ALBERT

Beschreibung: The diurnal variations from a high-resolution regional climate model (Regional Spectral Model; RSM) are analyzed from 6 independent decade long integrations using lateral boundary forcing data separately from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction Reanalysis 2 (NCEPR2), and European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) 40-year Reanalysis (ERA40) and the 20 th Century Reanalysis (20CR). With each of these lateral boundary forcing data, the RSM is integrated separately using two convection schemes: the Relaxed Arakawa-Schubert (RAS) and Kain-Fritsch (KF) schemes. The results show that RSM integrations forced with 20CR have the least fidelity in depicting the seasonal cycle and diurnal variability of precipitation and surface temperature over the Southeastern United States (SEUS). The remaining four model simulations show comparable skills. The differences in the diurnal amplitude of rainfall during the summer months of the 20CR forced integration from the corresponding NCEPR2 forced integration, for example, is found to be largely from the transient component of the moisture flux convergence. The root mean square error (RMSE) of the seasonal cycle of precipitation and surface temperature of the other four simulations (not forced by 20CR) were comparable to each other and highest in the summer months. But the RMSE of the diurnal amplitude of precipitation and the timing of its diurnal zenith were largest during winter months and least during summer and fall months in the four model simulations (not forced by 20CR). The diurnal amplitude of surface temperature in comparison showed far less fidelity in all models. The phase of the diurnal maximum of surface temperature however showed significantly better validation with corresponding observations in all of the 6 model simulations

Beschreibung: A high-resolution transect of atmospheric soundings across the Kuroshio Current in the East China Sea was conducted onboard a ship in June 2012 with the objective of analyzing the influence of the complex sea surface temperature (SST) distribution on the Baiu frontal zone (BFZ). Expendable bathythermograph castings and continuous surface meteorological observations were also examined. Two distinct mesoscale atmospheric fronts, characterized by changes of wind direction in the lower troposphere and surface air temperature (SAT), were found in the BFZ. One (northern) atmospheric front was observed around the SST front in relation to a warm water tongue extending from the Kuroshio. A high SST region around the northern atmospheric front enhances unstable near surface stratification and intensifies turbulent heat flux. They help modify the marine atmospheric boundary layer in the BFZ. The other (southern) atmospheric front was at the southern end of the BFZ. Intense evaporation over the Kuroshio and moisture transport by southerly winds were important in forming the conditionally unstable air masses in the lower troposphere of the BFZ.

Beschreibung: We analyze the variability of mean age of air (AoA) and of the local effects of the stratospheric residual circulation and eddy mixing on AoA within the framework of the isentropic zonal mean continuity equation. AoA for the period 1988–2013 has been simulated with the Lagrangian chemistry transport model CLaMS driven by ERA-Interim winds and diabatic heating rates. Model simulated AoA in the lower stratosphere shows good agreement with both in-situ observations and satellite observations from MIPAS (Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding), even regarding interannual variability and changes during the last decade. The interannual variability throughout the lower stratosphere is largely affected by the QBO-induced circulation and mixing anomalies, with year-to-year AoA changes of about 0.5 years. The decadal 2002–2012 change shows decreasing AoA in the lowest stratosphere, below about 450 K. Above, AoA increases in the NH and decreases in the SH. Mixing appears to be crucial for understanding AoA variability, with local AoA changes resulting from a close balance between residual circulation and mixing effects. Locally, mixing increases AoA at low latitudes (40S-40N) and decreases AoA at higher latitudes. Strongest mixing occurs below about 500 K, consistent with the separation between shallow and deep circulation branches. The effect of mixing integrated along the air parcel path, however, significantly increases AoA globally, except in the polar lower stratosphere. Changes of local effects of residual circulation and mixing during the last decade are supportive of a strengthening shallow circulation branch in the lowest stratosphere and a southward shifting circulation pattern above.

Beschreibung: The interaction between sea ice and atmosphere depends strongly on the near-surface transfer coefficients for momentum and heat. A parametrization of these coefficients is developed on the basis of an existing parametrization of drag coefficients for neutral stratification that accounts for form drag caused by the edges of ice floes and melt ponds. This scheme is extended to better account for the dependence of surface wind on limiting cases of high and low ice concentration and to include near-surface stability effects over open water and ice on form drag. The stability correction is formulated on the basis of stability functions from Monin-Obukhov similarity theory and also using the Louis concept with stability functions depending on thebulk Richardson numbers. Furthermore, a parametrization is proposed that includes the effect of edge related turbulence also on heat transfer coefficients. The parametrizations are available in different levels of complexity. The lowest level only needs sea ice concentration and surface temperature as input while the more complex level needs additional sea ice characteristics. An important property of our parametrization is that form drag caused by ice edges depends on the stability over both ice and water which is in contrast to the skin drag over ice. Results of the parametrization show that stability has a large impact on form drag and, thereby, determines the value of sea ice concentration for which the transfer coefficients reach their maxima. Depending on the stratification, these maxima can occur anywhere between ice concentrations of 20 and 80%.

