Planning of Soil-Pore Water Sampling Campaigns Using Pesticide Transport Modeling

Soil-pore water sampling by suction lysimeters monitors the fate of soil contaminants as a function of depth and time. However, sampling campaigns must be planned to most effectively monitor the migration of contaminants with a minimum expenditure of resources. The vertical migration of pesticides was studied at two sites treated with systemic s-triazine herbicides and equipped with suction lysimeters. The measured concentrations were compared with those calculated by a simulation model. This modeling was based on the processes that control the transport and fate of pesticide within the soil. The usefulness of such a tool was demonstrated by the good approximation obtained for pesticide concentrations and arrival times. Moreover, the significant spatial variability of concentrations observed justifies the use of a stochastic approach in modeling that takes into account the spatial variability of soil parameters. Also, the rapid transformation of herbicides observed in unsaturated soil zones demonstrates the importance of taking into account the sum of the toxic residues when evaluating the fate of s-triazines in soil.     

Pounding of buildings modelled by an impact oscillator

Pounding of adjacent buildings is modelled by an impact oscillator subjected to harmonic excitation. Non-linear impact stiffness is represented by a Hertz-type relationship. Spectra of impact velocity are presented for a range of model parameters. These spectra are characterized by a strong peak near a period equal to one half the natural period of a similar non-impacting oscillator. Bands of response are found in which periodic multiple impacts and non-periodic or chaotic impacts occur.     

Land degradation impacts on tropical agricultural basins and their management: the Nigerian example

This study uses the fault-tree technique to identify the major effects of land degradation caused by the adoption of a malfunctioning shifting cultivation technology for food production in tropical basins. Through reference to existing empirical research, the sequence of events in the process of degradation of the Nigerian agricultural basins and the adjoining river systems was identified and related to the appropriate causal agent. A complete picture of the cost of land degradation goes beyond the degraded terrain and includes damage in areas where there is an unloading of large quantities of run-off and sediments. The causal pathway showed that existing land degradation management policies have focused on the symptoms rather than on the cause of the degradation process. Through a thorough examination of those malfunctioning components of the traditional farming technology, appropriate management strategies are proferred. An institutional organization for land degradation management in Nigeria which includes the federal, state and local governments is strongly recommended.     

Time dependence of magnetic susceptibility of soil chronosequences on the California coast

As the age of the soils in a chronosequence on the California coast increases, the difference between the magnetic susceptibility of eluvial and illuvial horizons increases, and the residual susceptibility after extraction with citrate-bicarbonate-dithionite (CBD) decreases. Enhanced susceptibility results from the conversion of nonferrimagnetic minerals to secondary ferrimagnetic forms (most likely maghemite) and the preferential accumulation of inherited and pedogenic magnetic minerals. Little enhancement occurs for pedons younger than 40,000 yr. By 124,000 yr, most of the magnetic susceptibility can be attributed to forms soluble in CBD. Magnetic susceptibility appears to vary systematically over time for three chronosequences from areas with mean annual precipitation ranging from 650 to 1500 mm yr⁻¹. Magnetic susceptibility enhancement may be a useful parameter for estimating soil age in certain climates.     

Permeability of stratified sands

Summary The permeability of graded sands was studied in the laboratory to determine the influence, if any, of stratification order on permeability (i.e. the position in which finer or coarser layers occur in the flow path). The evidence suggests that the order of stratification does not influence the order of magnitude of permeability of a sand. This order of magnitude is determined by the fine fraction of the sand. However, the order of stratification does have an influence on the finer details (i.e. variation within the same order of magnitude) of permeability. In this regard, an unsorted sand (all fractions mixed together) has the lowest permeability while a sorted one that has the fine fraction at the end of the sequence has the highest vertical permeability. It is also concluded that empirical formulae that use only the effective size, D ₁₀, to estimate permeability yield results that are comparable with those that incorporate sorting in their formulae. However, experimental results show that these formulae do not yield reliable results when used for more denser sands.     

