The optimal rotation of a flammable forest stand when both carbon sequestration and timber are valued: a multi-criteria approach

This paper proposes a multi-criteria approach that accounts for the risk of fire when determining the optimal rotation of a forest stand that is being managed for both timber production and carbon sequestration purposes. The multi-criteria framework uses in a combined way, multi-objective optimization and compromise programming methods. The proposed approach is computationally simple and allows for the quantification of conflicts between the criteria considered through the elicitation of the corresponding Pareto frontiers. Once the best portion or compromise sets of the Pareto frontiers are determined, then some indications of the increase in social welfare due to a potential reduction in the risk of fire are obtained. We illustrate the use of our methodology by applying it to an example that has previously been investigated in the forestry literature. Finally, some potential policy implications derived from the results obtained are highlighted.     

Characterization of Colliery Spoils in León: Potential Uses in Rural Infrastructures

One of the bases of sustainable development is the responsible management of natural resources, and this is the approach which has been adopted by developed countries as regards management of all kinds of waste, through the establishment of management strategies based on prevention, reuse and recycling. This article present the results of a physical, chemical and geotechnical characterization of colliery spoils stored in slag heaps in the Ciñera-Matallana coal mining area in León, Spain. The primary objectives of this research were to determine the suitability of this mining waste for use as granular material in rural and civil engineering infrastructures and to classify it according to national and international road construction standards. On the basis of the results obtained, they are proposed several possible uses (foundation and core layers in track and road embankments, granular sub-base for light traffic and top layers of embankments), although it should be noted the need for mechanical treatments as crushing or sieving and the recommendation of use of sulphate resistant cement to avoid the possible problems.     

Pilocarpus microphyllus seedling growth threatened by climate change: an ecophysiological approach

Theoretical and Applied Climatology - The climate change endangers many species of the Amazon Forest. An example, in the endangered medicinal species Pilocarpus microphyllus (popularly known as...     

Radiological and geochemical characteristics of an ultramafic massif (NE Portugal) regarding the site aptness to host a near surface repository for low and intermediate level radwaste

The search for suitable sites to install near-surface repositories for low to intermediate level radioactive wastes has increased in the recent years, reflecting both the continuous rise in radioactive materials applications by the society and the increasing awareness of public perception regarding radwaste management. International recommendations towards the application of higher safety standards to low and intermediate level waste disposal sites being developed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the European Commission decision that each Member State must safely dispose its own radwaste in its territory, according to national radwaste management plans, has leading to new soundly scientific studies. In Portugal, possible locations for that purpose are under study since 2006, following the pre-requisites indicated by IAEA. One of these sites overlaps a significant portion of an ultramafic massif, corresponding to an allochthonous and metamorphosed ophiolite complex. In the surveyed area of this massif, the prevailing rock type consists of (serpentinised) peridotites, occasionally containing irregular bodies of (amphibolitised) gabbros, over which an irregular/ill-developed regolith exists. The activities of ⁴⁰K, ¹³⁷Cs, ²¹⁰Pb, ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th measured in samples representing three consecutive levels of the regolith upper portion in 13 stations confirm the heterogeneity put in evidence through in situ γ-ray surveys previously performed. The available dataset also demonstrates that radionuclide contents decrease prominently with depth, becoming closer to the bedrock values (up to ca. 41 Bq kg^?1 for ⁴⁰K in flaser-gabbros and near zero for all the remaining cases) but never reaching them. Therefore, the low/moderate radionuclide activity in the regolith upper portion reflect the contribution of sources that are independent of the lithological background; i.e. they indicate external and miscellaneous contributions to the “soil”-forming components, most of them coming from (dry or wet) atmospheric deposition. The chemical composition of the (serpentinised) peridotites and (amphibolitised) gabbros in the surveyed area, as well as their alteration products included in regolith, is homogeneous enough to be used as a faithful reference in monitoring studies of any kind. In addition, the significant ¹³⁷Cs activities measured in some top “soil” samples (up to 92 Bq kg^?1) strongly suggest that there are mineralogical specificities of the peridotite-derived regolith able to fix that radionuclide. This particular feature reinforces the existing criteria that favour the peridotites of Morais as a suitable host for a near surface repository of low to intermediate level radwaste.     

Geochemical features of aerosols in Santiago de Chile from time series analysis

Santiago, the capital of Chile, suffers from high air pollution levels, especially during winter. An extensive particulate matter (PM) monitoring and analysis program was conducted to quantify elemental concentrations of PM. Size-resolved PM samples (PM_2.5 and PM_10–2.5) from the La Paz and Las Condes stations in Santiago (2004–2005) were analyzed using ICP-MS. Most trace element concentrations (Cu, Pb, Zn, Mn, V, Sb, Pb and As) were higher during winter than during summer and were also higher at the La Paz station than at the Las Condes station. During the highest pollution events, As concentrations in PM_2.5 (16 ng m^?3) exceeded the annual average standard value (6 ng m^?3). A 10-year time series showed decreasing Pb and As concentrations and slightly increasing Zn, Cu and Mn concentrations. Concentrations of Cr and Ni remained relatively constant. The implementation of new public policies in 1998 may explain the decreasing concentrations of Pb and As. Enrichment factor (EF) calculations identified two principal groups: elements with EF < 10 (Mg, Y, Zr, U Sr, Ca, Ti, and V) and EF > 10 (Rb, K, Cs, Fe, P, Ba, Mn, Ni, Cr, Co, Zn, Sn, Pb, Cu, Mo, Cd, As, Ag, and Sb), which were related to natural and anthropogenic PM sources, respectively. Three main PM sources were identified using factor analysis: a natural source (crustal matter and marine aerosol), combustion and copper smelting. Three other sources were identified using rare earth elements: fluid catalytic crackers, oil-fired power production and catalytic converters.     

