Method for generating parameterized ecotoxicity data of dispersed oil for use in environmental modelling

The aim of the work was to establish methodology for realistic laboratory-based test exposures of organisms to oil dispersions, specifically designed to generate parameterized toxicity data. Such data are needed to improve the value of numerical models used to predict fate and effects of oil spills and different oil spill responses. A method for continuous and predictable in-line production of oil dispersions with defined size distribution of different oil qualities was successfully established. The system enables simultaneous comparison between the effects of different concentrations of dispersion and their corresponding equilibrium water soluble fractions. Thus, net effects of the oil droplet fraction may be estimated. The method provides data for comparing the toxicity of oil dispersions generated both mechanically and with the use of chemical dispersions, incorporating the toxicity of both dissolved oil and droplets of oil.     

The effects of diagenesis on the reservoir characters in sandstones of the Late Cretaceous Pab Formation,Kirthar Fold Belt,southern Pakistan

The Maastrichtian Pab Formation in the southern part of Pakistan is composed of fine- to very coarse-grained texturally mature quartz arenite and subordinate sublitharenite varieties. The sandstones have undergone intense and complex diagenetic episodes due to burial and uplift. Diagenetic modifications were dependent mainly on the clastic composition of sandstone, burial depth and thrust tectonics. Diagenetic events identified include compaction, precipitation of calcite, quartz, clay minerals and iron oxide/hydroxide, dissolution and alteration of unstable clastic grains as feldspar and volcaniclithic fragments as well as tectonically induced grain fracturing. The unstable clastic grains like feldspar and lithic volcanic fragments suffered considerable alteration to kaolinite and chlorite. Dissolution and alteration of feldspar and volcanic lithic fragments and pressure solution were the main sources of quartz cements. Mechanical compaction and authigenic cements like calcite, quartz and iron oxide/hydroxide reduced the primary porosity, whereas dissolution of clastic grains and cements has produced secondary porosity. Chlorite coatings on clastic grains have prevented quartz cementation. Coarse-grained, thick bedded packages of fluviodeltaic, shelf delta lobe and submarine channels facies have higher average porosity than fine-grained, thin bedded and bioturbated sandstone of deeper shelf and abyssal plain environments and these facies are concluded to be possible future hydrocarbon prospects.     

Short-range order in tourmaline: a vibrational spectroscopic approach to elbaite

Polarized Fourier-transform infrared and Raman spectra were acquired on an elbaite sample previously characterized by electron- and ion microprobe analysis, X-ray diffraction and structure refinement. Spectra from the two vibrational spectroscopy techniques reveal a close similarity in the OH-stretching region, with three main absorption bands strongly polarized in the c-axis direction. By means of bond-valence theory arguments, the observed OH bands are interpreted and assigned to specific local cation arrangements around the O1 (≡W) and O3 (≡V) anion sites. In combination with the relatively simple composition of the studied sample, bond-valence constraints are used to identify stable anion-cation arrangements, which permit the occurrence of short-range ordering to be assessed. Evidence for nearly complete short-range order at the O1 site, with the stable arrangements ^Y(LiAlAl)_0.6–^W(OH)_0.6 and ^Y(LiLiAl)_0.4–^W(F)_0.4, are presented. These two local arrangements can be further expanded to obtain the larger ordered clusters [^W(OH)–^Y(LiAl₂)–^V(OH)₃–^Z(Al)₆]_0.6 and [^W(F)–^Y(Li₂Al)–^V(OH)₃–^Z(Al)₆]_0.4.     

