Moisture Profiles Research Articles

Soil water dynamics and groundwater evolutions of check dams under natural rainfall reduction in semi-arid areas

Stable regional water resource distribution is essential for ecosystems, yet soil water dynamics and groundwater evolutions of check dams remain many uncertainties under natural rainfall reduction in semi-arid areas. To explore these changeable hydrologic processes, continuous fixed-point observation and water balance models were introduced in nearly-four consecutive hydrological years (2018–2021). The results showed that soil water storage presented a downward fluctuation in each soil layer of all land uses. Moreover, the grassland profile moisture descended slowly and had deeper infiltration depths than others, which might be an ideal land-use type for the reservoir’s sustainable utilization in check dams. The results also indicated that surface soil moisture (<50 cm) could rapidly respond to a single rainfall event > 10 mm d−1, whereas deep soil moisture (>50 cm) and shallow groundwater fluctuations were mainly affected by annual cumulative precipitation. Furthermore, a conceptual hydrological model of rainwater falling to the ground, percolating through soil profiles, and reaching groundwater through different vegetation covers in check dams has been proposed. Soil infiltration rates varied under different land use types and depths, ranging from 0.82 to 3.47 cm h−1. The groundwater recharge time from accumulated annual rainfall was 69–250 days, whereas the discharge time due to vegetation water consumption and groundwater lateral movement was 66–774 days. With a decrease in annual rainfall, the recharge time gradually increased, whereas the discharge time gradually decreased. These results inaugurate new perspectives for a deeper understanding of ecohydrological equilibrium in check dams and provide theoretical insights into ecological restoration in semi-arid areas.

Performance Evaluation of Low-cost Grain Dryer

Paddy is India’s most significant agricultural crop, accounting for more than 40% of the nation’s overall production of food grains. The moisture content of 10.0 to 12.0 %, which is suitable for safe storage, must be achieved after the drying of paddy. Drying of materials having high moisture content is complicated process, involving simultaneous heat and mass transfer. In this study the performance of grain dryer was evaluated for paddy grains for two different paddy varieties, Rajshree weighed 372 kg and Rajendra Kasturi weighed 366 kg with Initial Moisture Content IMC of Rajshree 14.00 % w.b. (V1) and of Rajendra Kasturi 13.40 % w.b. (V2). Initial Moisture Content (all in w.b.) of variety V1 was 14.00 % and of variety V2 was 13.40 %. It was reduced to the Final Moisture Content (all in w.b.) of 10.10 % for variety V1 and 9.60 % for variety V2. It was found that 1000 grains weight of paddy grains was reduced due to loss of moisture. It is also observed that average length and average breadth of grains decreases with decrease in moisture content for both the varieties of paddy grains. It was found that the bulk density of paddy grains after drying was 578.9 kg/m 3 and 555.58 kg/m3 V1 and V2. Decrease in bulk density is natural phenomenon during drying which was also observed here. It was observed that percent moisture reduction was lower at initial stage of drying for variety V1, which became higher at later stage of drying. However, the percent moisture reduction was higher at initial stage of drying for variety V2, which became lower at later stage of drying. Paddy was dried up to 10.10 % and 9.60 % for variety V1 and V2 respectively during this time. The drying efficiency for both varieties V1 and V2 was found as 35.36 % and 36.85 % respectively. The heat utilization factor and coefficient of performance was found as 0.948 and 0.052 for variety V1 and 0.960 and 0.040 for V2. Grain dryer is capable of drying paddy grains within reasonable time. Temperature and moisture profiles during paddy drying are found well accepted for drying of paddy. The quality of dried paddy grains was reasonably good and acceptable. Considering the level of technology and the capacity, the dryer meets the requirements of paddy traders and farmers of Bihar.

