High Evaporation Losses Research Articles

Synthesis & Characterization of Parylene D films on Nafion-117 for Robotic Arm

The era of industrialization needs the discovery of new materials rapidly. The ionic nature of Nafion 117 makes it feasible for the biosensors and other robotic devices. The uncoated nafion 117 is highly unstable at high temperature and evaporative water loss is also present. The coating of noble material make it more efficient and highly stable at adverse conditions. The high cost of noble material may be barrier fpr its day to day applications. Therefore, parylene D has been selected as coating material for base substrate material to maintain its efficiency as well as working. The present study is done to compare the parylene D coated material with the uncoated nafion 117. The water holding capacity and ion exchange capacity has been investigated in the given research.

Modeling High Pan Evaporation Losses Using Support Vector Machine, Gaussian Processes, and Regression Tree Models

Modeling High Pan Evaporation Losses Using Support Vector Machine, Gaussian Processes, and Regression Tree Models

Field longevity of methyl eugenol and cue-lure plugs and associated insecticidal strips: captures of Bactrocera dorsalis and Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Hawaii.

Certain species of true fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) cause tremendous damage to commercially important fruits and vegetables, and many countries operate continuous trapping programs which rely on male-specific lures such as trimedlure (TML), methyl eugenol (ME), and cue-lure (CL). Traditionally, these attractants have been applied as liquids to cotton wicks inside traps, although this results in high evaporative loss of the lure. Slow-release, polymeric plugs have been widely adopted for TML, but such devices are not widely used for ME or CL. Recent data, however, suggest that ME and CL plugs may be attractive for as long as 12 wk in the field. The present study investigates whether ME and CL plugs weathered for 18 or 24 wk are effective in capturing males of Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) and Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett), respectively. For B. dorsalis, 6 g ME plugs were as effective as the control treatment (fresh liquid on a wick) after 12 wk of weathering but not after 18 or 24 wk. For Z. cucurbitae, 3 g CL plugs were as effective as the control treatment (fresh CL plugs) after 12 and 18 wk of weathering but not after 24 wk. The residual content and release rate of the 2 lures were also measured over time, but, with the exception of the residual content of ME, we did not find a direct correlation between these parameters and numbers of flies captured.

Relationship between monthly surface water derived from Sentinel-2 imagery and meteorological data (precipitation and evaporation) at Baghdad, Iraq

ABSTRACT This study was carried out using two main monthly datasets: satellite images and some meteorological parameters (like precipitation and evaporation) for 2 years (2018 and 2021). Using the fine spatial resolution images acquired from Sentinel-2, digital maps of surface water areas were produced by calculating the Modified Normalized Difference Water Index for all months in QGIS and then classifying them into two main categories (water and non-water bodies). The results show that the largest areas were in January 2021 (77.2 km2) and 40.7 km2 in November 2018, while the lowest (18.7 km2) were in June 2021 and July 2018. Monthly mean values of cumulative precipitation and evaporation were used to find their relationships with surface water areas. The results show that the year 2021 was a severe dry year, whereas the lowest precipitation (25 mm) in that year was associated with higher evaporation losses (3,021.8 mm) during this year. When combined with surface water areas and meteorological parameters, a non-linear relationship between water areas and evaporation was found for both years, and a linear relationship between precipitation and water areas for the wet year of 2018.

Searching for synergy between alcohol and salt to produce more potent and environmentally benign gas hydrate inhibitors

Gas hydrates formation is a primary complication in the oil and gas industry. The most universal gas hydrate prevention agents are thermodynamic inhibitors. The most prominent is methanol (MeOH), which has high toxicity and evaporation losses. We experimentally studied the methane hydrate phase equilibria to systematically explore the synergism of MeOH and MgCl2. The new data extend the range of inhibitor concentrations and equilibrium temperatures studied for magnesium chloride systems. The higher the concentration of the components, the more potent the synergy. Parameters to quantify the synergism are proposed. The data were complemented by ice-freezing temperature measurements. The results indicate that the inhibitory properties of MeOH can be improved and consumption reduced by using its combinations with MgCl2 due to the superior salt' anti-hydrate activity and the synergistic effect. Partial replacement of the toxic MeOH with the safer and non-volatile MgCl2 could also reduce inhibitor losses and minimize environmental impact.

