Large-scale Zones Research Articles

Intelligent prediction and evaluation models for the seismic risk and vulnerability of reinforced concrete girder bridges in large-scale zones

Intelligent prediction and evaluation models for the seismic risk and vulnerability of reinforced concrete girder bridges in large-scale zones

Spatial–Temporal Evolution Characteristics and Driving Mechanism Analysis of the “Three-Zone Space” in China’s Ili River Basin

The Ili River Basin (IRB) is located in the northwest of China. With its large-scale zone and abundant resources, it is believed to be a “wet island” and a biotic resource storehouse in the dry regions of Eurasia. The IRB has stable ecological conditions and abundant water resources, providing natural conditions for agricultural production and human settlements. With the population increasing and economic development advancing, the competition for land resources is becoming fierce, leading to some ecological problems in this region. Therefore, understanding the spatiotemporal changes and driving mechanisms of the “three-zone space” (TZS) in the IRB is of significant practical importance for promoting sustainable development and optimizing the territorial spatial pattern. This study first analyzes the characteristics and intensity of the TZS changes from 2000 to 2020. Then, it utilizes the optimized parameter Geodetector (OPGD) to analyze the driving mechanisms behind these changes. The results show the following. Firstly, the agricultural space (AS) increased by a total of 837.5 km2, the urban space (US) increased by 519.64 km2, and other ecological space (OES) increased by 1518.83 km2. Green ecological space (GES) decreased by 2875.97 km2. Secondly, intensity analysis indicated that the total TZS change in IRB was 11.07%. At the spatial-type level, the increased intensities of OES, US, and AS were active. In spatial transformation intensity, US and OES tended to transform into AS; AS tended to transform into US; and OES and GES had a mutual transformation tendency. Thirdly, AS converted into US around emerging cities like Khorgas and Cocodala. The conversion towards GES was scattered. The mutual conversion between OES and GES showed spatial distribution consistency, mainly occurring in the Borohoro ranges and the Halik ranges. Lastly, regarding the driving mechanisms, the evolution of US in the IRB was driven by social and economic factors. Location and climate factors accelerated agricultural development, facilitating the transformation of GES and OES into AS. Climate and economic factors played a crucial role in the scale of conversions between OES and GES. The findings can provide a basis for the governance and protection of the IRB, help to form a rational territorial spatial pattern, and offer scientific guidance for sustainable land management.

Cascading effects of calanoid copepod functional groups on the biological carbon pump in the subtropical South Atlantic

Life strategies, ecophysiological performances and diel vertical migration (DVM) of zooplankton key species affect the efficiency and strength of the biological carbon pump (BCP). However, it is unclear to what extent different functional groups affect the BCP. Depth-stratified day and night samples (0-800 m) from the subtropical South Atlantic were analyzed focusing on the calanoid copepod community. Calanoid abundance, biomass distribution and species-specific impact on the passive (fecal pellets) and active (via DVM) vertical flux of carbon were determined. Species were assigned to different migrant groups where, their contributions were estimated by using the proportion of the migratory community instead of simple day-night differences in biomass. This novel approach leads to more robust flux estimates, particularly for small sample sizes. According to migration ranges and day/night residence depth, functional groups were characterized, i.e. small- and large-scale epipelagic and mesopelagic migrants. Epipelagic small-scale migrants transported respiratory (1.5 mg C m-2 d-1) and fecal pellet (1.1 mg C m-2 d-1) carbon from the upper to the lower epipelagic zone, where the latter can fuel the microbial loop, and thus deep chlorophyll maxima, or be ingested by other zooplankton. Large-scale migrants actively transported up to 10.5 mg C m-2 d-1 of respiratory carbon from the epipelagic layer into the twilight zone. The majority was transported by Pleuromamma borealis (5.7 mg C m-2 d-1) into the upper mesopelagic. In addition, up to 8.0 mg C m-2 d-1 was potentially egested as fecal material by large-scale zone shifters. Mesopelagic migrants transported respiratory (0.2 mg C m-2 d-1) and fecal pellet carbon (0.1 mg C m-2 d-1) even deeper into the ocean. Community consumption of migrants in the epipelagic layer during the night was 98 mg C m-2 d-1, while non-migrants consumed 98-208 mg C m-2 d-1 in the epipelagic zone, with a potential subsequent egestion of 29-62 mg C m-2 d-1. This carbon may fuel omnivorous-detritivorous feeding, the microbial loop and/or may sink as fecal pellets. This case study shows how calanoid functional groups mediate carbon fluxes in the subtropical South Atlantic Ocean and demonstrates how detailed community analyses can elucidate the complexity of pelagic carbon budgets.