Методологические инструменты управления орошением с искусственным интеллектом

Purpose: to develop the concept of irrigation management systems using integrated artificial intelligence technologies. Materials and methods. The working hypothesis of the research was the assumption of the priority of the cluster application of artificial intelligence technologies in solving urgent problems of irrigation management. At the same time, the basis of the information-computing unit of the irrigation control system should be deterministic algorithms using proven solutions. Results. Within the framework of the proposed concept, a neural network can be used as the basis for solving a problem, or it can only be used to adapt the parameters of the models used. The impact points of traditional, deterministic - analytical irrigation management systems and artificial intelligence technologies are determined by the need to adapt parameters, fine-tune the coefficients of the methodological tools used. At the same time, the scope of application of artificial intelligence in solving problems of irrigation management is quite wide. Artificial intelligence technologies can be used to solve the problems of irrigation planning and operational management, image recognition in satellite monitoring of soil moisture, interpolation of soil moisture data by area, forecasting the soil moisture profile. An algorithm using artificial intelligence technologies to improve the reliability of forecasting the total water consumption of irrigated crops in the regional and landscape aspect is developed by research. The proposed algorithm allows the system to self-learn and refine the regional values of bioclimatic coefficients, with respect to cumulative influence of local factors. Conclusions: a concept has been developed and new scientific approaches have been proposed to effectively solve the problem of adapting the parameters of methodological irrigation management tools at the level of an irrigated field, and even taking into account intra-field variability.

Permafrost Dynamics Observatory (PDO): 2. Joint Retrieval of Permafrost Active Layer Thickness and Soil Moisture From L‐Band InSAR and P‐Band PolSAR

AbstractSeasonal subsidence induced by ground ice melt can be measured by interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) techniques to infer active layer thickness (ALT) in permafrost regions. The magnitude of subsidence depends on both how deep the soil thawed and how much ice/water content existed in the active layer soil. To provide the later, P‐band polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) backscatter is used due to its sensitivity to subsurface soil moisture and freeze/thaw conditions. In this study, which is the second in a two‐part series of Permafrost Dynamics Observatory (PDO), we exploit L‐band InSAR subsidence and P‐band PolSAR backscatter in a joint retrieval scheme to simultaneously estimate ALT and soil moisture profile of permafrost active layer. Both subsidence and backscatter are explicitly characterized by physics‐based models and share a common set of soil parameters including porosity and water saturation profiles. The PDO joint retrieval has been applied to the L‐ and P‐band SAR data acquired by National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar over Alaska and western Canada during the 2017 Arctic‐Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE) airborne campaign. This high‐resolution (30 m) regional estimates of ALT and soil moisture profile spanning over the ABoVE study domain can help link the ground‐based field surveys with satellite observations to further understand the permafrost and active layer soil process dynamics to disturbances and climate change occurring across the northern circumpolar region.

Effect of Climate Induced Changes in the Ecosystem Services of Chilika Lake Wetlands of Odisha from the Perspective of Agriculture and Fisheries

Aims: The aim of the study is to find out the effect of climate induced changes in the ecosystem services of Chilika Lake of Odisha.&#x0D; Study Design: The study has been conducted in Chilika Lake, including the peripheral districts Khurda, Puri and Ganjam. Secondary data have been used for rice yield, fish production and for various weather parameters.&#x0D; Methodology: The statistical analysis like Mann-kendall’s test is used for trend analysis, Fixed panel data regression to find out the influence of climatic parameters on yield of paddy and multivariate multiple regression to study the effect of climate change on fish production has been used.&#x0D; Results: The fixed effect model was found relevant during panel data regression. The weather parameters annual mean rainfall and soil profile moisture were found positively significant at one per cent level of significance in influencing the yield of paddy. Whereas annual mean temperature, squared rainfall and root zone wetness were found negatively significant. Both the temperature and root zone wetness were significant at one and five percent level of significance respectively. Squared rainfall term is found negatively significant at the five percent level of significance which shows a quadratic relationship between rainfall and yield. The estimates of fish production, shrimp and crab production in the Chilika lake revealed that the water salinity and water temperature were found significant at five and ten percent level of significance respectively in the case of fish production. The water salinity founded negatively influences fish production. There were no parameters were found significant in the shrimp production in the lake for the period of 2000 to 2015. The variables water pH and dissolved oxygen were found positively significant at ten and five percent in influencing the Crab production of the lake. The parameter water transparency was found insignificant for all three independent variables viz. fish, shrimp and crab production. &#x0D; Conclusion: It is found that annual mean rainfall and soil profile moisture have a significant positive influence of paddy whereas temperature and root zone wetness have a significant negative influence on paddy yield. Only water salinity was found negatively significant for fish production. The parameters, water pH and dissolved oxygen were found to have a positive influence on Crab production in Chilika lake.

