A Simple Method of Estimating Scalar Fluxes Over Forests

A simple aerodynamic-variance method is proposed to fill gaps in continuous CO₂ flux measurements in rainy conditions, when open-path analysers do not function. The method requires turbulent conditions (friction velocity greater than 0.1 ms^–1), and uses measurements of mean wind speed, and standard deviations of temperature and CO₂ concentration fluctuations to complement, and at times replace, eddy-covariance measurements of friction velocity, sensible heat flux and CO₂ flux. Friction velocity is estimated from the mean wind speed with a flux-gradient relationship modified for the roughness sublayer. Since normalised standard deviations do not follow Monin-Obukhov similarity theory in the roughness sublayer, a simple classification scheme according to the scalar turbulence scale was used. This scheme is shown to produce sensible heat and CO₂ flux estimates that are well correlated with the measured values.     

A typology of migration in Canada based on migrants' characteristics

"Data from the 1981 Census of Canada are used to develop a typology of migrants on the basis of their personal characteristics. Migrants are defined as those individuals who have changed their residence since the 1976 Census, crossing at least a municipal boundary. Socio-economic and demographic characteristics are perceived to differentiate stayers from movers, and to distinguish each migrant type [that is to say] intraprovincial, interprovincial and international. Discriminant analysis is applied to classify people into migrant types based on their personal characteristics and the typology developed."     

Spatial Connectivity: From Variograms to Multiple-Point Measures

Anisotropy and curvilinearity are common characteristics of geological structures. Traditional measures of connectivity such as the variogram are rectilinear in that they do not take into account the curvilinearity of these structures. Recent developments in geostatistics have demonstrated and simulated the effect of curvilinearity and multiple-point (mp) connectivity on the output of transfer functions such as flow simulators. A set of curvilinear channels and set of elliptical lenses may share the same variogram and rectilinear connectivity but would yield different flow responses because of their different curvilinearity. A measure of curvilinearity generalizing the variogram measure is therefore proposed. The proposed measure is directional with a tolerance cone and depends on distance with a tolerance, as with an experimental variogram.     

Surface Boundary-Layer Characteristics Over a Tropical Inland Station: Seasonal Features

Some characteristic features of the atmospheric surfacelayer over an inland tropical station, Lucknow (27°N, 81°E)in India, are investigated for different seasons using micrometeorological data collected at the 10-m levelof an instrumented tower. Seasonal monsoonal variations in wind circulation (north-easterliesand south-westerlies) dominate the flow over this part of the region. This study utilizesthe wind, temperature and humidity data obtained for a period of one year from February 1996 to January 1997. The diurnal variation of mean parameterssuch as temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed are studied for different seasonsnamely pre-, south-west, post- and north-east monsoon periods. Turbulent statistics are computedusing the eddy correlation technique, and are studied under the framework of Monin–Obukhov similarity theory with results compared with otherexperimental studies reported in the literature. It is found that the turbulence statistics arenearly independent of season and the near-neutral values of the normalized standard deviations ofthe three wind components, temperature and specific humidityare found to be 1.00 ± 0.04 (vertical), 2.63 ± 0.36(longitudinal), 2.19 ± 0.06 (lateral), 6.56 ± 0.33and 6.45 ± 0.33 respectively.     

Aspects of strain history in folded sediments from the Schefferville Mining District, Labrador Trough, Canada

Preferred orientations of phyllosilicate grains in the shaley rocks of the Labrador Trough were studied using a pole-figure goniometer. Transmitted X-rays permit determination of the basal planes of chlorite and muscovite. From their preferred orientation, strain is calculated according to March's theory. By choosing samples in successively more strongly deformed domains, a strain history can be recognized which started with compaction by loss of pore volume under an overburden and was later followed by an early homogeneous tectonic shortening parallel to bedding and at a right angle to the fold axis. Buckling occurred next, with strain in the limbs becoming different from that in the hinges; the limbs were lengthened parallel to bedding and nearly normal to the fold axis. Continuing appression, finally, led to pervasive shortening normal to the axial plane with concurrent stretching both updip along the axial plane and along the fold axis. This latter stretching may have occurred when variable-plunge basin and dome structures of the Labrador Trough were formed.     

Sensitivity of the tropical nonlinear stationary Kelvin and Rossby waves to the vertical structure of heating

