Discussion of “From saturated to unsaturated conditions and vice versa” by Martí Lloret-Cabot,Simon J. Wheeler,Jubert A. Pineda,Enrique Romero,and Daichao Sheng (https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-017-0577-6)

The authors (Lloret-Cabot et al. in Acta Geotech 1–23, 2017) applied the glasgow coupled model (GCM), originally proposed by Wheeler et al. (Géotechnique 53(1):41–54, 2003), to the simulation of several experimental tests that involve transition between saturated and unsaturated states. The authors show qualitatively, but not quantitatively, predictions of GCM for shrinkage during air drying of normally consolidated samples (Fig. 13) under low mechanical stress conditions, without presenting the material parameters. The discussers, who have worked with GCM to model multilayer deposition of tailings/soft soils (Qi in Numerical investigation for slope stability of expansive soils and large strain consolidation of soft soils. Doctoral dissertation, University of Ottawa, 2017; Qi et al. in J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 143(7):04017018, 2017, Qi et al. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 143(7):04017019, 2017), have made quantitative predictions of similar cases. Satisfactory simulations of such cases using GCM are sensitive to the selection of the coupling parameters k₁ and k₂. By considering an alternative analytical form of GCM, an analytical procedure can be derived for calibrating the coupling parameters for problems involving virgin drying.     

‘Thermohaline front’ off the east coast of India and its generating mechanism

Physical oceanography measurements reveal a strong salinity (0.18 psu km⁻¹) and temperature (0.07 °C km⁻¹) front off the east coast of India in December 1997. T–S diagrams suggest lateral mixing between the fresh water at the coast and the ambient warmer, saltier water. This front seems to be the result of southward advection of fresh and cool water, formed in the northern Bay of Bengal during the monsoon, by the East Indian Coastal Current, as suggested by the large-scale salinity structure in the SODA re-analysis and the anti-cyclonic gyre in the northwestern Bay of Bengal during winter. The data further reveals an offshore front in January, which appears to be the result of a meso-scale re-circulation around an eddy, bringing cold and freshwater from the northern Bay of Bengal further away from the shore. Our cruise data hence illustrates that very strong salinity fronts can appear in the Bay of Bengal after the monsoon, as a result of intense coastal circulation and stirring by eddies.

     

Role of Nitrogen Oxides,Black Carbon,and Meteorological Parameters on the Variation of Surface Ozone Levels at a Tropical Urban Site – Hyderabad,India

In this study, temporal variations of surface ozone (O₃) were investigated at tropical urban site of Hyderabad during the year 2009. O₃, oxides of nitrogen (NO_x = NO + NO₂), black carbon (BC), and meteorological parameters were continuously monitored at the established air monitoring station. Results revealed the production of surface O₃ from NO₂ through photochemical oxidation. Averaged datasets illustrated the variations in ground‐level concentrations of these air pollutants along different time scales. Maximum mean concentrations of O₃ (56.75 ppbv) and NO_x (8.9 ppbv) were observed in summer. Diurnal‐seasonal changes in surface O₃ and NO_x concentrations were explicated with complex atmospheric chemistry, boundary layer dynamics, and local meteorology. In addition, nocturnal chemistry of NO_x played a decisive role in the formation of O₃ during day time. Mean BC mass concentration in winter (10.92 µg m^?3) was high during morning hours. Heterogeneous chemistry of BC on O₃ destruction and NO_x formation was elucidated. Apart from these local observations, long‐range transport of trace gases and BC aerosols were evidenced from air mass back trajectories. Further, statistical modeling was performed to predict O₃ using multi‐linear regression method, which resulted in 91% of the overall variance.     

Multi-Physics ensemble prediction of tropical cyclone movement over Bay of Bengal

Ensemble prediction methodology based on variations in physical process parameterizations in tropical cyclone track prediction has been assessed. Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting model with 30-km resolution was used to make 5-day simulation of the movement of Orissa super cyclone (1999), one of the most intense tropical cyclones over the North Indian Ocean. Altogether 36 ensemble members with all possible combinations of three cumulus convection, two planetary boundary layer and six cloud microphysics parameterization schemes were produced. A comparison of individual members indicated that Kain–Fritsch cumulus convection scheme, Mellor–Yamada–Janjic planetary boundary layer scheme and Purdue Lin cloud microphysics scheme showed better performance. The best possible ensemble formulation is identified based on SPREAD and root mean square error (RMSE). While the individual members had track errors ranging from 96–240 km at 24 h to 50–803 km at 120 h, most of the ensemble predictions show significant betterment with mean errors less than 130 km up to 120 h. The convection ensembles had large spread of the cluster, and boundary layer ensembles had significant error disparity, indicating their important roles in the movement of tropical cyclones. Six-member ensemble predictions with cloud microphysics schemes of LIN, WSM5, and WSM6 produce the best predictions with least of RMSE, and large SPREAD indicates the need for inclusion of all possible hydrometeors in the simulation and that six-member ensemble is sufficient to produce the best ensemble prediction of tropical cyclone tracks over Bay of Bengal.     