Study on 300 t of wheat stored in corrugated steel bin for two years in Canada. Part I – Temperature and moisture profiles of the grain

Grain temperatures, moisture contents, and germination inside an un-aerated, 10 m diameter corrugated steel bin filled with 300 t of wheat with an initial moisture content of 12.5 ± 0.1% (w.b.), were monitored from September 2019 in Winnipeg, Canada. The hourly temperatures were recorded until October 2021, while moisture content and germination were monitored every month until August 2021. During the 26-month period, the temperatures inside the bin were above 7.8 °C, at least at one of the measured locations. The temperatures and the moisture contents of the grain varied with changes in ambient weather conditions. The grain moisture changes and temperature fluctuations near the surface of the bulk and temperature fluctuation near the walls were higher than those inside the grain bulk. The temperature gradient-induced convective currents and the hotspot development triggered the moisture migration inside the bin. The presence of high moisture grains (as a result of snow leakage) inside the grain induced a hotspot development, which in turn influenced the grain temperature and moisture content. Germinability of the grain near the walls dropped later than those near the surface and inside the grain bulk, in the presence of insect infestation. The drop in ambient temperature could either cease the hotspot or lower the grain temperature.

Drying of a Fully Saturated Porous Medium With Excess Water Layers: A Numerical Study

Abstract Drying of moist porous media can be very energy inefficient. For example, in the pulp and paper industry, paper drying consumes more than two-thirds of the total energy used in paper machines. Novel drying technologies can decrease the energy used for drying and lessen the manufacturing processes' carbon footprint. Developing next-generation drying technologies to dry moist porous media may require an understanding of removing moisture from a fully saturated porous material with excess water. This paper provides a fundamental understanding of heat and mass transfer in a fully saturated porous medium with excess water. This is relevant, for example, in drying tissue as well as pulp or paper for the purpose of thermal insulation where pressing is preferred to be avoided to overcome the reduction in the sheet thickness. For this purpose, a theoretical drying model is developed where the porous medium corresponds to paper and is assumed to be sandwiched between two excess-water layers (bottom and top). The conjugate model consists of energy and mass conservation equations for each layer. The model is validated with corresponding experimental data. In the model, the thickness of each water layer is calculated as a function of drying time based on local temperature and total moisture content. The numerical model is transient and one-dimensional in space (i.e., in the thickness direction). This paper demonstrates the governing equations, boundary conditions, and results when the saturated porous medium with water layers is heated from one side. Moisture and temperature profiles are estimated in the thickness direction of the porous medium as it dries.

Processing and Validation of the STAR COSMIC-2 Temperature and Water Vapor Profiles in the Neutral Atmosphere

The global navigation satellite system (GNSS) radio occultation (RO) is becoming an essential component of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) observation systems. The constellation observing system for meteorology, ionosphere, and climate (COSMIC) 2 mission and the Formosa satellite mission 7, a COSMIC follow-on mission, is now the NOAA’s backbone RO mission. The NOAA’s dedicated GNSS RO SAtellite processing and science Application Center (RO-SAAC) was established at the Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR). To better quantify how the observation uncertainty from clock error and geometry determination may propagate to bending angle and refractivity profiles, STAR has developed the GNSS RO data processing and validation system. This study describes the COSMIC-2 neutral atmospheric temperature and moisture profile inversion algorithms at STAR. We used RS41 and ERA5, and UCAR 1D-Var products (wetPrf2) to validate the accuracy and uncertainty of the STAR 1D-Var thermal profiles. The STAR-RS41 temperature differences are less than a few tenths of 1 K from 8 km to 30 km altitude with a standard deviation (std) of 1.5–2 K. The mean STAR-RS41 water vapor specific humidity difference and the standard deviation are −0.35 g/kg and 1.2 g/kg, respectively. We also used the 1D-Var-derived temperature and water vapor profiles to compute the simulated brightness temperature (BTs) for advanced technology microwave sounder (ATMS) and cross-track infrared sounder (CrIS) channels and compared them to the collocated ATMS and CrIS measurements. The BT differences of STAR COSMIC-2-simulated BTs relative to SNPP ATMS are less than 0.1 K over all ATMS channels.

