The surface heat flux density of a bare soil

Abstract

Half‐hourly measurements of soil surface heat flux density (G₀ ), solar irradiance (S), and the surface energy balance components were made at Agassiz, b.c., in the spring and early summer of 1978 at two adjacent bare‐soil sites, one of which was culti‐packed while the other was disc‐harrowed. G₀ was calculated using the null‐alignment procedure from half‐hourly measurements of soil temperature at 30 depths down to 1 m, and volumetric soil heat capacity calculated from measurements of bulk density, organic matter fraction, and moisture content. The latent and sensible heat flux densities were measured using the energy balance/Bowen ratio technique.

It was found that both the daily averages and diurnal variations of Go at each site were not affected as the soil surface dried, despite reductions in evaporation rate of as much as 50% at the culti‐packed site and 75% at the disc‐harrowed site on the clear dry‐soil days. Diurnal variations of G₀ at the disc‐harrowed site were about 25% less than at the culti‐packed site, although daily averages were similar at both sites. Daily and daytime averages of G₀ at each site were linear functions of S alone, or functions of net radiation and some measure of near‐surface soil water content. Night‐time averages of G₀ at each site were linear functions of a cloudiness ratio equal to the fraction received of the clear‐day S.     

Measurement of the isotopic signatures of water on Mars; Implications for studying methane

The recent discovery of methane on Mars has led to much discussion concerning its origin. On Earth, the isotopic signatures of methane vary with the nature of its production. Specifically, the ratios among ¹²CH₄, ¹³CH₄, and ¹²CH₃D differ for biotic and abiotic origins. On Mars, measuring these ratios would provide insights into the origins of methane and measurements of water isotopologues co-released with methane would assist in testing their chemical relationship. Since 1997, we have been measuring HDO and H₂O in Mars’ atmosphere and comparing their ratio to that in Earth’s oceans. We recently incorporated a line-by-line radiative transfer model (LBLRTM) into our analysis. Here, we present a map for [HDO]/[H₂O] along the central meridian (154°W) for L_s=50°. From these results, we constructed models to determine the observational conditions needed to quantify the isotopic ratios of methane in Mars’ atmosphere. Current ground-based instruments lack the spectral resolution and sensitivity needed to make these measurements. Measurements of the isotopologues of methane will likely require in situ sampling.     

Swash-zone competency of gravel-size sediment

Experiments on Broad Cove Beach, Appledore Island, Maine, using an event recorder to measure velocities and painted particles as tracers, verify the validity of applying the Hjulstrom curve to the marine environment landward of the breaker-zone for the cobble to boulder-size range. Swash velocities ranging from 6.37 to 7.96 ft./sec moved particles with intermediate diameters of 0.24 to 0.36 ft. Mean breaker heights ranged from 0.30 to 0.97 ft.     

Modelling metolachlor exports in subsurface drainage water from two structured soils under maize (eastern France)

The study investigated the processes involved in metolachlor transport in two artificially drained, structured soils in eastern France. Measured losses of bromide and metolachlor in drainage water were compared with results simulated by the mechanistic, stochastic AgriFlux model. Simulated drainage water volumes were generally similar to the measured volumes when the spatial variability of the soil water properties was taken into account. When such variability was disregarded, cumulative water volumes of the clay soil were over- or underestimated by more than 20%. Two types of adsorption were tested. For instantaneous, reversible adsorption, using the partition coefficient Koc, metolachlor losses were underestimated in the first drainage water volumes and overestimated for the total study period. The use of slow adsorption and desorption kinetics (ADK) produced an export pattern similar to the observed one. A sensitivity analysis indicated that the simulated results are very sensitive to the values of the ADK rates, especially for the silty loam soil. The effect of ADK on the attenuation of metolachlor exports was more significant than the effect of degradation (2.3 and 6.7 times higher for the clay and silty loam soils, respectively). For the same four-month period, the bromide and metolachlor losses (using ADK) in the clay soil were 2.1 and 1.3 times greater, respectively, if the macroporosity was set at 10% than if it was not simulated. Conversely, macroporosity did not significantly affect these losses in the silty loam. The main factors involved in the metolachlor transport in the studied soils were: (i) the macroporosity, especially in the clay soil because of the low hydraulic conductivity of the matrix and (ii) the sorption kinetics rates which varied according to the soil physico-chemical characteristics.     

