Relation between cool and hot post-flare loops of 26 June 1992 derived from optical and X-ray (SXT-Yohkoh) observations

We have analyzed the physical conditions of the plasma in post-flare loops with special emphasis on dynamics and energy transport using SXT-data (hot plasma) and optical ground-based data from Pic du Midi, Wrocaw, and Ondejov (cool plasma). By combining the H observations with the SXT images we can understand the relationship between cool and hot plasmas, the process of cooling post-flare loops and the mechanism which maintains the long duration of these loops. Using recent results of NLTE modeling of prominence-like plasmas, we derive the emission measure of cool H loops and this gives us a realistic estimate of the electron density (2.2 × 10¹⁰ cm^–3). Then, by comparing this emission measure with that of hot loops derived from SXT data, we are able to estimate the ratio between electron densities in hot and cool loops taking into account the effect of geometrical filling factors. This leads to the electron density in hot loops 7 × 10⁹ cm^–3. We also derive the temperature of hot X-ray loops ( 5.5 × 10⁶ K), which, together with the electron density, provides the initial values for solving the time-dependent energy balance equation. We obtain the cooling times which are compared to a typical growth-time of the whole loop system ( 2000 s). In the legs of cool H loops, we observe an excess of the emission measure which we attribute to the effect of Doppler brightening (due to large downflow velocities).     

NDVI-based increase in growth of temperate grasslands and its responses to climate changes in China

This study analyzes the temporal change of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for temperate grasslands in China and its correlation with climatic variables over the period of 1982–1999. Average NDVI of the study area increased at rates of 0.5% yr⁻¹ for the growing season (April–October), 0.61% yr⁻¹ for spring (April and May), 0.49% yr⁻¹ for summer (June–August), and 0.6% yr⁻¹ for autumn (September and October) over the study period. The humped-shape pattern between coefficient of correlation (R) of the growing season NDVI to precipitation and growing season precipitation documents various responses of grassland growth to changing precipitation, while the decreased R values of NDVI to temperature with increase of temperature implies that increased temperature declines sensitivity of plant growth to changing temperature. The results also suggest that the NDVI trends induced by climate changes varied between different vegetation types and seasons.     

Organic carbon mobilization in a Bangladesh aquifer explained by seasonal monsoon-driven storativity changes

Currently, the most widely accepted hypothesis to explain high As concentrations in Bangladesh groundwaters is that dissolved organic C (DOC) reduces solid Fe (hydr)oxides and mobilizes sorbed arsenate. The nature of the DOC and its release mechanism are still controversial. Based on weekly to biweekly sampling over the course of one monsoon cycle at six monitoring wells of different depths, it is proposed that storativity changes drive natural DOC release from clay–peat layers to the adjacent aquifers. With a decrease in hydraulic heads during the dry season, total mineralization and DOC concentrations increased. With the onset of the rainy season and an increase in hydraulic heads, release of clay–peat derived components stopped and vertical water displacement due to groundwater recharge from rainwater occurred, causing aquifer flushing and a decrease in total mineralization and DOC concentrations. Total As and DOC concentrations correlated over depth. However, at the depth of maximum concentrations, the As peak was observed during the rainy season. At present, the reason for this inverse seasonal trend between As and DOC is unclear. Higher mineralization or DOC concentrations could lead to increased As sorption or the increased arsenite release is a time-lag abiotic or microbial response to the DOC peak. The vulnerability of the Pleistocene aquifer towards increased As concentrations was found to be much higher than previously assumed. Though sorption capacities were determined to be higher than in the Holocene aquifer, probably due to intact Fe (hydr)oxides, long-term continuous As input from overlying clay and peat layers by the proposed seasonal storativity changes has led to increased aqueous As concentrations of 85 μg/L, considerably higher than drinking water standards. Until now, aquifer and especially aquitard and aquiclude hydraulics have not been considered sufficiently when attempting to explain As mobilization in Bangladesh.     

Effects of mercury on the feeding behavior of the mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus from a polluted habitat

Fish living in contaminated environments may exhibit reduced growth which may be due, in part, to the impact of toxicants on prey capture ability. We studied the effects of methylmercury (meHg) and mercuric chloride (Hg) on feeding of Fundulus heteroclitus from Piles Creek, a polluted habitat in Linden, New Jersey. We found that exposure to 0·01 mg/liter of meHg for one week had less impact on the prey capture rate than exposure to a similar concentration of Hg. Exposure to 0·01 mg/liter for two weeks or to 0·02 mg/liter for one week, of either meHg or Hg, produced significant reductions in feeding rate, compared to controls. In general, the fish were affected to a greater degree by exposure to Hg than to meHg. This is the reverse of the usual order of toxicity, but is in keeping with previous observations on this population, in which we have noted that gametes and embryos had developed tolerance to meHg, but were more susceptible to Hg.     

