High-resolution Echo-sounding and Detection of Embedded Archaeological Objects with Nonlinear Sub-bottom Profilers

Sub-bottom profilers based on nonlinear acoustics offer many advantages especially for detecting and locating embedded objects in shallow waters. They have a narrow beam in spite of small transducers and virtually no side lobes. It is possible to realize mobile low-frequent sub-bottom profilers, which transmit very short sound pulses. Excellent vertical as well as horizontal resolutions at reasonable penetrations are proven benefits of using this technique. In this paper some technical aspects are discussed and a new experimental nonlinear scanning sub-bottom profiler system is described. Results from a field trial in archaeological prospection are shown to illustrate the successful application in practice.     

An extended stability criterion for density-driven flows in homogeneous porous media

Stability of density-driven flows is a challenging problem with current applications in major areas like energy exploration, water pollution, nuclear and oil industries. The mathematical model for such flows is a system of coupled non linear partial differential equations. To study the physical stability of the system, we consider steady-state flow and perturb the solution of the full system of equations (without Boussinesq approximation) and investigate how it evolves in time: if the solution does not grow indefinitely, the system is called stable. The perturbations are treated as being the result of sub-scale interactions between the velocity field and the solute mass. Making use of a two-scale expansion of the solution, we derived extended stability criteria that include the effects of density, viscosity and flow velocity in flow configurations aligned parallel as well as orthogonal to gravity forces. Numerical simulations with the numerical simulator d³f$d^{3}f$ are presented to test the theoretical stability criteria.     

Testing unbaited stygofauna traps for sampling performance

Unbaited phreatic traps are a promising new method for sampling subterranean limnofauna. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether such trap systems are suitable to gather representative samples of the physico-chemical parameters and the invertebrate fauna of the aquifer. Fifteen traps, installed in five groundwater bores, and four traps located in the hyporheic zone, were sampled twice monthly over a 1 year period (June 2003–June 2004). Water samples were removed in three separated fractions (hose, trap and aquifer water), analysed for physico-chemical and faunal characteristics and compared with one another. The study was carried out in the Nakdong River floodplain, Korea. Physico-chemical characteristics of trap and aquifer were similar, but differed greatly from the hose samples. Abundances of fauna inside the traps were higher than in the aquifer, whereas there were no differences in taxonomic composition of the trap and aquifer samples. Biases of abundances suspected due to the use of traps were negligible in the groundwater, though it is recommended that comparisons between groundwater and hyporheic abundances ascertained by traps be handled cautiously.     

Dimensional analysis of two-phase flow including a rate-dependent capillary pressure–saturation relationship

The macroscopic modelling of two-phase flow processes in subsurface hydrosystems or industrial applications on the Darcy scale usually requires a constitutive relationship between capillary pressure and saturation, the P_c(S_w) relationship. Traditionally, it is assumed that a unique relation between P_c and S_w exists independently of the flow conditions as long as hysteretic effects can be neglected. Recently, this assumption has been questioned and alternative formulations have been suggested. For example, the extended P_c(S_w) relationship by Hassanizadeh and Gray [Hassanizadeh SM, Gray WG. Mechanics and thermodynamics of multiphase flow in porous media including interphase boundaries. Adv Water Resources 1990;13(4):169–86] proposes that the difference between the phase pressures to the equilibrium capillary pressure is a linear function of the rate of change of saturation, thereby introducing a constant of proportionality, the coefficient τ. It is desirable to identify cases where the extended relationship needs to be considered. Consequently, a dimensional analysis is performed on the basis of the two-phase balance equations. In addition to the well-known capillary and gravitational number, the dimensional analysis yields a new dimensionless number. The dynamic number Dy quantifies the ratio of dynamic capillary to viscous forces. Relating the dynamic to the capillary as well as the gravitational number gives the new numbers DyC and DyG, respectively. For given sets of fluid and porous medium parameters, the dimensionless numbers Dy and DyC are interpreted as functions of the characteristic length and flow velocity. The simulation of an imbibition process provides insight into the interpretation of the characteristic length scale. The most promising choice for this length scale seems to be the front width. We conclude that consideration of the extended P_c(S_w) relationship may be important for porous media with high permeability, small entry pressure and high coefficient τ when systems with a small characteristic length (e.g. steep front) and small characteristic time scale are under investigation.     

