Changes in daily maximum temperature extremes across India over 1951–2014 and their relation with cereal crop productivity

This study used gridded daily maximum temperature data (1°?×?1°) for 1951–2014 period to analyze the trend in monthly extreme warm days (ExWD) and changes in its probability distribution in each grid. It also analyzed the trend in spatial spread of annual ExWD over the study period at four exceedance levels and further related the number of ExWDs with cereal crop productivity of India. Extreme warm days have increased throughout India but were statistically significant in 42% grids. The increase was consistent over all the months in north-eastern region, southern plateau and both the coastal plains. It also increased significantly over north-western and central India during April to June summer period. The probability distribution of ExWD also changed significantly in many grids, especially in southern plateau and both the coastal plains. The changes indicated increased frequency in the existing levels of extremes and new occurrences of higher frequency of extremes. The analysis of land area affected by different levels of extremes indicated significant increase, with the rate being highest for higher extremes. In terms of extreme warm day temperatures, the study identified southern plateau, east and west coast plains, and north-eastern India as highly vulnerable. Using copula probability model, study showed that increase in ExWD from 20 to 60% may increase the probability of 5% or more yield loss from 17 to 53% for Kharif cereals, 11 to 43% for Rabi cereals and 19 to 63% for wheat crop. The results may be used for devising zone specific adaptation strategies.     

Finite volume–based modeling of flow‐induced shear failure along fracture manifolds

In this paper, a numerical model to predict flow‐induced shear failure along pre‐existing fractures is presented. The framework is based on a discrete fracture representation embedded in a continuum describing the damaged matrix. A finite volume method is used to compute both flow and mechanical equilibrium, whereas specifically tailored basis functions are used to account for the physics at discontinuities. The failure criterion is based on a maximum shear strength limit, which changes with varying compressive stress on the fracture manifold. The displacements along fracture manifolds are obtained such that force balance is achieved under conditions, where shear stress of the failing fracture segment is constrained to the maximum shear strength at the segment. Simultaneously, the fluid pressure is computed independently of the shear slip. A relaxation model approach is used to obtain the maximum shear limit on the fracture manifold, which leads to grid convergence.     

SPH procedures for modeling multiple intersecting discontinuities in geomaterial

A methodology is developed in SPH framework to analyze the behavior of preexisting multiple intersecting discontinuities or joints in rock material. The procedure does not require any additional unknowns to represent discontinuities and to capture velocity jump across them. Instead, a discontinuity is represented by a set of joint particles placed along the discontinuity plane, in which relative velocity and traction vector is evaluated, obeying the Mohr–Coulomb friction law with zero tension constrain. For failure of continuous rock material, the Drucker–Prager yield criterion with tensile cracking is employed in the elastic‐plastic constitutive model. Free‐sip, no‐slip, and symmetric boundary conditions are also implemented in SPH framework for proper representation of physical system. The paper analyzes behavior of a rock sample having a discontinuity plane under uniaxial loading and compares velocity and stress with a theoretical solution derived considering effective vertical stiffness of the joint planes. The efficacy of the proposed method is successfully demonstrated by solving another two problems of jointed rock mass under uniaxial and gravitational loading conditions.Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of chlorine on near-liquidus phase equilibria of an Fe–Mg-rich tholeiitic basalt

The importance of Cl in basalt petrogenesis has been recognized, yet constraints on its effect on liquidus crystallization of basalts are scarce. In order to quantify the role of Cl in basaltic systems, we have experimentally determined near-liquidus phase relations of a synthetic Fe–Mg-rich basalt, doped with 0.0–2.5 wt% dissolved Cl, at 0.7, 1.1, and 1.5 GPa. Results have been parameterized and compared with previous data from literature. The effect of Cl on mineral chemistry and liquidus depression is dependent on the starting basaltic composition. The liquidus depression measured for a SiO₂-rich, Al₂O₃-poor basalt is smaller than that observed for a basaltic melt depleted in silica and enriched in FeO_T and Al₂O₃. The effect of Cl on depression of the olivine–orthopyroxene–liquid multiple saturation pressure does not seem to vary with the starting composition of the basaltic liquid. This suggests that Cl may significantly promote the generation of silica-poor, Fe–Al-rich magmas in the Earth, Mars, and the Moon.     

