Extended CFD–DEM for free‐surface flow with multi‐size granules

Computational fluid dynamics and discrete element method (CFD–DEM) is extended with the volume of fluid (VOF) method to model free‐surface flows. The fluid is described on coarse CFD grids by solving locally averaged Navier–Stokes equations, and particles are modelled individually in DEM. Fluid–particle interactions are achieved by exchanging information between DEM and CFD. An advection equation is applied to solve the phase fraction of liquid, in the spirit of VOF, to capture the dynamics of free fluid surface. It also allows inter‐phase volume replacements between the fluid and solid particles. Further, as the size ratio (SR) of fluid cell to particle diameter is limited (i.e. no less than 4) in coarse‐grid CFD–DEM, a porous sphere method is adopted to permit a wider range of particle size without sacrificing the resolution of fluid grids. It makes use of more fluid cells to calculate local porosities. The developed solver (cfdemSolverVOF) is validated in different cases. A dam break case validates the CFD‐component and VOF‐component. Particle sedimentation tests validate the CFD–DEM interaction at various Reynolds numbers. Water‐level rising tests validate the volume exchange among phases. The porous sphere model is validated in both static and dynamic situations. Sensitivity analyses show that the SR can be reduced to 1 using the porous sphere approach, with the accuracy of analyses maintained. This allows more details of the fluid phase to be revealed in the analyses and enhances the applicability of the proposed model to geotechnical problems, where a highly dynamic fluid velocity and a wide range of particle sizes are encountered. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On some properties of prominence eruptions and the associated CMEs in solar cycle 23

This work includes a study of some properties such as speed, apparent width, acceleration and latitudes, etc. of all types of Prominence Eruptions (PEs) and the associated Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) observed during the period of 1997–2006 by Nobeyama Radioheliograph (NORH) and SOHO/LASCO covering the solar cycle 23. The average speed of prominences and associated CMEs are 51 km/sec and 559 km/sec, respectively. The average angular width is 32^° and 74^°, respectively. As expected the associated CMEs are relatively faster and wider than the prominences.     

Effects of hypoxia on biofilms and subsequently larval settlement of benthic invertebrates

Biofilms on submerged surfaces are important in determining larval settlement of most marine benthic invertebrates. We investigated if exposure of biofilms to hypoxia would alter the larval settlement pattern and result in a shift in benthic invertebrate community structure in the field. Biofilms were first exposed to hypoxia or normoxia in laboratory microcosms for 7 days, and then deployed in the field for another 7 days to allow for larval settlement and recruitment to occur. Using terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism of the 16S rRNA gene, this study showed that hypoxia altered the biofilm bacterial community composition, and the difference between the hypoxic and normoxic treatments increased with the time of exposure period. This study also demonstrated significantly different benthic invertebrate community structures as a result of biofilm exposure to hypoxia and that the hypoxic and normoxic treatments were dominated by Hydroides sp. and Folliculina sp., respectively.     

Effects of the roots of Cynodon dactylon and Schefflera heptaphylla on water infiltration rate and soil hydraulic conductivity

Water infiltration rate and hydraulic conductivity in vegetated soil are two vital hydrological parameters for agriculturists to determine availability of soil moisture for assessing crop growths and yields, and also for engineers to carry out stability calculations of vegetated slopes. However, any effects of roots on these two parameters are not well‐understood. This study aims to quantify the effects of a grass species, Cynodon dactylon, and a tree species, Schefflera heptaphylla, on infiltration rate and hydraulic conductivity in relation to their root characteristics and suction responses. The two selected species are commonly used for ecological restoration and rehabilitation in many parts of the world and South China, respectively. A series of in‐situ double‐ring infiltration tests was conducted during a wet summer, while the responses of soil suction were monitored by tensiometers. When compared to bare soil, the vegetated soil has lower infiltration rate and hydraulic conductivity. This results in at least 50% higher suction retained in the vegetated soil. It is revealed that the effects of root‐water uptake by the selected species on suction were insignificant because of the small evapotranspiration (<0.2 mm) when the tests were conducted under the wet climate. There appears to have no significant difference (less than 10%) of infiltration rates, hydraulic conductivity and suction retained between the grass‐covered and the tree‐covered soil. However, the grass and tree species having deeper root depth and greater Root Area Index (RAI) retained higher suction. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Confined groundwater near the rockhead in igneous rocks in the Mid-Levels area, Hong Kong, China

