Table of Contents 4.0 Description of the Physical
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 4.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT............................................ 41 4.1 Geology ................................................................................................. 41 4.1.1 Methodology ........................................................................................ 41 4.1.2 Regional Geological Formations........................................................... 42 4.1.3 Local Geological Units ......................................................................... 47 4.1.3.1 Atlantic Coast .......................................................................... 47 4.1.3.2 Gatun Locks.............................................................................. 48 4.1.3.3 Gatun Lake ............................................................................... 49 4.1.3.4 Culebra Cut ......................................................................... ...410 4.1.3.5 Pacific Locks ...........................................................................411 4.1.3.6 Pacific Coast............................................................................412 4.1.4 Paleontological Resources ...................................................................413 4.1.5 Geotechnical Characterization .............................................................417 4.1.6 Tectonics.............................................................................................421 4.2 Geomorphology ..............................................................................................422 4.2.1 Local Geomorphology.........................................................................424 4.2.2.1 Atlantic Coast ..........................................................................424 4.2.2.2 Gatun Locks.............................................................................425 4.2.2.3 Gatun Lake ..............................................................................425 4.2.2.4 Culebra Cut..............................................................................425 4.2.2.5 Pacific Locks ...........................................................................426 4.2.2.6 Pacific Coast............................................................................426 4.3 Soil Characterization.......................................................................................426 4.3.1 Objectives and Methodology ...............................................................426 4.3.2 Identification and Description of Soils.................................................428 4.3.2.1 Ultisol Soils .............................................................................428 4.3.2.2 Alluvial Soils ...........................................................................429 4.3.2.3 Sedimentary Origin Soils .........................................................430 4.3.2.4 Anthropic Soils ........................................................................431 Category III Environmental Impact Study URS Holdings, Inc. Panama Canal Expansion Project – i July 2007 Third Set of Locks 4.3.3 Description of Soil Usage ....................................................................432 4.3.3.1 Atlantic Coast ..........................................................................432 4.3.3.2 Gatun Locks.............................................................................433 4.3.3.3 Gatun Lake ..............................................................................434 4.3.3.4 Culebra Cut..............................................................................435 4.3.3.5 Pacific Locks ...........................................................................436 4.3.3.6 Pacific Coast............................................................................437 4.3.4 Delimitation of Property ...................................................................438 4.3.5 Usage and Capability ..........................................................................439 4.3.5.1 Classification of Soils ..............................................................439 4.3.5.2 Atlantic Coast ..........................................................................443 4.3.5.3 Gatun Locks.............................................................................444 4.3.5.4 Gatun Lake ..............................................................................445 4.3.5.5 Culebra Cut..............................................................................446 4.3.5.6 Pacific Locks ...........................................................................447 4.3.5.7 Pacific Coast............................................................................449 4.4 Topography and Bathymetry...........................................................................450 4.4.1 Methodology .......................................................................................450 4.4.2 Topographic and Bathymetric Characteristics of the Specific Study Area ……………….....................................................................................450 4.4.2.1 Atlantic Coast ..........................................................................451 4.4.2.2 Gatun Locks.............................................................................452 4.4.2.3 Gatun Lake ..............................................................................453 4.4.2.4 Culebra Cut..............................................................................453 4.4.2.5 Pacific Locks ...........................................................................454 4.4.2.6 Pacific Coast............................................................................455 4.5 Climate ................................................................................................456 4.5.1 Methodology .......................................................................................456 4.5.2 Characterization of Climate .................................................................458 4.5.2.1 Types of Climate......................................................................458 4.5.2.2 Precipitation............................................................................459 Category III Environmental Impact Study URS Holdings, Inc. Panama Canal Expansion Project – ii July 2007 Third Set of Locks 4.5.2.3 Temperature.............................................................................462 4.5.2.4 Relative Humidity....................................................................466 4.5.2.5 Wind Velocity..........................................................................470 4.5.2.6 Solar Radiation ........................................................................476 4.5.2.7 Potential Evapotranspiration ....................................................480 4.6 Hydrology ................................................................................................481 4.6.1 General Aspects...................................................................................482 4.6.2 Quality Superficial Waters ...................................................................483 4.6.2.1 Atlantic Coast ..........................................................................483 4.6.2.2 Gatun Locks.............................................................................487 4.6.2.3 Gatun Lake ..............................................................................488 4.6.2.4 Culebra Cut..............................................................................499 4.6.2.5 Pacific Locks .........................................................................4101 4.6.2.6 Pacific Coast..........................................................................4104 4.6.3 Volumes (Maximum, Minimum, and Annual Average) .....................4107 4.6.4 Currents, Tides, and Waves ..............................................................4108 4.6.4.1 Atlantic Coast ........................................................................4108 4.6.4.2 Pacific Coast..........................................................................4109 4.6.5 Underground Waters .........................................................................4110 4.6.5.1 Characterization of Aquiferous Layers ...................................4110 4.7 Air Quality……………………………………………………………………4111 4.7.1 Monitoring Sites and Evaluation Methodology..................................4112 4.7.1.1 Air Quality Monitoring Activities ..........................................4112 4.7.1.2 Estimates of Current Emissions .............................................4115 4.7.2 Results Obtained for Specific Study Area .........................................4115 4.7.2.1 Atlantic Coast ........................................................................4118 4.7.2.2 Gatun Locks...........................................................................4118 4.7.2.3 Gatun Lake ............................................................................4118 4.7.2.4 Culebra Cut............................................................................4119 4.7.2.5 Pacific Locks .........................................................................4119 4.7.2.6 Pacific Coast..........................................................................4120 Category III Environmental Impact Study URS Holdings, Inc. Panama Canal Expansion Project – iii July 2007 Third Set of Locks 4.8 Noise ..............................................................................................4120