Evaluating equilibrium and non‐equilibrium transport of ammonium in a loam soil column

Release of nitrogen compounds into groundwater, particularly those compounds from excessive agricultural fertilization, is a major concern in an aquifer recharge. Among the nitrogen compounds, ammonium ( ) is a common one. In order to assess the risk of agricultural fertilizer contamination to an aquifer through infiltration, adsorption onto a loamy agricultural soil profile (0–0.60 m depth) was studied using a soil column experiment and modelling simulation. The soil used in the experiment was drawn from an agricultural field in Xinzhen, Fangshan district, Beijing, China, and reconstituted in laboratory soil columns. Column experiments were conducted using bromide (conservative tracer) and ‐bearing aqueous solutions. The ammonium concentrations in the soil water samples were measured, and their values were plotted as the breakthrough curves. The chemical's soil–water distribution coefficients (K_d) were calculated using breakthrough curves. Then the retardation factor (R) in saturated soil was calculated. For the ‐bearing aqueous solutions, the strongest adsorption occurred at the soil depth of 0.30–0.45 m. The convection–dispersion equation model and chemical non‐equilibrium model in Hydrus‐1D were used to simulate transport in the loamy soil. The two‐site chemical non‐equilibrium model in Hydrus‐1D was best to simulate transport through the soil column. Parameter sensitivity study was conducted to investigate the influences of solute transport by K_d, the fraction of exchange sites assuming to be in equilibrium with the solution phase (f), the longitudinal dispersivity (λ), and the first‐order rate coefficients (ω). The sensitivity analysis results indicate K_d is the most critical parameter.     

Debris-flow release processes investigated through the analysis of multi-temporal LiDAR datasets in north-western Iceland

Debris flows are fast-moving gravity flows of poorly sorted rock and soil, mixed and saturated with water. Debris-flow initiation has been studied using empirical and experimental modelling, but the geomorphic changes, indicative of different triggering processes, are difficult to constrain with field observations only. We identify signatures to distinguish two different debris-flow release styles by integrating high-resolution multi-temporal remote sensing datasets and morphometric analysis. We analyse debris flows sourced above the town of Ísafjörður (Iceland). Two debris-flow triggering processes were previously hypothesised for this site: (i) slope failure, characterised by landslides evolving into debris flows; and (ii) the fire-hose effect, in which debris accumulated in pre-existing, steep-sided bedrock passages is transported by a surge of water. It is unknown which process dominates and determines the local risk. To investigate this question, we compare airborne LiDAR elevation models and aerial photographs collected in 2007 with similar data from 2013. We find that two new debris-flow tracks were created by slope failures. These are characterised by steep sliding surfaces and lateral leveed channels. Slope failure also occurred in two large, recently active tracks, creating the preparatory conditions for the fire-hose effect to mobilise existing debris. These tracks show alternating zones of fill and scour along their length, and debris stored below the source-area at rest angles >35°. Our approach allows us to identify and quantify the morphological changes produced by slope failure release process, which generated the preparatory conditions for the fire-hose effect. As debris flows are rarely observed in action and morphological changes induced by them are difficult to detect and monitor, the same approach could be applied to other landscapes to understand debris-flow initiation in the absence of other monitoring information, and can improve the identification of zones at risk in inhabited areas near hillslopes with potential for debris flows. © 2018 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

云南-香港宽视场巡天新发现的一个磁活动双星系统

云南-香港宽视场巡天新发现了一个磁活动双星系统,其轨道周期为0.60286 d.利用云南天文台1 m光学望远镜附加CCD (Charge-Coupled Device)相机,观测得到了这个双星系统的V、Rc双色光变曲线,结果表明该系统食外存在明显的测光畸变.借助云南天文台丽江2.4 m望远镜附加云南暗弱天体光谱成像仪(Yunnan Faint Object Spectrograph and Camera, YFOSC)对该双星系统的分光观测,测定了该双星系统主星的视向速度曲线并发现该系统的主星表面存在着强烈的色球活动,从而证明系统的光变曲线畸变源自主星的黑子活动.使用W-D (Wilson-Devinney)程序分析上述观测得到的光变曲线和视向速度曲线,得到了该双星系统的轨道参数以及黑子参数.最后,对该系统的特性进行了讨论并对未来的工作进行了展望.     

Outer Heliosphere Ly-α Measurements: 1993 to 1998

We present the Lyman α sky background data obtained by the UV spectrometers on the Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft between 1993 and early 1998. These data which consist of special maneuvers dedicated to the study of the Lyα pattern in the outer heliosphere represent a unique opportunity to constrain the hydrogen distribution in the outer heliosphere.A first analysis of the data is presented. This consists of a comparison with a Hot Model of the hydrogen distribution combined with a radiative transfer calculation in the hypothesis of Complete Frequency Redistribution. We confirm previous measurements showing the existence of an excess in Lyα background in the upwind direction. The radial variation of the upwind intensity measurements found from the two Voyager data sets are different. The Voyager 1 data show a radial decrease following r ^-1.4 whereas the Voyager 2 data yield r ^-0.79. These values have been derived after correction for solar flux variations using the SOLSTICE/UARS data set. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The Ridgeway Conglomerate Formation of SW Wales,and its implications. The end of the Lower Old Red Sandstone?

