Assimilation of Doppler weather radar observations in a mesoscale model for the prediction of rainfall associated with mesoscale convective systems

Obtaining an accurate initial state is recognized as one of the biggest challenges in accurate model prediction of convective events. This work is the first attempt in utilizing the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Doppler radar data in a numerical model for the prediction of mesoscale convective complexes around Chennai and Kolkata. Three strong convective events both over Chennai and Kolkata have been considered for the present study. The simulation experiments have been carried out using fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University-National Center for Atmospheric Research (PSU-NCAR) mesoscale model (MM5) version 3.5.6. The variational data assimilation approach is one of the most promising tools available for directly assimilating the mesoscale observations in order to improve the initial state. The horizontal wind derived from the DWR has been used alongwith other conventional and non-conventional data in the assimilation system. The preliminary results from the three dimensional variational (3DVAR) experiments are encouraging. The simulated rainfall has also been compared with that derived from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite. The encouraging result from this study can be the basis for further investigation of the direct assimilation of radar reflectivity data in 3DVAR system. The present study indicates that Doppler radar data assimilation improves the initial field and enhances the Quantitative Precipitation Forecasting (QPF) skill.     

Spherical Collapse Of A Heat Conducting Fluid In Higher Dimensions Without Horizon

We consider a scenario where the interior spacetime, described by a heat conducting fluid sphere is matched to a Vaidya metric in higher dimensions. Interestingly we get a class of solutions, where following heat radiation the boundary surface collapses without the appearance of an event horizon at any stage and this happens with reasonable properties of matter field. The non-occurrence of a horizon is due to the fact that the rate of mass loss was exactly counterbalanced by the fall of boundary radius. Evidently this poses a counter example to the so-called cosmic censorship hypothesis. Two explicit examples of this class of solutions are also given and it is observed that the rate of collapse is delayed with the introduction of extra dimensions. The work extends to higher dimensions our previous investigation in 4D.     

Influence of a permanent low-friction boundary on rotation and flow in rigid inclusion/viscous matrix systems from an analogue perspective

Natural occurrences and recent experimental work show that a low-friction inclusion/matrix boundary can be responsible for antithetical rotation and development of stable shape preferred orientations in simple shear. The flow of a viscous matrix around a rigid inclusion to which it may or may not be adherent is still not well studied, but it is relevant to the understanding of the behaviour of structural elements in mylonite zones. We used two-dimensional (2-D) analogue experiments to address these issues. The experimental results with a permanent low-friction inclusion/matrix boundary (nonadherent mode) show the following. (1) The rotation behaviour of inclusions in this mode is markedly different from the theoretical predictions and experimental results for the adherent mode. (2) Inclusions with aspect ratio equal to 1 rotate synthetically at a rate that depends upon inclusion shape and orientation. (3) Ellipse-, rectangle- and lozenge-shaped inclusions rotate antithetically when starting with their greatest axis parallel to the shear direction. (4) Back rotation is limited in all cases studied, and the angle between the inclusion greatest axis and the shear direction represents a stable orientation, which depends on inclusion aspect ratio and shape. (5) A metastable orientation exists, which is strongly dependent upon inclusion shape and aspect ratio, and separates fields of antithetic and synthetic rotation.Our experimental results show that the overall flow pattern is bow tie-shaped in adherent and nonadherent modes. However, there are major differences in the way the matrix flows near the inclusion. (i) In the nonadherent mode, the nearby matrix flows past the inclusion, whereas in the adherent mode, the nearby matrix flows with and follows the inclusion. Therefore, in the adherent mode, passive marker lines parallel to the shear direction and streamlines show considerable deflections at the inclusion crests, in marked contrast with their straight character in the nonadherent mode. (ii) Stagnation points or closed flow lines near the inclusion were not observed in the nonadherent mode, which means that there is no closed separatrix around the inclusion in this mode, despite the fact that the overall flow shape is bow tie. (iii) In the adherent mode, the line of flow reversal is stable throughout deformation, but in the nonadherent mode, it changes position and orientation with progressive shearing. This shifting of the line of flow reversal can be an important factor controlling rotation behaviour in the nonadherent mode. (iv) In the nonadherent mode, the inclusion behaviour is similar to that observed in confined flow. (v) The flow pattern in the nonadherent mode provides an explanation for the observed lack of drag folds associated with small-scale rigid inclusions in mylonites.     

Advanced application of bem to wave barriers in multi-layered three-dimensional soil media

An advanced application of BEM to the problem of wave screening by barriers is described. The BEM formulation has been developed by utilizing advanced surface modelling, automatic (self-adaptive) error control in the numerical integration. The soil is modelled as a layered, isotropic and linear elastic or viscoelastic medium. The results of the analysis have been compared with full scale test data.     

