Influence of the microstructural properties of biocemented sand on its mechanical behavior

The mechanical efficiency of the biocementation process is directly related to the microstructural properties of the biocemented sand, such as the volume fraction of calcite, its distribution within the pore space, coordination number, contact surface area, and types of contact. In the present work, some of these microscopic properties are computed, from 3D images obtained by X-ray tomography of biocemented sand. These properties are then used as an input in current analytical models to estimate the elastic properties (Young and shear moduli) and the strength properties (Coulomb cohesion). For the elastic properties, the analytical estimates (contact cement theory model) are compared with classical bounds, self-consistent estimate and numerical results obtained by direct computation (FEM computation) on the same 3D images. Concerning the cohesion, an analytical model initially developed to estimate the cohesion due to suction in unsaturated soils is modified to evaluate the macroscopic cohesion of biocemented sands. Such analytical model is calibrated on experimental data obtained from triaxial tests performed on the same biocemented sand. In overall, the presented results point out the important role of some microstructural parameters, notably those related to the contact, on such effective parameters.     

Integrating X‐ray mapping and microtomography of garnet with thermobarometry to define the P–T evolution of the (near) UHP Międzygórze eclogite,Sudetes, SW Poland

Detailed X‐ray compositional mapping and microtomography have revealed the complex zoning and growth history of garnet in a kyanite‐bearing eclogite. The garnet occurs as clusters of coalesced grains with cores revealing slightly higher Ca and lower Mg than the rims forming the coalescence zones between the grains. Core regions of the garnet host inclusions of omphacite with the highest jadeite, and phengite with the highest Si, similar to values in the cores of omphacite and phengite located in the matrix. Therefore, the core compositions of garnet, omphacite, and phengite have been chosen for the peak pressure estimate. Coupled conventional thermobarometry, average P–T, and phase equilibrium modelling in the NCKFMMnASHT system yields P–T conditions of 26–30 kbar at 800–930°C. Although coesite is not preserved, these P–T conditions partially overlap the coesite stability field, suggesting near ultra‐high–pressure (UHP) conditions during the formation of this eclogite. Therefore, the peak pressure assemblage is suggested to have been garnet–omphacite–kyanite–phengite–coesite/quartz–rutile. Additional lines of evidence for the possible UHP origin of the Mi?dzygórze eclogite are the presence of rod‐shaped inclusions of quartz parallel to the c‐axis in omphacite as well as relatively high values of Ca‐Tschermak and Ca‐Eskola components. Late zoisite, rare diopside–plagioclase symplectites rimming omphacite, and minor phlogopite–plagioclase symplectites replacing phengite formed during retrogression together with later amphibole. These retrograde assemblages lack minerals typical of granulite facies, which suggests simultaneous decompression and cooling during exhumation before the crustal‐scale folding that was responsible for final exhumation of the eclogite.     

The ITG-Goce02 gravity field model from GOCE orbit and gradiometer data based on the short arc approach

In this contribution, we describe the global GOCE-only gravity field model ITG-Goce02 derived from 7.5 months of gradiometer and orbit data. This model represents an alternative to the official ESA products as it is computed completely independently, using a different processing strategy and a separate software package. Our model is derived using the short arc approach, which allows a very effective decorrelation of the highly correlated GOCE gradiometer and orbit data noise by introducing a full empirical covariance matrix for each arc, and gives the possibility to downweight ‘bad’ arcs. For the processing of the orbit data we rely on the integral equation approach instead of the energy integral method, which has been applied in several other GOCE models. An evaluation against high-resolution global gravity field models shows very similar differences of our model compared to the official GOCE results published by ESA (release 2), especially to the model derived by the time-wise approach. This conclusion is confirmed by comparison of the GOCE models to GPS/levelling and altimetry data.     

Placing dots in dot maps

Dot mapping is a cartographic representation method to visualise discrete absolute values and their spatial distribution. To achieve this, dots equal in size and represented value are used. According to the dot value, a certain number of dots are used to depict a data value. These dots usually form dot clusters. The data value needs to be rounded to a multiple of the dot value. It is possible to roughly determine the visualised data value by counting the dots and multiplying this number with the dot value. As there are many parameters – dot size, dot value, map scale – to consider when designing a dot map, the manual way is very complex and time consuming. This paper presents a method to automatically create a dot representation of a dot map from given statistical data that needs no cartographic expertise. The dot representation may be combined with other elements, such as a topographic background, to form a complete map. So the algorithm can easily be integrated into the map design process. The paper refines the basic approach of automated dot mapping published earlier. The dot placement and arrangement have been improved compared to the basic method.     

A GIS enabled nested simulation-optimization model for routing groundwater to overcome spatio-temporal water supply and demand disconnects in South Texas