The Devonian Old Red Sandstone Ridgeway Conglomerate Formation crops out in Pembrokeshire, SW Wales. It was deposited as part of a dryland alluvial fan, axial fluvial valley deposystem. It conformably overlies the mid Lochkovian Freshwater West Formation and probably predates deposition of the Lower Cosheston Group Mill Bay Formation indicating an Early Devonian (latest Lochkovian to earliest Pragian) age, rather than a Middle Devonian age as suggested by previous workers. It therefore represents the youngest preserved formation of the Milford Haven Group south of the Ritec Fault. The Formation thickens drastically into the Ritec Fault, indicating its control on sedimentation. The half‐graben topography initiated deposition of a hangingwall alluvial fan that was sourced from a southerly Lower Palaeozoic/Precambrian provenance within the present‐day Bristol Channel. The Formation is heterolithic in nature, with deposits on the fan reflecting a mixture of processes. Conglomerates were deposited primarily by laterally extensive sheetfloods, and as bars in low‐relief, laterally accreted channels. Sandstones were also predominantly deposited by sheetfloods. Gritty mudrocks in comparison demonstrate deposition by cohesive debris flows. The fan prograded northward and interfingered with a low‐gradient, high‐sinuosity fluvial channel system dominated by inclined and non‐inclined heterolithic stratification. Thinly laminated mudstone and sandstone interbeds were deposited in ephemeral fan‐toe and axial valley lakes that may have developed during sub‐humid climatic episodes. The lacustrine heterolithic association has associated matgrounds and possible ‘algal roll‐up’ structures. Calcretized peetee structures and root traces comprise a lake margin calcrete association. Fan gravels prograded into the axial fluvial valley during periods of increased sediment flux that may represent semi‐arid conditions and/or episodes of tectonic activity. Calcretes of varying development were established in both the fan and axial valley zones. Calcretes with lower stages of development are more proximal to the Ritec Fault reflecting decreased soil residence times and high deposition rates within the axial valley. More strongly developed soil profiles on the fan may indicate sequence boundaries associated with low sediment flux, or increased soil residence time due to active fan‐channel migration (the pedofacies concept). Groundwater calcretes have sharp‐based and layer‐bound calcrete profiles. Gully‐bed cements are locally developed within the fan gravels. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Identification of hydraulic conductivity distributions in density dependent flow fields of submarine groundwater discharge modeling using adjoint-state sensitivities

A mathematical optimal control method is developed to identify a hydraulic conductivity distribution in a density dependent flow field. Using a variational method, the adjoint partial differential equations are obtained for the density- dependent state equations used for the saline aquifer water flow. The adjoint equations are numerically solved in through a finite difference method. The developed method is applied to identify the hydraulic conductivity distribution through the numerical solution of an optimal control problem. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the optimal control method, three numerical experiments are conducted with artificial observation data. The results indicate that the developed method has the potential to accurately identify the hydraulic conductivity distribution in a saline water aquifer flow system.     

Exhumed hydrocarbon traps on the North Atlantic margin: Stratigraphy,palaeontology, provenance and bitumen distribution,an integrated approach

Previous work has demonstrated the presence of a number of exhumed hydrocarbon traps in central East Greenland. Re-evaluation of the stratigraphy alongside detailed investigation of the occurrence of bitumen within the Mols Bjerge and Laplace Bjerg exhumed hydrocarbon traps provides new perspectives on these structures, as well as the petroleum geology of East Greenland and the wider North Atlantic. Sedimentological and stratigraphic studies, augmented with palynological and provenance investigations, have constrained the dating and correlation of the strata exposed in the Mols Bjerge and Laplace Bjerg. Petrographic analysis, alongside analysis of the bitumen identified, has highlighted a much wider distribution of hydrocarbon than previously recognized. It was previously considered that Jurassic strata formed the main reservoir interval within the Mols Bjerge and Laplace Bjerg exhumed hydrocarbon traps. It is shown here that the reservoir intervals in the Laplace Bjerg trap lie within the Late Triassic Ørsted Dal and Vega Sund members, which contain up to 18% pyrobitumen and were previously misidentified as Jurassic. The Jurassic Bristol Elv Formation is the most extensively bitumen stained unit in the Mols Bjerge trap. However, occurrences of pyrobitumen (up to 3%) are recorded throughout the Triassic stratigraphy, including the Early Triassic Wordie Creek Formation. Faults, thick calcrete development and regionally continuous mudstone units play an important role in compartmentalizing the palaeohydrocarbon accumulations.