A petrogenetic grid for eclogite and related facies under high-pressure metamorphism

The petrogenetic grid between the eclogite and other high-pressure/temperature (P/T) metamorphic facies in a basaltic system is constructed by considering barroisite as one of the important phases in high-P/T metamorphism and by using previous petrological data combined with Schreinemakers' analysis and slope calculation. In the constructed petrogenetic grid, the eclogite facies is bounded by the blueschist and epidote–amphibolite facies with negative-slope reactions at lower temperatures (450–550 °C) and by the epidote–amphibolite, amphibolite and granulite facies with positive-slope reactions at higher temperatures (> 550–600 °C). The eclogite facies does not contact the greenschist facies, and the lowest P condition for the eclogite facies exists at the boundary between the eclogite and epidote–amphibolite facies. The temperature range of the epidote–amphibolite facies increases with increasing pressure until 8–11 kbar and then decreases up to 13–15 kbar. Compared to boundaries of other facies, boundaries of the eclogite facies may have wider P–T ranges. The boundary between the blueschist and eclogite facies occurs over a large temperature range from 450 to 620 ± 30 °C, and the transitions between the eclogite and amphibolite or high-pressure granulite facies occur over a pressure range in excess of 6–10 kbar.     

Effectiveness of BIOECODS for peak flow attenuation: an appraisal using InfoWorks SD

The Bio-Ecological Drainage System (BIOECODS) is a sustainable drainage system, which adopts a “control at source” approach for urban storm water management in Malaysia. This study attempts to model a small-scale BIOECODS using InfoWorks SD. New modelling techniques are used to fully integrate the surface and on-line subsurface conveyance system, in which overland flow routing is described by a storm water management model that uses a nonlinear reservoir method and the kinematic wave approximation of the St Venant equation, and subsurface flow is described by the Horton method in conjunction with the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) curve number (CN) method. The observed water levels at primary outlets are compared with those obtained from model simulation. The modelling approach has been proven successful as the hydrographs (predicted and observed) match each other closely, with a mean error in the range of 4.58–7.32%. Results from the model showed that the BIOECODS is able to attenuate peak flow by 60–75%, and increase the lag time by 20 min within an area of <28?300 m² when compared with a traditional drainage system.     

Influence of Pressure Change During Hydraulic Tests on Fracture Aperture

In a series of field experiments, we evaluate the influence of a small water pressure change on fracture aperture during a hydraulic test. An experimental borehole is instrumented at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) Underground Research Tunnel (KURT). The target fracture for testing was found from the analyses of borehole logging and hydraulic tests. A double packer system was developed and installed in the test borehole to directly observe the aperture change due to water pressure change. Using this packer system, both aperture and flow rate are directly observed under various water pressures. Results indicate a slight change in fracture hydraulic head leads to an observable change in aperture. This suggests that aperture change should be considered when analyzing hydraulic test data from a sparsely fractured rock aquifer.     

Hydraulic diffusivity in a coastal aquifer: spectral analysis of groundwater level in responses to marine system

The hydraulic diffusivity gives a measure of diffusion speed of pressure disturbances in groundwater system; large values of hydraulic diffusivity lead to fast propagation of signals in aquifer. This research provides a novel design and derives spectral representation to determine hydraulic diffusivity using spectral analysis of groundwater levels coupled with time-dependent boundary adjacent to marine system and no flow boundary in aquifer system. To validate the proposed method, water levels of fluctuated boundary and groundwater well in a sandy confined aquifer were collected. The hydraulic diffusivity is then obtained by an inverse process in the non-linear complex form of spectral relationship. The method essentially is constructed on the conceptual design of natural forcing transmitted in large aquifer. It is unlike the conventional field pumping test which is only used to determine hydraulic properties of groundwater in small range around the well. Hydraulic diffusivity of the confined aquifer is determined using real observation and then checked by comparing to the published range. It suggests that without local aquifer test to estimate hydraulic diffusivity in a coastal aquifer using spectral representation with its relevant flow system and boundary has become feasible.     

