The Influence Of Vertical Wind Direction Shear On Dispersion In The Convective Boundary Layer, And Its Incorporation In Coastal Fumigation Models

The mean concentration distributionwithin a plume released from a point source in the atmosphericboundary layer can be greatly influenced by the systematic turningof wind with height (i.e. vertical wind direction shear). Such aninfluence includes a deflection of the plume centroid, with anassociated shearing of the vertical plume cross-section, and anenhancement of dispersion, in the horizontal plane. Wind directionshear is normally not accounted for in coastal fumigation models,although dispersion observations with shear acting as acontrolling parameter are not uncommon. A three-dimensionalLagrangian stochastic model is used to investigate the influenceof uniform wind direction shear on the diffusion of a point-sourceplume within the horizontally homogeneous convective boundarylayer, with the source located at the top of the boundary layer.Parameterisations are developed for the plume deflection andenhanced dispersion due to shear within the framework of aprobability density function (PDF) approach, and compared with theLagrangian model results. These parameterisations are thenincorporated into two applied coastal fumigation models: a PDFmodel, and a commonly used model that assumes uniform andinstantaneous mixing in the vertical direction. The PDF modelrepresents the vertical mixing process more realistically. A moreefficient version of the PDF model, which assumes a well-mixedconcentration distribution in the vertical at large times, isapplied to simulate sulfur dioxide data from the Kwinana CoastalFumigation Study. A comparison between the model results and thedata show that the model performs much better when the wind-sheareffects are included.     

Assessing future changes in seasonal climatic extremes in the Ganges river basin using an ensemble of regional climate models

Using an ensemble of four high resolution (~25 km) regional climate models, this study analyses the future (2021–2050) spatial distribution of seasonal temperature and precipitation extremes in the Ganges river basin based on the SRES A1B emissions scenario. The model validation results (1989–2008) show that the models simulate seasonality and spatial distribution of extreme temperature events better than precipitation. The models are able to capture fine topographical detail in the spatial distribution of indices based on their ability to resolve processes at a higher regional resolution. Future simulations of extreme temperature indices generally agree with expected warming in the Ganges basin, with considerable seasonal and spatial variation. Significantly warmer summers in the central part of the basin along with basin-wide increase in night temperature are expected during the summer and monsoon months. An increase in heavy precipitation indices during monsoon, coupled with extended periods without precipitation during the winter months; indicates an increase in the incidence of extreme events.     

A longitudinal study of malaria associated with deforestation in Sonitpur district of Assam,India

Assam–Arunachal forest fringed foothill area is endemic for malaria incidence. The present study deals with the temporal analysis of malaria incidence and determines its association with deforestation in 24 villages along the Assam–Arunachal forest fringed foothill area of Sonitpur district of Assam. Malaria epidemiological survey has been carried out in the study area from the year 1994 to 2005. Remote sensing (RS) technique has been used to map the areas of forest changes from the year 2000 to 2005. Geographical information system (GIS) was used to map the malaria incidence and forest cover. The study villages are endemic to malaria infections and there was increasing trend of malaria incidence over the years. The slide positivity rate (SPR) ranged from 5.1% in 1997 to 44.4% in 2005. The percentage forest cover decreased significantly from 23.6% during 2000 to 15.4% during 2005, whereas SPR was increased during 2000–2005. The present study is the first attempt to understand the role of deforestation in malaria incidence using RS and GIS in the north-eastern region of India at a micro-geographic level. The study suggests that the area is endemic to malaria transmission. The decrease in forest cover is a serious ecological concern besides its role in elevating the malaria incidence in the study area.     

Neural network estimation of duration of strong ground motion using Japanese earthquake records

The duration of strong motion has a significant influence on the severity of ground shaking. In this work, a combination of average values of four geophysical properties of site (Standard Penetration Test (SPT) blow count, primary wave velocity, shear wave velocity, and density of soil) including hypocentral distance of less than 50 km and magnitudes more than 5.0 from Japanese ground motion records were used for development of neural network model, to estimate duration of strong ground motion. Since majority of strong motion databases provide only average shear wave velocity for site characterization, an attempt has also been made to train the neural network with magnitude, hypocentral distance and average shear wave velocity as three input variables. Results obtained from this study show that the duration of strong motion is mostly dependent on average shear wave velocity rather than other geophysical properties of site.     

Pore water pressure in natural slopes

Estimating subsurface pore water pressures in natural slopes along the periphery of rivers and reservoirs for future conditions, created by the operational requiremets to meet increases in energy demand from the observed data of the past and present, operations, is possible with the use of a mathematical model. An effective algorithm for calculating pore water pressure at any location in a slope stability section is to use a complete polynomial and to assure geometric invariance of the calculated results.     

Rank-size distribution and primate city characteristics in India — A temporal analysis

This paper is an analysis of the historical change in city size distribution in India from the perspectives provided by Zipf and Jefferson. Rank-size distribution at national level and primate city-size distribution at regional levels are examined. India's national urban system is gradually evolving towards Zipf's rank-size distribution. But primate cities have persisted in three of the four macro-regions in India. The paper also examines, in the Indian context, the relation between rank-size distribution and an integrated urban system, and the normative nature of the latter as a spatial organization of human society. Finally, we have made a modest attempt to locate the research on city-size distribution, especially Berry's system-theoretic interpretation of rank-size distribution, on the realm of the political economy of urbanization.     

An evaluation of national economic planning in the People's Republic of China

The People's Republic of China has sought, since its inception in 1949, to develop through economic planning at the national level rather than rely on traditional free market mechanisms. This paper examines the changing characteristics of this economic planning over time, including the shifting balance between centralizing and decentralizing policies. The disruptive effects of the “Great Leap Forward” and the Cultural Revolution are also discussed and the general features of the contemporary situation are examined.     

Framboidal — colloform — recrystallised pyrite in the granitoids of Wahkyn area,West Khasi hills,Meghalaya

Petrographic studies of Proterozoic pyriteferous granitoids forming basement for upper cretaceous Mahadek sediments from Wahkyn area reveal interesting textural peculiarities of Pyrite. These pyrites also reveal interesting structural peculiarities. The three textural pyrite varieties found in the granitoids are: framboidal, colloform and recrystallised which appear both as composite aggregate as well as independent units. Various textures and variation in reflectivity, microhardness and elemental distribution of the pyrites are described. Average Co/Ni ratio along with the textural manifestation of these pyrites attests their sedimentary origin.