Significance of nearshore wave parameters in identifying vulnerable zones during storm and normal conditions along Visakhapatnam coast,India

The nearshore parameters, viz., wave runup, wave setup, and wave energy have been estimated during storm and normal conditions of SW monsoon (June–September) and NE monsoon (November–February) by empirical parameterization along Visakhapatnam coast. These results were compared with the field observations during three storms of SW monsoon season in the year 2007. The higher nearshore wave energies were observed at R.K. Beach, Jodugullapalem beach, and Sagarnagar beach during both the seasons. During storm events, the higher wave energies associated with higher wave runups cause severe erosion along the wave convergence zones. The storm wave runups (SWRUs) were higher at R.K. Beach, Palm beach, Jodugullapalem beach, and Sagarnagar Beach. The yearly low wave energy was observed at Lawson’s Bay with lowest wave runup, considered as safest zone. R.K. Beach, Palm beach, and Jodugullapalem beach are identified as vulnerable zones of wave attack. It is noteworthy that in addition to wave energies, wave runups and wave setups also play a vital role in endangering the coast.     

理学ZSX系列X荧光光谱仪中文软件开发

介绍了日本理学ZSX系列X荧光光谱仪的特点和新开发的中文版软件的功能。     

冻结过程中单孔冰结晶变形机制研究

孔隙水在冻结过程中产生的冰结晶压力导致了多孔材料的冻胀及破坏。本文通过理论分析分别给出了不同形状晶体的结晶压力计算模型,并分析了经典结晶压力计算公式的使用条件。建立了降温过程中孔隙冰晶生长模型,实现冰晶生长过程中的孔隙变形计算,分析了晶核密度、孔径大小、荷载和冰晶体积对孔隙冻胀变形的影响机制。结果表明：起始孔隙直径和长宽比的增大对结晶变形抑制作用的机理在于减少了冰晶体积中膨胀结晶的比例。荷载对孔隙变形的抑制机制在于,荷载的增大迫使冰晶更多地横向生长（长宽比增大）,导致膨胀结晶所占比例减小。孔隙中的晶体生长有完全填充模式和部分填充模式,在部分填充模式下,晶核密度、荷载和孔径的增大都会导致晶体在孔隙中的填充率增大,从而对孔隙结晶变形产生影响。本模型揭示了单个孔隙中冻胀变形机制,为解决多孔介质的冻胀变形与破坏问题提供了新的思路。     

Design Method,Application and Time Alternative Mechanism of Flexible Use of Airspace

The flexible use of airspace and its practice are the key components of next generation air transportation system and the important technical support of reconstructing the national airspace in Europe, Japan and other countries. On the basis of overview and comprehensive cognition of the generation, implementation and aims of flexible use of airspace, the design methods of sector’s boundary changes were evaluated. Then, from the perspective of “sector-closed”, the effect on sector boundary changes was evaluated, and the time alternative mechanism in flexible use of airspace was revealed. The research shows that “Algorithm+Manual Dynamic Boundary Change” can be a method for better distribution and balancing the unbalanced traffic demand across regions, which will also promote the airspace development and capacity release. The flexible use of airspace based on ICTs realizes the replacement of the factor of space by the factor of time, which enhances the flexibility of airspace configuration and the changing of air routes to the maximun extent. The methods and applications of flexible use of airspace will be not only beneficial to establishing the whole national airspace system and utilization, but also to promoting geography research on airspace resources development and the studies on connection between air and land.     

赣南离子吸附型稀土矿区土壤重金属形态分布特征及生态风险评价

稀土矿的露天开采易造成土壤重金属污染等环境问题。已有研究表明赣南离子吸附型稀土矿区土壤存在以Cd、Pb为主的轻、中度重金属污染。常见环境质量评价以主要污染因子（如重金属总量）作为衡量污染程度的指标,仅能反映重金属的富集程度。为查明赣南稀土矿区土壤重金属的赋存状态、迁移能力以及生物有效性,本文在利用电感耦合等离子体质谱法（ICP-MS）测定土壤重金属各形态含量的基础上,采用地累积指数法、潜在生态危害指数法及RAC风险评价法对赣南稀土矿区土壤重金属的生态风险进行评价。结果表明：①研究区土壤重金属主要以残渣态存在,占总量的65.5%。②土壤样品中Cd、Pb含量平均值分别是江西省土壤背景值的1.72倍和2.14倍;流域内位于矿山下游河流沿岸农田土壤Cd的平均值、尾矿库附近农田Pb的平均值分别是土壤背景值的2.33倍和3.06倍,22.7%样品的Cd或Pb含量超过风险筛选值,其中可交换态所占比例仅次于残渣态,分别占总量的47.1%和13.5%。③地累积指数与潜在生态风险评价结果表明Cd、Pb累积程度及生态风险水平较高,Co、Ni、Cu、Zn较低;RAC风险评价结果显示Cd生态风险较高,Co、Zn、Pb生态风险中等,Cu、Ni生态风险低。④针对矿区农田土壤的三种评价方法各有侧重,其评价结果异中有同,均表明研究区土壤Cd具有较高的污染程度和迁移活性,生态风险较高。本研究结果将为识别稀土矿周边农田土壤的潜在环境风险,提出有效的防范、应急与减缓措施提供科学依据。     

水化学找矿法及其在大型资源基地绿色调查中的应用——以川西九龙地区地表水化学找矿为例

"战略性新兴产业矿产调查"工程积极倡导绿色调查新理论新方法在大型资源基地勘查开发中的应用,绿色调查是川西大型锂铍资源基地综合调查评价工作的主要内容之一.本文梳理了水化学找矿法的发展历程与现状,提出了水化学找矿法应用于矿产勘查及环境调查评价中存在的主要问题.在川西九龙湿润半湿润高寒山区,尝试应用水化学找矿法对地表水中的化...