Caractérisation de l'effluent de vidange d'un étang de pisciculture extensive

Résumé Afin d'évaluer l'impact potentiel de la vidange, les flux de nutriments et de matières sont quantifiés lors du remplissage et de la vidange d'un étang construit en dérivation, à l'aval d'une chaîne d'étangs. La cinétique de vidange a été établie à l'aide d'un modèle numérique de terrain restituant la surface topographique de l'étang. Les matières en suspension et les principaux nutriments ont été régulièrement quantifiés. La qualité hydrobiologique du cours d'eau récepteur a été contrôlée pendant et après la vidange. L'étang a exporté 8.5 tonnes de matières en suspension et des quantités de nutriments relativement élevées. Nos résultats confirment l'existence de deux phases critiques, ne concernant cependant qu'un très faible volume d'effluent. Compte tenu des capacités élevées de sédimentation des matières en suspension, la courte durée d'exposition associée à un linéaire de fossés suffisant pourrait limiter l'impact de ces matières rejetées.

Citation Vallod, D. & Sarrazin, B. (2010) Caractérisation de l'effluent de vidange d'un étang de pisciculture extensive. Hydrol. Sci. J. 55(3), 394–402.     

Thermomechanical effects of a rapid depressurization in a gas cavern

Rapid gas depressurization leads to gas cooling followed by slow gas warming when the cavern is kept idle. Gas temperature drop depends upon withdrawal rate and cavern size. Thermal tensile stresses, resulting from gas cooling, may generate fractures at the wall and roof of a salt cavern. However, in most cases, the depth of penetration of these fractures is small. These fractures are perpendicular to the cavern wall. The distance between two parallel fractures becomes larger when fractures penetrate deeper in the rock mass, as some fractures do not keep growing. These conclusions can be supported by numerical computations based on fracture mechanics. Salt slabs are created. However, these slabs remain strongly bounded to the rock mass and it is believed that in many cases their weight is not large enough to allow them to break off the cavern wall. Depth of penetration of the fractures must be computed to prove that they cannot be a concern from the point of view of cavern tightness.     

Benchmark-based allocations in EU ETS Phase 3: an early assessment

Phase 3 of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS; 2013–2020) sees the introduction of new rules governing the free allocations of emissions allowances given to energy-intensive industries. In contrast to Phases 1 and 2, allocations will be based on historical production multiplied by best available emissions technology benchmarks. This article exploits an original database to provide a first analysis of the distributional and economic efficiency implications of the new rules. It is shown empirically that the new allocation rules reduce the scope for windfall gains by EU ETS firms while also effectively mitigating carbon leakage risks, even assuming optimistic forecasts of Phase 3 carbon prices. The example of the cement sector is used to show that benchmarking significantly improves the harmonization of the levels of free allocations to competing firms throughout the EU compared to Phase 2. However, it is also found that the use of ex ante output levels to determine allocations still leaves considerable scope for windfall gains and possible distortions of the internal market.     

Antenna-coupled arrays of NbSi micro-bolometers

Microbolometers are at present the most sensitive detectors for mm and sub-mm Astronomy. They are in use in most of the present instruments in that bandwidth. We have developed filled arrays of NbSi-based planar antenna coupled microbolometers. The fabrication details are given, together with characterization of the NbSi thermometers and optical results. The optical performances are potentially good for ground-based mm-wave astronomy applications, while the overall detectors performances are limited by low-frequency excess noise in the thermometric NbSi high-impedance sensors (Anderson insulator).     

Interactions between mean flow and finite-amplitude mesoscale eddies in a barotropic ocean

Abstract

For the purpose of deriving an analytical parametrization, oceanic mesoscale eddies are represented as a horizontally propagating wave field in a non-uniform environment. The mathematical analysis rests upon the assumption of scale disparity between a short eddy scale and a long mean-flow scale. The novelty resides in the treatment of finite-amplitude eddies, which, moreover, form either a band-like or a cell-like pattern. A barotropic ocean is chosen as a first step to illustrate the mathematical analysis, but dissipation is included. The main result is an analytical derivation of a mesoscale-eddy parametrization: the mean-flow equation contains Reynolds-stress terms which are computed from parameters of the eddy field, which, in turn, are predicted by separate evolution equations. Due to restrictive assumptions (barotropy, orthogonal waves,…), the parametrization established here should be viewed only as a first step toward the design of a more practical parameterization for large-scale modelling.     

