Particle-size effects on dissolved arsenic adsorption to an Australian laterite

In this study, arsenic adsorption to an Australian laterite has been examined for a particle-size range between 38 μm and 25 mm. The results show that particle size influences both kinetic and equilibrium characteristics of arsenic adsorption. The equilibrium adsorption capacity increases from around 100 mg kg^?1 for laterite particles coarser than 4 mm, to around 160 mg kg^?1 for laterite particles between 75 μm and 4 mm, and to over 200 mg kg^?1 for laterite particles finer than 75 μm. The kinetic adsorption data can be fitted with the pseudo-second-order reaction model, in particular for finer particles where the film diffusion and/or surface reaction are important processes. The model-fitted rate constant remains steady for laterite particles coarser than 2 mm, increases moderately with particle size in the range between 75 μm and 2 mm, and increases dramatically for laterite particles finer than 75 μm. These arsenic adsorption behaviours can be explained by the relative importance of two particle-size-dependent processes: quick external-surface adsorption (more important for fine particles) and slow intraparticle adsorption (more important for coarse particles). Most of the external-surface adsorption completes in the first hour of the experiment. To apply the studied laterite for dissolved arsenic removal, it is recommended that fine particles, in particular finer than 75 μm, should be used if the contact time is the limitation, and that coarse particles, in particular 2–4 mm, should be used if sufficient contact time is available.     

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.     

智利中部因M8.8地震而最终破裂

智利是世界上部分大地震的发生地：那里大概平均每十年就会发生一次8级地震。这些地震都发生在俯冲带：有的发生在南美和Nazca板块之间的界面上,称为板问破裂;有的发生在Nazca俯冲板块内部,称为板内事件。每个世纪都会发生几次巨大的板内、     

Framework for probabilistic assessment of landslide: a case study of El Berrinche

Slope failure or landslide is a complex geological/geotechnical problem that involves much uncertainty. In this work, a framework for probabilistic assessment of landslide is presented with a focus on the El Berrinche landslide, Honduras. One unique feature of this case study involving the El Berrinche landslide is that the stability analysis has to be carried out with limited data. Another challenge in this study is to assess possible remedial measures in a way that can easily be communicated to the government and the public. A reliability-based framework for a probabilistic assessment is proposed. With this approach, different levels of risk for landslide are assessed and the associated costs are estimated; and all information is integrated into the decision-making process for choosing a remedial action.     

Effects of excitation frequency on detection accuracy of orthogonal wavelet decomposition for structural health monitoring

Accurate estimation of stiffness loss is a challenging problem in structural health monitoring. In this study orthogonal wavelet decomposition is used for identifying the stiffness loss in a single degree of freedom spring-mass-damper system. The effects of excitation frequency on accuracy of damage detection is investigated. Results show that pseudo-alias effects caused by the orthogonal wavelet decomposition (OWD), affect damage detectability. It is demonstrated that theproposed approach is sunable for damage detection when the excitation frequency is relatively low. This study shows how a priori knowledge about the signal and ability to control the sampling frequency can enhance damage detectability.     

On the design of beach nourishment projects using static equilibrium concepts: Application to the Spanish coast

The concept of equilibrium plan form and equilibrium profile has been widely used as an engineering tool in order to design beach nourishment projects. The scope of this paper is to further explore this “equilibrium beach” concept in crenulated bays, as a long-term tool for beach nourishment projects. The proposed methodology is based on González and Medina (2001) and combines the static equilibrium plan and profile for long-term analysis. This methodology includes a modified equilibrium plan form, which is able to define the orientation of the local wave front in the diffracting point, and also to locate the downcoast starting point of the static equilibrium beach from which the parabolic plan form of Hsu and Evans (1989) is valid. This methodology permits the application of any equilibrium profile formulation. An example of the application of this methodology and long-term formulations to the design of the Spanish nourishment project of Poniente Beach (Gijón) is presented. Ten years after its construction, the beach has still got a static equilibrium and remains pretty close to the predicted equilibrium beach in plan and profile.     

Preface to the Special Issue on Antarctic Meteorology and Climate:Past,Present and Future

<正>The Antarctic, including the continent of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, is a critically important part of the Earth system. Research in Antarctic meteorology and climate has always been a challenging endeavor. Studying and predicting weather patterns in the Antarctic are important for understanding their role in local-to-global processes and facilitating field     

Recovering physical parameters from galaxy spectra using MOPED

We derive physical parameters of galaxies from their observed spectra using MOPED, the optimized data compression algorithm of Heavens, Jimenez & Lahav. Here we concentrate on parametrizing galaxy properties, and apply the method to the NGC galaxies in Kennicutt's spectral atlas. We focus on deriving the star formation history, metallicity and dust content of galaxies. The method is very fast, taking a few seconds of CPU time to estimate ∼17 parameters, and is therefore specially suited to studying large data sets, such as the Anglo-Australian two-degree-field (2dF) galaxy survey and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). Without the power of MOPED, the recovery of star formation histories in these surveys would be impractical. In Kennicutt's atlas, we find that for the spheroidals a small recent burst of star formation is required to provide the best fit to the spectrum. There is clearly a need for theoretical stellar atmospheric models with spectral resolution better than 1 Å if we are to extract all the rich information that large redshift surveys contain in their galaxy spectra.