Accurate determination of highly eccentric orbits in earth's gravtational field with axial symmetry

In this paper, an algorithm is constructed for the determination of the perturbed motion, in both, the rectangular and the orbital elements of highly eccentric orbits in Earth's gravitational field with axial symmetry whatever the number N of the zonal harmonic coefficients may be. An application of the algorithm for the Explorer 28 satellite (e > 0.94) is given for two geopotential models corresponding to N = 2 and N = 36. In both examples extremely accurate predictions during the satellite life time are obtained.     

Detection of multiple potentially pathogenic bacteria in Matang mangrove estuaries,Malaysia

The deltaic estuarine system of the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve of Malaysia is a site where several human settlements and brackish water aquaculture have been established. Here, we evaluated the level of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and the presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria in the surface water and sediments. Higher levels of FIB were detected at downstream sampling sites from the fishing village, indicating it as a possible source of anthropogenic pollution to the estuary. Enterococci levels in the estuarine sediments were higher than in the surface water, while total coliforms and E. coli in the estuarine sediments were not detected in all samples. Also, various types of potentially pathogenic bacteria, including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens and Enterobacter cloacae were isolated. The results indicate that the Matang estuarine system is contaminated with various types of potential human bacterial pathogens which might pose a health risk to the public.     

Environmental impact assessment of a new nuclear power plant (NPP) based on atmospheric dispersion modeling

The US Environmental Protection Agency’s short-range atmospheric dispersion model (AERMOD 12345) is a good candidate for radiological dose calculations to the general public and the environment. It advanced capability should provide better confidence in the accuracy of offsite dose and risk assessment. The code has been used to compute the scaling factors for air concentration and ground level deposition of fission products based on routine and hypothetical accident releases from the NPP site in Geregu, Nigeria (7°33′N, 6°41′E). All computations were within the 16 km emergency planing zone of a generic reactor design considered by the study. The scaling factors have been used to assess the potential environmental risk of the NPP using an integrated approach to the assessment and management of environmental risks from ionizing radiation (D-ERICA). Obtained results should provide baseline information for decision making in terms of operation license provision for the pioneer NPP.     

Biostratigraphy and sedimentology of the Fluviatile Untere Serie (Early and Middle Miocene) in the central part of the North Alpine Foreland Basin: implications for palaeoenvironment and climate

The Early to Middle Miocene Fluviatile Untere Serie lithostratigraphic unit of the Upper Freshwater Molasse (UFM) in the North Alpine Foreland Basin (NAFB) crops out in a 40 m long section at Untereichen-Altenstadt (central part of the NAFB). This section yields a unique superposition of two vertebrate assemblages belonging to different biostratigraphic units: early part OSM C + D (Karpatian) and OSM E (Early Badenian). Detailed taxonomic analyses reveal different diversity patterns in the two assemblages. Nine small mammal and six ectothermic vertebrate taxa occur in the older level UA 540 m, while 20 small mammal and 23 ectothermic vertebrate taxa are recorded for the younger level UA 565 m. From the latter locality comes a small-sized representative of the biostratigraphically significant Megacricetodon lappi lineage. This evolutionary level has not been documented previously for the eastern part of the NAFB. Bioclimatic analysis combined with lithofacies and architectural element analysis indicates that significant changes in the fluvial sedimentation style, surface-water runoff and tectonics occurred between the Early Karpatian and Early Badenian. A meandering fluvial system (marly unit) is erosively overlain by sandy braided river deposits (sandy unit). Overbank deposits of the marly unit revealed that the older vertebrate fossil assemblage (UA 540 m) is deposited in an animal burrow that was presumably produced by owls. Both reptilian and mammalian taxa are indicative of a relatively open environment and dry, probably semi-arid climate. Conversely, vertebrates from the sandy unit (UA 565 m), which are accumulated in channel fill deposits, suggest closed as well as open habitats with a subtropical humid climate and mean annual rainfall of about 1,000 mm. According to the sequence stratigraphic analysis the marly unit is interpreted as a highstand-system-tract of the TB 2.2 global 3rd order sequence. The new results add support to the hypothesis that the erosional unconformity between both sedimentary units spanning the Karpatian-Badenian transition corresponds to the pre-Riesian hiatus, which has been interpreted as part of the Styrian Tectonic Phase, and was previously identified only in the eastern and northeastern part of the NAFB. The biostratigraphic data further indicate that this hiatus lasted longer in the eastern than in the central part of the basin.     

An organic geochemical investigation on organic rich sediments from two Neogene formations in the Klias Peninsula area,West Sabah,Malaysia

Twenty organic rich outcrop samples from the Belait and Setap Shale formations in the Klias Peninsula area, West Sabah, were analysed by means of organic petrology and geochemical techniques. The aims of this study are to assess the type of organic matter, thermal maturity and established source rock characterization based primarily on Rock-Eval pyrolysis data. The shales of the Setap Shale Formation have TOC values varying from 0.6 wt%–1.54 wt% with a mean hydrogen index (HI) of 60.1 mg/g, whereas the shal...     

Statistical distributions of extreme dry spell in Peninsular Malaysia

Statistical distributions of annual extreme (AE) series and partial duration (PD) series for dry-spell event are analyzed for a database of daily rainfall records of 50 rain-gauge stations in Peninsular Malaysia, with recording period extending from 1975 to 2004. The three-parameter generalized extreme value (GEV) and generalized Pareto (GP) distributions are considered to model both series. In both cases, the parameters of these two distributions are fitted by means of the L-moments method, which provides a robust estimation of them. The goodness-of-fit (GOF) between empirical data and theoretical distributions are then evaluated by means of the L-moment ratio diagram and several goodness-of-fit tests for each of the 50 stations. It is found that for the majority of stations, the AE and PD series are well fitted by the GEV and GP models, respectively. Based on the models that have been identified, we can reasonably predict the risks associated with extreme dry spells for various return periods.     

Smooth particle hydrodynamics modelling of liquid-sediment system and coastal wave breaker

Ocean Dynamics - In this paper, a two-phase coastal liquid-sediment system and a wave breaker were numerically simulated using a particle-based smooth particle hydrodynamics (SPH). To verify the...     

Atlantic Ocean sea-surface temperatures and regional streamflow variability in the Adour-Garonne basin,France

Abstract

The identification of Atlantic Ocean (AO) climatic drivers may prove valuable in long lead-time forecasting of streamflow in the Adour-Garonne basin in southwestern France. Previous studies have identified the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) as drivers of European hydrology. The current research applied the singular value decomposition (SVD) statistical method to AO sea-surface temperatures (SSTs) to identify the primary AO climatic drivers of the Adour-Garonne basin streamflow. Annual and seasonal streamflow volumes were selected as the hydrological response, while average AO SSTs were calculated for three different 6-month averages (January–June, April–September and July–December) for the year preceding streamflow. The results identified a region along the Equator as the probable driver of the basin streamflow. Additional analysis evaluated the influence of the AMO and NAO on Adour-Garonne basin streamflow.

Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz; Associate editor H. Aksoy

Citation Oubeidillah, A.A., Tootle, G. and Anderson, S.-R., 2012. Atlantic Ocean sea-surface temperatures and regional streamflow variability in the Adour-Garonne basin, France. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 57 (3), 496–506.