Separating anthropogenic from natural anomalies in environmental geochemistry

Environmental geochemistry has attracted increasing interest during the last decade. In Sweden, geochemical mapping is carried out with methods that allow the data to be used in environmental research, including sampling plant roots and mosses from streams, soils and bedrock. These three sample types form an integrated strategy in environmental research, as well as in geochemical exploration. However, one problem that becomes prominent in geochemical mapping is to distinguish the signals derived from natural sources from those derived from anthropogenic sources. So far, this has mostly been done by using different types of samples, for example, different soil horizons. This is both expensive and time-consuming.We are currently developing alternative statistical solutions to this problem. The method used here is PLSR (partial least squares regression analysis). In this paper, we present an initial discussion on the applicability of PLSR in differentiating anthropogenic anomalies from natural contents.PLSR performs a simultaneous, interdependent principal component analysis decomposition in both X- and Y-matrices, in such a way that the information in the Y-matrix is used directly as a guide for optimal decomposition of the X-matrix. PLSR thus performs a generalized multivariate regression of Y on X overcoming the multicollinearity problem of correlated X-variables. The advantage of PLSR is that it gives optimal prediction ability in a strict statistical sense.Bedrock geochemistry from different lithologies in the mapping area in southern Sweden (Y-matrix) is analyzed together with stream or soil data (X-matrix). By modelling the PLS-regression between these two data sets, separate multivariate geochemical models based on the different bedrock types were developed. This step is called the training or modelling stage of the multivariate calibration. These calibrated models are subsequently used for predicting new (X) geochemical samples and estimating the corresponding Y-variable values. Information is obtained on how much of the metal contents in each new geochemical sample correlate with the different modelled bedrock types.By computing the appropriate X-residuals, we obtain information on the anthropogenic impact that is also carried by these new samples. In this way, it is possible from one single geochemical survey to derive both conventional geochemical background data and anthropogenic data, both of which can be readily displayed as maps.The present study concerns development of data analysis methods. Examples of the applications of the methodology are presented using Pb and U. The results show the share of these contents in different sampling media that is derived from bedrock on the one hand, and from anthropogenic sources, on the other.     

SILTATION RATE IN A TRENCH DREDGED ON FLOODPLAIN IN ESTUARY

I. INTRODUCTIONA discharge of 100--200 m3 / s is needed to be diverted from a tidal reach and utilized as cooling water for a Droposed power plant in the Yangtze Estuary. The diversionchannel is divided into two parts by a levee along the river bank, an open channel stretchinside the levee is connected with a trench dredged on the floodplain, as shown in Pig. 1.Since the flow and sediment regimes in these two stretches are different, analysis is madeseparately for each of them.11. ESTI…     

A summary of sulfur dioxide emission rate measuremnts from Guatemalan volcanoes

Measurements of the sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emission rate from three Guatemalan volcanoes provide data which are consistent with theoretical and laboratory studies of eruptive and shallow magma chamber processes. In particular, unerupted magma makes a major contribution to the measured SO₂ emission rates at Santiaguito, a continuously erupting dacitic volcanic dome. Varying shallow magma convection rates can explain the variations in SO₂ emission rates at Santiaguito. At Fuego, a basaltic volcano currently in repose, SO₂ emission rate measurements are consistent with a high level magma body that is crystallizing and releasing volatiles. At Pacaya, a continuously erupting basaltic volcano, recent SO₂ emission rate measurements support laboratory simulation studies of strombolian eruptions; these studies indicate that the majority of gas escapes during eruptions and little gas escapes between eruptions.Average SO₂ emission rates over the last 20 years for Santiaguito, Fuego and Pacaya are 80, 160 and 260 Mg/d, respectively. On a global scale, these three volcanoes account for 1% of the annual global volcanic output of SO₂. Santiaguito and Pacaya, together, emit 6% of the total annual SO₂ emitted by continuously erupting volcanoes.Even though SO₂ measurements at these volcanoes have been made infrequently and by different investigators, the collective data help to establish a useful baseline by which to judge future changes. A more complete record of SO₂ emission rates from these volcanoes could lead to a better understanding of their eruption mechanisms and reduce the impact of their future eruptions on Guatemalan society.