Effects of nonlinear model response on allocation of streamflow depletion: exemplified by the case of Beaver Creek,USA

Anomalies found when apportioning responsibility for streamflow depletion are examined. The anomalies arise when responsibility is assigned to the two states that contribute to depletion of Beaver Creek in the Republican River Basin in the United States. The apportioning procedure for this basin presumes that the sum of streamflow depletions, computed by comparing simulation model runs with and without groundwater pumping from individual states, approximates the streamflow depletion when both states are pumping. In the case study presented here, this presumed superposition fails dramatically. The stream drying and aquifer-storage depletion, as represented in the simulation model used for allocation, are examined in detail to understand the hydrologic and numerical basis for the severe nonlinear response. Users of apportioning procedures that rely on superposition should be aware of the presence and likely magnitude of nonlinear responses in modeling tools.     

Conversion between solid and beam element solutions of finite element method based on meta-modeling theory: development and application to a ramp tunnel structure

In this study, a new method for conversion of solid finite element solution to beam finite element solution is developed based on the meta-modeling theory which constructs a model consistent with continuum mechanics. The proposed method is rigorous and efficient compared to a typical conversion method which merely computes surface integration of solid element nodal stresses to obtain cross-sectional forces. The meta-modeling theory ensures the rigorousness of proposed method by defining a proper distance between beam element and solid element solutions in a function space of continuum mechanics. Results of numerical verification test that is conducted with a simple cantilever beam are used to find the proper distance function for this conversion. Time history analysis of the main tunnel structure of a real ramp tunnel is considered as a numerical example for the proposed conversion method. It is shown that cross-sectional forces are readily computed for solid element solution of the main tunnel structure when it is converted to a beam element solution using the proposed method. Further, envelopes of resultant forces which are of primary importance for the purpose of design, are developed for a given ground motion at the end.     

Evaluation of a multi-model approach to estimate leaf wetness duration: an essential input for disease alert systems

Theoretical and Applied Climatology - Disease alert systems (DAS) of the AgroClimate platform are intended to facilitate grower decision-making when planning fungicide applications. These DAS...     

Holocene environmental change and the accumulation–erosion balance of sheltered river-mouth sediments, Göteborg, SW Sweden

Holocene sedimentological change was investigated in 15 sediment piston cores (250 cm long) from the mouth of the Göta älv River, outside of Göteborg, which is sheltered by an archipelago. The main objective was to interpret recent, natural and human-induced influences upon the accumulation–erosion balance and the sedimentary environment from Holocene sediment units. The five main units are: consolidated glaciomarine clay (Facies gC) lowermost, consolidated estuarine clay (Facies dC), soft sub-recent sediment (Facies omC and Facies C) uppermost and dumped sediment (Facies D) in some parts of the study area. The sediment facies are divided by two major hiatuses: (a) the early Holocene hiatus between Facies gC and dC involves a time gap of at least 7000 years, ending at ca. 4000 BP and (b) the late Holocene hiatus between the consolidated clays (Facies gC and dC) and Facies omC spans 1000 years and ends ca. 50 BP (i.e. 100 years ago). Both hiatuses probably relate to the effects of isostatic land uplift. Surface sediments consist mainly of an organic-matter-rich clay facies, suggesting changes in the trophic state of the estuary during the last 100 years. Together with human-induced increased river erosion and loss of accommodation space in the estuary, this caused the onset of sedimentation in the estuary. The recent sediments are contaminated with heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Hg), with highest concentrations in the lower part of Facies omC.     

Sedimentary facies of barataria bay,Louisiana determined by multivariate statistical techniques

A multivariate statistical strategy employing cluster analysis, discriminant analysis, and ordination was used to classify and interpret depositional environments of Barataria Bay, Louisiana, from grain-size data tabulated by Krumbein and Aberdeen (1937). Weight-percent whole-phi variables for 69 samples were tested for redundancy using R-mode cluster analysis. These samples were partitioned into five environmentally significant facies using Q-mode cluster analysis: (1) beach-ridge sand; (2) shallow wave-zone sand; (3) channel sand and silty sand; (4) channel-margin silty sand; and (5) low-energy sandy silt and clayey silt. Then the classification was extended with discriminant analysis to the remaining 29 samples which exhibited incipient flocculation and whose constituents did not total unity. Environments of deposition were associated with each facies following the method of Visher (1969) and using gradient analysis on a two-dimensional Q-mode ordination. Wilk's lambda and discriminant analysis tested the statistical significance of these facies; they were further tested by comparing their distribution with field relations and known environmental processes.     

