Galerkin finite element analysis of harbor channels

A numerical simulation model is developed to investigate wave profiles and velocities in harbor channels. The Galerkin Technique is coupled with the finite element method in the flow model. An important feature is the addition of terms in the momentum equation to account for the vertical accelerations. The model can be used by ocean engineers to analyze the effects of varying channel geometry on wave oscillations and velocities in a channel connecting a harbor to the ocean.     

Airborne measurements of submicron aerosols across the coastline at Bhubaneswar during ICARB

Airborne measurements of the number concentration and size distribution of aerosols from 13 to 700 nm diameter have been made at four vertical levels across a coastline at Bhubaneswar (20°25′N, 85°83′E) during the Integrated Campaign for Aerosols, gases and Radiation Budget (ICARB) programme conducted in March–April 2006. The measurements made during the constant-level flights at 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 km altitude levels extend ～100 km over land and ～150km over ocean. Aerosol number concentrations vary from 2200 to 4500 cm^?3 at 0.5 km level but are almost constant at ～ 6000 cm^?3 and ～ 800 cm^?3 at 2 and 3 km levels, respectively. At 1km level, aerosol number concentration shows a peak of 18,070 cm^?3 around the coastline. Most of the aerosol size distribution curves at 0.5 km and 1 km levels are monomodal with a maxima at 110nm diameter which shifts to 70 nm diameter at 2 and 3 km levels. However, at the peak at 1 km level, number concentration has a bimodal distribution with an additional maximum appearing in nucleation mode. It is proposed that this maxima in nucleation mode at 1 km level may be due to the formation and transport of new particles from coastal regions.     

The application of least squares analysis for the estimation of low atmospheric concentrations of short-lived radon daughters and studies on their disequilibrium

The application of the weighted and unweighted least-squares method to the analysis of the individual concentrations of short-lived radon daughters in the open atmosphere, where, unlike in the mines the levels are low, is discussed. The method can be optimized to give minimum counting errors by proper choice of collection times and counting periods. By analysing a large number of samples it is shown that the least squares method gives better accuracy than the simultaneous equations method generally in use. The calculation can be simplified by using the unweighted least-squares analysis without significant loss in accuracy. The levels of RaA, RaB and RaC in surface air at Bombay during the period January-June 1975, calculated using the least-square method, are presented. The activity ratios of RaC/RaB are shown to have an average value around 0.6–0.9 even at 18 m height. The RaB/RaA activity ratios however show a much larger scatter than the RaC/RaB values. The possible reasons for these differences are discussed. The application of the least-squares method to the analysis of Th-B and Th-C is also described.     

Interactive effects of hypoxia and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) on microbial community assembly in surface marine sediments

Hypoxia alters the oxidation–reduction balance and the biogeochemical processes in sediments, but little is known about its impacts on the microbial community that is responsible for such processes. In this study, we investigated the effects of hypoxia and the ubiquitously dispersed flame-retardant BDE47 on the bacterial communities in marine surface sediments during a 28-days microcosm experiment. Both hypoxia and BDE47 alone significantly altered the bacterial community and reduced the species and genetic diversity. UniFrac analysis revealed that BDE47 selected certain bacterial species and resulted in major community shifts, whereas hypoxia changed the relative abundances of taxa, suggesting slower but nonetheless significant community shifts. These two stressors targeted mostly different taxa, but they both favored Bacteroidetes and suppressed Gammaproteobacteria. Importantly, the impacts of BDE47 on bacterial communities were different under hypoxic and normoxic conditions, highlighting the need to consider risk assessments for BDE47 in a broader context of interaction with hypoxia.     

First record of three giant marine Bathynomids (Crustacea, Isopoda, Cirolanidae) from India

Three species,Bathynomus decemspinosus,B.doederleini and B.kensleyi (Crustacea,Isopoda,Cirolanidae),are reported for the first time from the Parangipettai coastal waters,Southeast coast of India.Several Trilasmis (Temnaspis) tridens (Cirripedia Thoracica,Lepadomorpha) were attached to the pleopods of some individuals.So,five bathynomid species are currently reported from India.     