Planar and nonplanar ion acoustic shock waves with nonthermal electrons and positrons

The nonlinear propagation of ion acoustic shock waves (IASWs) are studied in an unmagnetized plasma consisting of nonthermal electrons, nonthermal positrons, and singly charged adiabatically hot positive ions, whose dynamics is governed by the two dimensional nonplanar Kadomstev-Petviashvili-Burgers (KPB) equation. The shock solution of the KPB equations is obtained numerically. The effects of several parameters and ion kinematic viscosities on the properties of ion acoustic shock waves are discussed in planar and nonplanar geometry. It is shown that the ion acoustic shock wave propagating in cylindrical/spherical geometry with transverse perturbation will be deformed as time goes on. Also, it is seen that the strength and the steepness of the IASWs increases with increasing β, the nonthermal parameter.     

Superthermal effect of electrons on nonplanar dust-ion-acoustic solitary waves and double layers in a dusty plasma

The basic features of planar and nonplanar time-dependent dust-ion-acoustic (DIA) solitary waves (SWs) and double layers (DLs) have been studied in an unmagnetized dusty plasma system consisting of positively and negatively charged dust, Boltzmann distributed ions and superthermal electrons (represented by kappa distribution). Using the reductive perturbation technique (RPT) we have derived modified Gardner (MG) equation, which gives information beyond the Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) limits (corresponding to the vanishing of nonlinear coefficient of the KdV equation). It is seen that the properties of nonplanar DIA SWs and DLs are significantly differs as the value of spectral index kappa (κ) changes. The present investigation may have relevance in the study of propagation of DIA waves in space and laboratory plasmas.     

Effect of meso‐structure on strength and size effect in concrete under tension

The effect of heterogeneity in meso level geometric and material properties on tensile strength and size effect in split cylinder specimens is investigated. Critical meso geometric parameters are identified by studying their influence on the evolution of the fracture process zone. A statistical analysis is used to account for dependencies between the parameters. A reversal of the size effect, important for the strength of field specimens, is observed for certain meso geometries. Meso level explanations for this are proposed, and meso geometries likely to show such a reversal are identified. For moderately sized specimens, major trends in the size effect are seen to be almost entirely explained by heterogeneity in the meso geometry.     

Quality Assessment of Atmospheric Motion Vectors Over the Indian Ocean

Because conventional observations over the oceans are not available, especially during tropical cyclones, multi-spectral atmospheric motion vectors (AMVs) estimated from geostationary satellites are routinely assimilated in the numerical weather prediction models at different operational centres across the globe. The derived AMVs are generally validated with radiosonde observations available over land at synoptic hours; however, over the ocean there is a limited scope to assess the quality of AMVs. Over ocean, AMVs can be validated with radiosonde data available from opportunistic ships or using dropsonde data available from aircrafts. In this study, the accuracy of the AMVs derived from the geostationary satellites Kalpana-1 and Meteosat-7 is evaluated over the oceanic region. Radiosonde data available from a ship cruise held in the Bay of Bengal during the period 09 July–08 August 2012 and from the Cal/Val site situated at Kavaratti Island (72.62°E, 10.57°N) in the southern Indian Ocean are used to assess the AMV accuracy. In this study, 83 radiosonde profiles are used to validate the Kalpana-1 AMVs, to allow a better understanding of AMV errors over the Indian Ocean. The RMSVD of Kalpana-1 AMVs for the high-, mid- and low-levels are found to be 7.9, 9.4 and 5.3 m s^?1, respectively, while the corresponding RMSVD for Meteosat-7 AMVs are 9.1, 5.5 and 3.7 m s^?1. A similar accuracy is observed when the AMVs are validated against the NCEP analyses collocated with the nearest radiosonde locations. The high RMSVD and bias for Kalpana-1 AMVs at the mid-level and Meteosat-7 AMVs at the high-level are associated with the limitation of satellite winds to resolve the upper-level easterly jet in conjunction with errors in the height assignment. This study could help the numerical modellers to assign appropriate observation error over this region during the assimilation of AMVs into the NWP models.