Long‐wave radiation and heat flux estimates within a small tributary in Catamaran Brook (New Brunswick,Canada)

River water temperature is an important water quality parameter that also influences most aquatic life. Physical processes influencing water temperature in rivers are highly complex. This is especially true for the estimation of river heat exchange processes that are highly dependent on good estimates of radiation fluxes. Furthermore, very few studies were found within the stream temperature dynamic literature where the different radiation components have been measured and compared at the stream level (at microclimate conditions). Therefore, this study presents results on hydrometeorological conditions for a small tributary within Catamaran Brook (part of the Miramichi River system, New Brunswick, Canada) with the following specific objectives: (1) to compare between stream microclimate and remote meteorological conditions, (2) to compare measured long‐wave radiation data with those calculated from an analytical model, and (3), to calculate the corresponding river heat fluxes. The most salient findings of this study are (1) solar radiation and wind speed are parameters that are highly site specific within the river environment and play an important role in the estimation of river heat fluxes; (2) the incoming, outgoing, and net long‐wave radiation within the stream environment (under the forest canopy) can be effectively calculated using empirical formula; (3) at the study site more than 80% of the incoming long‐wave radiation was coming from the forest; (4) total energy gains were dominated by solar radiation flux (for all the study periods) followed by the net long‐wave radiation (during some periods) whereas energy losses were coming from both the net long‐wave radiation and evaporation. Conductive heat fluxes have a minor contribution from the overall heat budget (<3·5%); (5) the reflected short‐wave radiation at the water surface was calculated on average as 3·2%, which is consistent with literature values. Results of this study contribute towards a better understanding of river heat fluxes and water temperature models as well as for more effective aquatic resources and fisheries management. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The role of diagenetic carbonate concretions in the preservation of the original sedimentary record

The Upper Cretaceous organic rich limestones and marls of the Tarfaya basin of southwest Morocco contain numerous calcite concretions, which formed during early diagenesis. Relative textural similarities are observed both in the concretions and in the host sediments. However, the biological content of the concretions is considerably higher than in the host marls and limestones. Evidence for fossil dissolution in the host marls, and the absence of concretions in some fossil-rich zones, suggest that the difference in fossil abundance between the concretions and host rock is a function of dissolution, rather than preferential precipitation in fossil-rich areas. Consequently, the carbonate concretions appear to represent the 'memory' of the sediment and allow quantification of the original biological components and are potential tools for estimating the original biological material deposited in the soft sediments.     

Géochimie et cadre géodynamique du volcanisme néoprotérozoïque terminal (vendien) du Haut Atlas occidental, Maroc

Les terrains volcaniques et volcanodétritiques du Néoprotérozoïque terminal (Vendien) affleurent largement dans le Haut Atlas occidental. IIs sont située au Nord de l'accident majeur de Tizi n'Test qui sépare le craton ouest africain du craton septentrional. Ces volcanites reposent en concordance sur une série grésopélitique pouvant être l'équivalent des séries de Tidilline et d'Anzi dans l'Anti-Atlas. Ce volcanisme par ses caractéristiques géochimiques calco-alcalin de marge active est affilié á l'histoire post panafricaine développée aussi dans l'Anti-Atlas. II différe de ce dernier par ses teneurs en K₂O. Ce volcanisme s'est mis en place dans un contexte distensif. ll est généré par la fusion de la croûte subductée sous un craton septentrional. Au dessus de cet ensemble magmatique repose en concordance ou en légére discordance une puissante série calcschisteuse dans laquelle sont interstratifiées des dacites calco-alcalines montrant la continuité du volcanisme orogénique au moins jusqu'au Cambrien inférieur.     

Impact of climate change on the hydrology and water salinity in the Anzali Wetland,northern Iran

ABSTRACT

The impact of climate change on hydrology and water salinity of a valuable coastal wetland (Anzali) in northern Iran is assessed using daily precipitation and temperature data from 19 models of Coupled Model Inter-comparison Project Phase 5. The daily data are transiently downscaled using the Long Ashton Research Station Weather Generator to three climatic stations. The temperature is projected to increase by +1.6, +1.9 and +2.7°C and precipitation to decrease by 10.4%, 12.8% and 12.2% under representative concentration pathway (RCP) scenarios RCP2.6, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, respectively. The wetland hydrology and water salinity are assessed using the water balance approach and mixing equation, respectively. The upstream river flow modelled by the Soil and Water Assessment Tool is projected to reduce by up to 18%, leading to reductions in wetland volume (154 × 10⁶ m³), area (57.47 km²) and depth (2.77 m) by 34%, 21.1% and 20.2%, respectively, under climate change, while the mean annual total dissolved solids (1675 mg/L) would increase by 49%. The reduced volume and raised salinity may affect the wetland ecology.     

Magnetohydrodynamic disturbances in the earth's core,IV

Summary In Paper III (Mohandis [1]²) we considered the sudden introduction of amagnetic dipole in the earth's core to act as a source of disturbance to the exitation field taken as a poloidal one. A symmetrical case was considered where the dipole axis is placed parallel to the original field and perpendicular to the earth's mantle. In the present work, we consider an unsymmetric case where the axis of themagnetic dipole is placed perpendicular to both the mantle and the exitation field which is taken as a toroidal one. A mathematical study is made for the resulting fluid motion in the core as well as for the generated hydromagnetic perturbations in both the mantle and the earth's fluid core. A more powerful method has been adopted than those used in previous cases.     

