The energy range above 60 keV is important for the study of many open problems in high energy astrophysics such as the role of Inverse Compton with respect to synchrotron or thermal processes in GRBs, non thermal mechanisms in SNR, the study of the high energy cut-offs in AGN spectra, and the detection of nuclear and annihilation lines. Recently the development of high energy Laue lenses with broad energy bandpasses from 60 to 600keV have been proposed for a Hard X ray focusing Telescope (HAXTEL) in order to study the X-ray continuum of celestial sources. The required focal plane detector should have high detection efficiency over the entire operative range, a spatial resolution of about 1mm, an energy resolution of a few keV at 500keV and a sensitivity to linear polarization. We describe a possible configuration of the focal plane detector based on several CdTe/CZT pixelated layers stacked together to achieve the required detection efficiency at high energy.
Each layer can operate both as a separate position sensitive detector and polarimeter or work with other layers to increase the overall photopeak efficiency. Each layer has a hexagonal shape in order to minimize the detector surface required to cover the lens field of view. The pixels would have the same geometry so as to provide the best coupling with the lens point spread function and to increase the symmetry for polarimetric studies. 相似文献
Clay mineralogy and whole-rock stable isotopes (δ18O and δ13C) of Upper Cretaceous marly sediments on the Basque-Cantabrian Basin have been integrated to determine the main effects of diagenesis, palaeoclimate and tectono-sedimentary factors in sections belonging to deep- (Barrika) and platform-marine (Isla de Castro, Villamartín and Olazagutía) settings.The mean values for the clay assemblages and δ18O exhibit notable differences among the sections, partially explainable by the influence of diagenesis. The Barrika sediments, with more diagenetically advanced illite-smectite (I-S) mixed-layer (R1, 70% illite), authigenic chlorite, and low δ18O (−4.05‰ PDB), experienced higher diagenetic grade than Isla de Castro and Olazagutía, which have R0 I-S (20% illite) and heavier δ18O. Villamartín was also affected by higher diagenesis than Isla de Castro and Olazagutía, given the occurrence of R1 I-S (60% illite) and low δ18O (−4.11‰ PDB). However, the absence of other clays in Villamartín (e.g. authigenic chlorite) is indicative of less diagenetic grade than Barrika. These results show the useful integration of clay mineralogy and stable isotopes to detect different diagenetic grades in distinct marine successions of the same basin.Despite being influenced by diagenesis, the clay mineralogy partially preserves its inherited signature. This allows detection of major contents of I-S and mica, and minor kaolinite, interpreted as indicative of warm palaeoclimatic conditions. High kaolinite content in Villamartín and absence of kaolinite in Isla de Castro, though, are considered to be a product of neither diagenesis nor palaeoclimatic influences. Instead, tectono-sedimentary causes, related to unsuitable conditions for clay formation and transport from the local source areas, contributed to original clay differences. The inferred effects of diagenesis, palaeoclimate and tectono-sedimentary factors make this work important to show the potentially great variety of controls on the clay mineralogy of marine sections, which are often uncritically treated in studies concerning the Late Cretaceous. 相似文献
Summary This paper describes and discusses the adequacy of Weibull statistical analysis to analyse the bending strength of granite.
The experimental results show that strength variability is related with a specific origin of failure. This conclusion is based
on analysing the influence of the surface condition (extrinsic defects) on the bending strength results treated by the Weibull
statistics. The conclusions drawn from this study have been validated by analysing the results of the critical flaw dimension
estimated by applying the linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) formulae. Results obtained from fractographic examination
also have been used to describe the location of the origin of the fracture and understand the distribution of defects; i.e.,
there is a unimodal distribution of defects (intrinsic defects), despite the fact that some outlier values are normally observed
in the fractured surfaces.
Correspndence: P. M. Amaral, Department of Materials Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Technical University of Lisbon,
Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal 相似文献
Concern for natural hazard-triggered technological disasters (Natech disasters) in densely populated and industrialized areas
is growing. Residents living in urban areas subject to high natural hazard risk are often unaware of the potential for secondary
disasters such as hazardous materials releases from neighboring industrial facilities, chemical storage warehouses or other
establishments housing hazardous materials. Lessons from previous disasters, such as the Natech disaster during the Kocaeli
earthquake in Turkey in 1999 call for the need to manage low frequency/high consequence events, particularly in today’s densely
populated areas. However, there is little guidance available on how local governments and communities can assess Natech risk.