How Important Are Those Fracture Zones? Scale Dependent Characteristics Revealed Through Field Studies and an Integrated Hydrological Model of a Mountain Headwater Catchment

Modeling groundwater flow in bedrock can be particularly challenging due to heterogeneities associated with fracture zones. However, fracture zones can be difficult to map, particularly in forested areas where tree cover obscures land surface features. This study presents the evidence of fracture zones in a small, snowmelt-dominated mountain headwater catchment and explores the significance of these fracture zones on groundwater flow in the catchment. A newly acquired bare earth image acquired using LiDAR identifies a previously undetected linear erosion zone that passes near a deep bedrock well at low elevation in the catchment. Borehole geophysical logs indicate more intense fracturing in this well compared to two wells at higher elevation. The well also exhibited a linear flow response during a pumping test, which is interpreted to reflect the influence of a nearby vertical fracture zone. The major ion chemistry and stable isotope composition reveal a slightly different chemical composition and a more depleted isotopic signature for this well compared to other groundwaters and surface waters sampled throughout the catchment. With this evidence of fracturing at the well scale, an integrated land surface – subsurface hydrologic model is used to explore four different model structures at the catchment scale. The model is refined in steps, beginning with a single homogeneous bedrock layer, and progressively adding 1) a network of large-scale fracture zones within the bedrock, 2) a weathered bedrock zone, and 3) an updated LiDAR-derived digital elevation model, to gain insight into how increasing subsurface geological complexity and land surface topography influence model fit to observed data and the various water balance components. Ultimately, all of the models are considered plausible, with similar overall fit to observed data (snow, streamflow, pressure heads in piezometers, and groundwater levels) and water balance results. However, the models with fracture zones and a weathered zone had better fits for the low elevation well. These models contributed slightly more baseflow (~14% of streamflow) compared to models without a weathered zone (~1%). Thus, in the watershed scale model, including a weathered bedrock zone appears to more strongly influence the hydrology than only including fracture zones.

Using Hazard and Vulnerability Indicators for the Risk Assessment of the Irkutsk Region Territories

Irkutsk region in the Siberian region is classified as the most hazardous region with a large number of hazardous industrial facilities and large-scale damage zones. The most significant natural hazards are floods, forest fires, earthquakes, and freezing temperatures. The purpose of this paper is to assess the natural, technogenic, ecological, and complex risks of the territories of the Irkutsk region on the basis of hazard and vulnerability indicators. To assess the risk, an expert method is used based on the heuristic identification of vulnerability and hazard criteria, their expert assessment, definition of weight coefficients, and ranking. To determine the ranking, five hazard categories were identified based on “interval data statistics”. The risk is determined on the basis of a risk matrix that takes into account the vulnerability and hazard indices and allows one to assess both the hazard and the vulnerability of the territory. The following task has been solved: the analysis of the state reports on the state and environmental protection of the Irkutsk region; the selection of indicators of vulnerability for areas in the region and their expert evaluation; the development of vulnerability maps of the region; the definition of weighted composite indicators of hazard areas: natural, technogenic and ecological; the development of the hazard maps of the region; the calculation of natural, technogenic, ecological and integrated risk of areas and constructing the corresponding maps; making a ranking of the territories by the level of risk. The resulting risk maps of territories can be used for strategic planning and decision support to reduce and prevent the risk of territories with resource constraints. The application of the proposed approach allowed us to obtain a refined risk assessment of administrative areas (districts) of the Irkutsk region.