Idealized experiments using linear (LM) and nonlinear (NM) multilevel global spectral models have been carried out to investigate and understand the impact of nonlinearities on the stationary wave response in the tropical atmosphere and its sensitivity to the vertical profile of heating. It is found that nonlinearities exert a dominant influence on the low-latitude stationary Kelvin and Rossby waves particularly in the vicinity of the forcing region. Our study shows that nonlinear effects on the upper tropospheric response produce prominent eastward displacement of the anticyclonic vorticity and horizontal shifts of the maximum equilibrium divergence relative to the prescribed heating. These changes due to nonlinear terms are found to be quite sensitive to the vertical structure of diabatic heating. The strongest nonlinear effects are found to occur when the vertical level under consideration is strongly forced from below. Detailed vorticity budget calculations indicate that stronger nonlinear contributions from stretching and horizontal advection of relative vorticity favour the generation of upper tropospheric anticyclonic circulation and its eastward displacement. Larger vertical advection and twisting terms appear to oppose the generation of upper tropospheric anticyclonic vorticity. It is found that the nonlinear terms which affect the vorticity generation in the upper levels are crucially controlled by the vertical profile of heating. The mid-tropospheric response due to deep convective heating in the NM is characterized by anomalous equatorial westerlies in the low-latitude Rossby regime and exhibits prominent ageostrophic motions. Such nonlinear effects appear probably because of a vertical shift of the low level circulation anomalies in the NM. In the case of shallow convective heating the occurrence of anomalous zonal flows and ageostrophic motions in the low latitude regions of the NM takes place near the level of the maximum heating. Our study shows that large heating amplitudes and small vertical gradient of heating at a given vertical level together favour generation of anomalous zonal flows and ageostrophic motions in the near equatorial regions. These anomalous basic flows in the low-latitudes have implications on the propagation of transients from the tropics to midlatitudes. Non-linear effects on the lower tropospheric stationary waves are prominently seen in the case of strong low level heating which produces a large strengthening of the lower tropospheric cyclonic anomalies that exhibit distinct eastward shifts in the NM relative to the LM.     

Analysis of the Tsunami of December 26, 2004, on the Kerala Coast of India—Part III: Inundation and Initial Withdrawal

During the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 26, 2004, specific observations were made by our survey team about the arrival times of several tsunami waves, their amplitudes, maximum extent of horizontal inundation on land and initial withdrawal of the ocean. Here the observations on the horizontal inundation and initial withdrawal are presented and briefly discussed.     

Biosorption of Cr (VI), Cr (III), Pb (II) and Cd (II) from aqueous solutions by Sargassum wightii and Caulerpa racemosa algal biomass

Heavy metal pollution is one of the most important environmental problems today.Biosorption is an innovative tech-nology that employs biological materials to accumulate heavy metals from waste water through metabolic process or physicochemi-cal pathways of uptake.Even though several physical and chemical methods are available for removal of heavy metals,currently many biological materials such as bacteria,algae,yeasts and fungi have been widely used due to their good performance,low cost and large quantity of availability.The aim of the present study is to explore the biosorption of toxic heavy metals,Cr(VI),Cr(III),Pb(II) and Cd(II) by algal biomass obtained from algae Sargassum wightii(brown) and Caulerpa racemosa(green).Biosorption of algal biomass was found to be biomass concentration-and pH-dependent,while the maximal biosorption was found at pH 5.0 and with the metal concentration of 100 mg L-1.S.wightii showed the maximal metal biosorption at the biomass concentration of 25 g L-1,followed by C.racemosa with the maximal biosorption at 30 g L-1.S.wightii showed 78% biosorption of Cr(VI),Cr(III),Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions.C.racemosa exhibited 85% biosorption of Cd(II) and Cr(VI),and 50% biosorption of Cr(III) and Pb(II).The results of our study suggest that seaweed biomass can be used efficiently for     

Removal of EDTA from Aqueous Solutions Using Activated Carbon Prepared from Rubber Wood Sawdust: Kinetic and Equilibrium Modeling

Adsorptive removal of EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) from aqueous solution was studied using steam pyrolyzed activated carbon. Rubber wood sawdust, obtained from a local timber facility at Kodangavila, Trivandrum, Kerala, India was used as the precursor for the production of the activated carbon. Batch adsorption experiments were employed to monitor and optimize the removal process. The experimental parameters, i. e., solution pH, agitation time, initial EDTA concentration and adsorbent dosage, affecting the adsorption of EDTA onto sawdust activated carbon (SDAC) were optimized. The inner core mechanism for the interaction between EDTA and SDAC, which resulted in the adsorption process, was also discussed. The change in amount of EDTA adsorbed onto SDAC and CAC (commercial activated carbon) was compared over a wide range of pH (2.0–8.0). The maximum removal of EDTA took place in the pH range of 4.0–6.0 for SDAC and 5.0–5.5 for CAC, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the former adsorbent. Kinetic as well as equilibrium studies were performed to determine the rate constant and adsorption capacity, respectively. The adsorption kinetic data was fitted with pseudo‐first‐order kinetics and the equilibrium data was shown to follow the Langmuir isotherm model. These observations explain the formation of a monolayer of EDTA on the surface of SDAC as confirmed by the slow approach to equilibrium after 4 h of contact time. The adsorption capacity of SDAC for the removal of EDTA was 0.526 mmol/g and is seen to be greater than that of CAC and other reported adsorbents (0.193–0.439 mmol/g). Finally, it is clear that the production of steam pyrolyzed activated carbon in the presence of K₂CO₃ greatly enhanced EDTA removal and resulted in a product with possible commercial value for wastewater treatment strategies.