Structural relaxation in silicate melts and non-Newtonian melt rheology in geologic processes

The timescale of structural relaxation in a silicate melt defines the transition from liquid (relaxed) to glassy (unrelaxed) behavior. Structural relaxation in silicate melts can be described by a relaxation time, , consistent with the observation that the timescales of both volume and shear relaxation are of the same order of magnitude. The onset of significantly unrelaxed behavior occurs 2 log₁₀ units of time above . In the case of shear relaxation, the relaxation time can be quantified using the Maxwell relationship for a viscoelastic material; _S = _S/G (where _S is the shear relaxation time, G is the shear modulus at infinite frequency and _S is the zero frequency shear viscosity). The value of G known for SiO₂ and several other silicate glasses. The shear modulus, G , and the bulk modulus, K , are similar in magnitude for every glass, with both moduli being relatively insensitive to changes in temperature and composition. In contrast, the shear viscosity of silicate melts ranges over at least ten orders of magnitude, with composition at fixed temperature, and with temperature at fixed composition. Therefore, relative to _S, G may be considered a constant (independent of composition and temperature) and the value of _S, the relaxation time, may be estimated directly for the large number of silicate melts for which the shear viscosity is known.For silicate melts, the relaxation times calculated from the Maxwell relationship agree well with available data for the onset of the frequency-dependence (dispersion) of acoustic velocities, the onset of non-Newtonian viscosities, the scan-rate dependence of the calorimetric glass transition, with the timescale of an oxygen diffusive jump and with the Si-O bond exchange frequency obtained from ²⁹Si NMR studies.     

Interactive effects of UV, benzo[alpha] pyrene, and cadmium on DNA damage and repair in embryos of the grass shrimp Paleomonetes pugio

We examined the link between DNA strand breaks and hatching rates in grass shrimp, (Paleomonetes pugio), embryos exposed to 0.2 microM benzo[alpha] pyrene (BP), 5 microM cadmium (Cd) and 330 kJ/m(2) UV light, either alone or together. After exposure, embryos were transferred to clean seawater with or without 5 microM Cd. Hatching rates and DNA strand breaks (Comet Assay) were determined. DNA lesions caused by exposure to BP, UV light, or BP/cadmium were rapidly repaired and were not associated with any effects on hatching. Exposure to Cd after exposure to BP or UV did not affect embryological development or DNA repair. Exposure to BP/UV resulted in a high level of DNA lesions which were slowly repaired. Exposure to cadmium following BP/UV exposure inhibited hatching and DNA repair. Adducts formed during exposure to BP/UV exposure may be difficult to excise or may saturate the nucleotide excision repair system.     

The onset of non-Newtonian rheology of silicate melts

The viscoelastic behavior of silicate melts has been measured for a range of compositions (NaAlSi₃O₈, NaCaAlSi₂O₇, CaMgSi₂O₆, Li₂Si₄O₉, Na₂Si₄O₉, K₂Si₄O₉, Na₂Si₃O₇, K₂Si₃O₇ and Na₂Si₂O₅) using the fiber elongation method. A1l compositions exhibit Newtonian behavior at low strain-rates, but non-Newtonian behavior at higher strain-rates, with strain-rate increasing faster than the applied stress. The decrease in shear viscosity observed at the high strain-rates ranges from 0.3 to 1.6 log₁₀ units (Pa s). The relaxation strain-rates, _relax, of these melts have been estimated from the low strain-rate, Newtonian, shear viscosity, using the Maxwell relationship; _relax= ^–1=(_s/G)^–1. For all compositions investigated, the onset of non-Newtonian rheology is observed at strain-rates 2.5+0.5 orders of magnitude less than the calculated relaxation strain-rate. This difference between the non-Newtonian onset and the relaxation strain-rate is larger than that predicted by the single relaxation time Maxwell model. Normalization of the experimental strain-rates to the relaxation strain-rate predicted from the Maxwell relation, eliminates the composition. and temperature-dependence of the onset of non-Newtonian behavior. The distribution of relaxation in the viscoelastic region appears to be unrelated to melt chemistry. This conclusion is consistent with the torsional, frequency domain study of Mills (1974) which illustrated a composition-invariance of the distribution of the imaginary component of the shear modulus in melts on the Na₂O-SiO₂ join. The present, time domain study of viscoelasticity contrasts with frequency domain studies in terms of the absolute strains employed. The present study employs relatively large total strains (up to 2). This compares with typical strains of 10^–8 in ultrasonic (frequency domain) studies. The stresses used to achieve the strain-rates required to observe viscoelastic behavior in this study approach the tensile strength of the fibers with the result that some of our experiments were terminated by fiber breakage. Although the breakage is unrelated to the observation of non-Newtonian viscosity, their close proximity in this and earlier studies suggests that brittle failure of igneous melts, may, in general, be preceded by a period of non-Newtonian rheology.     

Parameterizations of the daytime friction velocity,temperature scale,and upslope flow over gently inclined terrain in calm synoptic conditions

A set of new parameterizations for the friction velocity and temperature scale over gently sloped terrain and in calm synoptic conditions are theoretically derived. The friction velocity is found to be proportional to the product of the square root of the total accumulated heating in the boundary layer and the sinusoidal function of the slope angle, while the temperature scale is proportional to the product of the boundary layer depth, the sinusoidal function of the slope angle and the potential temperature gradient in the free atmosphere. Using the new friction velocity parameterization, together with a parameterization of eddy diffusivity and an initial potential temperature profile around sunrise, an improved parameterization for the thermally induced upslope flow profile is derived by solving the Prandtl equations. The upslope flow profile is found to be simply proportional to the friction velocity.     

