Approaches for modeling longitudinal dispersion in pore-networks

The purpose of this study is to quantify the dispersivity in the longitudinal direction by upscaling pore scale mixing over a network domain and to verify the dispersivity with that obtained through the more rigorous upscaling technique, the Brownian particle tracking model (BPTM). We model a porous medium with a network of pore-units that are comprised of pore bodies and bonds of finite volume. Such a pore-unit is assumed to be a mixing cell with the steady state flow condition for a single fluid. Dispersivity can be obtained by solving the mixing cell model (MCM) for the concentration in each pore-unit and by averaging the concentrations for a large number of pore units (as a function of time and space). A minimal size of network that ascertains an asymptotic value of dispersivity was determined and verified with large size pore networks. This numerically computed dispersivity is compared with the results from the BPTM for the same porous medium and flow conditions. We show that the dispersivity obtained from the MCM is equally reliable for the heterogeneous pore-networks and can be estimated as a function of pore size heterogeneity. For homogeneous networks with the MCM, the iteration time step plays an important role. On the other hand, for networks with the BPTM, the assumption of intra-bond velocity profile affects the results.     

Simple formulations of ground impedance functions for rigid surface foundations

A differential equation is formulated for the dynamic response of ground medium by using a simplified ground model. Applying Galerkin's procedure for weighted residual, this equation leads to a governing equation only at the ground surface. The equation indicates that the ground surface behavior can be computed even further by a simplified model. By solving the governing equation for the boundary conditions along the surface, expressions in simple closed forms are developed for the dynamic response analysis of a massless rigid foundation that rests on the ground surface. Despite their significant simplicity, the developed expressions compute the values very close to those computed by far more complex rigorous solutions. They are found to be capable of capturing the important characteristics of the dynamic ground behavior well.     

Reply to comments by G. Kosarev, N. Petersen and L. P. Vinnik on 'The use of velocity spectrum for stacking receiver functions and imaging upper mantle discontinuities

We thank the editors of GJI for the opportunity to respond to the comment in this issue by Kosarev, Petersen & Vinnik 11996: hereafter referred to as KPV), which disputes the historical and technical accuracy of the paper by Gurrola, Minster & Owens (1994; henceforth referred to as GMO).     

Rain rates based on SSM/I,OLR and raingauge data sets

Summary In this paper we present a methodology for evaluating rain rates from a mix of satellite and surface based observations. The component data sets include the outgoing longwave radiation (OLR), microwave radiometric data from the special sensor microwave imager (SSM/I) and surface raingauge data from the World Weather Watch. We have noted some deficiencies in the SSM/I algorithm-based rain rate over land areas; the OLR-based rain rates exhibit a larger lateral spread and lower intensities than the observed rainfall structures. The proposed combined method assimilates these three data sets to provide improved fields of global tropical rainfall.With 3 Figures     

Fracture induced emission of alkali atoms from feldspar

Emission of neutral atoms (K and Na) and molecules (H₂O and KOH) observed during fracture of K-feldspar have been accounted for by two independent mechanisms. H₂O and KOH emissions are attributed to the venting of fluid-filled inclusions, while emission of atomic K is due to surface effects accompanying cleavage of crystalline feldspar. The intensity of emitted potassium, at least 6 × 10¹⁴ atoms/cm² of surface area, is sufficient to affect K activities in solution during microbrecciation in the presence of rock-dominated fluids.