Addressing Scottish rural fuel poverty through a regional industrial symbiosis strategy for the Scottish forest industries sector

Tackling fuel poverty is central to the delivery of the Scottish Executive’s commitment to social justice. Many Scottish rural households are not linked into the mains gas network and rely on expensive alternatives, despite being surrounded by plentiful supplies of low-cost renewable wood biomass. A regional study was undertaken to establish the potential market for pelletised wood fuel, available as a low-value by-product from the rapidly expanding Scottish forest industry sector. The wider implications of the research findings are analysed by extending the principles of industrial symbiosis from a site-specific to a regional scale. Promoting an indigenous pellet-based wood fuel market for rural Scotland would fulfil important Scottish Executive economic, social and environmental sustainability objectives. Adding off-site social symbiotic elements increases the potential for on-site technical symbiosis in nascent Scottish forest industry clusters. At present, market failure is preventing the realisation of these benefits, and the paper concludes by identifying ways in which market intermediation, through wood fuel energy service companies, might overcome the current barriers to exploiting such symbiosis.     

On the evaluation of sediment transport models in tidal environments

The application of numerical models for the simulation of coastal hydro-and sediment dynamics requires model verification, calibration and validation with field data. Yet, no commonly accepted rules for the evaluation of sediment transport models exist. This paper discusses the significance of statistical parameters and their limitations considering common time lags in tidal environments. It is shown that the occasionally used discrepancy ratio lacks quantitative and qualitative information on model performance, as the time context information on time series characteristics is lost. As an initial measure of association, the simple linear correlation coefficient r² is proposed. To account for time lag errors in suspended transport models, a separate cross-correlation analysis for the flood and ebb tidal phase is proposed. For a comparison with other model applications, a concluding rating of model performance can be expressed by a dimensionless error definition which takes into account the quality of field data.     

Determination of Total Organic Carbon Content and δ13C in Carbonate-Rich Detrital Sediments

The determination of total organic carbon content and composition in detrital sediments requires careful removal of their carbonate minerals. In detrital sediments containing large amounts of carbonates, including dolomite, this can only be achieved by liquid acid leaching that may solubilise a significant proportion of the organic carbon. For a set of detrital sediments from the Himalayan system and the Amazon River as well as five geological reference materials, we determined the proportion of organic carbon (C_org) solubilised during acid leaching. This proportion is significant for all analysed sediments and generally tends to increase with the organic carbon content. Compared to other types of sediments analysed, clay fractions extracted from river sediments and bed sediments with very low organic carbon content have high and low proportions of acid soluble C_org respectively. In Himalayan and Amazon river sediments, the proportion of C_org solubilised during acid leaching was relatively constant with average values of 14 and 19 % respectively. Thus, it is possible to correct the C_org content for the dissolved organic carbon content measured after decarbonation. Data presented here show that C_org dissolved during liquid acid leaching must be taken into account. After careful calibration, the method presented here should, therefore, be applied to any carbonate-rich detrital sediment.     

The energy balance experiment EBEX-2000. Part II: Intercomparison of eddy-covariance sensors and post-field data processing methods

The eddy-covariance method is the primary way of measuring turbulent fluxes directly. Many investigators have found that these flux measurements often do not satisfy a fundamental criterion—closure of the surface energy balance. This study investigates to what extent the eddy-covariance measurement technology can be made responsible for this deficiency, in particular the effects of instrumentation or of the post-field data processing. Therefore, current eddy-covariance sensors and several post-field data processing methods were compared. The differences in methodology resulted in deviations of 10% for the sensible heat flux and of 15% for the latent heat flux for an averaging time of 30 min. These disparities were mostly due to different sensor separation corrections and a linear detrending of the data. The impact of different instrumentation on the resulting heat flux estimates was significantly higher. Large deviations from the reference system of up to 50% were found for some sensor combinations. However, very good measurement quality was found for a CSAT3 sonic together with a KH20 krypton hygrometer and also for a UW sonic together with a KH20. If these systems are well calibrated and maintained, an accuracy of better than 5% can be achieved for 30-min values of sensible and latent heat flux measurements. The results from the sonic anemometers Gill Solent-HS, ATI-K, Metek USA-1, and R.M. Young 81000 showed more or less larger deviations from the reference system. The LI-COR LI-7500 open-path H₂O/CO₂ gas analyser in the test was one of the first serial numbers of this sensor type and had technical problems regarding direct solar radiation sensitivity and signal delay. These problems are known by the manufacturer and improvements of the sensor have since been made. The National Center for Atmospheric Research is supported by the National Science Foundation.     