To add to the problem, local governments often do not have the human or economic resources or expertise to carry out detailed
risk assessments. In this article, we propose a methodology for preliminary assessment of Natech risk in urban areas. The
proposed methodology is intended for use by local government officials in consultation with the public. The methodology considers
possible interactions between the various systems in the urban environment: the physical infrastructure (e.g., industrial
plants, lifeline systems, critical facilities), the community (e.g., population exposed), the natural environment (e.g., delicate
ecosystems, river basins), and the risk and emergency management systems (e.g., structural and nonstructural measures). Factors
related to vulnerability and hazard are analyzed and qualitative measures are recommended. Data from hazardous materials releases
during the Kocaeli, Turkey earthquake of August 17, 1999 are used as a case study to demonstrate the applicability of the
methodology. Limitations of the proposed methodology are discussed as well as future research needs.
Abstract. Eight sandy beaches were seasonally sampled along the coast of Chile, from ca. 21 to 42° S (about 3000 km) to study the relationship between community structure of the intertidal macroinfauna and beach characteristics. Sediment samples (0.1 m2, 30 cm deep) were collected (July – September 1998 and December 1998 – January 1999) with plastic cylinders at 15 equally spaced levels along three replicated transects extending from above the drift line to the swash zone. The sediment was sieved through a 1 mm mesh and the organisms collected stored in 5 % formalin. To define beach types, Dean's parameter (Ω) was calculated from wave heights and periods, and fall velocity of sand particles from the swash zone. Crustaceans (mainly peracarids) were the most diverse group with 14 species, followed by polychaetes with 5 species. The talitrid amphipod Orchestoidea tuberculata , the cirolanid isopods Excirolana braziliensis and E. hirsuticauda and the anomuran decapod Emerita analoga were the most widely distributed and common species. Regression analyses between species richness, abundance and biomass of the whole macroinfauna versus sediment characteristics, beach face slopes and morphodynamic beach states showed no significant relationships. Thus, macroinfaunal community characteristics did not increase linearly from lower intermediate to higher intermediate or dissipative beach states as had been found before in Chile or in other coasts. A comparative analysis with data from sandy beaches of other world regions showed that the number of species inhabiting Chilean sandy beaches was generally lower, whereas total population abundances were generally higher compared with values reported elsewhere. 相似文献
Soupy and mousse-like fabrics are disturbance sedimentary features that result from the dissociation of gas hydrate, a process
that releases water. During the core retrieval process, soupy and mousse-like fabrics are produced in the gas hydrate-bearing
sediments due to changes in pressure and temperature conditions. Therefore, the identification of soupy and mousse-like fabrics
can be used as a proxy for the presence of gas hydrate in addition to other evidence, such as pore water freshening or anomalously
cool temperature. We present here grain-size results, mineralogical composition and magnetic susceptibility data of soupy
and mousse-like samples from the southern Hydrate Ridge (Cascadia accretionary complex) acquired during Leg 204 of the Ocean
Drilling Program. In order to study the relationship between sedimentary texture and the presence of gas hydrates, we have
compared these results with the main textural and compositional data available from the same area. Most of the disturbed analyzed
samples from the summit and the western flank of southern Hydrate Ridge show a mean grain size coarser than the average mean
grain size of the hemipelagic samples from the same area. The depositional features of the sediments are not recognised due
to disturbance. However, their granulometric statistical parameters and distribution curves, and magnetic susceptibility logs
indicate that they correspond to a turbidite facies. These results suggest that gas hydrates in the southern Hydrate Ridge
could form preferentially in coarser grain-size layers that could act as conduits feeding gas from below the BSR. Two samples
from the uppermost metres near the seafloor at the summit of the southern Hydrate Ridge show a finer mean grain-size value
than the average of hemipelagic samples. They were located where the highest amount of gas hydrates was detected, suggesting
that in this area the availability of methane gas was high enough to generate gas hydrates, even within low-permeability layers.
