Abstract: Coastal lakes are vulnerable complex systems where potential contamination processes may affect the bottom sediments, especially if the coasts are intensively urbanized. In this respect, the sedimentological and ecological characterization of the bottom sediments may provide a fundamental background, particularly stringent in the cases of heavy metal contamination. In this paper, this multi-disciplinary approach was applied to Lake Ganzirri, a small-size and shallow coastal lake developed on an intensively urbanized territory of North-Eastern Sicily (Italy), where recent chemical investigations on the heavy metal contaminants of the sediments were carried out. The sediment textural features (in-cluded those of the malacofauna) and the bottom morpho-bathymetry were characterized and investigated by applying multivariate statistics and QGIS techniques. QGIS maps were finally compared with those of the heavy metal concentrations. The present research allowed to detect for the first time: i) a minor tectonic graben inside the main ENE-WSW trending Ganzirri graben; ii) mixed sediments composed of quartzo-lithic sands with sig-nificant contents in bioclastic calcareous remains; iii) sediment heterogeneous textures, mainly characterized by poorly sorted, leptokurtic, near symmetrical coarse-grained sands, with randomly distributed lenses of very coarse- grained sands with gravels and of medium-grained sands; iv) sediments testifying for actual high-energy conditions and environments at low confinement degree; v) no evidence of correlations between the hotspots of heavy metals (mainly related to prevalent geogenic origins) and the distribu-tions of sedimentological features and bottom depths.

Abstract: The Indonesian archipelago represents one of the most tectonically complex regions on Earth, where the convergence and interaction of multiple plates drive ongoing subduction, arc-continent collision, and lithospheric accretion. To unravel the detailed structure and dynamics of this convergent margin, we develop a novel, high-resolution 3-D shear-wave velocity model of the lithosphere and upper mantle. This model is derived from a weighted joint inversion of complementary surface-wave datasets: teleseismic Rayleigh waves from 387 shallow earthquakes (MS ≥ 5.5) recorded across 31 stations, analyzed using a modified two-plane-wave tomography method, and ambient-noise correlations from two years of continuous data at 30 stations, processed with far-field approximation and image-transformation techniques. This integrated approach significantly enhances the resolution of shallow structures compared to previous body-wave tomographic models. Our model provides new insights into the four primary subduction systems. Along the Sunda-Java trench, we document a systematic along-strike transition in slab geometry: a continuous, well-defined slab in the west progressively gives way to increasingly disrupted and thickened structures eastward. This morphological evolution correlates with the subduction of progressively older oceanic lithosphere and is influenced by variations in slab age, dip, and the presence of deep slab tearing. Beneath the Banda Arc, we image an approximately 200 km-thick slab and attribute its dramatic 180° curvature to the mechanical interaction between the northward-subducting Australian plate and a distinct south-directed subduction system beneath the Seram region. In the Molucca Sea, our high-resolution tomography reveals a shallow (~50 km depth) low-velocity zone and details the complex geometry of an active double-sided subduction zone, characterized by asymmetric dips and intense seismicity, which illuminates the dynamics of ongoing arc-arc collision. Finally, beneath the Celebes Sea, a south-dipping slab is clearly resolved under North Sulawesi, while no substantial subduction signature is associated with the Sangihe Arc. Collectively, these findings provide unprecedented structural constraints on the segmentation, deformation, and interaction of subducting slabs in Indonesia. They underscore the control of lithospheric age and complex plate interactions on slab morphology and regional tectonics, offering a refined framework for understanding the geodynamic evolution of this exceptionally complex convergent boundary.

