Evaluation of the Johnson and Ettinger Model for Prediction of Indoor Air Quality

Screening level models are now commonly used to estimate vapor intrusion for subsurface volatile organic compounds (VQCs). Significant uncertainty is associated with processes and models and, to date, there has been only limited field-based evaluation of models for this pathway. To address these limitations, a comprehensive evaluation of the Johnson and Ettinger (J&E) model is provided through sensitivity analysis, comparisons of model-predicted to measured vapor intrusion for 11 petroleum hydrocarbon and chlorinated solvent sites, and review of radon and flux chamber studies. Significant intrusion was measured at five of 12 sites with measured vapor attenuation ratios (α_m's) (indoor air/source vapor) ranging from ∼1 × 10⁻⁶ to 1 × 10⁻⁴. Higher attenuation ratios were measured for studies using radon, inert tracers, and flux chambers; however, these ratios are conservative owing to boundary conditions and tracer properties that are different than those at most VOC-contaminated sites. Reasonable predictions were obtained using the J&E model with comparisons indicating that model-predicted vapor attenuation ratios (α_p's) were on the same order, or less than the α_m's. For several sites, the α_m were approximately two orders of magnitude less than the α_p's indicating that the J&E model is conservative in these cases. The model comparisons highlight the importance in using appropriate input parameters for the J&E model. The regulatory implications associated with use of the J&E model to derive screening criteria are also discussed.     

Melting relations and major element partitioning in an oxidized bulk Earth model composition at 15–26 GPa

Melting experiments were performed on an FeO-rich bulk Earth model composition in the CMFAS system in order to investigate the partitioning of major elements between coexisting minerals and melts. The starting material (34.2% SiO₂, 3.86% Al₂O₃, 35.2% FeO, 25.0% MgO and 1.88% CaO), contained in Re-capsules, was a mixture of crystalline forsterite and fayalite, and a glass containing SiO₂, Al₂O₃, and CaO. Olivine is the first liquidus phase at 10 GPa but is replaced by majoritic garnet (ga) in the 15–26 GPa range. Magnesiowüstite (mw) crystallizes close to the liquidus and is joined by perovskite (pv) at 26 GPa.

The quenched melt compositions are homogeneous throughout the melt region of the charges and are only slightly enriched in Si, Ca and Fe, and depleted in Mg, relative to the starting composition. The Fe/Mg and Ca/Al ratios in all of the minerals increase rapidly below the liquidus to become compatible with the bulk composition at the solidus. At 26 GPa, a relative density sequence of mw>pv>melt>ga is observed. This indicates that majorite floating, combined with the sinking of magnesiowüstite and perovskite can be expected during the solidification of a Hadean magma ocean and in hot mantle plumes early in the Earth's history. The mineral–melt partitioning relations indicate that fractional crystallization or partial melting in the transition zone and the upper part of the lower mantle would increase the Fe/Mg and Ca/Al ratios of the melt, even if magnesiowüstite was predominant in the solid fraction. A significant contribution of accumulated mw to the segregation of the protocore is therefore unlikely. The suggested process of perovskite fractionation to the lower mantle is not capable of increasing the Mg/Si ratio in the residual melt, and the combined fractionation of perovskite and magnesiowüstite produces a melt with elevated ratios of Si/Mg, Ca/Al and Fe/Mg.     

匼河遗址6054地点黄土-古土壤剖面磁性地层学的年代研究

发现于1957年的匼河文化遗址的年代一直存在较大的争议。近四十年来,考古学和地学工作者虽然从化石、地层等多方面研究,但仍未得出令人信服的可靠结论。受许家窑遗址及小长梁遗址的最新磁性地层学研究结果的启示,过去两年对山西南部匼河遗址从磁性地层学的角度进行了深入、系统的研究,研究发现匼河遗址剖面的磁化率曲线呈顶部高,中间2.5m到13m处较宽阔的低值带,具有华北黄土高原黄土L9的特征,底部又呈高值的分布趋势,这种磁化率的分布关系与洛川标准剖面的S7-S12有较好的对应关系,从而得出文化层以上地层剖面的年代范围为0.7-1.02Ma,由此可推算位于底部磁化率高值带以下的文化层的年代至少早于1.02Ma,完全不同于匼河文化遗址0.247Ma的现行认识,而与苏朴、朱日祥等人对许家窑、小长梁遗址,马圈沟遗址年代的最新认识趋向一致。     

Numerical modelling of downstream migrating antidunes

A numerical model is presented that compute the geometrical dimensions and movement of downstream migrating antidunes. The model solves the Navier–Stokes equations together with the k‐epsilon turbulence model to find the water flow field over the bedforms. A two‐dimensional width‐averaged grid is used. The bed elevation changes are computed by solving the convection–diffusion equation for suspended sediments and bedload, together with the Engelund–Hansen sediment transport formula. The free surface is computed with an algorithm based on water continuity in the surface cells. Non‐orthogonal adaptive grids were used, moving vertically with the computed location of the bed and the free water surface. The numerical model was tested on data from a physical model study where regular downstream migrating antidunes had been observed. The numerical model started out with a flat bed and the trains of antidunes formed over time. Many of the physical processes observed in earlier studies were replicated by the numerical model. Four dune parameters were computed in the current tests: The antidune wavelength, height and celerity, together with the average water depth. The antidune wavelengths were best predicted with an accuracy of 3 to 8% compared with the measurements. The antidune heights were computed with a deviation of 11 to 25% compared with an empirical formula. The water depths over the antidunes were predicted with an accuracy of 3 to 9% related to the measured values. The average antidune celerity was the parameter with largest deviation: For the coarsest grid it was overpredicted with 37%. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Primitive off-rift basalts from Iceland and Jan Mayen: Os-isotopic evidence for a mantle source containing enriched subcontinental lithosphere

