Origin of the color in cobalt-doped quartz

Synthetic Co-doped quartz was grown hydrothermally in steel autoclaves at the Technological Center of Minas Gerais (CETEC), Brazil. The quartz samples, originally yellow in the as-grown state acquired blue coloration after prolonged heat treatment times at 500°C near the alpha–beta transition temperature. UV–VIS–NIR absorption spectroscopy shows the characteristic spectra of Co³⁺ before heat treatment. After heat treatment, the optical absorption spectrum is dominated by two split-triplet bands the first in the near infrared region centered at about 6,700 cm⁻¹ (1,490 nm) and the second in the visible spectral range at about 16,900 cm⁻¹ (590 nm). Both split-triplet bands are typical for Co²⁺ ions in tetrahedral coordination environments. From the absence of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra, we conclude that the Co²⁺ found in the optical absorption spectra of the blue quartz is not due to an isolated structural site in the quartz lattice. Instead, the blue color is associated with electronic transitions of Co²⁺ in small inclusions in which the Co site has tetrahedral symmetry. The non-observation of polarization-depend optical absorption spectra is also in agreement with this model. The results for Co²⁺ in quartz are different from Co-bearing spinel and staurolite and other silicates like orthopyroxene, olivine, and beryls. The formation process of the color center is discussed.     

Sediment geochemistry of the urban Lake Paulo Gorski

The objective of this study was to evaluate the concentration and distribution of heavy metals in the sediments of Paulo Gorski Lake, as well as the metals’ bioavailability and potential ecological risk, and to define the anthropogenic and natural heavy metal contributions to the lake. The chemical elements calcium (Ca), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), sodium (Na), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) were quantified by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry with two extraction methods to quantify the bioavailable and non-bioavailable fractions. The data were evaluated using multivariate statistics and sediment quality indices. All sediment collection points (S1, S2, S3, S4 and S5) are different in terms of the concentration of heavy metals, except for S4 and S5, which were statistically equal. The bioavailable fraction of the elements in the sediment follows the sequence Pb>Cu>Mn>Zn>Ni>Cr>phosphorus (P) for all points. The elements Co, Cr, Pb, and Zn showed moderate to considerable contamination at all points. Only points S3 and S5 had moderate ecological risk. Urbanization has been affecting Paulo Gorski Lake via the input of chemical elements, especially Co and Pb. The points most affected by heavy metal contamination are S3 and S5 when the sedimentological sensitivity factor is considered. The lake has high hydrodynamics, causing some of the contaminants that enter the system to leave it, leading to potential negative impacts downstream.     

Performance-based seismic design of integral abutment bridges

Integral abutment bridges (IAB) are experiencing increasing diffusion in the short to mid-range lengths, where they offer some advantages over traditional girder bridges with non-monolithic connection at the abutments. One challenging problem with their analysis and design is that consideration of the interaction between foundation soil, structure and backfill is unavoidable, also for the deck design. Further, the end of the construction is only one of the conditions that need to be verified during design. Cyclic deformations, such as those occurring during ground shaking, typically lead to an increase in stresses in the abutments and connections, due to progressive compaction (ratcheting) of the backfill soil. This problem is magnified when the bridge is comprised between two embankments, whose response may amplify the input motion and drive the deformation of the bridge. Performance-based design aims at superseding current design procedures by explicitly checking that the target performances set out are achieved, and not overly exceeded. Such a design paradigm naturally calls, on the one hand, for improved accuracy in response determination and more refined analyses, and, on the other, for taking into account the uncertainties entering into the problem by means of an explicitly probabilistic approach. With this objective in mind, the paper presents an inelastic dynamic model for the seismic analysis and design of IABs. The model, that features a balanced compromise between the setup and evaluation effort on one hand, and accuracy on the other, has been developed for implementation in typical commercial analysis packages. It builds on 1D site-response analysis and on inelastic Winkler-like modeling, to reproduce the main physical aspects of the seismic response of IABs. One example application to a highway overpass in Italy illustrates the model and the relevance of a fully probabilistic approach to performance-based design. The application offers also important insight into the choice of an efficient intensity measure for this type of structure.     