Abstract: On 8 February 2025, an Mw 7.6 strike-slip earthquake ruptured the Swan Islands Transform Fault in the northern Caribbean near its junction with the Mid-Cayman Spreading Center, providing an important offshore case for investigating rupture dynamics along oceanic transform faults. In this study, we jointly apply teleseismic high-frequency back-projection and low-frequency finite-fault full-waveform inversion to image the multi-scale spatiotemporal evolution of the rupture process. Back-projection results reveal a two-stage rupture characterized by an initial sub-shear propagation lasting approximately 20 s, followed by rapid acceleration to supershear velocities of ~5–6 km/s and westward propagation over ~80–100 km. Finite-fault inversion shows that coseismic slip is primarily concentrated within ~20 km west of the epicenter, with a peak slip of ~5.6 m and an overall rupture duration of ~40 s. Comparison between high-frequency radiation and low-frequency slip indicates that most seismic moment was released during the early slow rupture stage, whereas the later fast-propagating segment produced enhanced high-frequency energy but relatively small slip. These observations reveal a pronounced along-strike complimentary relationship between slip amplitude and rupture speed, suggesting a transition in rupture dynamics controlled by variations in fault strength, fracture energy, and/or geometric complexity. By combining high-frequency back-projection with low-frequency finite-fault inversion, we obtain a more complete view of the rupture process of offshore earthquakes, which helps clarify rupture propagation characteristics, including supershear behavior, along oceanic transform faults.

Abstract: Lava flows represent complex thermofluid phenomena in which surface cooling leads to the formation of a solidified surface layer. Understanding the influence of such a surface layer on fluid flow is an important issue in lava flow modeling, and it also shares essential characteristics with a wide range of engineering problems involving surface solidification. However, the role of plastic surface skin in controlling flow deceleration and stopping behavior has not been sufficiently clarified in existing models. In this study, two-dimensional smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) simulations were conducted to investigate the influence of surface skin formation on lava flow dynamics. The temperature dependence of viscosity was introduced to reproduce a plastic surface skin. The skin was represented as a low-temperature, high-viscosity region. Comparisons with simulations without surface skin formation demonstrated that the surface skin exhibits a suppressive effect on the flow. This behavior was consistent with qualitative observations of flowing lava. It was also found that this surface skin caused the successive deceleration characteristic in Bingham fluids. As a result, both the flow velocity and the flowing distance are affected. These results suggest that accurate lava flow simulations require models that incorporate both surface skin effects and non-Newtonian behavior.

Abstract: In February 2024, the European Union published its Industrial Carbon Management Strategy, setting ambitious goals for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), Carbon Cap-ture and Utilisation (CCU), and related technologies. Industrial decarbonisation will require a mix of solutions, CCUS, electrification, hydrogen and hydrogen-derived fuels, and energy efficiency, all dependent on affordable clean energy. Although carbon management technologies could contribute substantially to climate targets, their de-ployment has been slowed by technical barriers and public concerns. Sotacarbo created a research centre dedicated to developing and testing carbon capture, utilisation, and storage technologies. Within this framework, the new Sotacarbo Fault Laboratory (SFL) was designed to investigate gas migration in faults and to test monitoring systems ca-pable of detecting potential short- and long-term CO₂ leakages. This paper presents a preliminary study, including seismic full-waveform simulations for time-lapse surveys before and after CO₂ injection, and a suite of geophysical methods used to characterise the Matzaccara fault within the Eocene Sulcis Basin. The results of the application of integrated geophysical methods supported the selection of a safe and suitable injec-tion-well location and demonstrated the value of these methods for detailed fault characterisation in CCUS applications.

Abstract: Glide-snow avalanches pose a major challenge for operational forecasting and local avalanche authorities. Although their key prerequisite, namely a moist interface between the snowpack and smooth ground, is well established, predicting the timing of glide-snow release remains difficult. To identify conditions that favour glide-snow avalanches, we analysed five seasons of meteorological and optical monitoring data documenting avalanche activity in the Planneralm area of Styria, Austria, at high temporal resolution. Avalanche activity in the study area follows typical temporal patterns, with the highest release probability in the early afternoon and peak activity from mid-March to mid-April. We trained a machine-learning decision-tree model using meteorological variables to distinguish between avalanche and non-avalanche days. Two highly significant predictors emerged: (1) air temperature, confirming previous findings that moderately warm conditions favour glide-snow activity, and (2) decrease in snow height during warm periods, a variable that substantially improves predictive accuracy by reducing false classifications of avalanche days. Models of this type could support operational glide-snow avalanche forecasting by identifying days with elevated glide-snow potential that warrant increased attention and may require warnings or temporary closures by local authorities.

