Multicomponent competitive monovalent cation exchange in hierarchical porous media with multimodal reactive mineral facies

This paper presents a stochastic model for multicomponent competitive monovalent cation exchange in hierarchical porous media. Reactive transport in porous media is highly sensitive to heterogeneities in physical and chemical properties, such as hydraulic conductivity (K), and cation exchange capacity (CEC). We use a conceptual model for multimodal reactive mineral facies and develop a Eulerian-based stochastic theory to analyze the transport of multiple cations in heterogeneous media with a hierarchical organization of reactive minerals. Numerical examples investigate the retardation factors and dispersivities in a chemical system made of three monovalent cations (Na⁺, K⁺, and Cs⁺). The results demonstrate how heterogeneity influences the transport of competitive monovalent cations, and highlight the importance of correlations between K and CEC. Further sensitivity analyses are presented investigating how the dispersion and retardation of each cation are affected by the means, variances, and integral scales of K and CEC. The volume fraction of organic matter is shown to be another important parameter. The Eulerian stochastic framework presented in this work clarifies the importance of each system parameters on the migration of cation plumes in formations with hierarchical organization of facies types. Our stochastic approach could be used as an alternative to numerical simulations for 3D reactive transport in hierarchical porous media, which become prohibitively expensive for the multicomponent applications considered in this work.     

Bayesian spatio-temporal analysis of stomach cancer incidence in Iran, 2003–2010

Stomach cancer is the second most common cancer in Iranian men and the fourth most common cancer in Iranian women. The incidence rate of this cancer in Iranian men is almost 2.5 times that in women. The objective of this study was to investigate the trend of stomach cancer incidence rate in Iran in an 8-year time period (2003–2010) and also update the incidence estimates of stomach cancer. Data from a total number of 41,830 patients diagnosed with stomach cancer according to the International Classification of Diseases (C16) in 2003–2010 were analyzed. We used Bayesian spatial and Bayesian spatio-temporal models to study the relative risk and trend of stomach cancer incidence rate in Iran. Out of 41,830 stomach cancer registered patients, 72% were male. The average smoothed SIRs were 0.79, 0.82 and 0.78 for the general, female and male population, respectively. This shows a nearly stable incidence rate. The northwest of Iran had the highest incidence rate of stomach cancer. The trend of this rate was declining to the lowest rate in the southeast of the country. The estimated values of coefficient of the trend term for general, female and male population in this model were 0.0085, ? 0.018 and 0.0041, which indicate almost a stable fixed trend. The map of temporal trends also showed that although the incidence rate of this cancer is to some extent stable, in general, in the central and in the east of the country the incidence relative risk has increased over time. The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection, Lower socioeconomic status and Iodine deficiency were speculated to be relevant factors for the high incidence rates of stomach cancer in the northwest of Iran. Preventive measures in the north and northwest of Iran could have an effect on controlling this cancer in these areas.     

Evaluation of ICA and CEM algorithms with Landsat-8/ASTER data for geological mapping in inaccessible regions

Many regions remain poorly studied in terms of geological mapping and mineral exploration in inaccessible regions especially in the Arctic and Antarctica due to harsh conditions and logistic difficulties. Application of specialized image processing techniques is capable of revealing the hidden linear mixing spectra in multispectral and hyperspectral satellite images. In this study, the applications of Independent component analysis (ICA) and Constrained Energy Minimization (CEM) algorithms were evaluated for Landsat-8 and Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) remote sensing data for geological mapping in Morozumi Range and Helliwell Hills areas, Northern Victoria Land (NVL), Antarctica. The results of this investigation demonstrate the capability of the two algorithms in distinguishing pixel and subpixel targets in the multispectral satellite data. The application of the methods for identifying poorly exposed geologic materials and subpixel exposures of alteration minerals has invaluable implications for geological mapping and mineral exploration in inaccessible regions.     

Time scale effect and uncertainty in reconstruction of paleo‐hydrology

Tree‐ring‐based reconstructions of paleo‐hydrology have proved useful for better understanding the irregularities and extent of past climate changes, and therefore, for more effective water resources management. Despite considerable advances in the field, there still exist challenges that introduce significant uncertainties into paleo‐reconstructions. This study outlines these challenges and address them by developing two themes: (1) the effect of temporal scaling on the strength of the relationship between the hydrologic variables, streamflow in this study, and tree growth rates and (2) the reconstruction uncertainty of streamflow due to the dissimilarity or inconsistency in the pool of tree‐ring chronologies (predictors in reconstruction) in a basin. Based on the insight gained, a methodology is developed to move beyond only relying on the annual hydrology‐growth correlations, and to utilize additional information embedded in the annual time series at longer time scales (e.g. multi‐year to decadal time scales). This methodology also generates an ensemble of streamflow reconstructions to formally account for uncertainty in the pool of chronology sites. The major headwater tributaries of the Saskatchewan River Basin, the main source of surface water in the Canadian Prairie Provinces, are used as the case study. It is shown that the developed methodology explains the variance of streamflows to a larger extent than the conventional approach and better preserves the persistence and variability of streamflows across time scales (Hurst‐type behaviour). The resulting ensemble of paleo‐hydrologic time series is able to more credibly pinpoint the timing and extent of past dry and wet periods and provides a dynamic range of uncertainty in reconstruction. This range varies with time over the course of the reconstruction period, indicating that the utility of tree‐ring chronologies for paleo‐reconstruction differs for different time periods over the past several centuries in the history of the region. The proposed ensemble approach provides a credible range of multiple‐century‐long water availability scenarios that can be used for vulnerability assessment of the existing water infrastructure and improving water resources management. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Probabilistic analysis of an 80,000 m2 landslide in Shiraz,Iran

