Application of methods of mathematical landscape morphology to assessing the risk of damage to linear engineering structures resulting from hazardous exogenous geological processes

An approach, based on methods of mathematical landscape morphology, is proposed for risk assessment of the damage to engineering structures caused by geological processes. Model assumptions for models for territories with developed thermokarst, subsidence, and karst processes are presented and substantiated by experimental data for territories with development of thermorakst processes. In this work, areas with thermokarst lakes were digitized and the agreement between theoretical estimates of risk and experimental data was checked. The analysis of obtained results shows the general agreement between calculated and empirical data.     

Correction of the Buckingham–Darcy Law for flow of high strength salts in variably saturated porous media

The Buckingham–Darcy Law is used to describe fluid flow in unsaturated porous media at low Reynolds number. In order to provide a priori corrections to this law, a process thermodynamic approach is utilized to ascertain the functional dependence. Using this knowledge, corrections to the hydraulic conductivity coefficient are proposed and compared with available data. The proposed corrections substantially predict the observed behavior of flow of high concentration (saturated) sodium chloride solutions in porous media. During the derivation, physical principles consistent with the thermodynamics of the system were utilized. A review of these principles and their results provides an alternative form of the generalized Gibbs–Duhem Relation for continuous processes, indicating that the identical equivalence to zero is unlikely to occur for dissipative processes. Further, the postulated Gibbs and Gibbs–Duhem Relations indicate that special differential operators need to be used for continuous processes rather than the usual use of a generic differential.     

Determination of the rate of ammonification and nitrification in natural water by kinetic method

A method for simultaneous determination of the rate of ammonification and nitrification in natural water is proposed. It is based on the presentation of these processes as two successive first-order reactions, the use of field data on the concentrations of different N forms, and the laboratory modeling of the processes under study. The values of rate constants and reactions rates that are determined by the above method generally coincide with the relevant values obtained by other methods for Karelian water bodies.     

A kinetic approach for simulating redox‐controlled fringe and core biodegradation processes in groundwater: model development and application to a landfill site in Piedmont,Italy

A three‐dimensional model for predicting redox controlled, multi‐species reactive transport processes in groundwater systems is presented. The model equations were fully integrated within a MODFLOW‐family reactive transport code, RT3D. The model can simulate organic compound biodegradation coupled to different terminal electron acceptor processes. A computational approach, which uses the spatial and temporal distribution of the rates of different redox reactions, is proposed to map redox zones. The method allows one to quantify and visualize the biological degradation reactions occurring in three distinct patterns involving fringe, pseudo‐core and core processes. The capabilities of the numerical model are demonstrated using two hypothetical examples: a batch problem and a simplified two‐dimensional reactive transport problem. The model is then applied to an unconfined aquifer underlying a leaking landfill located near the city of Turin, in Piedmont (Italy). At this site, high organic load from the landfill leachate activates different biogeochemical processes, including aerobic degradation, denitrification, manganese reduction, iron reduction, sulfate reduction and methanogenesis. The model was able to describe and quantify these complex biogeochemical processes. The proposed model offers a rational framework for simulating coupled reactive transport processes occurring beneath a landfill site. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Properties of fine technogenic sediments and their effect on channel process and self-purification of river water

The role of fine sediments of technogenic origin in channel process is analyzed. The specific features of sedimentation of particles with different density and shape and the issues of flocculation and consolidation of sediments in the bottom part of flow are discussed. Experimental data on the adhesion of particles are given and a relationship for its assessment is proposed. The class of sediments for which the adhesion determines the critical erosion velocity is determined. The processes of river water self-purification and precipitation of fine sediments were compared to show that sedimentation processes play an important role in river water self-purification.     

