ALBERT

Description:    The Villány area, as a central part of the Tisza microcontinent/terrane along the European margin of Tethys, was characterized by intense subsidence in the Early and Middle Triassic, followed by a long interruption of subsidence in the Late Triassic to Middle Jurassic. During the Middle–Late Jurassic transition, marine sedimentation started with three distinct sedimentary episodes dated as Late Bathonian, Early Callovian, and Middle–Late Callovian, respectively. The succession is terminated by a thick limestone of Middle Oxfordian age. The sedimentary features, microfacies, and macroinvertebrate associations of these four stratigraphic units are documented and illustrated. The Middle to Late Jurassic sedimentary episodes of the Villány succession record an interplay of local and global factors and paleogeographical changes. At the beginning, local tectonic movements governed the main features of sedimentation, though the role of eustasy was also essential. From the mid-Callovian onwards, global climatic, biotic, and paleoceanographical changes controlled the nature and formation of the local carbonate sediments. The Callovian stromatolites are attributed to the activity of sulphate-reducing bacteria in a deep sublittoral, current-swept environment. Upwelling of eutrophic Tethyan waters is recorded by the prevalence of the Bositra filament microfacies in the Callovian. The long submarine hiatus at around the Callovian–Oxfordian transition mirrors a serious restriction of the carbonate budget, due to sudden cooling and a change in the oceanic current system (opening of a circumglobal Tethyan Passage), and to a higher amount of dissolved CO 2 . In the Middle Oxfordian, the carbonate production considerably increased in accordance with the sudden global warming. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Article Pages 1-29 DOI 10.1007/s10347-011-0287-8 Authors A. Vörös, Research Group for Paleontology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences–Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, Ludovika tér 2, 1083 Hungary Journal Facies Online ISSN 1612-4820 Print ISSN 0172-9179

Description: A bstract   Extensive bivalve borings are described in detail for the first time from basalt rockgrounds in the North Atlantic volcanic islands of Macaronesia. They occur on a Middle Miocene rocky shore of a small islet of Porto Santo (Madeira Archipelago of Portugal), as well as on Plio-Pleistocene rocky shores on Santiago Island (Cape Verde). A basalt substrate is widely penetrated by clavate-shaped borings belonging to the ichnogenus Gastrochaenolites interpreted as dwelling structures of suspension-feeding bivalves. Some of these borings still retain evidence of the alleged trace-makers preserved as body fossils, while others are filled with their casts. The ichnofossil assemblage present on these bioeroded surfaces belongs to the Entobia ichnofacies. Recognition of Gastrochaenolites borings in volcanic rocks provides useful paleoenvironmental information regarding an expanded strategy for hard-substrate colonization. Preliminary results from fieldwork in the Cape Verde Archipelago indicate that such borings are more widespread through Macaronesia than previously thought. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Article Pages 1-14 DOI 10.1007/s10347-011-0283-z Authors Ana Santos, Departamento de Geodinámica y Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Campus de El Carmen, Universidad de Huelva, Avda. 3 de Marzo, s/n, 21071 Huelva, Spain Eduardo Mayoral, Departamento de Geodinámica y Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Campus de El Carmen, Universidad de Huelva, Avda. 3 de Marzo, s/n, 21071 Huelva, Spain Markes E. Johnson, Department of Geosciences, Williams College, Williamstown, MA 01267, USA B. Gudveig Baarli, Department of Geosciences, Williams College, Williamstown, MA 01267, USA Mário Cachão, Departamento de Geologia and Centro de Geologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal Carlos Marques da Silva, Departamento de Geologia and Centro de Geologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal Jorge Ledesma-Vázquez, Facultad de Ciencias Marinas, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Ensenada, BC 22800, Mexico Journal Facies Online ISSN 1612-4820 Print ISSN 0172-9179

Description:    Flooding vulnerability assessment is an important issue in Taiwan since Taiwan lies within the most active tropical cyclone formation zone of the Western Pacific. Huge economic damages and losses of human lives are occurred almost every year. This study aims to evaluate flooding vulnerability of a given area subject to large-scale land developments. A scoring-based approach associated with a physiographic drainage-inundation model is developed to quantitatively evaluate vulnerability for flooding. The flooding vulnerability index defined as the product of an exposure score and a hazard score. The exposure score assesses relative losses exposed to flooding, which is determined by land-uses classification. The hazard score measures flooding severity, which is simultaneously determined by inundation depth and duration that are obtained from the inundation model for a design storm. The Yenshui River basin located in southwestern Taiwan is used an example to illustrate the proposed method. The results show that the projected urbanization plan within the Yenshui River basin would increase flooding vulnerability from 0.371 to 0.472. However, this value is reduced to 0.388 when the mitigation measure has been implemented. The obtained spatial distribution of flooding vulnerability for a design storm provides decision-makers useful information to identify hotspots of the study area and evaluate effects of flood-mitigation measure on flooding risk-reduction. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-17 DOI 10.1007/s11269-011-9960-5 Authors Jenq-Tzong Shiau, Department of Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan, Republic of China Ching-Nuo Chen, Teaching Resources Center, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 912, Taiwan, Republic of China Chang-Tai Tsai, Department of Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan, Republic of China Journal Water Resources Management Online ISSN 1573-1650 Print ISSN 0920-4741

