Comparing mixing-length models of the diabatic wind profile over homogeneous terrain

Models of the diabatic wind profile over homogeneous terrain for the entire atmospheric boundary layer are developed using mixing-length theory and are compared to wind speed observations up to 300 m at the National Test Station for Wind Turbines at Høvsøre, Denmark. The measurements are performed within a wide range of atmospheric stability conditions, which allows a comparison of the models with the average wind profile computed in seven stability classes, showing a better agreement than compared to the traditional surface-layer wind profile. The wind profile is measured by combining cup anemometer and lidar observations, showing good agreement at the overlapping heights. The height of the boundary layer, a parameter required for the wind profile models, is estimated under neutral and stable conditions using surface-layer turbulence measurements, and under unstable conditions based on the aerosol backscatter profile from ceilometer observations.     

Study of anaerobic biodegradation of pharmaceuticals and personal care products: application of batch tests

This study evaluated three types of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (methylparaben, ibuprofen and triclosan) at concentration levels of 300, 500, 1000 and 2000 µg/L by implementing batch tests using anaerobic processes and granular biomass. The study aimed to identify the mechanisms of biodegradation and sorption in the degradation of these compounds. The inoculum was granular sludge from a laboratory-scale anaerobic reactor. The characterization results of the inoculum showed an anaerobic biomass with high activity, good sedimentation and a high percentage of organic matter. The results of the removal of the pollutants showed high degradation percentages for methylparaben (close to 99%), with negligible sorption in the sludge. The results also showed insignificant ibuprofen sorption but removal close to 0%. Triclosan showed high biomass sorption and low biodegradation. In addition, at the concentrations tested, none of the compounds had a negative or inhibitory effect on the microbial populations of the system.     

Schooling behaviour and environmental forcing in relation to anchoveta distribution: An analysis across multiple spatial scales

The Peruvian anchovy or anchoveta (Engraulis ringens) supports the highest worldwide fishery landings and varies in space and time over many scales. Here we present the first comprehensive sub-mesocale study of anchoveta distribution in relation to the environment. During November 2004, we conducted a behavioural ecology survey off central Peru and used a series of observational and sampling tools including SST and CO₂ sensors, Niskin bottles, CTD probes, zooplankton sampling, stomach content analysis, echo-sounder, multibeam sonar, and bird observations. The sub-mesoscale survey areas were chosen from mesoscale acoustic surveys. A routine coast-wide (2000 km) acoustic survey performed just after the sub-mesoscale surveys, provided information at an even larger population scale. The availability of nearly concurrent sub-mesoscale, mesoscale and coast-wide information on anchoveta distribution allowed for a unique multi-scale synthesis. At the sub-mesoscale (100s m to km) physical processes (internal waves and frontogenesis) concentrated plankton into patches and determined anchoveta spatial distribution. At the mesoscale (10s km) location relative to the zone of active upwelling (and age of the upwelled water) and the depth of the oxycline had strong impacts on the anchoveta. Finally, over 100s km the size of the productive area, as defined by the upwelled cold coastal waters, was the determining factor. We propose a conceptual view of the relative importance of social behaviour and environmental (biotic and abiotic) processes on the spatial distribution of anchoveta. Our ecological space has two y-axis; one based on self-organization (social behaviour), and the other based on the environmental processes. At scales from the individual (10s cm), to the nucleus (m), social behaviour (e.g. the need to school) drives spatial organization. At scales larger than the school, environmental forces are the main driver of fish distribution. The conceptual ecosystem models presented in this paper may provide the final links needed to develop accurate forecasts of the spatial distribution of anchoveta over multiple scales.     

Overcoring measurements in the příbram mine area and their relation to the regional stress field

Summary A set of overcoring measurements in deep mines near Píbram is re-interpreted in order to obtain information on the regional component of in situ stress. This is achieved by averaging 17 complete stress tensors measured at the deepest level of the mine, at a depth of 1240 m. The computations indicate that (1) the mean principal stresses act roughly in the horizontal and vertical directions, and (2) the maximum principal stress is horizontal, acting NW - SE, which was also confirmed by the data from all 42 sites of the mine area. The NW - SE orientation of S_H is consistent with the stress pattern in Western Europe and also with borehole breakouts observed within the Bohemian Massif, but the quality of the stress indicator obtained is poor — the standard deviation of the S_H direction is 26°. High variance of the directional data is discussed with respect to stress redistribution due to the mine workings and the contact separating Proterozoic sediments from the Variscan pluton.     