Abstract: Analysing seismic data with modern statistical methods has opened up the possibility of predicting major earthquakes and those of specific magnitudes. However, comprehensive analysis for each location is particularly labour-intensive, while such data necessitates continuous observation. It is therefore desirable to detect anomalies with ease. We demonstrate that this objective can be achieved not by examining complex regional ge-ometries, but simply by dividing the study area into a mesh. Moreover, unexpected properties emerged from the data collected in this manner, which we also present.

Abstract: In this field, several erroneous theories had long been accepted as fundamental laws and formulas. Recent corrections to these misconceptions were made possible through the application of Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA). This article outlines how EDA contributed to these breakthroughs and offers a brief guide for those wishing to begin using it themselves.

Abstract: Accurate numerical simulation of debris flows is essential for hazard assessment and early-warning design, yet high-fidelity solvers remain computationally expensive, especially when large ensembles of scenarios must be explored under epistemic uncertainty in rheology, initial conditions, and topography. At the same time, field observations are typically sparse and heterogeneous, limiting the direct use of purely data-driven approaches. In this work, we develop a Deep-Learning Fourier Neural Operator (FNO) as a fast and accurate surrogate for one-dimensional shallow-water debris-flow simulations, and we demonstrate its application to characterizing the Rendinara–Morino debris-flow system in central Italy. A validated finite-volume solver with HLLC and Rusanov fluxes, Voellmy-type basal friction, hydrostatic reconstruction, and robust wet–dry treatment is used to generate a large ensemble of synthetic simulations over longitudinal profiles representative of the study area. The parameter space of bulk density, initial flow thickness, and Voellmy friction coefficients is systematically sampled, and the resulting space–time fields of flow depth and velocity form the training dataset. A two-dimensional FNO in the (x,t) plane is trained to map coordinates, rheological parameters, bed elevation, and initial conditions to the full evolution of depth and velocity. On a held-out validation set, the surrogate attains mean relative L2 errors below about 6% for flow depth and 10–15% for velocity, including prediction on an unseen topographic profile, while providing speed-ups of up to 36× (several orders of magnitude) compared to the numerical solver. These results show that combining physics-based synthetic data with operator-learning architectures enables the construction of site-specific, computationally efficient surrogates for debris-flow hazard analysis in data-scarce environments.

Abstract: By visualising seismic data in three dimensions, it becomes evident that epicentres cluster along interfaces formed by colliding plates. These interfaces appear to be solid structures, established years before the mainshock, and remain largely stationary even after the event concludes. Major earthquakes tend to occur along such surfaces, and because seismic ac-tivity increases in these regions prior to a mainshock, their observation may provide a ba-sis for earthquake prediction. With plate positions near Japan now more clearly defined, existing models require revision. Furthermore, analysis reveals that both the number of aftershocks and the seismic energy released during a mainshock decay with distinct half-lives. This represents a fundamentally different decay pattern from the formula long regarded as correct. Employing modern statistical methods therefore yields more accurate insights, essential both for advancing our understanding of earthquake mechanisms and for improving predictive capability.