Beschreibung: The feasibility of the industrial application of kapok fiber for the removal of lead (II) ions from aqueous stream was evaluated in this study. The fiber was modified using NaOH solution and also was oxidized with NaClO 2 solution. Both of the chemically enhanced kapok fibers showed a high adsorption efficiency, which was 23.4 and 34.6 mg/g, respectively, while unmodified kapok fibers had 4.70 mg/g. Kinetic reactions and their rate constants exhibited that the removal of lead was linearly correlated with adsorption capacity of the modified and oxidized kapok fibers. Adsorption isotherm of the experiment fitted very well with the Langmuir model for the chemically enhanced kapok fibers. Adsorption capacity decreased with a decrease in the pH. The recycling process of the used kapok fibers was also carried out and the results found that kapok fibers were reusable with relatively high regeneration rate.

Beschreibung: This study was conducted to identify the influence of three principal parameters constituting topography (slope inclination, soil depth, and slope length) on hillslope instability in a small catchment, known as Higashifukubegawa of Shikoku Island, western Japan. The typhoon rainfall of 19–20 October 2004 was significant in causing a total of seven slope failures in the catchment, though other rainfall events of various intensities in the same year did not cause failure. To understand the influence of the three principal parameters, numerical modeling of seepage and slope stability was performed in slope profiles constructed by varying the three parameters across their permissible range prepared from the seven slope failures of Higashifukubegawa in GeoStudio (GeoStudio Tutorials includes student edition lessons, Geo-Slope International Ltd., Calgary, 2005 v.4). The change in porewater pressure and slope mass weight due to variation in values of principal parameters was used to interpret the change in factor of safety or instability. The results showed that (1) instability increases with increase in the values of all three selected parameters across their range in Higashifukubegawa with remarkable decreasing trend in factors of safety, (2) slope inclination and soil depth were observed to affect instability through change in both unsaturated zone moisture content and mobilizing force of slope mass, (3) but with slope length, the unsaturated zone moisture content was not found to change considerably which implies that the instability due to slope length is mainly governed by change in slope mass weight. Overall, this study has dealt in great detail with how hillslope instability changes with principal parameters of topography under the same simulating conditions of hydrological and geo-mechanical parameters.

Beschreibung: The paper presents results of geothermal projects carried out in the last 23 years by the interdisciplinary research team at the AGH University of Science and Technology, in cooperation with numerous scientific institutions, published in the form of geothermal atlases in different parts of Poland. For many years, the Department of Fossil Fuels at the Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, has conducted the fundamental research and implementation work, aiming at the selection of optimum areas for utilization of geothermal waters and energy. Over the years, a methodology of estimation of geothermal resources with use of advanced techniques and numerical modeling has been developed. Recapitulation of the studies of the occurrence and utilization of geothermal waters and energy within geological units of the Polish Lowlands, Carpathians and Carpathian Foredeep has been reflected in seven Atlases. The Atlases represent a result of interdisciplinary, constructive cooperation of specialists from various, often remote fields of knowledge, fundamental and technological in nature, including: geologists, geophysicists, hydrogeologists, geochemists, drilling engineers, heat engineers, and many other specialists. The Atlases enable the selection of the most promising areas for utilization of geothermal waters and energy in Poland. The best geothermal conditions are predicted in the Polish Lowlands and Podhale region although in many areas of the Carpathians and the Carpathian Foredeep favorable geothermal conditions also occur.

Beschreibung: In the present work, remediation of lead-containing solution using raw and modified kaolinite has been presented. The micro and nanostructure of samples has been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Laser diffraction and scattering (LDS), was analyzed by particle size analyzer based on laser diffraction and particle size distribution (PSD) was done. The degree of metal adsorption was evaluated analyzing the Pb(II) contaminated samples by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (micro- and nanostructure on immobilization efficiency correlCP AES). The results show the impact of immobilization efficiency and ation between micro- and nanostructure. The thermodynamic data (Δ H °, Δ S °, Δ G °) are calculated from the temperature-dependent sorption isotherms. The results suggest sorption process of Pb(II) on kaolinite as spontaneous and endothermic.

Beschreibung: This study compares various immunomagnetic separation (IMS) protocols. The average recovery efficiency of IMS for different Salmonella concentrations (between 10 2 and 10 5 CFU/ml) was 53.5 ± 12.9 % ( n  = 24). When turbidity was less than 1,000 NTU, altering the debris ratio of water samples produced no significant changes in the recovery efficiency of IMS. Prolonging the incubation time or increasing the amount of immunomagnetic beads increased the recovery efficiency of IMS. This study also compares processes in which water samples were filtered, eluted/concentrated, and then processed by the IMS and non-IMS methods before PCR. Results indicate that IMS can effectively eliminate these inhibitors prior to polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The detection limit of Salmonella analysis process with IMS separation before enrichment was superior to IMS separation after enrichment. The proposed Salmonella analysis process, which included IMS to concentrate and purify the Salmonella , improves the sensitivity and the detection efficiency of the entire analysis process.