Arizona Area Research Articles

COCORP report: Utah, Arizona and Montana regions

Seismic reflection data sheets, map sheets and tapes for three areas are now available from the Consortium for Continental Reflection Profiling (COCORP): the Southeast Utah‐New Mexico area covering 213 line-km consists of Utah Lines 7–8 and New Mexico Line 5; the Arizona area covering 546 line-km consists of Arizona Lines 1–7; and the Montana area covering 433 line-km consists of Montana Lines 3–8. Line locations are indicated on Figures 1–3. The COCORP project is part of the US Geodynamics Program sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences and funded by the National Science Foundation. The executive group of the consortium consists of representatives from Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Princeton University, Rice University and the University of Wisconsin. Cornell University is the operating institution.

Recent changes in Phoenix, Arizona summertime diurnal precipitation patterns

Summertime diurnal precipitation patterns for Phoenix, Arizona are analyzed for the period 1954 through 1985. Although the mean precipitation amounts and frequencies for the entire summer monsoon season have not shown any significant effects from the rapidly developing urban heat island, diurnal patterns have displayed substantial changes in the recent period of explosive population growth. During the most recent 16 years, late afternoon and evening storms have become more frequent and produce greater rainfall totals. Sharp declines are noted in the frequency of rain events between midnight and noon; especially large drops occur in the rainfall amounts between 9.00 and 12.00 MST. These findings appear to be consistent with several mechanisms proposed to explain the unusual diurnal character of the summertime rainfall in the Phoenix, Arizona area.

Hazard and Risk Mapping of Mined Lands Using Satellite Imagery and Collateral Data

In view of the likelihood of future conflicts in land use between mining and urban interests, programs should be initiated early to establish reclamation priorities that will enable more hazardous areas to be considered first. This paper demonstrates the use of satellite imagery and collateral data in establishing relative hazard and risk rankings for mines in Arizona. Hazard and risk are considered as spatially distributed functions of mine hazard, rainfall and population. Mine hazard is calculated using Landsat-derived maps of tailings ponds. These digital data are registered and the hazard and risk calculated for each mine to depict areas in which increased population will increase risk. Results indicate that expected future population growth in the Tucson, Arizona area makes the mines in this area the primary target for future reclamation and stabilization, and an important area for land-use planning to begin at this time.

Orthophosphoric Acid as a Phosphorus Fertilizer in Trickle Irrigation

AbstractTraditional P fertilizers have demonstrated relative immobility in soils. When used in trickle irrigation, these fertilizer materials tend to form precipitates in the irrigation lines which cause clogging problems and eventual breakdown of the system.The movement of P in Superstition sand was determined after spot placement of treble superphosphate (TSP) and injection of orthophosphoric acid (OP) with a trickle system. Rates of P application, based on the recommended rate of TSP for citrus in the Yuma, Arizona area were: check, 28 kg P/ha as TSP and 14, 28, 57, and 114 kg P/ha as OP. The experiment was conducted over the two irrigation periods; one for 3 days and the second for 24 days. Phosphorus was delivered to a greater soil volume when applied as OP than TSP, which should result in more plant available P in the root zone. The OP treatments lowered the pH of the irrigation water enough to eliminate clogging problems of P precipitates in the irrigation lines.

Shock wave response of window rock coal

Shock compression measurements on a subbituminous coal from the Window Rock, Arizona area are presented. Measurements of this type are required for investigation of the effectiveness of various rubblizing or fragmentation techniques using explosives in preparation for in situ coal gasification. The results of this investigation, which demonstrate the feasibility of acquiring such data, show that this coal is a highly compressible material with the order of 6 per cent porosity in the form of macroscopic collapsible voids. Wave shapes were square (propagation with the wave front parallel to bedding planes) with only very slight evidence of elastic precursors. Comparison of the dynamic stress-strain results with static stress-strain curves shows that the deformation of coal is highly strain-rate sensitive. Finally, the significance of these observations are explored in terms of a hypothetical fragmentation situation. A wave propagation computer code was used to predict what happens when liquid explosive in a thin crack is detonated to produce shock loading of various materials.

Re-examination of Koppitz' Developmental Bender Scoring System.

The Koppitz Developmental Scoring System for the Bender-Gestalt test was re-examined using 289 randomly selected children from Grades 1, 3, and 6 of the Northern Arizona area. Data were obtained for scorer reliability and scoring-system reliability. Koppitz items as predictors of the Stanford Achievement Test reading scores were checked. Although significant correlations were obtained between total Koppitz scores and reading achievement, the magnitudes were too low for individual prediction. More than half of the Koppitz items were not discriminators at any one grade, 7 were significant at Grade 1, 2 at Grade 3, and 2 at Grade 6. No items differentiated all grades. Consequently, the Koppitz items should be used carefully and not as the sole indicator of reading problems