Water-related Phenomena Research Articles

Wave Attenuation in Coastal Mangroves: the case of Mekong Delta Vietnam

Mangrove generally plays an important role in dissipating the energy of high waves and storm surges, thereby it protects the coast from erosion. In the context of climate change, the impact from water related phenomena seems to be increased, therefore mangrove is considered as the most effective and environment friendly solution. This research focuses on assessing the effectiveness of wave energy reducing of mangrove at the Bac Lieu coast in Southern Vietnam by implementing the XBeach 2D numerical model combined with field survey. To investigate the mangrove evolution during time, the satellite images are used to analyze for mapping the mangrove zone. The final results indicate that there are factors which significantly affect the efficiency of wave reducing including the mangrove density, mangrove band width, incoming wave height and the local water depth. Especially, specific areas which are vulnerable due to the lack of mangrove forest are well identified in the 2D model comparing to XBeach 1D.

Coastal Zone Environment Integrity Assessment for Sustainable Management: Part 1. Development of Adaptive Expert-Driven Coastal Zone Health Index Framework

The coastal zone is the environment that connects terrestrial and marine environments. It is the most productive ecosystem on the planet. It has been estimated that 23 percent of the population lives in the coastal regions. The attractive landscape and seascape of the coastal zone environments attract human settlement and increase the economic activities in the area. Unfortunately, massive human urbanization is also attributed to coastal zone ecosystem degradation. In addition, water-related phenomena due to the changing climate also affect the said environment. The negative impacts of human activities and the water-related phenomena typically deplete the environment’s health. Thus, this study developed an adaptive index framework to assess the coastal zone environment condition. The principle of this framework is the sustainable co-existence of human development with the coastal zone environment. The identified coastal cities in the Philippines were utilized as the case study for developing the framework. The results show that the decision-makers are conservationists while extractive. In contrast, environmental educators are conservationists in nature. Moreover, each city has its own unique framework and signifies that the framework is adaptive to the perspective of the decision makers in their city.

Modeling of wetting phenomena in cathode catalyst layers for PEM fuel cells

Optimal water management in polymer electrolyte fuel cells hinges on understanding wetting phenomena inside the porous network of the cathode catalyst layer. Macrohomogeneous models have evolved to take into account water-related phenomena. However, existing modeling approaches implement a phenomenological description that employs a mixed wettability, thus neglecting vital structural features that constitute the wetting behavior. Other approaches exploit experimentally measured water retention curves to derive descriptors for the wetting properties of the catalyst material. Albeit, such measurements are scarce in the literature, elaborate and expensive, making a materials screening focused on wettability unfeasible. Our approach extends these efforts by providing a structure-based model that predicts water retention curves from catalyst layer ink parameters. The model accounts for structural formation at the ink stage and it captures the statistical distribution of wetting properties. Design trends derived on the basis of this model are in agreement with experimental findings in the literature. Furthermore, the model is analyzed for its implications on fuel cell degradation. Finally, we discuss its capabilities with regard to model-supported fuel cell design and optimization.

Water and Water-Related Phenomena in the Old Testament Wisdom Literature: An Eco-Theological Exploration, written by Kivatsi Jonathan Kavusa

Water and Water-Related Phenomena in the Old Testament Wisdom Literature: An Eco-Theological Exploration, written by Kivatsi Jonathan Kavusa

Water and Water-Related Phenomena in the Old Testament Wisdom Literature: An Eco-Theological Exploration. By Kivatsi Jonathan Kavusa

<i>Water and Water-Related Phenomena in the Old Testament Wisdom Literature: An Eco-Theological Exploration.</i> By <scp>Kivatsi Jonathan Kavusa</scp>

Investigating groundwater: Middle school students’ mapping data-driven, computer-based models to socio-hydrologic phenomena

Groundwater is a critical component of the global water cycle and standards-based topic within science education. However, students articulate an array of ideas about groundwater systems, including their natural and human elements. One way to support students’ learning about groundwater systems is through the use of data-driven, computer-based modeling tools in technology-enabled science learning environments. To use models to reason productively about groundwater, students must be able to interpret the relationship between the model and the phenomena it represents. Here, we report findings from a study conducted in 7th-grade classrooms (n = 209) during implementation of a 3-week curriculum module designed around a data-driven, computer-based groundwater modeling tool – the Hydrogeology Challenge. Students completed a series of tasks using the model to reason about and engage in problem-solving about a real-world, scenario-based water challenge. Here, we focus on how students relate – or map – elements of the model to the components of the authentic water-related phenomena they represent. We conducted quantitative and qualitative analyses of student artifacts and interviews. Findings suggest that students could more easily interpret and understand model elements which represent human dimensions of groundwater systems, such as wells, than they could elements that represent natural dimensions and processes, such as contour lines or groundwater flow direction. These findings provide important insights into students’ model-based reasoning about groundwater and teaching and learning about coupled human-hydrological systems.

