A three-dimensional experimental investigation of the structure of the spanwise vortex generated by a shallow vortex dipole

The three-dimensional dynamics of shallow vortex dipoles is investigated by means of an innovative three-dimensional, three-component (3D-3C) scanning PIV technique. In particular, the three-dimensional structure of a frontal spanwise vortex is characterized. The technique allows the computation of the three-dimensional pressure field and the planar (x, y) distribution of the wall shear stress, which are not available using standard 2D PIV measurements. The influence of such a complex vortex structure on mass transport is discussed in the context of the available pressure and wall shear stress fields.     

High seagrass diversity and canopy-height increase associated fish diversity and abundance

Seagrass species function as typical foundation species that unifies most ecosystem processes. This ecosystem role depends largely on the morphological characteristics and structural complexity of seagrass beds, including their ecological importance for fish species. This study examined relationships between seagrass bed characteristics and associated fish communities in mixed seagrass beds. Correspondence analysis (CA) and canonical correlation analysis (CCoA) were performed to estimate relationships for individual seagrass bed characteristics. The CCoA results revealed that species richness and three-dimensional structure of seagrass had great effect on the biomass and richness of the associated fish community. The CA results revealed that the relative importance of seagrass bed characteristics differed among fish functional groups including fishes appearing on the surface of, inside, and on the bottom of seagrass beds. The fishes found on the surface of the beds preferred beds with low seagrass biomass and high three-dimensional structure, those inside the beds preferred beds with high seagrass biomass and high three-dimensional structure, and those on the bottom of the beds preferred locations with low seagrass biomass and low three-dimensional structure. The results of this study provide compelling evidence that seagrass beds with high species diversity and high three-dimensional structure, but intermediate biomass, may provide the great benefit to the associated fish community. Such niche complementarity among fishes may be a process facilitated by seagrass diversity for secondary production as an ecosystem functioning.     

Modeling the buoyant flow of heated water discharged from surface and submerged side outfalls in shallow and deep water with a cross flow

In this study, a three-dimensional model was used to numerically study the buoyant flow, along with its mixing characteristics, of heated water discharged from the surface and submerged side outfalls in shallow and deep water with a cross flow. Hydraulic experimental data were used to evaluate the applicability of the model. The simulation results agree well with the experimental results, particularly, the jet trajectories, the dimensions of the recirculating zone, and the distribution of the dimensionless excess temperature. The level of accuracy of the simulation results of the present study is nearly identical to that of the results conducted by McGuirk and Rodi (1978). If the heated water is discharged into shallow water where the momentum flux ratio and the discharge densimetric Froude number are high, the submerged discharge method is better than the surface discharge method in terms of the scale of the recirculating zone and the minimum dilution. In deep water, where the momentum flux ratio and discharge densimetric Froude number are low, however, the submerged discharge method had few advantages. In shallow water, the discharge jet is deflected by the ambient cross flow, while forcing the ambient flow to bend towards the far bank for the full depth. For a submerged discharge in shallow water, the recirculating zone is the largest in the lowest layer but becomes smaller in the upper layer. As the water depth increases, the ambient flow goes over the jet and diminishes the blocking effect, thereby decreasing the bending of the jet.     

三维电极电化学反应器组合Fenton试剂深度处理焦化废水

采用三维电极电化学反应器组合Fenton试剂法对经过二级生化处理后的焦化废水进行深度处理。在三维电极参数一定的条件下,考察了影nfi]TOC去除率的影响因素,探讨了该反应体系的降解动力学及降解机理。正交试验结果表明,反应体系中各参数的最佳值分别为p（H202投加量）=300mg·L-1,pH3．4,反应时间为90min,c（FeS04-7H20投加量）为3．5mmol·L-1,TOC去除率可达到61．7％。焦化废水的降解反应表现为一级动力学。紫外吸收光谱分析结果,废水中有机物彻底发生了降解矿化,这为三维电极组合Fenton试剂工艺在焦化废水深度处理中的工程应用提供了一定的理论指导。     

A CFD study of wind patterns over a desert dune and the effect on seed dispersion

In the Namib Desert seed distribution is greatly influenced by wind patterns. Existing literature regarding wind patterns over dunes focuses on two-dimensional simulations of flow over simplified dune structures. The three-dimensional geometries of the sand dunes suggests far more complex flow features exist, which are not captured by two-dimensional simulations. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to reproduce the three-dimensional near surface wind patterns around a dune with the aim to learn more about seed distribution. Field work included terrain mapping, wind speed, direction and temperature metering. The CFD results show the expected two-dimensional flow features of high pressure at the dune toe, low pressure at the crest and flow acceleration up windward slope. Also observed are some three-dimensional flow features such as a spiral vortex near the crest and transverse flow due to crest-line curvature of the dune. It was also observed how the wall shear stress differs due to the three-dimensional shape of the dune. The wall shear stress suggests that seed accumulation is more likely to occur behind trailing (down-wind) crest edges. Particle tracking showed how seeds tend to move over the dune crest and recirculate towards the crest on the lee-side. The study showed that adding the third dimension makes the simulations more complex, adds to computational requirements and increases simulation time but also provides vital flow information which is not possible with two-dimensional simulations.     

Three-dimensional analysis of coherent turbulent flow structure around a single circular bridge pier

The coherent turbulent flow around a single circular bridge pier and its effects on the bed scouring pattern is investigated in this study. The coherent turbulent flow and associated shear stresses play a major role in sediment entrainment from the bed particularly around a bridge pier where complex vortex structures exist. The conventional two-dimensional quadrant analysis of the bursting process is unable to define sediment entrainment, particularly where fully three-dimensional flow structures exist. In this paper, three-dimensional octant analysis was used to improve understanding of the role of bursting events in the process of particle entrainment. In this study, the three-dimensional velocity of flow was measured at 102 points near the bed of an open channel using an Acoustic Doppler Velocity meter (Micro-ADV). The pattern of bed scouring was measured during the experiment. The velocity data were analysed using the Markov process to investigate the sequential occurrence of bursting events and to determine the transition probability of the bursting events. The results showed that external sweep and internal ejection events were an effective mechanism for sediment entrainment around a single circular bridge pier. The results are useful in understanding scour patterns around bridge piers.     

Fractal characterization of three-dimensional zooplankton swimming trajectories

Several natural processes, such as swimming and flying, occur in a three-dimensional reference frame and thus describe three-dimensional trajectories. Analysing such tracks is no easy task. To this aim, here we propose a new technique, based on the box-counting approach, by which to estimate the three-dimensional fractal dimension (D_3D) of spatially-evolving routes. This technique has been preliminary tested on two sets of random walks (pure and correlated). Then, our approach has been utilised to characterise the swimming trajectories performed by the freshwater cladoceran Daphnia pulex under two light conditions.Morphologically different tracks attain statistically different D_3D values, smoother paths having lower values than more tortuous ones; therefore, our proposed methodology proves to be fruitful in direct comparisons. Moreover D_3D can highlight bizarre situations, in which differently convoluted tracks are characterised by the same degree of contortion.     

Hyperspectral and LiDAR remote sensing of fire fuels in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Alien invasive grasses threaten to transform Hawaiian ecosystems through the alteration of ecosystem dynamics, especially the creation or intensification of a fire cycle. Across sub-montane ecosystems of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii Island, we quantified fine fuels and fire spread potential of invasive grasses using a combination of airborne hyperspectral and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) measurements. Across a gradient from forest to savanna to shrubland, automated mixture analysis of hyperspectral data provided spatially explicit fractional cover estimates of photosynthetic vegetation, non-photosynthetic vegetation, and bare substrate and shade. Small-footprint LiDAR provided measurements of vegetation height along this gradient of ecosystems. Through the fusion of hyperspectral and LiDAR data, a new fire fuel index (FFI) was developed to model the three-dimensional volume of grass fuels. Regionally, savanna ecosystems had the highest volumes of fire fuels, averaging 20% across the ecosystem and frequently filling all of the three-dimensional space represented by each image pixel. The forest and shrubland ecosystems had lower FFI values, averaging 4.4% and 8.4%, respectively. The results indicate that the fusion of hyperspectral and LiDAR remote sensing can provide unique information on the three-dimensional properties of ecosystems, their flammability, and the potential for fire spread.     

