Changes in mixed layer depth under climate change projections in two CGCMs

Two coupled general circulation models, i.e., the Meteorological Research Institute (MRI) and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) models, were chosen to examine changes in mixed layer depth (MLD) in the equatorial tropical Pacific and its relationship with ENSO under climate change projections. The control experiment used pre-industrial greenhouse gas concentrations whereas the 2 × CO₂ experiment used doubled CO₂ levels. In the control experiment, the MLD simulated in the MRI model was shallower than that in the GFDL model. This resulted in the tropical Pacific’s mean sea surface temperature (SST) increasing at different rates under global warming in the two models. The deeper the mean MLD simulated in the control simulation, the lesser the warming rate of the mean SST simulated in the 2 × CO₂ experiment. This demonstrates that the MLD is a key parameter for regulating the response of tropical mean SST to global warming. In particular, in the MRI model, increased stratification associated with global warming amplified wind-driven advection within the mixed layer, leading to greater ENSO variability. On the other hand, in the GFDL model, wind-driven currents were weak, which resulted in mixed-layer dynamics being less sensitive to global warming. The relationship between MLD and ENSO was also examined. Results indicated that the non-linearity between the MLD and ENSO is enhanced from the control run to the 2 × CO₂ run in the MRI model, in contrast, the linear relationship between the MLD index and ENSO is unchanged despite an increase in CO₂ concentrations in the GFDL model.     

Experimental verification of a wireless sensing and control system for structural control using MR dampers

The performance aspects of a wireless ‘active’ sensor, including the reliability of the wireless communication channel for real‐time data delivery and its application to feedback structural control, are explored in this study. First, the control of magnetorheological (MR) dampers using wireless sensors is examined. Second, the application of the MR‐damper to actively control a half‐scale three‐storey steel building excited at its base by shaking table is studied using a wireless control system assembled from wireless active sensors. With an MR damper installed on each floor (three dampers total), structural responses during seismic excitation are measured by the system's wireless active sensors and wirelessly communicated to each other; upon receipt of response data, the wireless sensor interfaced to each MR damper calculates a desired control action using an LQG controller implemented in the wireless sensor's computational core. In this system, the wireless active sensor is responsible for the reception of response data, determination of optimal control forces, and the issuing of command signals to the MR damper. Various control solutions are formulated in this study and embedded in the wireless control system including centralized and decentralized control algorithms. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On simulating reactive chemical transport with dominating precipitated species controlling chemical equilibrium

We present an approach developed to compute chemical equilibrium and its corresponding reactive chemical transport when dominating precipitated species (DPS) exist. In computing chemical equilibrium, most models take the concentrations or activities of component species and precipitated species as the master variables. However, when the amount of a precipitated species is much larger than those of other species, small computational errors on this DPS concentration might introduce large errors on the concentrations of other species and would cause non‐mass‐conserved numerical results. To deal with the existence of DPS, we pick as master variables the concentration change, rather than the concentration, of DPS to compute chemical equilibrium. Since the concentration changes of DPS will no longer be much larger than the concentrations of other species in determining equilibrium, our approach is able to provide correct numerical results. We also employ the modified total analytical concentrations, rather than the total analytical concentrations, of aqueous components as the dependent variables in presenting and solving corresponding transport equations. Several examples are given to reveal the numerical problems associated with DPS and to demonstrate the success of our approach. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A combinatorial optimization scheme for parameter structure identification in ground water modeling

This research develops a methodology for parameter structure identification in ground water modeling. For a given set of observations, parameter structure identification seeks to identify the parameter dimension, its corresponding parameter pattern and values. Voronoi tessellation is used to parameterize the unknown distributed parameter into a number of zones. Accordingly, the parameter structure identification problem is equivalent to finding the number and locations as well as the values of the basis points associated with the Voronoi tessellation. A genetic algorithm (GA) is allied with a grid search method and a quasi-Newton algorithm to solve the inverse problem. GA is first used to search for the near-optimal parameter pattern and values. Next, a grid search method and a quasi-Newton algorithm iteratively improve the GA's estimates. Sensitivities of state variables to parameters are calculated by the sensitivity-equation method. MODFLOW and MT3DMS are employed to solve the coupled flow and transport model as well as the derived sensitivity equations. The optimal parameter dimension is determined using criteria based on parameter uncertainty and parameter structure discrimination. Numerical experiments are conducted to demonstrate the proposed methodology, in which the true transmissivity field is characterized by either a continuous distribution or a distribution that can be characterized by zones. We conclude that the optimized transmissivity zones capture the trend and distribution of the true transmissivity field.     

Spatiotemporal development of mine water inrush and its mechanism—a case study in Ganhe coal mine,Shanxi, China

Mine water inrush is one of the main hazards in coal mining industry. The mechanism and the processes are complex. Investigation of the spatiotemporal development of the hydrological process could lead to a better understanding of mine water inrush and effective countermeasures. For this reason, we investigated spatial and temporal characteristics (i.e., the changes of flow rate, groundwater level, and water quality) during a water inrush event in China, which had a flow rate of 730 m³/h at maximum and 300m³/h under a steady condition. The result shows that the water inrush developed in several stages. A mathematical model of the dynamic change between the water table and the inrush flow rate was constructed. Based on this model, we found the relationship of highly conductive flow channels between some observation boreholes and the water inrush point. In addition, the recharge velocity of the highly conductive flow channels and the equivalent mean flow velocity of the whole mine were determined. A comprehensive analysis of geological, hydrodynamic, and crustal stress conditions was conducted to study the development of the water channel near the F₁₃ fault and the nonlinear process from seepage stage to inrush stage. The result reveals the water inrush is likely caused by activation of faults under combined influences of high crustal stress and high hydraulic pressure.     

Source of low frequency modulation of ENSO amplitude in a CGCM

We study the relationship between changes in equatorial stratification and low frequency El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) amplitude modulation in a coupled general circulation model (CGCM) that uses an anomaly coupling strategy to prevent climate drifts in the mean state. The stratification is intensified at upper levels in the western and central equatorial Pacific during periods of high ENSO amplitude. Furthermore, changes in equatorial stratification are connected with subsurface temperature anomalies originating from the central south tropical Pacific. The correlation analysis of ocean temperature anomalies against an index for the ENSO modulation supports the hypothesis of the existence of an oceanic “tunnel” that connects the south tropical Pacific to the equatorial wave guide. Further analysis of the wind stress projection coefficient onto the oceanic baroclinic modes suggests that the low frequency modulation of ENSO amplitude is associated with a significant contribution of higher-order modes in the western and central equatorial Pacific. In the light of these results, we suggest that, in the CGCM, change in the baroclinic mode energy distribution associated with low frequency ENSO amplitude modulation have its source in the central south tropical Pacific.