Micrometeorological changes associated with vegetation removal and influencing desert formation

Summary The effects of vegetation removal on the energy balance components, soil and air temperatures, and atmospheric vapour densities are predicted using a recently developed analytical theory. The results show that the sum of daily average sensible and latent heat flux densities decreases as the surface resistance and albedo increase and the surface roughness decreases, which according to some numerical models implies reductions in rainfall. For a dry surface daytime atmospheric heating decreases with vegetation removal because albedo and soil admittance increase and atmospheric admittance decreases; according to another model this should reduce precipitation. The results show that surface temperature is not an appropriate diagnostic measure of sensible heat flux density, even under constant meteorological conditions, when changes in surface roughness also occur. Analysis of some surface temperatures measurements made in the Negev and the Sinai suggests that understanding the turbulent processes occurring in the roughness sublayer, when the surface is partially covered with vegetation, is critical in assessing the micrometeorological changes associated with vegetation removal and desert formation.With 2 Figures     

Uplift in seismic response of pile supported buildings

To resist seismic overturning moments piles are often designed for tensile forces which require pile connection to the cap and sometimes, socketing. For typical buildings, this paper theoretically examines the effect of these measures on seismic response, forces and pile loading in dependence on pile numbers, configuration and tip conditions.     

Dynamic behaviour of turbine-generator-foundation systems

In this paper a comprehensive investigation on the dynamic characteristics of turbine–generator–foundation systems is performed. All the major components of the system, including turbine–generator casing, shaft, rotors, journal bearings, deck, piers, foundation mat, piles, and soil medium, have been included. Full interaction between the turbine–generator set, the foundation superstructure, and the soil medium, is considered. A hybrid method is used to establish the mathematical model for the turbine–generator-foundation system. The analysis is conducted in the frequency domain through complex frequency response analysis. The response in the time domain is obtained by Fourier transform. The seismic excitation is represented as the control motion on the ground surface, which is generated as an artificial earthquake. A 300 MW turbine-generator-foundation system is analysed under excitations from rotor unbalances and earthquakes. The influence of turbine-generator casing and soil anisotropy on the response of the system is explored. It is found that the presence of casing and soil anisotropy strongly influences the displacements and internal forces of the system under rotor unbalance excitation. Under seismic excitation, however, although the presence of casing and soil anisotropy does affect the displacements of the system, their effect on the internal forces of the system is minimal.     

Element budgets of pine stands on lignite and pyrite containing mine soils

To analyze the development of pine ecosystems on lignite and pyrite containing mine soils, four pine stands with ages of 3–35 years were investigated in a chronosequence approach. Bulk precipitation, throughfall and soil solution in depths of 20, 40, 70 and 100 cm were studied over a three-year period to determine element fluxes in these forest ecosystems on extreme acidic and saline soils.Element budgets are controlled by the processes induced by pyrite oxidation such as intensive weathering of primary minerals, precipitation and leaching of secondary phases.Despite low water fluxes, element outputs can reach extraordinary high values due to very high concentrations in the soil solution. Although element outputs decrease drastically with stand age, respectively, site age, they exceed those of comparable pine stands on non-mine sites. Nitrogen release from the lignite fraction represents a special characteristic of the examined substrates. Nitrogen losses beneath the rooted zone can be 34 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in 100 cm depth. Element input and output in the examined ecosystems are far from balance. Closed cycling of nutrients seems to be recognizable in the case of potassium.     

Ludwig F. Weickmann

Ohne Zusammenfassung

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Ludwig F. Weickmann

     

Der Werdegang der Geosynklinale

Zusammenfassung In der geosynklinalen Vorgeschichte mancher Kettengebirge gibt es zwei Phasen mit verschiedener paläogeographischer Konfiguration: 1. mit Dehnungstektonik, 2. mit Kompressionstektonik. Der Höhepunkt der vororogenen magmatischen Tätigkeit fällt in eine Zwischenphase mit geringerem submarinem Relief.Kurzfassung eines am 12. März 1960 vor der Geologischen Vereinigung gehaltenen Vortrages. Eine ausführliche Arbeit über die Geosynklinalentwicklung der Westalpen (mit umfangreichem Literaturverzeichnis) erschien im Bull. Geol. Soc. America, Juni 1960, unter dem Titel Paleotectonic Evolution of the Central and Western Alps.     

Dissolved noble gases in marine waters

The supersaturation of neon in southeastern Pacific deep sea water is unexpectedly high, 6.6% on the average, while surface waters have values about a factor of two lower. A comparison of neon and argon concentrations indicates the presence of injected air in the deep water. The results from surface samples cannot be reconciled with air injection.