Une méthode globale d'estimation des températures des réservoirs alimentant les sources thermales. Exemple du Massif Central Français

A chemical model based on the equilibrium of water with quartz, albite, adularia, calcite, kaolinite or illite, and chlorite can explain the chemical composition of the main groups of hot springs in Massif Central. Temperature is the principal variable for determining this composition. Model temperatures generally agree with those given by classical cation geothermometers (t ? 135–150° C for Vichy. La Bourboule. Evaux and Châteauneuf; t ? 175–180° C for Chaudes Aigues and Saint Nectaire). The model fails to represent the composition of Mont Dore waters: the high temperatures given by classical geothermometers are considered doubtful.     

Simulating the moderating effect of a lake on downwind temperatures

A steady-state, two-dimensional numerical model is used to simulate air temperatures and humidity downwind of a lake at night. Thermal effects of the lake were modelled for the case of moderate and low surface winds under the cold-air advective conditions that occur following the passage of a cold front. Surface temperatures were found to be in good agreement with observations. A comparison of model results with thermal imagery indicated the model successfully predicts the downwind distance for which thermal effects due to the lake are significant.     

Die Bedeutung des Rückstandes von Druck-Lösungsvorgängen für stratigraphische Abfolgen,Wechsellagerung und Lagerstättenbildung

Zusammenfassung Druck-Lösungserscheinungen sind nicht auf stylolithische Kontakte beschränkt. Die Mehrzahl der Druck-Lösungsflächen ist glatt und nicht als solche erkennbar. Bei Abwesenheit von Stylolithisierung wird Druck-Lösungsrückstand meistens fälschlich als primäres Sediment angesprochen.Druckgelöstes Material wandert von Becken aus. Auf Schwellen führt es zu erhöhtem Stoffangebot für chemische und organische Ablagerung. Druckunlösliches Material konzentriert sich passiv in den Becken.Die Unterschiede zwischen benachbarten lithologischen Horizonten werden in stratigraphischen Abfolgen während der Diagenese über Druck-Lösungstätigkeit verstärkt. Wechsellagerungen können entstehen, indem relativ reine, fast monomineralische Horizonte (Kalkspat, Dolomit, Quarz) von Druck-Lösung kaum betroffen werden, während etwas mehr verunreinigte Schichten, besonders bei Gegenwart von Tonmineralien, bis auf ihren Lösungsrückstand zusammenschrumpfen können.Die während Faltung und Schieferung fortdauernde Druck-Lösungstätigkeit bewirkt weiteren Gesteinsschwund.Hauptsächlich synsedimentäre Lagerstätten können über Druck-Lösungsvorgänge während Diagenese und Orogenese eine weitere Anreicherung erfahren, indem Wertmineralien im Lösungsrückstand zurückbleiben. Verstärkte Anreicherungen sind in Richtung der Becken und Faltenschenkel zu erwarten.

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Pressure solution phenomena are not restricted to stylolitic contacts. The majority of pressure solution planes is smooth and not recognizable as such. Pressure solution residue in the absence of stylolitization is often misinterpreted as a primary sediment.Material dissolved under nonuniform pressure migrates from basins to ridges, where it leads to increased precipitation and organic deposition. The material that is insoluble under unilateral pressure thus becomes more concentrated in the basins.The differences between neighbouring lithological units in stratigraphic series are increased during diagenesis by pressure solution activity. Intercalations may result from relatively pure, almost monomineralic layers (e. g. calcite, dolomite, quartz) remaining relatively unaffected by pressure solution processes, while more impure layers, especially those containing clay minerals, may shrink to its solution residue.During folding and cleavage, continuing pressure solution activity results in further loss of rock matter.Mainly synsedimentary ore deposits may be further concentrated by pressure solution processes, both during diagenesis and orogenesis, leaving valuable minerals as part of the solution residue. Elevated concentrations are to be expected towards the basins and limbs of folds.

