Influence of in-situ casting temperature and curing regime on the properties of blended cement concretes under hot climatic conditions

2021 ◽  
Vol 272 ◽  
pp. 121865
Author(s):  
Muhammad Umar Khan ◽  
Muhammad Nasir ◽  
Omar S. Baghabra Al-Amoudi ◽  
Mohammed Maslehuddin
2001 ◽  
Vol 2001 ◽  
pp. 89-89
Author(s):  
M. A. Akbar ◽  
P. Lebzien ◽  
G. Flachowsky

The fresh weight, dry matter (DM) contents and nutritional quality in maize vary considerably with variation in varieties, stages at which harvested, climatic conditions and agronomic factors. Recently, agronomists, nutritionists, and dairy producers have placed increased emphasis on factors affecting the nutritive value of maize. However, very little information is available on quantitative variability of the feed value of maize fodder as affected by such factors. This study was, therefore, carried out to assess the effect of harvesting of six different maize varieties at two stages (dates) of grain maturity on quality of both the stover and cobs.


Soil Research ◽  
1963 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 74 ◽  
Author(s):  
KG Tiller

The mineralogy and chemistry of weathering and soil formation have been studied at 17 widely separated sites with contrasting climatic conditions on comparatively uniform dolerite in Tasmania. The clay and fine sand mineralogy of the soils has been related to their degree of weathering. These studies have shown large chemical and mineralogical changes accompanying the initial stages of weathering in some krasnozem soils. The reorganization of cobalt, zirconium, nickel, copper, molybdenum, manganese, and zinc during genesis of four soil groups has been considered in terms of the factors involved. Some of these results indicate that the clay horizon of the podzolic soils has probably been formed by weathering in situ. Seasonal waterlogging in certain horizons has strongly mfluenced the chemistry and mineralogy of weathering in many of these soils. This study has shown that the composition of the parent material has only influenced the geochemistry of trace elements in less weathered soils and that pedogenic factors assumed greater significance as the soils became more strongly weathered. Geomorphic processes had a marked influence on the geochemistry of some soils by the truncation of mature soil profiles.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (24) ◽  
pp. 4058
Author(s):  
Hassan Bazzi ◽  
Nicolas Baghdadi ◽  
Ibrahim Fayad ◽  
François Charron ◽  
Mehrez Zribi ◽  
...  

Better management of water consumption and irrigation schedule in irrigated agriculture is essential in order to save water resources, especially at regional scales and under changing climatic conditions. In the context of water management, the aim of this study is to monitor irrigation activities by detecting the irrigation episodes at plot scale using the Sentinel-1 (S1) C-band SAR (synthetic-aperture radar) time series over intensively irrigated grassland plots located in the Crau plain of southeast France. The method consisted of assessing the newly developed irrigation detection model (IDM) at plot scale over the irrigated grassland plots. First, four S1-SAR time series acquired from four different S1-SAR acquisitions (different S1 orbits), each at six-day revisit time, were obtained over the study site. Next, the IDM was applied at each available SAR image from each S1-SAR series to obtain an irrigation indicator at each SAR image (no, low, medium, or high irrigation possibility). Then, the irrigation indicators obtained at each image from each S1-SAR time series (four series) were added and combined by threshold value criteria to determine the existence or absence of an irrigation event. Finally, the performance of the IDM for irrigation detection was assessed by comparing the in situ recorded irrigation events at each plot and the detected irrigation events. The results show that using only the VV polarization, 82.4% of the in situ registered irrigation events are correctly detected with an F_score value reaching 73.8%. Less accuracy is obtained using only the VH polarization, where 79.9% of the in situ irrigation events are correctly detected with an F_score of 72.2%. The combined use of the VV and VH polarization showed that 74.1% of the irrigation events are detected with a higher F_score value of 76.4%. The analysis of the undetected irrigation events revealed that, in the presence of very well-developed vegetation cover (normalized difference of vegetation index (NDVI) ≥ 0.8); higher uncertainty in irrigation detection is observed, where 80% of the undetected events correspond to an NDVI value greater than 0.8. The results also showed that small-sized plots encounter more false irrigation detections than large-sized plots certainly because the pixel spacing of S1 data (10 m × 10 m) is not adapted to small size plots. The obtained results prove the efficiency of the S1 C-band data and the IDM for detecting irrigation events at the plot scale, which would help in improving the irrigation water management at large scales especially with availability and global coverage of the S1 product.


2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (252) ◽  
pp. 605-616 ◽  
Author(s):  
SOJIRO SUNAKO ◽  
KOJI FUJITA ