Doppler radar observation, CG lightning activity and aerial survey of a multiple downburst in southern Germany on 23 March 2001

Two downburst events from one thunderstorm are investigated, which occurred on 23 March 2001, in Germany's climatologic annual minimum of downburst activity. Observations by two Doppler radars are combined with hail reports, ground lightning detection and an aerial survey conducted after the event. The downburst-producing storm had formed at a synoptic convergence line within the warm sector of a cyclone. It had a remarkably high propagation speed of up to 31 m s^− 1 corresponding to the mid-tropospheric flow. Thus, by superposition with the storm motion, even two weak downbursts were sufficient to cause the observed damage of F1 and F2 intensity, respectively. While in its late stages, the storm was dynamically characterized by lower- and mid-tropospheric divergence; at about the time of the first downburst, a mesocyclonic vortex signature was verified. Aside from mid-tropospheric dry air entrainment, a thermodynamic explanation for the triggering of the two downbursts by melting of small hail according to recent findings by Atlas et al. [Atlas, D., Ulbrich, C.W., Williams, C.R., 2004. Physical origin of a wet microburst: observations and theory. J. Atmos. Sci. 61, 1186–1196] appears probable. Despite the lack of warnings to the public, the storm's potential for hail and strong straight-line winds was detected by the German weather service radar software CONRAD more than a half hour before the downbursts occurred.     

Relative influence of vegetation on urban energy budgets and surface temperatures

Two deterministic models were combined: one for canopy leaf energy budgets and one for street canyon energy budgets. The effects of street parks and roof gardens in contrast to non-vegetated city blocks were examined by the use of four typical urban morphologies, which were exposed latitudinally to summer and winter simulations. A variety of increases and decreases in shortwave radiation, net radiation, sensible heat flux, and system reradiation resulted. These changes appear to represent the generalized limits of the possible responses to the addition of vegetation to non-vegetated city blocks.     

Response of rocks to impact loading by bars with pointed ends

SummaryResponse of Rocks to Impact Loading by Bars with Pointed Ends An experimental investigation was undertaken to study the response of three rocks — shale, limestone and diorite — to dynamic loading modelling hammer drilling. A long transmission rod subjected to pendulum impact at its distal end transmitted stress waves to six different heads whose tips consisted of 60°, 90°, and 120° cones or wedges in initial contact with the rock surface. Force and linear penetration histories monitored near the interface were found to be in good agreement with predicted values based on strain measurements at the center and distal end of the transmission bar and use of a one-dimensional theory of elastic wave propagation. The dynamic indentation measurements were also found to be in good agreement witha posteriori determination of the crater depth.Effects of multiple wave reflections and repeated impact on the contact force and rock deformation were determined as a function of the input energy. It was found that an optimum value of this energy exists for most efficient penetration for each of the heads utilized. Dynamic force-penetration curves were compared with corresponding static values obtained from an Instron testing machine. The force history resulting from the impact of a commercial pick-ax suspended in a pendulum arrangement was measured for both the conical and wedge-shaped tips of the device.

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ZusammenfassungDas Verhalten von Gesteinen unter stoartiger Belastung mittels gespitzter Stäbe Es wurde eine experimentelle Untersuchung des Verhaltens dreier Gesteine, nämlich grüner Tonschiefer, Kalkstein und Diorit, unter stoßartiger Belastung, die als Modell der Wirkung eines Bohrhammers dienen soll, durchgeführt. Ein langer Stab war vorne mit einer Spitze in Keil- oder Kegelform mit einem Öffnungswinkel von 60°, 90° oder 120° versehen, welche bei Versuchsbeginn gerade die Probe berührte. Am anderen Ende wurde der Stab von einem fallenden Pendel getroffen. Der zeitliche Verlauf der Kraft und der Eindringung, die in der Nähe der Spitze des Stabes gemessen wurde, stimmte gut mit jenen Werten überein, die auf Grund von Dehnungsmessungen in der Mitte und am Stoßpunkt mittels einer eindimensionalen Theorie der Wellenfortpflanzung errechnet wurden. Die dynamischen Tiefenmessungen des Kraters ergaben auch eine gute Übereinstimmung mit den Werten, die nach dem Experiment bestimmt wurden.Die Wirkung von mehreren Wellenreflexionen und wiederholtem Stoß auf die Kontaktkraft und die Gesteinsdeformation wurde als Funktion der Anfangsenergie bestimmt. Es zeigte sich, daß es für jede verwendete Spitzenform einen optimalen Energiebetrag gibt, bei dem die günstigste Eindringung erfolgt. Dynamische Kraft-Eindringungskurven werden verglichen mit den entsprechenden statischen Werten, die mittels einer Instron-Testapparatur gemessen wurden. Überdies wurde der Kraftverlauf an Keil- und Kegelende einer Spitzhacke, die als Pendel auf eine Steinprobe aufschlug, gemessen.