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Résumé Les phénomènes de dissolution par pression inégale ne sont pas limités aux contacts stylolithiques. La plupart des surfaces de dissolution par pression linéaire est lisse et sans caractères particuliers. En l'absence de stylolithisation, les résidus sont considérés souvent à tort comme des sédiments primaires.Le matériel dissous par pression linéaire migre du centre des bassins vers ses bords; cela conduit à un accroissement des dépÔts chimiques et organiques sur les seuils. Le matériel insoluble se concentre passivement au centre des bassins.Les différences entre horizons lithologiques voisins dans les séries stratigraphiques sont accentuées pendant la diagénèse par l'activité de dissolution par pression inégale. Il peut se former des alternances ou des horizons relativement »purs«, presque monominéraux (calcite, dolomite, quartz), qui ne sont pas touchés par la dissolution par pression inégale, tandis que des couches moins »pures« en raison de la présence en particulier de minéraux argileux, peuvent Être réduites à des résidus de dissolution.L'activité persistante de la dissolution par pression linéaire au cours du plissement et de la schistosité entraÎne une nouvelle diminution de matière dans la roche.Ce sont surtout les gisements synsédimentaires qui peuvent subir un enrichissement supplémentaire pendant la diagénèse et l'orogénèse, puisque ce sont les minéraux de valeur qui s'accumulent dans les résidus de dissolution. Ces enrichissements peuvent Être particulièrement renforcés en direction du centre des bassins et des flancs des plis.

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Design of feedback-controlled wide-band seismographs with respect to undesired side-effects

Various modifications of a displacement-sensing seismometer controlled by negative first-order low-pass, first-order high-pass and second-order high-pass feedback are analysed. Undesired side-effects of the frequency-limited feedback on the response of the closed-loop system are investigated. Rules for “optimum tuning” of systems with a flat-displacement or flat-velocity response in a desired period range are given.     

40Ar-39Ar dating of high pressure metamorphic micas from the Gran Paradiso area (Western Alps): Evidence against the blocking temperature concept

The⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar method has been applied to high pressure (HP) white micas from the Gran Paradiso crystalline massif and from the overthrust Schistes Lustrés of its western slope. Preliminary petrographic and microanalytical investigation of the phengite micas showed that their celadonite-content decreases with time (from Si_3.65 to Si_3.05), and that less foliated samples are the most suitable for the metastable persistence of the high celadonite-content of the early HP stage during subsequent metamorphic evolution.Such samples were investigated together with one where mica is a pure retrogressive product. Two groups of plateau-ages have been found: (a) 60 to 75 Ma on HP phengites and early paragonites of unretrograded HP parageneses, thus dating the early HP metamorphic stage; (b) 38–40 Ma on HP phengites (most often in slightly retrograded HP parageneses) and on the purely retrogressive mica. For the HP phengites in (b), this age is considered to reflect the end of Ar readjustement during the later lowerP and/or higherT metamorphic stage, and not their crystallization.This disparity in plateau-ages for micas sampled within the same area shows that under the sameP-T conditions some systems were open while others remained closed. This can be closely related to the mineralogical behaviour: chemically active systems are isotopically active, whereby the reverse is not necessarily true. Thus, although temperature exceeded by far the usually assumed sealing-temperature of white micas, many systems have remained unaffected during the late Eocene event. Therefore, temperature cannot be the determining parameter for the opening of a system. Chemical reactivity, starting mineralogy and, primarily, pervasive deformation and the related fluid behaviour appear to be the effective controls.This implies that thermally activated diffusion processes (volume diffusion...) cannot be geologically significant. Consequently, the blocking temperature concept which rests on the opposite assumption now appears questionable. The fact that a mica does not necessarily behave as open above its blocking temperature necessitates at least a clear distinction between opening- and sealing-temperatures.