Bandwidth Effects in the 3G Photometric System

Bandwidth effects in the GAIA photometric system 3G are discussed. It is demonstrated that careful account for the bandwidth effects in any proposed GAIA photometric system has to be made, in order to determine the fundamental parameters of heavily reddened stars. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

“Pandora box” — Matrix in the calculus of observations

Summary If the condition R(A)=k(n), whereA is the design matrix of the type n × k and k the number of parameters to be determined, is not satisfied, or if the covariance matrixH is singular, it is possible to determine the adjusted value of the unbiased estimable function of the parameters f(), its dispersion D( (x)) and ² as the unbiased estimate of the value of ² by means of an arbitrary g-inversion of the matrix . The matrix , because of its remarkable properties, is called the Pandora Box matrix. The paper gives the proofs of these properties and the manner in which they can be employed in the calculus of observations.     

3D modeling and monitoring of karst system as a base for its evaluation and utilization: a case study from eastern Serbia

Beljanica Mountain in eastern Serbia is a part of the Carpathian Balkan arch (northern Alpine branch). It covers an area of about 300 km² and consists mostly of Jurassic and Cretaceous limestones. Numerous surface karst features, long caves and several large karstic springs located in Beljanica’s piedmont along the contact of karstic and non-karstic rocks are all indicators of an intense karstification. Currently, the large karstic water reserves of Beljanica Mountain are not properly utilized because of their distance from main consumers, the objection by national water managers that the springs lack a stable and sufficient discharge particularly during recession periods. Due to its unpolluted and high quality water, the area is a great prospect for future water supply, and provides an opportunity for artificial regulation and for the design and implementation of specific tapping structures. This paper includes an analysis of the created 3D ArcGIS model of karst interior and its correlation with historical and newly collected data of spring discharges and groundwater physico-chemical characteristics. The results of karst aquifer monitoring (both quantitative and qualitative) are linked with the results of extensive field geological and speleological survey of the upper non-saturated part of the karst (such as sinkholes, pits and caves) and with the investigation of the permanently saturated deeper part of the aquifer (including the diving methods). The model of karst interior is based on the data from the 69 caves, 15 sinks and 1,682 dolines (sinkholes) surveyed. The total length of the karst channels network, calculated using the GIS model and presented in a 3D environment, is 647 km. The catchment areas of five major springs that drain the areas are estimated to range from only 7 km² (Malo Vrelo Spring) to 124 km² (Vrelo Mlave Spring). The groundwater exploitable reserves of Beljanica karst aquifer are estimated to be over 4 m³/s. The waters are low mineralized, unpolluted and have a great potential for water supply.     

Effect of NAPL Source Morphology on Mass Transfer in the Vadose Zone

The generation of vapor‐phase contaminant plumes within the vadose zone is of interest for contaminated site management. Therefore, it is important to understand vapor sources such as non‐aqueous‐phase liquids (NAPLs) and processes that govern their volatilization. The distribution of NAPL, gas, and water phases within a source zone is expected to influence the rate of volatilization. However, the effect of this distribution morphology on volatilization has not been thoroughly quantified. Because field quantification of NAPL volatilization is often infeasible, a controlled laboratory experiment was conducted in a two‐dimensional tank (28 cm × 15.5 cm × 2.5 cm) with water‐wet sandy media and an emplaced trichloroethylene (TCE) source. The source was emplaced in two configurations to represent morphologies encountered in field settings: (1) NAPL pools directly exposed to the air phase and (2) NAPLs trapped in water‐saturated zones that were occluded from the air phase. Airflow was passed through the tank and effluent concentrations of TCE were quantified. Models were used to analyze results, which indicated that mass transfer from directly exposed NAPL was fast and controlled by advective‐dispersive‐diffusive transport in the gas phase. However, sources occluded by pore water showed strong rate limitations and slower effective mass transfer. This difference is explained by diffusional resistance within the aqueous phase. Results demonstrate that vapor generation rates from a NAPL source will be influenced by the soil water content distribution within the source. The implications of the NAPL morphology on volatilization in the context of a dynamic water table or climate are discussed.     

Terminal Outflow Velocities from the Mass-Losing AGB Stars

We have calculated terminal gas outflow velocities from the circumstellar shells of the AGB stars. Our results confirm that, in case of the stationary dust driven winds, the dynamics of the outflow is governed essentially by the dust properties and stellar luminosities, while only marginally by other stellar parameters. Although being far from comprehensive, our calculations also indicate that the dust driven winds may only occur in cool, luminous, low mass objects. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Magnetism of natural pyrrhotite,haematite and ilmenite

Summary The paper deals with the magnetic properties of the natural minerals haematite, ilmenite and pyrrhotite. The natural remanent magnetization J_n, the volume susceptibility , the specific magnetization of saturation _so, the Curie temperature , the A.C. demagnetization of natural remanent magnetization, the thermal demagnetization J_n, the temperature dependence of the specific magnetization of saturation, and several other parameters were determined for the individual sets of minerals. Since natural minerals can and do contain various heterogeneous and isomorphic admixtures, their magnetic properties may change depending on the content and type of these admixtures. Therefore, all the investigations of the magnetic properties described in this paper were carried out with extensive sets of minerals, representing various Czechoslovak and world localities. A number of interesting results were obtained from the executed experiments, e.g., the different stability of the natural remanent magnetization of haematite with respect to A.C. demagnetization, the presence and type of heterogeneous inclusions in ilmenite, the phase changes connected with the -transition in natural pyrrhotites, etc. The types of distributions of the investigated values of the magnetic properties were also determined.     

Preliminary seismic hazard maps of Slovenia

The preparation of the preliminary seismic hazard maps of the territory of Slovenia has been based on an expansion of the basic approach laid out by Cornell in 1968. Three seismic source models were prepared. Two of them are based mainly on the earthquake catalogue using the Poissonian probability model. A map of seismic energy release and a map of earthquake epicenter density are used to delineate seismic sources in these models. The geometry of the third model which is based on a rough estimate of seismotectonic setting is taken from the probabilistic seismic hazard analysis of a nuclear power plant in Slovenia. Published ground motion attenuation models based on strong motion records of recent strong earthquakes in Italy are used. Test maps for variable and uniform b-values are presented. The computer program, Seisrisk III, developed by the U.S. Geological Survey is used.     

Is special relativity a key to the ‘enigma’ of non-locality phenomenon,in the end?

An idea is put forward that the events considered in the non-locality phenomenon are co-local and simultaneous in the reference frame of information moving with the velocity of light. Then, the special relativity can explain many aspects of the issue. Furthermore, the impact of the idea is discussed in relation to problems of the Mach principle and those of the Planck era connected to the closeness or openess of our Universe.