Evaluation of a fast response pressure solver for flow around an isolated cube

This work describes and evaluates a pressure solver that has been incorporated into a fast response three-dimensional building-resolving diagnostic wind modeling system. The solver computes the three-dimensional pressure field around buildings and on exterior walls in terms of a coefficient of pressure by solving a simplified pressure Poisson equation (that neglects turbulence stresses in the Navier-Stokes) for incompressible flow. The input to the solver is the three-dimensional mean wind field obtained from a fast response empirical-diagnostic urban wind model. The present study is an evaluation of the pressure solver using wind-tunnel data for flow normal to and at a 45° angle to an isolated cubical building. Results for the normal incident wind angle case indicate that the model satisfactorily reproduces the general spatial patterns and the magnitude of the pressure difference around much of the cube. Details of the flow field that are not satisfactorily predicted include the spatial distribution of pressure on the roof and the lower half of the front side of the building and the magnitude along the sidewalls where pressures are over predicted. The results for the 45° case show reasonable agreement between the model and experiments on the front and the back walls, but over predict pressures on the leading edge of the rooftop. Regions with poor pressure predictions appear to be a result of unsatisfactory mean wind modeling.     

Vortical structures,entrainment and mixing process in the lateral discharge of the gravity current

Environmental Fluid Mechanics - Lateral gravity currents can play a critical role in the exchange of materials between terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The three-dimensional flow structure and...     

Aspects of a zooplankton,phytoplankton, phosphorus system

In this paper a three-dimensional dynamical system which models the three-species system made up of phytoplankton, zooplankton and organic phosphorus nutrient in a lake environment is studied. The system is part of a more general limnological model for eutrophic lakes and impoundments which has been developed by Battelle Northwest Laboratories. It is shown that this system, henceforth referred to as Z-P-P, has a phase portrait comprised of a plane portrait embedded in the three-dimensional space R³ as an “attractor”.¹ Under a small perturbation of the nutrient equation it is shown that the system is essentially a classical Volterra-Lotka system embedded in a three-dimensional phase space R³.The system derived from Z-P-P by the addition of a term to the nutrient equation which represents the organic phosphorus contribution of dying phytoplankton is also considered. The equilibria of this system are studied and what can be deduced of the phase portrait is compared with that of the above systems. It is found that these phase portraits are qualitatively indifferent to the form of the growth rate functions for zooplankton and phytoplankton provided they are monotone increasing. Some discussion about the stability of these systems is included. Throughout this paper results are interpreted in limnological terms.     

一种基于三维指标因子的流域多年径流丰枯k-means聚类法

径流丰枯聚类研究的传统方法多建立在年径流量的单一指标之上,容易导致分析的片面化。针对这个问题,提出了衡量流域多年径流丰枯状态的三维指标因子及权重,将其耦合到k-means聚类法的相似度计算与收敛分析中,在此基础上对对多年径流进行丰枯聚类,构建了一种基于三维指标因子的流域多年径流丰枯k-means聚类法。以该方法对广东省鉴江流域下游化州站1956—2006年的径流系列进行聚类分析,并与基于年径流量单一指标的k-means聚类方法进行对比,结果表明该方法是较全面且符合实际的。     

流化床三维电极电催化氧化深度处理焦化废水

研究了以焦粒为粒子电极的流化床三维电极反应器对二级生化处理后的焦化废水进行深度处理。结果表明：采用以焦粒为粒子电极的流化床三维电极反应器能有效降解废水中的有机物,COD去除率依赖于粒子投加量、电流密度、电导率、pH值、曝气量等操作参数的影响。在电导率（以S计）为7.1 m.cm-1,曝气量为160 L.h-1,电流密度（以A计）为48 m.cm-2,pH值为5.0,投加量30 g.L-1时,电解30 min,COD的去除率超过60%,表明流化床三维电极反应器在焦化废水深度处理中有很好工程应用前景。     

桉树人工林地力衰退防治研究──改全垦为带垦

主要讨论了桉树造林整地方式──全垦与带垦对桉树生长的影响,以及对土壤侵蚀、土壤养分和土壤物理性质的影响．研究结果表明,改全垦为带垦对防止桉树人工林地力衰退有积极作用．     

Experimental investigation of channel flow through idealized isolated tree-like vegetation

Environmental Fluid Mechanics - Riparian and floodplain tree-like emergent vegetation alter significantly the flow field and lead to complicated three-dimensional flow patterns, characterized by...     