Investigations of the development of thunderstorm with hail. Part 2. Analysis of methods for the forecast and diagnosis of the electrical properties of clouds

The results of observation of the development of a high-depth thunder-hail storm is presented. The measurements were carried out with the MRL-5 weather radar and LS8000 lightning detection system. The electrical parameters of the investigated cloud obtained with LS8000 as well as their relations to radar-derived cloud characteristics and to the indirect criteria of electrical conditions computed on their basis are analyzed. The possibility to forecast thunderstorm based on different thermodynamic criteria is investigated. The high correlation was revealed between the total lightning current in the LF range and the lightning flash rate in the LF and VHF ranges. The total charge transferred by negative lightnings from this cloud to the ground is equal to 387 C; the average value of charge per one lightning is 0.44 C. Regression equations linking the radar criteria of lightnings and the lightning flash rate are presented.     

Studying the effects of severe aerosol pollution of the atmosphere on the dynamics of cumulonimbus cloud charge structure by numerical modeling

Studied are the effects of severe aerosol pollution of the atmosphere on the parameters of a cumulonimbus cloud (including its charge structure) and on precipitation. Considered is the example of the cloud that developed on May 11, 2009 near the town of Kharagpur (India) under conditions of severe aerosol pollution of the atmosphere due to dust transport from the desert. The in situ observations of the evolution of the cumulonimbus cloud of large vertical and horizontal extent and of its electric conditions were carried out on that day. It is found that the distribution of electric charges in the cloud was characterized by inverted polarity (i.e., the main positive charge is in the bottom of the cloud and the negative one is in the upper part of the cloud that contradicts usually observed cases). Using the small-dimension numerical model conducted are numerical experiments on the simulation of aerosol effects produced on the evolution of dynamic, microphysical, and electric structure of the cloud under study, namely, the cloud development under background conditions and in case of high aerosol concentration. It is assumed that aerosol particles possess ice-forming properties. It is obtained that the dynamic, microphysical, and electric structures of the cloud are significantly transformed under the influence of high aerosol concentrations; precipitation generation also significantly intensifies; polarity in the distribution of electric charge varies that agrees with the data of in situ observations.     

Mathematical Modeling of Diffusion and Transport of Pollutants in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer

— The process of dispersion of air pollutants, in a broad sense, can be considered as the net outcome of various mechanisms involved in the transport of air pollutants from the source to the receptor. The major mechanisms are: (1) advection of pollutants by mean air motion, (2) mixing of pollutants by atmospheric turbulence and (3) mass diffusion due to concentration gradients. In addition, the physical and chemical nature of the effluent, the location of the stack and the nature of the terrain downwind from the stack, effect the dispersion of the pollutants. Various physical and mathematical aspects related to the transport and diffusion of air pollutants in the atmospheric boundary layer are discussed here. Further, some aspects of dispersion in a weak wind stable boundary layer are described. Finally, the current issues in the modeling of weak wind boundary layer are illustrated.     

Diurnal variation of surface currents at a tropical station

The surface measurements of different atmospheric electrical and meteorological parameters made at a tropical station were analyzed, to study their diurnal variation pattern with specific emphasis on convection current and the meteorological conditions responsible for its generation. The analysis shows that most of the time the displacement current is very small. The convection current is positive for most of the time of the day indicating transport of negative charge to the earth by convection. In spite of very low winds during night, the convection current is found to be more during night than during day. Large space charge density gradient near the earth's surface during stable and stratified atmosphere at night may be a reason for large convection current during that time. This study demonstrates that eddy diffusion during day time and large space charge gradient during night time are responsible for generation of convection current at this location.     

Investigation of the effects of high atmospheric aerosol pollution on the development of the high-depth cumulonimbus cloud

Considered is a case of the development of the cumulonimbus cloud (Cb) in the southwestern part of Saudi Arabia under the conditions of heavy pollution of atmosphere with natural aerosol. Using the ground-based radar and satellite radiometric instruments, the characteristics of the Cb are obtained for the cloud top height of more than 14 km and maximum reflectivity of 58 dBZ. To measure the precipitation rate using the radar data, the Z-I ratio obtained for the area under study was applied. To compute the precipitation rate, the results of the sounding with the SEVERI radiometer installed on the Meteosat-8 satellite were also used. Carried out are numerical experiments on the simulation of aerosol effects on the evolution of the cloud under study. The development of the cloud at the presence of background aerosol was simulated as well as at high aerosol concentration. Three cases are considered: aerosol is a passive admixture; aerosol has hygroscopic properties; aerosol has ice-forming properties. It is demonstrated that the most considerable effects on the cloud evolution are caused by the intensification of ice formation under the influence of aerosol; not only the time distribution of precipitation rate changes but also the amount of precipitation increases.