调谐质量阻尼控制装置在深圳地王商业大厦风振控制中的应用

本文从控制装置实现角度，研究了调谐质量阻尼控制装置的关键技术，其中包括装置的支撑系统、气压弹簧和液压阻尼器。应用这些技术研究了在地王大厦安装HMD装置控制结构风振响应，解决了地王大厦在风荷载作用下总侧移和层间位移角超出我国规范限值的问题。在准确把握结构动力特性和设计准则的前提下，对控制装置的参数进行了设计。系统仿真分析表明，HMD控制装置在地王大厦上应用可以有效降低结构侧向位移。     

Ambiguous Hydraulic Heads and 14C Activities in Transient Regional Flow

A regional flow and transport model is used to explore the implications of significant variability in Pleistocene and Holocene climates on hydraulic heads and ¹⁴C activity. Simulations involve a 39 km slice of the Death Valley Flow System through Yucca Mountain toward the Amargosa Desert. The long-time scale over which infiltration has changed (tens-of-thousands of years) is matched by the large physical extent of the flow system (many tens-of-kilometers). Estimated paleo-infiltration rates were estimated using a juniper pollen percentage that extends from the last interglacial (LIG) period (approximately 120 kyrbp) to present. Flow and ¹⁴C transport simulations show that groundwater flow changes markedly as a function of paleoclimate. At the last glacial maximum (LGM, 21 kyrbp), the recharge to the flow system was about an order-of-magnitude higher than present, and water table was more than 100 m higher. With large basin time constants, flow is complicated because hydraulic heads at a given location reflect conditions of the past, but at another location the flow may reflect present conditions. This complexity is also manifested by processes that depend on flow, for example ¹⁴C transport. Without a model that accounts for the historical transients in recharge for at least the last 20,000 years, there is no simple way to deconvolve the ¹⁴C dates to explain patterns of flow.     

Optimized system to improve pumping rate stability during aquifer tests

Aquifer hydraulic properties are commonly estimated using aquifer tests, which are based on an assumption of a uniform and constant pumping rate. Substantial uncertainties in the flow rate across the borehole-formation interface can be induced by dynamic head losses, caused by rapid changes in borehole water levels early in an aquifer test. A system is presented that substantially reduces these sources of uncertainty by explicitly accounting for dynamic head losses. The system which employs commonly available components (including a datalogger, pressure transducers, a variable-speed pump motor, a flow controller, and flowmeters), is inexpensive, highly mobile, and easily set up. It optimizes the flow rate at the borehole-formation interface, making it suitable for any type of aquifer test, including constant, step, or ramped withdrawal and injection, as well as sinusoidal. The system was demonstrated for both withdrawal and injection tests in three aquifers at the Savannah River Site. No modifications to the control system were required, although a small number of characteristics of the pumping and monitoring system were added to the operating program. The pumping system provided a statistically significant, constant flow rate with time. The range in pumping variability (95% confidence interval) was from +/- 2.58 x 10(-4) L/sec to +/- 9.07 x 10(-4) L/sec, across a wide range in field and aquifer conditions.     

Use of daily precipitation uncertainties in streamflow simulation and forecast

Among other sources of uncertainties in hydrologic modeling, input uncertainty due to a sparse station network was tested. The authors tested impact of uncertainty in daily precipitation on streamflow forecasts. In order to test the impact, a distributed hydrologic model (PRMS, Precipitation Runoff Modeling System) was used in two hydrologically different basins (Animas basin at Durango, Colorado and Alapaha basin at Statenville, Georgia) to generate ensemble streamflows. The uncertainty in model inputs was characterized using ensembles of daily precipitation, which were designed to preserve spatial and temporal correlations in the precipitation observations. Generated ensemble flows in the two test basins clearly showed fundamental differences in the impact of input uncertainty. The flow ensemble showed wider range in Alapaha basin than the Animas basin. The wider range of streamflow ensembles in Alapaha basin was caused by both greater spatial variance in precipitation and shorter time lags between rainfall and runoff in this rainfall dominated basin. This ensemble streamflow generation framework was also applied to demonstrate example forecasts that could improve traditional ESP (Ensemble Streamflow Prediction) method.     

