Description of the larval stage of Drusus mixtus (Pictet, 1834) (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae: Drusinae) with notes on its ecology and zoogeography

In the Swiss Jura adults of Drusus mixtus and unknown Drusinae larvae which could not be identified with existing keys were sampled. Based on ripe pupae, the unknown larvae were identified as D. mixtus. The association was confirmed by specimen rearing in aquaria.Based on morphology, larvae of D. mixtus key out together with Drusus croaticus in existing keys. D. mixtus is separated from the latter species by the shape of the anteromedian metanotal sclerites which are broadly triangular, whereas in D. croaticus the sclerites are almost parallel-sided, resembling a stretched rectangle. In addition, the two species are geographically well separated: D. croaticus is restricted to the confines of Croatia and Slovenia, whereas D. mixtus is only present in Switzerland and eastern France. With this present paper, all Central European Drusinae species except Drusus chapmani McL, 1901, (France, Switzerland) and D. noricus Malicky, 1981, an endemic from the Saualpe (Carinthia, Austria), are known in the larval stage.     

Ionic diffusion in naturally-occurring aqueous solutions: use of activity coefficients in transition-state models

The model of Lane and Kirkaldy (Can. J. Chem. 43, 1812–1828, 1965; 44, 477–485, 1966) for estimating diffusion coefficients in aqueous electrolyte solutions from limiting ionic conductances is rederived for a system of n salts with a common anion, by utilizing the equations of Miller (J. Chem. Phys. 71, 616–632, 1967b; 71, 3588–3592, 1967c). Salt and water activities are used, and it is of necessity assumed that the diffusion mechanism does not change with concentration.The revised model predicts the on-diagonal D^v_ik of a 3 M solution in NaCl-KCl-H₂O to within 5%, compared with errors of 20–30% for the original model. Errors remain constant or decrease as concentrations increase to 3 M, so that predictions of these D^v_ik at even higher concentrations appear promising. Relatively large errors persist in our estimates of the small, off-diagonal coefficients in this system.Measured diffusion coefficients in MgCl₂-NaCl-H₂O extend over only a limited concentration range and are of only moderate accuracy. Nevertheless, the revised model predicts D^v₁₁D^v₂₂, and D^v₂₁, the larger of the off-diagonal coefficients, with errors of only 5–20%.     

Detecting thermal anomalies within the Molasse Basin, southern Germany

The groundwater flow regime at great depth within the Molasse Basin (SW Germany) was studied. Data relevant for a flow model at 600–1,600 m depth are sparse in the western part of the basin. However, temperature measurements are available covering much of the area at a wide range of depths. Therefore, a thermal 3D steady-state model was set up with the aim of comparing modeled with observed subsurface temperatures. Stratigraphic information from many boreholes was also available, but only a few values of rock thermal conductivity and heat-production rate could be obtained. Some strong thermal residual anomalies were identified with respect to the purely conductive model, especially along fault zones, and within stratigraphic layers with high hydraulic conductivity. These anomalies can be explained by various advective heat-transport mechanisms, yet most explanations can be eliminated. The most plausible constellation explaining the major positive thermal anomalies of 10 Kelvin and more is a fault zone of E–W strike, intersected by an aquifer with flow parallel to the fault zone. This concept was investigated by using a simplified type model. In spite of some shortcomings, the method presented here can be used to identify temperature anomalies, and to identify possible explanations.     

Comparison of the Graf sea gravimeter with the Vening Meinesz apparatus on board the submarineU.S.S. Becuna

Measurements of gravity were made on boardU.S.S. Becuna (SS 319) with a Vening Meinesz pendulum apparatus and a Graf sea gravimeter at approximately the same time. Comparison of data uncorrected for depth of submergence, E?tvos correction and second order effects of horizontal acceleration showed that there was a change related to time of observation. These corrections were not made as they would be the same for both sets of observations, and no provision had yet been made to take care of the horizontal accelerations for the Graf sea gravimeter. The variation with otime could be caused by instrumental drift or scale calibration. After removal of this effect by visually fitting the data trend with a straight line, there were three observations with large discrepancies, seventeen with discrepancies of 3–9 mgal and thirty-nine with discrepancies of 0–3 mgal, showing close approach to a statistical distribution. The three large discrepancies may be dismissed because of very bad depth control during the observations. The discrepancies 3–9 mgals are larger than expected and perhaps are attributable to depth control and inadequate observation time for the Graf sea gravimeter. It is concluded that the Graf sea gravimeter shows great promise for use on a submarine. An apparatus to take into account the horizontal acceleration effects must be added, and suitable drift characteristic obtained. Despite its advantages of ruggedness, ease of operation, ease of data reduction, reduced size and weight, many more comparisons of the Graf sea gravimeter with the Vening Meinesz pendulum equipment should be made before the latter are displaced Probably the Graf sea gravimeter will be usable on a stable platform on a surface vessel at least in calm sea states.     

