Modulation of the flow structure by progressive bedforms in the Kinoshita meandering channel

An in‐house fully three‐dimensional general‐purpose finite element model is applied to solve the hydrodynamic structure in a periodic Kinoshita‐generated meandering channel. The numerical model solves the incompressible Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes equations for mass and momentum, while solving the k ? ε equations for turbulence. The free surface is described by the rigid‐lid approximation (using measured water surface data) for flat (smooth‐bed) and self‐formed (rough‐bed) conditions. The model results are compared against experimental measurements in the ‘Kinoshita channel’, where three‐dimensional flow velocities and turbulence parameters were measured. This validation was carried out for the upstream‐valley meander bend orientation under smooth (flat bed) conditions. After validation, several simulations were carried out to predict the hydrodynamics in conditions where either it was not possible to perform measurements (e.g. applicability of the laboratory acoustic instruments) and to extrapolate the model to other planform configurations. For the flat smooth‐bed case, a symmetric (no skewness) planform configuration was modeled and compared to the upstream‐skewed case. For the self‐formed rough‐bed case, prediction of the hydrodynamics during the progression of bedforms was performed. It appears that the presence of bedforms on a bend has the following effects: (i) the natural secondary flow of the bend is disrupted by the presence of the bedforms, thus depending on the location of the dune, secondary flows might differ completely from the traditional orientation; (ii) an increment on both the bed and bank shear stresses is induced, having as much as 50% more fluvial erosion, and thus a potential increment on the migration rate of the bend. Implications on sediment transport and bend morphodynamics are also discussed in the paper. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Attitude stability of a gravity-stabilized gyrostat satellite

This paper treats analytically the problem of the stability of the attitude motions of a gravity-stabilized gyrostat satellite that is in a circular orbit around a spherical planet. The vehicle considered consists of a body with no special symmetries that has any number of rotors attached to it. The internal angular momentum vector due to these rotors is parallel to one of the principal axes of the entire satellite; this axis is aligned with (or close to) the normal to the orbit plane. Both the cases in which each rotor is driven by a motor at a constant spin rate relative to the main body of the vehicle and the one in which each rotor is rotating freely, without any friction, are treated. Stability (both infinitesimal and in the sense of Liapunov) of the attitude motions of the vehicle can be quickly predicted by using the results derived here, which are summarized in the form of a continuous, three-dimensional, stability diagram.National Research Council Post-Doctoral Research Associate at NASA-Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. Parts of this research were included in [12].     

Cosmological radiative transfer codes comparison project – I. The static density field tests

Radiative transfer (RT) simulations are now at the forefront of numerical astrophysics. They are becoming crucial for an increasing number of astrophysical and cosmological problems; at the same time their computational cost has come within reach of currently available computational power. Further progress is retarded by the considerable number of different algorithms (including various flavours of ray tracing and moment schemes) developed, which makes the selection of the most suitable technique for a given problem a non-trivial task. Assessing the validity ranges, accuracy and performances of these schemes is the main aim of this paper, for which we have compared 11 independent RT codes on five test problems: (0) basic physics; (1) isothermal H  ii region expansion; (2) H  ii region expansion with evolving temperature; (3) I-front trapping and shadowing by a dense clump and (4) multiple sources in a cosmological density field. The outputs of these tests have been compared and differences analysed. The agreement between the various codes is satisfactory although not perfect. The main source of discrepancy appears to reside in the multifrequency treatment approach, resulting in different thicknesses of the ionized-neutral transition regions and the temperature structure. The present results and tests represent the most complete benchmark available for the development of new codes and improvement of existing ones. To further this aim all test inputs and outputs are made publicly available in digital form.     

The Very Early Universe might not have been Radiation-Dominated

The equation of state of the very early Universe and the formula for the radius, are here evaluated. It is shown that the very early classical Universe might not be radiation-dominated, although we do not exclude the existence of the radiation dominated phase for the early, but not the very early Universe. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

New chelid turtles of the lower section of the Cerro Barcino formation (Aptian-Albian?), Patagonia, Argentina

A new chelid species (Prochelidella cerrobarcinae nov. sp.) are described from the Aptian-Albian? Puesto La Paloma Member, Cerro Barcino Formation, northern of Chubut Province, Argentina. The basal section of this member, which bears the turtle remains, is composed of tuffaceous mudstones with plane parallel lamination, asymmetrical ripples and a chert intercalation suggesting sub-aqueous deposition in a relatively shallow lacustrine environment. Pr. cerrobarcinae nov. sp. is represented by post-cranial remains of several specimens that not only represents the oldest pleurodiran chelid record in the world but, together with the chelid remains of Albian Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia, indicates that chelid diversification began well before the final fragmentation of southern Gondwana.     

