Downscaling future climate change projections over Puerto Rico using a non-hydrostatic atmospheric model

We present results from 20-year “high-resolution” regional climate model simulations of precipitation change for the sub-tropical island of Puerto Rico. The Japanese Meteorological Agency Non-Hydrostatic Model (NHM) operating at a 2-km grid resolution is nested inside the Regional Spectral Model (RSM) at 10-km grid resolution, which in turn is forced at the lateral boundaries by the Community Climate System Model (CCSM4). At this resolution, the climate change experiment allows for deep convection in model integrations, which is an important consideration for sub-tropical regions in general, and on islands with steep precipitation gradients in particular that strongly influence local ecological processes and the provision of ecosystem services. Projected precipitation change for this region of the Caribbean is simulated for the mid-twenty-first century (2041–2060) under the RCP8.5 climate-forcing scenario relative to the late twentieth century (1986–2005). The results show that by the mid-twenty-first century, there is an overall rainfall reduction over the island for all seasons compared to the recent climate but with diminished mid-summer drought (MSD) in the northwestern parts of the island. Importantly, extreme rainfall events on sub-daily and daily time scales also become slightly less frequent in the projected mid-twenty-first-century climate over most regions of the island.     

The organic analysis of the murchison meteorite

The organic compounds released from the Murchison carbonaceous chondrite following vaporization-pyrolysis at 150, 300 and 430°C were investigated. The total organic yield was 272 ppm and consisted of n-alkanes, alkenes, aromatic hydrocarbons and thioaromatics. The composition and yield at all three temperatures are compared with those obtained by an identical analysis on another carbonaceous chondrite, Allende, and two terrestrial rocks.Comparison of compounds released by 150°C volatilization of Murchison and Allende reveals remarkable similarities, suggesting commonality in the processes responsible for their formation. The origin of the organic compounds found can be explained in terms of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis followed by partial equilibration of the primary products. However, problems concerning the relationship between types of carbonaceous chondrites remain unresolved.     

Fijian villagers adapt to changes in local fisheries

This paper analyzes some of the problems encountered by a village-run fishing cooperative in rural Fiji. Concern about the limited success of this fishing cooperative led the villagers of Kaba Point, Fiji to ask for biological and socioeconomic studies to determine the roots of the cooperative’s problems. The villagers also required an assessment of their proposal to revitalize the cooperative through a development scheme that would enable them to increase their catch. The surveys, undertaken by researchers from the University of the South Pacific and the Fiji Fisheries Division, indicate that the area has been overfished, primarily through the widespread local and commercial use of gillnets and the reliance on fishing as a sole source of village income, and further expansion of the current resource exploitation patterns would be very damaging. In addition, although the cooperative provides an important sense of communalism in the village, only a few people regularly provide fish to the coop. The semi-subsistence lifestyle of rural Fiji is one factor limiting villagers participation in full-time fishing activities. The traditional social and management structures inherent in this village (especially, marine tenure, chiefly responsibility for the community, and a demonstrated history of communal projects) can form a strong basis for a modern community-based marine management program. However, if not carefully watched, resources can also be locally mismanaged because of the increasing demands of the modern market-driven economy.     

Determination of Suitable Pillar Size for Protecting Gas Well Drilled Through a Longwall Mining Abutment Pillar Using Numerical Modelling Approach: A Case Study

Gas well drilled through longwall mining abutment pillar could potentially face instability issue due to the strata deformation following longwall panel extraction. Therefore, it is imperative to adequately design the pillar size of a longwall mining in order to ensure the stability of the gas well penetrated longwall mining abutment pillar. In this paper, the determination of suitable pillar size for protecting gas well subjected to longwall mining operation was investigated. Two scenarios of longwall gateroad system including the three and four entry system with varying pillar sizes were assessed using numerical modelling approach. The results of this study indicate that the pillar geometry plays an important role on the vertical gas well stability. In addressing the suitable pillar size for the given case study considering three entry system, the suitable chain pillar and abutment pillar size were found to be 80 ft (24.4 m) wide by 120 ft (36.6 m) length and 104 ft (31.7 m) wide by 120 ft (36.6 m) length rib to rib, respectively. Whereas, if four entry system is used, the suitable chain pillar size is 48 ft (14.6) wide by 120 ft (36.6 m) length and the abutment pillar size is 104 ft (31.7 m) wide by 120 ft (36.6 m) length rib to rib. The proposed numerical modelling procedure presented in this paper can be a viable alternative and applied to other similar projects in order to determine an optimal pillar size for protecting gas well in longwall mining area.

