A two-dimensional fuzzy random model of soil pore structure

A new conceptual model for soil poresolid structure is formalized. Soil poresolid structure is proposed to comprise spatially abutting elements each with a value which is its membership to the fuzzy set “pore, ” termed porosity. These values have a range between zero (all solid) and unity (all pore). Images are used to represent structures in which the elements are pixels and the value of each is a porosity. Twodimensional random fields are generated by allocating each pixel a porosity by independently sampling a statistical distribution. These random fields are reorganized into other poresolid structural types by selecting parent points which have a specified local region of influence. Pixels of larger or smaller porosity are aggregated about the parent points and within the region of interest by controlled swapping of pixels in the image. This creates local regions of homogeneity within the random field. This is similar to the process known as simulated annealing. The resulting structures are characterized using one and twodimensional variograms and functions describing their connectivity. A variety of examples of structures created by the model is presented and compared. Extension to three dimensions presents no theoretical difficulties and is currently under development.     

2,3-Dimethylbiphenyl: Kinetics of its cyclisation reaction and effects of maturation upon its relative concentration in sediments

The rate constants of the cyclisation reaction of 2,3-dimethylbiphenyl to give 1-methylfluorene under non-catalytic conditions have been obtained at five temperatures between 460 and 500°C. The activation energy, activation entropy and frequency factor for the reaction have been determined from the experimental data. These kinetic parameters were then used to calculate the temperature ranges where the reaction occurs under natural conditions in sedimentary sequences which have experienced different heating rates. The coincidence of the measured and calculated values has been taken as evidence that the cyclisation reaction occurs in sediments under non-catalytic conditions.     

IGU Commission on Geographic Information Systems

The International Geographical Union Reports

IGU Commission on Geographic Information SystemsGoegraphic information systems in higher education — A workshop — Columbus, Ohio, June 10–11, 1989     

Magnetic field at the core boundary in the nearly symmetric hydromagnetic dynamo z

Summary The behaviour of the poloidal and toroidal magnetic field at the core-mantle boundary is analysed in more detail, assuming that the conductive layer in the lowest mantle is thin. We can conclude that, in the case of the Z-model of the nearly symmetric hydromagnetic dynamo, the poloidal field may be considered potential everywhere in the mantle and that the azimuthal field depends on the geostrophic azimuthal velocity in the same manner as derived in[1] and[3].

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aau ¶rt;-amu n¶rt;nuu m n¶rt; amuu aauum n¶rt;u nu¶rt;a u mu¶rt;a n. am ¶rt;, m Z-¶rt;u nmu umuu¶rt;aum ¶rt;ua aum nu¶rt;a n umam nmua ¶rt; amuu a n¶rt;u . ¶rt;m¶rt;am na [1] u [3] auum auma aum n m auma mu.

     

A Waste Treatment/Disposal Site Evaluation Process for Areas Underlain by Carbonate Aquifers

Fractured carbonate or karst aquifers are highly susceptible to contamination. In Minnesota, the areas underlain by karst aquifers are often characterized by thin soil cover, poorly cased wells and/or collapse features. When coupled with improper land use decisions these aquifers have become extensively contaminated.
Evaluation of existing or potentially contaminated sites has required development of unique site evaluation techniques or combinations of techniques. Shallow geophysics have been used successfully to determine subsurface karst features, pinpoint locations for additional investigations and evaluate pump-test data. Soil texture, density and relative moisture content have been closely examined and criteria established to evaluate subsurface erosion susceptibility. Percent rock core recovery, mechanical response of drilling and drilling fluid loss have been used to characterize the secondary porosity and potential contamination susceptibility of the carbonate rock. Dye tracing via surface sinks and well injection have determined primary flow paths and have been useful in estimating flow times.
These techniques used solely or in conjunction have been very useful in evaluating contamination existing in the aquifers and as a predictive tool to evaluate the proposed land uses impacts.     

Heating rate effects on aromatic maturity indicators

Aromatic maturity indicators based upon dimethylnaphthalenes, trimethylnaphthalenes and methylphenanthrenes have been determined for two sedimentary sequences from northwest Western Australia. The rate of change of these indicators with depth has been modelled using a kinetic expression which accounts for the effects of continuously varying time and temperature. Activation energies and entropies of activation have been measured. Maturity indicators with similar and with very different kinetic parameters have been used to construct plots to illustrate their behaviours under a variety of thermal regimes. Maturity indicators with similar activation energies behave almost identically over a wide range of heating rates while those with substantial differences display more diverse behaviour. The former may be used to relate kerogen-based maturity indicators with those determined from crude oils, whereas the latter can provide information about the maximum palaeotemperatures and heating rates of sedimentary hydrocarbons. It was also observed that the kinetic parameters for particular aromatic maturity indicators differed between the two sedimentary sequences, suggesting that source and mineral matrix effects can influence their behaviour.     

Acid catalysis of alkyl hydrogen exchange and configurational isomerisation reactions: acyclic isoprenoid acids

Acid-catalysed alkyl hydrogen exchange and configurational isomerisation has been studied in a series of acyclic isoprenoid acids when they were heated at 160°C in the presence of a montmorillonite. Hydrogen exchange occurred between the adsorbed water of the clay surface and the a position of the isoprenoid acids. In cases where this position was chiral, exchange was accompanied by configurational isomerisation. Configurational isomerisation occurred more slowly in experiments conducted without a clay matrix in the presence of water. These results have been rationalized in terms of a reaction mechanism involving protonation of the carbonyl oxygen causing enolization and consequent hydrogen exchange at the a position of the acids. This mechanism was used to account for the relatively fast rate of isomerisation of C-2 chiral centres in sedimentary acyclic isoprenoid acids during maturation.