Bias in the estimation of wave-induced fatigue damage of offshore structures

The most widely adopted approach for estimating the wave-induced fatigue damage of the tubular joints of offshore structures relies on a wave scatter diagram to characterise the wave environment. This paper shows that the commonly adopted approach to compiling the wave scatter diagram and the subsequent selection of characteristic individual wave height and period pairs for analysis purposes will almost invariably lead to bias in the estimation of fatigue lives. A statistical argument is developed to show the sources and nature of this bias. This is supported by fatigue calculations based on individual wave data collected in the northern North Sea. It is found that the current practice in most cases introduces a substantial conservative bias into estimated fatigue lives. An alternative procedure for producing wave scatter diagrams and selecting wave heights and periods for subsequent finite-element analysis is presented which should lead to unbiased (or at least much less biased) estimates of fatigue lives.     

Effect of sampling rate on wave height statistics

This paper examines the effects of digital processing, and therefore discretisation or sampling, of sea surface elevations that are, in reality, continuous. Using random linear wave theory, probability distributions for the measured (as opposed to actual) wave amplitudes and heights have been obtained which are conditional on the sampling rate. It is shown that with low sampling rates there are significant departures from the usual Rayleigh distribution. Rates of 1 Hz or less may lead to significant underestimation of the probability of very large waves. An analysis of full-scale measurements obtained from a platform in the North Sea supports these results.     

How does forest structure affect root reinforcement and susceptibility to shallow landslides?

Forests can decrease the risk of shallow landslides by mechanically reinforcing the soil and positively influencing its water balance. However, little is known about the effect of different forest structures on slope stability. In the study area in St Antönien, Switzerland, we applied statistical prediction models and a physically‐based model for spatial distribution of root reinforcement in order to quantify the influence of forest structure on slope stability. We designed a generalized linear regression model and a random forest model including variables describing forest structure along with terrain parameters for a set of landslide and control points facing similar slope angle and tree coverage. The root distribution measured at regular distances from seven trees in the same study area was used to calibrate a root distribution model. The root reinforcement was calculated as a function of tree dimension and distance from tree with the root bundle model (RBMw). Based on the modelled values of root reinforcement, we introduced a proxy‐variable for root reinforcement of the nearest tree using a gamma distribution. The results of the statistical analysis show that variables related to forest structure significantly influence landslide susceptibility along with terrain parameters. Significant effects were found for gap length, the distance to the nearest trees and the proxy‐variable for root reinforcement of the nearest tree. Gaps longer than 20 m critically increased the susceptibility to landslides. Root reinforcement decreased with increasing distance from trees and is smaller in landslide plots compared to control plots. Furthermore, the influence of forest structure strongly depends on geomorphological and hydrological conditions. Our results enhance the quantitative knowledge about the influence of forest structure on root reinforcement and landslide susceptibility and support existing management recommendations for protection against gravitational natural hazards. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Review of Understanding of Earth’s Hydrological Cycle: Observations,Theory and Modelling

Water is our most precious and arguably most undervalued natural resource. It is essential for life on our planet, for food production and economic development. Moreover, water plays a fundamental role in shaping weather and climate. However, with the growing global population, the planet’s water resources are constantly under threat from overuse and pollution. In addition, the effects of a changing climate are thought to be leading to an increased frequency of extreme weather causing floods, landslides and drought. The need to understand and monitor our environment and its resources, including advancing our knowledge of the hydrological cycle, has never been more important and apparent. The best approach to do so on a global scale is from space. This paper provides an overview of the major components of the hydrological cycle, the status of their observations from space and related data products and models for hydrological variable retrievals. It also lists the current and planned satellite missions contributing to advancing our understanding of the hydrological cycle on a global scale. Further details of the hydrological cycle are substantiated in several of the other papers in this Special Issue.     

Studies of smectite membrane behavior: Importance of layer thickness and fabric in experiments at 20°C

The 0.5–2.0 μm diameter size fraction of the Cheto clay from Chambers, Arizona, was sedimented to form 0.5–2.0 cm-thick cakes, either with a relatively random or a relatively well-oriented fabric as defined by the criterion of Meade (1961). The cakes were compacted under a confining pressure of 34.7 MPa (5000 psi) and a solution 0.79 m in NaCI and 0.079 m in CaCl₂ was forced through at 20°C by a fluid pressure differential of either 6.94 MPa (1000 psi) or 13.0 MPa (2000 psi). The filtration efficiencies of the cakes with oriented fabric are roughly twice as great as those of the others, reaching 50–68%. Ca²⁺ passed through the cake preferentially, relative to Na⁺ in three of four experimental runs. Cake thickness, over the fourfold range studied, has no significant effect upon filtration efficiency. The stable oxygen isotopic fractionation for brine water passing through a cake with relatively well-oriented fabric is ?0.96%..