     

Thermal stresses in an elastic layer due to an instantaneous plane heat source

Summary The solution of the title problem has been obtained for stress free boundaries of the layer.     

Circulation and fertility of waters in Concepcion Bay

The spatial and temporal distributions of oxygen, nutrients and pigments in the waters of Concepcion Bay, Chile (36°40′S, 73°01′W) are described for 1978–1979. Analysis of the seasonal fluctuations shows the upwelling of water poor in oxygen and rich in nutrients inside the bay during summer. The upwelled water fertilizes the bay and produces progressive eutrophication, causing mass mortalities, discoloured water and mineralization of organic matter.     

Morphostructure of the krishna and the godavari delta region

Morphostructure is a form of the earth’s relief, developed due to tectonic movements. Structures which have undergone movement in the Quaternary time are commonly recognised in areas of low relief and recent deposition. A number of morphpstructures are delineated through geomorphologlcal studies in the Krishna and the Godavari delta region of the coastal Andhra Pradesh which are likely to entrap oil and gas. The morphostructural trends are in confirmation with the known regional trends.     

Estimation of petrol and diesel adulteration with kerosene and assessment of usefulness of selected automobile fuel quality test parameters

Kerosene is common adulterant utilized for mixing with diesel. Five fuel-adulterant mixtures in different proportions by volume were prepared and individually tested for density and kinematic viscosity. The mixtures were administered to six light cargo vehicles and the tail pipe exhaust emission was tested for opacity value. No appreciable density variation at different levels of adulteration was observed. Density was within the prescribed value even at higher adulteration. Considerable decrease in kinematic viscosity, a departure from prescribed viscosity, was noted at higher adulteration level. The percent opacity value decreased sharply even at small level of adulteration. The probable amount of kerosene present as an adulterant in diesel dispensed at filling stations in Kathmandu city ranged between 35% and 50%. The observations suggest density test is not a good indicator of diesel adulteration. Kinematic viscosity and opacity value are useful diesel adulteration test parameters. Existing diesel adulteration warrants initiation of strict compliance regulation.     

Rethinking communication in risk interpretation and action

We have studied the attenuation characteristics of eastern Himalaya and southern Tibet by using local earthquake data set that consists of 123 well-located events, recorded by the Himalayan Nepal Tibet Seismic Experiment operated during 2001–2003. We have used single backscattering model to calculate frequency-dependent values of coda Q (\(Q_\mathrm{c}\)). The estimation of \(Q_\mathrm{c}\) is made at central frequencies 2, 4, 8 and 12 Hz through five lapse time windows from 10 to 50 s starting at double the travel time of the S-wave. The observed \(Q_\mathrm{c}\) is found to be strongly frequency-dependent and follows a similar trend as observed in other tectonically active parts of the Himalaya. The trend of variation of \(Q_\mathrm{c}\) with lapse time and the corresponding apparent depths is also studied. Increase in \(Q_\mathrm{c}\) values with the lapse time suggests that the deeper part of the study region is less heterogeneous than the shallower part. The observed values of \(Q_0\) (\(Q_\mathrm{c}\) at 1 Hz) and frequency parameter n indicate that the medium beneath the study area is highly heterogeneous and tectonically very active. A regionalization of the estimated \(Q_0\) is carried out, and a contour map is prepared for the whole region. Some segments of Lesser Himalaya and Sub-Himalaya exhibit very low \(Q_0\) , while the whole Tethyan Himalaya and some parts of Greater Himalaya are characterized by low \(Q_0\) values. Our results are comparable with those obtained from tectonically active regions in the world.