Pressure Buildup and Brine Migration During CO2 Storage in Multilayered Aquifers

Carbon dioxide injection into deep saline formations may induce large‐scale pressure increases and migration of native fluid. Local high‐conductivity features, such as improperly abandoned wells or conductive faults, could act as conduits for focused leakage of brine into shallow groundwater resources. Pressurized brine can also be pushed into overlying/underlying formations because of diffuse leakage through low‐permeability aquitards, which occur over large areas and may allow for effective pressure bleed‐off in the storage reservoirs. This study presents the application of a recently developed analytical solution for pressure buildup and leakage rates in a multilayered aquifer‐aquitard system with focused and diffuse brine leakage. The accuracy of this single‐phase analytical solution for estimating far‐field flow processes is verified by comparison with a numerical simulation study that considers the details of two‐phase flow. We then present several example applications for a hypothetical CO₂ injection scenario (without consideration of two‐phase flow) to demonstrate that the new solution is an efficient tool for analyzing regional pressure buildup in a multilayered system, as well as for gaining insights into the leakage processes of flow through aquitards, leaky wells, and/or leaky faults. This solution may be particularly useful when a large number of calculations needs to be performed, that is, for uncertainty quantification, for parameter estimation, or for the optimization of pressure‐management schemes.     

Development and testing of a coupled ocean–atmosphere mesoscale ensemble prediction system

A coupled ocean–atmosphere mesoscale ensemble prediction system has been developed by the Naval Research Laboratory. This paper describes the components and implementation of the system and presents baseline results from coupled ensemble simulations for two tropical cyclones. The system is designed to take into account major sources of uncertainty in: (1) non-deterministic dynamics, (2) model error, and (3) initial states. The purpose of the system is to provide mesoscale ensemble forecasts for use in probabilistic products, such as reliability and frequency of occurrence, and in risk management applications. The system components include COAMPS® (Coupled Ocean/Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System) and NCOM (Navy Coastal Ocean Model) for atmosphere and ocean forecasting and NAVDAS (NRL Atmospheric Variational Data Assimilation System) and NCODA (Navy Coupled Ocean Data Assimilation) for atmosphere and ocean data assimilation. NAVDAS and NCODA are 3D-variational (3DVAR) analysis schemes. The ensembles are generated using separate applications of the Ensemble Transform (ET) technique in both the atmosphere (for moving or non-moving nests) and the ocean. The atmospheric ET is computed using wind, temperature, and moisture variables, while the oceanographic ET is derived from ocean current, temperature, and salinity variables. Estimates of analysis error covariance, which is used as a constraint in the ET, are provided by the ocean and atmosphere 3DVAR assimilation systems. The newly developed system has been successfully tested for a variety of configurations, including differing model resolution, number of members, forecast length, and moving and fixed nest options. Results from relatively coarse resolution (～27-km) ensemble simulations of Hurricanes Hanna and Ike demonstrate that the ensemble can provide valuable uncertainty information about the storm track and intensity, though the ensemble mean provides only a small amount of improved predictive skill compared to the deterministic control member.     