Stable isotope tracing internal recycling and evaporation losses in saline lakes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Direct measuring of internal lake recycling and evaporation losses remains challenging for lakes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). Stable isotope techniques provide an effective approach for estimating water vapor cycling ratios and evaporation losses of lakes on the QTP. In this study, the stable isotope values of saline lakes on the QTP were modeled using the stable isotope values of the sampled lake water and their influencing factors. The water vapor recycling ratio and evaporation loss (E/I) of 135 saline lakes on the QTP were evaluated and their influencing factors were revealed. The results showed that stable isotopes in saline lakes on the QTP showed significant spatial variability. Their stable isotopes were affected by the source of water vapor, recharge patterns, and local evaporation conditions. It's worth noting that the average water vapor recycling ratio of saline lakes on the QTP was 20.16 %, one-fifth of the saline lakes had a water vapor recycling ratio beyond 30 %. Saline lakes lose 26 % of their water through evaporation. 26 % of the saline lakes experienced high evaporation losses of >40 % of the total inflow. We found that the main factors controlling the water vapor recycling ratio and evaporation loss in saline lakes on the QTP were precipitation and altitude, respectively. Interestingly, the control factors of water vapor recycling ratio and evaporation loss in saline lakes with elevation above 4500 m showed significant differences compared to saline lakes with elevation below 4500 m. Therefore, the strengthening of lake system monitoring can provide reliable data support for security assessment and effective management of water resources on the QTP.

Complexation with pre-formed “empty” V-type starch for encapsulation of aroma compounds

Aroma compounds are low-molecular-weight organic volatile molecules and are broadly utilized in the food industry. However, due to their high volatility and evaporative losses during processing and storage, the stabilization of these volatile ingredients using encapsulation is a commonly investigated practice. Complexation of aroma compounds using starch inclusion complex could be a potential approach due to the hydrophobicity of the left-handed single helical structure. In the present study, we used starch of three different V-type structures, namely V6h, V7, and V8, to encapsulate six different aroma compounds, including 1-decanol (DN), cis-3-hexen-1-ol (HN), 4-allylanisole (AN), γ-decalactone (DA), trans-cinnamaldehyde (CA), and citral (CT). The formed inclusion complexes samples were characterized using complementary techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results showed that upon complexation with aroma compounds, all V-subtypes retained their original crystalline structures. However, different trends of crystallinity were observed for each type of the prepared inclusion complexes. Additionally, among three V-type starches, V6h-type starch formed inclusion complexes with aroma compounds most efficiently and promoted the formation of Form II complex. This study suggested that the structure of aroma compounds and the type of V starch could both affect the complexation properties.

Evaluation of irrigation methods in Söke Plain with HF-AHP-PROMETHEE II hybrid MCDM method

Söke Plain (Turkey) is one of the two plains where cotton production is the highest in Turkey, the leading country for cotton production in the Mediterranean Basin. The cropping pattern in Söke Plain is dominated by cotton with a ratio of 97%. The overall irrigation scheme is equipped with conventional systems (i.e., surface, furrow) whose efficiency is approximately 50% due to high evaporation and physical losses. Water efficiency improvement in cotton irrigation necessitates a thorough evaluation of the agricultural water management for Söke Plain, a water-scarce region under drought threat. In this paper, a hybrid multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) method is presented for the evaluation and selection of irrigation methods. This process involves various potentially conflicting qualitative and quantitative criteria, therefore, a hybrid MCDM method such as HF-AHP-PROMETHEE II is needed to make decisions. In HF-AHP-PROMETHEE II, “Hesitant Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process” (HF-AHP) is first implemented to determine importance weights of criteria and then “Hesitant Fuzzy Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enriching Evaluations II” (HF-PROMETHEE II) is utilized to assess and rank the irrigation method alternatives. For comparison analysis, HF-AHP-TOPSIS (HF-AHP-Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) method is also implemented to the same problem. A case study is presented where five irrigation method alternatives in Söke Plain are assessed by five expert decision-makers (DMs), based on fifteen evaluation criteria. Sprinkler is found to be the first ranked irrigation method among five alternatives with both HF-AHP-PROMETHEE II and HF-AHP-TOPSIS resulting in the same ranking. The selection of this irrigation technique by the expert DMs is compliant with prevailing regional features related to hydrologic, climatic, environmental conditions and with regard to cotton, one of the highest water-consuming crops.