The quality of water and sediments of street runoff in Amman,Jordan

Metallic content (Cr, Fe, Mn, Cu, Ni, Pb and Cd) of street sediments and street runoff in addition to major inorganic constituents (Ca, Mg, Na, K, HCO₃, Cl, NO₃ and SO₄) of street runoff were determined under semi‐arid conditions. Two sites in the vicinity of Amman during the pluvial year 1998–1999 were chosen for this investigation. A higher quantity of ionic contents was found at site 2 in comparison to site 1 except for iron, which was significantly higher at site 1. This finding was attributed to higher anthropogenic activity and lower rainfall at site 2, which indicates better water quality of street runoff from residential sites than the city centre. The average concentrations of Pb, Cu and Cd in Amman street runoff compared with the highest levels recorded at humid sites of the world as a result the prevailing semi‐arid conditions in the areas investigated. The highest concentrations of all constituents were detected during the first month of sampling, which might be the result of low rainfall, and a long dry period of atmospheric deposition preceding rainfall events. However, high levels of both lead and copper were recorded (below that of iron) which might be attributed to traffic pollution. In contrast, a significant variation between the average concentrations for Cu, Ni and Cr was found in sediments from the two sites. Moreover, a significant difference was detected only for Cu and Mn at each site overtime. The overall pattern of the results suggests that all heavy metal concentrations for street runoff showed a significant variation over time at site 1 whereas only a significant variation was found for Ni at site 2, which can be explained as the result of higher rainfall at site 1 than at site 2. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simulation of Electrical Conduction in Geomaterials by SPICE

Electrical responses of the subsurface can be used to identify geologic strata, locate anomalies, detect and delineate contamination, among many other applications. All these applications depend on the spatial variations of electrical properties in the subsurface and the resulting flow pattern of electric current. Due to the heterogeneity of the subsurface and complex boundary conditions, three-dimensional electric current flow problems are not easy to analyze, in particular when the response is frequency- and/or time-dependent. In this paper, a method of electric circuit analogy is proposed to simulate the electrical responses of geomaterials using the circuit simulator SPICE. The technique will allow simulation of more complex electrical conduction behavior of geomaterials without much extra effort. The excellent agreement between simulated results and analytical solutions developed for surface geophysical techniques establishes the viability of the method. Limitations of the approach and potential solutions to relax these limitations, and other potential applications of the technique in geosciences are also discussed.     

Composition of trace mineral inclusions in cassiterite of greisens and greisenized rocks at Homr Akarem area Eastern Desert,Egypt

The present communication deals with the composition of the trace minerals inclusions encountered in the cassiterite of some greisen and greisenized rocks at Homr Akarem area, Eastern Desert, Egypt.SEM studies, X-ray spectral analysis and EMP analyses revealed that these inclusions are to be Nb-Ta, Nb-Ti, Ta-Ti and Fe-Ti besides Ti and Fe minerals.

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Zusammenfassung Der vorliegende Beitrag befa\t sich mit der Zusammensetzung von Spurenmineral-Einschlüssen in Cassiteriten einiger Greisen und vergreister Gesteine aus dem Homr Akarem Gebiet der Eastern Desert, Ägypten. Untersuchungen mit dem Rasterelektronenmikroskop, Röntgenspektralanalysen und Mikrosondenanalysen ergaben, da\ diese Einschlüsse Nb-Ta, Nb-Ti, Ta-Ti und Fe-Ti sein müssen, neben Ti- und Fe-Mineralen.

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Résumé Cette contribution a trait à la composition des inclusions minérales en trace dans la cassitérite de quelques greisen et roches gresinifiées dans la région de Homr Akarem, désert oriental, Egypte.Des etudes SEM, des analyses spectrales aux rayons X et des analyses EMP ont montré que ces inclusions sont des minéraux Nb-Ta, Nb-Ti, Ta-Ti et Fe-Ti en plus de minéraux Ti et Fe.

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Homr Akarem. - ( , ) , , -, -, - -.

     

Evaluation of soil physical properties as influenced by various green manuring legumes and phosphorus fertilization under rain fed conditions

A field experiment was conducted under rainfed environment of Pothowar region of Pakistan to assess physical properties of soil as influenced by various green manure legumes (sesbania, cluster bean and rice bean) and different P levels (0, 30, 60, 90 kg P2O5/ha). Highest fresh biomass was observed in sesbania (23 t/ha) followed by cluster bean (19 t/ha) and lowest in rice bean (17 t/ha). Maximum crude protein content was found in sesbania (17%) followed by rice bean (10%) and cluster bean (8%). Green manuring crops, on average reduced soil bulk density (5%), enhanced total porosity (8%), and macropores and large mesopores (28%). Maximum reduction (7%) in soil bulk density, and an increase (11%) in total soil porosity and available water (17%) was observed in plots where sesbania was incorporated as green manuring crop. The order of effectiveness in improving bulk density, macro and mesopores was sesbania > cluster bean > rice bean. Sesbania produced greater number of macro and large mesopores about 41% increase over control followed by cluster bean (29%) and rice bean (16%). Phosphorus application showed meager positive impact on various soil physical properties but did not significantly increased porosity or reduced bulk density. Significant differences in volume fraction in pore space suggest that pore space on a volume basis was much higher in sesbania-amended soil than in other treatments.