A new approach to the determination of methane content of coal seams

Summary An approach to the determination of methane content of coal seams is proposed. The method utilizes the transformed Airey's empirical equation on desorption of methane from coals. The methane content values estimated by this method correspond well with actual values from laboratory experiments. In the case of Indian coals, the applicability of the relationship for the calculation of the gas lost from coal lumps during long periods of time loss appears to be limited due to poor agreement with the experimental values.     

Precambrian stromatolite and other structures in the Rajpura-Dariba polymetallic ore deposit,Rajasthan, India

Intimate association of 2 billion years old stromatolite with pyritic lead-zinc ores in the Precambrian polymetallic deposit at Rajpura-Dariba in Rajasthan, which hitherto remained unreported, provides an additional documentation of the syn(-dia)-genetic mineralization. The growth form and petrography of the stromatolite structure have been described and an explanation sought regarding the concentration of sulfides along the siliceous and carbonaceous laminations, as well as in the intercolumnar regions. Consideration of the geologic features noted in the mineralized zone and surrounding region suggests that the stratiform ores were deposited in a near-shore shallow marine environment, developed on basement highs and associated with euxinic conditions. Later, the ores were metamorphosed under conditions reaching upto amphibolite facies during a three-stage deformational history of their enclosing rocks. Some salient features of the secondary structures in the ores have been discussed in relation to this deformation history.     

Combining paleointensity methods: A dual-valued determination on lunar sample 10017,135

A single-heating procedure is presented which makes possible the determination of two partially independent values of paleofield intensity for a given sample, one serving as a check to the other. The approach combines data required for Shaw-type and “ARM-method” determinations and in so doing furnishes a value of the ratio of TRM to ARM acquisition efficiency (f′) corrected for any physicochemical alteration to the magnetic carriers which may have occurred during laboratory heating.

Applicability of the Shaw-method to Fe-bearing samples is favorably demonstrated through simulated paleointensity determinations conducted on synthetic samples containing multi-domain grains. Moreover, coercivity spectra corresponding to anhysteretic remanent magnetization (ARM) are found to be considerably more sensitive to thermally induced alteration when compared with those corresponding to thermoremanent magnetization (TRM).

The combined Shaw-ARM procedure was successfully applied to lunar basalt sample 10017,135 rendering a paleointensity of 0.82 ± 0.11 Oe. The Thellier-Thellier method, however, was not able to provide a meaningful determination on the neighboring chip (number 136). These apparently conflicting findings may be explained by one or more of the following possible interpretations: (1) multiple step-wise heatings cause considerably more damage to the carriers of remanence than does a single-heating procedure; (2) the rock possesses extreme variability in magnetic properties from one sub-sample to the other; (3) the natural remanent magnetization in this lunar basalt is not a simple TRM.     

A comparison of different magnetic methods for determining the relative grain size of magnetite in natural materials: Some results from lake sediments

A new rapid method for identifying relative grain size variations in magnetic involves the parameter anhysteretic susceptibility (χ_ARM, i.e. specific ARM obtained in a 1 Oe steady field), which is particularly sensitive to the single domain (SD) and small pseudo-single domain (PSD) grains of the finer magnetite fraction. A second parameter, low-field susceptibility (χ), is relatively more sensitive to the coarser magnetite fraction (larger PSD and smaller multidomain (MD) grains). We can then obtain a measure of the ratio of coarse- to fine-grain magnetite for large numbers of samples by plotting χ_ARversusχ. A simple idealized model based on sized magnetite samples is proposed to explain the use of the χ_ARMversusχ plot for detecting relative grain-size changes in the magnetic content of natural materials. The sediments of three lakes that contain magnetite or a similar magnetic carrier and have a wide range of values of χ_ARM and χ are used to test the model.The model is used to interpret the magnetic variations observed, and the interpretations are supported by high-field hysteresis measurements of the same sediments. The combination of the high-field hysteresis method of Day et al. [1] and the χ_ARM vs. χ method is a powerful technique allowing the rapid identification of both the relative grain size and domain state for large numbers of samples containing magnetite. The χ_ARMvs.χ method should be used as an intial means of identifying distinct groups of samples.The high-field hysteresis method should then be applied to a few representative samples from each group to confirm the initial interpretation.     

Dynamic analysis of piles and pile groups embedded in homogeneous soils

A boundary element formulation for the dynamic analysis of axially and laterally loaded single piles and pile groups is presented. The piles are represented by compressible beam-column elements and the soil as a hysteretic elastic half-space. The governing equations of motion for the pile domain have been solved exactly for distributed periodic loading intensities. These solutions are then coupled with a numerical solution for the motion of the soil domain by satisfying equilibrium and compatibility at the pile-soil interface. The results obtained from the analysis compare favourably with those from alternative analyses, e.g. finite element, but at greatly reduced computational costs.