On the Relevance of $$\ln (z_{0} /z_{0T})= kB^{-1}$$

The assumption that the roughness Reynolds number \(( Re_{*})\) can be used as a basis for quantifying the boundary-layer property \({ kB}^{-1} (= \ln (z_{0}/z_{0T}))\) as in some modern numerical models is questioned. While \({ Re}_{*}\) is a useful property in studies of pipe flow, it appears to have only marginal applicability in the case of treeless terrain, as studied in the two experimental situations presented here. For both the daytime and night-time cases there appears to be little correlation between \({ kB}^{-1}\) and \({ Re}_{*}\). For daytime, the present studies indicate that the assumption \({ kB}^{-1} \approx 2\) is acceptable, while for night-time, the scatter involved in relating \({ kB}^{-1}\) to \({ Re}_{*}\) suggests there is little reason to assume a direct relationship. However, while the scatter affecting all of the night-time results is large, there remains a significant correlation between the heat and momentum fluxes upon which an alternative methodology for describing bulk air–surface exchange at night could be constructed. The friction coefficient (\(C_{f}\)) and the turbulent Stanton number \(({ St}_{*})\) are discussed as possible alternatives for describing bulk properties of the air layer adjacent to the surface. While describing the surface roughness in terms of the friction coefficient provides an attractive simplification relative to the conventional methodologies based on roughness length and stability considerations, use of the Stanton number shares many of uncertainties that affect \({ kB}^{-1}\). The transitions at dawn and dusk remain demanding situations to address.     

Isotopes in the Hueco Bolson aquifer, Texas (USA) and Chihuahua (Mexico): local and general implications for recharge sources in alluvial basins

Stable isotope data for the Hueco Bolson aquifer (Texas, USA and Chihuahua, Mexico) distinguish four water types. Two types relate to recharge from the Rio Grande: pre-dam (pre-1916) river water with oxygen-18 and deuterium (δ¹⁸O, δD, ‰) from (?11.9, ?90) to (?10.1, ?82), contrasts with present-day river water (?8.5, ?74) to (?5.3, ?56). Pre-dam water is found beneath the Rio Grande floodplain and Ciudad Juárez, and is mixed with post-dam river water beneath the floodplain. Two other types relate to recharge of local precipitation; evidence of temporal change of precipitation isotopes is present in both types. Recharge from the Franklin and Organ Mountains plots between (?10.9, ?76) and (?8.5, ?60) on the global meteoric water line (GMWL), and is found along the western side of the Hueco Bolson, north of the Rio Grande. Recharge from the Diablo Plateau plots on an evaporation trend originating on the GMWL near (?8.5, ?58). This water is found in the southeastern Hueco Bolson, north of the river; evaporation may be related to slow recharge through fine-grained sediment. Pre-dam water, recognizable by isotope composition, provides information on groundwater residence times in this and other dammed river basins.     

Reaction pathways for quartz dissolution determined by statistical and graphical analysis of macroscopic experimental data

In light of recent work on the reactivity of specific sites on large (hydr)oxo-molecules and the evolution of surface topography during dissolution, we examined the ability to extract molecular-scale reaction pathways from macroscopic dissolution and surface charge measurements of powdered minerals using an approach that involved regression of multiple datasets and statistical graphical analysis of model fits. The test case (far-from-equilibrium quartz dissolution from 25 to 300 °C, pH 1-12, in solutions with [Na⁺] ? 0.5 M) avoids the objections to this goal raised in these recent studies. The strategy was used to assess several mechanistic rate laws, and was more powerful in distinguishing between models than the statistical approaches employed previously. The best-fit model included three mechanisms—two involving hydrolysis of Si centers by H₂O next to neutral (>Si-OH⁰) and deprotonated (>Si-O⁻) silanol groups, and one involving hydrolysis of Si centers by OH⁻. The model rate law is

     

Site characterization for CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> geologic storage and vice versa: the Frio brine pilot,Texas, USA as a case study