Longitudinal investigation of primary inservice teachers’ modelling the hydrological phenomena

ABSTRACTTo develop students’ capacity for science and to engage them productively in science and engineering practices, science education reform efforts have focused on supporting teachers’ development of conceptual understandings through engagement with both disciplinary content and practices, including science teaching at the primary level. One topic of importance for primary science instruction focuses on Earth systems and, in particular, hydrological phenomena. Scientific modelling provides an effective, practice-based strategy for students’ conceptual development of water. This manuscript focuses on longitudinal research with four primary inservice teachers’ learning and engagement in model-based teaching about water over three years, investigating teachers conceptualizations and practice modelling water related phenomena over time. Findings from the study indicate while each teacher had individual trajectories in conceptualising and enacting scientific modelling in the classroom, we observed unique approaches within teachers. All teachers had a unified understanding and enactment of modelling in their first year. Over time, however, their focuses on modelling diversified and there were clear patterns of preference on some modelling facets over others. Finally, while teachers’ conceptualizations about modelling became more robust, implementation of modelling only occurred in their practice as teachers were able to identify students’ modelling needs.

The Intrinsic Worth of Water in Job 38:22–38: Urging the Abandonment of an Anthropocentric Worldview

Christianity has often been accused of promoting an anthropocentric worldview that has contributed to the current ecological crisis. Since Lynn White’s accusation that Genesis 1:26–28 is responsible for the crisis, biblical scholars and theologians have been discussing this text. Although Genesis 1:26–28 contains hints of anthropocentrism, it does not represent the only way in which the biblical authors viewed humans and their relationship with nature. This article focuses on Job 38, which presents many phenomena of nature, inter alia water-related phenomena, as surpassing humans’ understanding. The world does not revolve around humans. They are merely part of the natural world. Humans cannot control water-related phenomena, which are depicted as having their own worth.

El registro paleoambiental del Pleistoceno tardío al presente en la Laguna de Lobos, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Se caracterizó el medio físico del ambiente, la fisiografía, régimen hidrológico y la historia geológica de la cubeta lagunar. La geología superficial está representada por seis unidades litoestratigráficas y dos pedoestratigráficas, que abarcan del Pleistoceno temprano al tardío y del Holoceno medio al presente. La más antigua, la Formación Ensenada, constituye el sustrato regional, sobre el cual se ubican cuatro unidades eólicas, las Formaciones Buenos Aires, La Postrera I, III y IV, los Geosuelos Sin Nombre y Puesto Berrondo y el Aluvio reciente. Los sedimentos colmatantes fueron obtenidos mediante perforaciones, reconociéndose siete unidades litoestratigráficas (cinco subácueas y dos subaéreas). Las subácueas corresponden a la Formación Luján, Miembros La Chumbiada, Lobos, Río Salado y Monte (Pleistoceno tardío al Holoceno tardío) y al Aluvio reciente. Los depósitos subaéreos a las Formaciones La Postrera I y IV del Pleistoceno tardío y Holoceno tardío-tardío, respectivamente. La excavación de la cubeta se inició en la etapa seca del ?Bonaerense?, la posterior alternancia climática: seco-húmedo facilitó la evolución. Las etapas secas se caracterizaron por deflación, generación de cubetas, sabkhas o lagos salados, precipitación de sales y acumulación de depósitos eólicos. En las húmedas predominó la sedimentación y la pedogénesis. De esta manera, el conjunto de depósitos posteriores a la Formación Ensenada está representado por cinco episodios de clima seco, que abarcan del Glacial Temprano a la Pequeña Edad de Hielo y cinco húmedos, cuyas acumulaciones límnicas conforman los cuatro miembros de la Formación Luján, el aluvio actual y los suelos sincrónicos S4, S1 y S0.

Physical driving force of actomyosin motility based on the hydration effect.

