ESTIMATION OF ERRORS IN ABSORBANCE RATIO MEASUREMENTS

Ratio measurements are commonly used to address a variety of analytical problems in environmental,forensic and pharmaceutical laboratories.In absorbance ratioing techniques,analytical chemists rely onthe spectral features of the analyte(s)of interest.The absorbances at two wavelengths are monitored andthe ratio of these two absorbances is computed.This ratio is then used to confirm the identity of theanalyte(s)of interest,the purity of a product or the overlap of chromatographic peaks.These decisionsoften have far-reaching consequences(e.g.the identification of the source,biogenic or petrogenic,ofhydrocarbons in biological tissues or water).Given the cost and the liabilities associated with suchdecisions,it is unfortunate that these ratios are seldom reported with any statistical confidence.Thepurpose of this study is to delineate the parameters that affect absorbance ratio measurements.Themodels that can be used to estimate the statistical confidence in these measurements are derived andevaluated experimentally.The results show that these models can estimate the relative standard deviationsin absorbance ratios accurately.They can also estimate the effect of signal-to-noise ratio and the choiceof wavelengths on the precision of absorbance ratios.     

P-wave minimum 1D velocity model for central and northern Pakistan

Journal of Seismology - We present a P-wave minimum 1D velocity model for central and northern Pakistan along with station delays. The velocity model and appropriate station delays are obtained...     

Sugarcane waste straw biochar and its effects on calcareous soil and agronomic traits of okra

Biochar has been considered a safe soil additive to enhance soil fertility and agronomic traits of different crops. This study was conducted to explore the impacts of sugarcane waste straw biochar on soil characteristics and some agronomic traits of okra. The experiment was carried out with four treatments, i.e., control, sugarcane waste straw biochar (10 ton ha^?1), farmyard manure (FYM, 10 ton ha^?1), and chemical fertilizers (NPK; 120:100:80 kg ha^?1) having three replications of each treatment. Soil samples were tested for texture, bulk density, particle density, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter content, nitrate nitrogen (NO₃-N), and extractable-P. The sugarcane waste straw biochar was characterized for plant major nutrient elements. The impact of various treatments was observed on soils and agronomic traits of okra like plant height, fruit size, fruit length, and yield of okra. Results revealed that sugarcane waste straw biochar expressed higher EC value and noticeable amounts of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulfur (S), and magnesium (Mg). The sugarcane waste straw biochar, in comparison with FYM and NPK, significantly improved the NO₃-N, extractable-P, OM and EC of the calcareous soil, and reduced the soil bulk density. Furthermore, plant growth and yield parameters were significantly improved under biochar application over the control, FYM and NPK. Overall, sugarcane waste straw biochar proved to be a good alternative to conventional organic and inorganic fertilizers under calcareous soil conditions.     

鲕粒滩相灰岩特别的核形石灰岩帽——以山西繁峙茶坊子剖面寒武系张夏组为例

作为一种较为特别的微生物碳酸盐岩类型,核形石以双重属性而著称：① 以不平滑的皮层和较大的大小而常常被解释为微生物成因,从而区别于而成因存在着较大争议的鲕粒,所以,核形石也可以作为一种包覆颗粒类型;② 作为微生物碳酸盐岩的一种类型而被归为相互不连接的球状叠层石,因为核形石形成在围绕着核心的序列式纹层化作用过程之中,并且表现为球形或椭球型的生物沉积构造。在山西繁峙茶坊子剖面寒武系苗岭统张夏组块状鲕粒滩相灰岩的顶部,密集发育着厘米级别大小的高能泥晶核形石,核形石灰岩的厚度接近1 m,从而组成一个块状鲕粒滩相灰岩之上特征性的核形石灰岩帽。该层厚度较小的（小于1 m）核形石灰岩中的核形石,具有以下特征：① 厘米级别的大小（1至3 cm）;②球形或椭球形的形态学特征;③核形石皮层主导性的泥晶和少量的微亮晶构成;④核形石皮层中较高密度保存的丝状蓝细菌鞘化石;⑤核形石间特别的凝块基质,以及明显的丝状蓝细菌鞘化石构成的凝块。尽管穿越成岩作用过滤器去解释古代核形石复杂的形成机理将存在着巨大的挑战,也尽管形成这些核形石复杂的生物膜钙化作用机理还没有得到完全而且准确的了解,但是,山西省繁峙县茶坊子剖面张夏组顶部的核形石,壮观的宏观特征,核形石皮层中直接的微生物化石证据,尤其是在核形石内较为丰富的丝状蓝细菌鞘化石,使其成为一个了解光合作用生物膜建造核形石的典型实例,而且成为了解发育在高能鲕粒滩相灰岩之上最为特别的“藻坪”沉积的一个较为典型实例。     

