Modeling of SH-Wave Propagation in a Pre-stressed Highly Anisotropic Layered Structure

Mathematical Geosciences - The present study presents the propagation of horizontally polarized shear waves (SH-waves) in highly anisotropic layered media under the effect of horizontal and...     

Reflected and refracted waves from a linear transition layer

Summary The problem of a transition layer lying between two homogeneous liquid media is discussed. After obtaining the formal solution for a periodic point source lying in the upper layer, the integrand in the expression for the displacement potential of the upper layer is expanded into series of negative powers of exponentials. Some of the terms in the Bromwich expansion are then evaluated along the Sommerfeld loops which give various reflected and refracted waves. The results for the refracted waves are discussed for the two extreme cases, when frequency is extremely low and extremely high. In both the cases it is found that the frequency dependence for refraction arrivals is the same as expected from a sharp boundary, viz., ^–1. And that for high frequency the travel-time of refraction arrivals is the same as expected from geometric ray theory. Both first- order and second-order discontinuities in density and bulk modulus are considered at the boundaries of the transition layer.     

The disturbance due to a point source in a homogeneous liquid layer over a heterogeneous liquid half-space

Summary The problem of a periodic point source in a homogeneous liquid layer overlying a heterogeneous liquid half-space is discussed. After obtaining the formal solution, the path of integration for the displacement potential of the layer is transformed from the positive real axis to the positive imaginary axis and the Sommerfeld contour and the latter is further distorted to the modified Sommerfeld contour. The residues of the integrand at the poles contained within the Sommerfeld loop constitute the normal mode solution to the problem. The integrands in the expressions for the integrals along the imaginary axis are expanded in a series of negative powers of exponentials and then some of the terms in these expansions are evaluated approximately. This gives various waves reflected from the interface and the integral along the Sommerfeld loop vanishes. The frequency equation is obtained, also by the principle of constructive interference. An expression for the reflection coefficient at an interface of two liquid media, the upper medium being homogeneous and the lower one inhomogeneous, is obtained.     

Comparison of high performance liquid chromatography and fluorometric ocean colour pigments

The accuracy of satellite derived chlorophylla (chla) using empirical algorithms (OC2 and OC4) is about ± 30–35%, which is attributed mainly to the sensor and atmospheric constraints and also the bio-optical algorithms. However errors inin situ measurement of chla may also contribute to the retrieval accuracy. The fluorometric method of chla measurement can significantly under or overestimate chla concentrations. This is mainly because of the overlap of the absorption and fluorescence bands of co-occurring chlorophyllsb andc, chlorophyll degradation products, and accessory pigment. Accurate chla measurements are important for validating satellite derived chla accuracy and algorithm development. The focus of this study was to understand the discrepancy between fluorometric and HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) derived chla using unialgal cultures, natural field samples from Bedford Basin and samples from MinOx cruise to analyse divinyl chla. Approximately 50% underestimation of chla both in the natural samples as well as cultured samples has been observed by fiuorometer. The results of MinOx cruise data indicated shifting of the blue absorption maxima towards longer wavelengths (~450nm), which is consistent with high concentration of divinyl chla (chla ₂) associated with prochlorophytes.     

Do increasing horizontal resolution and downscaling approaches produce a skillful thunderstorm forecast?

The timely prediction of thunderstorms (TS) is always a challenging task for operational and research community. The present study is aimed to address the credibility of the high grid-spacing and downscaling approach for improved simulation of TS. Fourteen TS are simulated with different domain configurations using weather research and forecasting (WRF) model. Two nested domains with 9–3 km (known as DD3), and 6–2 km (DD2), and 3 km single domain (SD3) are considered for simulations. Results indicate that the high-resolution DD2 has improved 2-m temperature (T2), 2-m relative humidity (RH2), and 10-m wind speed (WS10) at different stages of TS. The average mean error of T2 and RH2 in the DD2 experiment is 0.7 °C, ??6% during the mature stage, and 0.2 °C, ??4% at dissipating stage. The error in SD3 and DD3 is relatively higher (9–17% for T2 and 20–60% for RH2). Better horizontal and vertical representation of thermodynamic variables in DD2 run reinforces the atmosphere to initiate and intensify the convection in the right place. The DD2 could show slightly higher instability (convective available potential energy, CAPE, 3188 J kg^?1) as compared with DD3 (3164 J kg^?1) and SD3 (3020 J kg^?1). The model is biased to simulate early TS activity. DD2 run could simulate the formation, mature and dissipation stages with fewer timing errors (??1.35 h, ??1.5 h, and ??2.6 h, respectively) than other experiments. The critical success index of the DD2 run is higher for all the rainfall thresholds; however, it is more than 0.2 up to 2.5 mm h^?1. The results highlight that high resolution nested configuration yields better simulation skills than the single domain configuration.

     

Biosorption studies on shelled Moringa oleifera Lamarck seed powder: Removal and recovery of arsenic from aqueous system

The present study explores the unexploited sorption property of the shelled Moringa oleifera seeds (SMOS) for decontamination of arsenic from water bodies. Sorption studies (batch experiments) result into the standardization of optimum conditions for removal of 60.21% As(III) and 85.60% As(V) as follows: biomass dosage (2.0 g), metal concentration (25 mg/L), contact time (60 min) and volume of the test solution (200 ml) at pH 7.5 and 2.5, respectively. The adsorption data are fitted with Langmuir isotherm. Surface area has been measured using BET surface area analyzer. Morphological changes observed in scanning electron micrograph of native and treated SMOS indicates the existence of biosorption process. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry of exhausted seed biomass highlights protein/amino acid–arsenic interactions responsible for sorption phenomenon. Regeneration has also been attempted for several cycles with a view to restore the sorbent to its original state. The sorption capacity of the regenerated biomass remained almost constant after three cycles of sorption process, suggesting that the lifetime cycle was sufficient for continuous application. The findings open up new avenues in the decontamination of arsenic using SMOS from arsenic contaminated water, as domestic and environment-friendly safe technology.     