We propose a driving force hypothesis based on previous thermodynamics, kinetics and structural data as well as additional experiments and calculations presented here on water-related phenomena in the actomyosin systems. Although Szent-Györgyi pointed out the importance of water in muscle contraction in 1951, few studies have focused on the water science of muscle because of the difficulty of analyzing hydration properties of the muscle proteins, actin, and myosin. The thermodynamics and energetics of muscle contraction are linked to the water-mediated regulation of protein-ligand and protein-protein interactions along with structural changes in protein molecules. In this study, we assume the following two points: (1) the periodic electric field distribution along an actin filament (F-actin) is unidirectionally modified upon binding of myosin subfragment 1 (M or myosin S1) with ADP and inorganic phosphate Pi (M.ADP.Pi complex) and (2) the solvation free energy of myosin S1 depends on the external electric field strength and the solvation free energy of myosin S1 in close proximity to F-actin can become the potential force to drive myosin S1 along F-actin. The first assumption is supported by integration of experimental reports. The second assumption is supported by model calculations utilizing molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to determine solvation free energies of a small organic molecule and two small proteins. MD simulations utilize the energy representation method (ER) and the roughly proportional relationship between the solvation free energy and the solvent-accessible surface area (SASA) of the protein. The estimated driving force acting on myosin S1 is as high as several piconewtons (pN), which is consistent with the experimentally observed force.

Measuring Transpiration with a Simple Low-Cost, Single-Leaf Potometer

Transpiration is one of the most important water-related phenomena in plant physiology. Various types of semi-quantitative methods for demonstrating this process are available, one of which is the potometer. We offer here a better design for the single-leaf potometer resulting in an easy-to-make, unbreakable, and basic instrument that can reduce the cost of laboratory work in biology instruction and provide a tool that students might use for science fair projects.

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants—And Then Looking the Other Way? Epistemic Opacity, Immersion, and Modeling in Hydraulic Engineering

Computational models are the predominant instruments for studying water-related phenomena in hydraulic engineering. Over time, these models have become more and more opaque, making it more difficult for modelers to grasp their functioning. As a result, both model developers and users straddle discovery and manipulation, since they may not be able or willing to reflect on how computational models shape their understanding of the world. Hydraulic engineers often engage models in a reflective manner that is aimed at understanding a model’s underlying design. However, models in the form of software travel easily to domains outside of hydraulic engineering, where they are not used in a reflective manner. In order to prevent that model users become subject to the will-o’-the-wisp of opaque computational models, the aforementioned reflective approach to modeling warrants adoption by model developers as well as model users.

Hydrophilic–hydrophobic interplay: from model systems to living systems

Abstract Water is a unique liquid, many of whose properties are critical for the continued support of life. In living systems, essential water-related phenomena occur in restricted geometries in cells, and at active sites of proteins and membranes or at their surface. The stability of biological systems is controlled by the subtle hydrophilic–hydrophobic interplay. It is well known that hydration water plays a prominent role in the relationship between structure, dynamics, and biological function. Various examples of systems developing either hydrophilic or hydrophobic interactions, or both, are presented. The static and transport properties of what is defined as confined or interfacial water are compared with those of bulk water. Finally, it is shown that there is some strong evidence that structural and dynamic properties of water close to a hydrophilic surface, at room temperature, are similar to that of bulk supercooled water. To cite this article: M.-C. Bellissent-Funel, C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).

Structure and dynamics of water confined in a nanoporous sol-gel silica glass: a neutron scattering study

During recent years, the understanding of the modification of the structure and dynamics of water confined in different environments has been the focus of much interest in scientific research. This topic is in fact of great relevance in a lot of technological areas and, in living systems, essential water-related phenomena occur in restricted geometries in cells, and active sites of proteins and membranes, or at their surface. In this paper we report on the most recent up to date account of structural and dynamical properties of confined water in comparison with the bulk state. In particular, as far as structure is concerned, we present new neutron diffraction results on heavy water confined in a fully hydrated sol-gel silica glass (GelSil) as a function of the temperature. At low T, the nucleation of cubic ice superimposed to liquid water, already observed for water within Vycor glasses, is discussed. As far as the dynamics is concerned, we report results of a detailed spectroscopic analysis of diffusive relaxation and vibrational properties of water confined in nanopores of Gelsil glass, at different temperatures and hydration percentages, performed by our research group during recent years by means of incoherent quasi-elastic (IQENS) and inelastic (IINS) neutron scattering. IQENS spectra are analysed in the framework of the relaxing cage model (RCM). IINS spectra show the evolution of the one-phonon-amplitude weighted proton vibrational density of states (VDOS), Z(ω), when water loses its peculiar bulk properties and originates new structural environments due to its surface interactions.

