.07 mg/L respectively. The aquifer explored in the Matlab area shows a clear pattern of low As and low Mn. The availability of similar sand aquifers elsewhere at this depth range could be a new horizon for tapping safe drinking water at about half the cost of deep tubewell installation.All findings made this study a comprehensive approach and strategy for replication towards As mitigation and scaling-up safe water access in other areas of Bangladesh and elsewhere having a similar hydrogeological environment.
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