It is customary in Hong Kong to assume that the hydraulic conductivity of weathered igneous rocks decreases with depth or as the rock mass becomes less weathered. Such a hydraulic conductivity pattern can only lead to an unconfined aquifer. This paper presents a case study in the regions in and around the Mid-Levels area in Hong Kong regarding a possible relatively high hydraulic conductivity (K) zone and confined groundwater along the rockhead. The Mid-Levels area is located at the lower part of the north-facing slopes of Victoria Peak on Hong Kong Island and is prone to landslides. Although this site has a long history of geotechnical studies because of extensive urban development along the coast and public concern on slope stability, hydrogeology of the site remains poorly understood. This paper reexamined the hydraulic conductivity data in 7 boreholes conducted in the 1970s and found that 4 of them indicate an increase in K at the rockhead. Groundwater conditions revealed by tunnel construction at the coast suggest that K close to the rockhead is about 10 times greater than above rockhead. A careful analysis of storm response of a piezometer group with tips in different depths indicates that there was an upward flow from the bedrock to the colluvium. A field study of two overflow standpipes conducted by the authors showed that the water level can be 0.64 and 3.73 m above the ground surface, which illustrates that the deep groundwater is significantly artesian. A search of the archived site investigation reports from the government and private companies has led to an identification of about 24 sites with overflow boreholes, which suggests that overflow phenomenon is quite common in the study area. The paper then concludes that in the study area there is a relatively high K zone along the rockhead and the groundwater in the zone is confined. It is recommended that geotechnical engineers should carry out a more careful field study on an overflow borehole because such a borehole indicates a confined groundwater condition important for slope stability study and foundation design.     

Photometric Investigation of the Eclipsing Binary Star KN Per

We used the Behlen observatory 0.76 m telescope and the CCD photometer to secure 689 observation of the eclipsing binary star KN Per. The observations were made on 8 nights during 1993 and 1994 with V and R bandpass filters. From 7 determinations of eclipse timings of minimum (V&R together), we have determined a new epoch and an orbital period of 0.8664604 days. The published spectral classification is A9. The 1993 version of the Wilson-Devinney model gave the photometric solutions. The adopted solution indicates that KN Per is a W UMa type contact binary. The mass ratio, q = (m₂/m₁, where star 1 eclipses at the primary minimum) = 0.23 suggests that KN Per is a W UMa system with A-type configuration. The secondary minimum shows a total eclipse. The asymmetry in the light curve is fitted with a cold spot on the secondary component of the system. The luminosity difference between the components is very large KN Per therefore, is most likely a single line spectroscopic binary. We recommend spectroscopic study of this system. Generally contact systems of spectral type A9 have periods ranging from 0.4 to 0.6 days. KN Per has considerably longer period and thus appears to be an evolved contact system with case B mass transfer. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Climate�Csoil�Cvegetation control on groundwater table dynamics and its feedbacks in a climate model

Among the three dynamically linked branches of the water cycle, including atmospheric, surface, and subsurface water, groundwater is the largest reservoir and an active component of the hydrologic system. Because of the inherent slow response time, groundwater may be particularly relevant for long time-scale processes such as multi-years or decadal droughts. This study uses regional climate simulations with and without surface water?Cgroundwater interactions for the conterminous US to assess the influence of climate, soil, and vegetation on groundwater table dynamics, and its potential feedbacks to regional climate. Analyses show that precipitation has a dominant influence on the spatial and temporal variations of groundwater table depth (GWT). The simulated GWT is found to decrease sharply with increasing precipitation. Our simulation also shows some distinct spatial variations that are related to soil porosity and hydraulic conductivity. Vegetation properties such as minimum stomatal resistance, and root depth and fraction are also found to play an important role in controlling the groundwater table. Comparing two simulations with and without groundwater table dynamics, we find that groundwater table dynamics mainly influences the partitioning of soil water between the surface (0?C0.5?m) and subsurface (0.5?C5?m) rather than total soil moisture. In most areas, groundwater table dynamics increases surface soil moisture at the expense of the subsurface, except in regions with very shallow groundwater table. The change in soil water partitioning between the surface and subsurface is found to strongly correlate with the partitioning of surface sensible and latent heat fluxes. The evaporative fraction (EF) is generally higher during summer when groundwater table dynamics is included. This is accompanied by increased cloudiness, reduced diurnal temperature range, cooler surface temperature, and increased cloud top height. Although both convective and non-convective precipitation are enhanced, the higher EF changes the partitioning to favor more non-convective precipitation, but this result could be sensitive to the convective parameterization used. Compared to simulations without groundwater table dynamics, the dry bias in the summer precipitation is slightly reduced over the central and eastern US Groundwater table dynamics can provide important feedbacks to atmospheric processes, and these feedbacks are stronger in regions with deeper groundwater table, because the interactions between surface and subsurface are weak when the groundwater table is deep. This increases the sensitivity of surface soil moisture to precipitation anomalies, and therefore enhances land surface feedbacks to the atmosphere through changes in soil moisture and evaporative fraction. By altering the groundwater table depth, land use change and groundwater withdrawal can alter land surface response and feedback to the climate system.