How does grazing affect soil water availability in the Patagonian steppe?

In the Patagonian steppe, grazing may or may not reduce soil water availability: it may increase evaporative losses, because it reduces plant cover, but may decrease transpiration losses because it decreases plant biomass. Therefore, grazing could reduce soil water availability in the superficial layer, mostly affected by evaporation, but could increase it in the subsurface layers, mostly affected by transpiration. Our hypothesis is that such effects would be most evident in the bare soil spaces, with higher evaporative losses and lower root density than vegetated microsites. Therefore, we analyzed the proportion of four microsites (shrubs, bare soil, preferred- and unpreferred grasses), and their soil water availability at 0–5 and 5–15 cm depth in four sampling areas, each one with an ungrazed, a moderately- and an intensely-grazed site. Our results supported the initial hypothesis: bare soil microsites had the lowest surface, but the highest subsurface water availability. However, grazing did not cause any change in the mean soil water availability (net effect) because it did not affect soil water availability in any microsite and depth (direct effects), and only caused a replacement of preferred-by unpreferred grasses (indirect effects), two groups that induced small differences in water availability.

Meet You at the Local Watering Hole? No Use of an Artificial Water Resource, and Evidence of Dehydration in Hibernating Bats in the Prairies

While torpid, small hibernators experience negative water balance due to evaporative water loss. The use of humid hibernacula and ability to drink during periodic arousals allows most hibernators to manage this deficit over the course of a winter. Some populations of big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) hibernate in relatively dry rock-crevices that do not contain free standing water. We monitored the winter behaviour and physiology of one such population in the Canadian prairies. Due to the semi-arid climate, we hypothesized that these bats would experience relatively high evaporative water loss and make frequent mid-winter flights to find water. We measured serum ion concentrations and hematocrit to assess level of dehydration in bats captured during winter. We also provided a heated water tank enriched in deuterium (2H) and used stable isotope analysis to test for elevated hydrogen isotope ratios (2H/1H; herein δ2H) in the blood of bats to determine if individuals drank from the tank. We also used passive acoustic monitoring, video surveillance, and passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags to determine if bats visited the heated water tank. We found evidence of hypertonic dehydration (elevated hematocrit and concentrations of some serum ions) in bats as winter progressed. Blood δ2H of bats was similar to that of water on the landscape, and acoustic and video surveillance did not indicate any visits by bats to the water tank. Post-arousal dehydration is not uncommon in hibernators, which agrees with our observation that the water tank did not represent a water resource, despite it being the only open (not frozen) water available. It is unknown whether bats may exploit frozen sources of water (e.g., snow) to supplement metabolic water produced from fat catabolism.

Interspecific variation in evaporative water loss and temperature response, but not metabolic rate, among hibernating bats

Hibernation is widespread among mammals in a variety of environmental contexts. However, few experimental studies consider interspecific comparisons, which may provide insight into general patterns of hibernation strategies. We studied 13 species of free-living bats, including populations spread over thousands of kilometers and diverse habitats. We measured torpid metabolic rate (TMR) and evaporative water loss (two key parameters for understanding hibernation energetics) across a range of temperatures. There was no difference in minimum TMR among species (i.e., all species achieved similarly low torpid metabolic rate) but the temperature associated with minimum TMR varied among species. The minimum defended temperature (temperature below which TMR increased) varied from 8 °C to < 2 °C among species. Conversely, evaporative water loss varied among species, with species clustered in two groups representing high and low evaporative water loss. Notably, species that have suffered population declines due to white-nose syndrome fall in the high evaporative water loss group and less affected species in the low evaporative water loss group. Documenting general patterns of physiological diversity, and associated ecological implications, contributes to broader understanding of biodiversity, and may help predict which species are at greater risk of environmental and anthropogenic stressors.