SANARIS Project: A Satellite Network for Natural Risk Monitoring

A new satellite communication system specificallydesigned for low-rate data applications has beendeveloped and prototyped. A validation project isproposed to install a pilot network to be operated for6 months. One of the target markets related tovolcanoes, has been selected, so that a group of usersis integrated in the project. A specific applicationfor this market will be developed regarding dataacquisition, processing, storage and dissemination todistant users. The feasibility of using the newsatellite system to provide a new Eutelsat service forlow-rate data applications, will be evaluated from theperformance of the pilot network. The system ofautomatic acquisition, field storage and communicationwith the local control center is already functioning,as well as the circulation of information viaInternet. The development of the application andtransmission via satellite to distant users is stillin an evaluation phase for the volcanoes of Timanfaya(Lanzarote, Canary Island), Vesuvius (Naples) and SeteCidades Caldera (Sao Miguel, Azores Islands).     

An eddy tracking algorithm based on dynamical systems theory

This work introduces a new method for ocean eddy detection that applies concepts from stationary dynamical systems theory. The method is composed of three steps: first, the centers of eddies are obtained from fixed points and their linear stability analysis; second, the size of the eddies is estimated from the vorticity between the eddy center and its neighboring fixed points, and, third, a tracking algorithm connects the different time frames. The tracking algorithm has been designed to avoid mismatching connections between eddies at different frames. Eddies are detected for the period between 1992 and 2012 using geostrophic velocities derived from AVISO altimetry and a new database is provided for the global ocean.     

A modified multiple tension upward infiltration method to estimate the soil hydraulic properties

Determination of saturated hydraulic conductivity, K_s, and the shape parameters α and n of the water retention curve, θ(h), is of paramount importance to characterize the water flow in the vadose zone. This work presents a modified upward infiltration method to estimate K_s, α and n from numerical inverse analysis of the measured cumulative upward infiltration (CUI) at multiple constant tension lower boundary conditions. Using the HYDRUS‐2D software, a theoretical analysis on a synthetic loam soil under different soil tensions (0, 0–10, 0–50 and 0–100 cm), with and without an overpressure step of 10 cm high from the top boundary condition at the end of the upward infiltration process, was performed to check the uniqueness and the accuracy of the solutions. Using a tension sorptivimeter device, the method was validated in a laboratory experiment on five different soils: a coarse and a fine sand, and a 1‐mm sieved loam, clay loam and silt‐gypseous soils. The estimated α and n parameters were compared to the corresponding values measured with the TDR‐pressure cell method. The theoretical analysis demonstrates that K_s and θ(h) can be simultaneously estimated from measured upward cumulative infiltration when high (>50 cm) soil tensions are initially applied at the lower boundary. Alternatively, satisfactory results can be also obtained when medium tensions (<50 cm) and the K_s calculated from the overpressure step at the end of the experiment are considered. A consistent relationship was found between the α (R² = 0.86, p < 0.02) and n (R² = 0.97, p < 0.001) values measured with the TDR‐pressure cell and the corresponding values estimated with the tension sorptivimeter. The error between the α (in logarithm scale) and n values estimated with the inverse analysis and the corresponding values measured with pressure chamber were 3.1 and 6.1%, respectively. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of the use of photochemical indicators to assess ozone—NOx—VOC sensitivity in the Southwestern Iberian Peninsula

Understanding the chemical links between ozone (O₃) and its two main precursors, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC), is important for designing effective photochemical smog reduction strategies. This chemical relationship will determine which precursor (NOx or VOC) emission reduction will be more effective for decreasing the ozone formation. Under certain conditions, ozone levels decrease as a result of a reduction in NOx emissions but do not respond significantly to changes in VOC emissions (NOx-sensitive condition), while under other conditions ozone concentrations decrease in response to reductions in VOCs and may even increase when NOx emissions are reduced (VOC-sensitive conditions). Indicator species can be used to assess the sensitivity of ozone to changes in the emissions of its precursors. These indicators are species or species ratios involved in ozone photochemistry which reflect the primary chemical process through which the ozone was formed. In this work we use the MM5-CAMx model system to explore the behaviour of various indicator species during two meteorological situations featuring different atmospheric conditions in a complex terrain area. The results show that indicators based on nitrogen compounds (i.e,. NOy and NOz) are suitable for defining the transition range from VOC- to NOx-sensitive chemistry, and that despite the uncertainties associated with the use of chemical indicators, the ratios O₃/NOy and O₃/NOz may provide a simple and useful way to summarize the response of ozone to changes in NOx and VOC emissions in Southwestern Spain.