Energetics of gas-driven limnic and volcanic eruptions

This paper lays the foundation for the rigorous treatment of the energetics of gas exsolution from a gas-containing liquid, which powers gas-driven volcanic and limnic eruptions. Various exsolution processes (reversible or irreversible, slow or rapid) are discussed, and the maximum amount of kinetic energy derivable from a reversible gas exsolution process is obtained. The concept of dynamic irreversibility is proposed for discussing the kinetic energy available from irreversible gas exsolution processes. The changes of thermodynamic properties during gas exsolution processes are derived. Density–pressure relations for gas–liquid mixtures are presented, including empirical relations for irreversible gas exsolution. The energetics of gas-driven eruptions through both fluid and rigid media, including the role of buoyancy and the role of magma chamber expansion work, are investigated. For reversible processes, the energetics can be used to discuss the dynamics of gas-driven eruptions, leading to maximum erupting velocities and maximum eruptible fractions. For irreversible processes, empirical relations and parameters must be employed. The exit velocities of the Lake Nyos eruption and the 18 May 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens are modeled by incorporating possible irreversibility.     

Regional Estimation of Fresh Groundwater Vulnerability: Methodological Aspects and Practical Applications

Two independent methods for estimating groundwater vulnerability to pollution are described. The methods are used for regions with different geological and hydrogeological conditions. A new combined approach taking into account the physicochemical processes that take place in all parts of the protected zone is proposed.     

Assessment of losses in multipurpose water use

Losses in different components of water resources systems multipurpose water use are considered. A method is proposed for their assessment in a general form and with the use of Makrov processes.     

Monitoring of the Electron-Acceleration Region with Auroral Kilometric Radiation

Geomagnetism and Aeronomy - A method is proposed for the study of the height–time characteristics of physical processes in the region of auroral electron acceleration. Auroral kilometer...     

Multifractal principles of aquatic ecosystem development control by algacenosis correction

A method is proposed for the simulation and analysis of the processes of rehabilitation of water bodies based on the construction of their multifractal models, accounting for the heterogeneity of the inclosing ecosystem. It is proposed to assess the integral response of the ecosystem to control actions by imposing its multifractal image onto selected forms of critical organization, corresponding to the limits of self-recovery of water body structure.     

Discrete dynamic-stochastic model of long-term river runoff variations

A model of long-term river runoff variations is proposed. The model is based on a difference stochastic equation of water balance on a watershed. Precipitation and evaporation on the watershed are simulated by stochastic, dependent, non-Gaussian Markov processes. Long-term river runoff variations are described by a component of three-dimensional non-Gaussian Markov process. It is shown that the autocorrelation and skewness coefficients for river runoff can be negative. The proposed model can be used to assess the effect of climate-induced variations in precipitation and evaporation regimes in a watershed on long-term river runoff variations.     

The Role of Dispersants in the Processes of Oil Transformation and Oxidation in Aquatic Environment

The role of dispersants in the processes of water cleaning from oil is studied, and new physicochemical means to intensify the natural transformation of oil are proposed.     

Enhancement of water use efficiency at plants processing hydrocarbon materials

A method is proposed for multicriteria performance assessment of water supply and disposal systems. Approaches are proposed for improving the utilization efficiency of water resources in plants processing hydrocarbon materials based on the potential of main-production technological processes and in-plant systems of heat and water supply, as well as industrial waste utilization. Engineering solutions are given for involving regenerated wastewater in the production cycle and reducing water consumption from external natural sources, and their system efficiency is evaluated.     

A conservative form of the deep convection equations and the efficiency of heat energy conversion in a polytropic mantle model

A wide class of equations is defined for a high pressure and subcritical temperature range of a fluid state whose thermodynamic properties enable the construction of a polytropic model of the mantle. A variant of deep convection equations of the Ogura and Phillips type is substantiated in terms of the polytropic mantle model. The proposed system of the deep convection equations includes fluctuation of the generalized potential temperature, has a quasi-incompressible form, and is transformed into Mihaljan’s system of shallow convection equations with a decrease in the layer depth. This circumstance is of great importance because it validates the use of the same dimensionless parameters as in the shallow convection model. The advantage of the proposed variant of the deep convection equations is its complete conservatism, which allows one to gain constraints on the efficiency of energy conversion in deep mantle processes and the thermal energy power expended on the generation rate of the convection kinetic energy and associated processes. This power is shown to be of the order of half the geothermal flux measured on the Earth’s surface.     

Inundations in Kuban delta

A typification of inundations in Kuban River delta is proposed. The causes, recurrence, and the specific features of its manifestation in the delta are discussed for each identified type of inundations. The efficiency of the existing measures for inundation control is assessed. The present-day conveying capacity of major delta branches is evaluated; jam-formation processes in the delta are studied. The causes, manifestation character, and consequences of extreme inundations of 1969 and 2002 are considered in detail. As the result, recommendations are proposed for the prevention or mitigation of damage caused by runoff and mixed-type inundations.     

