Gravity currents in two-layer stratified media

An analytical, experimental and numerical study of boundary gravity currents propagating through a two-layer stratified ambient of finite vertical extent is presented. Gravity currents are supposed to originate from a lock-release apparatus; the (heavy) gravity current fluid is assumed to span the entire channel depth, H, at the initial instant. Our theoretical discussion considers slumping, supercritical gravity currents, i.e. those that generate an interfacial disturbance whose speed of propagation matches the front speed, and follows from the classical analysis of Benjamin (J Fluid Mech 31:209?C248, 1968). In contrast to previous investigations, we argue that the interfacial disturbance must be parameterized so that its amplitude can be straightforwardly determined from the ambient layer depths. Our parameterization is based on sensible physical arguments; its accuracy is confirmed by comparison against experimental and numerical data. More generally, measured front speeds show positive agreement with analogue model predictions, which remain strictly single-valued. From experimental and numerical observations of supercritical gravity currents, it is noted that this front speed is essentially independent of the interfacial thickness, ??, even in the limiting case where ?? = H so that the environment is comprised of a uniformly stratified ambient with no readily discernible upper or lower ambient layer. Conversely, when the gravity current is subcritical, there is a mild increase of front speed with ??. Our experiments also consider the horizontal distance, X, at which the front begins to decelerate. The variation of X with the interface thickness and the depths and densities of the ambient layers is discussed. For subcritical gravity currents, X may be as small as three lock lengths whereas with supercritical gravity currents, the gravity current may travel long distances at constant speed, particularly as the lower layer depth diminishes.     

Allozyme polymorphisms in horseshoe crabs, Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda, collected from polluted and unpolluted intertidal areas in Peninsular Malaysia

It has been widely reported that allozyme frequency variation is a potential indicator of heavy metal-induced impacts in aquatic populations. In the present study, wild populations of horseshoe crab (Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda) were collected from contaminated and uncontaminated sites of Peninsular Malaysia. By adopting horizontal starch gel electrophoresis, seven enzyme systems were used to study allozyme polymorphisms. Nine polymorphic loci were observed in C. rotundicauda. The relationships of allozyme variations with the concentrations of Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn in sediments and in muscle tissues of horseshoe crabs were determined. Based on genetic distance, the lower mean value of Nei??s D (0.017) indicated that both of the contaminated populations of Kg. Pasir Puteh and Kuala Juru were very closely related when compared to the relatively uncontaminated Pantai Lido population. Higher heterozygosities were shown by the contaminated populations when compared to the uncontaminated population. Different allelic frequencies could be observed for the aldolase (ALD; E.C. 2.7.5.1) locus between the contaminated and uncontaminated populations of C. rotundicauda. The dendrogram of genetic relationships of the three populations of C. rotundicauda showed the same clustering pattern as the dendrograms are based on heavy metals in the sediments and in the horseshoe crabs?? abdominal muscles. From the F statistics, the present study showed that the three populations of horseshoe crabs were considered to have undergone moderate genetic differentiation with a mean F _ST value of 0.092 .The current results suggest that allozyme polymorphism in horseshoe crabs is a potential biomonitoring tool for metal contamination, although further validation is required.     

Characteristics of atmospheric non-methane hydrocarbons in Foshan City, China

Foshan is the most air-polluted city in Pearl River Delta. Non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) were investigated for the first time in Foshan in winter 2008. Ethene, ethane, ethyne, propane, i-pentane, and toluene were the most abundant hydrocarbons and observed to be higher in Foshan than those in many other cities in China. Different from other cities, ethene and ethane were observed to be the two highest compounds in Foshan. Generally, the most abundant hydrocarbons showed high mixing ratios in the morning (0930-1030 hours), decreased to the lowest level in the afternoon (1430-1530 hours), and increased to higher value in the evening (1930-2030 hours). But i-pentane exhibited a different diurnal pattern with the highest level (13.4 ± 5.8 ppbv) in the afternoon, implying the acceleration of solvent evaporation resulting from higher temperature. Correlation coefficients (R(2)?= 66% for n = 6 at 95% confidence level) of the individual hydrocarbons with ethyne and i-pentane indicated vehicular emissions were the main sources of ethene, propene, i-butene, isoprene, benzene and toluene, while gasoline evaporation was responsible for n-pentane, n-hexane, and n-heptane. The good correlation of most of the hydrocarbons with ethyne, indicating vehicular emissions, were the main sources of NMHCs. B/T ratio was 0.36 ± 0.06, implying vehicular emissions acted as the major contributors as well as additional emissions of toluene emitted from solvent usage. According to investigation, it also suggested that LPG leakage was the main source of propane, while NG leakage was responsible for ethane in Foshan City.     