Do damped and sub-damped Lyman-alpha absorbers arise in galaxies of different masses?

We consider the questions of whether the damped Lyman-alpha (DLA) and sub-DLA absorbers in quasar spectra differ intrinsically in metallicity, and whether they could arise in galaxies of different masses. Using the recent measurements of the robust metallicity indicators Zn and S in DLAs and sub-DLAs, we confirm that sub-DLAs have higher mean metallicities than DLAs, especially at z ? 2. We find that the intercept of the metallicity-redshift relation derived from Zn and S is higher than that derived from Fe by 0.5–0.6 dex. We also show that, while there is a correlation between the metallicity and the rest equivalent width of Mg II λ2796 or Fe II λ2599 for DLAs, no correlation is seen for sub-DLAs. Given this, and the similar Mg II or Fe II selection criteria employed in the discovery of both types of systems at lower redshifts, the difference between metallicities of DLAs and sub-DLAs appears to be real and not an artefact of selection. This conclusion is supported by our simulations of Mg II λ2796 and Fe II λ2599 lines for a wide range of physical conditions. On examining the velocity spreads of the absorbers, we find that sub-DLAs show somewhat higher mean and median velocity spreads (Δv), and an excess of systems with Δv > 150 km s^?1, than DLAs. Compared to DLAs, the [Mn/Fe] vs. [Zn/H] trend for sub-DLAs appears to be steeper and closer to the trend for Galactic bulge and thick disk stars, possibly suggesting different stellar populations. The absorber data appear to be consistent with galaxy down-sizing. The data are also consistent with the relative number densities of low-mass and high-mass galaxies. It is thus plausible that sub-DLAs arise in more massive galaxies on average than DLAs.     

Narrow associated quasi-stellar object absorbers: clustering, outflows and the line-of-sight proximity effect

Using data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey data release 3 (SDSS DR3), we investigate how narrow (<700 km s⁻¹) C  iv and Mg  ii quasar absorption-line systems are distributed around quasars. The C  iv absorbers lie in the redshift range 1.6 < z < 4 and the Mg  ii absorbers in the range 0.4 < z < 2.2. By correlating absorbers with quasars on different but neighbouring lines of sight, we measure the clustering of absorbers around quasars on comoving scales between 4 and 30 Mpc. The observed comoving correlation lengths are   r _o∼ 5 h ⁻¹Mpc  , similar to those observed for bright galaxies at these redshifts. Comparing correlations between absorbers and the quasars, in whose spectra they are identified, then implies: (i) that quasars destroy absorbers to comoving distances of ∼300 kpc (C  iv ) and ∼800 kpc (Mg  ii ) along their lines of sight; (ii) that ≳40 per cent of C  iv absorbers within 3000 km s⁻¹ of the quasi-stellar object are not a result of large-scale clustering but rather are directly associated with the quasar itself; (iii) that this intrinsic absorber population extends to outflow velocities of the order of 12 000 km s⁻¹; (iv) that this outflow component is present in both radio-loud and radio-quiet quasars and (v) that a small high-velocity outflow component is also observed in the Mg  ii population. We also find an indication that absorption systems within 3000 km s⁻¹ are more abundant for radio-loud quasars than for radio-quiet quasars. This suggests either that radio-loud objects live in more massive haloes, or that their radio activity generates an additional low-velocity outflow, or both.     

Determining the genetic origin of nitrate contamination in aquifers of Northern Gujarat,India

Over the past decades, the Gujarat state of India experienced intensive agricultural and industrial activities, fertilizer consumption and abstraction of groundwater, which in turn has degraded the ground water quality. Protection of aquifers from nitrate pollution is a matter of prime concern for the planners and decision-makers. The present study assessed the spatial and temporal variation of groundwater nitrate levels in areas with different land use/land cover activities for both pre- and post-monsoon period. The pre-monsoon nitrate level (1.6–630.7 mg/L) in groundwater was observed to be higher as compared to the post-monsoon level (2.7–131.7 mg/L), possibly due to insufficient recharge and evaporation induced enrichment of agrichemical salts in groundwater. High HCO₃ ^? (200–1,000 mg/L) as well as SO₄ ^2?/Cl^? (0.111–0.992) in post-monsoon period provides a favourable environment for denitrification, and lower the NO₃ levels during the post-monsoon period. The K vs NO₃ scatter plot suggests a common source of these ions when the concentration is <5 mg/L, the relationships between different pollutants and nitrate also suggest that fertilizers and other sources, such as, animal waste, crop residue, septic tanks and effluents from different food processing units present in the area can be attributed to higher nitrate levels in the groundwater. Appropriate agronomic practices such as application of fertilizers based on calibrated soil tests and proper irrigation with respect to crop can minimize the requirement for inorganic fertilizers, which can bring down the cost of cultivation considerably, and also protect groundwater from further degradation.