Biodegradation of municipal refuse and chicken manure in a winter-wheat ecosystem in Saudi Arabia

Addition and incorporation of organic fertilizers is known to improve the properties of agricultural soils. Therefore, during 22 weeks of field incubation we studied the biodegradation (measured by static absorption of CO₂) of two organic manures viz. municipal refuse and chicken manure incorporated into sandy soils, under sprinker irrigation, at the rates of 0, 16·5, 33·0, 49·5 and 66·0, and 0, 4·1, 8·25, 16·5, and 33·0 tonnes/ha, respectively.The results obtained indicated that the cumulative amount of CO₂ respired was linearly correlated with the rate of organic material applied (p < 0.001). Statistical analysis of the data obtained showed that both the intercept (rate of decomposition) and the slope (rate of reaction with time) increased with increasing rate of application of organic manure. The magnitude of increment was highest at the application rates of 33·0 and 8·25 tonnes/ha for municipal refuse and chicken manure, respectively. The rate of increment, generally, declined thereafter thus indicating that these two rates are the optimum levels of incorporation of the appropriate organic manures under the conditions of this study.The maximum organic-carbon mineralized, accounting for 10·5 and approximately 50%, was obtained at the optimum rates for municipal refuse and chicken manure, respectively. Both simple and multiple regression equations describing the relationship between soil temperature and soil-moisture content each separately and in combination, as independent variables, and the cumulative rate of CO₂ production were computed. A substantially strong relationship with soil temperature but inconsistent and contradicting results with soil moisture were obtained. Inclusion of soil temperature and moisture in a single model as an independent variable in relation to cumulative CO₂ as a dependent variable improved the soil moisture-CO₂ production relationship.     

Effect of soil-structure interaction on damping of structures

Damping of structures resting on flexible foundations is affected by soil-structure interaction in two ways: (1) the structure gains damping through energy dissipation in soil, and (2) the damping the structure would have on a rigid foundation is reduced. These effects are evaluated using two approaches: an energy consideration which is a simple but approximate approach, and the complex eigenvalue analysis which is mathematically accurate but uses damped, non-classical vibration modes. These two methods are compared and the accuracy of the more convenient energy approach is assessed. Examples of modal damping are given for rigid structures, buildings and towers.     

Discovery of the largest impact crater field on Earth in the Gilf Kebir region, Egypt

Using orbital imaging radar, we have detected a large number of circular structures in the southwestern Egyptian desert, covering more than 4500 km² close to the Gilf Kebir plateau in sandstones of Upper Cretaceous. Fieldwork confirmed that it is a new impact crater field: 13 craters from 20 m to 1 km in diameter were studied. The impact origin is confirmed by the observation of shock-related structures, such as shatter cones and planar fractures in quartz grains of breccia. Considering the extension of the crater field, it was possibly created by several meteorites that broke up when entering the atmosphere. To cite this article: P. Paillou et al., C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).

Résumé

À partir d'images satellites issues de systèmes radar, nous avons détecté un grand nombre de structures circulaires dans le Sud-Ouest du désert égyptien, s'étendant sur plus de 4500 km² à l'est du plateau du Gilf Kebir, dans des grès du Crétacé supérieur. Une étude sur le terrain a permis de vérifier qu'il s'agit d'un champ d'impacts météoritiques jusque là inconnu : 13 structures, d'un diamètre compris entre 20 m et 1 km, ont été reconnues comme cratères d'impact. La présence d'un grand nombre de cônes de percussion et de brèches dans lesquelles des quartz choqués à structures planaires ont été observés confirment l'hypothèse de l'impact. Considérant l'extension du champ d'impact, il a probablement été créé par plusieurs météorites qui se sont fragmentées dans l'atmosphère terrestre. Pour citer cet article : P. Paillou et al., C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).     

Le Toarcien inférieur du Haut Atlas de Todrha–Dadès (Maroc) : sédimentologie et lithostratigraphie

The survey of sedimentological and lithostratigraphic Liassic facies of the Todrha–Dades area (southwestern part of the central High Atlas) permits to establish new data on the Tagoudite formation. Its environment deposit and its micropalaeontological content are evidenced in relation with the geodynamic evolution of the High Atlas Basin during the Early Toarcian. To cite this article: M. Ettaki, E.H. Chellaï, C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).     

Spatial Variability of Trends in the Rainfall-Runoff Relationship: A Mesoscale Study in the Mosel Basin

The spatial variability of observed trends in rainfall structure over the last 5 decades and its effects on the spatial variability of maximum daily water levels in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg (Europe) were investigated in 9 sub-basins of the Mosel river. Over the past 25 years, an increase in westerly atmospheric circulation types during winter months has caused an increase in winter rainfall totals, duration and intensity. More specifically, the spatial variability of trends having affected winter rainfall totals, duration and intensity have led to spatially varying positive trends in maximum daily water levels. Observed trends in rainfall characteristics and maximum daily water levels during winter show closely linked spatial patterns that are strongly related to the topography of the study area.