NATURE-BASED COASTAL PROTECTION: WAVE DAMPING BY FLEXIBLE SALT MARSH VEGETATION

The ability of coastal vegetation to attenuate waves has been well established (Moller et al., 2014). Salt marshes are vegetated coastal wetlands that can act as nature- based coastal defenses. They exhibit a range of plant species, which have been shown to differ in the amount of wave damping they provide (Mullarney & Henderson, 2018). Recent studies have shown that plant flexibility is a key parameter that controls wave energy dissipation (Paul et al., 2016). Yet, no model exists that includes plant flexibility in computationally efficient manner for large-scale coastal zones. Therefore, we have developed a new model for flexible vegetation based on the key mechanisms in the wave-vegetation interaction and applied it to an estuary with diverse salt marsh vegetation.Recorded Presentation from the vICCE (YouTube Link): https://youtu.be/AjnFx3aFSzs

A uniform momentum zone–vortical fissure model of the turbulent boundary layer

Recent studies reveal that at large friction Reynolds number $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}^{+}$ the inertially dominated region of the turbulent boundary layer is composed of large-scale zones of nearly uniform momentum segregated by narrow fissures of concentrated vorticity. Experiments show that, when scaled by the boundary-layer thickness, the fissure thickness is $\mathit{O}(1/\sqrt{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}^{+}})$, while the dimensional jump in streamwise velocity across each fissure scales in proportion to the friction velocity $u_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}}$. A simple model that exploits these essential elements of the turbulent boundary-layer structure at large $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}^{+}$ is developed. First, a master wall-normal profile of streamwise velocity is constructed by placing a discrete number of fissures across the boundary layer. The number of fissures and their wall-normal locations follow scalings informed by analysis of the mean momentum equation. The fissures are then randomly displaced in the wall-normal direction, exchanging momentum as they move, to create an instantaneous velocity profile. This process is repeated to generate ensembles of streamwise velocity profiles from which statistical moments are computed. The modelled statistical profiles are shown to agree remarkably well with those acquired from direct numerical simulations of turbulent channel flow at large $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}^{+}$. In particular, the model robustly reproduces the empirically observed sub-Gaussian behaviour for the skewness and kurtosis profiles over a large range of input parameters.

Social And Environmental Sustainability In Large-scale Coastal Zones: Taking An Issue-based Approach To The Implementation Of The Prince William Sound Sustainable Human Use Framework

Following the grounding of the Exxon Valdez in 1989, a sustainable human use framework (human use framework) for Prince William Sound (PWS), AK was developed by the Chugach National Forest after concerns emerged about the social and environmental impacts of expanding human use due to cleanup activities and increased recreation visitation. A practical, issue-based process was used to develop an implementation strategy for integrating the complex social and ecological data contained in the human use framework and for making specific management and monitoring recommendations. The issue-based process is more of a bottom-up approach to planning compared to typical top-down planning approaches that seek to impose or replicate system-wide environmental conditions as criteria for selecting management and monitoring practices. The implementation strategy includes management guidance for protecting "keystone" recreation experiences while simultaneously protecting social and ecological values of PWS. It also includes practical social and ecological monitoring recommendations that can be used to inform an adaptive management strategy for continued management of sustainable human uses. The issue-based process serves as a model for other coastal zone areas struggling to balance increasing human use and recreation with conservation and environmental protection goals.