Locally modified surface winds on linear dunes as derived from directional raingauges

The study deals with local airflow patterns induced by 12–16 m high, partly vegetated dunes, under various prevailing wind conditions. Detailed empirical data were derived by means of an unconventional use of directional raingauges. The utility and accuracy of the method have been previously tested in a combined empirical and numerical study over ridges on a similar scale. Results are presented on the nature, extent and intensity of locally modified patterns of surface flow and on their dependence on wind conditions and slope inclination. Results may serve to verify or refine existing perceptions or models of the flow affecting sand movement over dunes. For example, deflected surface wind flow and even stationary vortices were found to form under winds with resultant angles of incidence of only 5–10° relative to the axes of the dunes, and on slopes inclined only 12–15°, i.e. lower angles than often assumed in previous studies of dune morphology. Various effects of the resulting surface flow on the dune ecosystem are also referred to, e.g. the distribution of settling dust and seed dispersal. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Assessment of temporal changes in coastal sand dune environments using the log-hyperbolic grain-size method

Abstract Three cores (<9 m long) recovered from late Holocene coastal sand dunes in Northumberland, north‐eastern England, were examined stratigraphically and dated by the infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) method to the time period between the Medieval Warm Period (MWP; ≈ 900–1200 AD) and Little Ice Age (LIA; ≈ 1550–1800 AD). Grain‐size variability and CaCO₃ content were determined at 10‐mm intervals throughout parts of the cores. The sahara computer program was used to plot the log‐hyperbolic distribution (LHD) of grain‐size spectra from different stratigraphic levels and estimate the LHD's statistical components. Core samples plot variously in the depositional and erosional domains of the hyperbolic chi (χ) vs. xi (ξ) shape triangle, which describes components of sediment sorting. Depositional and erosional phases, discriminated within the LHD's shape triangle, cannot readily be resolved from core stratigraphies or correlated between cores. IRSL dates from single cores show a clustering about the period 1430–1540. Between the dated horizons, dunes accreted at ≈ 0·02–0·05 m year^?1, enabling the timing of excursions in χ and ξ to be estimated. These excursions, which can be resolved to the subannual level between the dated horizons, may be related to deposition by episodic storms or storm surges in the North Sea region, which is supported by historical documentary evidence. This innovative use of the LHD method and its derived statistics can be used successfully to describe temporal trends in coastal depositional environments and identify likely storm events in dune sediment records.     

Post‐wildfire changes in suspended sediment rating curves: Sabino Canyon,Arizona

Wildfire has been shown to increase erosion by several orders of magnitude, but knowledge regarding short‐term variations in post‐fire sediment transport processes has been lacking. We present a detailed analysis of the immediate post‐fire sediment dynamics in a semi‐arid basin in the southwestern USA based on suspended sediment rating curves. During June and July 2003, the Aspen Fire in the Coronado National Forest of southern Arizona burned an area of 343 km². Surface water samples were collected in an affected watershed using an event‐based sampling strategy. Sediment rating parameters were determined for individual storm events during the first 18 months after the fire. The highest sediment concentrations were observed immediately after the fire. Through the two subsequent monsoon seasons there was a progressive change in rating parameters related to the preferential removal of fine to coarse sediment. During the corresponding winter seasons, there was a lower supply of sediment from the hillslopes, resulting in a time‐invariant set of sediment rating parameters. A sediment mass‐balance model corroborated the physical interpretations. The temporal variability in the sediment rating parameters demonstrates the importance of storm‐based sampling in areas with intense monsoon activity to characterize post‐fire sediment transport accurately. In particular, recovery of rating parameters depends on the number of high‐intensity rainstorms. These findings can be used to constrain rapid assessment fire‐response models for planning mitigation activities. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spatio-temporal pattern of viral meningitis in Michigan, 1993-2001

To characterize Michigans high viral meningitis incidence rates, 8,803 cases from 1993–2001 were analyzed for standard epidemiological indices, geographic distribution, and spatio-temporal clusters. Blacks and infants were found to be high-risk groups. Annual seasonality and interannual variability in epidemic magnitude were apparent. Cases were concentrated in southern Michigan, and cumulative incidence was correlated with population density at the county level (r=0.45, p<0.001). Kulldorffs Scan test identified the occurrence of spatio-temporal clusters in Lower Michigan during July–October 1998 and 2001 (p=0.01). More extensive data on cases, laboratory isolates, sociodemographics, and environmental exposures should improve detection and enhance the effectiveness of a Space-Time Information System aimed at prevention.The authors gratefully acknowledge Dr. Duane Newton, former manager of the Virology Section, Michigan Department of Community Health Bureau of Laboratories, for his provision of data on viral isolates. We also appreciate the contributions of Drs. Leah Estberg and Dunrie Greiling for ClusterSeer support, Scott Swan for his assistance with ArcView GIS, and Dr. Edward L. Ionides for his advice on time series analysis. We are grateful to Dr. Pierre Goovaerts and two anonymous reviewers for their insightful comments on an earlier draft of this paper. This project was supported in part by a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Joint Program on Climate Variability and Human Health, a consortium including the EPA, NASA, NSF, and EPRI (NA16GP2361) to MLW.