On the D́ust content of nearby galaxies

By inspection of photographs of the Hubble Atlas of Galaxies the frequency distribution of the sizes of dark cloud complexes in the four nearby galaxies NGC 3031, 5128, 5194 and 5457 is derived and the total amount of dust in these systems is estimated. The frequency distribution of the clouds is nearly the same in all the considered galaxies and may be approximated by n(R) ∼ e^−kR, k ≈︂ 0.050 pc⁻¹. The total amount of dust yields to roughly 10⁶M⊙.     

Performance Evaluation of Bottom-Standing Submerged Breakwaters in Regular Waves Using the Meshless Singular Boundary Method

In this paper, the improved version of the meshless singular boundary method(ISBM) is developed for analyzing the hydrodynamic performance of bottom-standing submerged breakwaters in regular normally incident waves. Both the single and dual prismatic breakwaters of rectangular and trapezoidal forms are examined. Only the impermeable breakwaters are considered in this study. The physical problem is cast in terms of the Laplace equation governing an irrotational flow and incompressible fluid motion with the appropriate mixed-type boundary conditions, and it is solved numerically using the ISBM. The numerical results are presented in terms of the hydrodynamic quantities of reflection and transmission coefficients. The values are first validated against the data of previous studies, computed, and discussed for a variety of structural conditions, including the height, width, and spacing of breakwater submergence. An excellent agreement is observed between the ISBM results and those of other methods. The breakwater width is found to feature marginal effects compared with the height. The present method is shown to accurately predict the resonant conditions at which the maximum reflection and transmission occur. The trapezoidal breakwaters are found to generally present a wide spectrum of reflections, suggesting that they would function better than the rectangular breakwaters. The dual breakwater systems are confirmed to perform much better than single structures.     

Flood hazard and risk analysis in the southwest region of Bangladesh

Flood hazard and risk assessment was conducted to identify the priority areas in the southwest region of Bangladesh for flood mitigation. Simulation of flood flow through the Gorai and Arial Khan river system and its floodplains was done by using a hydrodynamic model. After model calibration and verification, the model was used to simulate the flood flow of 100‐year return period for a duration of four months. The maximum flooding depths at different locations in the rivers and floodplains were determined. The process in determining long flooding durations at every grid point in the hydrodynamic model is laborious and time‐consuming. Therefore the flood durations were determined by using satellite images of the observed flood in 1988, which has a return period close to 100 years. Flood hazard assessment was done considering flooding depth and duration. By dividing the study area into smaller land units for hazard assessment, the hazard index and the hazard factor for each land unit for depth and duration of flooding were determined. From the hazard factors of the land units, a flood hazard map, which indicates the locations of different categories of hazard zones, was developed. It was found that 54% of the study area was in the medium hazard zone, 26% in the higher hazard zone and 20% in the lower hazard zone. Due to lack of sufficient flood damage data, flood damage vulnerability is simply considered proportional to population density. The flood risk factor of each land unit was determined as the product of the flood hazard factor and the vulnerability factor. Knowing the flood risk factors for the land units, a flood risk map was developed based on the risk factors. These maps are very useful for the inhabitants and floodplain management authorities to minimize flood damage and loss of human lives. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Compressive and Tensile Behavior of Polymer Treated Sulfate Contaminated CL Soil

In this study, the compressive and tensile behavior of polymer treated sulfate contaminated CL soil was investigated. Based on the information in the literature, a field soil was contaminated with up to 4 % (40,000 ppm) of calcium sulfate in this study. In addition to characterizing the behavior of sulfate contaminated CL soil, the effect of treating the soil with a polymer solution was investigated and the performance was compared to 6 % lime treated soil. In treating the soil, acrylamide polymer solution (15 g of polymer dissolved in 85 g of water) content was varied up to 15 % (by dry soil weight). Addition of 4 % calcium sulfate to the soil decreased the compressive and tensile strengths of the compacted soils by 22 and 33 % respectively with the formation of calcium silicate sulfate [ternesite Ca₅(SiO₄)₂SO₄)], magnesium silicate sulfate (Mg₅(SiO₄)₂SO₄) and calcium-magnesium silicate (merwinite Ca₃Mg(SiO₄)₂). With the polymer treatment the strength properties of sulfate contaminated CL soil was substantially improved. Polymer treated sulfate soils had higher compressive and tensile strengths and enhanced compressive stress–strain relationships compared to the lime treated soils. Also polymer treated soils gained strength more rapidly than lime treated soil. With 10 % of polymer solution treatment, the maximum unconfined compressive and splitting tensile strengths for 4 % of calcium sulfate soil were 625 kPa (91 psi) and 131 kPa (19 psi) respectively in 1 day of curing. Similar improvement in the compressive modulus was observed with polymer treated sulfate contaminated CL soil. The variation of the compacted compressive strength and tensile strength with calcium sulfate concentrations for the treated soils were quantified and the parameters were related to calcium sulfate content in the soil and polymer content. Compressive stress–strain relationships of the sulfate soil, with and without lime and polymer treatment, have been quantified using two nonlinear constitutive models. The constitutive model parameters were sensitive to the calcium sulfate content and the type of treatment.     