A conceptually based stochastic point process model for daily stream‐flow generation

Based on the stochastic and phenomenological aspects of hydrological processes, a conceptually based stochastic point process (SPP) model for daily stream‐flow generation is proposed in this paper. In which, storms are defined by a stochastic point process with marked values. All the random variables defining the process are assumed to be mutually independent, which constitutes a compound Poisson point process. The direct surface runoff is regarded as occurring from storage in a cascade of surface linear reservoirs and is responsible for the short‐term variation of the daily stream flows. The baseflow component is considered as coming from subsurface/groundwater storage and is responsible for the long‐term persistence of the storm time‐series. This type of model is proposed as a more realistic model of daily stream flow than models based on pure stochastic processes. Studies on the instantaneous unit hydrograph and the mechanism of baseflow could thereby provide some parameters for this model. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of distributed time-variant gain model for nonlinear hydrological systems

Hydrological science is a branch of the earth sci-ences.To study the complexities of hydrological pro-cesses and the associated environmental problems,a systematic approach is desired.For instance,Dooge published Linear Theory of Hydrological System[1]in1973.Singh(1988)published Hydrological Systems[2],with its Chinese version[3]being translated by the Yel-low River Conservancy Commission in2000.Ge(1999)carried out systematic studies on the hydro-logical linear system theory,and produced …     

Simulation of three-dimensional strong ground motions along principal axes,San Fernando earthquake

Power spectral density which describes frequency content is considered one of the most significant properties to be taken into account when generating ground motions through the use of stochastic processes. Using a smoothed and normalized Fourier amplitude spectrum, frequency content for components of motion along a set of principal axes is estimated. Fourier amplitude spectra obtained by this moving-window technique are presented which show the time dependency of frequency content for motions produced by the San Fernando earthquake of 9 February 1971. A mathematical model to simulate ground motion processes is proposed for which both the intensity and frequency content are non-stationary. Using this mathematical model with parameter characteristics along principal axes similar to those of the motions recorded during the San Fernando earthquake, three-dimensional ground motions are synthetically generated. The properties of the simulated motions show general characteristics similar to the characteristics observed in real accelerograms. The suggested model is considered adequate for engineering purposes.     

Interpretation of Measurement Results of the Potential Difference in Lake Baikal

Geomagnetism and Aeronomy - A model is proposed in which the electrical voltage measured between the electrodes in Lake Baikal is a consequence of two effects: electrochemical processes near the...     

A parameter allocation approach for flow simulation using the WetSpa-Python model

Hydrologic models are simplified representations of natural hydrologic systems. Since these models rely on assumptions and simplifications to capture some aspects of hydrological processes, calibration of parameters is unavoidable. However, utilizing the philosophy of a recent modelling framework proposed by Bahremand (2016), we show how calibration of most model parameters can be avoided by allocating or presetting these parameters utilizing knowledge gained from sensitivity analyses, field observations and a priori specifications as a part of a parameter allocation procedure. This paper details the simulation of daily river flow of the Shemshak-Roudak watershed performed using the Python version of the WetSpa model. The WetSpa-Python model is a distributed model of hydrological processes applied at the watershed scale. The model was applied to the Shemshak-Roudak watershed of Iran with parameter allocation. Model calibration involved only two parameters. Straightforward methods were proposed for allocating model parameters, including three baseflow-related parameters and the determination of maximum active groundwater storage using a mass curve technique. Also, the Budyko curve was used to constrain a correction factor for potential evapotranspiration. The WetSpa-Python model was extended to include the influence of snowmelt. A failure to include snow in the hydrological processes of the WetSpa-Python model creates a significant discrepancy between the observed and simulated hydrographs during the spring. The results of daily simulations for 12 years (2002–2014) are in good agreement with observations of discharge (Kling-Gupta Efficiency = 0.84). These results demonstrate that it is feasible to simulate hydrographs with limited calibration given a knowledge of hydrological processes and an understanding of relationships between catchment characteristics and model parameters.