Analysis of ship life cycles—The impact of economic cycles and ship inspections

Due to the shipping industry's international legal framework, there are loopholes in the system, which can increase the risk of incidents with high economic costs due to the substandard operation of vessels. This article uses duration analysis and through the creation of ship life cycles provides insight into the effectiveness of inspections on prolonging ship lives. The analysis accounts for fluctuations in the relevant economic environment and the (possibly time-varying) ship particulars. It is based on a unique dataset containing information on the timing of accidents, inspections and ship particular changes of more than 50,000 vessels over a 29-year time period (1978–2007). The results reveal that the shipping industry is a relatively safe industry but there is a possible over-inspection of vessels. The effect of inspections varies across ship types and the prevention of incidents with high economic costs can be improved by a coordinated approach of all types of inspections that are performed which allows the decrease of unnecessary inspections. Further, more emphasis should be placed on the rectification and follow-up of deficiencies and the implementation of the ISM code. Another added benefit for the industry would be to improve transparency related to class withdrawals and class transfers for all classification societies. Another interesting finding is that for the majority of ship types, an increase in earnings decreases the incident rate. This is in contrast to the industry perception of the impact of earnings.     

Gas hydrate decomposition recorded by authigenic barite at pockmark sites of the northern Congo Fan

The geochemical cycling of barium was investigated in sediments of pockmarks of the northern Congo Fan, characterized by surface and subsurface gas hydrates, chemosynthetic fauna, and authigenic carbonates. Two gravity cores retrieved from the so-called Hydrate Hole and Worm Hole pockmarks were examined using high-resolution pore-water and solid-phase analyses. The results indicate that, although gas hydrates in the study area are stable with respect to pressure and temperature, they are and have been subject to dissolution due to methane-undersaturated pore waters. The process significantly driving dissolution is the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) above the shallowest hydrate-bearing sediment layer. It is suggested that episodic seep events temporarily increase the upward flux of methane, and induce hydrate formation close to the sediment surface. AOM establishes at a sediment depth where the upward flux of methane from the uppermost hydrate layer counterbalances the downward flux of seawater sulfate. After seepage ceases, AOM continues to consume methane at the sulfate/methane transition (SMT) above the hydrates, thereby driving the progressive dissolution of the hydrates “from above”. As a result the SMT migrates downward, leaving behind enrichments of authigenic barite and carbonates that typically precipitate at this biogeochemical reaction front. Calculation of the time needed to produce the observed solid-phase barium enrichments above the present-day depths of the SMT served to track the net downward migration of the SMT and to estimate the total time of hydrate dissolution in the recovered sediments. Methane fluxes were higher, and the SMT was located closer to the sediment surface in the past at both sites. Active seepage and hydrate formation are inferred to have occurred only a few thousands of years ago at the Hydrate Hole site. By contrast, AOM-driven hydrate dissolution as a consequence of an overall net decrease in upward methane flux seems to have persisted for a considerably longer time at the Worm Hole site, amounting to a few tens of thousands of years.     

Über die Möglichkeit,die Temperaturverteilung in Sonnenflecken durch einen anisotropen Wärmetransport zu erklären

Numerical solutions of a heat conduction problem in an anisotropic medium are used for a discussion of the possibility to explain the temperature distribution in sunspots and their environment. The anisotropy is assumed being due to the strong magnetic field in sunspots and the region below. This magnetic field forces the convection to take an anisotropic structure (two-dimensional turbulence) and thus the region gets anisotropic conduction properties, on the average. The discussion shows that the observed temperature profiles can be explained in case the depth of the region of anisotropy is about as large as the diameter of the spot or larger.     

A new simple approach to evaluate pedogenic clay transformation in a Vertic Calcisol

The aim of this study is to characterize the pedogenic clay minerals by using simple approach: mixing mineralogical and geochemical findings.The fine clay fractions (< 0.1 μm) of a Vertic Cambisol profile were studied by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and cation exchange capacity (CEC).Qualitative and quantitative mineralogical compositions of the clay mixture were determined.Moreover, chemical equilibria and thermodynamic stabilities of minerals (calcite, gypsum, kaolinite, smectites and illites) were studied using results of ionic activities obtained from total concentration of various aqueous species in water extracts from soil-saturated pastes.XRD analysis shows a good homogeneity in the mineralogical composition of the soil material, with depth of soil profiles. The identified clay minerals are mainly illite–smectite mixed layers (I/S) and kaolinite. The chemical analysis of saturated paste extracts with clay minerals shows a slight undersaturation of the illitic phase while smectites and also calcite and gypsum reach the thermodynamic equilibrium along the soil profile.