Careful site characterization is critical for successful geologic storage of carbon dioxide (CO₂) because of the many physical and chemical processes impacting CO₂ movement and containment under field conditions. Traditional site characterization techniques such as geological mapping, geophysical imaging, well logging, core analyses, and hydraulic well testing provide the basis for judging whether or not a site is suitable for CO₂ storage. However, only through the injection and monitoring of CO₂ itself can the coupling between buoyancy flow, geologic heterogeneity, and history-dependent multi-phase flow effects be observed and quantified. CO₂ injection and monitoring can therefore provide a valuable addition to the site-characterization process. Additionally, careful monitoring and verification of CO₂ plume development during the early stages of commercial operation should be performed to assess storage potential and demonstrate permanence. The Frio brine pilot, a research project located in Dayton, Texas (USA) is used as a case study to illustrate the concept of an iterative sequence in which traditional site characterization is used to prepare for CO₂ injection and then CO₂ injection itself is used to further site-characterization efforts, constrain geologic storage potential, and validate understanding of geochemical and hydrological processes. At the Frio brine pilot, in addition to traditional site-characterization techniques, CO₂ movement in the subsurface is monitored by sampling fluid at an observation well, running CO₂-saturation-sensitive well logs periodically in both injection and observation wells, imaging with crosswell seismic in the plane between the injection and observation wells, and obtaining vertical seismic profiles to monitor the CO₂ plume as it migrates beyond the immediate vicinity of the wells. Numerical modeling plays a central role in integrating geological, geophysical, and hydrological field observations.     

Petrogenesis of Volcanic Rocks from Saipan and Rota, Mariana Islands, and Implications for the Evolution of Nascent Island Arcs

An ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of 45·1 Ma determined for lavas fromnorthern Saipan confirms that these high-silica rhyolites eruptedduring the ‘proto-arc’ stage of volcanism in theIzu–Bonin–Mariana system, which is characterizedelsewhere by eruption of boninitic lavas. Incompatible traceelement concentrations and Sr, Hf, Nd, and Pb isotope ratiosfor these rhyolites are transitional between those of c. 48Ma boninitic lavas and post-38 Ma ‘first-arc’ andesitesand dacites from Saipan and Rota that have typical subduction-relatedcompositions. These transitional compositions are modeled bycrystal fractionation of parental tholeiitic basalt combinedwith assimilation of young boninitic crust. A second stage ofRayleigh fractionation in the upper crust is required by SiO₂concentrations that exceed 77 wt % and near-zero compatibleelement concentrations. First-arc magma compositions are consistentwith fractionation of basalt and assimilation of crust similarin composition to the first-arc magmas themselves. The mantlesources of the proto-arc and first-arc lavas from Saipan andRota are similar to those of Philippine back-arc basin basaltsbased on Nd and Hf isotopic compositions. The Pb isotope compositionsof these lavas are between those of Pacific sea-floor basaltsand Jurassic and younger cherty and clay-rich sediments. Thiscontrasts with the boninitic proto-arc volcanic rocks from Guamand Deep Sea Drilling Project Sites 458 and 459 that have Pbisotope compositions similar to Pacific basin basalts and volcaniclasticsediments. The preferred explanation for the difference in thenature of proto-arc volcanism between Saipan and other fore-arclocations is that the crust ceased extending 3–4 Myr earlierbeneath Saipan. This was caused by a change from mantle upwelling,fore-arc extension, and shallow melting to an environment dominatedby more normal mantle wedge convection, stable crust, and deepermelting. KEY WORDS: rhyolite; andesite; Mariana arc; isotope ratios; trace elements     

Implications of changes in climatic averages and variability on food production opportunities in Ontario,Canada

This paper explores the implications of changes in climatic averages and a range in precipitation levels on food production opportunities at the farm, regional and provincial levels for the province of Ontario. A doubling in atmospheric CO₂ or its equivalent would contribute to extended frost-free seasons throughout Ontario, and possibly increase year-to-year variability in precipitation. At the farm level, these changes imply greater fluctuations in annual farm profits. The benefits of longer frost-free seasons would be impaired during years with relatively low precipitation, and under these conditions, the security of the province's food supply would be at risk.LRRC Contribution No. 90-06.     