Modeling Dehalococcoides sp. Augmented Bioremediation in a Single Fracture System

A numerical reactive transport model was developed to simulate the bioremediation processes in a perchloroethene (PCE) contaminated single fracture system augmented with Dehalococcoides sp. (DHC). The model describes multispecies bioreactive transport processes that include bacterial growth and detachment dynamics, biodegradation of chlorinated species, competitive inhibition of various reactive species, and the loss of daughter products because of back‐partitioning effects. Two sets of experimental data, available in the study by Schaefer et al. (2010b) , were used to calibrate and test the model. The model was able to simulate both datasets. The simulation results indicated that the yield coefficient and the DHC maximum utilization rate coefficient were the two important process parameters. A detailed sensitivity study was completed to quantify the sensitivity of the model to variations in these two parameter values. The results show that an increase in yield coefficient increases bacterial growth and thus expedites the dechlorination process, whereas an increase in maximum utilization rate coefficient greatly increased dechlorination rates. The proposed model provides a mathematical framework for simulating remediation systems that employ DHC bioaugmentation for restoring chlorinated‐solvent contaminated groundwater aquifers.     

Assimilating altimetric data to control the tropical instability waves: an observing system simulation experiment study

Tropical instability waves (TIWs) are not easily simulated by ocean circulation models primarily because such waves are very sensitive to wind forcing. In this study, we investigate the impact of assimilating sea surface height (SSH) observations on the control of TIWs in an observing system simulation experiment (OSSE) context based on a regional model configuration of the tropical Atlantic. A Kalman filtering method with suitable adaptations is found to be successful when altimetric data are assimilated in conjunction with sea surface temperature and some in situ temperature/salinity profiles. In this rather realistic system, the TIW phase is roughly controlled with a single nadir observing satellite. However, a right correction of the TIW structure and amplitude requires at least two nadir observing satellites or a wide swath observing satellite. The significant impact of orbital parameters is also demonstrated: in particular, the Jason or GFO satellite orbits are found to be more suitable than the ENVISAT orbit. More generally, it is found that as soon as adequate sub-sampling exists (with periods of 5–10?days), the length of the repetitivity cycle of orbits does not have a significant impact.     

Geodynamic evolution of the Tethyan lithosphere as recorded in the Spontang Ophiolite,South Ladakh ophiolites(NW Himalaya,India)

The Spontang Ophiolite complex represents the most complete ophiolite sequence amongst the South Ladakh ophiolites and comprises mantle rocks(depleted harzburgites,dunites and minor lherzolites)as well as crustal rocks(basalt,isotropic gabbros,layered gabbros etc.).In the present study,detailed geochemistry(whole rock as well as mineral chemistry)and Sr-Nd isotopic analyses of thirty-six ultramaficmafic samples have been attempted to constraint the evolution and petrogenetic history of the Tethyan oceanic crust.Major,trace-element and REE patterns of the peridotites and their minerals indicate that the lherzolites experienced lower degrees of partial melting resembling abyssal peridotites(at higher temperatures,TREE=$1216℃)than the harzburgites(6%–8%versus 15%–17%).Elevated eNd(t)and variable⁸⁷ Sr/⁸⁶ Sr(t)ratios along with REE patterns suggest that the Spontang mafic rocks display N-MORB affinity with negligible participation of oceanic sediments in their genesis are originated from a depleted upper mantle with little contribution from subduction-related fluids.MORB-type Neotethyan oceanic crust is associated with the earliest phase of subduction(of older Jurassic age)through which a younger intra-oceanic island arc(Spong arc)subsequently developed.Harzburgites REE display typical U-shaped patterns,suggesting that these rocks have been metasomatized by LREE-enriched fluids.On the other side,mafic rocks are characterized by heterogeneous(Nb/La)PMand(Hf/Sm)PMand relatively homogeneous eNd(t),indicating interaction of subduction-related melts with the upper mantle during the initiation of subduction,in Early Cretaceous times.     

Sedimentation rates in flow-restricted and restored salt marshes in Long Island Sound

Many salt marshes in densely populated areas have been subjected to a reduction in tidal flow. In order to assess the impact of tidal flow restriction on marsh sedimentation processes, sediment cores were collected from flow-restricted restricted salt marshes along the Connecticut coast of Long Island Sound. Cores were also collected from unrestricted reference marshes and from a marsh that had been previously restricted but was restored to fuller tidal flushing in the 1970's. High bulk densities and low C and N concentrations were found at depth in the restricted marsh cores, which we attribute to a period of organic matter oxidation, sediment compaction, and marsh surface subsidence upon installation of flow restrictions (between 100 and 200 years before the present, depending on the marsh). Recent sedimentation rates at the restricted marshes (as determined by¹³⁷Cs and²¹⁰Pb dating) were positive and averaged 78% (¹³⁷Cs) and 50% (²¹⁰Pb) of reference marsh sedimentation rates. The accumulation of inorganic sediment was similar at the restricted and reference marshes, perhaps because of the seasonal operation of the tide gates, while organic sediment accretion (and pore space) was significantly lower in the restricted marshes, perhaps because of higher decomposition rates. Sedimentation rates at the restored marsh were significantly higher than at the reference marshes. This marsh has responded to the higher water levels resulting from restoration by a rapid increase in marsh surface elevation.