Runoff generation mechanisms in pastures of the Sand Mountain region of Alabama—a field investigation

Excessive application of poultry litter to pastures in the Sand Mountain region of north Alabama has resulted in phosphorus (P) contamination of surface water bodies and buildup of P in soils of this region. Since surface runoff is recognized as the primary mechanism of P transport, understanding surface runoff generation mechanisms are crucial for alleviating water quality problems in this region. Identification of surface runoff generation mechanisms is also important for delineation of hydrologically active areas (HAAs). Therefore, the specific objective of this study was to identify surface runoff generation mechanisms (infiltration excess versus saturation excess) using distributed surface and subsurface sensors and rain gauge. Results from three rainfall events (2·13–3·43 cm) of differing characteristics, and sensor data at four locations with differing soil hydraulic properties along the hillslope showed that the main surface runoff generation mechanism in this region is infiltration excess. Because of this, rainfall intensity and soil hydraulic conductivity were found to play dominant roles in surface runoff generation in this region. Further, only short periods of a few rainfall events during which the rainfall intensity is high produce surface runoff. This study indicates that perhaps subsurface flows and transport of P in subsurface flows need to be quantified to reduce P contamination of surface water bodies in this region. Current studies at this location are identifying spatial and temporal distribution of HAAs, quantifying rainfall characteristics that generate runoff, and estimating runoff volume that results from connected HAAs. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of drilling fluid on concrete-soil/rock interface shear strength in seawater drilling environment

Abstract

In this article, the results of an experimental study on the effect of drilling fluid on concrete-soil/rock interface shear strength in the seawater drilling environment are presented. The series of direct shear tests using a purpose-designed shear box with seawater were performed considering different types of drilling fluid and base material, various normal stress levels at the interface, and filtration times. The results indicated that bentonite drilling fluid significantly decreased the concrete-soil/rock interface shear strength while a negligibly small effect was observed for polymer drilling fluid, confirming the findings from the previous studies. It was also observed that the degree of interface shear strength reduction when using bentonite drilling fluid varied with the type of base material as well as the level of normal stress at the interface. The results also confirmed that the groundwater chemistry does not alter governing mechanism of the drilling fluids and the concrete-soil/rock interface interaction and that significant benefit can also be expected when using polymer-based drilling fluid over bentonite in terms of the side resistance of a drilled shaft in seawater drilling environment as well.     

Response: Examination of ‘global atmospheric temperature monitoring with satellite microwave measurements’ (3) cloud and rain contamination

Observations in channel 1 (Ch. 1, 50.3 GHz) and channel 2 (Ch. 2, 53.74 GHz) of the Microwave Sounding Unit (MSU) over the convective areas of tropical oceans are analysed to reveal the nature of extinction (contamination) in these data. From this analysis we find Ch. 2 data are not free from the influence of clouds and rain. Extinction due to clouds and rain manifests primarily as emission in Ch. 1, and as absorption in Ch. 2. Scattering due to hydrometeors in these channels apparently is of secondary importance. Furthermore we show, in the convective areas of tropical oceans, contamination due to hydrometeors in MSU Ch. 2 data is significant and it is extensive in area. Based on this study we conclude Spencer, Christy, and Grody (this issue) underestimate this contamination.     

Inference models for tidal flat elevation and sediment grain size: A Preliminary approach on tidal flat macrobenthic community

A vertical transect with 4 km length was established for the macrofaunal survey on the Chokchon macrotidal flat in Kyeonggi Bay, Incheon, Korea, 1994. Tidal elevation (m) and sediment mean grain size (φ) were inversely predicted by the transfer functions from the faunal assemblages. Three methods: weighted average using optimum value (WA), tolerance weighted version of the weighted average (WAT ) and maximum likelihood calibration (MLC) were employed. Estimates of tidal elevation and mean grain size obtained by using the three different methods showed positively corresponding trends with the observations. The estimates of MLC were found to have the minimum value of sum of squares due to errors (SSE). When applied to the previous data (1990~1992), each of three inference models exhibited high predictive power. This result implied there are visible relationships between species composition and faunas’ critical environmental factors. Although a potential significance of the two major abiotic factors was re-affirmed, a weak tendency of biological interaction was detected from faunal distribution patterns across the flat. In comparison to the spatial and temporal patterns of the estimates, it was suggested that sediment characteristics were the primary factors regulating the distribution of macrofaunal assemblages, rather than tidal elevation, and the species composition may be sensitively determined by minute changes in substratum properties on a tidal flat.     

Computational and experimental study on performance of sails of a yacht

It is important to understand flow characteristics and performances of sails for both sailors and designers who want to have efficient thrust of yacht. In this paper the viscous flows around sail-like rigid wings, which are similar to main and jib sails of a 30 feet sloop, are calculated using a CFD tool. Lift, drag and thrust forces are estimated for various conditions of gap distance between the two sails and the center of effort of the sail system are obtained. Wind tunnel experiments are also carried out to measure aerodynamic forces acting on the sail system and to validate the computation. It is found that the combination of two sails produces the lift force larger than the sum of that produced separately by each sail and the gap distance between the two sails is an important factor to determine total lift and thrust.     