Influence of saturation on rainfall generated landslides in shale along Murree-Kohala road,Pakistan

On August 10, 2010 a series of landslides of more than 90,000 m³ occurred along the Muree-Kohala road in the northern area of Pakistan. A study was undertaken to evaluate the likely impacts of percent saturation and bulk density on mobilized shear strength along the basal rupture surface of the landslide. A series of unconfined compression test and unconsolidated undrained triaxial tests were performed on remolded samples of different densities with varied percentages of saturation. The results of these tests suggest that soil cohesion and friction decreases with increasing saturation. The tests also showed that the shear strength parameters tend to increase with increasing dry density; however, all the samples exhibited a noticeable loss of shear strength with increasing degree of saturation, independent of soil density.Limit equilibrium slope stability analyses were performed along the most probable failure planes, based on shear strength parameters corresponding to degrees of saturation, which varied between 30% to about 100%. This resulted in drop of factor of safety from FS = 1.64 down to 0.51 as the degree of saturation approaches unity.These results suggest that the causative factor in triggering the landslide along Murree-Kohala was the partial saturation of the zone that developed the basal rupture plane. As rain infiltrated the slope, the bulk unit weight of the soil increased, while the shear strength along the developing plane of rupture decreased sufficiently to concentrate shear strain when the material became more than 60% saturation (FS < 1.0).     

Impact of Siberian High on rainfall variability over Northern part of Indo-Pak region

Anticyclones dominate the weather over most of the eastern and the southern Asia during the winter season. This study examines the impact of Siberian High on winter rainfall variability over South Asia. In this paper, the teleconnections between the Siberian High and winter precipitation that cover the northern part of Indo-Pak region have been discussed. The objective indices of area-weighted pressure and area-weighted latitudinal and longitudinal movements high are used to find out the linkage between the winter rainfall in the mentioned region and the Siberian High. The analysis shows that rainfall pattern is significantly correlated with latitudinal displacement of the Siberian High. We have constructed a linear model of the winter rainfall using Siberian High latitude and Nino34 which explains 27 % variance of the winter precipitation for the region under study. The article also explains the physical mechanisms to establish the relationships between the Siberian High and regional rainfall.     

Ambient noise H/V spectral ratio in site effects estimation in Fateh jang area,Pakistan

Local geology or local site effect is a crucial component while conducting seismic risk assessment studies. Investigations made by utilization of ambient noise are an effective tool for local site estimation. The present study is conducted to perform site response analysis at 13 different sites within urban settlements of Fateh jang area(Pakistan). The aim of this study was achieved by utilizing Nakamura method or H/V spectral ratio method. Some important local site parameters, e.g., the fundamental frequencies f0 of soft sediments, amplitudes A0 of corresponding H/V spectral ratios, and alluvium thicknesses over 13 sites within the study area, were measured and analyzed. The results show that the study area reflects low fundamental frequency f0. The fundamental frequencies of the sediments are highly variable and lie in a range of 0.6–13.0 Hz. Similarly, amplification factors at these sites are in the range of 2.0–4.0.     