Deep seismogenic zone Vrancea as an indicator of geodynamic processes

Tectonophysical interpretation of 80 mechanisms of earthquake sources (80—172 km deep) during 1940—2011 has been performed for seismogenic zone Vranchea. Functioning nodal planes of mechanisms have been identified as the planes of uplifts and uplift-shifts that were formed under conditions of sub-horizontal pressure. Structural scheme of deep zone Vranchea has been plotted where functioning nodal planes have been united into thrust-fault, uplifts and uplift-shift zones extending in northeastern, northwestern, north-northwestern and sub-latitudinal directions. It has been shown that orientation of zone Vranchea shift planes is close to orientation of shift planes of flysh Carpathians and large fault zones intersecting it. These results contradict two main concepts of zone Vranchea formation based on mechanisms of tearing off slabs of oceanic lithosphere or delamination of continental lithosphere because they assume the turn of a segment of lithosphere from sub-horizontal to sub-vertical position and a fairly strong deformation of lithosphere including the lower crust on the areas adjacent to the zone. According to DSS and seismotomographic data, the structure of the earth’s crust and upper mantle in the area of eastern oro-wedge of Carpathians is little different from the structure of the crust and mantle in other parts of the Carpathian section of Alpines. Alternative concept has been proposed issued from consideration that the Vranchea zone is not a petrologic body – a part of oceanic or continental plate included into subduction-collision processes and moved to present position but more probably the deformation zone of overall lateral (horizontal) pressing appeared in situ as a result of cramming of a narrow enough indentor of a micro-plate Tissa-Dakya into produced by them oro wedge of the Carpathians. Overall lateral pressing favored the resistance to indentor movement from the side of the northern part of the Mysian microplane, Gobrogea and the West Black Sea microplate and also centriclinal decline of fault zones limiting its movement from the north and south. Such formation of Vranchea zone in situ is confirmed by its disposition in the zone of intersection of large-scale fault zones — Trans-European suture zone, South-Carpathian zone et al.

Skin-friction drag reduction in a high-Reynolds-number turbulent boundary layer via real-time control of large-scale structures

While large-scale motions are most energetic in the logarithmic region of a high-Reynolds-number turbulent boundary layer, they also have an influence in the inner-region. In this paper we describe an experimental investigation of manipulating the large-scale motions and reveal how this affects the turbulence and skin-friction drag. A boundary layer with a friction Reynolds number of 14 400 is controlled using a spanwise array of nine wall-normal jets operated in an on/off mode and with an exit velocity that causes the jets in cross-flow to penetrate within the log-region. Each jet is triggered in real-time with an active controller, driven by a time-resolved footprint of the large-scale motions acquired upstream. Nominally, the controller injects air into large-scale zones with positive streamwise velocity fluctuations; these zones are associated with positive wall-shear stress fluctuations. This control scheme reduced the streamwise turbulence intensity in the log-region up to a downstream distance of more than five times the boundary layer thickness, δ, from the point of actuation. The highest reduction in spectral energy—more than 30%—was found for wavelengths larger than 5δ in the log-region at 1.7δ downstream of actuation, while scales larger than 2δ still comprised more than 15% energy reduction in the near-wall region. In addition, a 3.2% reduction in mean skin-friction drag was achieved at 1.7δ downstream of actuation. Our reductions of the streamwise turbulence intensity and mean skin-friction drag exceed a base line control-case, for which the jet actuators were operated with the same temporal pattern, but not synchronised with the incoming large-scale zones of positive fluctuating velocity.

Comprehensive assessment of soil erosion risk for better land use planning in river basins: Case study of the Upper Blue Nile River

In the drought-prone Upper Blue Nile River (UBNR) basin of Ethiopia, soil erosion by water results in significant consequences that also affect downstream countries. However, there have been limited comprehensive studies of this and other basins with diverse agroecologies. We analyzed the variability of gross soil loss and sediment yield rates under present and expected future conditions using a newly devised methodological framework. The results showed that the basin generates an average soil loss rate of 27.5tha−1yr−1 and a gross soil loss of ca. 473Mtyr−1, of which, at least 10% comes from gully erosion and 26.7% leaves Ethiopia. In a factor analysis, variation in agroecology (average factor score=1.32) and slope (1.28) were the two factors most responsible for this high spatial variability. About 39% of the basin area is experiencing severe to very severe (>30tha−1yr−1) soil erosion risk, which is strongly linked to population density. Severe or very severe soil erosion affects the largest proportion of land in three subbasins of the UBNR basin: Blue Nile 4 (53.9%), Blue Nile 3 (45.1%), and Jema Shet (42.5%). If appropriate soil and water conservation practices targeted ca. 77.3% of the area with moderate to severe erosion (>15tha−1yr−1), the total soil loss from the basin could be reduced by ca. 52%. Our methodological framework identified the potential risk for soil erosion in large-scale zones, and with a more sophisticated model and input data of higher spatial and temporal resolution, results could be specified locally within these risk zones. Accurate assessment of soil erosion in the UBNR basin would support sustainable use of the basin's land resources and possibly open up prospects for cooperation in the Eastern Nile region.