Thermal metamorphism of primitive meteorites—IX. On the mechanism of trace element loss from Allende heated up to 1400° C

We report data for Ag, Bi, Cd, Co, Cs, Ga, In, Se, Te, Tl and Zn determined by neutron activation in Allende samples heated for one week at 100° increments in the 1000–1400°C range in a low pressure (initially 10^?5atmH₂) environment using an apparatus of novel design. In the extremes, concentrations of these trace elements—initially present at ppm-ppb levels—in unheated material are lowered even farther by factors of 10^?4–10^?5 over a broad temperature span. Loss of some elements above 1000°C extends trends evident below 1000°C; loss of others is even more extreme. On Arrhenius diagrams some elements exhibit but one apparent activation energy over the entire temperature span of loss while others exhibit 2 or 3, each operative in a particular temperature region. These discontinuities seem related to mineralogic/petrologic alteration and probably reflect differences in diffusion mechanism rather than siting differences. The extension of previous experiments into the temperature regime postulated for chondritic differentiation should lead to a better understanding of the evolution of meteoritic parent bodies.     

Rock slope stability and design in Arafat–Muzdalifa area,Saudi Arabia

The present contribution is a complete study extending before, during, and after the excavation of the mountain side that lying north of road 7. It includes slope stability analysis, rock cut design, and rockfall modeling for natural slope and rock cut face. Neoproterozoic granodiorite and biotite granite forming the slope body have medium to very high strengths. Mineral compositions and textures of these intact rocks control the strength values. These rocks are intensively dissected by fractures that are filled with montmorillonite and chlorite. The high plasticity and slippery nature of these filling materials represent the main problem that may face a rock cut designer because they damage the mechanical properties of these fractures. The problem begins with the selection of the rock mass classification that deals with the fracture fillings and extends during the stability analysis and the suggestion of mitigation and supporting measures. The rock masses building the natural slope are suffered by plane, wedge, and toppling failures. Therefore, two rock cut designs are suggested to avoid the hazards related to these failures and considering the construction cost as well. Rockfall modeling for the natural slope and rock cut designs was done to assess the hazards related to these falling of the blocks. The kinetic energy of falling blocks is represented on the roadway by the coverage distance and block rebound amplitude. Slope height has a positive effect on the values of these distance and amplitude, whereas the steepness of berm height has a negative effect on them. Coverage distance is a function to the location of rockfall barrier and to the width of road ditch, while the amplitude controls the barrier height.     

Petroleum system analysis of the Khatatba Formation in the Shoushan Basin,north Western Desert,Egypt

The Middle Jurassic Khatatba Formation is an attractive petroleum exploration target in the Shoushan Basin, north Western Desert, Egypt. However, the Khatatba petroleum system with its essential elements and processes has not been assigned yet. This study throws the lights on the complete Khatatba petroleum system in the Shoushan Basin which has been evaluated and collectively named the Khatatba-Khatatba (!) petroleum system. To evaluate the remaining hydrocarbon potential of the Khatatba system, its essential elements were studied, in order to determine the timing of hydrocarbon generation, migration and accumulation. Systematic analysis of the petroleum system of the Khatatba Formation has identified that coaly shales and organic-rich shales are the most important source rocks. These sediments are characterised by high total organic matter content and have good to excellent hydrocarbon generative potential. Kerogen is predominantly types II–III with type III kerogen. The Khatatba source rocks are mature and, at the present time, are within the peak of the oil window with vitrinite reflectance values in the range of 0.81 to 1.08 % Ro. The remaining hydrocarbon potential is anticipated to exist mainly in stratigraphic traps in the Khatatba sandstones which are characterised by fine to coarse grain size, moderate to well sorted. It has good quality reservoir with relatively high porosity and permeability values ranging from 1 to 17 % and 0.05–1,000 mD, respectively. Modelling results indicated that hydrocarbon generation from the Khatatba source rocks began in the Late Cretaceous time and peak of hydrocarbon generation occurred during the end Tertiary time (Neogene). Hydrocarbon primarily migrated from the source rock via fractured pathways created by abnormally high pore pressures resulting from hydrocarbon generation. Hydrocarbon secondarily migrated from active Khatatba source rocks to traps side via vertical migration pathways through faults resulting from Tertiary tectonics during period from end Oligocene to Middle Miocene times.     