Abstract: Airborne natural-source electromagnetic methods are increasingly applied in mineral exploration, yet direct comparisons between different passive systems remain limited. This study evaluates the performance of the broadband, total-field MobileMT system relative to the ZTEM tipper method using coincident survey data acquired over the El Teniente and La Huifa porphyry deposits in central Chile. MobileMT applies classical magnetotelluric principles to airborne three-component magnetic measurements and a stationary electric-field reference, producing broadband admittance tensors and rotationally invariant responses across 30 narrow frequency windows. The results show that MobileMT achieves superior geological resolution even in the presence of a strong cultural noise (El-Teniente), and in low-noise conditions (La Huifa) due to greater usable bandwidth, and improved sensitivity to both shallow and deep conductivity structures. At El Teniente, ZTEM data are strongly affected by powerline interference, limiting usable bandwidth and obscuring conductive alteration zones, whereas MobileMT retains coherent responses and resolves potassic cores, alteration shells, and subvertical feeder structures. At La Huifa, where cultural noise is minimal, ZTEM still produces comparatively weak, laterally incoherent anomalies, while MobileMT defines a continuous structural corridor and the vertical extent of the porphyry system. These findings demonstrate that broadband total-field airborne MT provides enhanced geological resolution and depth penetration in rugged terrain and culturally noisy environments, offering clear advantages for porphyry exploration.

Abstract: Oil and gas exploration conducted in the main fault zone of the Fuman Oilfield has yielded large-scale and high-production results. Against this background, the non-fault zone has emerged as a new domain for oil exploration endeavors. Nevertheless, the establishment of a unified sequence division scheme for the study area remains unachieved, primarily constrained by two key factors: first, the high costs associated with ultra-deep high-density coring operations; and second, the inconspicuous response characteristics exhibited by logging curves. This absence of a standardized scheme has further impeded the progress of oil and gas exploration in the non-main fault inter-region within the study area. Consequently, the present study is based on multi-source data, including seismic data, logging data, and field outcrop data. The magnetic susceptibility of the cement plant section and the natural gamma data sequence of the Yangjikan section were measured for cyclostratigraphy analysis. The sedimentary noise model was introduced to reconstruct the sea level, and the sequence division scheme of the Fuman area was discussed. The results show that the Middle-Lower Ordovician Yijianfang Formation-Penglaiba Formation preserves relatively intact astronomical signals. The DYNOT model reconstructs a good correspondence between sea level rise and fall and field characteristics, which can be used as a new method for sequence division in this area. Finally, the third-order and fourth-order sequence division schemes in Fuman area are proposed. The Yijianfang Formation-Penglaiba Formation is divided into 4 third-order sequences and 11 fourth-order sequences, which provides a basis for the characterization of dominant facies belts in Fuman area and regional exploration between non-faults.

Abstract: In 2023-2025, a research named “Application of nuclear, seismic and infrasound methods for assessing climate change and mitigating the effects of climate change” was conducted in Kazakhstan under the Targeted Funding Program. The main task of the research was to create an observation network for processes occurring in the glaciers of the high Tien Shan. Seismic and infrasound methods were used for signal recording, and meteorological data was additionally used for the analysis. A network of seismic, infrasound and meteorological stations has been installed near the large glaciers of Tien Shan in Kazakhstan. The paper presents the results of the recorded data in terms of seismic and infrasound noise levels, its daily variations, and the relationship between noise and changes in temperature and wind speed. The threshold of the expected minimal magnitude and energy classes of glacial earthquakes for day and night was assessed. Seismic and infrasound monitoring has proven to be a reliable, all-season and all-weather tool for monitoring the dynamics of glacial processes. Among huge number of recorded glacial events, more than 4,000 have been located, and a seismic bulletin that includes information on location, magnitude and energy class of each even has been compiled.