Зависимость отражательных свойств агропочв в сверхширокой полосе частот от типа, степени шероховатости поверхности и профилей влажности агропочв

In this article, the impact of volumetric moisture from 0% to 40% (vertical moisture profiles), dry bulk density from 0.4 to 1.8 g/cm3, clay content from 0.15 to 0.55 g/g (agrosoil type), standard deviations heights of surface roughness from 0 to 4 cm of soil on the variations of reflection coefficient in the ultra-wide frequency band from 100-400 MHz to 1.26-2.4 GHz were investigated. The reflection coefficient was calculated for a smooth and rough soil surface. Mironov's two-relaxation dielectric model was used (input parameters: dry bulk density, clay content, volumetric moisture, frequency of electromagnetic wave) to calculating the reflection coefficient. It is shown that the reflection coefficient is an ambiguous function of the clay content and the dry bulk density; the error in retrieving high values of soil moisture can be 5 times higher than for dry soils. In relation to the clay content and the dry bulk density, the soil roughness is the dominant parameter, which uncertainty, significantly effects on the error of soil moisture retrieving. For the considered various vertical profiles of soil moisture, it is shown that the effective thickness of topsoil, which forms the reflection coefficient, does not exceed 2 cm at a sensing frequency above 1 GHz. When the volumetric moisture content of soil surface is more than 28%, the reflection coefficient in the frequency range from 433 MHz to 1.26 GHz does not depend on the vertical distribution of moisture in soil. The conducted studies establish quantitative limitations on the accuracy of soil moisture retrieval for a given error in the initial parameters of the model: the clay content, the dry bulk density, soil surface roughness, which should be taken into account when developing algorithms for remote sensing of agrosoil moisture.

A comparative study for landslide susceptibility assessment using machine learning algorithms based on grid unit and slope unit

Landslide susceptibility assessment is an important support for disaster identification and risk management. This study aims to analyze the application ability of machine learning hybrid models in different evaluation units. Three typical machine learning models, including random forest forest by penalizing attributes (FPA) and rotation forest were merged by random subspace algorithm. Twelve evaluation factors, including elevation, slope angle, slope aspect, roughness, rainfall, lithology, distance to rivers, distance to roads, normalized difference vegetation index, topographic wetness index, plan curvature, and profile curvature, were extracted from 155 landslides in Yaozhou District, Tongchuan City, China. Six landslide susceptibility maps were generated based on the slope units divided by curvature and 30 m resolution grid units. Multiple performance metrics showed that the RS-RF model based on slope units has excellent spatial prediction ability. At the same time, the method of slope unit division based on curvature is proved to be more suitable for the typical Loess tableland regions, which provides basis for the selection of evaluation units in landslide susceptibility assessment.

A semi-analytical model for transient infiltration into inclined soil interlayer considering varying water head and stratified water content