The impact of faults on the hydrogeological conditions in the Roer Valley Rift System: an overview

AbstractThe hydrogeology of the Roer Valley Rift System is strongly influenced by the hydraulic properties of faults. The hydrogeological impact of faults is illustrated by examples from the SE Netherlands and the adjacent lignite mining areas within the Roer Valley Rift System, near Bonn in Germany. Hydraulic head discontinuities over the main faults in the latter area can be up to tens of meters as a result of extremely large groundwater extractions in combination with the relatively low conductivity of the main faults. Within the Netherlands, outside the mining areas, such large groundwater extractions do not take place, and groundwater fluxes are smaller. In this situation natural hydraulic head differences over the main faults are limited to several meters. Hydraulic head profiles over faults provide a first estimate of fault hydraulic properties that can be quantified using simple analytical solutions. The impact of faults on near surface processes is reflected in vegetation patterns and the structure of drainage networks, aquifer structure and hydraulic head patterns. Faults can thus be of great influence on transport processes in the subsurface as well as on water-related phenomena at the surface, and should accordingly be taken into consideration in studies related to water-management, contamination and environmental impact. Faults that have an enhanced vertical permeability are difficult to detect when horizontal groundwater flow is studied, which is probably the main reason why they are rarely described. Though, these faults may form important preferential paths to vertical groundwater flow.

Water near hydrophilic surfaces

Water is essential for the stability and function of biological macromolecules. In living systems, essential water-related phenomena occur in restricted geometries in cells, and at active sites of proteins and membranes or at their surface. In this review paper, we present the more recent up to date account of the structure and dynamics of water confined in pores of porous glass and at surface of a soluble globular protein. The experimental results obtained by neutron scattering are compared with data of bulk supercooled water. The retardation of the translational motions of water molecules is discussed in light of some model of alpha relaxation familiar in the theory of kinetic glass transition in dense supercooled liquids.

Water-related Phenomena in Winter Buds and Twigs of Picea abies L. (Karst.) until Bud-burst: A Biological, Histological and NMR Study

This paper investigates the uptake, transport, state and self-diffusion of water in twigs and buds ofPicea abies L. (Karst.) trees in winter until reactivation in spring. The presence or absence of xylem in embryonic shoots, as well as the intensity and type of bud dormancy were also studied. Three clones of P. abies were grown in a forest in north-eastern France. The clones differed in their timing of bud-burst, with the two clones from the Vosges showing different degrees of early bud-burst and the clone from Poland showing late bud-burst. One-bud cuttings grown in standard forcing conditions showed a great difference in dormancy between the two provenances, but only a small difference between the two Vosges clones. Earliness of bud-burst was not strongly linked to the intensity of dormancy. A dye experiment combined with light microscopy indicated increased velocity of water transport in stems up to a maximum in April, initial entry of water into embryonic shoots, protoxylem differentiation in embryonic shoots from April, and then, shortly before bud-burst, water transport through the newly-formed protoxylem almost up to the meristem. Nuclear magnetic resonance measurements of the transverse relaxation time (T2) and the self-diffusion coefficient of water confirmed these observations and showed water availability in embryonic shoots. The sequence of water-related phenomena occurring in early spring was the same in the three clones, but was earliest in the Vosges clone with the earliest bud-burst and latest in the Polish clone with late bud-burst. The results imply that this sequence of water-related phenomena leads to bud-burst.

Hydration in protein dynamics and function

Abstract Water plays a major role in the stability and function of biological macromolecules. In living systems, essential water-related phenomena occur in restricted geometries in cells, and at active sites of proteins and membranes or at their surface. In this paper, we present the more recent experimental results about the dynamics of confined water as compared with that of bulk water. In particular, we show that it is possible to interpret the dynamic behaviour of the water molecules in confined media in terms of the Mode Coupling Theory. Moreover, results relative to hydration coupled dynamics in a parvalbumin protein and the relevance to the function of this protein are presented.

Structure and dynamics of water near hydrophilic surfaces

Water is essential for the stability and function of biological macromolecules. In living systems, essential water-related phenomena occur in restricted geometries in cells, and at active sites of proteins and membranes or at their surface. In this review paper, we present the more recent up to date account of the structure and dynamics of water confined in pores of porous glass and at surface of a soluble globular protein. The experimental results obtained by neutron scattering are compared with that of bulk water. Some realistic picture of room temperature interfacial water in terms of some increase of the extension of H-bond network of water as it occurs in supercooled water at a temperature 25 K lower is proposed.

Conceptions of water-related phenomena

Water is an important resource. Surprisingly, research into students' conceptions of water has been confined largely to studies of change of state. This paper reports the results of interviews about underground water, water pollution, the water cycle, and change of state). There were 45 students interviewed about these phenomena: all were in Year 9 or Year 10 in Western Australia from three schools, two country, on emetropolitan. In addition, 715 students in Years 9 and 10 in five government schools, three metropolitan and two country, completed a teacher-made, water topic test. Students appear to have a good understanding of some water-related phenomena, such as the water cycle, but have conceptions about other phenomena, such as the water table, which are not in accord with scientific views. As others have reported, interviews reveal that students often use scientific language without understanding.