Applying the HAZUS-MH software tool to assess seismic risk in downtown Ottawa,Canada

The aim of this paper is to present earthquake loss estimations for a portion of downtown Ottawa, Canada, using the HAZUS-MH (Hazards United States Multi-Hazard) software tool. The assessment is performed for a scenario earthquake of moment magnitude 6.5, at an epicentral distance of 15 km, occurring during business hours. A level 2 HAZUS-MH analysis was performed where the building inventory, microzonation studies, and site-specific ground motion hazard maps (2% exceedence probability in 50 years) were all improved based on local information. All collected data were assembled into a set of standard geodatabases that are compatible with the HAZUS-MH software using a GIS-specific procedure. The results indicate that the greatest losses are expected in unreinforced masonry buildings and commercial buildings. Sensitivity studies show that soil classes, the vulnerability of schools, and the spatial scale of loss estimations are also important factors to take into account.     

Refinement of the crystal structure of beryllonite,NaBePO4

Summary The refined lattice parameters of beryllonite are:a=8.178 (3) Å,b=7.818 (2) Å,c=14.114 (6) Å, =90.00° (2); space groupP2₁/n,Z=12. Integrated Weissenberg photographs were taken by using CuK radiation and multiple film packs. The anisotropic refinement of the crystal structure by means of least-square methods gave a finalR value of 0.063 for the 1388 observed reflections. In the crystal structure PO₄ and BeO₄ tetrahedra, linked by shared oxygen atoms in a three-dimensional network, form pseudo-ditrigonal rings perpendicular to theb axis. The independent Na atoms lying in the channels formed by the rings are coordinated as an irregular nine-cornered polyhedron and as distorted octahedra.

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Verfeinerung der Kristallstruktur des Beryllonits,NaBePO ₄

Zusammenfassung Verfeinerte Gitterkonstanten des Beryllonits lauten:a=8,178 (3) Å,b=7,818 (2) Å,c=14,114 (6) Å, =90,00 (2)°; Raumgruppe:P2₁/n,Z=12. Integrierte Weissenbergaufnahmen wurden mit CuK-Strahlung und multiplen Filmpaketen aufgenommen. Die anisotrope Verfeinerung der Kristallstruktur nach der Methode der kleinsten Quadrate ergab für 1388 beob. Reflexe einen abschließendenR-Wert von 0,063. In der Kristallstruktur bilden PO₄-und BeO₄-Tetraeder, die über gemeinsame Sauerstoffe zu einem dreidimensionalen Gerüst verknüpft sind, pseudo-ditrigonale Ringe senkrecht zurb-Achse. Die kristallographisch unabhängigen Arten von Na-Atomen, welche in den aus Ringen gebildeten Kanälen liegen, sind in der Form eines unregelmäßigen neuneckigen Polyeders bzw. in der Form verzerrter Oktaeder koordiniert.

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With 2 Figures     

Role of land-surface temperature feedback on model performance for the stable boundary layer

At present a variety of boundary-layer schemes is in use in numerical models and often a large variation of model results is found. This is clear from model intercomparisons, such as organized within the GEWEX Atmospheric Boundary Layer Study (GABLS). In this paper we analyze how the specification of the land-surface temperature affects the results of a boundary-layer scheme, in particular for stable conditions. As such we use a well established column model of the boundary layer and we vary relevant parameters in the turbulence scheme for stable conditions. By doing so, we can reproduce the outcome for a variety of boundary-layer models. This is illustrated with the original set-up of the second GABLS intercomparison study using prescribed geostrophic winds and land-surface temperatures as inspired by (but not identical to) observations of CASES-99 for a period of more than two diurnal cycles. The model runs are repeated using a surface temperature that is calculated with a simple land-surface scheme. In the latter case, it is found that the range of model results in stable conditions is reduced for the sensible heat fluxes, and the profiles of potential temperature and wind speed. However, in the latter case the modelled surface temperatures are rather different than with the original set-up, which also impacts on near-surface air temperature and wind speed. As such it appears that the model results in stable conditions are strongly influenced by non-linear feedbacks in which the magnitude of the geostrophic wind speed and the related land-surface temperature play an important role.     

Ring and plasma: The enigmae of Enceladus

The E ring associated with the Kronian moon Enceladus has a lifetime of only a few thousand years against sputteringly by slow corotating O ions. The existence of the ring implies the necessity for a continuous supply of matter. Possible particle source mechanisms on Enceladus include meteoroidal impact ejection and geysering. Estimates of ejection rates of particulate debris following small meteoroid impact are on the order of 3 × 10^?18 g cm^?2 sec^?1, more than an order of magnitude too small to sustain the ring. A geyser source would need to generate a droplet supply at a rate of approximately 10^?16 g cm^?2 sec^? in order to account for a stable ring. Enceladus and the ring particles also directly supply both plasma and vapor to space via sputtering. The absence of a 60 eV plasma at the Voyager 2 Enceladus L-shell crossing, such as might have been expected from sputtering, cannot be explained by absorption and moderation of plasma ions by ring particles, because the ring is too diffuse. Evidently, the effective sputtering yield in the vicinity of Enceladus is on the order of, or smaller than, 0.4, about an order of magnitude less than the calculated value. Small scale surface roughness may account for some of this discrepancy.     

