Analytical Reduced Models for the Non-stationary Diabatic Atmospheric Boundary Layer

Geophysical boundary-layer flows feature complex dynamics that often evolve with time; however, most current knowledge centres on the steady-state problem. In these atmospheric and oceanic boundary layers, the pressure gradient, buoyancy, Coriolis, and frictional forces interact to determine the statistical moments of the flow. The resulting equations for the non-stationary mean variables, even when succinctly closed, remain challenging to handle mathematically. Here, we derive a simpler physical model that reduces these governing unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes partial differential equations into a single first-order ordinary differential equation with non-constant coefficients. The reduced model is straightforward to solve under arbitrary forcing, even when the statistical moments are non-stationary and the viscosity varies in time and space. The model is successfully validated against large-eddy simulation for, (1) time-variable pressure gradients, and (2) linearly time-variable buoyancy. The new model is shown to have a superior performance compared to the classic Blackadar solutions (and later improvements on these solutions), and it covers a much wider range of conditions.     

Land use/land cover change impact on groundwater quantity and quality: a case study of Ajman Emirate,the United Arab Emirates,using remote sensing and GIS

Ajman is a rapidly urbanizing emirate with land development succeeding at a fast pace. This study aims to monitor land use/land cover changes and assesses the impact of these changes on groundwater quality and quantity of the shallow aquifer using multitemporal remote sensing data and geographic information system (GIS). To monitor the land use/land cover changes, the Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) algorithms were utilized. The obtained maps were correlated against a set of total dissolved solid (TDS); Mg, Cl, and NO₃ groundwater quality index; and depth to the groundwater table maps constructed from groundwater data. The spatial analysis revealed a sharp depletion in groundwater quality and quantity related to the increase in the land use/land cover classes. The mean total TDS is from 21,971 to 26,450 mg/L and depth to groundwater level from ?12.33 to ?17.2 m over a period of 15 years. Maps of normalized difference and groundwater quality sustainability showed that the eastern side of the study area has a high value of groundwater quality sustainability and normalized difference, while the western side of the study area has a minimal value of groundwater quality sustainability and normalized difference. This study is of great assistance for decision makers and land developers to relate to municipal land allotment in rapidly developing regions such as Ajman.     

Evaluating the structural model from ambient vibration recordings and shallow seismic refraction techniques. A case study of Zagazig City,Egypt

This study uses the seismic refraction and noise measurements to investigate the velocity structure of the subsurface and emphasize the advantage of ambient vibration over the conventional seismic refraction technique. Field measurements were carried out at nine sites in and around Zagazig city. Shallow seismic refraction data were interpreted using the delay time method to obtain the two-dimension ground model at each site. Ambient vibration arrays are used to infer the one-dimensional compressional and shear wave velocity profiles through two main steps. The first step is to derive the dispersion curve from the recorded signals using the frequency-wavenumber method. The second is to invert the dispersion curve to obtain the site velocity profiles. The results of the compressional wave velocities obtained from seismic refraction technique showed that the subsurface consists of a number of layers ranging from two to four layers and give a good agreement with the results of the seismic wave velocities obtained from the ambient vibration arrays. The ambient vibration arrays gave a deeper depth of penetration than the other method, providing more information on the subsurface structure without any disturbance to the environment. This work provides reliable estimates of the seismic velocity structures of both shallow and deep sedimentary layers within the area of interest.     

Automatic Feature Extraction Module for Change Detection in Al Ain,UAE: Analysis by Means of Multi-temporal Remote Sensing Data

Monitoring new changes in cities adjacent to dynamic sand dunes requires precise classifier technique. Unlike traditional techniques of supervised classification which use training sites, the integration of image transformation tasseled cap and automatic feature extraction module based on spectral signatures has provided to be sensitive and realistic techniques with time and cost effective. The proposed module was applied to Al Ain district, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The module consists of four steps in terms of segmentation, thresholding and clustering and computing attributes. The obtained greenness and classified maps were then enhanced by applying a 3?×?3 Sobel filter. The new changes were detected by combining the multi-temporal greenness and classification maps. Accuracy assessment and quantitative analysis were performed using confusion matrix and ground truthing. The results showed significant increasing in urban and agricultural areas from the year from 1990 to 2000 compared with the period of time from the year 2000 to 2006. The image difference showed that the vegetation and building classes had increased 7.58 and 20.28 km² respectively. This study showed that image difference and fuzzy logic approach are the most sensitive techniques for detecting new changes in areas adjacent to dynamic sand dunes.     

