A continuum representation of fracture networks. Part II: application to the Äspö Hard Rock laboratory

A method to represent fracture networks in a continuum model is evaluated by an application to the Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory (HRL). The basic approach of the method is to first generate a fracture network, based on data from field measurements and then represent the network as grid cell conductivities, using a staggered grid arrangement. It is argued that the resulting conductivity fields capture the correlation and anisotropy structures, as well as the mean conductivity, of the rock in a realistic way. The main objective is to evaluate if the suggested method can be used in an application to a real site. The objective is formulated in three questions: ‘Can the method utilize available field data?’, ‘Can the generated fields be calibrated and conditioned?’ and ‘Are realistic distributions of pressure, flow and density obtained?’. From the application to the Äspö HRL, it is concluded that the hydraulic conductivity fields, generated by the suggested method, can utilize field data and be calibrated. It is also demonstrated that realistic distributions of pressure, flow and density can be simulated.     

Ore lead isotope variations in the Proterozoic massive pyrite deposit at Näsliden,Skellefte district,Sweden

The ore lead isotope ratios from the Näsliden deposit are mantle-like in terms of the idealized plumbotectonics model. They suggest that the Näsliden deposit was formed in the Proterozoic equivalent of a Phanerozoic primitive island arc. The mantle-like nature of the lead and its homogeneity indicate that crustal lead does not constitute the major component of the ore lead. Crustal lead contamination is suggested to be the cause of divergences in ore lead isotopic compositions associated with later veins in the deposit.     

Reconstruction of Holocene sea-surface salinity in the Skagerrak–Kattegat: a climatic and environmental record of Scandinavia

Holocene sea-surface salinity in the Skagerrak–Kattegat is reconstructed using weighted averaging regression and calibration (WA) of diatom data from core Skagen 3. Diatom data from surface sediments together with 10-yr mean values of salinity and water temperature were used as a modern training set. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was used to identify statistically significant directions of variation within the training set. The results of forward selection of the environmental variables and associated Monte Carlo permutation tests of the statistical significance of each variable, the canonical coefficients, and the intraset correlations of the environmental variables with the CCA axes suggest that summer and winter sea-surface salinities (SSS, WSS) are potentially reconstructable from fossil diatom assemblages. The changes in sea-surface salinity during the Holocene can be correlated with changes in climate of the circum-Baltic area, the current patterns of the Skagerrak–Kattegat, and the development of the Baltic Sea. Generally low SSS and large differences between WSS and SSS (ΔSw-s) during 9000–6000 yr BP might have resulted from a climate with higher precipitation than today in the circum-Baltic area and its catchment, or a climate with maximum precipitation in late spring or early summer. The mechanism behind these patterns may be the combination of the northward shift of the jet stream and a stronger surface westerly penetration into the continent caused by a reduced latitudinal insolation gradient and enhanced land–sea contrast in the early to middle Holocene. It was, however, complicated by local events such as changes in the strength of various currents in the Skagerrak–Kattegat, successions of Baltic brackish and freshwater phases, and hydrodynamic conditions in the circum-Baltic area. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Wave Energy from the North Sea: Experiences from the Lysekil Research Site

This paper provides a status update on the development of the Swedish wave energy research area located close to Lysekil on the Swedish West coast. The Lysekil project is run by the Centre for Renewable Electric Energy Conversion at Uppsala University. The project was started in 2004 and currently has permission to run until the end of 2013. During this time period 10 grid-connected wave energy converters, 30 buoys for studies on environmental impact, and a surveillance tower for monitoring the interaction between waves and converters will be installed and studied. To date the research area holds one complete wave energy converter connected to a measuring station on shore via a sea cable, a Wave Rider? buoy for wave measurements, 25 buoys for studies on environmental impact, and a surveillance tower. The wave energy converter is based on a linear synchronous generator which is placed on the sea bed and driven by a heaving point absorber at the ocean surface. The converter is directly driven, i.e. it has no gearbox or other mechanical or hydraulic conversion system. This results in a simple and robust mechanical system, but also in a somewhat more complicated electrical system.     

