Geophysical methods to assess soil characteristics

This chapter explores the use of geophysical methods to assess soil physical characteristics. The chapter begins by reviewing the geophysical properties of soil, such as clay content and organic matter content. It then moves on to discuss the electromagnetic induction method and its application, then examines electrical resistivity and its application. Acoustic-to-seismic coupling is also reviewed in terms of creating a model and its application. The chapter concludes by providing an overview of the several geophysical methods that can be used to measure various characteristics of agricultural soils.

Seismicity in far western Nepal reveals flats and ramps along the Main Himalayan Thrust

Summary Unravelling relations between lateral variations of mid-crustal seismicity and the geometry of the Main Himalayan Thrust system at depth is a key issue in seismotectonic studies of the Himalayan range. These relations can reveal along strike changes in the behavior of the fault at depth related to fluids or the local ramp-flat geometry and more generally of the stress build-up along the fault. Some of these variations may control the rupture extension of intermediate, large or great earthquakes, the last of which dates back from 1505 CE in far western Nepal. The region is also associated to lateral spatio-temporal variations of the mid-crustal seismicity monitored by the Regional Seismic Network of Surkhet-Birendranagar. This network was supplemented between 2014 and 2016 by 15 temporary stations deployed above the main seismic clusters giving new potential to regional studies. Both absolute and relative locations together with focal mechanisms are determined to gain insight on the fault behavior at depth. We find more than 4000 earthquakes within 5 and 20 km-depth clustered in three belts parallel to the front of the Himalayan range. Finest locations reveal close relationships between seismic clusters and fault segments at depth among which mid-crustal ramps and reactivated tectonic slivers. Our results support a geometry of the Main Himalayan Thrust involving several fault patches at depth separated by ramps and tear faults. This geometry most probably affects the pattern of the coseismic ruptures breaking partially or totally the locked fault zone as well as eventual along strike variations of seismic coupling during interseismic period.