Steady state analysis of unsaturated flow above a shallow water-table aquifer drained by ditches

The one-dimensional pressure head profile above a fixed water-table was studied for different steady infiltration rates. As shown in previous studies, when the infiltration rate (q_in) is less than the soil saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), this profile can be divided into two parts: (1) from the water-table surface (z₀) to an elevation z_γ, the pressure head varies from 0 to a value h_γ such as K(h_γ)=−q_in; (2) above the elevation z_γ the pressure head is constant and equal to h_γ. Above the water-table the zone where the pressure head is variable has been called ‘transition zone’. Its height is shown to be highly variable and to depend on soil properties as well as on the infiltration rate. This transition zone is not the ‘capillary fringe’ as defined by Gillham (Gillham R.W., 1984. The capillary fringe and its effect on water-table response. J. Hydrol. 67, 307–324). Numerical experiments performed with HYDRUS-2D^® for the case of a water-table drained by parallel ditches have shown that the height of the transition zone is similar in the one-dimensional profile and in the two-dimensional system as long as the local slope of the water-table is small. This result is important since in a two-dimensional system, the transition zone is the place where all the horizontal component of the unsaturated flow occurs. The ratio of the horizontal component of the unsaturated flow vs the total horizontal flow in both the unsaturated and saturated zones has been computed. For a given soil, this ratio decreases as the infiltration rate increases; for a given infiltration rate, the soil with the thinnest transition zone transfers the largest amount of water above the water-table.     

Aragonite and omphacite-bearing metapelite from Besshi region, Sambagawa belt in central Shikoku, Japan and its implication

Aragonite and omphacite-bearing metapelite occurs in the albite–biotite zone of the Togu (Tohgu) area, Besshi region, Sambagawa metamorphic belt, central Shikoku, Japan. This metapelite consists of alternating graphite-rich and graphite-poor layers that contain garnet, phengite, chlorite, epidote, titanite, calcite, albite, and quartz. A graphite-poor layer contains a 1.5-cm ivory-colored lens that mainly consists of phengite, calcite, albite, and garnet. Aragonite, omphacite, and paragonite occur as inclusions in the garnet of the ivory lens. The aragonite has a composition that is close to the CaCO₃ end-member: the FeCO₃ and MnCO₃ components are both less than 0.3 mol% and the SrCO₃ component is about 1 mol%. The aragonite + omphacite + quartz assemblage in garnet indicates equilibrium conditions of P  > 1.1–1.3 GPa and T  = 430–550°C. Quartz grains sealed in garnet of the aragonite and omphacite-bearing sample and other metapelites in the Togu area preserve a high residual pressure that is equivalent to the Sambagawa eclogite samples. These facts suggest that: (i) the Togu area experienced eclogite facies metamorphism; and (ii) thus, eclogite facies metamorphism covered the Sambagawa belt more extensively than previously recognized.     

Numerical simulation of channel pattern changes Part Ⅰ: Mathematical model

This paper presents a computational fluid dynamics model for simulation of twodimensional (2-D) water flow, sediment transport, bank failure processes, and the subsequent channel pattern changes. Effects of secondary currents at channel bends are included in the modified momentum conservation equation of water flow. An improved bank failure model is applied to calculate bank failure due to riverbed erosion, and to simulate lateral migration and planform changes of alluvial channels. The water flow model has been validated using laboratory measurements of flow in consecutive bends designed by the authors, in addition to flume test data from the literature.     

Attenuation of P- and S-waves in limestones

Ultrasonic compressional- and shear-wave attenuation measurements have been made on 40, centimetre-sized samples of water- and oil-saturated oolitic limestones at 50 MPa effective hydrostatic pressure (confining pressure minus pore-fluid pressure) at frequencies of about 0.85 MHz and 0.7 MHz respectively, using the pulse-echo method. The mineralogy, porosity, permeability and the distribution of the pore types of each sample were determined using a combination of optical and scanning electron microscopy, a helium porosimeter and a nitrogen permeameter. The limestones contain a complex porosity system consisting of interparticle macropores (dimensions up to 300 microns) and micropores (dimensions 5–10 microns) within the ooids, the calcite cement and the mud matrix. Ultrasonic attenuation reaches a maximum value in those limestones in which the dual porosity system is most fully developed, indicating that the squirt-flow mechanism, which has previously been shown to occur in shaley sandstones, also operates in the limestones. It is argued that the larger-scale dual porosity systems present in limestones in situ could similarly cause seismic attenuation at the frequencies of field seismic surveys through the operation of the squirt-flow mechanism.     