Forced vertical and horizontal movements of a rectangular rigid foundation on a transversely isotropic half‐space

An analytical investigation of a half‐space containing transversely isotropic material under forced vertical and horizontal displacements applied on a rectangular rigid foundation is presented in this paper. With the goal of a rigorous solution to the shape‐ and rigidity‐ induced singular mixed boundary value problem, the formulation employs scalar potential representation, the Fourier expansion and the Hankel integral transforms method to obtain the surface arbitrary point‐load solution in cylindrical coordinate system. The obtained Green's functions are rewritten in rectangular coordinate system, allowing the response of the half‐space because of an arbitrary distributed load on a rectangular surface area be given in terms of a double integral. The numerical evaluations of stresses are done with the use of an element, which is singular at the edge and the corner of the rectangle. Upon the imposition of the rigidity displacement boundary condition for a rigid foundation and the use of a set of two‐dimensional adaptive‐gradient elements, which can capture the singular behavior in the contact stress effectively, a set of new numerical results are presented to illustrate the effect of transverse isotropy on the foundation response. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Automatic detection of near surface geological and hydrological features and investigating their influence on groundwater accumulation and salinity in southwest Egypt using remote sensing and GIS

This study employs two automated algorithms, the topographic fabric and the deterministic eight-node (D8), to reveal near surface geological fractures and their associated paleodrainages network from a 90?m DEM of the Shuttle Topographic Radar Mission sensor. The topographic fabric algorithm, which calculates the slope and aspect which define a vector normal to the earth’s surface and then compute direction cosines of normal vector at each point, was used to auto-detect fault zones. The deterministic eight-node (D8) algorithm, which determines in which neighbouring pixel any water in a central pixel will flow naturally, was used to delineate paleodrainages concealed beneath sand sheets. Seven sets of geological structures were recognized. Their major trends were found to be in the S46°W, S58°W, S81°W, N107°W, N–S, E–W and N152°W and share similar trends of the revealed paleodrainages. The results suggest a strong spatial relationship between the features extracted from DEM and groundwater potential.     

Evidence for an underground runoff and soil permeability at the Ouled Fayet (Algiers,Algeria) subsurface landfill pilot project from geophysical investigations

Results from geophysical investigations (electrical resistivity, electromagnetic mapping and seismic refraction) on an excavated cell of the Ouled Fayet (Algiers, Algeria) pilot landfill indicated the presence of an underground runoff and permeable soil underneath the cell. These results contradict those obtained by a feasibility study, based, however, only on the analysis of seventy-six 10-m drilling cores. The 1D boreholes information has been proven to be insufficient and to give biased results. The presence of water at depth is evidenced by lower resistivity, high conductivity anomalies and increase of P-wave velocity. Thus, to the contrary of what is claimed in the feasibility study, a threat of leachate pollution is real. This study shows that landfill construction studies cannot give trustful results without geophysical investigations. More specifically, in Algeria, it is imperative to elaborate a landfill construction code, which should include mandatory geophysical prospecting and deeper drilling cores.     

Impact of climate change on the hydrology and water salinity in the Anzali Wetland,northern Iran

ABSTRACT

The impact of climate change on hydrology and water salinity of a valuable coastal wetland (Anzali) in northern Iran is assessed using daily precipitation and temperature data from 19 models of Coupled Model Inter-comparison Project Phase 5. The daily data are transiently downscaled using the Long Ashton Research Station Weather Generator to three climatic stations. The temperature is projected to increase by +1.6, +1.9 and +2.7°C and precipitation to decrease by 10.4%, 12.8% and 12.2% under representative concentration pathway (RCP) scenarios RCP2.6, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, respectively. The wetland hydrology and water salinity are assessed using the water balance approach and mixing equation, respectively. The upstream river flow modelled by the Soil and Water Assessment Tool is projected to reduce by up to 18%, leading to reductions in wetland volume (154 × 10⁶ m³), area (57.47 km²) and depth (2.77 m) by 34%, 21.1% and 20.2%, respectively, under climate change, while the mean annual total dissolved solids (1675 mg/L) would increase by 49%. The reduced volume and raised salinity may affect the wetland ecology.