Validation of TRMM 3B42 V6 for estimation of mean annual rainfall over ungauged area in semiarid climate

This research compares data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission 3B42 V6 with data obtained from 19 synoptic rain gauges during the period 1998–2010 over the semiarid climate of Khorasan Razavi, Iran. Validation was performed using three spatial extents, including 1 TRMM grid face from the synoptic station (1PTRM), 3 TRMM points surrounding the synoptic station (3PTRM) and 5 TRMM points surrounding the synoptic station (5PTRM), using ArcGIS 10.2 software. The perfect and poor r were obtained at stations S08 and S19, with values of 0.92 and 0.26, respectively. According to the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient, the TRMM satellite can predict the spatial variation of the mean annual rainfall by 0.23, 0.43 and 0.38 for 1PTRM, 3PTRM and 5PTRM, respectively, at 19 stations. The agreement significantly increases by 0.88, 0.83 and 0.80 for 1PTRM, 3PTRM and 5PTRM, respectively, when gauges S05, S07, S11 and S13 are excluded from the dataset, which may be associated with orographic or instrumental error at the stations.     

Seismotectonics and consequences of the 1930s large earthquakes in eastern Mazandaran,north of Iran

Early in the 1930s,two relatively large earthquakes (Kosout,magnitude 6.8,and Talarrud,magnitude 5.8) shook the eastern Mazandaran,northern Iran.Despite the his...     

Dynamics of charged dust particles in protoplanetary discs

We study the effect of an imposed magnetic field on the motion of charged dust particles in magnetically active regions of a protoplanetary disc. Assuming a power law structure for the vertical and the toroidal components of the magnetic field for the regions beyond magnetically dead region of the disc, the radial and the vertical velocities of the charged particles, in the asymptotic case of small particles, are calculated analytically. While grains with radii smaller than a critical radius significantly are affected by the magnetic force, motion of the particles with larger radii is independent of the magnetic field. The critical radius depends on the magnetic geometry and the charge of the grains. Assuming that a grain particle has one elementary charge and the physical properties of the disc correspond to a minimum-mass solar nebula, we show that only micron-sized grains are affected by the magnetic force. Also, charge polarity determines direction of the radial velocity. For such small particles, both the radial and the vertical velocities increase due to the magnetic force.     

Anthropogenic Decline of Ancient,Sustainable Water Systems: Qanats

Qanat is an ancient underground structure to abstract groundwater without the need for external energy. A recognized world heritage, Qanat has enabled civilization in arid and semi-arid regions that lack perennial surface water resources. These important structures, however, have faced significant challenges in recent decades due to increasing anthropogenic pressures. This study uses remote sensing to investigate land-use changes and the loss of 15,983 Qanat shafts in the Mashhad plain, northeast of Iran, during the past six decades. This entails obtaining a rare aerial imagery from 1961, as well as recent satellite imagery, over a region with the highest density of Qanats in Iran, the birthplace of Qanat. Results showed that only 5.59% of the Qanat shafts in 1961 remained intact in 2021. The most prominent Qanat-impacting land-use changes were agriculture and urban areas, that accounted for 42.93 and 31.81% Qanat shaft destruction in the study area, respectively. This study also showed that groundwater table decline, demographic changes, and reduction in the appeal of working in the Qanat maintenance and construction industry among the new generation are existential threats to Qanats, and may result in the demise of these ancient structures in the future. Findings of this study can be used for urban planning in arid and semi-arid areas with the aim of protecting these historic water structures.     

Spatial correlation between groundwater seepage faces and fault zone in high bedrock channel: method and application

The groundwater may recharge the surface water bodies through seepage faces and springs.The spatial correlation between the fault zones and the groundwater seepage faces results in deep understanding of the hydrogeologic regime,especially where there is no monitoring boreholes.Locating these recharging zones by conventional methods is a challenging task;particularly in areas where(1)there is no hydrogeologic monitoring boreholes or reliable data,(2)private pumps withdraw the stream,and(3)intense canopy limits the use of drones and satellite images.This paper aims to study the relationship between the fault zones and occurrence of the groundwater seepage faces by using the high resolution handheld thermal imaging cameras as a tool to locate the seepage faces along a small river in the Damavand County,north of Iran.The correlation between the structural geology features and occurrence of the groundwater seepage faces revealed that the stream in the study area is being recharged by the groundwater at extensive fault zones.Additionally,this study suggests that the handheld thermal imaging cameras are a useful robust tools to evaluate the surface-groundwater interaction.However,it is essential to use the field structural geologic and hydrogeologic observations to interpret the thermal images.     