Light curve and O−C diagram analysis of RZ Cassiopeiae

The aim of the present paper is to analyze the light variation as well as the period changes of the eclipsing binary RZ Cas. New photometric elements are computed using the frequency-domain method. The possibility of the light-time effect and the apsidal motion is discussed.     

Seasonal circulations in the Malay Peninsula Eastern continental shelf from a wave–tide–circulation coupled model

A wave–tide–circulation coupled model based on Princeton Ocean Model is established to study the seasonal circulation in the Malay Peninsula Eastern Continental Shelf region. The model successfully reconstructs the observed seasonal variation of the circulation in the region, as well as the main currents. The simulated tidal harmonic constants, sea surface temperature, and sea surface height anomaly agree with the observations well. The model results show that the upper-layer circulation in the region is mainly controlled by the monsoon winds, while there are two transitions in spring and fall. An anti-cyclonic eddy is present off the Peninsular Malaysia’s east coast in summer, centered at 5°N and 105.5°E, both in the TOPEX/Poseidon data and in the model. Numerical experiments show that the wind stress curl and bathymetry steering are responsible for its formation.     

A STUDY OF THE SEISMIC SIGNATURES OF SEDIMENTATION MODELS USING SYNTHETIC SEISMOGRAMS*

In modern exploration for hydrocarbons there is a great emphasis on the location of stratigraphic traps and estimation of lithologic information like sand-shale ratios from seismic data. In order to investigate the possibilities of success in this endeavour we have studied the synthetic seismograms for wave form and spectral characteristic for four basic sedimentation models: (I) interbedded sand-shale model representing the sediments of generally fluviatile origin, (2) interbedded coal-shale model representing deltaic deposits, (3) sedimentary models representing transgression and regression of shore lines, and (4) a basal sand model. The results have shown that for the first two models a change in the sand-shale or coal-shale ratio results in a characteristically different seismogram. The nature of the seismogram, however, is also strongly dependent on how the sand-shale or coal shale layers are arranged to ultimately give the same number of total layers, thus implying the same coal-shale or sand-shale ratios. The transgression, regression, and basal sand models also produce characteristically different seismic signatures. The spectra of these seismograms show attendant characteristic changes. However, it seems that in the case of real data which are disturbed by noise and the effects of overlying layers these characteristic features may not always be distinguishable.     

Problem of water in the upper mantle: Antigorite breakdown

Doklady Earth Sciences -     

RESULTS OF COMBINED ANALYSIS OF GROUND AND REMOTE SENSING INFORMATION IN THE STUDY OF MAJOR EARTHQUAKE CENTERS

Soil salinity is one of the most important problems affecting Egyptian soils. It is caused by: (1) a rising water table, or (2) the misuse of the irrigation water. Two Landsat images acquired in 1987 and 1999 were used to detect and monitor soil salinity over the Siwa Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt. DN values of these images were converted to percent reflectance. Inspection of Landsat images revealed that saline soils had an overall higher spectral reflectance in all spectral bands except the two MIR bands. The reflectance curves of saline soils show a strong relationship between the existence of salts in the soil and the difference between bands 4 and 5. A salinity index (SI) was calculated for both images. The majority of pixels in the 1987 image have salinity index values ranging between 0 and 0.2, whereas the values in the 1999 image histogram ranged between 0 and 0.4. These values indicate that soil salinity has increased twofold during the 12 years spanning the imagery. These values show a strong correlation with vegetation index images, in which the 1999 vegetation index image reveals the appearance of surface water lakes formed due to a rising water table. This study presents a model for the identification of soil salinity using remote sensing measurements in conjunction with piezometer readings taken during the time of image acquisition.