Fatigue Properties of Aerospace Z-Pinned Composites

This paper presents an experimental study into the effect of through-thickness z-pin reinforcement on the in-plane and out-of-plane (delamination) fatigue properties of carbon-epoxy composites used in aerospace structures. The in-plane fatigue strength and fatigue life (load cycles-to-failure) of aerospace composite materials are reduced by z-pins. The in-plane compressive fatigue properties decrease when the volume content of z-pins is increased. Reductions to the in-plane fatigue properties are due to microstructural damage caused by the z-pins. However, the out-of-plane (delamination) fatigue properties of composites are increased greatly by z-pins. The mode I, mode II and mixed mode I/II delamination fatigue properties increase rapidly with increasing volume content of z-pins. The improvement is due to the z-pins forming a large-scale bridging zone along the delamination which resists fatigue crack growth. The work clearly reveals that a trade-off exists between the in-plane and out-of-plane fatigue properties of z-pinned composites. Improvements to the delamination fatigue properties come at the expense of lower in-plane fatigue performance, and this is a key consideration for the design of z-pinned aerospace composite structures.

Geochemical characteristics of the Shujiadian Cu deposit related intrusion in Tongling: Petrogenesis and implications for the formation of porphyry Cu systems in the Middle–Lower Yangtze River Valley metallogenic belt, eastern China

Porphyry Cu deposits can form in intracontinental or post-collision settings; however, both the genesis of fertile magmas and the mechanism of metal enrichment remain controversial. The Shujiadian porphyry Cu deposit is located in the Tongling area of the Middle–Lower Yangtze River Valley metallogenic belt. It is hosted by the Shujiadian complex, which mainly consists of quartz diorite porphyry (143.7±1.7Ma) and pyroxene diorite (139.8±1.6Ma). They both belong to the calc-alkaline series, with enrichment in large-ion lithophile elements (LILE) and light rare earth elements (LREE), depletion in high field-strength elements (HFSE) and heavy rare earth elements (HREE), and slightly negative Eu anomalies. Both quartz diorite porphyry and pyroxene diorite have geochemical affinities with adakite, and their low MgO (1.5–3.7wt%), and Ni (3.7–6.9ppm), Cr (2.0–44ppm), and Th/Ce contents (0.06–0.11) indicate that the intrusive rocks have some characteristics of adakite-like rocks derived from thickened lower crust and melts from metabasaltic rocks and eclogites. Plagioclases from the quartz diorite porphyry are andesine (An value=31.8–40.5) and from the pyroxene diorite are felsic albite and oligoclase with large-scale zones and variable An value (An value=8.9–18.3), Fe and Sr contents, which indicate that mixing of mafic and felsic magma may have occurred in the shallow magma chamber. Compared to the barren quartz diorite porphyry, relatively lower SiO2 contents (49.5–55.2wt.%), higher εNd(t) values (−7.4 to −6.9), εHf(t) values (−11.0 to −9.1) compositions, Ti-in-zircon temperatures (714–785°C), and variations of HREE contents of the mineralization-related pyroxene diorite suggest mixing with high-temperature mafic magma. Calculated Ce4+/Ce3+ values of pyroxene diorite plot between the Ni–NiO buffer (NNO) and magnetite–hematite buffer (MH), and barren quartz diorite porphyry samples plot below the Ni–NiO buffer (NNO). Geochemical features of relatively enriched LILEs, depleted HFSEs, and markedly negative Nb–Ta anomalies, imply that the mafic magma was generated by partial melting of enriched lithospheric mantle, which had been metasomatized by slab-derived fluids from Neoproterozoic-subducted oceanic lithosphere; as a result, the parental magma was rich in H2O, S, and metals (e.g. Cu), with high fO2.

