A distributed parallel multiple-relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann method on general-purpose graphics processing units for the rapid and scalable computation of absolute permeability from high-resolution 3D micro-CT images

Digital rock physics (DRP) is a rapidly evolving technology targeting fast turnaround times for repeatable core analysis and multi-physics simulation of rock properties. We develop and validate a rapid and scalable distributed-parallel single-phase pore-scale flow simulator for permeability estimation on real 3D pore-scale micro-CT images using a novel variant of the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). The LBM code implementation is designed to take maximum advantage of distributed computing on multiple general-purpose graphics processing units (GPGPUs). We describe and extensively test the distributed parallel implementation of an innovative LBM algorithm for simulating flow in pore-scale media based on the multiple-relaxation-time (MRT) model that utilizes a precise treatment of body force. While the individual components of the resulting simulator can be separately found in various references, our novel contributions are (1) the integration of all of the mathematical and high-performance computing components together with a highly optimized code implementation and (2) the delivery of quantitative results with the simulator in terms of robustness, accuracy, and computational efficiency for a variety of flow geometries including various types of real rock images. We report on extensive validations of the simulator in terms of accuracy and provide near-ideal distributed parallel scalability results on large pore-scale image volumes that were largely computationally inaccessible prior to our implementation. We validate the accuracy of the MRT-LBM simulator on model geometries with analytical solutions. Permeability estimation results are then provided on large 3D binary microstructures including a sphere pack and rocks from various sandstone and carbonate formations. We quantify the scalability behavior of the distributed parallel implementation of MRT-LBM as a function of model type/size and the number of utilized GPGPUs for a panoply of permeability estimation problems.     

Statistical chemistry of calcic amphiboles

Principal components analysis is used to study the chemistry of 639 calcic amphiboles. Eigenvectors representing multiple partial correlation coefficients give various sets of substitutional relationships. The relative significance of each set can be noted by the percent variation of the data it represents. The highest percent variation (36%) is associated with the substitutions $$Si + Mg \rightleftharpoons Al^{IV} + Al^{VI} + Ti + Fe^{3 + } + Fe^{2 + } + Na + K$$ . Other expected substitutions among the ions such as Al^IV + Na ? Si, the positive correlation between Al^IV and Al^VI etc. are shown statistically. The substitution of Al in T ₁ and T ₂ positions imposes an ordering in the M ₁, M ₂ and M ₃ sites. Variability of OH in the amphiboles is found to be significant. There is no definite correlation between OH and Fe³⁺ but OH and Ti are positively correlated. Under certain conditions and provided the concentration of Al^IV does not change significantly, Fe and Mg may be assumed to mix ideally in the amphibole solid solution.     

Palynofloral study of the intertrappean bed exposed at a new locality in Kutch district,Gujarat and its implications on palaeoenvironment and age

A palynofloral assemblage has been recorded from the intertrappean bed exposed at a new locality, near Naredi, on Naliya-Narayan Sarovar Road in western Kutch, Gujarat. This intertrappean bed (ca. 0.6 m thick) of grey laminated clay is underlain and overlain by the volcanic traps. The assemblage recovered from this bed includes algal and fungal remains, pteridophytic spores, angiospermous pollen as well as cuticles of terrestrial plants. Important palynotaxa recovered are Azolla sp., Lygodiumsporites lakiensis, Polypodiaceaesporites intrapunctatus, Compositoipollenites argutus, C. conicus, Graminidites media, Ladakhipollenites minutus, Lakiapollis ovatus, Matanomadhiasulcites sp., etc. Besides, a variety of fungal remains belonging to the genera Dictyosporites, Frasnacritetrus (Tetraploa), Kutchiathyrites, Palaeomycites (VAM fungi), Papulosporonites, Parmathyrites, Phragmothyrites, Polycellaesporonites (Alternaria), etc have been recorded. It has been deduced that this intertrappean bed was deposited in a shallow depression over the trap during short interval of quiescence in a tropical-subtropical climate. The age of the intertrappean bed is suggested as Early Palaeocene.     

Infrared spectroscopic observations of 69230 Hermes (1937 UB): possible unweathered endmember among ordinary chondrite analogs

We have obtained near-infrared (0.8-2.5 μm) spectra of Hermes (1937 UB) using the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility on Mauna Kea. We find Hermes to have spectral properties consistent with L/LL chondrites, with a strong visual similarity to Gaffey (1976, J. Geophys. Res. 81, 905) average L6 chondrites. We define a ratio of band areas (RBA) using the Modified Gaussian Method (MGM: Sunshine and Pieters, 1990, in: Lunar and Planetary Institute Conference Abstracts, p. 1223, 1993, J. Geophys. Res. 98, 9075) to quantify near-infrared asteroidal data lacking a visible component. Hermes has a spectrum nearly indistinguishable from (19356) 1997 GH3. Together, these asteroids represent new endmembers on the continuum of spectra from ordinary chondrite meteorites to large main-belt S-class asteroids. We discuss regolith effects that may be occurring on Hermes and other possible ordinary chondrite parent bodies, and constrain the albedo of Hermes to 0.4 or higher (effective diameter 650 m or smaller) if it has a regolith. This value for albedo/diameter is consistent with radar results.     