Time‐Elevation Head Sections: Improved Visualization of Data from Multilevels

Hydrogeologic investigations of fractured rock are evolving toward increasing spatial and temporal resolution with increasing use of multilevel systems with 10 or more intervals in a single borehole, each with auto‐sampling sensors monitoring pressure, temperature or chemistry for weeks or months, creating large quantities of densely sampled data (time and space). These data are typically displayed as hydrographs for analysis of site‐specific controls on groundwater flow. We present a method for presentation of high density pressure head data from multilevel installations referred to as time‐elevation head (TEH) sections that improves visualization of spatial and temporal responses of the hydrogeologic system to external stresses. Data collected from two multilevel installations, each with 13 functioning pressure transducers monitoring the upper 40 m of a dolostone aquifer, over a period of 83 d, prior to, during and after a pumping test are used to present TEH sections and examples of data processing. TEH sections are produced using commercially available software designed for geophysical data collected at closely spaced intervals along sub‐parallel lines. These algorithms perform calculations orthogonally either in time (“X” axis) or elevation (“Y” axis) to interpolate a regular grid of head and subsequently when filtering is used to identify subtle trends within the data. The base and filtered TEH sections are used to interpret response of the system to transients and infer hydrogeologic characteristics of the site. The utility of the process is dependent on the precision and accuracy of the head data as well as an informed user to avoid introducing spurious features into the sections.     

Electrokinetic phenomena associated with a water injection experiment at the Nojima fault on Awaji Island, Japan

Abstract Self-potential variations were measured to estimate the magnitude of electrokinetic and hydrological parameters (zeta potential and permeability) of the Nojima Fault zone in Awaji, Japan. The study observed self-potential variations that seemed to be associated with water flow from the injection well to the fracture zone, which were induced by turning the injection on and off. Amplitudes of the variations were a few to 0.03 V across 320–450 m dipoles. These variations can be explained well with an electrokinetic model. The quantity k/ζ (permeability/zeta potential) is in the range 1.6 × 10⁻¹³− 5.4 × 10⁻¹³ m²/V. Permeability of the Nojima fault zone can be estimated as approximately 10⁻¹⁶–10⁻¹⁵ m² on the assumption that the zeta potential is in the range –0.01 to –0.001 V.     

Estimation of soil erosion and sediment yield using GIS

Abstract

A Geographical Information System (GIS) based method is proposed and demonstrated for the identification of sediment source areas and the prediction of storm sediment yield from catchments. Data from the Nagwa and Karso catchments in Bihar (India) have been used. The Integrated Land and Water Information System (ILWIS) GIS package has been used for carrying out geographic analyses. An Earth Resources Data Analysis System (ERDAS) Imagine image processor has been used for the digital analysis of satellite data for deriving the land cover and soil characteristics of the catchments. The catchments were discretized into hydrologically homogeneous grid cells to capture the catchment heterogeneity. The cells thus formed were then differentiated into cells of overland flow regions and cells of channel flow regions based on the magnitude of their flow accumulation areas. The gross soil erosion in each cell was calculated using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) by carefully determining its various parameters. The concept of sediment delivery ratio (SDR) was used for determination of the total sediment yield of each catchment during isolated storm events.     