High-resolution facies and porosity models of the upper Jurassic Arab-D carbonate reservoir using an outcrop analogue, central Saudi Arabia

Subsurface models of hydrocarbon reservoirs are coarse and of low resolution when compared with the actual geologic characteristics. Therefore, the understanding of the three-dimensional architecture of reservoir units is often incomplete. Outcrop analogues are commonly used to understand the spatial continuity of reservoir units. In this study, a Late Jurassic outcrop analogue for the Arab-D reservoir of central Saudi Arabia was used to build a high-resolution model that captures fine geologic details. Subsurface reservoir lithofacies were matched with those from the studied outcrop, and porosity values derived from published core and well log data from the Ain Dar, Uthmanyah, and Shudgum areas of the Ghawar Field, eastern Saudi Arabia, were then applied to the equivalent lithofacies in the outcrop. Maximum, minimum, and average subsurface porosity for each lithofacies were distributed in the facies model using a geostatistical algorithm to produce nine porosity models for the field data. Several realisations were run to visualise the variability in each model and to quantitatively measure the uncertainty associated with the models. The results indicated that potential reservoir zones were associated with grainstone, packstone, and some wackestone layers. Semivariogram analysis of the lithofacies showed good continuity in the N-S direction and less continuity in the E-W direction. The high-resolution lithofacies models detected permeability barriers and isolated low porosity bodies within the potential reservoir zones. This model revealed the porosity distribution in areas smaller than one cell in the subsurface model and highlighted the uncertainty associated with several aspects of the model.     

Application of a revised hydrostratigraphical classification and nomenclature to the Mesozoic and Cenozoic succession of Saudi Arabia

At the dawn of the 21st century many parts of the world are suffering a shortage of water resources. Arid and semi-arid areas in particular are facing challenges and increasing pressure is being put on their groundwater management plans. Such a situation created an urgent need to put forward a design for classification and nomenclature that can help to differentiate highly productive zones from small locally exploited productive zones. A previously proposed hydrostratigraphical classification and nomenclature scheme is revised, modified, and applied to the Mesozoic-Cenozoic sedimentary succession of Saudi Arabia. The scheme utilised in the present paper is modified to include, in addition, productivity, water quality criteria, usability, and recharge as criteria reflecting the hydrogeological importance of the productive zones.The Triassic Sudair Mega-aquitard forms the lower hydrostratigraphic boundary for the Ad-Dahna'a Aquasystem. The Ad-Dahna'a Aquasystem comprises two aquagroups: the Riyadh and Rub'Al-Khali Aquagroups. Each aquagroup is in turn subdivided into superaquifers, aquifers and possibly subaquifers, separated by aquitards of different ranks. The physical and hydrogeological characteristics of each unit are also discussed.     

Assessment of contaminants in Dubai coastal region, United Arab Emirates

Coastal uses and other human activities have inevitably impinged on the Gulf environment; therefore, these regions require continuous monitoring. The investigated area covered the maximum fragments of Dubai coastal region in the Arabian Gulf. The determination of major oxides and trace metal concentrations in Dubai sediments revealed three heavily and moderately contaminated regions. One is in the far northeastern part at Al-Hamriya Sts 1–3 and contaminated by Fe, Cu, Pb, and Zn; the second is in the mid-northeastern part at Dry Docks and contaminated by Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn; and finally, the third is in the near southwestern part at Dubal and contaminated by Fe, Mg, Cr, Ni, and Zn. Al-Hamriya St 3 represented the highest values of Cu, Pb, and Zn, whereas Dubal exhibited the maximum values of Fe, Mg, Ba, Cr, Mn, Ni, and V. The anthropogenic discharge and natural deposits are the main sources of contamination. In general, all trace and major elements showed the minimal levels at Jebel Ali Sanctuary (Sts 11, 12, 13) except for Sr and Ca, which showed their maximum values. The highest concentrations of Ca and Sr are mainly attributed to carbonate gravel sands and sands, which cover most stations. Each of V and Ni showed negative correlation with TPH, which may be indicated that the source of oil contamination in the region is not related to crude oil but mostly attributable to anthropogenic sources. The significant positive correlation, which was found between trace metals and TOC indicates that organic matter plays an important role in the accumulation of trace metals in case of Cu, Zn, and Pb.