Current advances in microalgae-based treatment of high-strength wastewaters: challenges and opportunities to enhance wastewater treatment performance

Microalgae-based technologies, usually configured as high rate algal ponds (HRAP), are efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective alternatives for wastewater treatment due to their high removal efficiencies at low energy demand, ability to recover nutrients and ease of operation. HRAPs and other photobioreactors have been intensively studied in recent years for the treatment of high-strength wastewaters, which are mainly characterised by high and unbalanced (in terms of microalgae requirements) concentrations of organic carbon and nutrients. This review critically evaluated research papers that used microalgae-based systems for the removal of carbon and nitrogen from high-strength wastewaters. These systems can provide removal efficiencies up to 100% for organic matter and ammonium nitrogen. Relatively large area requirements, high evaporative losses, ammonia inhibition, poor light penetration and scattering, carbon dioxide limitation, and unbalanced nutrient ratios rank among the main current limitations of these technologies. Optimisation strategies, including modifications in bioreactor design and operation, can broaden their full-scale application for the treatment of high strength wastewaters.Graphical Abstract

Assessing the significance of wet‐canopy evaporation from forests during extreme rainfall events for flood mitigation in mountainous regions of theUnited Kingdom

AbstractThere is increased interest in the potential of tree planting to help mitigate flooding usingnature‐based solutionsornatural flood management. However, many publications based upon catchment studies conclude that, as flood magnitude increases, benefit from forest cover declines and is insignificant for extreme flood events. These conclusions conflict with estimates of evaporation loss from forest plot observations of gross rainfall, through fall and stem flow. This study explores data from existing studies to assess the magnitudes of evaporation and attempts to identify the meteorological conditions under which they would be supported. This is achieved using rainfall event data collated from publications and data archives from studies undertaken in temperate environments around the world. The meteorological conditions required to drive the observed evaporation losses are explored theoretically using the Penman–Monteith equation. The results of this theoretical analysis are compared with the prevailing meteorological conditions during large and extreme rainfall events in mountainous regions of the United Kingdom to assess the likely significance of wet canopy evaporation loss. The collated dataset showed that eventEwclosses between approximately 2 and 38% of gross rainfall (1.5 to 39.4 mm day−1) have been observed during large rainfall events (up to 118 mm day−1) and that there are few data for extreme events (&gt;150 mm day−1). Event data greater than 150 mm (reported separately) included similarly high percentage evaporation losses. Theoretical estimates of wet‐canopy evaporation indicated that, to reproduce the losses towards the high end of these observations, relative humidity and the aerodynamic resistance for vapour transport needed to be lower than approximately 97.5% and 0.5 to 2 s m−1respectively. Surface meteorological data during large and extreme rainfall events in the United Kingdom suggest that conditions favourable for high wet‐canopy evaporation are not uncommon and indicate that significant evaporation losses during large and extreme events are possible but not for all events and not at all locations. Thus the disparity with the results from catchment studies remains.

Comparative evaluation of continuous piggery wastewater treatment in open and closed purple phototrophic bacteria-based photobioreactors

Purple phototrophic bacteria (PPB) represent an innovative approach for wastewater treatment with a high metabolic plasticity, able to grow under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. This study comparatively assessed the long-term performance (450 days of operation) of an open and closed PPB-based photobioreactor treating of piggery wastewater (PWW). The influence of wastewater dilution, illuminated area to volume ratio, biomass settling and recirculation, and infrared light intensity on wastewater treatment was evaluated at 7 days of hydraulic retention time. An increase in PWW dilution from 4 to 8 folds did not entail higher TOC removal efficiencies (REs) in the open photobioreactor (87% versus 89%), but a significant increase in the closed photobioreactor (from 73% to 80%). The increase in the illuminated area to volume ratio increased TN-REs up to 99% and 49% in the open and closed photobioreactor, respectively, with a concomitant increase in the temperature of both systems. However, temperature control did not mediate a significant enhancement in PWW treatment. Biomass settling and recirculation resulted in higher TN-REs (80%) and TOC-REs (90%) in the closed photobioreactor. The increase in infrared radiation from 100 to 300 W m-2 fostered PPB growth. High water evaporation losses (deteriorating effluent quality) were recorded in the open photobioreactor, where carbon dioxide and ammonia stripping were identified as the main pathways supporting carbon and nitrogen removal.