Late Pleistocene–early Holocene fluvial facies and depositional processes in the Fehmarn Belt, between Germany and Denmark, revealed by high-resolution seismic and lithofacies analysis

In the narrow offshore border zone between Germany and Denmark, 550 km of high‐density 3·5‐kHz subbottom seismic reflection profiles were recorded within a 70‐km² area in order to reconstruct the seismic stratigraphy of late Pleistocene to early Holocene lacustrine and fluvial environments. Using detailed line drawings, seismic facies analyses and a hierarchy of bounding surfaces, a depositional unit was recognized and subdivided into subunits 4^a (oblique‐parallel), 4^b (mound, oblique‐tangential), 4^c (sigmoid, oblique), 4^d and 4^e (shingled and parallel). The base of this seismic facies association defines a wide U‐shaped valley with well‐defined scours and, in the valley sides, ‘steps’ are located above deep steep‐dipping reflections. Stratigraphic control was available from 32 coring sites (5‐ to 12‐m‐deep vibrocores). Subunit 4^b represents coarsening‐up silt and sand, and samples from subunit 4^d show fining‐up fine sand, silt and clay. The seismic facies association is proposed to have formed by a fluvial event of short duration some time in the period between 10·3 ¹⁴C ka BP and 9·0 ¹⁴C ka BP. Subunits 4^a to 4^e represent gradually decreasing flow power. A peak flow initiated the fluvial event, after which water discharge and level fell rapidly. Subsequently, the normal background discharge from the Baltic Sea area dominated the flow style. Reflections beneath the ‘step’‐like valley side with high dip angles are interpreted as faults. This tectonic activity resulted in subsidence in the analysed area and could possibly have influenced the fluvio‐dynamic development. The seismic stratigraphic succession reveals a high‐resolution record of sediments in this area. In particular, the stepwise uncovering of the morphology of the subunits, preserved in high‐resolution seismic facies associations, is proposed as a useful tool in modelling the dynamic development of the near sea‐floor environment.     

Nonlinear analysis for dynamic lateral pile response

An analysis of pile lateral response to transient dynamic loading and to harmonic loading is presented allowing for nonlinear soil behavior, discontinuity conditions at the pile-soil interface and energy dissipation through different types of damping. Furthermore, the effect of neighbouring piles is taken into account for piles in a group. The validity of the approach was examined and a reasonable agreement with field tests and more rigorous solutions was found. Equivalent linear stiffness and damping parameters of single piles and interaction factors for approximate nonlinear analysis are presented.     

E-ε modelling of turbulent air flow downwind of a model forest edge

A two-dimensional E- model, which included the effects of plant-atmosphere interaction, was used to simulate air flow downwind of forest edges for the purpose of predicting the microclimate in forest openings. A suitable set of wall functions was selected to consider the aerodynamic effects of the ground in the opening. The model with discretization and parameter schemes was validated using a set of data from a wind-tunnel experiment. The simulated wind speed and turbulence kinetic energy closely agreed with the measured values. After validation, the model was used to predict eddy diffusivity in the lee of the forest edge. The modelled spatial distribution of the eddy diffusivity agreed in general with that calculated using wind-tunnel measurements. The usefulness and limitations of the E- model are discussed.Presently with Intera Information Technologies Corporation, IMS Division, 2 Gurdwara Road, Nepean, Ontario, Canada K2E 1A2.Corresponding author, and presently with Canada Centre for Remote Sensing, 419-588 Booth Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0Y7.     