A Geophysical Study of the Carcavai Fault Zone, Portugal

The Algarve province is located a few hundred kilometres north of the crossing of the E–W Eurasia–Africa plate boundary in an area of diffuse seismicity and broad deformation. It is characterised by a moderate seismicity, with some important historical and instrumental earthquakes causing loss of lives and significant material damages. The area is affected not only by plate boundary earthquakes but also by moderate to large events generated by local sources. The assessment of onshore local sources is, therefore, of vital importance for an evaluation of the regional seismic hazard. This paper discusses the application of geophysical data to the study of the Carcavai fault zone, an outcropping structure more than 20?km long which is seen to deform sediments of the Plio-Quaternary age. The location of some sectors of the fault zone, as well as the vertical offsets of the structure, are still to be confirmed. In order to estimate these and to study the geometry of the fault zone at depth, geophysical data were acquired together with new geological data. Where the location of the fault was less certain, EM and seismic reflection profiles with coarse spatial sampling were carried out. After the detailed location of the fault zone, seismic reflection profiles with a more dense spatial resolution were acquired. The integrated interpretation of the geological and geophysical data confirmed the presence of a large fault zone. The total fault length is still unknown as its extension offshore is still being studied. Together with estimated values of the throw obtained, this data set has improved understanding the seismic hazard in the area by providing more refined estimates of co-seismic rupture, maximum expected earthquake and return periods.     

Inter-annual changes in fish communities of a tropical bay in southeastern Brazil: What can be inferred from anthropogenic activities?

We assessed inter-annual changes in fish assemblages of a tropical bay which experienced a heavily industrialized process in the last decades. A highly significant difference in community structure among the bay zones, and a decrease in fish richness and abundance over time were found. Changes in fish richness and abundance between the two first (1987–1988 and 1993–1995) and the two latter time periods (1998–2001 and 2012–2013) were sharpest in the inner bay zone, the most impacted bay area, and in the middle zone, whereas the outer zone remained comparatively stable over time. These changes coincided with increased metal pollution (mainly, Zn and Cd) in the bay and with the enlargement of the Sepetiba Port. Spatial changes in the fish community structure among the bay zones were related to differences in salinity, transparency and depth with this latter variable acting as a buffer stabilizing temporal community changes.     

Continuing current in multiple channel cloud-to-ground lightning

In this study we analyze the effects of continuing current initiated by strokes following a new channel to ground in multiple stroke flashes using high-speed video records, electric field measurements from a fast antenna and lightning detection network data. We observed that the long continuing current initiated by a stroke that follows a new channel also obeys the pattern in the initiation of long continuing current suggested by Rakov and Uman [Rakov, V.A., Uman, M.A., 2003. Lightning: Physics and Effects, 687pp., Cambridge Univ. Press, New York.]. We also verify that the statement of Rakov and Uman [Rakov, V.A. and Uman, M.A., 1990. Some properties of negative cloud-to-ground lightning flashes versus stroke order, Journal of Geophysical Research. 95, 5447–5453.] reporting that: “...strokes initiating long continuing currents tend to have lower initial electric field peak than regular strokes” is valid for strokes that create a new channel to ground and are followed by long continuing current (CC). Apparently the reduction of peak current value (I_p) when the stroke is followed by a long CC is stronger than the I_p increase that is commonly observed when strokes follow a new channel. We also find that the “exclusion zone” proposed by Saba et al. [Saba, M.M.F., Pinto, O. Jr., Ballarotti, M.G., 2006a. Relation between lightning return stroke peak current and following continuing current, Geophysical Research Letters 33, L23807, doi:10.1029/2006GL027455.] is valid for new channels initiating CC, and finally we verify that a number of strokes in the same channel larger than four or the existence of a long CC current do not always consolidate the channel in a multiple stroke flash.     

Modeling the potential impact of climate change in northern Mexico using two environmental indicators

Modeling the deterioration of natural resources, especially water and soil that results from the global effects of climate change has become a powerful tool in the search for mitigation and adaptation measures. The objectives of this research were: (1) to model the potential impact of climate change for the period 2010-2039, and (2) to offer advice about future risks based on local radiative forcing or critical areas and taking into account two indicators of environmental quality, the aridity index (AI) and laminar wind erosion (LWE). Evaluation techniques for natural resources, similar to those applied by the Instituto Nacional de Ecología y Cambio Climático (National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change) were used for studies of ecological land use. The inputs include climate information (current and future), soil cover and edaphic properties related to the municipality of Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico (25.886° N, 103.476° W). According to calculations estimated from the anomalies for the mean annual rainfall and mean annual temperature, in a future climate change scenario, an average impact of approximately 63% would be caused by LWE, and the AI would change from its historical value of 9.3 to 8.7. It is estimated that the average impact on the AI in the future will be 0.53 ± 0.2.     

Wave radiation by a deep submerged cylinder with application to ocean structure

The radiation problem for a deep submerged cylinder is analysed and an asymptotic expression, uniformly valid in the whole range of frequencies, is derived for the radiation damping and exciting force. The obtained expression is a natural extension of the inertia term in the well known Morison's formula and may be useful in the analysis of certain ocean structures such as a tension leg platform, for example. In particular it makes it possible to define a geometry tuned to have null excitation at some desired frequency.