Groundwater, under sustainable management policies, can be an invaluable source of water to municipal, agricultural, and industrial sectors. Management, however, can be challenging given that historically, these resources have been privately owned and minimally regulated. This research details the development of a decision support system (DSS) which couples a GIS-based multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) scheme with simulation-optimization routines to identify suitable regions for groundwater development and optimal preferences for apportioning those supplies to areas of demand in South Texas. The developed DSS consisted of three modules: (1) a GIS-based MCDM for identifying suitable locations for groundwater production; (2) a simulation-optimization model for estimating available groundwater; and (3) a transportation optimization model for redistributing the groundwater. Applying a comprehensive suite of nine exclusionary criteria in GIS resulted in only 15,304 km² (5,909 mi²) suitable for groundwater production out of the original ~50,500 km² (19,500 mi²). Two ideal sites were selected in the suitable region based on proposed major water supply projects in the study area. The projected groundwater extraction rates per month varied considerably over a year emphasizing a need for storage technologies. Furthermore, a transportation optimization model, which considered cost of storage and movement, was developed and applied to obtain the most optimal scheme to transport groundwater from potential supply centers located in Bee and Kennedy counties to projected water deficit areas of San Antonio, Laredo, and McAllen, TX, USA. Lastly, a full-factorial sensitivity analysis was carried out to check the impacts of the supply and demand factors on groundwater production and transport. Policies at the supply centers had a larger impact on the total availability of water, and policies at the demand centers had a larger impact on the total cost of the management scheme. Furthermore, an analysis of total volume stored in a storage and recovery system exhibited an inverse relationship with the groundwater development (supply side) policies and a direct relationship with the demand requirements. The developed DSS proved useful for determining the most optimal siting and distribution network for groundwater sources in South Texas.     

Lagrangian air mass tracking with smart balloons during ACE‐2

A 3rd‐generation smart balloon designed at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Air Resources Laboratory Field Research Division, in collaboration with the University of Hawaii, was released from ship‐board during the recent Second Aerosol Characterization Experiment (ACE‐2) to provide Lagrangian air‐mass tracking data. ACE‐2 is the 3rd in a series of field experiments designed to study the chemical, physical, and radiative properties and processes of atmospheric aerosols and their role in climate and is organized by the international global atmospheric chemistry (IGAC) program. The adjective smart in the title of this paper refers to the fact that the buoyancy of the balloon automatically adjusts through the act of pumping air into or releasing air from the ballast portion of the balloon when it travels vertically outside a barometric pressure range set prior to release. The smart balloon design provides GPS location, barometric pressure, temperature, relative humidity, and other data via a transponder to a C130 research aircraft flying in the vicinity of the balloon. The addition of 2‐way communication allows interactive control of the balloon operating parameters by an observer. A total of 3 cloudy Lagrangian experiments were conducted during the ACE‐2 field program which lasted from 16 June through 26 July 1997. This paper reviews the design and capability of the smart balloons and their performance during the ACE‐2 Lagrangian experiments. Future development and applications of the technology are discussed.     

Urban Water Management vs. Climate Change: Impacts on Cold Region Waste Water Inflows

Failure to account for non-climatic changes to water systems, such as design and operation, within climate change impact assessments leads to misconceptions because these activities buffer the human built enviroment from bio-physical impacts. Urban drainage in cold regions, which is dominated by snowmelt, is especially vulnerable to climate change and is investigated in this paper within the context of future rehabilitation of the sewer network. The objectives are to illustrate the relative response of urban drainage to changes in both the pipe network and climate and demonstrate the use of response surfaces for climate change studies. An incremental climate scenario approach is used to generate two sensitivity analyses for waste water inflows to the Lycksele waste water treatment plant in north-central Sweden. Air temperature and precipitation data (1984–1993) are altered incrementally between –5 and +15 °C and –10 and +40% respectively. These data are then used to drive a hydrological transformation model to obtain estimates of sewer infiltration from groundwater. The results are presented as winter and spring response surfaces – these are graphical representations of a response matrix where each point relates to a single model run. Climate scenario envelopes which summarise a series of GCM runs (ACACIA; Carter, 2002, pers. comm.) are overlaid to indicate the range of plausible waste water inflows. Estimates of natural multi-decadal variability are also included. The first sensitivity analysis assumes no change to the drainage system while the second simulates sewer renovation in which the system is fully separated and sewer infiltration is reduced. The main conclusions are that innovations in drainage network technology have a greater potential to alter waste water inflows than climate change and that, while the direction of climate change is fairly certain, there is great uncertainty surrounding magnitude of those changes and their impacts.     

An experimental approach to estuarine microplankton ecology

An experimental approach was used in determining which factors, natural or man made, had the greatest impact on estuarine microplankton ecology. In microcosms, filled with natural water of <5‰, 10‰, 18‰ and > 26‰ salinity, the impact of high organic load (glucose), shading, Cu and a heavy metal mixture on the microplankton populations was monitored. Naturally occurring perturbations were of much greater impact to estuarine ecology than the addition of heavy metals in concentrations five to ten times that which are known to occur in moderately polluted estuaries.     

A DUAL mission for nuclear astrophysics

DUAL will study the origin and evolution of the elements and explores new frontiers of physics: extreme energies that drive powerful stellar explosions and accelerate particles to macroscopic energies; extreme densities that modify the laws of physics around the most compact objects known; and extreme fields that influence matter in a way that is unknown on Earth. The variability of these extreme objects requires continuous all-sky coverage, while detailed study demands an improvement in sensitivity over previous technologies by at least an order of magnitude. The DUAL payload is composed of an All-Sky Compton Imager (ASCI), and two optical modules, the Laue-Lens Optic (LLO) and the Coded-Mask Optic (CMO). The ASCI serves dual roles simultaneously, both as an optimal focal-plane sensor for deep observations with the optical modules and as a sensitive true all-sky telescope in its own right for all-sky surveys and monitoring. While the optical modules are located on the main satellite, the All-Sky Compton Imager is situated on a deployable structure at a distance of 30?m from the satellite. This configuration not only permits to maintain the less massive payload at the focal distance, it also greatly reduces the spacecraft-induced detector background, and, above all it provides ASCI with a continuous all-sky exposure.