Penetrative convection in rotating fluids: A model for the base of stellar convection zones

Abstract

To model penetrative convection at the base of a stellar convection zone we consider two plane parallel, co-rotating Boussinesq layers coupled at their fluid interface. The system is such that the upper layer is unstable to convection while the lower is stable. Following the method of Kondo and Unno (1982, 1983) we calculate critical Rayleigh numbers R_c for a wide class of parameters. Here, R_c is typically much less than in the case of a single layer, although the scaling R_c～T^2/3 as T → ∞ still holds, where T is the usual Taylor number. With parameters relevant to the Sun the helicity profile is discontinuous at the interface, and dominated by a large peak in a thin boundary layer beneath the convecting region. In reality the distribution is continuous, but the sharp transition associated with a rapid decline in the effective viscosity in the overshoot region is approximated by a discontinuity here. This source of helicity and its relation to an alpha effect in a mean-field dynamo is especially relevant since it is a generally held view that the overshoot region is the location of magnetic field generation in the Sun.     

A local stability analysis of astronomical disks

Abstract

A fifth-order dispersion relation describing the local stability of a differentially rotating flow against small perturbations is derived. Finite viscosity and conductivity and both vertical (parallel to the rotation axis) and radial gradients in density, temperature and pressure are included. A general form is assumed for the equation of state, although this is not exploited in the paper. A number of special cases are studied: with negligible viscosity and conductivity, it is shown that modes can often be separated into two high frequency (modified acoustic), two intermediate frequency (combined inertial and internal waves) and a low frequency mode. In convectively unstable situations the intermediate frequency modes may be replaced by a damped/growing pair of instablities. Various criteria for mode excitation are given. It is shown that viscosity always inhibits instability at very short wavelengths, while non-zero conductivity may destabilize the flow. At intermediate wavelengths viscosity could also play a destabilizing role. A parameter study of the effects of fluctuations in the conductivity shows that it could cause mode excitation under certain circumstances.     

A note on the use of zero potential vorticity models

Abstract

The acceptability of zero potential vorticity models as approximations for natural systems of small, but finite, potential vorticity is studied for bounded frontal flows of arbitrary profile. It is demonstrated that all (infinitely) long-wave solutions of the zero potential vorticity front are asymptotic limits for some (not necessarily long-wave) solutions of the small potential vorticity front. In contrast, for downstream-varying solutions there is no simple way of demonstrating this property. These findings suggest that the use of zero potential vorticity models should be carefully examined in other, non-frontal, problems as well. Finally we show that the longwave solutions of the zero potential vorticity flow are at most neutral (quasi-stable).     

On the growth of disturbances to forced and dissipated barotropic flows

Abstract

We consider the growth of disturbances to large-scale zonally-asymmetric steady states in a truncated spectral model for forced and dissipated barotropic flow. A variant of the energy method is developed to optimize the instantaneous disturbance energy growth rate. The method involves solving a matrix eigenvalue problem amenable to standard numerical techniques. Two applications are discussed. (1) The global stability of a family of steady states is assessed in terms of the Ekman damping coefficient r. It is shown that monotonic global stability (i.e., every disturbances energy monotonically decays to zero) prevails when r≥r_c . (2) Initially fastest-growing disturbances are constructed in the r<r_c regime. Particular attention is paid to a subregion of the r<r_c regime where initially-growing disturbances exist despite stability with respect to normal modes. Nonlinear time-dependent simulations are performed in order to appraise the time evolution of various disturbances.     

Atmospheric,weathering and biological contributions in the chemical signature of stream water: the upper Iskar Reka watershed,Bulgaria

Abstract

The chemical signature of stream water is influenced by several factors: atmospheric input, weathering of bedrock and soils, biological uptake, soil storage, and decomposition of organic matter. The importance of weathering and biological activity, according to season, can be assessed by subtracting atmospheric input. In the upper Iskar Reka watershed, Bulgaria, results show that Na and Ca are mainly exported out of the basin (weathering is dominant), while nitrate and sulphate are consumed/stored. The behaviour of K suggests that biological activity is dominated by vegetation uptake in spring and by bacterial activity in autumn. In summer, the weathering load of Mg is compensated by reactions with clays. The low nutrient input from weathering due to low reserves in the soil may lead to a biomass production closely linked to a rapid internal cycle and also to a relative sensitivity of the ecosystem to any change in vegetation cover and atmospheric input.

Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz

Citation Gassama, N. and Violette, S., 2012. Atmospheric, weathering and biological contributions in the chemical signature of stream water: the Upper Iskar Reka watershed, Bulgaria. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 57 (3), 535–546.     

近45年全球海域波浪能资源研究及等级区划

基于来自ECMWF的资料将1957年09月---2002年08月风浪、涌浪分离的ERA-40 wave reanalysis,对全球海域的波浪能资源进行重新审视．充分依据涌浪具有能量大、稳定性好等优点,利于波浪能的采集与转换,从提高波浪能资源有效利用率的角度出发,综合考虑能流密度的大小、能级频率、能流密度的稳定性和长期变化趋势等,对全球海域的波浪能资源进行系统性研究,并构建一套波浪能资源评估系统,对全球海域的波浪能资源进行功能区划,为海浪发电、海水淡化等波浪能资源开发工作提供科学依据．     

Kinematic dynamo action in a sphere: Effects of periodic time-dependent flows on solutions with axial dipole symmetry

Choosing a simple class of flows, with characteristics that may be present in the Earth's core, we study the ability to generate a magnetic field when the flow is permitted to oscillate periodically in time. The flow characteristics are parameterised by D, representing a differential rotation, M, a meridional circulation, and C, a component characterising convective rolls. The dynamo action of all solutions with fixed parameters (steady flows) is known from earlier studies. Dynamo action is sensitive to these flow parameters and fails spectacularly for much of the parameter space where magnetic flux is concentrated into small regions, leading to high diffusion. In addition, steady flows generate only steady or regularly reversing oscillatory fields and cannot therefore reproduce irregular geomagnetic-type reversal behaviour. Oscillations of the flow are introduced by varying the flow parameters in time, defining a closed orbit in the space ( D,?M ). When the frequency of the oscillation is small, the net growth rate of the magnetic field over one period approaches the average of the growth rates for steady flows along the orbit. At increased frequency time-dependence appears to smooth out flux concentrations, often enhancing dynamo action. Dynamo action can be impaired, however, when flux concentrations of opposite signs occur close together as smoothing destroys the flux by cancellation. It is possible to produce geomagnetic-type reversals by making the orbit stray into a region where the steady flows generate oscillatory fields. In this case, however, dynamo action was not found to be enhanced by the time-dependence. A novel approach is being taken to solve the time-dependent eigenvalue problem where, by combining Floquet theory with a matrix-free Krylov-subspace method, we can avoid large memory requirements for storing the matrix required by the standard approach.     

某铁路工程控制网复测与稳定性分析

工程控制网是一切施工测量的基准,其稳定性直接关系到施工测量和工程的整体质量。因此,必须对控制网进周期性复测,以便分析控制网的稳定性。文章利用误差理论方法对复测成果进行了分析,得出了一些有益的结论和建议。     

钻井液侵入海洋含水合物地层的一维数值模拟研究

本文以墨西哥湾水合物区域为背景,利用数值模拟方法研究了过平衡钻井条件下,当钻井液温度高于地层中水合物稳定温度时,水基钻井液侵入海洋含水合物地层的动态过程及其一般性规律.与侵入常规油气地层相比,耦合水合物分解和再形成是钻井液侵入海洋含水合物地层的主要特征.模拟结果表明,钻井液密度、温度和盐度都对侵入过程有影响.在一定条件下,钻井液密度越大,温度和含盐量越高,则钻井液侵入程度越深,热量传递越远,水合物分解程度越大.分解的水气在合适条件下又会重新形成水合物,影响了钻井液进一步侵入.而重新形成的水合物的饱和度甚至可能高于原位水合物饱和度,在井周形成一个"高饱水合物"环带.这一现象归因于钻井液侵入的驱替推挤、水合物分解的吸热以及地层传热的滞后等因素共同作用.在地层物性一定的条件下,高饱水合物环带的出现与否主要受钻井液温度和盐度控制.水合物分解以及高饱水合物环带的出现对井壁稳定和电阻率测井解释有很大影响.因此,为维护井壁稳定、确保测井准确和减少水合物储层伤害,就必须对钻井液密度、温度和滤失量进行严格控制,防止地层中的水合物大量分解.最好采用控制压力钻井(MPD)和深侧向测井方式,同时尽量选用低矿化度的含水合物动力学抑制剂的钻井液体系,采取低温快速循环方式.