Assessment of the physico-mechanical behaviour of gypsum-lime repair mortars as a function of curing time

Gypsum-based mortars were widely used during the Mudejar artistic period in Spain from the 12th to 16th century. During restoration works, compatibility between the new repair mortars and the original components is essential for an adequate intervention on the monument. The increasing interest of knowing the properties of the gypsum-lime-based mortars for restoration purposes justifies the research carried out. Different mortars compatible with traditional building materials were elaborated by varying the binder proportions, the type of aggregates, the binder/aggregate ratios and the curing time. The main goal of this paper is to characterize the mechanical behaviour and the pore structure of the mortars as a function of curing time. The influence between the different variables used to prepare the mortars and the development of the carbonation process over time is also considered. Mechanical strength and porosity measurements as well as X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis were performed after curing times of 1, 28 and 90 days. The results obtained confirmed a progressive increase in mechanical strength linked to the carbonation of the mortars prepared. Less lime binder and also aggregate contents showed the highest rise in strength over time, related to the highest initial porosity which favoured the carbon dioxide flow. The use of siliceous aggregates (GL-QS mortars) obtained the best results in the development of physico-mechanical properties over curing time. The knowledge obtained from the studied mortars provides practical information to establish a suitable mortar mixture for restoration works on historic buildings and modern architecture where gypsum-lime-based mortars are used.     

Analysis of soil boundary conditions of flash floods in a small basin in SW Hungary

Flash floods are one of the most significant natural hazards of today. Due to the complexity of flash flood triggering factors, to prevent or mitigate flood triggered losses, numeric model based flood forecasting models are capable tools to predict stream water levels. The main goal of the current research was to reproduce two flow peaks with the HEC-HMS rainfall-runoff model and test the model sensitivity for various input parameters. To obtain sufficient input data, we monitored soil depth, maximum infiltration rate, soil moisture content, rainfall, time of concentration and flow. To obtain input data, parameters were calculated, measured in the Sás Valley experimental watershed (SW Hungary) or optimized with the built in function of the HEC-HMS. Soil moisture was monitored in the 1.7 km2 pilot catchment over the period between September 2008 and September 2009. HEC-HMS had a good performance reproducing the two events, however simulated flow time series are highly influenced by the antecedent soil moisture, infiltration rate and canopy storage. Outflow modeled data were verified for two flood events (June 4, 2008 and July 9, 2009). The HEC-HMS was over-sensitive for input soil moisture and with increasing input rainfall and increasing outflow, larger simulation errors were observed.     

GPR survey to confirm the location of ancient structures under the Valencian Cathedral (Spain)

This paper describes the ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey performed inside the Cathedral of Valencia, Spain. It is part of historical studies performed in the Cathedral in order to add information to old maps and documents in the Cathedral Archives and also to analyze the extent and importance of potentially destructive moisture areas that were appearing on the floor. The construction of the Cathedral of Valencia occurred in three stages, all of which are well-documented in the Cathedral Archives with detailed drawings, maps, and charts. The radar data were successful in locating crypts, ossuaries, sepulchers, and graves, and the location of ancient walls that existed before the final Cathedral expansion. Three cultural layers corresponding to the three periods of construction were also identified corresponding to the Roman, Arabian and Middle Age Epochs. Measurements of relative sub-floor moisture were obtained by comparing dielectric permittivity changes and radar velocity differences between materials in humid and non-humid areas.     

A new set of integrals of motion to propagate the perturbed two-body problem

A formulation of the perturbed two-body problem that relies on a new set of orbital elements is presented. The proposed method represents a generalization of the special perturbation method published by Peláez et al. (Celest Mech Dyn Astron 97(2):131–150, 2007) for the case of a perturbing force that is partially or totally derivable from a potential. We accomplish this result by employing a generalized Sundman time transformation in the framework of the projective decomposition, which is a known approach for transforming the two-body problem into a set of linear and regular differential equations of motion. Numerical tests, carried out with examples extensively used in the literature, show the remarkable improvement of the performance of the new method for different kinds of perturbations and eccentricities. In particular, one notable result is that the quadratic dependence of the position error on the time-like argument exhibited by Peláez’s method for near-circular motion under the $J_{2}$ perturbation is transformed into linear. Moreover, the method reveals to be competitive with two very popular element methods derived from the Kustaanheimo-Stiefel and Sperling-Burdet regularizations.     

High precision symplectic integrators for the Solar System

Using a Newtonian model of the Solar System with all 8 planets, we perform extensive tests on various symplectic integrators of high orders, searching for the best splitting scheme for long term studies in the Solar System. These comparisons are made in Jacobi and heliocentric coordinates and the implementation of the algorithms is fully detailed for practical use. We conclude that high order integrators should be privileged, with a preference for the new $(10,6,4)$ method of Blanes et al. (2013).