Thermal behavior of almandine at temperatures up to 1,200°C in hydrogen

The thermally induced reductive decomposition of a natural near end-member almandine [^VIII(Fe_2.85Mg_0.11Ca_0.05Mn_0.02)^VI(Al_1.99)^IV(Si_2.99)O₁₂] and possible hydrogen diffusion into its structure have been carried out at temperatures up to 1,200°C, monitored by simultaneous thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), infrared and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction. Below 1,000°C, evidence for hydrogen diffusion into almandine structure was not observed. At temperatures above 1,000°C, reductive decomposition sets in, as displayed by a sharp endothermic peak at 1,055°C on the DSC curve accompanied by a total mass loss of 3.51%. We observe the following decomposition mechanism: almandine + hydrogen → α-Fe + cristobalite + hercynite + water. At higher temperatures, fayalite and sekaninaite are formed by consecutive reaction of α-Fe with cristobalite and water, and cristobalite with hercynite, respectively. The metallic α-Fe phase forms spherical and isolated particles (~1 μm).     

Initial design of urban drainage systems for extreme rainfall events using intensity–duration–area (IDA) curves and Chicago design storms (CDS)

ABSTRACT

Due to more frequent extreme rainfall incidents in recent years, many large cities are considering the construction of new drainage systems to cope with rainfall in the order of 100-year events. In such cases, T-year point rainfall events should be supplemented with areal reduction factors (ARF) to avoid overdesign. To facilitate an initial design, a procedure based on using Chicago Design Storms (CDS) in combination with intensity–duration–area (IDA) curves was developed to produce CDS-ARF input rainfall. By means of the time of concentration, a specific instantaneous unit hydrograph (IUH) was obtained for each subcatchment. Combination of CDS-ARF rains and the subcatchment IUHs using convolution integrals was used to produce inflow hydrographs to the drainage system. A sequential design procedure that successively includes subcatchments for the entire drainage system in the downstream direction is implemented and exemplified ensuring a consistent initial design.     

High-Resolution Measurement and Analysis of Visitor Experiences in Time and Space: The Case of Aalborg Zoo in Denmark

The notion of consumer and user experience has become dominant in our society in recent years, especially in relation to leisure activities. In this study we used the experience sampling method (ESM) data collection technique in Aalborg Zoo, Denmark, to understand the distribution of subjective experiences within this site. Visitors to the zoo were asked to send phone messages (SMS) about their subjective feelings in real time and to carry with them Global Positioning System (GPS) devices that recorded their movement. This method allowed us to geotag experiences of visitors throughout the zoo compound. The results indicate that the quality of experience of visitors varies both in time and in space. We conclude that there is a need to further explore the effect of place on experiences using repeat, high-resolution measurements. In this regard we believe that geographers, who have a long tradition of studying human–environment relations, have the tools to lead this type of exploration.     

Variability in the H3 emission of Saturn: Consequences for ionisation rates and temperature

We present an analysis of observations of the auroral/polar regions of Saturn, carried out in 1999, 2004 and 2005, making use of the facility spectrometer, CGS4, on the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT), Mauna Kea, Hawaii. We obtain temperatures of 380(±70) K in 1999 and 420(±70) K in 2004. (The 2005 data has insufficient spectral resolution for a temperature determination to be made.) Our most probable interpretation is that the temperature of Saturn's auroral/polar H⁺₃ layer should be taken as 400(±50) K. This is lower than the value obtained by Miller et al. [Miller, S., and 10 colleagues, 2000. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. 358, 2485-2502], which is shown to be in error. Our analysis reveals clearly that the line emission due to H⁺₃ varies considerably, showing nearly an order of magnitude increase when one compares the data obtained in 1999 with those of 2004. Our conclusion is that this variability is (mainly) due to the changing H⁺₃ column density. By analogy with modelling results obtained for Jupiter, we estimate that the particle (keV electron) precipitation experienced by Saturn must be ∼20 times greater in 2004 than in 1999, to produce this additional ionisation. The H⁺₃ emission increases, but this is insufficient to offset most of the heating due to the extra particle precipitation, indicating that this ion does not act as a “thermostat” on Saturn, in the same way that it does on Jupiter.     