Formation of fluctuations in a molecular slab via isobaric thermal instability

Frictional heating by the ion-neutral drift is calculated and its effect on the isobaric thermal instability is studied. Ambipolar drift heating of a one-dimensional self-gravitating magnetized molecular slab is used under the assumptions of quasi-magnetohydrostatic and local ionization equilibrium. We see that ambipolar drift heating is inversely proportional to density and its value in some regions of the slab can be significantly larger than the average heating rates of cosmic rays and turbulent motions. The results show that isobaric thermal instability can occur in some regions of the slab, and thus it may produce slab fragmentation and formation of astronomical unit scale condensations.     

The behaviour of an artificially cemented sandy gravel

The major section of the city of Tehran, Iran has been developed on cemented coarse-grained alluvium. This deposit consists of gravely sand to sandy gravel with some cobbles and is dominantly cemented by carbonaceous materials. In order to understand the mechanical behaviour of this soil, a series of undrained triaxial compression tests and unconfined compression tests were performed on uncemented and artificially cemented samples. Portland cement type I was used as the cementation agent for preparing artificially cemented samples. Uncemented samples and lightly cemented samples (1.5% cement) tested at high confining pressure showed contractive behaviour accompanied with positive excess pore water pressure and a barrelling failure mode. However, cemented samples and uncemented samples tested at low confining pressure (25 and 50 kN/m²) showed dilative behaviour accompanied with negative excess pore water pressure. Shear zones were formed in these samples and a clear peak in excess pore water pressure and stress ratio against strain could be observed. Test results showed that the limiting stress ratio surface for cemented samples is curved and expands as the cementation and density increase. Unconfined compression strength of cemented samples increases with increases in cementation and density as well.     

Measuring Food Deserts via GIS-Based Multicriteria Decision Making: The Case of Tehran

The purpose of this article is to identify food deserts using a geographic information system (GIS)-based multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) approach in the city of Tehran. We have found that, compared to technocratic methods, GIS-based MCDM and taking into account people or their agents' opinions in the food deserts analysis leads to different results. Whereas measuring food deserts based on the distance to large retail food stores indicated that a large part of the northern neighborhoods of Tehran do not have access to large food stores, identifying the food desert through the GIS-based MCDM approach revealed that northern neighborhoods of Tehran have relatively good access to healthy, affordable food. In addition, results indicated that individual factors have a more effective role than environmental factors in food accessibility. Food accessibility analysis revealed that more than 26.6 percent of Tehran's people (2,049,796) are living in very low and low food accessibility areas. Accordingly, to achieve a relatively healthy and inclusive food environment, establishment of a food council, development of mobile food markets and farmers' markets, extension of public transport, enhancement of food literacy, and community-based development of small full-service grocery stores, especially in southern and western sections of Tehran, should be pursued. In addition, addressing Tehran's food desert issues would be incomplete without due attention to the wider political and economic environment.     

Extending a BIM-based data model to support 3D digital management of complex ownership spaces

Currently, 2D-based analogue building subdivision plans are used to represent the spatial extent of private, public and communal property ownership rights. These plans are recognized as posing a range of challenges in terms of communicating the spatial complexity of ownership spaces within multi-storey buildings. In response to these challenges, three-dimensional (3D) digital data environments are being investigated as a potential approach for managing complex, vertically stratified ownership arrangements. The argument presented in this article is that Building Information Modelling (BIM) can be adopted for 3D digital management of data related to complex ownership spaces. BIM provides a common and 3D digital data sharing space, underpinning a reliable basis for facilitating collaboration and decision-making over the lifecycle of buildings. However, ownership attributes and the spatial structure of ownership arrangements inside buildings are yet to be accommodated within the BIM data environment. In this article, we present a range of required data elements for managing complex ownership spaces, which have been elicited by investigating current practices pertaining to subdivision of ownership spaces within multi-storey buildings in Melbourne, Australia. An open data model in the BIM domain is extended with these data elements and a prototype model for a real multi-storey building is implemented to demonstrate the viability of the extended data model for 3D digital management and visualization of data related to complex ownership arrangements.