Inter-comparison of model-predicted wave heights with satellite altimeter measurements in the north Indian Ocean

A numerical model based on a wind-wave energy transport formulation of Toba is developed to generate hindcast wave height data for the equatorial and the north Indian Ocean, which is otherwise a data-sparse region. The intercomparison between model-predicted wave heights for three years (1987–1989) obtained utilising analysed surface wind fields' data, and model grid averaged GEOSAT Altimeter significant wave height data showed moderate match, particularly for H_S greater than 1 m.     

Input data measurement-induced uncertainty in watershed modelling

Abstract

This study presents a new methodology for estimation of input data measurement-induced uncertainty in simulated dissolved oxygen (DO) and nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N) concentrations using the Hydrological Simulation Program–FORTRAN (HSPF) model and data from the Amite River, USA. Simulation results show that: (1) a multiplying factor of 1.3 can be used to describe the maximum error in temperature measurements; similarly, a multiplying factor of 1.9 was estimated to accommodate the maximum of ±5% error in rainfall measurements; (2) the uncertainty in simulated DO concentration due to positive temperature measurement errors can be described with a normal distribution, N(0.062, 0.567); (3) the uncertainty in simulated NO₃-N concentration due to rainfall measurement errors follows a generalized extreme value distribution; and (4) the probability density functions can be utilized to determine the measurement-induced uncertainty in simulated DO and NO₃-N concentrations according to the risk level acceptable in water quality management.

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis

Citation Patil, A. and Deng, Z.-Q., 2012. Input data measurement-induced uncertainty in watershed modelling. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 57 (1), 118–133.     

Supernova remnants, planetary nebulae and the distance to NGC 4214

We present narrow band, continuum subtracted Hα, [S ii], Hβ, [O iii] and [O ii] data taken with the Wide Field Camera 3 on the Hubble Space Telescope in the nearby dwarf starburst galaxy NGC 4214. From these images, we identify seventeen new planetary nebula candidates, and seven supernova remnant candidates. We use the observed emission line luminosity function of the planetary nebulae to establish a new velocity-independent distance to NGC 4214. We conclude that the PNLF technique gives a reddening independent distance to NGC 4214 of 3.19±0.36 Mpc, and that our current best-estimate of the distance to this galaxy ids 2.98±0.13 Mpc.     

Ediacaran fossils in Meso- and Paleoproterozoic rocks in peninsular India extend Darwin

Typically or arguably Ediacaran fossils (635 Ma to 543 Ma) are reported by several research groups from one unit of the Chhattisgarh and two units of the Vindhyan Supergroups in peninsular India. Depositional ages of the host sediments, however, are inferred to be ∼1000 Ma and ∼ 1630 Ma as determined by U-Pb dating of magmatic and detrital zircons in rhyolitic tuff (∼ porcellanite) and sandstones, provenance considerations and paleopole positions. The contradiction of absolute ages results from inferring the Ediacaran age strictly on the basis of fossils. I argue that the fossils reported from the Chhattisgarh and Vindhyan Supergroups should be considered mostly Mesoproterozoic and late Proterozoic in age. I also argue that although the Ediacaran Period records explosive diversity of preserved fossils, many forms very likely appeared much earlier with variable degrees of preservation or none at all at times, and, that their age-ranges extend to the Paleoproterozoic. I hypothesize that the rate of increase of biological diversity was lower than the rate of preservation in certain geological intervals, especially immediately after extinction events.     

Time-dependent diffusive interactions between dark matter and dark energy in the context of k-essence cosmology

We investigated the scenario of time-dependent diffusive interaction between dark matter and dark energy and showed that such a model can be accommodated within the observations of luminosity distanceredshift data in Supernova la(SN la)observations.We obtain constraints on different relevant parameters of this model from the observational data.We consider a homogeneous scalar field(t)driven by a k-essence Lagrangian of the form L=V(φ)F(X)with constant potential V(φ)=V,to describe the dynamics of dark energy in this model.Using the temporal behaviour of the FRW scale factor,the equation of state and total energy density of the dark fluid,extracted from the analysis of SN la(JLA)data,we have obtained the time-dependence of the k-essence scalar field and also reconstructed the form of the function F(X)in the k-essence Lagrangian.     

Facies analysis of Pleistocene limestones from Neil West Coast Formation,Neil Island,Ritchie’s archipelago of South Andaman,India

Petrographic thin section analysis of the samples collected from the type section of Neil West Coast Formation, situated in the west coast of Neil Island yielded moderately preserved coralline red algae, benthic and planktic foraminifers, coral fragments, echinoid spines and gastropod shells. The coralline red algae are represented by both non-geniculate and geniculate forms. The non-geniculate forms belong to melobesids, lithophylloids and mastophoroides. The geniculate forms are represented by species of Amphiroa, Corallina, and Jania. However, the diversity and abundance of coralline algal forms are less in comparison to the benthic foraminifers those are represented by Amphistegina, Neorotalia, Ammonia, Elphidium, Operculina, Assilina, Amphisorus and texularids. Planktic foraminifers like Globigerinoides and other biogenic components viz., gastropod shells, echinoid spines and coral fragments are also common. A foraminiferal-algal grainstone facies has been recognized as observed in the field as well as in thin section analysis. The overall assemblage of the biogenic components and facies analysis indicate intertidal to near shore environment of deposition with high energy condition and increased hydrodynamic activity.     

Propagation of Love wave in fiber‐reinforced medium lying over an initially stressed orthotropic half‐space

In this paper, the propagation of Love waves in a fiber‐reinforced layered medium lying over an elastic orthotropic half‐space under initial stress has been investigated. We have obtained the velocity equations for Love wave in this media. It is observed that propagation of Love wave is influenced by reinforced parameters and initial stressed parameter. The velocity of Love wave has been computed for three different cases. Our computed equation of Love wave coincides with the standard equation of Love wave for the case of homogeneous layer and homogeneous half‐space (AEH Love, 1911). To study the effect of reinforced and initial stressed parameters, we have computed the numerical values for phase velocity and plotted in several figures. It is observed that the phase velocity decreases with the increases of reinforced parameters and initial stressed parameter. Using MATLAB software, GUI has been developed to generalize the effect of various parameters. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Wind dependence of quasi-specular sea scatter

Earlier investigations have shown that a power law relationship of the typeσ=aW ^b exists between the scattering coefficientσ and sea surface wind speedW at microwave frequencies. The coefficientsa andb are usually quoted for different frequencies, look angles, polarizations etc. This paper attempts to define the angular dependence using such a power law relationship in the quasi-specular range.     

Dynamic nonlinear response of pile foundations under vertical vibration—Theory versus experiment

The influence of nonlinearity on the dynamic response of cast-in-situ reinforced concrete piles subjected to strong vertical excitation was studied. Forced vibration test of single piles (L/d=10, 15, 20) and 2×2 pile groups (s/d=2, 3, 4 for each L/d) were conducted in the field for two different embedded conditions of pile cap. From the measured nonlinear response curves, the effective pile–soil system mass, stiffness and damping were determined and the nonlinear response curves were back-calculated using the theory of nonlinear vibration. The test results were compared with the continuum approach of Novak with dynamic interaction factor approach using both linear and linear-equivalent numerical methods. Reasonable match between the measured and predicted response was found for linear-equivalent methods by introducing a weak boundary-zone around the pile to approximately account for the nonlinear behaviour of pile–soil system. The test data were used to establish the empirical relationship in order to estimate the extent of soil separation around the pile with soil under vertical vibration.