Saturn's auroral/polar H3 infrared emission: II. A comparison with plasma flow models

We present a detailed analysis of the H⁺₃ intensity and velocity profiles crossing Saturn's auroral/polar region, as described by Stallard et al. [Stallard, T., Miller, S., Melin, H., Lystrup, M., Dougherty, M., Achilleos, N., 2007. Icarus 189, 1-13], with a view to understanding the magnetospheric processes with which they are connected. The data are not consistent with the theory that Saturn's main auroral oval is associated with corotation enforcement currents in the middle magnetosphere. This implies that the main auroral oval can be associated with the open-closed field line boundary [Cowley, S.W.H., Bunce, E.J., O'Rourke, J.M., 2004. J. Geophys. Res. 109. A05212]; a third model, by Sittler et al. [Sittler, E.C., Blanc, M.F., Richardson, J.D., 2006. J. Geophys. Res. 111. A06208] associates the main oval with centrifugal instabilities in the outer magnetosphere, but does not make predictions about ionospheric plasma flows with which we can compare our data. We do, however, tentatively identify emission at latitudes lower than the main auroral oval which may be associated with the corotation enforcement currents in the middle magnetosphere. We also find that at latitudes higher than the main auroral oval there is often a region of the ionosphere that is in rigid corotation with the planet. We suggest that this region corresponds to field lines embedded in the centre of the magnetotail which are shielded from the solar wind such that their rotation is controlled only by the neutral atmosphere.     

Red-staining of the wall rock and its influence on the reducing capacity around water conducting fractures

Red-staining and alteration of wall rock is common around water conducting fractures in the Laxemar–Simpevarp area (SE Sweden), which is currently being investigated by the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co. (SKB) in common with many other places. Red-staining is often interpreted as a clear sign of oxidation but relevant analyses are seldom performed. The area is dominated by Palaeoproterozoic crystalline rocks ranging in composition from quartz monzodiorite to granite. In this study wall rock samples have been compared with reference samples from within 0.1 to 1 m of the red-stained rock, in order to describe mineralogical and geochemical changes but also changes in redox conditions. A methodology for tracing changes in mineralogy, mineral and whole rock chemistry and Fe³⁺/Fe_tot ratio in silicates and oxides in the red-stained wall rock and the reference rock is reported. The results show that the red-stained rock adjacent to the fractures displays major changes in mineralogy; biotite, plagioclase and magnetite have been altered and chlorite, K-feldspar, albite, sericite, prehnite, epidote and hematite have been formed. The changes in chemistry are however moderate; K-enrichment, Ca-depletion and constant Fe_tot are documented. The Fe³⁺/Fe_tot ratio in the oxide phase is higher in the red-stained samples whereas the Fe³⁺/Fe_tot ratio in the silicate phase is largely similar in the wall rock and the reference samples. Because most of the Fe is hosted in the silicate phase the decrease in reducing capacity (Fe²⁺), if any, in the red-stained wall rock is very small and not as high as macroscopic observations might suggest. Instead, the mineralogical changes in combination with the modest oxidation and formation of minute hematite grains in porous secondary minerals in pseudomorphs after plagioclase have produced the red-staining. Increased porosity is also characteristic for the red-stained rock. Moderate alteration in the macroscopically fresh reference rock shows that the hydrothermal alteration reaches further from the fracture than the red-staining. The extent of the red-staining can therefore not be used in the same way as the extent of the alteration adjacent to a fracture. The increase in porosity in the red-stained rock may result in enhanced retention of radio-nuclides due to an increased sorptivity and diffusion close to the fracture.     

Scaling the Baltic Sea environment

The Baltic Sea environment has since the early 1970s passed through several phases of spatial objectification in which the ostensibly well-defined semi-enclosed sea has been framed and reframed as a geographical object for intergovernmental environmental politics. Based on a historical analysis of this development, this article suggests that environmental politics critically depend on the delineation of relatively bounded spaces that identify and situate particular environmental concerns as spatial objects for politics. These spaces are not simply determined by ‘nature’ or some environmental-scientific logic, but should rather be seen as temporal outcomes of scale framing processes, processes that are accentuated by contemporary conceptions of the environment (or nature) in terms of multi-scalar ecosystems. This has implications for how an environmental concern is perceived and politically addressed.