The origin of ocean island basalt end-member compositions: trace element and isotopic constraints

Ocean island basalt (OIB) suites display a wide diversity of major element, trace element, and isotopic compositions. The incompatible trace element and isotopic ratios of OIB reflect considerable heterogeneity in the mantle source regions. In addition to the distinctive Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic signatures of the HIMU, EMI and EMII OIB end-members, differences in incompatible trace element ratios among these end-members are of great help in identifying the nature and origin of their sources. Examination of trace element and isotopic constraints for the three OIB end-members suggests a relatively simple model for their origin. The dominant component in all OIB is ancient recycled basaltic oceanic crust which has been processed through a subduction zone, and which carries the trace element and isotopic signature of a dehydration residue (enrichment in HFSE relative to LILE and LREE, low Rb/Sr, but high U/Pb and Th/Pb ratios leading to the development of radiogenic Pb isotope compositions). HIMU OIB are derived from such a source, with little contamination from other components. Both the EMI and EMII OIB end-members are also dominantly derived from this source, but they contain significant proportions (up to 5–10%) of sedimentary components derived from the continental crust. In the case of EMI OIB, ancient pelagic sediment with high LILE/HFSE, LREE/HFSE, Ba/Th and Ba/La ratios, and low U/Pb ratios, is the contaminant. EMII OIB are also contaminated by a sedimentary component, in the form of ancient terrigenous sediment with high LILE/HFSE and LREE/HFSE ratios, but lacking relative Ba enrichment, and with higher U/Pb and Rb/Sr ratios. A model whereby the source for all OIB is ancient (1–2 Ga old) subducted oceanic crust ± entrained sediment (pelagic and/or terrigenous) is therefore consistent with the trace element and isotopic data. Although subducted oceanic lithosphere will accumulate and be dominantly concentrated within the mesosphere boundary layer, forming the source for hot-spots, such material may also become convectively dispersed within the depleted upper mantle as blobs or streaks, giving rise to small-scale chemical heterogeneities in the upper mantle.     

Distribution of the McMurdo Station sewage plume

The spatial distribution and movement of the sewage plume from McMurdo Station, Antarctica, was investigated in the ocean under the early summer ice. Samples of seawater were obtained via holes drilled through the ice and analysed for coliform bacteria. Ocean currents were also examined to determine their effect on the movement of the plume. High densities of coliform bacteria were found along the ca. 1 km shoreline of McMurdo Station and the plume extended 200–300 m seaward. The relocation of the outfall from a surface configuration to the subsurface (11 m deep) had little influence on the distribution of the plume that sometimes reached the seawater intake station, 400 m to the south. Ocean current measurements in the study area confirmed that, while the prevailing advection was to the north and away from the intake area, episodic reversals of flow at some current meter stations coincided with pulses of sewage that moved into the intake. These findings support the use of bacterial indicators as one means to map the distribution and movement of recent sewage contamination in cold (−1.8°C) seawater and provides evidence that the disposal and movement of domestic wastes in coastal polar environments deserves attention.     

Methane emission measurements in urban areas in Eastern Germany

We have investigated methane emissions from urban sources in the former East Germany using innovative measurement techniques including a mobile real-time methane instrument and tracer release experiments. Anthropogenic and biogenic sources were studied with the emphasis on methane emissions from gas system sources, including urban distribution facilities and a production plant. Methane fluxes from pressure regulating stations ranged from 0.006 to 24. l/min. Emissions from diffuse sources in urban areas were also measured with concentration maps and whole city flux experiments. The area fluxes of the two towns studied were 0.37 and 1.9 g/m²/s. The emissions from individual gas system stations and total town emissions of this study are comparable to results of similar sites examined in the United States.