Distribution and chemical partitioning of heavy metals in marine near-shore sediment cores: a case study from the Xugou, Lianyungang, China

The concentrations and chemical partitioning of heavy metals (Co, Cr, Ni, Zn, Cu, and Pb) in the marine near-shore sediment cores were investigated. Typically, the mean concentrations from Core B sediment samples were 98.6, 21.1, 47.0, 46.4, 107.6, and 31.9 mg kg^???1 for Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb, respectively. The heavy metal concentrations were normalized to commonly used reference elements Al, Li, Sc, and total organic carbon. Based on Pearson coefficients, Li was found to be a good normalizer for Co (r?= 0.974), Cr (r?= 0.967), Ni (r?= 0.898), and Zn (r?= 0.929) in 80 sediment samples from three sampling sites. However, the correlation coefficients between Li and Cu, and Li and Pb were relatively low. Multivariate statistic approaches (Principal Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis) were adopted for data treatment, allowing the identification of two main factors controlling the heavy metal variability in the sediments. Heavy metals in the enrichment sections were evaluated by a sequential extraction method for possible chemical forms in sediments. The results showed that the residual, Fe/Mn oxides and Organic/sulfide fractions were dominant geochemical phases in the enriched sections, indicating low bioavailability of heavy metals in sediments.     

“Community in Bloom”: local participation of community gardens in urban Singapore

Community gardens offer a space that allows facilitation of leisure activities, encourages interaction within different factions in a community and helps forge a sense of belonging towards the overall community. Using the case study of “Community in Bloom” (CIB) programme initiated by the National Parks Board of Singapore, this article highlights how such community gardens are also viewed by some as exclusionary spaces due to their close links with government apparatus. More broadly, it argues that a constrained civic activism not only affects the extent to which these gardens can forge communal bonds, but they also challenge their integral spirit. Despite promising signs of politically opening up in the early 2000s, the soft authoritarianism of the Singaporean state continues to be wary of non-governmental sanctioned community projects and civic activism. This attitude may prove to be resilient in the foreseeable future, thereby preventing the “CIB” programme from truly blossoming.     

Photocatalytic Production of Methane and Hydrogen Through Reduction of Carbon Dioxide with Water Using Titania Pellets

This paper presents an experimental study on employing a pellet form of catalyst in photo-reduction of carbon dioxide with water. Water was first absorbed into titania pellets. Highly purified carbon dioxide gas was then discharged into a reactor containing the wet pellets, which were then illuminated continuously for 65 hours using UVC lamps. Analysing the products accumulated in the reactor confirmed that methane and hydrogen were produced through photo-reduction of carbon dioxide with water. No other hydrocarbons were detected. Increasing the temperature in the reactor has showed little change on the amount of methane produced.     

纺织品中有毒有害物质检测技术的研究现状

纺织品中有毒有害物质超标是纺织品顺利进出口的主要限制因素,而目前中国的检测技术在具体实施中仍存在许多问题。本文阐述了国内纺织品中主要的三类物质检测技术的发展现状,并针对常用检测方法提出一些建议。     

城市湖泊富营养化的影响探讨——以金山湖为实例

以金山湖为研究对象,建立了金山湖二维水流水质耦合模型,利用有限差分法离解方程,模拟了金山湖在东风作用下的流场,在此基础上模拟了水温、营养盐（总磷、总氮）、流速与浮游藻类生长的关系以及湖水水质变化趋势。     

提高地震台网近震速报精度的一个方法——和达法

本文对和达曲线法鉴别近震直达P波和直达S波的原理进行了详细的讨论,得出确定和达曲线参数的基本公式及用来表示S-P到时差与P到时线性相关程度的相关系数r的计算方法.讨论了利用和达曲线在台网定位中的应用方法.最后研制了利用和达曲线提高震相识别精度的应用程序,并以实例说明该程序的用法.     

跨区域突发事件应急协调机制实现途径探究

突发事件日益呈现出跨区域的特点,研究省内跨区域突发事件应急合作机制已经势在必行。在合作机制中协调性是应对跨区域突发事件的关键因素之一。本文以广东省为例,在分析跨区域突发事件应急机制的基础上,从组织机构、法律规章、跨区域应急文化、资源保障及技术支撑5个方面探讨跨区域应急协调机制的实现途径。