Empirical Orthogonal Function Analysis of Daily Rainfall in the Upper Reaches of the Huai River Basin, China

Summary  The design and operation of hydro-structures for flood control and water conservation bring a need for improved characterization of precipitation patterns. A 73 000 km² study area in East Central China is situated in the East Asian monsoon region and experiences a strong seasonality in the rainfall regime. The characteristics of daily rainfall from 230 gauges during 1967–1986 were investigated for four periods in the summer monsoon season using empirical orthogonal function analysis (EOF) and extended empirical orthogonal function analysis (EEOF). The EOF analysis showed that for all four periods most of the variance was explained by an elongated spatial rainfall pattern. The pattern varied in direction, from roughly west-east to southwest-northeast, in the different periods. The zonally oriented patterns were interpreted as being caused by the stationary Mei-Yu front and the southwest-northeast patterns interpreted as cold fronts in cyclones that were developing over the study area. The latitude of the rain belt described by the first mode moved slightly northward with the advance of the East Asian monsoon from the first period, 9–22 June, to the third period, 23 July–5 August, and then withdrew southward again in accordance with the known seasonal movement of the Mei-Yu front. The EEOF analysis was used to show the development of the rainfall area over sequences of three days. During all four periods rainfall intensified on the second day, compared to the first and third days. During the first and last periods, 9–22 June and 5 August–30 September, respectively, there appeared to be little movement in the rainfall. During the second and third periods, the patterns were interpreted as a cold front in a developing cyclone. The results show the connection between the temporal variation in rainfall intensity and the temporal succession of spatial patterns over three day periods and should be used in the construction of design rainfalls for the study area. Received February 10, 1998 Revised June 23, 1998     

Hotel managed marine reserves: A willingness to pay survey

The 2003 Marine Parks Congress recommended networks of marine reserves to be established covering 20–30% of habitats by 2012. Most marine reserves are, however, failing to meet their objectives, the main reason being attributed to lack of funding. In light of the growing need for effectively managed marine reserves, a survey ascertaining tourists' support and willingness to pay extra to stay at reserves managed by the private sector – Hotel Managed Marine Reserves (HMMRs) was conducted at Whale Island Resort, Vietnam. A total of 97.5% support HMMR, 86.3% were willing to pay, the median amounting to US$9.6/room/night, or 10% of the average room rate, equaling US$67,277 at 60% occupancy.     

Evaluation of pan-Arctic melt-freeze onset in CMIP5 climate models and reanalyses using surface observations

The seasonal melt-freeze transitions are fundamental features of the Arctic climate system. The representation of the pan-Arctic melt and freeze onset (north of 60°N) is assessed in two reanalyses and eleven CMIP5 global circulation models (GCMs). The seasonal melt-freeze transitions are retrieved from surface air temperature (SAT) across the land and sea-ice domains and evaluated against surface observations. While monthly averages of SAT are reasonably well represented in models, large model-observation and model–model disparities of timing of melt and freeze onset are evident. The evaluation against surface observations reveals that the ERA-Interim reanalysis performs the best, closely followed by some of the climate models. GCMs and reanalyses capture the seasonal melt-freeze transitions better in the central Arctic than in the marginal seas and across the land areas. The GCMs project that during the 21st century, the summer length—the period between melt and freeze onset—will increase over land by about 1 month at all latitudes, and over sea ice by 1 and 3 months at low and high latitudes, respectively. This larger summer-length increase over sea ice at progressively higher latitudes is related to a retreat of summer sea ice during the 21st century, since open water freezes roughly 40 days later than ice-covered ocean. As a consequence, by the year 2100, the freeze onset is projected to be initiated within roughly 10 days across the whole Arctic Ocean, whereas this transition varies by about 80 days today.     

Analysis of Model Results for the Turning of the Wind and Related Momentum Fluxes in the Stable Boundary Layer

The turning of wind with height and the related cross-isobaric (ageostrophic) flow in the thermally stable stratified boundary layer is analysed from a variety of model results acquired in the first Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) Atmospheric Boundary Layer Study (GABLS1). From the governing equations in this particular simple case it becomes clear that the cross-isobaric flow is solely determined by the surface turbulent stress in the direction of the geostrophic wind for the quasi-steady state conditions under consideration. Most models indeed seem to approach this relationship but for very different absolute values. Because turbulence closures used in operational models typically tend to give too deep a boundary layer, the integrated total cross-isobaric mass flux is up to three times that given by research numerical models and large-eddy simulation. In addition, the angle between the surface and the geostrophic wind is typically too low, which has important implications for the representation of the larger-scale flow. It appears that some models provide inconsistent results for the surface angle and the momentum flux profile, and when the results from these models are removed from the analysis, the remaining ten models do show a unique relationship between the boundary-layer depth and the surface angle, consistent with the theory given. The present results also imply that it is beneficial to locate the first model level rather close to the surface for a proper representation of the turning of wind with height in the stable boundary layer.