Preplant and early-season cotton irrigation timing with deficit amounts using subsurface drip (SDI) systems in the Texas High Plains

Two major irrigation challenges of cotton producers in the Texas High Plains (THP) include the depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer and the highly evaporative, semi-arid environment during late spring and early summer. A recent cotton experiment using center pivot irrigation at deficit irrigation capacities showed the reduction in seasonal irrigation by 20% with minor yield loss by reducing irrigations during the vegetative period instead of attempting to store soil water during this period of high evaporative losses. Due to its method of delivery, subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) should reduce evaporation losses during the preplant and early-season periods and improve water storage efficiency and crop yield even at low irrigation capacity. Two experiments having different SDI installation designs and irrigation capacities were conducted in adjacent fields on clay loam soils over 4- and 5-year periods. Treatments included levels of preplant (PP) and vegetative (Veg) period irrigations. In both experiments, under seasonal growing conditions ranging from favorable to unfavorable, yields and crop values were only modestly increased by additional PP irrigations above that required for germination. Among treatments with common PP amounts, larger irrigation amounts during the vegetative period did not significantly (p < 0.05) increase yield or crop value in any individual year or any group of years. In three growing season groupings, with unfavorable to favorable weather conditions, as seasonal irrigation increased, gross irrigation value decreased. Results suggest that in most years, on heavy soils within the THP, SDI productivity can be improved by limiting PP and early-season irrigations under deficit irrigation conditions.

The role of humidity and metabolic status on lean mass catabolism in migratory Swainson's thrushes (Catharus ustulatus).

Migratory birds use protein as a fuel source during flight, but the mechanisms and benefits of protein catabolism during migration are poorly understood. The tissue-specific turnover rate hypothesis proposes that lean mass loss depends solely on the constitutive rate of protein degradation for a given tissue, and is therefore independent of metabolic rate or environmental stimuli. However, it has been demonstrated that environmental stressors such as humidity affect the rate of lean mass catabolism during flight, a finding that seemingly contradicts the tissue-specific turnover rate hypothesis. In order to resolve this, we placed migratory Swainson's thrushes in either high (HEWL) or low (LEWL) evaporative water loss conditions at rest and while undergoing simulated migratory flight at 8 m s-1 in a wind tunnel to test the impact of both environmental stressors and metabolic rate on the rate of protein breakdown. The total quantity and rate of lean mass loss was not different between flight and rest birds, but was affected by humidity condition, with HEWL losing significantly more lean mass. These results show that the rate of protein breakdown in migratory birds is independent of metabolic rate, but it can be augmented in response to environmental stressors.

Clinical profile of neonates admitted with hypernatremia in NICU at tertiary hospital in Vadodara, Gujarat, India

Background: Neonatal hypernatremia is less common but significant metabolic problem with acute morbidity as well as long term consequences. Many causative factors have been identified such as inadequate breastfeeding, hot weather with high evaporative losses , infections etc. It is important to identify, anticipate and correct the condition before it leads to damaging consequences. The objective of the present study was evaluation of clinical profile, renal parameters and causative factors associated with hypernatremia in exclusively breast-fed infants.Methods: A retrospective review of 30 new-borns less than 28 days of age admitted in GMERS General hospital for hypernatremia was conducted. The study group included inborn and out born admissions. Records were reviewed, feeding history, severity of hypernatremia and altered renal parameters were analysed. The study period was from April 2018to June2018i.e summer months.Results: Total NICU admissions were 303 during these months out of which 30 were diagnosed with hypernatremia completely and discharged. Mean age of presentation was 8.4 days. Sodium levels ranged from 146-179 mmol/l. Mild hypernatremia was most common (56.7%), followed by moderate hypernatremia in 40%. All neonates were on exclusive breast feeding. Majority of the affected neonates were term SGA followed by term AGA and preterm AGA. Renal parameters were altered in quarter of affected infants. Most common clinical feature noted was lethargy(70%), followed by fever(53.3%),significant weight loss ,jaundice and dehydration. 29 patients were successfully discharged on breast milk feeding.Conclusions: Hypernatremia though rare, is common in young infants in summer months. It is preventable and treatable condition. It is important to anticipate, identify and treat such patients at the earliest. Treating physicians and nursing staff should be more vigilant for establishment of breast feeding in low birth weight infants. Exclusive breast feeding for first six months of life should always be promoted.

Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) in Sustainable Urban Water Management

To meet increasing urban water requirements in a sustainable way, there is a need to diversify future sources of supply and storage. However, to date, there has been a lag in the uptake of managed aquifer recharge (MAR) for diversifying water sources in urban areas. This study draws on examples of the use of MAR as an approach to support sustainable urban water management. Recharged water may be sourced from a variety of sources and in urban centers, MAR provides a means to recycle underutilized urban storm water and treated wastewater to maximize their water resource potential and to minimize any detrimental effects associated with their disposal. The number, diversity and scale of urban MAR projects is growing internationally due to water shortages, fewer available dam sites, high evaporative losses from surface storages, and lower costs compared with alternatives where the conditions are favorable, including water treatment. Water quality improvements during aquifer storage are increasingly being documented at demonstration sites and more recently, full-scale operational urban schemes. This growing body of knowledge allows more confidence in understanding the potential role of aquifers in water treatment for regulators. In urban areas, confined aquifers provide better protection for waters recharged via wells to supplement potable water supplies. However, unconfined aquifers may generally be used for nonpotable purposes to substitute for municipal water supplies and, in some cases, provide adequate protection for recovery as potable water. The barriers to MAR adoption as part of sustainable urban water management include lack of awareness of recent developments and a lack of transparency in costs, but most importantly the often fragmented nature of urban water resources and environmental management.

Can a change in cropping patterns produce water savings and social gains: A case study from the Fergana Valley, Central Asia

Abstract The study examines possible water savings by replacing alfalfa with winter wheat in the Fergana Valley, located upstream of the Syrdarya River in Central Asia. Agricultural reforms since the 1990s have promoted this change in cropping patterns in the Central Asian states to enhance food security and social benefits. The water use of alfalfa, winter wheat/fallow, and winter wheat/green gram (double cropping) systems is compared for high-deficit, low-deficit, and full irrigation scenarios using hydrological modeling with the HYDRUS-1D software package. Modeling results indicate that replacing alfalfa with winter wheat in the Fergana Valley released significant water resources, mainly by reducing productive crop transpiration when abandoning alfalfa in favor of alternative cropping systems. However, the winter wheat/fallow cropping system caused high evaporation losses from fallow land after harvesting of winter wheat. Double cropping (i.e., the cultivation of green gram as a short duration summer crop after winter wheat harvesting) reduced evaporation losses, enhanced crop output and hence food security, while generating water savings that make more water available for other productive uses. Beyond water savings, this paper also discusses the economic and social gains that double cropping produces for the public within a broader developmental context.

Thermal biology mediates responses of amphibians and reptiles to habitat modification.

Human activities often replace native forests with warmer, modified habitats that represent novel thermal environments for biodiversity. Reducing biodiversity loss hinges upon identifying which species are most sensitive to the environmental conditions that result from habitat modification. Drawing on case studies and a meta-analysis, we examined whether observed and modelled thermal traits, including heat tolerances, variation in body temperatures, and evaporative water loss, explained variation in sensitivity of ectotherms to habitat modification. Low heat tolerances of lizards and amphibians and high evaporative water loss of amphibians were associated with increased sensitivity to habitat modification, often explaining more variation than non-thermal traits. Heat tolerances alone explained 24-66% (mean=38%) of the variation in species responses, and these trends were largely consistent across geographic locations and spatial scales. As habitat modification alters local microclimates, the thermal biology of species will likely play a key role in the reassembly of terrestrial communities.