The Genesis,Classification, Problems and Prospects of Microbial Carbonates:Implications from the Cambrian Carbonate of North China Platform

Currently, sedimentologists focus on the challenging issue of microbial carbonates, which are regarded as "one of the sedimentary rocks most difficult to study", having complicated sedimentary fabric. Their characteristic features closely related to microbial activity, distributed over a long period of geological time, and formed in diversified sedimentary environments. The main research concentrations are the calcified microbial mats and biofilms in geological records as the products of lithification and diagenesis. Starting from the origin, this paper systematically reviewed and explained the processes dwelling within two types of microbial communities, the thinner biofilm and the thicker microbial mat, which enabled them to convert into microbial carbonates through biomineralization and lithification. This study proposed that the existence of multiple microbial mats was another important cause for the diversification and complexity of microbial carbonates in addition to its complex depositional process. Moreover, the sedimentary characteristics and classification of different types of microbial carbonates were reviewed, exemplifying the Cambrian microbial carbonates in the North China Platform. These microbial carbonates are suggested to be placed under "bindstone" after Embry and Kloven, which can be further divided into 5 types, stromatolites, thrombolites, oncolites, laminites and leiolites. Dendrolite is not categorized as a separate class, instead attributed to thrombolites. The microbial carbonates may possess good source rock potential because of the enriched organic content, and may also serve as hydrocarbon reservoirs because of certain microbial textures and fabrics leading to significant porosity and permeability. Because of their biomineralization processes related to microbial activity, the microbial carbonates are not only an important window to understand the evolution of the earth's surface environment, but also capable of forming large-scale reservoirs, and their scientific and economic values are self-evident.     

Characteristics and Genesis of the Es_1 Productive Sandstone Reservoir(Paleogene), Nanpu Sag,East China

The Shahejie Formation is a fundamental rock unit for hydrocarbon exploration and production in the Nanpu Sag, Bohai Bay Basin. Methodology including thin sectioning, core observations, fluorescence, scanning electron microscopy, cathodoluminescence, fluid inclusion, laser scanning confocal microscopy and geochemical analysis(C, O isotopes) were all utilized to investigate the reservoir characteristics and origin of the Es_1 Sandstone. Thin section study showed that the reservoir rock consisted of feldspathic litharenite and lithic arkose. The reservoir pores are categorized as intergranular pores, fracture pores, dissolution pores and intergranular cement dissolution pores. The studied sandstone had good porosity(0.05%–35%) and permeability(0.006–7000 m D). The Es_1 reservoir is classified as a fractured reservoir, a primary intergranular pore-associated reservoir and a dissolution reservoir. Deposition, diagenesis and tectogenesis are the main factors that played important roles in the development of the reservoir. Sedimentation is the foundation and assumption for reservoir development, but the effective reservoir is primarily controlled by primary pores, fractures, lithofacies, tectonic elements and dissolution pores. Moreover, compaction, fracture filling and cementation were the primary sources of reservoir densification. The reservoir was progressively formed through the influence of different geological and diagenetic events. The present study provides significant information and references for hydrocarbon exploration and development in the Nanpu Sag.     

An empirical theory for gravitationally unstable flow in porous media

In this paper, we follow a similar procedure as proposed by Koval (SPE J 3(2):145–154, 1963) to analytically model CO₂ transfer between the overriding carbon dioxide layer and the brine layer below it. We show that a very thin diffusive layer on top separates the interface from a gravitationally unstable convective flow layer below it. Flow in the gravitationally unstable layer is described by the theory of Koval, a theory that is widely used and which describes miscible displacement as a pseudo two-phase flow problem. The pseudo two-phase flow problem provides the average concentration of CO₂ in the brine as a function of distance. We find that downstream of the diffusive layer, the solution of the convective part of the model, is a rarefaction solution that starts at the saturation corresponding to the highest value of the fractional-flow function. The model uses two free parameters, viz., a dilution factor and a gravity fingering index. A comparison of the Koval model with the horizontally averaged concentrations obtained from 2-D numerical simulations provides a correlation for the two parameters with the Rayleigh number. The obtained scaling relations can be used in numerical simulators to account for the density-driven natural convection, which cannot be currently captured because the grid cells are typically orders of magnitude larger than the wavelength of the initial fingers. The method can be applied both for storage of greenhouse gases in aquifers and for EOR processes using carbon dioxide or other solvents.