Iron(III) accumulations in inland saline waterways,Hunter Valley,Australia: Mineralogy,micromorphology and pore-water geochemistry

Discharge of Fe(II)-rich groundwaters into surface-waters results in the accumulation of Fe(III)-minerals in salinized sand-bed waterways of the Hunter Valley, Australia. The objective of this study was to characterise the mineralogy, micromorphology and pore-water geochemistry of these Fe(III) accumulations. Pore-waters had a circumneutral pH (6.2–7.2), were sub-oxic to oxic (Eh 59–453 mV), and had dissolved Fe(II) concentrations up to 81.6 mg L⁻¹. X-ray diffraction (XRD) on natural and acid-ammonium-oxalate (AAO) extracted samples indicated a dominance of 2-line ferrihydrite in most samples, with lesser amounts of goethite, lepidocrocite, quartz, and alumino-silicate clays. The majority of Fe in the samples was bound in the AAO extractable fraction (Fe^Ox) relative to the Na-dithionite extractable fraction (Fe^Di), with generally high Fe^Ox:Fe^Di ratios (0.52–0.92). The presence of nano-crystalline 2-line ferrihydrite (Fe₅HO₃·4H₂O) with lesser amounts of goethite (α-FeOOH) was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) coupled with selected area electron diffraction (SAED). In addition, it was found that lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH), which occurred as nanoparticles as little as ∼5 lattice spacings thick perpendicular to the (0 2 0) lattice plane, was also present in the studied Fe(III) deposits. Overall, the results highlight the complex variability in the crystallinity and particle-size of Fe(III)-minerals which form via oxidation of Fe(II)-rich groundwaters in sand-bed streams. This variability may be attributed to: (1) divergent precipitation conditions influencing the Fe(II) oxidation rate and the associated supply and hydrolysis of the Fe(III) ion, (2) the effect of interfering compounds, and (3) the influence of bacteria, especially Leptothrix ochracea.     

Successional stages of biological soil crusts and their microstructure variability in Shapotou region (China)

In order to investigate succession of biological soil crusts (BSCs) and their microstructure variability, we conducted this work in Shapotou revegetation region at the southeast edge of Tengger Deser. The results showed that BSCs generally succeeded as a pathway of “Algae crusts, algae–lichen crusts, lichen crusts, lichen–moss crusts and moss crusts”. Occasionally mosses directly occurred on algae crusts, and BSCs succeeded from algae crusts to moss crusts. Crust vertical stratification was a common phenomenon, from top to bottom an inorganic layer, algae-dense layer and algae-sparse layer were divided in algae crusts; a thallus layer, rhizoid layer and sub-rhizoid layer in lichen crusts; a “stem-leaf” layer, rhizoid layer and sub-rhizoid layer in moss crusts, respectively. The main crust binding organisms varied from filamental cyanobacteria (dominated by Microcoleus) in algae crusts to lichen rhizoids, free-living cyanobacterial filaments and fungal hyphaes in lichen crusts, and to moss rhizoids and fungal hyphaes in moss crusts. The dominant phototrophic organisms varied from Microcoleus (algae) in algae crusts to Collema (lichens) in lichen crusts, and to Bryum (or Didymodon and Tortula; mosses) in moss crusts. Total phototrophic biomass increased while the free-living algal biomass decreased with the succession of BSCs. In addition, exopolysaccharides and fine particles accumulated in the course of development and succession of BSCs, all of which lead to a gradual increase in crust thickness and porosity, while decrease in the bulk density.     

Features of Wind Wave–Induced Turbulence in Water According to Measurements in a Wind-Wave Tank

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - Three velocity components ui (i = x, y, z) have been measured in a wind-wave tank at three levels in water in the presence of wind waves. The degree of...     

Rotary spectrum analysis of tidal current in the southern Yellow Sea

A complete set of one-month Acoustic Doppler Profiler (ADP) current data at a station in the southern Yellow Sea (SYS) is analyzed using the rotary spectrum method. The results revealed different rotary properties between barotropic and baroclinic tidal currents. The barotropic and baroclinic tidal currents rotate elliptically counter-clockwise and clockwise, respectively. Meanwhile, baroclinic bottom tidal currents are almost along-isobath. The baroclinic cross-isobath velocities attenuate quickly at the bottom, implying important effects of bottom topography on the cross-isobath motions.     

Mapping soil organic carbon stocks of northeastern China using expert knowledge and GIS-based methods

The main aim of this paper was to calculate soil organic carbon stock (SOCS) with consideration of the pedogenetic horizons using expert knowledge and GIS-based methods in northeastern China. A novel prediction process was presented and was referred to as model-then-calculate with respect to the variable thicknesses of soil horizons (MCV). The model-then-calculate with fixed-thickness (MCF), soil profile statistics (SPS), pedological professional knowledge-based (PKB) and vegetation type-based (Veg) methods were carried out for comparison. With respect to the similar pedological information, nine common layers from topsoil to bedrock were grouped in the MCV. Validation results suggested that the MCV method generated better performance than the other methods considered. For the comparison of polygon based approaches, the Veg method generated better accuracy than both SPS and PKB, as limited soil data were incorporated. Additional prediction of the pedogenetic horizons within MCV benefitted the regional SOCS estimation and provided information for future soil classification and understanding of soil functions. The intermediate product, that is, horizon thickness maps were fluctuant enough and reflected many details in space. The linear mixed model indicated that mean annual air temperature (MAAT) was the most important predictor for the SOCS simulation. The minimal residual of the linear mixed models was achieved in the vegetation type-based model, whereas the maximal residual was fitted in the soil type-based model. About 95% of SOCS could be found in Argosols, Cambosols and Isohumosols. The largest SOCS was found in the croplands with vegetation of Triticum aestivum L., Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, Glycine max (L.) Merr., Zea mays L. and Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.