The classic GA model assumes a constant-head ponded water and with a saturated water content above the wetting zone, which limits its application. This study investigated a semi-analytical method for predicting rainwater infiltration into an inclined soil interlayer considering time-varying head and stratified water content. An evolving wetting profile and a half-parabolic wetting profile of transient zone were observed during infiltration process based on numerical simulations. The water head in the fissure showed a linearly-increasing characteristic before the soil interlayer was fully saturated, while showed an exponentially-increasing feature after the soil interlayer was fully saturated. A semi-analytical model was subsequently established for predicting the variables (time-dependent water head and the length of the stratified wetting zone) based on the classical GA equation, Darcy’s law, and mass conversation law, as well as the numerical simulation calibration. This semi-analytical model describes three specific infiltration scenarios (scenarios I, II, and III) involving two infiltration modes (i.e., rainfall infiltration and constant-head infiltration), which were comprehensively shaped by fissure height, rain intensity, and duration. This model has a concise expression satisfying dimensional consistency and can be successfully reduced to the classic GA model. The validity of this semi-empirical model was further confirmed by numerical simulations, which showed good performance by capturing the evolving trends of the water head, saturated, transitional, and wetting zones in the inclined soil interlayer. The results and findings deepen the understanding of transient infiltration in rock slopes with inclined soil interlayer, and are helpfully for assessing the evolving slope stability during rainfall.

Dynamic Downscaling Simulation and Projection of Precipitation Extremes Over China Under a Shared Socioeconomic Pathway Scenario

AbstractIn this study, Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) ‐based dynamic downscaling simulation was performed over China at a horizontal resolution of 25 km. To reduce the systematic large‐scale biases from lateral boundary conditions, a dynamic blending (DB) technique was introduced in downscaling, and its performance was compared with downscaling without DB (NO_DB) as well as the driving global climate model (GCM, i.e., HadGEM3). In the present‐day simulation for verification, added values were found in DB, relative to the GCM and NO_DB, in simulating the precipitation extremes, especially over southeastern China. Possible causes responsible for this improvement were further analyzed. In the GCM, excessive moisture and atmospheric heating in the upper troposphere in conjunction with abnormally strong deep convection resulted in excessive extreme precipitation over southeastern China, while in NO_DB, insufficient moisture and atmospheric heating in the whole troposphere in conjunction with abnormally weak convection suppressed extreme precipitation there. In comparison, DB showed a closer representation of observations in terms of vertical velocity and vertical profiles of atmospheric moisture and heating, accounting for the improved simulation of extreme precipitation. In the future projection under the SSP5‐8.5 scenario, both the GCM and DB predicted that extreme precipitation would increase in most parts of China; however, DB indicated a larger increase over southeastern China relative to the GCM. Stronger moisture flux convergence over southeastern China in DB accounted for this larger increase, and in addition, the thermodynamic effect associated with more precipitable water dominated the stronger moisture flux convergence.

Tracking Atmospheric Moisture Changes in Convective Storm Environments Using GEO ABI and LEO CrIS Data Fusion

The synergistic use of data from advanced space-borne instruments of different designs onboard different satellite platforms with different orbital tracks provides advantages in various applications over the use of individual data sets alone. For example, high vertical resolution sounding profiles from advanced sounders like CrIS (Cross-track Infrared Sounder) in a low Earth orbit (LEO) and a high horizontal plus temporal resolution radiance measurements from geostationary (GEO) imagers like ABI (Advanced Baseline Imager) can be effectively combined to benefit severe weather monitoring, prediction, and warning systems. The spatial and temporal fusion approach allows LEO products, such as atmospheric moisture, to be created with increased spatial detail at every GEO measurement time, generating a GEO hyperspectral sounder-like perspective. To demonstrate the potential benefit of a GEO and LEO (i.e., ABI and CrIS) data fusion to real-time applications, time sequences of the moisture profile fusion results are presented in two case studies, namely a tornado outbreak in Nebraska on 5 May 2021 and a severe storm occurrence in Texas on 24 May 2022. The implications of the fusion results for nowcasting and warning operations via comparisons to numerical model forecasts and weather radar reflectivity data are discussed.

MEASURING THE ELECTRIC RESISTANCE OF AIR DRYING THICK RED PINE AND LARCH TIMBER

The objective of this study was to evaluate the moisture profile and drying period of air drying the red pine and Japanese larch timbers with the cross section of 14.0 cm × 14.0cm and16.5 cm × 16.5cmby measuring the electricresistanceofthe wood. The drying curvesdetermined by measuring electricresistanceand by oven-dried method were nearly identical at last drying stage, and had almost same moisture profiles and same drying period after the end of air drying. Therefore, the drying curve determined by measuring electricresistancecan be used to predict the drying period and moisture profile of air drying the red pine and Japanese larch timbers with large cross sections.

