The current dynamics inside the Strait of Bonifacio: Impact of the wind effect in a little coastal strait

The dynamics of Bonifacio strait (south of Corsica) are investigated in a comprehensive study at long term from two set of data. First, by moored ADCP put in middle of the strait during six weeks (4 November 2004 to 7 January 2005), at a depth of 40 m and at few Kilometers from coast. Second, by velocity profiles obtained with a 314.4 kHz Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) during seven cruises (Cyrce) covering entirety strait. From moored ADCP data, a study is made on time correlation between wind stress and current. Shipboard ADCP data permits to obtain a general view in totality of strait and mostly to observe spatial variability. This study shows that the circulation is governed both by wind stress and by general circulation of Mediterranean Sea.     

The rheology of crystal-bearing basaltic magmas from Stromboli and Etna

Our ability to forecast volcanic hazards at active volcanoes stems from our knowledge of parameters affecting eruption dynamics. Persistent activity displayed by basaltic volcanic systems, such as Etna and Stromboli, is governed mainly by the textural evolution and rheological properties of eruptive products. Here, we investigate the high temperature (1131 °C < T < 1187 °C) rheological behavior and textural evolution of remelted natural basaltic magmas from Stromboli and Etna volcanic systems upon cooling and crystallization at atmospheric conditions. The pure liquid and subliquidus isothermal viscosities are investigated using a concentric cylinder apparatus by varying strain rate applied to the investigated materials. Detailed textural analysis has been performed in order to evaluate the effect of crystal distribution on the rheological evolution of magmas. At subliquidus conditions, the mineralogical assemblage is dominated by the presence of spinel and plagioclase with the occurrence of stable clinopyroxene only at the lowest temperatures (1157 and 1131 °C for the Stromboli and the Etna samples, respectively). The overall crystal fraction (?) varies between 0.06 and 0.27. In the high T regime the viscous response to applied stress and strain rate is strongly affected by the presence of even small amounts of crystals. Large discrepancies between measured and predicted viscosities obtained using the Einstein-Roscoe (ER) equation are also found at low crystal fractions. We find here that, at the investigated conditions, the physical effect caused by the presence of elongated crystals is orders of magnitude higher than that predicted by existing models which only account for spherical particles. It also appears that a weak shear thinning behavior occurs at the lowest temperatures investigated. Crystal shape and, with it, the strain-rate dependence of the rheological properties appear to play primary roles in influencing the transport properties of these basaltic magmas.     

Response surfaces of vulnerability to climate change: the Colorado River Basin,the High Plains,and California

We quantify the vulnerability of water supply to shortage for the Colorado River Basin and basins of the High Plains and California and assess the sensitivity of their water supply system to future changes in the statistical variability of supply and demand. We do so for current conditions and future socio-economic scenarios within a probabilistic framework that incorporates the inherent uncertainties in the drivers of vulnerability. Our analysis indicates that the most sensitive basins to both current and future variability of demand and supply are the Central California and the San Joaquin-Tulare basins. Large sensitivity is also found for the Kansas basin of the High Plains. Within the Colorado River Basin, the Lower Colorado and Gila were found to be the most vulnerable and sensitive sub-basins. By accounting for future uncertainty within the above probabilistic framework, this study unveils and isolates the individual responses of a given basin to changes in the statistical properties of demand and supply and offers a valuable tool for the identification of policy strategies and adaptation measures.     