Landslides - Each year, so many devastating landslides occur all around the world causing a lot of life and economical losses. Many of these landslides take place in large populated cities where...     

Changes in social vulnerability to flooding: a quasi-experimental analysis

Natural Hazards - In this study we estimate how flooded areas evolve on measures of social vulnerability over both the long and short term in Calgary, Canada. The first part of our analysis...     

Spatio-temporal variability of seasonal rainfall in western equatorial Africa

This study reveals homogeneous sub-regions over the poorly studied area of western equatorial Africa (10S?C7N and 7E?C30E). Monthly totals of 141 stations covering the period 1955?C1984 are used. The stations are grouped based on the similarity of their interannual rainfall variability. In addition to annual totals, four different seasons are examined separately for regionalization, an approach that has lacked in previous studies. The four 3-month seasons are defined as follows: January?CFebruary?CMarch (JFM), April?CMay?CJune (AMJ), July?CAugust?CSeptember (JAS), and October?CNovember?CDecember (OND). Two different algorithms are applied and compared: the rotated principal component analysis (RPCA) in conjunction with Ward's method, and the RPCA in conjunction with k-means method. The principal components that explain about 65% of total variance are retained and then varimax rotated. The corresponding scores are utilized as input for cluster analysis. Using Ward's method, five sub-regions are recognized for AMJ, JAS and OND and 4 sub-regions for JFM and annual data. The regions are geographically well distributed over the area and consist of roughly the same number of stations. The F-test is used to evaluate the homogeneity of each sub-region. The results show that all sub-regions are strongly homogeneous. Assuming the same number of clusters, the k-means method provides comparable spatial patterns with those of Ward's method. However, there are some differences, which are more evident in JAS and OND. Like Ward's method, the values of F-ratio for the k-means algorithm also confirm the homogeneity of all seasons/sub-regions. The interannual variability of rainfall for each season/sub-region is also provided and compared.     

Assessment of recent sediment influence in an urban polluted subantarctic coastal ecosystem. Beagle Channel (Southern Argentina)

In this study, baseline information about the environmental status of Ushuaia (UB) and Golondrina (GB) bays is presented. Surface and bottom seawater and freshwater discharged from land were evaluated. Multivariate analysis identified different water quality zones within the bays, two of them located next to the north and northwest coastlines of UB, where the majority of human activities are developed. Porosity, total organic matter, biochemical components, ammonium, and phytopigments were determined in sediment samples from each quality zone. Benthic fluxes of nutrients and dissolved oxygen were assessed in situ using opaque chambers. In northwest zone of UB, carbon equivalents of proteins and carbohydrates in surficial sediments were the same order as in hypertrophic ecosystems, whereas ammonium and phosphate released from sediment greatly exceeded the allochthonous sources. Management of municipal wastewater is required to remediate this chronic pollution.     

Viscous-resistive ADAF with a general large-scale magnetic field

We have studied the structure of hot accretion flow bathed in a general large-scale magnetic field. We have considered magnetic parameters , where are the Alfvén sound speeds in three direction of cylindrical coordinate (r,φ,z). The dominant mechanism of energy dissipation is assumed to be the magnetic diffusivity due to turbulence and viscosity in the accretion flow. Also, we adopt a more realistic model for kinematic viscosity (ν=αc _s H), with both c _s and H as a function of magnetic field. As a result in our model, the kinematic viscosity and magnetic diffusivity (η=η ₀ c _s H) are not constant. In order to solve the integrated equations that govern the behavior of the accretion flow, a self-similar method is used. It is found that the existence of magnetic resistivity will increase the radial infall velocity as well as sound speed and vertical thickness of the disk. However the rotational velocity of the disk decreases by the increase of magnetic resistivity. Moreover, we study the effect of three components of global magnetic field on the structure of the disk. We found out that the radial velocity and sound speed are Sub-Keplerian for all values of magnetic field parameters, but the rotational velocity can be Super-Keplerian by the increase of toroidal magnetic field. Also, Our numerical results show that all components of magnetic field can be important and have a considerable effect on velocities and vertical thickness of the disk.