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RésuméReponses de certaines roches aux chocs exercés par des barres à extremités pointues Des expériences ont èté entreprises pour étudier la reponse de trois roches — schiste vert, calcaire, diorite — aux percussions exercées par un modèle de marteau perforateur. Un pendule ballistique heurte l'extremité libre d'une longue barre, à travers laquelle des ondes de contrainte se propagent et atteignent à l'autre extrémité une tête constitutée suivant les cas par une cône ou un dièdre d'angle 60°, 90° ou 120°, en contact avec la roche à l'instant initial. Les résultats obtenus en ce qui concerne l'évolution de la rorce et l'évolution de la pénétration lineaire sont en bon accord avec les valeurs prédites par le théorie unidimensionelle de la propagation des ondes élastiques, à partir des constrainte mesurées au centre et à l'extremité libre de la barre. Les mesures de la pénétration pendant l'experiénce sont également en bon accord avec la détermination à postériori de la profondeur des cratères.L'effet des réflexions multiples des ondes et l'effet de la répétition des impacts sur la force de contact et sur la déformation de la roche sont déterminés en fonction de l'énergie d'impact. Pour chacune des têtes utilisées on a trouvé qu'il existe une énergie optimale, c'est à dire une energie permettant d'obtenir la meilleure pénétration. Les courbes représentant la pénétration dynamique en fonction de la force sont comparées aux courbes correspondant en cas statique, obtenus par une machine d'Instron. L'évolution de la force résultant de l'impact d'une pioche ordinaire a èté mesurée pour des têtes constituées soit par des cônes soit par des dièdres.

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With 27 Figures     

Metal binding capacity of selected maine surface waters

Concentrations of Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, and Pb and binding capacities for Cd, Cu, and Pb were determined for water samples collected from 12 lakes in southwestern Maine using atomic absorption and ion-selective electrodes, respectively. Surface waters in this area are soft and characterized by low pH. Some lakes were highly colored with refractory organics, whereas others had very low organic carbon concentrations. Both Cu and Pb concentrations were positively correlated with organic carbon content. Copper and Pb binding capacities were significantly correlated with organic carbon content, whereas Cd binding capacity was positively correlated with pH, but not with organic carbon. Surface water binding capacity for Pb was greater than that for Cu or Cd. More than 99% of the Ca from all waters studied was removed onto cationic exchange resins. Less than 1% of the total Cu existed as cationic species in highly humic waters, whereas as much as 65% existed as cationic species in less huic waters. Conversely, more than 99% of the Cd present in humic waters existed as cationic species, whereas as little as 50% existed as cationic species in less humic, more alkaline waters. These correlative studies indicate that binding by organic carbon is important for both Cu and Pb in this area and must be considered in models of trace metal speciation. However, Cd binding in the same waters is not correlated with organic carbon, which does not need to be considered in speciation models for Cd.     

Postglacial forest patterns associated with till and outwash in northcentral Upper Michigan

Pollen analysis of lake sediments reveals that small areas of till and outwash in northcentral Upper Michigan have influenced plant distributions throughout postglacial time. Each substrate has different textural characteristics. Modern forest communities form a mosaic, with jack pine woodlands occupying the medium sands of the Yellow Dog Plains outwash and white pine-hardwood communities on both till and outwash soils in the Michigamme Highlands to the south.The analysis of modern pollen samples from 21 lakes within the area indicates that pollen can be used to study the distribution of local vegetation in relation to substrate type. Fossil pollen from three of the lakes documents the character of ancient forest on Yellow Dog outwash, Michigamme outwash, and Michigamme till.Unique boreal communities occupied each area immediately after deglaciation. Between 8000 and 7000 y.a., white pine and maples migrated into the study area and replaced jack pine in forests on the Highlands, but not on the Plains. Jack pine has continued to occupy the Plains since early postglacial time. White pine reached highest densities on Michigamme outwash, and deciduous trees increased primarily on till during the presumably dry climates which existed 8000-5000 yr BP. As the climate became more mesic, forests on the Highlands changed, so that by 3000 yr BP the communities on Michigamme outwash and till were indistinguishable on the basis of pollen. Present-day forest patterns of the area became established at that time.Pollen influx rates, measured at each lake, generally support interpretations based on pollen percentages and were similar to values reported elsewhere. Variations in influx values are within the range expected for the method.     