Event Scenario Analysis for the Design of Rockslide Countermeasures

The Torgiovannetto quarry（Assisi municipality,central Italy） is an example of a site where the natural equilibrium was altered by human activity,causing current slope instability phenomena which threaten two roadways important for the local transportation.The quarry front,having a height of about 140 m,is affected by a 182,000 m3 rockslide developed in intensely fractured limestone and is too large to be stabilized.In 2003 some tension cracks were detected in the vegetated area above the quarry upper sector.From then on,several monitoring campaigns were carried out by means of different instrumentations（topographic total station,extensometers,inclinometers,ground-based interferometric radar,laser scanner and infrared thermal camera）,allowing researchers to accurately define the landslide area and volume.The latter’s major displacements are localized in the eastern sector.The deformational field appears to be related to the seasonal rainfall.The landslide hazard associated with the worst case scenario was evaluated in terms of magnitude,intensity and triggering mechanism.For the definition of the possible runout process the DAN 3D code was employed.The simulation results were used in order to design and construct a retaining embankment.Furthermore,in order to preserve both the safety of the personnelinvolved in its realization and of the roadways users,an early warning system was implemented.The early warning system is based on daily-averaged displacement velocity thresholds.The alarm level is reached if the prediction based on the methods of Saito（1969） and Fukuzono（1985） forecasts an imminent rupture.     

PCDD/Fs in sediments of Central Vietnam coastal lagoons: in search of TCDD

Samples from nine Central Vietnam coastal lagoons, together with three soils and sediments collected in two freshwater reservoirs of the Thua Thien-Hué province, were analysed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs). Total concentrations are low, from 192 to 2912 pg g⁻¹ and depth profiles in Tam Giang-Cau Hai (TG-CH) sediment cores show only minor changes over time in PCDD/F input and composition. Octachloro dibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) is the prevailing congener (approximately 90%), indicating combustion as the main PCDD/F source to these coastal systems, whereas natural formation might be partly responsible for the presence at depth. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachloro dibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), largely sprayed together with Agent Orange over the study areas during the war (1961–1971), is absent or very low. This result supports the hypothesis of strong degradation soon after spraying. Multivariate statistical analyses account for the presence of local, short-range sources as observed in the northern part of the TG-CH lagoon.     

Radioxenon Time Series and Meteorological Pattern Analysis for CTBT Event Categorisation

Understanding radioxenon time series and being able to distinguish anthropogenic from nuclear explosion signals are fundamental issues for the technical verification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. Every radioxenon event categorisation methodology must take into account the background at each monitoring site to uncover anomalies that may be related to nuclear explosions. Feedback induced by local meteorological patterns on the equipment and on the sampling procedures has been included in the analysis to improve a possible event categorisation scheme. The occurrence probability of radioxenon outliers has been estimated with a time series approach characterising and avoiding the influence of local meteorological patterns. A power spectrum estimator for radioxenon and meteorological time series was selected; the randomness of the radioxenon residual time series has been tested for white noise by Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Ljung–Box tests. This methodological approach was applied to radioxenon data collected at two monitoring sites located at St. John’s, Canada and Charlottesville, USA, equipped with two different noble gas systems. It shows different feedback with local meteorological patterns and randomness for the radioxenon data recorded at the selected sites of St. John’s and Charlottesville as well as a different occurrence probability of the outliers in the normalized radioxenon original and residual time series.     

Exact analytic solutions for the rotation of an axially symmetric rigid body subjected to a constant torque

New exact analytic solutions are introduced for the rotational motion of a rigid body having two equal principal moments of inertia and subjected to an external torque which is constant in magnitude. In particular, the solutions are obtained for the following cases: (1) Torque parallel to the symmetry axis and arbitrary initial angular velocity; (2) Torque perpendicular to the symmetry axis and such that the torque is rotating at a constant rate about the symmetry axis, and arbitrary initial angular velocity; (3) Torque and initial angular velocity perpendicular to the symmetry axis, with the torque being fixed with the body. In addition to the solutions for these three forced cases, an original solution is introduced for the case of torque-free motion, which is simpler than the classical solution as regards its derivation and uses the rotation matrix in order to describe the body orientation. This paper builds upon the recently discovered exact solution for the motion of a rigid body with a spherical ellipsoid of inertia. In particular, by following Hestenes’ theory, the rotational motion of an axially symmetric rigid body is seen at any instant in time as the combination of the motion of a “virtual” spherical body with respect to the inertial frame and the motion of the axially symmetric body with respect to this “virtual” body. The kinematic solutions are presented in terms of the rotation matrix. The newly found exact analytic solutions are valid for any motion time length and rotation amplitude. The present paper adds further elements to the small set of special cases for which an exact solution of the rotational motion of a rigid body exists.