CRITICAL OUTLOOK AT SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE IN ASIA: A COMPARISON BETWEEN INDONESIA, MALAYSIA, THAILAND AND CHINA

Special Economic Zones (SEZ) have been proven to help countries in fostering economic growth. The aim of this research is to try to help the government to improve SEZ policies in Indonesia by providing a benchmark with other SEZ countries in China, Malaysia, and Thailand. While China has the most established SEZ program, Malaysia and Thailand also have highly-regarded SEZs and investment incentives. These neighboring countries have developed SEZs in significant quantities but the greatest returns have come from a subsection of large-scale zones with favorable locations, good planning and access to resources. Thailand has a smaller number of zones, but a higher rate of successful zones, such as the automobile cluster which became the anchor of automotive production in Asia. How Indonesia’s position compares to these three Asian countries is the main question of this study. Keywords: special economic zone, foreign investment, benchmarking, competitiveness, China, Malaysia, Thailand

Metal nanoparticle decorated n-type Bi2Te3-based materials with enhanced thermoelectric performances

In this study, n-type Cu and Zn metal nanoparticle decorated Bi2(Te0.9Se0.1)3 ingots were prepared by a large-scale zone melting technique, with the concept of ‘nanoparticle-in-alloy’ to separately tune the electrical and thermal transport properties. Cu and Zn additions play multiple but different roles in the materials, whereas both of them form metal nanoinclusions embedded in van der Waals gaps or grain boundaries, exerting influences on thermoelectric properties. Cu addition, accommodated in the tetrahedral vacancies formed by four Te(1) atoms, effectively adjusts the electron concentration by donating its valence electron, and appreciably optimizes the power factor. Coupled with the significant frustration of heat-carrying phonons by Cu nanoinclusions, a highest ZT of 1.15 can be achieved for the 1 at.% Cu sample, which is an ∼20% improvement compared with that of commercial halogen-doped ingots. Zn addition, however, acting as weak donor, noticeably increases the density of state effective mass and Seebeck coefficient, and gives rise to a high ZT of 1.1. In particular, the kilogram-grade production technique coupled with the high ZT makes metal nanoparticle decorated n-type materials very promising for commercial applications.

Dynamic changes of gravity fields before and after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake (Ms8.0)

Abstract: The pattern evolution and dynamic mechanism of the dynamic changes of regional gravity fields occurring before and after the Wenchuan M s8.0 earthquake are analyzed, based on five epochs of 1998–2007 mobile gravity data from the middle-south section of the north–south seismic belt, and two epochs of field research data collected after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in combination with GPS data, leveling observations, and geotectonic environment data. The regional dynamic gravity changes demonstrate the effects of the eastward flow of solid matter in the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau and the preparation of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake (2–10 yr). The two most meaningful gravity indicators of the Wenchuan earthquake preparation are the positive (increasing) gravity changes occurring over many years in the southwest epicenter and the large-scale gradient zone of gravity variation, with the cumulative difference between the two sides of the gradient zone of gravity exceeding 200 μGal. The positive gravity changes may facilitate a constant energy accumulation and the gradient belt may support seismic shear breakage. Overall, the gravity changes associated with the earthquake preparation indicate a pattern of accelerating increase-decelerating increase-earthquake occurrence. The Songpan-Ganzi block generally displays a negative gravity change, providing evidence for a local upwarping of the deep crust-mantle and an interior expansion of the deep crust attributable to high temperatures. The viewpoint is consistent with the dilatant mechanism for earthquake preparation.

Competitiveness of Free Trade Zone Area: Comparison between Indonesia & ASEAN Countries

The objective of the Indonesian economic policy is to alleviate poverty and increase employment. The existence of Free trade zone area or special zones (SEZ) have been proven to help countries in fostering economic growth. Some of the key characteristics of successful zones are that they offer immediate access to high quality infrastructure, clearly titled land, facilities, and support services. In addition streamlined regulatory enforcement, simpler business establishment rules, expedited customs administration and other special administrative and approval procedures are also offered in such zones.This paper is trying to help the government to improve FTZ policies in Indonesia by providing a benchmark to other FTZ countries such as China, India, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. While China has the most established SEZ program, Malaysia and Thailand also have highly-regarded SEZs and investment incentives. Vietnam and India have gotten into the SEZ competition more recently and are still working out kinks in their policies. Those neighboring countries have developed SEZs in significant quantities but the greatest returns have come from a subsection of large-scale zones with favorable locations, good planning and access to resources. Thailand has a smaller number of Zones, but a higher rate of successful zones. How the position of Indonesia compare to nine Asean countries is becoming the main question of this study.