Development and Application of the Highway Mapping System of Ohio State University

Since 1990, the Center for Mapping at Ohio State University has been developing mobile mapping systems to automate and accelerate the collection of digital map data. These systems integrate the global positioning system (GPS) with inertial navigation units and imaging sensors to produce digital geographic data. They are modular and can be installed on various platforms, such as vans, trains and aeroplanes. New developments with the imaging system and the fully integrated data-processing environment are discussed in this article. The stereovision system enables the user to obtain three dimensional co-ordinates of any object in the field of view of the camera. Digital and video images, together with GPS positions, are stored in an object-oriented database, which merges data collected by airborne and terrestrial mapping platforms. Exploiting the enormous amount of information contained in the digital stereoscopic imagery is a challenging topic of current and future research.     

Rise and fall of a basalt-trachyte-rhyolite magma system at the Kane Springs Wash Caldera,Nevada

Magmas erupted at the Kane Springs Wash volcanic center record the buildup and decay of a silicic magma chamber within the upper crust between 14.1 and 13.2 Ma ago. Intrusion of a variety of mantle-derived basaltic magmas into the crust sustained the system thermally, but only alkali basalts appear to be parental. Fractionation of alkali basalt, together with 10–20% contamination by partial melts of the lower crust, generated trachyandesite magmas. Mafic trachytes, with magma temperatures of 1,000° C, were initially generated from trachyandesites at depths greater than 15 km. Continued fractionation combined with assimilation of upper crustal melts at a depth of 5–10 km produced more evolved trachytes and high-silica rhyolites. These silicic magmas erupted as the Kane Wash Tuff 14.1 Ma ago from a chamber zoned from fayalite-bearing alkali rhyolite near 820° C at the roof to a trachytic dominant volume. Initial ash flows of the Kane Wash Tuff, Member V1, are metaluminous, whereas later cooling units, Members V2 and V3, are mildly peralkaline and have higher Fe, Zr, and Hf and lower Ca, Th/Ta, Rb/ Zr, and LREE/HREE. Less than 1 % upper crustal component was involved in generation of Members V2 and V3 from trachytic magma. Eruption of 130 km³ of magma resulted in collapse of the Kane Springs Wash caldera. Trachytic magma from deeper levels of the system was extruded onto the caldera floor shortly afterward, forming a central trachyte/syenite complex. Replacement of this magma by hotter, more mafic magma may have induced additional melting of the already heated chamber walls, as high-silica rhyolites that erupted in the moat surrounding the central complex have a large crustal component. Early moat rhyolites had temperatures near 800° C and, in contrast to the Kane Wash Tuff, are ferroedenite-bearing, have higher Al, K/Na, Th/Ta, and Ba, and have lower Fe, REE, and Zr. Fractional crystallization of this magma within the cooling and crystallizing magma chamber formed biotite-bearing rhyolite in isolated pockets. The most evolved of these had temperatures near 700° C, elevated F contents, H₂O contents of 5 wt.%, Rb> 500 ppm, chondrite-normalized LREE/HREE <1, and formed vapor-phase topaz. Declining temperatures and Cl/ F from the Kane Wash Tuff through the moat rhyolites may reflect decreasing basalt input into the base of the system and increasing proportions of upper crustal melts in the silicic magmas.     

Earthquake response of underground pipelines

Seismic response of underground pipelines is investigat?ed theoretically considering dynamic soil-pipe interaction. A lumped mass model of the pipe is employed with the soil reactions derived from static and dynamic continuum theories. The soil is supposed to be homogeneous or composed of two different media separated by a vertical boundary. Axial and bending stresses in the pipe due to travelling waves are examined. An extensive parametric study indicates that the axial stresses in the pipe are much higher than bending stresses. In a homogeneous medium, soil-pipe interaction reduces the stresses in the pipe compared to those calculated ignoring interaction. In a soil composed of two different media, the pipe stresses are highest close to the boundary and can exceed those predicted neglecting interaction.