F) Personalia

Abstract

Knowledge of the natural resources of a country is essential for the assessment of its development possibilities. This is particularly true for the evaluation of groundwater resources in a country like Uruguay, where less than 5 per cent of the potential is exploited and this in an inefficient way, and where no drastic future increase in demand is predicted.

In the present paper the generalized hydrogeological model of the country was reconstructed, and recharge values, obtained by an approach adapted from nearby areas, were introduced.     

G) Personalia

Abstract

This paper proposes a framework for identifying the parameters of a lumped routing model in small to medium sized catchments where lateral inflows can be large but poorly defined. In a first step, a priori estimates of the parameters are made based on topography, aerial photographs, flood marks and field surveys. In a second step, runoff data are analysed of reservoir release events and convective events where no rainfall in the direct catchments occurred. In a third step the routing model is calibrated to the results of hydrodynamic models for scenarios of different magnitudes. In a fourth step, these pieces of information are combined, allowing for soft expert judgement to be incorporated. In a fifth step, the routing parameters are fine tuned to observed flood events where lateral inflows are estimated by a rainfall—runoff model. The framework is illustrated by the Kamp flood forecasting system in Austria that has been in operational use since 2006.     

Acute Toxicity of Sodium Nitrite on Channa punctatus (BLOCH) and Mystus (Mystus) vittatus (BLOCH)

This paper deals with the toxicity of sodium nitrite to freshwater fishes, Channa punctatus (BL.) and Mystus (M). vittatus (Bl.) as to determine the acute toxicity. The LC 50 values were obtained by using a static bioassay method for a period of 24, 48, 72 and 96 hour intervals. The LC 50 values of sodium nitrite for C. punctatus were 375, 325, 250 and 200 ppm and for M. (M). vittatus 164, 140, 90 and 64 ppm, respectively. A profuse mucus secretion was evident at higher concentrations as compared to lower ones. The probable causes of mortality of the fishes are also discussed.     

利用~(210)Pb、~(137)Cs和~(241)Am计年法测算云南抚仙湖现代沉积速率

通过对云南抚仙湖沉积物柱芯样品的~(210)Pb、~(137)Cs和~(241)Am测试表明,柱芯剖面上有明显的1963年和1986年~(137)Cs蓄积峰,验证了1975年次级蓄积峰存在的可能性,这些峰形完好的蓄积峰对抚仙湖的现代沉积环境有明显的时标意义。利用~(137)Cs计年法得到抚仙湖沉积物自1963年、1975年及1986年以来到2007年的平均沉积速率分别为0.063g/(cm~2·a)、0.052g/(cm~2·a)和0.039g/(cm~2·a),说明了过去近五十年抚仙湖沉积速率整体上经历了一个由快到慢的过程。借助于~(241)Am的1963年蓄积峰可以提高~(137)Cs计年的准确性。根据~(210)Pb CRS计年模式,计算出每个样品深度所对应的年代,与~(137)Cs计年法比较存在一定的偏差,分析了两种计年方法存在差异性的原因。通过质量深度和年代分析,抚仙湖的沉积速率变化幅度比较大,表明抚仙湖近129年来的沉积环境不稳定,可能与相应历史时期的人类活动有密切的关系。     

Direct scanning tunneling microscope (STM) observation of Cr(III) complexes on hematite (001) surfaces

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is used to observe, at the atomic scale, Cr(III) adsorbed to hematite (001) surfaces from aqueous solution. The Cr(III) adsorbates are relatively immobile, but estimated activation energies for surface self-diffusion are lower than those for water or hydroxyl substitution in aqueous Cr(III). Possible causes are effects of STM imaging (artifacts), high ligand-substitution rates for adsorbed species, or participation of substrate Fe (III) ligand exchange. STM imaging of suitable aqueous surface complexes is shown to be feasible, and constitutes a new way to study the relationships between microscopic and macroscopic chemical behavior of adsorbed species in aqueous systems.     

D) UNITED Nations

Synopsis

In areas of accentuated relief, some of the basic assumptions made in the use of standard methods of assessing areal mean rainfall are often untenable. It is shown in this paper, that, not only does topography affect the actual rainfall distribution, but that the areal variability, measured as the correlation between any two points, is also dependent on the relief. Two methods are used to show this. Once method compares the areal variability of a flat area to one of accentuated relief, while the second method relates areal variability to topographic factors using a multiple regression technique.

The conclusions reached are then used for three purposed. The first is to develop a method of ascribing objectively areas or points to a particular raingauge, taking into account the nature of the terrain. The second is to establish a procedure for estimating the rainfall at ungauged points, by taking into account the rainfall at a selected nearby rainguage and the topographic situation of the points, and the third purpose is to provide means of establishing a correction factor to be applied to a raingauge reading in order that the reading may more accurately represent the area ascribed to it.     

C) United Nations

Synopsis

An inexpensive continuously recording turbidity transducer on two different types of mounting has been developed at the University of Natal, and installed at two stations in the Umgeni River system. The geometry and components of the transducers are detailed, and a sampler used to calibrate the transducers is also described. A portable turbidity meter has also been developed.     

E) Organisations Nationales

Abstract

Sudden rapid advances or surges of glaciers and sections of smail ice caps are well known. After remaining dormant or in retreat over long periods of time these ice masses suddenly move forward rapidly with speeds about 2 orders of magnitude greater than usual. If such surges were to occur in large sections of the Antarctic ice sheet serious consequences could result. These include a significant rise of sea level, a substantial increase in the high-albedo ice cover around the continent especially in summer, and a cooling of the Antarctic ocean by the additional ice melting.

A numerical model has now been developed which simulates surging in certain glaciers and ice sheets in an apparently realistic manner. This model has been found to give close representations to a number of existing real surging temperate ice masses from small mountain glaciers to large sectors of ice caps. The model reproduces realistically many features of these ice masses such as the period of the surge, the duration, the velocity of advance, the magnitude of the advance, and the changes in ice thickness.

The application of the model to the Antarctic ice sheet is made more difficult by the problem caused by the temperature dependence of the flow properties of ice. This means that for a complete study the interaction with the environment needs to be considered. However, at this stage preliminary calculations indicate a number of features that are relevant to the effect of Antarctic ice surges on the global climate. These include the period between surges, the duration of the surge, the amount of ice advanced and the changes in thickness of the ice sheet.     

B) Organisations internationales

Abstract

A modification of Svanidze's fragments method was applied to generate synthetic samples of monthly inflows to the La Angostura and Malpaso dams, located on the Grijalva River, in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. This modification allows generation of the monthly runoff of several dams in a series and preservation of their cross-correlations. Comparing statistics of generated and historical series, a good agreement between them was observed, especially for the autocorrelations between consecutive months and for cross-correlations between both dams, except for slight differences in the standard deviation and the skewness during the dry period.     

F) ORGANISATIONS NATIONALES

Abstract

Phytoplankton concentration in West Point Lake, Georgia, appears to be related to the availability of nutrients as measured by AGP (algal growth potential) assays. AGP and phytoplankton concentrations change with distance and the rates of change are greater at higher temperatures than at lower temperatures. Little or no decrease in the AGP or increase in the phytoplankton concentration occurs at temperatures less than about 13°C. Phytoplankton concentration is related to water temperature and distance downstream from Franklin in the lake at sites where the AGP is greater than about 0.5 mg/l.