Seasonal and interannual variability of sea surface chlorophyll a concentration in the Japan/East Sea (JES)

Seasonal and interannual variability of chlorophyll a concentration in the Japan/East Sea (JES) was detected spatially by ocean color satellite remote sensing. Start timing of the spring bloom was different spatially. The spring bloom started at the subpolar front and southward of it in March, northward of subpolar front, along the Primorye coast and off Hokkaido in April and in the middle of the Japan Basin in May. The start of the spring bloom showed interannual variability that corresponded with the wind speed in the area. The spring bloom in 1998 and 2002 appeared about four weeks earlier than in 1997, 1999 and 2001, and it corresponded with weak winds that can lead to an early development of the thermocline. The bloom was late in 1999 and 2001 in the Japan Basin and along the Primorye coast, and in the southern area in 2000. It corresponded with stronger wind stress that delayed seasonal thermocline formation. The bloom along the Primorye coast appeared later in 1999, and it corresponded with stronger wind stress, and at the same time, it seemed to be related with the delay of melting of sea ice in Mamiya Strait. The fall bloom appeared from early October to early December, and it did not have a clear temporal transition. The area where chlorophyll a concentration exceeded 0.8 μg l⁻¹ was wider in the western area than in the eastern area every year. The magnitude of the fall bloom was different between years, but it did not show a correlation with average wind speed in fall. Those results indicated that the timing of the seasonal bloom in the JES is largely affected by the variability of global climate such as ENSO events.     

Effect of zero measurements on the spatial correlation structure of rainfall

In this study, the effect of zero measurements on the spatial correlation function of rainfall is analyzed for the quantification of a rainfall field. The use of a bivariate mixed distribution function made it possible to analyze and compare the spatial correlation functions for these three different data sets: only the positive measurements at both gauge locations, positive measurements at either one or both gauge locations, and all measurements including zero at both locations. As an example, the spatial correlation functions are derived for the Geum River Basin, Korea and evaluated for the wet and dry seasons, respectively. Results show that the effect of zero measurements on spatial correlation structures is significant during the wet season, when the inter-station correlations were estimated significantly lower than those during the dry season. It was also found that only the case considering positive measurements are valid for the quantification of rainfall field. Even during the wet season, the inter-station correlation coefficients derived by considering the zero measurements show their high variability along with many abnormally looking high estimates, which made the quantification of the spatial correlation function become very ambiguous.     

Investigation of the accelerated carbonation of a MgO-based binder used to treat contaminated sediment

A MgO-based binder developed to simultaneously solidify/stabilize contaminated sediment and store CO₂ has been described previously. The objectives of the study presented here were to investigate the kinetics of the carbonation reactions of the binder and the extent to which carbonation occurred and to identify the optimal conditions for using the binder. The carbonation reaction was clearly faster and the degree of carbonation higher at CO₂ concentrations of 50 and 100% than in the ambient atmosphere (which contains 0.04% CO₂). A modified unreactive core model adequately described the kinetics. The rate constants were 0.0217–0.319 h^?1 and were proportional to the degree of carbonation. A high degree of carbonation, 93.8%, was achieved at a CO₂ concentration of 100%. The water to sediment ratio strongly affected carbonation, the optimal ratio being around 0.7. The relative humidity did not strongly affect the carbonation performance. The carbonation products were magnesite (MgCO₃) and nesquehonite (MgCO₃·3H₂O). X-ray diffraction analysis showed that brucite (Mg(OH)₂) was not present, suggesting that brucite was very quickly transformed into magnesium carbonates, the presence of which was confirmed by thermal gravimetric analysis. The results indicated that, in 7 d, 1 kg of binder could sequester up to 0.507 kg of CO₂ in a 100% CO₂ atmosphere. The results indicate that the MgO-based binder has great potential to be used to sequester CO₂ under accelerated carbonation conditions.     

Evolution of late Quaternary mud deposits and recent sediment budget in the southeastern Yellow Sea

Analysis of high-resolution seismic reflection profiles and sediment samples has revealed the evolution and sediment budget of the southeastern Yellow Sea mud belt (SEYSM) along the southwestern Korean Peninsula. The SEYSM, up to 50 m thick, over 250 km long and 20–55 km wide, can be divided into three stratigraphic units (A1, A2, and B, from oldest to youngest). Unit A1, overlying the acoustic basement, comprises the northern part of the SEYSM. Unit A2 comprises the southern part of the SEYSM; much of unit A2 is exposed at the seafloor. Unit B completely covers unit A1 and pinches out southward.

¹⁴C data suggest that evolution of each unit is closely related to the postglacial sea-level changes. Unit A1 consists of estuarine/deltaic or shallow-water muds deposited during the early to middle stage of postglacial sea-level rise (ca. 14,000–7000 yr B.P.). Unit A2 corresponds to relict muds deposited during the last, deceleration stage of sea-level rise (ca. 7000–3.500 yr B.P.). Unit B consists of shelf muds deposited during the recent sea-level highstand (ca. <3500 yr B.P.).

Very low background activities of ²¹⁰Pb of the surface sediment of unit A2 suggest that the present-day sediment accumulation is negligible in the southern SEYSM. On the other hand, ²¹⁰Pb excess activity profiles in unit B yield an average sediment accumulation rate of 3.9 mm/yr, indicating active sediment accumulation in the northern SEYSM. The annual sink (3.0×10⁷ tons/yr) of fine-grained sediment in unit B is about an order of magnitude greater than can be explained by the sediment input from the Korean rivers alone. We propose that reworking of unit A2 has provided large volumes of muds to unit B, resulting in excessive sediment accumulation in the northern SEYSM. Much of unit A2, in turn, is likely to have originated from erosion of unit A1 in the north. This rather unique erosional/depositional regime of the SEYSM is probably owing to the tidal and regional currents characteristic in the southeastern Yellow Sea.