The 73-day periodicity of the flare index during the current solar cycle 22

The flare index of the current solar cycle 22 is analysed to detect periodicities. Power spectral analysis of the time series of solar flare index data reveals a periodicity around 73 and 53 days. We find that a periodicity of 73 days was in operation from November 1988 to the end of December 1991. We also find that when the 73-day periodicity or the 154-day periodicity is in operation the flare index is well correlated with the relative sunspot numbers.     

Periodic behavior of solar flare index during solar cycles 20 and 21

Short-term periodicities of solar activity were studied with the flare index by using Discrete Fourier Transform for the time interval 1966–1986. Two noticeable periodicities (18.5 and 5 months) have been found. The existence of these periodicities comparing with the early findings is discussed.     

Shoal formation in the Piscataqua River,New Hampshire

The formation of a shoal was investigated in the Piscataqua River, New Hampshire, which is a well-mixed channel with low freshwater flow and tidal currents up to 2.3 m s^?1. Observations of sediment characteristics, bathymetry, and bottom current were made, and theory was used to predict bedload transport. Sediment sampling showed the bottom material to be coarse sand and gravel, and sidescan sonar revealed large sand waves directed upriver at the shoal. Bottom current measurements were made along transects upriver and downriver of the shoal and downriver of an adjacent deepwater area that was also studied for comparison. Bedload flux inferred from current measurements using the Brown-Einstein theory indicated that transport is generally directed upriver. Sediment budget calculations showed the shoal area to be depositional before, immediately after, and subsequent to a dredging operation at rates of 0.36 m yr^?1, 1.06 m yr^?1, and 0.35 m yr^?1, respectively. Predredge and subsequent rates were consistent with the historical record of removal by dredging at the shoal.     

On the short term variations of solar activity during solar cycle 21

Short-term variations of the last solar activity cycle were studied by the flare and coronal indices using Gleissberg method. Systematic short-term variations are found from their course during the 21st solar activity cycle. Comparison of their autocorrelograms constructed by the new set of data obtained from the magnitude of the fluctuations showed us the existence of the phase shift between the temporal variations of the two indices.     

The Ionospheric foF2 Data over Istanbul and their Response to Solar Activity for the Years 1964–1969 and 1993

A Polish-made vertical ionosonde (VI) has been operated at the Kandilli Observatory in Istanbul, for almost one year (May 1993 - April 1994) as part of the COST 238, PRIME Project, The critical frequencies were obtained for every half-hour interval. The data obtained during this campaign, on the descending branch of solar cycle 22, and the data measured earlier in Istanbul for cycle 20 were analysed and the characteristic behaviour of the F2 region ionosphere over Istanbul has been determined. This is a unique data set for this area. Several markers of the solar cycle activities in terms of the daily relative sunspot numbers, F10.7 cm solar radio flux and solar flare index, and the magnetic daily index of Ap were then used to seek the possible influence of the solar and ionospheric activities on the critical frequencies observed in Istanbul. It was found that the solar flare index, as a solar activity index, was more reliable in determining quiet ionospheric days. It is shown that the minimum and maximum time values of the solar activity are more convenient for ionospheric prediction and modelling.     

Determination of ammonia removal from aqueous solution and volumetric mass transfer coefficient by microwave-assisted air stripping

In this study, the removal of ammonia from synthetically prepared ammonia solution at pH 11 was investigated by using microwave radiation heating. Initially, conventional and microwave radiation heating were compared with respect to ammonia removal efficiency and overall volumetric mass transfer coefficient at five different temperatures. Overall volumetric mass transfer coefficient was calculated from the material balance for ammonia at unsteady-state condition. The effects of temperature, initial ammonia concentration, air flow rate, stirring speed, and microwave radiation power on both ammonia removal efficiency and overall volumetric mass transfer coefficient in liquid phase were also examined. The results of the experiments revealed that microwave-assisted air stripping allowed to the higher ammonia removal efficiency and overall volumetric mass transfer coefficient value compared to the conventional heating air stripping. Additionally, temperature and air flow rate were determined as the most substantial parameters affecting both ammonia removal efficiency and overall volumetric mass transfer coefficient value.     

Geochemistry of the thermal springs of Mount Taftan,southeastern Iran

Thermal and cold water chemistry from the southern flank of Mount Taftan was investigated in order to discriminate among hydrochemical facies, isotopic characteristics, geothermal reservoir and identify the major geochemical processes that affect water composition.     

Assessing Submerged Vegetation Roughness in Streambed under Clear Water Condition Using Physical Modeling

Water Resources - Roughness coefficient, also called Manning’s coefficient, is one of the most important hydraulic parameters in the rivers. This coefficient, in addition to the flow...     

Combining Arc-GIS and OWA model in flooding potential analysis (case study: Meshkinshahr city)

Natural Hazards - “Streets have been turned into rivers”; this is a news headline which we have been hearing more often recently and refers to the floodwaters flowing into cities....     

Development and application of a stochastic optimization model for groundwater management: crop pattern and conjunctive use consideration

The need for irrigation water in arid and semi-arid regions is mostly supplied by groundwater. Furthermore, the agricultural development in these areas is not generally based on a comprehensive plan, which can cause aquifers depletion. On the other hand, to properly manage an aquifer and to have an optimal crop plan, the stochastic nature of the different parameters of a groundwater system such as groundwater recharge and water demands should be taken into consideration. In this paper, we develop an explicit stochastic optimization model for Firouzabad aquifer in Iran. This formulation is based on the first and second moment analysis for groundwater head which has been initially proposed for surface water resources management by Fletcher and Ponnambalam. We extend the model to create a new random withdrawal policy for conjunctive use setting in which the randomness in available precipitation is taken into account. The interesting point is that the model provides the respective probabilities of shortage and surplus without imposing the extra decision variables into the optimization model. A genetic-based algorithm is used to solve the stochastic nonlinear and non-convex formulation. The outcome results indicate that the current crop pattern should be changed, that is, the allocated areas of some crops have to be meaningfully reduced. Finally, to validate our model efficiency, we demonstrate that how much close the statistical characteristics obtained from the optimization model are to those estimated from the Monte Carlo simulation. Furthermore, the optimal benefits obtained using the proposed optimization model are as suitable as the benefits achieved using the corresponding Monte Carlo-based optimization model.