Abstract: New Zealand, located along the boundary between the Pacific and Australian plates, is among the most seismically active regions in the world. In such an area, reliable short-term forecasting of strong aftershocks is essential for seismic risk mitigation. In this study, we apply NESTORE (NExt STRong Related Earthquake), a machine learning probabilistic forecasting algorithm, to the New Zealand earthquake catalogue to evaluate the probability that a mainshock of magnitude Mm will be followed by an event of magnitude ≥ Mm –1 within a defined space–time window. NESTORE uses nine features describing early post-mainshock seismicity and outputs the probability that a cluster is Type A (i.e., containing a strong aftershock) or not (Type B). We assess performance using two testing strategies: chronological training–testing splits and k-fold cross-validation, and refine the training set using the REPENESE outlier-detection procedure. The k-fold approach proves more robust than the chronological one, despite changes in catalogue characteristics over time. Eighteen hours after the mainshock, NESTORE correctly classified 88% of clusters (77% for Type A and 92% for Type B). Notably, the highly destructive 2010–2011 Canterbury–Christchurch sequence was correctly identified as Type A. These findings support the applicability of NESTORE for short-term aftershock forecasting in New Zealand.

Abstract: During the magmatic stage, base and rarer metals segregate from silicate melts to form ore deposits. The usual case is the porphyry (PD) type (Cu, Mo, W) above subduction zones. The metal grade increases from some ppb or ppm up to percent levels. A new type of trans-porphyry (TPD) deposits (Sn, Ta, Nb, gems) results from large-scale shear between cratons within continental plates, internal decoupling and vertical motion. The bulk ore generation process develops along three stages, from magma generation; emplacement; and formation of an immiscible magmatic phase (MIP), fluids and melt. However, in TPD, metals segregate from the crust during melting below 800 °C, breakdown of biotites, and the melt remains below the critical point (731 °C). Fluids advection competes with chemical diffusion yielding the required enrichment. The subcritical MIP splits into a silicate-rich and an aqueous rich phase, both incompatible with each other. Granite, pegmatites and greisen coexist in the magma chamber. Their respective extraction from a composite mush involves electrons exchanges between charges, or orbitals, yielding metal oxides through chemical diffusion. In contrast, metals (Nb, Ta) observed in pegmatites, and also in gems, electrons rearrange their electronic cloud through its polarizability. At last, gems independently grow under the influence of the extremely hard fluids (Li, Be, B). Magma generation, involving the lower crust (garnet, pyroxene) result in melts that form the two observed pegmatites groups (NYF, LCT)., each being associated with alkaline (A-type) or continental (S-type) granitic melts.

Abstract: The TCGS-SEQUENTION framework, a timeless ontology constructed upon a 4D "timeless counterspace" (C) from which the observable 3D world (Σ) is projected, has historically faced the central empirical challenge of distinguishing true 4D "slice-invariants" from 3D "foliation-dependent artifacts." This report, an augmented version of our foundational synthesis, demonstrates that this challenge is now met by a robust, two-pillar empirical foundation from the geological sciences. Pillar I (The Slice) utilizes the geochemical analysis of Chicxulub impact spherules. This work provides a non-trivial anchor for the framework’s core *ontology*, by chemically separating, within a single co-genetic set of samples, a static, mass-independent *source invariant* (the 17-25% impactor contribution) from a dynamic, mass-dependent *process artifact* (the δ25Mg fractionation signature). Pillar II (The Foliation) utilizes the geophysical analysis of the Geological Time Scale. This work provides an anchor for the framework’s core *geometry*, demonstrating that the "timeline" of geological events is not a human convention but a "scaling (hence hierarchical) ’megaclimate’ regime" with a quantifiable "multifractal" structure. We demonstrate that the "Compound Multifractal-Poisson Process" (CMPP) proposed by Lovejoy et al. is a direct, testable empirical model of the TCGS projection mechanism (X : C → Σ). Together, these findings provide a powerful, multi-domain validation of the framework’s core axioms (A2, A3, A4) and its associated "Gravito-Capillary Foam" model.

Abstract: The article presents the results of research conducted on several rare metal deposits and ore occurrences within the North-Western Kalba region (Eastern Kazakhstan). The high demand for rare metals such as Li, Ta, Cs, Be, Sn, and the limited study of this region, are the driving factors behind the interest in this area. The article provides data on the geological structure of several ore occurrences, as well as the results of mineralogical and geochemical studies of granites, pegmatites, and greisen. Based on the analysis of the obtained results, it is concluded that all the rare metal deposits in North-Western Kalba formed through a unified process of differentiation of the parental magmas of the Kalba granite complex. It is suggested that the North-Western Kalba region could be considered promising for the discovery of new rare metal deposits.