三维电极对水中染料降解脱色处理

研究了在传统二维电解槽的铁板电极之间填充锰砂并鼓气搅拌，得到三相三维电极流化床反应器，对比两种反应器对酸性大红3R染色模拟废水降解脱色作用，考察了槽电压、支持电解质质量浓度、反应时间等因素对两种反应器处理染料脱色率的影响。实验表明，这些因素对酸性大红3R的降解脱色均有不同程度的影响，在相同条件下，三相三维电极流化床反应器比二维电极电解槽的处理脱色速度快和处理效率高，在不同处理时间内，脱色率可提高30％～50％。紫外-可见光吸收光谱分析表明，该方法不仅能对酸性大红3R的生色基团进行降解脱色，且对萘环不饱和共轭体系也具有破坏降解作用。     

Spherical First Passage Time: A tool to investigate area-restricted search in three-dimensional movements

A better understanding of animal movements is of crucial importance for investigating numerous ecological issues. Developments in bio-logging technologies largely contributed to the observation and recording of animal displacements. Recently, several devices were developed to track animals in a three-dimensional space. However, given the larger number of variables, these advances generated new analytical problems and currently, few methods exist to analyse 3-D movements. In this study, we present a new technique, the Spherical First Passage Time (SFPT), to determine the scale of search behaviour in a volume. Building on the development of the First Passage Time (FPT) approach, SFPT measures the time required to cross a sphere along a 3-D path. We used simulations as they provide an opportunity to better understand processes involved in a system. Moreover, they offer the advantage of considerably increasing sample size in cases where empiric data remain scarce. However, in order to be more realistic, simulations were constrained within the physiological and behavioural features inherent to a diving animal, in this case beluga whales. First, we modelled three-dimensional movements as a correlated random walk for which the vertical and horizontal dimensions were considered simultaneously. One restricted search event was included in each simulation. Spatial scales obtained with the SFPT approach were compared to those obtained from the classical FPT analysis over the corresponding horizontal path. Results indicate a significant difference between the two approaches, suggesting that, in most cases, an approach in 2-D misrepresents spatial scale of search behaviour occurring in 3-D. Although we tested the SFPT with the example of a diving marine mammal, we argue that this method is applicable for all animals moving in a three-dimensional space.     

Night irradiance and synchronization of lunar release of planula larvae in the reef coral Pocillopora damicornis

Pocillopora damicornis (Linnaeus), which is known to release planula larvae on a monthly cycle, was grown in full daytime solar irradiance, but with four treatments of night irradiance: (1) natural night irradiance, (2) shifted-phase (total darkness during nights of full moon with artificial irradiance at lunar intensity on nights of new moon), (3) constant full moon (full lunar irradiance every night), and (4) constant new moon (total darkness every night). The reproductive cycle of the corals held in the shifted-phase treatment moved out of synchrony with the cycle of corals exposed to a natural lunar cycle of night irradiance. Two previously described types of P. damicornis were tested. The Type Y normally start releasing larvae at full moon, with peak production at third quarter. In the shifted-phase treatment they began releasing planulae at new moon (artificial full moon), with peak production at first quarter. The Type B corals, that normally start releasing planulae at new moon with peak production at first quarter, began to release planulae at full moon (artificial new moon), with peak production at third quarter. Populations of corals grown either in the constant full moon or constant new moon treatment quickly lost synchronization of monthly larva production, although production of planulae continued. Thus spawning is synchronized by night irradiance.Contribution No. 702 of the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology     

Analysis of the ground effect on development of flow structures around an inclined solar panel

Environmental Fluid Mechanics - The complex three-dimensional flow that develops around an inclined flat solar panel near the ground is investigated using Computational Fluid Dynamics. The early...     

天然沸石的微量元素生物有效性研究

通过连续两造的玉米盆栽试验,结果表明施用佛石的处理和施用微量元素处理都不同程度地促进玉米的生长,增加玉米的生物量,但以沸石处理的效果最显著。植株养分含量的分析结果表明,佛石处理促进了玉米对微量元素的吸收,增加了植株中微量元素的含量。