Modeling the drying kinetics of soybeans under intermittent operation in thin layer

The extraordinary expansion of soybeans production and trade volumes over the past few decades has undoubtedly generated global economic benefits.One factor responsible for the commercial success and extension of soybean shelf life is the drying process, which involves both heat and mass transfer. Alternatively, intermittent drying aims to improve the process in terms of yield, energy use and product quality. Thus, presenting a mathematical model that describes the soybean drying kinetics in intermittent thin-layer operation is a novelty in this study. The first order Runge-Kutta method was used to solve the proposed model, through which it was possible to obtain a detailed knowledge of the heat and mass transfer parameters involved in the drying process. It was possible to properly fit a mathematical model, based on mass and energy balances, which predicted the temperature and moisture profiles of the grain as a function of drying time, as well as the determination of physical parameters, such as global coefficients natural and forced convection heat transfer and the apparent global mass transfer coefficient.

The Seasonal and Diurnal Variation Characteristics of Soil Moisture at Different Depths from Observational Sites over the Tibetan Plateau

Using observational data of soil moisture from the third Tibetan Plateau Experiment for atmospheric science (TIPEX III), the seasonal and diurnal variations characteristics of soil moisture at different depths of 5–160 cm from seven stations were analyzed, with emphasis on the comparative analysis of the differences of soil moisture between different sites and the differences of the synergistic relationship between soil moisture and temperature. The soil moisture was wet in the southeast and dry in the northwest. The studied sites were Lhari, Biru, Nyainrong, Amdo, Nagqu, Baingoin and Seng-ge Kambab in descending order, according to the soil moisture. The seasonal variation of soil moisture at the different sites showed a significant three-peak structure, which was more obvious in the shallow layer than in the deep layer. The first peak occurred from March to May, which was mainly due to the soil thawing in spring. The other two peaks corresponded to the two rainy seasons in the plateau. Soil moisture was the greatest during this rainy period. The diurnal variations of soil moisture and temperature in Amdo, Nagqu, Nyainrong and Baingoin showed a significant positive correlation in the four seasons. The soil moisture and temperature in Lhari and Biru were significantly positively correlated in winter and spring but negatively correlated in summer and autumn. The profiles of the soil moisture with depth varied greatly at different stations in different seasons. The distribution of soil water content at each observational site did not increase or decrease with depth but showed a certain high aquifer, which might be related to the types of the underlying surface and physical properties of soil. During the summer monsoon period, soil moisture in the shallow layer of 5–10 cm was higher at all observational sites. The spatial distribution of soil moisture in the plateau was more heterogeneous than that in the plain area, and only in the central part of the Tibetan Plateau, the soil moisture varied greatly from site to site. This also indicated that it was unreasonable to only use the soil moisture of several stations to represent the overall soil moisture of the region. The results provided a multi-angle observational basis for the validation of satellite data and parameterization of the numerical model of soil moisture over the Tibetan Plateau.

The Impact of Large-Scale Winds on Boundary Layer Structure, Thermally Driven Flows, and Exchange Processes over Mountainous Terrain

Abstract The vertical heat and moisture exchange in the convective boundary layer over mountainous terrain is investigated using large-eddy simulation. Both turbulent and advective transport mechanisms are evaluated over the simple orography of a quasi-two-dimensional, periodic valley with prescribed surface fluxes. For the analysis, the flow is decomposed into a local turbulent part, a local mean circulation, and a large-scale part. It is found that thermal upslope winds are important for the moisture export from the valley to the mountain tops. Even a relatively shallow orography, possibly unresolved in existing numerical weather prediction models, modifies the domain-averaged moisture and temperature profiles. An analysis of the turbulent kinetic energy and turbulent heat and moisture flux budgets shows that the thermal circulation significantly contributes to the vertical transport. This transport depends on the horizontal heterogeneity of the transported variable. Therefore, the thermal circulation has a stronger impact on the moisture budget and a weaker impact on the temperature budget. If an upper-level wind is present, it interacts with the thermal circulation. This weakens the vertical transport of moisture and thus reduces its export out of the valley. The heat transport is less affected by the upper-level wind because of its weaker dependence on the thermal circulation. These findings were corroborated in a more realistic experiment simulating the full diurnal cycle using radiation forcing and an interactive land surface model.

