Boundary-layer parameterizations for applied dispersion modeling over urban areas

Many applied dispersion models require the knowledge of boundary-layer parameters such as sensible heat flux,Q _H , friction velocity,u _*, and turbulent energy components, _w and _v . Formulas are suggested for calculating these parameters over a wide variety of types of ground surfaces, based on simple observations of wind speed near the ground and fractional cloud cover, and specification of constants such as roughness length, albedo, and soil moisture availability. Observations ofu _*,Q _H , _w , and _v during field experiments in St. Louis and Indianapolis are used to test the formulas for urban sites. Relative errors of about ±20% in the predictions are seen to occur whenu _*,Q _H , _w , and _v are large. However, when these quantities are small (e.g.,u _* < 0.2 m/s), the errors in the predictions are as large as the mean value of the quantity itself.In addition, it is concluded from studies of available field data and theories that the magnitude of _w is not well-known at elevations above about 100m during the late afternoon and night. Some simple parameterizations for _w . are suggested that are consistent with the observed steady decrease in ground-level concentration in the afternoon and the sudden increase in concentration that can occur a few hours after sunset due to wind shears associated with a low-level jet, for continuous plumes emitted from moderate to tall stacks.     

Cs and Cl NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics modeling of Cs and Cl complexation with natural organic matter

Interaction of dissolved aqueous species with natural organic matter (NOM) is thought to be important in sequestering some species and enhancing the transport of others, but little is known about these interactions on a molecular scale. This paper describes a combined experimental ¹³³Cs and ³⁵Cl nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and computational molecular dynamics (MD) modeling study of the interaction of Cs⁺ and Cl⁻ with Suwannee River NOM. The results provide a detailed picture of the molecular-scale structure and dynamics of these interactions. Individual NOM molecules are typically hundreds to thousands of Daltons in weight, and on the molecular scale their interaction with small dissolved species can be investigated in ways similar to those used to study the interaction of dissolved aqueous species with mineral surfaces. As for such surface interactions, understanding both the structural environments and the dynamics over a wide range of frequencies is essential. The NMR results show that Cs⁺ is associated with NOM at pH values from 3.4 ± 0.5 (unbuffered Suwannee River NOM solution) to 9.0 ± 0.5. The extent of interaction increases with decreasing CsCl concentration at constant pH. It also decreases with increasing pH at constant CsCl concentration due to pH-dependent negative structural charge development on the NOM caused by progressive deprotonation of carboxylic and phenolic groups. The presence of NOM has little effect on the ¹³³Cs chemical shifts, demonstrating that its local coordination environment does not change significantly due to interaction with the NOM. Narrow, solution-like line widths indicate rapid exchange of Cs⁺ between the NOM and bulk solution at frequencies of >10² Hz. The MD simulations support these results and show that Cs⁺ is associated with the NOM principally as outer sphere complexes and that this interaction does not reduce the Cs⁺ diffusion coefficient sufficiently to cause NMR line broadening. The ³⁵Cl NMR data and the MD results are consistent in demonstrating that there is no significant complexation between Cl⁻ and NOM in the pH range investigated, consistent with negative structural charge on the NOM.     

Application of back-propagation networks in debris flow prediction

Debris flows have caused serious loss of human lives and a lot of damage to properties in Taiwan over the past decades. Moreover, debris flows have brought massive mud causing water pollution in reservoirs and resulted in water shortage for daily life locally and affected agricultural irrigation and industrial usages seriously. A number of methods for prediction of debris flows have been studied. However, the successful prediction ratio of debris flows cannot always maintain a stable and reliable level. The objective of this study is to present a stable and reliable analytical model for occurrence predictions of debris flows. This study proposes an Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) model that was constructed by seven significant factors using back-propagation (BP) algorithm. These seven factors include (1) length of creek, (2) average slope, (3) effective watershed area, (4) shape coefficient, (5) median size of soil grain, (6) effective cumulative rainfall, and (7) effective rainfall intensity. A total of 178 potential cases of debris flows collected in eastern Taiwan were fed into the ANN model for training and testing. The average ratio of successful prediction reaching 93.82% demonstrates that the presented ANN model with seven significant factors can provide a stable and reliable result for the prediction of debris flows in hazard mitigation and guarding systems.     