Distribution of whitemouth croaker (Micropogonias furnieri, Desmarest 1823) larvae in the Río de la Plata estuarine front

Whitemouth croaker (Micropogonias furnieri) larvae obtained and hydrographic data collected in the Rio de la Plata estuary (35°S–56°W) between 1987 and 2000 were used to explore the early life stages spatial and temporal distribution patterns and their relation to oceanographic features. The spatial distribution, restricted to a band in the inner part of the estuary, coincided with the bottom salinity front and the maximum turbidity zone (MTZ, turbidity front). Larvae were present during the warmest months (October through May) within a range of 14–24.5 °C temperature and 0.9–33 salinity. A vertically stratified sampling performed in the region where the largest abundance was found (December 2005 and March 2006) was used to test the hypothesis that larvae retention occurs in the bottom salinity front.The vertically stratified sampling showed larvae throughout the water column with high predominance in the river–estuary transition zone. A positive correlation between abundance and the bottom salinity horizontal gradient was found. The size analysis showed that the largest individuals (>10 mm SL), probably undergoing the settlement process, inhabited near the bottom and that the smallest (<10 mm SL) were present in the whole water column. Length distribution along the front showed no trend.Results support the estuarine retention hypothesis of previous studies on whitemouth croaker gravid females, eggs distribution and outcomes from a numerical simulation model. Retention in the salinity front/MTZ would allow larvae to benefit from food accumulation in the region, the high turbidity level provide shelter against predators and retention in the estuary secure closeness to the main nursery ground.     

The role of hydrological processes in ecosystem conservation: Comprehensive water management for a wetland in an arid climate

Water agreements between Mexico and the United States have been crucial to preserving and restoring the Colorado River Delta's wetlands. Nowadays, increased water demand and climate change in the Colorado River Basin could threaten the conservation of the Ciénega de Santa Clara, a 4709 ha coastal wetland at the Sonoran Desert's edge. The international Ramsar convention recognizes the Ciénega de Santa Clara ecosystem for providing vital ecological services, including habitat for endemic, endangered, and migratory species. The hydrology of this wetland has not been completely understood since the 2010–2011 trial run of the Yuma Desalting Plant. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify and quantify the hydrological elements essential for the conservation of this wetland, under three scenarios: (a) normal inflow conditions of the water source – the Wellton-Mohawk canal; (b) inflow reductions, and; (c) an increase of temperature due to global warming. Water and mass balances estimates were conducted every month during 2014–2015; in situ measurements of inflows were carried out on Southern International Boundary in Wellton-Mohawk canal, the Riíto Drain, groundwater, and precipitation: evapotranspiration outputs were estimated using local weather stations and Penman-Monteith formulations. Temperature increases were based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projections for the next 100 years. Results showed disconnection in the surface flow of water from the wetland to the adjacent Gulf of California. This behaviour was observed mainly in the summer months in the three scenarios. The disconnections reduced the wetland area and water storage. The hydrological functionality of the Ciénega de Santa Clara wetland depends on the water supply from the Wellton-Mohawk canal, with a minimum continuous discharge of 5.10 m³ s⁻¹ during the summer months.     

Subantarctic macrotidal flats, cheniers and beaches in San Sebastian Bay, Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina

San Sebastian Bay is a large, semicircular coastal embayment situated on the Atlantic coast of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. It is a high-energy, subantarctic environment with a tidal range of 10.4 m, influenced by large waves of Atlantic and local origin and swept by constant, strong westerly winds. A 17 km long gravel spit protects the Northern part of the Bay giving rise to a gradient in sedimentary processes. From south to north, are seven distinct sedimentary environments. Coastal sedimentation started at least 5200 years before present (BP) and a rapid progradation related to a relative sea-level drop has infilled about 6 kilometres of the Bay with a sedimentary sequence 10–11 m thick. 14-C dating of unabraded shells in the Chenier ridges of the relict part of the complex allows for a precise reconstruction of the stages of the progradation, that has slowed from 2.35 m/year at 5000 years BP to 0.6 m/year at present. The possible causes of the sea-level drop are discussed.     

Geometry of scour hole around, and the influence of the angle of attack on the burial of finite cylinders under combined flows

Experiments were conducted to investigate the geometry of the scour hole and flow structure around short cylinders under the action of waves alone (WA) and combined flows (CF). The study is aimed at better understanding the dynamics of isolated objects on a sandy floor under oscillatory flows as occurs in shallow water regions in coastal areas. Flow velocities within the fluid core were recorded and 3D mapping of the bottom was performed with sub-aquatic acoustic sensors. Experiments were conducted for cylinder Reynolds wave number and Keulegan-Carpenter number within the ranges 10⁴R_e1.7×10⁵ and 2KC71, respectively. The present experimental evidence shows that the geometric characteristics of the scour hole (length and width) depend primarily on the Keulegan-Carpenter number (KC) and the cylinder aspect ratio (a_r=L_c/D). The effect of variation in the angle of attack of the flow with respect to the cylinder main axis was also investigated. Initial orientations of zero and ninety degrees were found to be stable while cylinders with intermediate initial orientations tended to orientate their main axes perpendicular to the flow direction. The final angle of orientation was found to be primarily a function of the Shields parameter, θ, and the initial angle of attack, α_i.     

Post-LGM sedimentation on the outer shelf-upper slope of the northernmost part of the São Paulo Bight, southeastern Brazil

Sedimentary and isotope data as well as ¹⁴C AMS dating on 15 box cores were used to identify the main post-Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) processes in the outer shelf and upper slope of the northernmost part of the São Paulo Bight, southeastern Brazil. Results show slight but significant variations in calcium carbonate, total sulphur and nitrogen contents as well as carbon and oxygen isotope ratios. Sedimentation rates, varying from 5 to 184 mm kyr⁻¹ are controlled by the shelf and upper slope morphology, the Brazil Current meander dynamics, and the Coastal Water offshore motion.