Die fazielle und paläogeographische Entwicklung der infrakambrischen bis ordovizischen Sedimente im Mittleren Antiatlas um Agdz (S-Marokko)

Zusammenfassung Die Entwicklung des Adoudounien (Infrakambrium) und Géorgien (Unterkambrium) ist im Mittleren Antiatlas durch einen Wechsel von marinen und kontinentalen Sedimenten gekennzeichnet. Wildbachablagerungen an der Basis und an den Beckenrändern werden von marin-marginalen stromatolithischen Karbonaten abgelöst. Ignimbrite belegen wiederholte terrestrische Sedimentation.Mit fluviatilen Sanden und wiederum Stromatolithen und lagunären Karbonaten (mit ersten Trilobiten!) setzt ein zweiter transgressiver Großzyklus ein, der an der Wende Infra-/Unter-Kambrium einen ersten Höhepunkt erreicht. Durch regressive Kleinzyklen charakterisierte Abfolgen leiten zu Sandsteinen über, die als Ablagerungen eines Deltas gedeutet werden.Vom Mittelkambrium bis Ordovizium dominiert marine Schelfsedimentation.

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The formations of Adoudounien (Infra Cambrian) and Géorgien (Lower Cambrian) of the middle Anti-Atlas are characterized by an alternation of marine and continental sediments. Torrent conglomerates at the base and the margins of the basin took turns to marine-marginal stromatolitic carbonates. Ignimbrites prove repeated terrestrial sedimentation.A second transgressiv megasequence begins with fluviatil sands and goes on with stromatolites and lagoon carbonates (first Trilobites). This transgression reachs his first culmination at the Infra-/Lower-Cambrian boundary. Typical regressiv cycles form a transition to sandstones, which are interpreted as sediments of a delta.Marine shelf environment dominates from Middle Cambrian to Ordovician beds.

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Résumé Dans le moyen Anti-Atlas, l'évolution de l'Adoudounien et du Géorgien est caractérisée par un changement des sédiments marins et continentaux. Les dépôts des torrents à la base et dans la bordure du bassin font place à des carbonates marins marginaux stromatolithiques. Les ignimbrites marquent le retour fréquent à la sédimentation terrestre.Une deuxième mégaséquence transgressive débute avec des sables fluviatiles, des stromatolithes et des carbonates lagunaires (premiers trilobites). La transgression atteint une première phase culminante à la transition de l'Adoudounien au Géorgien. Des séquences caractérisées par de petits cycles régressifs conduisent à des grès qui pourraient être interpré tés comme des sédiments deltaïques.A partir du Cambrien moyen jusqu'à l'Ordovicien prédomine un milieu de plate-forme externe.

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Adoudounien — — Géorgien — — . — — . , - , , . , , . .

     

Kepone®: Toxicity and bioaccumulation in blue crabs

Two long-term studies were conducted to determine toxicity, uptake and depuration of Kepone in blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus). In the first, Kepone was administered to crabs in seawater (0.03 or 0.3 μg Kepone/I) or food (eastern oyster,Crassostrea virginica, containing 0.25 μg/g Kepone). Uptake of Kepone in 28 days was primarily through the contaminated oysters. When these crabs were held in Kepone-free seawater and fed Kepone-free oysters for 28 days, no loss of the insecticide was evident. There were adverse effects on molting and survival in crabs fed oysters that contained 0.25 μg/g Kepone. A second study was conducted to determine: (1) the depuration of Kepone over a 90-day period in blue crabs fed oysters from the James River, Virginia (containing 0.15 μg/g Kepone); and (2) the effects of Kepone on molting and survival of blue crabs fed James River oysters or laboratory-contaminated oysters that contained 0.15 or 1.9 μg/g Kepone. Crabs fed Kepone-contaminated oysters followed by a diet of Kepone-free oysters for 90 days had detectable concentrations of the insecticide in tissues. Also, blue crabs that ate oysters containing Kepone in concentrations similar to those found in oysters from the James River, died or molted less frequently than crabs fed Kepone-free oysters meats.     

Geothermal gas equilibria

Comparison of theoretical and analytical equilibrium constants based on the reactions CH₄ + 2H₂O = CO₂ + 4H₂, 2NH₃ = N₂ + 3H₂ and iron(II)-aluminium-silicate + 2H₂S = FeS₂ + H₂ + aluminium-silicate, shows that the composition of fluids discharged from geothermal areas in New Zealand (Wairakei, Kawerau, Broadlands) reflects close to complete attainment of chemical equilibrium within the system H₂O, CO₂, H₂S, NH₃, H₂, N₂ and CH₄. Under conditions prevailing in explored geothermal systems in New Zealand, the minerals graphite (elemental carbon), anhydrite, pyrrhotite, magnetite do not appear to take part in the overall equilibrium system. The three physical parameters required to evaluate geothermal gas reactions are temperature, pressure and vapor-liquid ratios within the gas equilibration zone.