Abstract: Modern statistical techniques allow quantitative characterization of seismic activity. Analysis of the 2011 Tohoku megathrust earthquake revealed clear precursory signals: shortened inter-event intervals, increased magnitude scale (σ), and a pronounced precur-sory swarm immediately before the mainshock. While unique to this magnitude 9 event, here I present subtler anomalies may precede magnitude 7-class events, especially when swarms occur. In such cases, magnitude distributions often differ from background seis-micity, frequently showing elevated location (μ) and scale (σ). Conversely, σ was some-times reduced, particularly in volcanic regions, where large earthquakes may occur with-out discernible swarms. Detection of swarm activity and analysis of magnitude parame-ters thus remain central to seismic risk assessment. If swarm characteristics resemble background levels, the likelihood of a major event is presumably low. However, the dis-tinct, immediate precursory swarm observed before the Tohoku earthquake was not repli-cated elsewhere. These findings indicate that statistical anomalies may signal elevated risk but are unlikely to enable precise temporal prediction of seismic events.

Abstract: Based on the author's self-developed Seismo-Geothermal Theory (SGT) system, this paper uses the M 4.0+ earthquake catalog of China and surrounding areas from the California Earthquake Center, USA, to determine the geographical and three-dimensional spatial distribution characteristics of earthquakes and volcanoes in the study area, the temporal progression of sub-crustal earthquakes, and the relationship between the stratified activity of Seismic Cone Tectonics (SCT) and strong intra-crustal earthquakes. It conducts detailed yet concise studies on 6 SCTs closely related to the study area, preliminarily depicting the surrounding environment of seismic activity in China, and introduces the concept of the upper mantle T-type tectonic belt, which spans the junction of the Pacific Ocean and the Eurasian continent. Operating in the mode of "T-type tectonic belt providing energy for the SCT driving layer → active layer conversion → energy storage layer accumulation → dissipation layer rupture leading to intra-crustal strong earthquakes and/or volcanic eruptions", it may become a powerful driver and source of power for seismic activity in China and surrounding areas. Sub-crustal earthquakes are an important geophysical parameter of the upper mantle that can currently be detected by human seismic instruments, and the stratified activity ε₀ values of sub-crustal earthquakes may also become a predictive indicator for strong intra-crustal earthquakes. On this basis, it may be possible to use multiple precursor indicators to explore the possibility of future moderate to strong seismic activity in the study area, contributing to mitigating disasters caused by intra-crustal strong earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Abstract: Long-term monitoring of radon (222Rn) and thoron (220Rn) radioactive gases has been used in earthquake forecasting. Seismic activity before earthquakes raise the levels of these gases, causing abnormalities in the baseline values of Radon and Thoron Time Series (RTTS) data. This study reports applications of Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) and Wavelet-Based Density Estimation (WBDE) to detect anomalies in radon, thoron, and meteorological time-series data. Anomalies appearing in the RTTS data have been assessed for their potential correlation with seismic events. Using KDE and WBDE, radon anomalies were observed on March 12, August 15, September 17, in the year 2017, and January 19, 2018. Thoron anomalies were recorded on March 12, August 15, September 17, 2017, and February 28, 2018. Irregularities in RTTS were observed several days before seismic events. Anomalies in RTTS, detected using KDE, successfully correlated five out of nine seismic events while WBDE identified four anomalies in RTTS which were successfully correlated with the corresponding seismic events. The wavelet transform has been used to reduce noise at higher decomposition levels in radon and thoron time series. Findings of the study reveal the potential of radon and thoron time series that can be used as precursors for earthquake forecasting.