Relationships between pressure, volatile content and ejecta velocity in three types of volcanic explosion

Consideration of the energy equation for a flowing compressible fluid shows that the so-called modified Bernoulli equation, commonly used to relate ejects velocity to pre-explosion pressure in vulcanian-style volcanic explosions, is inadequate in almost all circumstances because of its neglect of the detailed role of volatiles in explosive eruptions.The physical differences between three common types of explosive volcanic activity, typified by plinian, strombolian and vulcanian events, are reviewed and simple mathematical models are proposed for them. The models relate velocities of ejects to initial pressures at the start of an explosive phase and to mass fractions of volatiles (generally taken to be water) in the explosion products. When fitted to observed ejects velocities (or velocities deduced from the dispersal of debris) up to 500 m/s the models predict pressures up to 300 bars — almost always much lower than those deduced in earlier treatments.     

Dynamic analysis by direct superposition of Ritz vectors

The solution of the eigenvalue problem for large structures is often the most costly phase of a dynamic response analysis. In this paper, the need for the exact solution of this large eigenvalue problem is eliminated. A new algorithm, based on error minimization, is presented for the generation of a sequence of Ritz vectors. These orthogonal vectors are used to reduce the size of the system. Only Ritz vectors with a large participation factor are used in the subsequent mode superposition analysis. In all examples studied, the superposition of Ritz vectors yields more accurate results, with fewer vectors, than if the exact eigenvectors are used. The proposed method not only reduces computer time requirements significantly but provides an error estimation for the dynamic analysis. The approach automatically includes the advantages of the proven numerical techniques of static condensation, Guyan reduction and static correction due to higher mode truncation.     

13C/12C ratio variations in Pinus longaeva (bristlecone pine) cellulose during the last millennium

δ¹³C values are presented for cellulose samples prepared from two dendrochronologically dated Pinus longaeva (bristlecone pine) trees which grew during the last 1000 years. δ¹³C variations for these lower forest border trees are similar to upper tree line ring-width variations for the same species and English high summer temperature variations for the same time period. However, the δ¹³C variations appear to be unrelated to lower forest border ring-width variations and cellulose δ D variations for the same specimens.     

From comparative statics to dynamics in urban-systems theory

An outline is presented of the main methods of systems analysis relevant to urban and regional modelling. The argument is set in the context of a brief discussion of system types and the identification of these for cities and regions. The methods are illustrated by reference to the Huff— Lakshmanan— Hansen shopping model with particular emphasis on developing techniques in dynamical systems theory.     

New procedures for the toxicity testing of oil slick dispersants in the United Kingdom

Under the Dumping at Sea Act 1974 the use of oil slick dispersants requres a licence from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in England and Wales. These licences are issued or refused on the basis of tests to assess the toxicity of the dispersant when used at sea or on beaches. This paper describes the rationale behind the development of the two toxicity tests used, together with the test methods adopted and the results of the tests.     

Sand flathead (Platycephalus bassensis), an indicator species for mercury pollution in Tasmanian waters

A statewide survey of Tasmanian coastal waters has shown that Platycephalus bassensis, a widespread, easily-caught, non-migratory demersal finfish, is a useful indicator species for mercury pollution. Using approximately twelve fish at each of 31 locations, the mean total mercury concentration in the muscle tissue ranged from 0.03 to 1.06 mg/kg (fresh wt basis), and clearly demonstrated a site dependence for mercury uptake in this species. The correlation between mercury concentration and fish size is shown to be valid only if the effect of location is taken into account. Even then, size accounts for only about 10% of the total variability in mercury concentration.     

Nonlinear dynamic analysis of complex structures

A general step-by-step solution technique is presented for the evaluation of the dynamic response of structural systems with physical and geometrical nonlinearities. The algorithm is stable for all time increments and in the analysis of linear systems introduces a predictable amount of error for a specified time step. Guidelines are given for the selection of the time step size for different types of dynamic loadings. The method can be applied to the static and dynamic analysis of both discrete structural systems and continuous solids idealized as an assemblage of finite elements. Results of several nonlinear analyses are presented and compared with results obtained by other methods and from experiments.