Determination of subcatchment and watershed boundaries in a complex and highly urbanized landscape

Urban development significantly alters the landscape by introducing widespread impervious surfaces, which quickly convey surface run‐off to streams via stormwater sewer networks, resulting in “flashy” hydrological responses. Here, we present the inadequacies of using raster‐based digital elevation models and flow‐direction algorithms to delineate large and highly urbanized watersheds and propose an alternative approach that accounts for the influence of anthropogenically modified land cover. We use a semi‐automated approach that incorporates conventional drainage networks into overland flow paths and define the maximal run‐off contributing area. In this approach, stormwater pipes are clustered according to their slope attributes, which define flow direction. Land areas drained by each cluster and contributing (or exporting) flow to a topographically delineated catchment were determined. These land masses were subsequently added or removed from the catchment, modifying both the shape and the size. Our results in a highly urbanized Toronto, Canada, area watershed indicate a moderate net increase in the directly connected watershed area by 3% relative to a topographically forced method; however, differences across three smaller scale subcatchments are greater. Compared to topographic delineation, the directly connected watershed areas of both the upper and middle subcatchments decrease by 5% and 8%, respectively, whereas the lower subcatchment area increases by 15%. This is directly related to subsurface storm sewer pipes that cross topographic boundaries. When directly connected subcatchment area is plotted against total streamflow and flashiness indices using this method, the coefficients of variation are greater (0.93 to 0.97) compared to the use of digital elevation model‐derived subcatchment areas (0.78 to 0.85). The accurate identification of watershed and subcatchment boundaries should incorporate ancillary data such as stormwater sewer networks and retention basin drainage areas to reduce water budget errors in urban systems.     

Coordinate gauge conditions in theN-body equations of motion in the first-order post-Newtonian approximation of general relativity

The explicit forms of the metric as well as the equations of motion in the first-order post-Newtonian approximation are worked out under several gauge conditions. It is noted that the so-called EIH (Einstein, Infeld, and Hoffman) equation of motion for an assembly ofN finite mass points mutually interacting via gravitation is identically obtained under three different gauge conditions, namely the harmonic gauge, Chandrasekhar gauge and a composite Chandrasekhar gauge used by Misneret al. (1970), even though the solutions for the metric are found to be all different. In one case the metric has a component apparently diverging, but finally generates regular affine connections so that the equations of motions become free from any singularity. By use of the Chandrasekhar gauge and his formulation, the second-order contribution to the acceleration of planets in the limit of test particle motion around the Sun has been calculated, the inclusion of which in the EIH set of the equations of motion would extend the relative accuracy of computing the total acceleration of any planet to better than one part in 10¹⁷.     

THE BLOOMINGTON (LL6) CHONDRITE AND ITS SHOCK MELT GLASSES

The Bloomington meteorite, a 67.8 gram veined, brecciated chondrite, fell during the summer of 1938 in Bloomington, Illinois. Its olivine, orthopyroxene and metal compositions (fo₆₉, en₇₄ and Fe₅₂ Ni₄₈ respectively) and its texture identify it as a brecciated LL6 chondrite of shock facies d. Shock melt glasses occur in Bloomington as sparse melt pockets and veins in clasts and as isolated masses in the black, clast-rich matrix. The vein glasses chemically resemble bulk LL-group chondrites and thus appear to reflect total melting of the host meteorite. The melt pocket and matrix glasses, like those described previously in L-group chondrites, have more varied compositions and are typically enriched in normative plagioclase. All glasses that we analyzed in Bloomington have FeO/MgO and Na/Al ratios similar to those of LL-group chondrites, indicating that melting of this meteorite involved neither a significant change in the oxidation state of iron nor loss of sodium to a vapor phase. Bloomington is a monomict breccia whose components formed in place as a result of a single episode of shock and attendant melting.     

Seismotectonic significance of the 29 January 1989 Etne earthquake, SW Norway

The integrated analysis of geological, seismological and field observations with lineament data derived from satellite images allows the identification of a possible seismogenic fault zone for an earthquake which occurred near Etne in southwestern Norway, on 29 February 1989. The hypocentre of the earthquake was located at the mid-crust at a depth of 13.8±0.9 km which is typical of small intraplate earthquakes. The Etne earthquake occurred as a result of normal faulting with a dextral strike-slip component on a NW–SE trending fault. Available geological and lineament data indicate correlation of the inferred seismogenic fault with the NW–SE trending Etne fault zone. An aeromagnetic anomaly related to the Etne fault zone forms a regional feature intersecting both Precambrian basement and allochthonous Caledonian rocks. Based on these associations the occurrence of the Etne event is ascribed to the reactivation of a zone of weakness along the Etne fault zone. Slope-instabilities developed in the superficial deposits during the Etne event demonstrate the existence of potentially hazardous secondary-effects of such earthquakes even in low seismicity areas such as southwestern Norway.     

Subtidal sea level and current variations in the northern reach of San Francisco Bay

Analyses of sea level and current-meter data using digital filters and a variety of statistical methods show a variety of phenomena related to non-local coastal forcing and local tidal forcing in the northern reach of San Francisco Bay, a partially mixed estuary. Low-frequency variations in sea level are dominated by non-local variations in coastal sea level and also show a smaller influence from tidally induced fortnightly sea level variations. Low-frequency currents demonstrate a gravitational circulation which is modified by changes in tidal-current speed over the spring-neap tidal cycle. Transients in gravitational circulation induce internal oscillations with periods of two to four days.     

Damage to surface structures due to underground coal mine blasting: apprehension or real cause?

Investigations were carried out at three underground coal mines in India to study the response of surface structures to underground blasting and the likelihood of damage to the structures. The structures in the vicinity of the underground blasting area were single and multistoried residential houses. The amplitudes of vibration due to underground blasting were monitored simultaneously on the ground surface near the foundation of the structures and on various floors of the structures. The vibrations were also monitored near the important surface installations. It was observed that the magnitude of vibration in structures decreased with the increase in the height of the structures. The frequency of blast vibration from underground blasting was higher than the natural frequency of the structures. Little energy was transmitted into the structures, which caused reduction in the vibration level in the structures. The reduction in the vibration levels was up to 45% in the houses. It indicates that the dominant frequency of blast vibration plays an important role in persistence of vibration and its amplification or reduction characteristics in the structures. This paper deals with the effect of the vibrations on structures/houses standing above the blasting faces in underground workings and their potential to likely damage to the structures at different Indian geo-mining conditions.     

Pole-to-pole moisture conditions for the IGY

Summary A study of the mean atmospheric humidity conditions on a planetary scale during the IGY covering the calendar year 1958 is presented. The fields of mean precipitable water content and of the zonal and meridional transports of water vapor are analyzed for the entire globe. Zonally averaged values of the various quantities at several levels are presented in tabular form and compared whenever possible with previous results or indirectly are analyzed on the basis of information obtained from different sources. The structure of these fields is studied and the corresponding implications for the general circulations of the atmosphere are discussed. Finally the zonal water balance for all the globe is discussed and its implications analyzed.     

Disturbances in an infinite slab due to torsional forces applied on a cylindrical cavity

Summary The paper deals with the disturbances in an infinite slab of finite thickness, the medium being homogeneous, isotropic and perfectly elastic.     

Note on the propagation of waves from a spherical cavity in an infinite solid

Summary The present note, as its title implies, is concerned with the investigation of disturbances in an infinite elastic medium containing an initial magnetic field in the axial direction. The equations ofMaxwell, those of elasticity have been effectively made use of to solve the problem.