New measurements of Os, He, Sr and Nd isotopes, along with major and trace elements, are presented for basalts from the three volcanic flank zones in Iceland and from Jan Mayen Island. The ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os ratios in lavas with <30 ppt Os (n = 4) are elevated compared to ratios in coexisting olivine and appear to be contaminated at a shallow level. The ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os ratios in the remaining lavas with >30 ppt Os (n = 17) range between 0.12117 and 0.13324. These values are surprisingly low for oceanic island basalts and include some samples that are less than putative present-day primitive upper mantle (PUM with ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os of 0.1296). These low ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os preclude significant shallow-level contamination from oceanic crust. The ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os ratios for Jan Mayen lavas are less than PUM, severely limiting the presence of any continental crust in their mantle source. A positive correlation between ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd and ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os ratios in Iceland and Jan Mayen lavas likely reflects the presence in their source of ancient subcontinental lithosphere that has undergone incompatible trace element enrichment that did not affect the Re-Os system. In addition, the Jan Mayen lava isotopic signature cannot be explained solely by the presence of subcontinental lithospheric mantle, and the influence of another geochemical component, such as a mantle plume appears required. Combined ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd, ³He/⁴He and ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os data indicate a genetic relationship between Jan Mayen Island and the Iceland mantle plume. Material from the Iceland mantle plume likely migrates at depth until it reaches the tensional setting of the Jan Mayen Fracture Zone, where it undergoes low-degree partial melting. At a first-order, isotopic co-variations can be interpreted as broadly binary mixing curves between two primary end-members. One end-member, characterized in particular by its unradiogenic ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd, low ³He/⁴He and high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, is represented by subcontinental lithospheric mantle stranded and disseminated in the upper mantle during the opening of the Atlantic Ocean. The second end-member corresponds to a hybrid mixture between the depleted-MORB mantle and the enriched Iceland mantle plume, itself resulting from mixing between recycled oceanic crust and depleted lower mantle. This hybrid accounts for the high ³He/⁴He (∼28 Ra), high ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd (∼0.5132), high ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os (∼0.14) and low ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (∼0.7026) composition observed in Iceland. Two different models may account for these observed mixing relationships between the end-members. In this first model, the Iceland mantle entrains pristine depleted material when rising in the upper mantle and allows refractory sub-lithospheric fragments to melt because of excess heat derived from the deep plume material. A second model that may better account for the Pb isotopic variations observed, uses the same components but where the depleted-MORB mantle is already polluted by subcontinental lithospheric mantle material before mixing with the Iceland mantle plume. Both cases likely occur. Though only three principal components are required to explain the isotopic variations of the Iceland-Jan Mayen system, the different possible mixing relationships may be accounted for by potentially a greater number of end-members.     

3D CFD MODELING OF WATER AND SEDIMENT FLOW IN A HYDROPOWER RESERVOIR

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Complete remagnetization of some Permian dykes from western Norway induced during burial/uplift

Stable paleomagnetic directions in four basaltic dykes and in some associated Caledonian metamorphic rocks define high-latitude, Mesozoic paleomagnetic pole positions which are not compatible with the K---Ar age of 250 My determined for the dykes. A monotonic increase of 40% occurs in the potassium content of samples taken across a dyke 32 cm wide. This is accompanied by only a 1–2% variation in the K---Ar age of the samples, suggesting the absence of any significant level of initial argon. Titanomagnetite grains having bulk compositions around x = 0.6 have suffered extensive low-temperature alteration, forming assemblages of ferri-rutile granules in a matrix of pure magnetite. The complete remagnetisation of both the dykes and the associated country rocks is probably an expression of a VRM acquired at elevated temperatures (150–500°C) at the emplacement depth of the dykes. A stable remanent magnetisation was locked-in during uplift of the area, probably related to the Kimmerian basin development in the adjacent North Sea and the epeirogenic uplift of western Fennoscandia.     

Evaluation of the Johnson and Ettinger Model for Prediction of Indoor Air Quality

Screening level models are now commonly used to estimate vapor intrusion for subsurface volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Significant uncertainty is associated with processes and models and, to date, there has been only limited field-based evaluation of models for this pathway. To address these limitations, a comprehensive evaluation of the Johnson and Ettinger (J&E) model is provided through sensitivity analysis, comparisons of model-predicted to measured vapor intrusion for 11 petroleum hydrocarbon and chlorinated solvent sites, and review of radon and flux chamber studies. Significant intrusion was measured at five of 12 sites with measured vapor attenuation ratios (α_m's) (indoor air/source vapor) ranging from ∼1 × 10⁻⁶ to 1 × 10⁻⁴. Higher attenuation ratios were measured for studies using radon, inert tracers, and flux chambers; however, these ratios are conservative owing to boundary conditions and tracer properties that are different than those at most VOC-contaminated sites. Reasonable predictions were obtained using the J&E model with comparisons indicating that model-predicted vapor attenuation ratios (α_p's) were on the same order, or less than the α_m's. For several sites, the (m were approximately two orders of magnitude less than the a 's indicating that the J&E model is conservative in these cases. The model comparisons highlight the importance in using appropriate input parameters for the J&E model. The regulatory implications associated with use of the J&E model to derive screening criteria are also discussed.     

Impregnation of organic lake sediments for palaeomagnetic measurements

A procedure for impregnating high water-content sediments for palaeomagnetic measurements is described and applied to an organic lake sediment core. Comparison of results obtained by a standard sub-sampling procedure, and by the impregnation method, demonstrates a significant improvement in the scatter of the palaeomagnetic directions using the latter method.