Mid-term periodicities and heliospheric modulation of coronal index and solar flare index during solar cycles 22–23

We applied fast Fourier transform techniques and Morlet wavelet transform on the time series data of coronal index, solar flare index, and galactic cosmic ray, for the period 1986–2008, in order to investigate the long- and mid-term periodicities including the Rieger (\({\sim }130\) to \({\sim }190\) days), quasi-period (\({\sim }200\) to \({\sim }374\) days), and quasi-biennial periodicities (\({\sim }1.20\) to \({\sim }3.27\) years) during the combined solar cycles 22–23. We emphasize the fact that a lesser number of periodicities are found in the range of low frequencies, while the higher frequencies show a greater number of periodicities. The rotation rates at the base of convection zone have periods for coronal index of \({\sim }1.43\) years and for solar flare index of \({\sim }1.41\) year, and galactic cosmic ray, \({\sim }1.35\) year, during combined solar cycles 22–23. In relation to these two solar parameters (coronal index and solar flare index), for the solar cycles 22–23, we found that galactic cosmic ray modulation at mid cut-off rigidity (\(\hbox {Rc} = 2.43\hbox {GV}\)) is anti-correlated with time-lag of few months.     

Water-soluble organics in atmospheric particles: A critical review of the literature and application of thermodynamics to identify candidate compounds

Although organic compounds typically constitute a substantial fraction of the fine particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere, their molecular composition remains poorly characterized. This is largely because atmospheric particles contain a myriad of diverse organic compounds, not all of which extract in a single solvent or elute through a gas chromatograph; therefore, a substantial portion typically remains unanalyzed. Most often the chemical analysis is performed on a fraction that extracts in organic solvents such as benzene, ether or hexane; consequently, information on the molecular composition of the water-soluble fraction is particularly sparse and incomplete.This paper investigates theoretically the characteristics of the water-soluble fraction by splicing together various strands of information from the literature. We identify specific compounds that are likely to contribute to the water-soluble fraction by juxtaposing observations regarding the extraction characteristics and the molecular composition of atmospheric particulate organics with compound-specific solubility and condensibility for a wide variety of organics. The results show that water-soluble organics, which constitute a substantial fraction of the total organic mass, include C2 to C7 multifunctional compounds (e.g., diacids, polyols, amino acids). The importance of diacids is already recognized; our results provide an impetus for new experiments to establish the atmospheric concentrations and sources of polyols, amino acids and other oxygenated multifunctional compounds.     

Enstatite-diopside solvus and geothermometry

The enstatite-diopside solvus presents certain interesting thermodynamic and crystal-structural problems. The solvus may be considered as parts of two solvi one with the ortho-structure and the other with clino-structure. By assuming the standard free energy change for the two reactions (MgMgSi₂O₆)opx ? (MgMgSi₂O₆)cpx and (CaMgSi₂O₆) opx ? (CaMgSi₂O₆) cpx as 500 and 1 000 to 3 000 cal/mol respectively, it is possible to calculate the regular solution parameter W for orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene. These W's essentially refer to mixing on M2 sites. The expression for the equilibrium constant by assuming ideal mixing for Fe-Mg, Fe-Ca and non-ideal mixing for Ca-Mg on binary M1 and ternary M2 sites is given by 1 $$K_a = \frac{{X_{{\text{Mg - cpx}}}^{{\text{M1}}} X_{{\text{Mg - cpx}}}^{{\text{M2}}} \exp \left[ {\frac{{W_{{\text{cpx}}} }}{{RT}}\left\{ {X_{{\text{Ca - cpx}}}^{{\text{M2}}} \left( {X_{{\text{Ca - cpx}}}^{{\text{M2}}} + X_{{\text{Fe - cpx}}}^{{\text{M2}}} } \right)} \right\}} \right]}}{{X_{{\text{Mg - cpx}}}^{{\text{M1}}} X_{{\text{Mg - opx}}}^{{\text{M2}}} \exp \left[ {\frac{{W_{{\text{cpx}}} }}{{RT}}\left\{ {X_{{\text{Ca - opx}}}^{{\text{M2}}} \left( {X_{{\text{Ca - opx}}}^{{\text{M2}}} + X_{{\text{Fe - opx}}}^{{\text{M2}}} } \right)} \right\}} \right]}}$$ where X's are site occupancies, R is 1.987 and T is temperature in ^oK. Temperature of pyroxene crystallization may be estimated by substituting for T in the above equation until the equation ?RT In K _a=500 is satisfied. The shortcomings of this method are the incomplete standard free energy data on the end member components and the absence of site occupancy data in pyroxenes at high temperatures. The assumed free energy data do, however, show the possible extent of inaccuracy in temperature estimates resulting from the neglect of Mg-Ca non ideality.     

Land use pattern of upper tons catchment district,Uttarkashi, U. P.

Aerial Photographs of 1:50,000 scale pertaining to Tons Catchment were used for generating a land use map showing cultivated lands, forests land, grass land, barren land with rock outcrops, snow and glaciers. The area was divided into 4 altitudinal Zones. More than 81% lies above 3000 m height and should be left for natural regeneration. Cultivated land occupies 4.97% of the area and is concentrated below 3000 m altitudinal zone and lies along river courses and on river terraces. Distribution of forest lands in altitudinal zone indicates that percent area covered under forest is higher than the average distribution of forest as reported by Seth (1978). Grass and open scrub, barren Innd with rock outcrops, glaciers and snow covered areas occupy 6.8%, 18.1%, 16.5% and 28.0% respectively.