Flush-Joint Threads Find a Home

With the rapid growth of PVC in the well casing and screen market, many different applications and methods of use have surfaced. One major method of fastening or joining thermoplastic well casing is the flush-joint thread. Widespread use of flush-joint threads on Schedule 40 and Schedule 80 pipe has caused concern about the physical strength and hydrostatic integrity of these threads. These concerns are magnified when one discovers the multitude of different manufacturers, each with his own thread design. There has, however, been a solution: Committee F17 of ASTM has passed a change in the Standard F480, which is now: ASTM F480–88A Standard Specification for Thermoplastic Well Casing and Couplings Made In Standard Dimension Ratios (SDR), Schedule 40 and Schedule 80. This change partially consists of incorporating specifications for flush-joint threads in Schedule 40 and Schedule 80 casing, in sizes ± inch to 16 inch in Schedule 80 and 2 inch to 16 inch in Schedule 40. This long overdue standard now ensures field thread compatibility with all pipe specified with this standard. It also requires manufacturers to cut a functional and reliable thread.
Extensive testing has been done to determine the physical properties of the specified thread. The three tests that help the purchaser determine the working parameters of this flush-joint thread include:
1. Tensile test of the threaded joint
2. Internal hydrostatic pressure test
3. External hydrostatic pressure test.
Using ASTM guidelines test methods were developed for testing this thread. Results show that the new thread specification in F480 is a valid and functional design.     

Experimental analysis on the impact force of viscous debris flow

A miniaturized flume experiment was carried out to measure impact forces of viscous debris flow. The flow depth (7.2–11.2 cm), velocity (2.4–5.2 m/s) and impact force were recorded during the experiment. The impact process of debris flow can be divided into three phases by analyzing the variation of impact signals and flow regime. The three phases are the sudden strong impact of the debris flow head, continuous dynamic pressure of the body and slight static pressure of the tail. The variation of impact process is consistent with the change in the flow regime. The head has strong–rapid impact pressure, which is shown as a turbulent‐type flow; the body approximates to steady laminar flow. Accordingly, the process of debris flows hitting structures was simplified to a triangle shape, ignoring the pressure of the tail. In order to study the distribution of the debris flow impact force at different depths and variation of the impact process over time, the impact signals of slurry and coarse particles were separated from the original signals using wavelet analysis. The slurry's dynamic pressure signal appears to be a smooth curve, and the peak pressure is 12–34 kPa when the debris flow head hits the sensors, which is about 1.54 ± 0.36 times the continuous dynamic pressure of the debris flow body. The limit of application of the empirical parameter α in the hydraulic formula was also noted. We introduced the power function relationship of α and the Froude number of debris flows, and proposed a universal model for calculating dynamic pressure. The impact pressure of large particles has the characteristic of randomness. The mean frequency of large particles impacting the sensor is 210 ± 50–287 ± 29 times per second, and it is 336 ± 114–490 ± 69 times per second for the debris flow head, which is greater than that in the debris flow body. Peak impact pressure of particles at different flow depths is 40–160 kPa, which is 3.2 ± 1.5 times the impact pressure of the slurry at the bottom of the flow, 3.1 ± 0.9 times the flow in the middle, and 3.3 ± 0.9 times the flow at the surface. The differences in impact frequency indicate that most of the large particles concentrate in the debris flow head, and the number of particles in the debris flow head increases with height. This research supports the study of solid–liquid two phase flow mechanisms, and helps engineering design and risk assessment in debris flow prone areas. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The first airborne scalar gravimetry system based on SINS/DGPS in China

China has developed an airborne gravimetry system based on SINS/DGPS named SGA-WZ,the first system in which a strapdown inertial navigation system(SINS)has been used for airborne gravimetry in China.This gravity measurement system consists of a strap-down inertial navigation system and a differential global positioning system(DGPS).In April 2010,a flight test was carried out in Shandong Province of China to test the accuracy of this system.The test was designed to assess the repeatability and accuracy of the system.Two repeated flights and six grid flights were made.The flying altitude was about 400 m.The average flying speed was about 60 m/s,which corresponds to a spatial resolution of 4.8 km when using 160-s cutoff low-pass filter.This paper describes the data processing of the system.The evaluation of the internal precision is based on repeated flights and differences in crossover points.Gravity results in this test from the repeated flight lines show that the repeatability of the repeat lines is 1.6 mGal with a spatial resolution of 4.8 km,and the internal precision of grid flight data is3.2 mGal with a spatial resolution of 4.8 km.There are some systematic errors in the gravity results,which can be modeled using trigonometric function.After the systematic errors are compensated,the precision of grid flight data can be better than1 mGal.