Description:    This paper presents the conceptualisation, design and implementation of an online course on the topic of Decision Support Systems in River Basin Management. The need for development of such a course has been recognised, as activities in the field of water resources planning and management increasingly depend on decision support methods such as simulation, optimisation and Multi Criteria Analysis (MCA). The online learning approach is particularly needed for continuous professional development and life-long learning of professionals active in this field, and especially for those coming from developing countries. The course was developed and implemented following the competence-based learning approach, supported by the EU FP 7 educational research project named TenCompetence , which also provided the learning platform for deploying and delivering the course. The paper presents the course design, implementation and evaluation by the course participants, with special focus on the course content and the developed learning resources. Participants’ evaluations show high appreciation for the course, but they also highlight areas for future improvements. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-19 DOI 10.1007/s11269-011-9959-y Authors A. Jonoski, Department of Hydroinformatics and Knowledge Management, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, P.O. Box 3015, 2601 DA Delft, The Netherlands I. Popescu, Department of Hydroinformatics and Knowledge Management, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, P.O. Box 3015, 2601 DA Delft, The Netherlands Journal Water Resources Management Online ISSN 1573-1650 Print ISSN 0920-4741

Description:    This study integrates an artificial neural network (ANN) and constrained differential dynamic programming (CDDP) to search for optimal solutions to a nonlinear time-varying groundwater remediation-planning problem. The proposed model (ANN-CDDP) determines optimal dynamic pumping schemes to minimize operating costs and meet water quality requirements. The model uses two embedded ANNs, including groundwater flow and contaminant transport models, as transition functions to predict groundwater levels and contaminant concentrations under time-varying pumping. Results demonstrate that ANN-CDDP is a simplified management model that requires considerably less computation time to solve a fine mesh problem. For example, the ANN-CDDP computing time for a case involving 364 nodes is 1/26.5 that of the conventional optimization model. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-17 DOI 10.1007/s11269-011-9957-0 Authors Liang-Cheng Chang, Department of Civil Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, 1001 TA Hsueh Road, Hsinchu, Taiwan 300 Hone-Jay Chu, Department of Geomatics, National Cheng Kung University, No.1, University Road, Tainan City, 701 Taiwan Chin-Tsai Hsiao, Department of Information Management, Chung Chou University of Science and Technology, No. 6, Lane 2, Sec. 3, Shanjao Rd., Yuanlin Township, Changhua County 510, Taiwan Journal Water Resources Management Online ISSN 1573-1650 Print ISSN 0920-4741

Description:    The site of Cessaniti (Vibo Valentia, Italy) has been well known since the 19th century for the richness and good preservation of its Miocene fauna and flora. The sedimentary succession of the site represents a paralic system that evolved toward an open-marine environment recording the Tortonian transgression. The fossil assemblage contains rich invertebrate (corals, bivalves, gastropods, brachiopods, echinoids, benthic and planktonic foraminifers) and vertebrate faunas (proboscideans, rhinoceroses, giraffids, bovids, sirenids, marine turtles, and fish remains). The fossils recovered at the Cessaniti site have a relevant role in phylogenetic studies and paleogeographic reconstructions of Late Miocene environments of the southern Italy. This research is focused on the microstructure and preservation state of the fossil bones. Samples of Metaxytherium sp . bones have been analyzed to understand the diagenetic profile of the bone assemblages that characterizes the taphonomic history of the Cessaniti site. The analyses provided a comprehensive account of how bone mineral (bioapatite) has been altered and demonstrated that the post-burial processes did not significantly affect the micromorphological and biogeochemical features of the bones. The excellent preservation state of the bones strengthens the importance of the Cessaniti site for studies of the Mediterranean Miocene vertebrate fauna. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Article Pages 1-12 DOI 10.1007/s10347-011-0284-y Authors Adriano Guido, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Museo di Paleontologia, Università della Calabria, via P. Bucci, Cubo 14b, 87036 Rende, Cosenza, Italy Antonella Cinzia Marra, Dipartimento di Scienze dell’Antichità, Università di Messina, Polo Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy Adelaide Mastandrea, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Museo di Paleontologia, Università della Calabria, via P. Bucci, Cubo 14b, 87036 Rende, Cosenza, Italy Fabio Tosti, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Museo di Paleontologia, Università della Calabria, via P. Bucci, Cubo 14b, 87036 Rende, Cosenza, Italy Franco Russo, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Museo di Paleontologia, Università della Calabria, via P. Bucci, Cubo 14b, 87036 Rende, Cosenza, Italy Journal Facies Online ISSN 1612-4820 Print ISSN 0172-9179

Description:    Discharges in a network of drainage ditches generated by intense rainfall are influenced by overland flow dynamically interacting with infiltration. Therefore a detailed estimation of the overland flow, especially in agricultural fields prepared for surface irrigation, is essential to the design of drainage ditches. In order to simulate overland flow, which in that case may be considered unsteady and one dimensional, numerical models were developed based on the numerical solution of the Saint-Venant equations, externally coupled with the Green-Ampt equation to account for the dynamic interaction between surface flow and infiltration. The numerical solution of the Saint Venant equations in their complete form (dynamic model) and in the simplified forms of the diffusion (diffusion model) and the kinematic wave equations (kinematic model) was obtained by applying the MacCormack explicit computational scheme. Overland flow models’ simulations were conducted in order to study the effect of the soil surface parameters on the hydrographs at the downstream end of the fields, as well as the accuracy of the diffusion and kinematic equations. It was found that the kinematic wave equations were unable to describe overland flow, while the diffusion model results were close to the results of the dynamic model. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-13 DOI 10.1007/s11269-011-9955-2 Authors D. Pantelakis, Department of Hydraulics, Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece Th. Zissis, Department of Hydraulics, Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece E. Anastasiadou-Partheniou, Department of Hydraulics, Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece E. Baltas, Department of Hydraulics, Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece Journal Water Resources Management Online ISSN 1573-1650 Print ISSN 0920-4741