Detailed investigation of capillary active insulation materials by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and thermogravimetric drying

Capillary active interior insulation materials are an important and innovative approach to minimize energy losses of historical buildings. In an experimental setup, we investigate the development of moisture profiles under realistic boundary conditions to determine the liquid moisture conductivity for two different interior insulation materials. The moisture profiles were determined by destructive sample cutting with subsequent thermogravimetric drying as well as directly measured by the non-destructive method NMR, which has a higher spatial resolution and even enables repetitive measurements during the course of the experiments. We observed that the moisture profiles obtained from both methods showed good agreement, when compared at the low spatial resolution of sample cutting. This raises confidence in the method of simple mechanical sample cutting. In the next step, the liquid moisture conductivity was calculated using an inverse modelling approach based on both measured moisture profiles separately. Then, we compared the pore-size distributions of the investigated samples based on NMR T2-relaxation-time distributions, mercury intrusion porosimetry and indirect determination from pressure plate and sorption isotherm measurements. Moreover, the measured T2-relaxation-time distributions across the sample depth may give further insight into the saturation degree of the different pore sizes.

Moisture Movement Analyses for Coal Stockpiles

Flowslides and stability issues have occurred periodically within stockpiles of coking (metallurgical) coal at coal processing plants and export terminals in Queensland’s Bowen Basin, and to a lesser degree in New South Wales, since the early 1970s. A description of the issue and summary of research at James Cook University from 1973 to 2000 was published in ACARP Report C4057. Despite this work, coal stockpile flowslides remain a significant risk at mine and port stockpiles due to their initiation without warning and dramatic consequences. To be able to adequately model the redistribution of moisture that leads to collapse of a stockpile and then conduct realistic stability analyses for design of preventative measures remains an elusive prospect. This paper therefore updates the previous work with results from SEEP/W transient seepage modelling within a 12m high 14,700 tonne coal stockpile constructed at Hay Point in late 1991 for which initial moisture content, pore pressures at the stockpile base, outflows from subsoil drains and final density and moisture profiles were measured. The model was based on results of laboratory permeability and column drainage tests on specimens taken from a composite bulk sample obtained at the time of stockpile construction. The coking coal product was from an operation with a known history of stockpile instability. Results were found to correspond well with pore pressures measured at the stockpile base and the stockpile’s final moisture profile provided account was taken of a thin higher permeability zone just above the subgrade. The approach adopted and parameters developed provide a significant advance in modelling of moisture movements within production coal stockpiles, with a view to subsequent slope stability analyses.

Influence of Preferments on the Physicochemical and Sensory Quality of Traditional Panettone.

In Peru, panettones are consumed in July and December. The main ingredient of panettones is wheat flour, which can be replaced with substitute flours to improve their nutritional, textural and sensory properties. This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical, textural and sensory characteristics of panettones produced with three preferments, namely, biga (PB), sourdough (PMM) and sponge (PE), with the substitution of red quinoa flour and amaranth compared with a commercial product (PC). A completely randomized design with four experimental treatments was used to evaluate the total carbohydrate content, ash, total energy, fat, moisture, protein, color and texture profile. In addition, sensory characteristics were evaluated by 80 consumers using the CATA method; the purchase intention and preference ranking were also investigated. The results showed better sensory characteristics of panettones produced with preferments compared with a commercial product with similar characteristics. The sponge preferment presented better sensory characteristics with a profile of sweet, spongy, vanilla odor and moist texture, along with greater acceptability, preference and purchase intention, followed closely by the biga. It was concluded that the sponge preferment presented better sensory properties, which were correlated with its texture profile as manifested by an intermediate hardness, good elasticity and cohesiveness, which translated into greater acceptability, preference and purchase intention.