A pragmatic approach for soil erosion risk assessment within policy hierarchies

Abstract This paper presents a methodological framework for scale-specific assessment of soil erosion by water. The framework enables the definition of hierarchical, functional and modular nested reference units which result from the integrated consideration of policy, process and model hierarchies. The framework is applied on three planning levels: at first, large scale zones are designated that show a defined risk potential for soil erosion (first level: catchments and drainage areas in the German Federal State of Saxony-Anhalt, ca. 20,000 km 2 ). By both increasing model complexity and spatio-temporal resolution of input data, the results are locally specified within these risk zones (second level: designated farms and fields in a study area of 141 km 2 ). This is the basis for the prediction of soil erosion areas and sediment transport to hydrologic drainage networks as well as for small scale management and measure planning (third level: designated field blocks in the study area). On this level, the mitigation of soil erosion and sediment entry to the river system is demonstrated by simulating the introduction of conservation management practices, vegetation and riparian buffer strips. We used a modified version of the empirical Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) ABAGflux, which includes functions to better describe sedimentation and sediment transport to hydrologic drainage networks. Aggregation and statistical methods like SICOM and k means cluster analysis were applied for objective ranking and classification of the simulation results. The study aims at contributing to an improved applicability of data and methods for the assessment of soil erosion by water and soil protection on relevant planning scales. In addition, the results are considered to be important for an improved transfer of methods developed in science to their application in soil erosion risk management.

Anomalous directional behaviour of the real parts of the induction arrows in the Eastern Alps: tectonic and palaeogeographic implications

The electromagnetic induction pattern in the Eastern Alps is characterised by a (continuous) large-scale zone on which the real parts of the induction arrows show anomalous directional behaviour. This zone extends from the Penninic Domain of Eastern Switzerland (Graubunden) probably into the Carpathian ranges. A coarse mesh of a Magnetotelluric (MT) and Geomagnetic Deep Sounding (GDS) station in the Alps of Graubunden and Valais (Western Switzerland) indicates that this electromagnetic anomaly is restricted to the Mesozoic sediments of the North Penninic Bundnerschiefer-facies that begins in Eastern Switzerland and extends towards the east beneath Austroalpine, South Penninic and Southalpine units. Striking similarities in position and arrangement between this zone and the magnetic signature in the Eastern Alps are found. The analysis of the GDS data with the method of the Hypothetical Event Analysis (HEA) shows that current channelling affects the electromagnetic fields in this zone and causes the anomalous direction of induction arrows. Based on the combined interpretation of GDS data from the Eastern Alps and West Hungary together with our recent data from Switzerland, the following geological implications are discussed: i) a spatial decoupling of induction processes from the upper to the lower crust; ii) a lower crustal conductive structure caused by the indentation of the Northern Adriatic promontory or terrane; iii) the eastward continuation of the Bundnerschiefer-facies at least to the tectonic window of Rechnitz.

Development of Crisis Phenomena in Falling Wavy Liquid Films at Nonstationary Heat Release

This paper deals with investigation results on crisis phenomena for nonstationary heat release in falling liquid films. According to the experimental results, in the studied range of irrigation degree alteration (Re in = 60–1,690), parameters, characterizing decay of the falling liquid film with stepped heat release (distribution of time of boiling incipience along the liquid film, velocities of movable boundaries in the boiling-up and drying fronts), depend complexly on the Reynolds number, wave characteristics and heat flux density. The time of boiling incipience at stepwise heat release was simulated numerically with consideration of intensive evaporation development from the free surface of a laminar-wave film, transportation of large wave crests at typical process times and influence of the convective component of heat transfer. It is shown that the convective component of heat transfer in the wave liquid films and film thinning because of intensive evaporation provide a significant increase in the time of boiling incipience for the given heat fluxes under the conditions of nonstationary heat release. It is also revealed that for low densities of the heat flux at decay of a laminar-wave liquid film occurs with formation of metastable regular structures with liquid rivulets and large-scale dry zones between them. When loading thermal impulses of high intensity, film decay is determined by dynamic characteristics of propagation of the self-maintained front of liquid boiling-up and the shape of structures, formed during its development.