Damage Survey of Water Supply Systems and Fragility Curve of PVC Water Pipelines in the Chi–Chi Taiwan Earthquake

Substantial damage to water supply systems, including water delivery pipelines, water treatment plants, reservoirs, and water storage tanks, was reported after the 1999 Chi–Chi Taiwan Earthquake. This paper first summarizes the damage survey and then presents the results of seismic fragility analysis for underground pipelines. Construction blueprints of the water delivery pipelines and repair work orders of 11 townships and cities in the disastrous area were digitized into a Geographical Information System (GIS) for analysis and assessment. With the aid of the GIS system, we found that PVC pipes made up 86% of water delivery pipelines while steel, cast iron, ductile iron, PE and others took the rest. Therefore, this paper focuses on the fragility analysis of PVC pipes. Three different methods were applied to derive the fragility relations between the PVC water pipes having nominal diameters (approximately inner diameters) greater than or equal to 65 mm and earthquake intensity parameters such as peak ground acceleration and peak ground velocity. The results were then examined with those of other countries. The discrepancy between our results and the empirical equation used by HAZUS, an earthquake loss estimation software developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency was not significant.     

Early Estimation of Seismic Hazard for Strong Earthquakes in Taiwan

A shakemap system providing rapid estimates of strong ground shaking could be useful for emergency response providers in a damaging earthquake. A hybrid procedure, which combines site-dependent ground motion prediction models and the limited observations of the Real-Time Digital stream output system (RTD system operated by Central Weather Bureau, CWB), was set up to provide a high-resolution shakemap in a near-real-time manner after damaging earthquakes in Taiwan. One of the main factors that affect the result of ground motion prediction analysis is the existence of site effects. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the local site effects and their influence in the ground shaking and then establish an early estimation procedure of potential hazard for damaging earthquakes. Based on the attenuation law, the site effects of each TSMIP station are discussed in terms of a bias function that is site and intensity-level dependent function. The standard deviation of the site-dependent ground motion prediction model can be significantly reduced. The nonlinear behavior of ground soil is automatically taken into account in the intensity-level dependent bias function. Both the PGA and the spectral acceleration are studied in this study. Based on the RTD data, event correctors are calculated and applied to precisely estimate the shakemap of damaging earthquakes for emergency response.     

层序的测井、地震响应特征研究

在层序地层学研究中,关键是层序划分和对比。而层序划分、对比的关键是层序识别。层序的识别包括层序界面(层序的底界面、初始海泛面和最大海泛面)的识别和构成层序的体系域识别。这里,在众多前人研究成果的基础上,详细研究了层序的测井、地震响应特征,即层序界面和体系域在测井曲线上和地震剖面上的特征。其中,层序底界面在测井上表现为突变的钟型、箱型或侧积式曲线的底界;在地震剖面上表现为剥蚀、顶超、上超、下超;而体系域在测井曲线上的响应为:低水位体系域的海底扇以漏斗形中、高幅的前积式,或钟型中、低幅的后积式模式为特征,陆坡扇成钟型、正向齿形,自下而上幅度由中高幅→低幅,即具后积式测井模式,低水位楔的测井曲线表现为旋回性进积模式特征,其特征表现为锯齿状箱型。海侵体系域的测井曲线呈现向上变细、变深序列,并表现为钟型、正向齿形或齿化状,幅度由高幅变化为低幅,包络线具后积式特征。高水位体系域相应的测井曲线呈现中幅箱形或桶形,不同体系域在地震剖面上的响应特征明显不同。     

邯峰矿区古构造应力场与构造演化

采用共轭剪节理应力反演方法,恢复了邯郸-峰峰矿区晚古生代以来的3期古构造应力场,进而探讨了煤田构造的演化历史,将其分为4大阶段：①中生代早期近NS向挤压,煤系后期改造初动期;②中生代晚期SE-NW向挤压,奠定煤田构造格架的基础;③中生代末至古近纪NW-SE向拉张,煤田构造格架定型;④新近纪以来近东西向拉张,煤田构造的现代活动.     

虚假回波在强对流天气探测中的应用

根据2003年几次强对流天气的观测资料，对其中三体散射长钉、二次回波旁瓣回波等虚假回波进行了分析。初步得出了上述虚假回波在新一代C波段天气雷达图像上的特征，为强对流天气的雷达探测和识别提供一些依据。     

2003年7月3日梅雨锋切变线上的β-中尺度暴雨云团分析

利用多种气象卫星遥感资料及加工产品,对2003年7月3日产生在皖北的暴雨过程进行了中尺度分析。分析表明:在切变线云带上有11个β-中尺度对流云团发展,水平范围约100km,生命史约5h;其背景场是整个对流云区内具有高湿、正涡度和上升运动的特征,它们促使切变线内高湿斜压不稳定能量释放,促使β-中尺度云团发展,产生很强的降水,云团的水凝物廓线上部的可降水冰和云冰含量很高,最大值达0.8g/kg,最大高度达18km,云顶亮温低于-80℃。