Simulations of Coastal Fog in the Canadian Atlantic with the Weather Research and Forecasting Model

Boundary-Layer Meteorology - We evaluate the efficacy of microphysics and planetary-boundary-layer (PBL) parametrizations of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model for simulation of the...     

A deep-seated landslide dam in the Siriu Reservoir (Curvature Carpathians, Romania)

The Groapa Vântului (Wind’s Dip) landslide, situated in the Buz?u Carpathians, on the right-hand slope of the Siriu Reservoir, occurred in April 2006, after the first local movements were signaled in September–October 2005. It represents a reactivation of an older, apparently relict (and well covered by a secular beech forest) landslide, which blocked Siriu Reservoir for several weeks and caused a major change in the sedimentation regime downstream of it. The volume of the displaced material reached almost 2.5 million m³, affecting a surface of more than 250,000 m² and reducing the reservoir’s volume by almost 2 million m³. The landslide developed on a lithological contact of Paleogene flysch formations and features steep (40–50°) and high (up to 30 m) scarps, as well as complex inner sectors, of rotational, translational, and compresional movement. The assessment of landslide’s morphodynamic behavior is based on repeated geomorphological field mapping and measurements, differential Global Positioning System, and total station profiles, and mobile and fixed landmarks. This preliminary assessment contributes to the understanding of the behavior of old, peri-glacial landslide reactivations and also represents progress towards a better hazard assessment.     

Bianchi type-I string cosmological model in the presence of a magnetic field: classical versus loop quantum cosmology approaches

A Bianchi type-I cosmological model in the presence of a magnetic flux along a cosmological string is considered. The first objective of this study is to investigate Einstein equations using a tractable assumption usually accepted in the literature. Quantum effects of the present cosmological model are examined in the framework of loop quantum cosmology. Finally we draw a parallel between the classical and quantum approaches.     

Replication of a terrain stability mapping using an Artificial Neural Network

Subjective geomorphic mapping is a method commonly used for landslide hazard zonation. This method relies heavily on the skills and experience of the mapper, and therefore, its major drawbacks are the high costs and lack of consistency between products generated by different terrain mappers. In this study a method for cost-effective and consistent replication of subjective geomorphic mappings is demonstrated, by using a type of Artificial Neural Network named Learning Vector Quantization. This paper presents a study conducted in the Canadian province of British Columbia employing a high-quality data set. By utilizing Learning Vector Quantization, stable and unstable terrains were delineated with a similarity of approximately 91%, compared to the mapping produced by terrain specialists. Also, in this process, slope, elevation, aspect, and existing geomorphic processes were identified as the terrain attributes that contributed most to the quality of the mapping.     

Assessment of vulnerability for rockfalls in Cozia Gorge (Southern Carpathians,Romania)

Natural Hazards - Rockfalls represents a sudden, extremely important geomorphological hazard and may become a threat for people’s life, as well as goods and transport. The present study aims...     

Preliminary stratigraphic and structural architecture of Bhutan: Implications for the along strike architecture of the Himalayan system

High-precision in-situ ion microprobe (SIMS) oxygen isotope analysis of zircons from two diorite intrusions associated with the late Caledonian Lochnagar pluton in Scotland has revealed large differences in the degree of heterogeneity in zircon δ¹⁸O between the diorites. Zircon crystals from the Cul nan Gad diorite (CnG) show a unimodal distribution of oxygen isotope values (δ¹⁸O = 6.0 ± 0.6‰ (2σ)) and no or only minor grain-scale variation. Those from the Allt Darrarie diorite (AD1) show a large range in δ¹⁸O and an apparent bimodal distribution with modes of 6.6 ± 0.4‰ and 7.3 ± 0.4‰. Variations of up to 1.2‰ occur between and within grains; both an increase and decrease in δ¹⁸O with zircon growth has been observed. The δ¹⁸O composition of growing zircon can only change if open-system processes affect the magma composition, i.e. if material of contrasting δ¹⁸O composition is added to the magma. The variability in AD1 is interpreted to represent a cryptic record of magma mixing. A ‘deep crustal hot zone’ is a likely site for generation of the dioritic magmas which developed by mixing of residual melts and crustal partial melts or by melting of mafic lower crustal rocks. The overall small number of zircons with mantle-like δ¹⁸O values (5.3 ± 0.6‰ (2σ)) in the Lochnagar diorites is largely the product of crustal differentiation rather than crustal growth.

The δ¹⁸O of quartz from the CnG and AD1 diorites shows only minor variation (CnG: 10.9 ± 0.5‰ (2σ), AD1: 11.7 ± 0.6‰ (2σ)) within single populations, with no evidence of mixing. Quartz–zircon isotopic disequilibrium is consistent with later crystallisation of quartz from late magmatic fluids, and in case of the AD1 diorite after the inferred magma mixing from a homogenised, higher δ¹⁸O melt.

High-precision SIMS oxygen isotope analysis of zircon provides a new approach to identifying and resolving previously undetected early-stage magma mixing and constraining the compositions and origins of the component magmas. A combination of zircon, quartz and whole-rock data has proven to be a powerful tool in reconstructing the petrogenetic evolution of diorite from early crystallisation to late alteration.     

Atmospheric Turbulence Measurements at a Coastal Zone with and without Fog

Boundary-Layer Meteorology - Measurements of atmospheric turbulence at a site in Ferryland (Newfoundland) during the C-FOG (Coastal-Fog) field campaign in September–October 2018 are used to...     

Shifts in climate suitability for wine production as a result of climate change in a temperate climate wine region of Romania

Climate change is causing important shifts in the suitability of regions for wine production. Fine scale mapping of these shifts helps us to understand the evolution of vineyard climates, and to find solutions through viticultural adaptation. The aim of this study is to identify and map the structural and spatial shifts that occurred in the climatic suitability for wine production of the Cotnari wine growing region (Romania) between 1961 and 2013. Discontinuities in trends of temperature were identified, and the averages and trends of 13 climatic parameters for the 1961 to 1980 and 1981 to 2013 time periods were analysed. Using the averages of these climatic parameters, climate suitability for wine production was calculated at a resolution of 30 m and mapped for each time period, and the changes analysed. The results indicate shifts in the area’s historic climatic profile, due to an increase of heliothermal resources and precipitation constancy. The area’s climate suitability for wine production was modified by the loss of climate suitability for white table wines, sparkling wines and wine for distillates; shifts in suitability to higher altitudes by about 67 m, and a 48.6% decrease in the area suitable for quality white wines; and the occurrence of suitable climates for red wines at lower altitudes. The study showed that climate suitability for wine production has a multi-level spatial structure, with classes requiring a cooler climate being located at a higher altitude than those requiring a warmer climate. Climate change has therefore resulted in the shift of climate suitability classes for wine production to higher altitudes.     

A multi‐asperity plastic‐contact crack plane model for geomaterials

A mechanistic constitutive model for fully formed cracks in geomaterials, such as concrete and rock, is presented. A three‐dimensional characterisation of the crack morphology is employed in which the crack surface is idealised as a series of conical teeth and corresponding recesses of variable height and slope. Based on this geometrical characterisation, an effective contact function is derived to relate the contact stresses that develop on the sides of the teeth to the net stresses on a crack plane. Plastic embedment and frictional sliding are simulated using a local plasticity model in which the plastic surfaces are expressed in terms of the contact surface function in cylindrical relative displacement space. Finally, the performance of the model is assessed against several sets of experimental data from direct shear tests, and it is concluded that the model is able to capture key characteristics of the behaviour of fully formed cracks in geomaterials. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.