The mineralogical composition of the soupy and mousse-like sediments does not show any specific characteristic with respect
to the other samples from the southern Hydrate Ridge. 相似文献
The spatial and temporal dynamics of dissolved inorganic nitrogen, dissolved phosphate, dissolved silica and chlorophyll a were measured seasonally at eight stations in the Ria de Aveiro. Between December 2000 and September 2001, the seasonal succession of phytoplankton assemblages, inferred after the spatial and seasonal variation of silica and of chlorophyll a concentrations, showed that diatoms (μmol Si L−1) dominated from late autumn until early spring, while chlorophytes (μg Chl a L−1) bloomed during late spring and summer. The Si:N:P ratios and Si concentrations indicated no seasonal depletion in dissolved silica, as in other temperate systems, possibly because of abnormal precipitation and flood events prolonging the supply of dissolved Si to the system. The Si:N:P ratios suggested P limitation at the system level. Despite the relative proportions of available nutrients, the mean phosphorus concentration (5.3 μmol L−1) was above the reported half-saturation constants for P uptake by phytoplankton. Thus, in Ria de Aveiro, the seasonal succession of phytoplankton assemblages may also be dependent on the grazing capacity of the pelagic community through top-down regulation. 相似文献
A fluorescent sand-tracer experiment was performed at Comporta Beach (Portugal) with the aim of acquiring longshore sediment transport data on a reflective beach, the optimization of field and laboratory tracer procedures and the improvement of the conceptual model used to support tracer data interpretation.
The field experiment was performed on a mesotidal reflective beach face in low energetic conditions (significant wave height between 0.4 and 0.5 m). Two different colour tracers (orange and blue) were injected at low tide and sampled in the two subsequent low tides using a high resolution 3D grid extending 450 m alongshore and 30 m cross-shore. Marked sand was detected using an automatic digital image processing system developed in the scope of the present experiment.
Results for the two colour tracers show a remarkable coherence, with high recovery rates attesting data validity. Sand tracer displayed a high advection velocity, but with distinct vertical distribution patterns in the two tides: in the first tide there was a clear decrease in tracer advection velocity with depth while in the second tide, the tracer exhibited an almost uniform vertical velocity distribution. This differing behaviour suggests that, in the first tide, the tracer had not reached equilibrium within the transport system, pointing to a considerable time lag between injection and complete mixing. This issue has important implications for the interpretation of tracer data, indicating that short term tracer experiments tend to overestimate transport rates. In this work, therefore, longshore estimates were based on tracer results obtained during the second tide.
The estimated total longshore transport rate at Comporta Beach was 2 × 10− 3 m3/s, more than four times larger than predicted using standard empirical longshore formulas. This discrepancy, which results from the unusually large active moving layer observed during the experiment, confirms the idea that most common longshore transport equations under-estimate total sediment transport in plunging/surging waves. 相似文献
The migratory response of intertidal microphytobenthos to changes in irradiance was studied on undisturbed estuarine sediments. Two non-destructive optical techniques were used to trace variations in vivo of surface biomass: PAM fluorometry, for measuring the minimum fluorescence level (Fo); and spectral reflectance analysis, for quantifying the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Following the formation of a dense biofilm at the surface, replicated sediment samples were simultaneously exposed to six different irradiance levels, ranging from 50 to 1500 μmol m−2 s−1, during a period of 120 min. The migratory photoresponse of the biofilms was characterised by constructing biomass vs. light curves (BLC), relating the accumulation of microalgal biomass after that period (estimated by Fo or NDVI) to the irradiance level incident on the surface. BLCs allow characterising the main features of the migratory photoresponse of intact biofilms. Typical BLC showed a clear biphasic pattern, with an increase in microalgal accumulation under irradiances below 100 μmol m−2 s−1, maximum values under 100–250 μmol m−2 s−1, and a gradual decrease of surface biomass under higher irradiances, indicating a strong photophobic downward migratory response. Similar BLC patterns were obtained when measuring Fo or NDVI. The construction of BLCs for biofilms from intertidal sites with distinctive sediment characteristics and diatom taxonomic composition allowed to detected significant differences in the migratory photoresponse. Biofilms from a muddy sediment exhibited considerably larger amplitude in the migratory photoresponse than the biofilms from a sandy mud site, especially under high irradiances. The photophobic migratory response to high light was found to vary among diatom species, particularly in the case of the biofilms from the muddy sediments. 相似文献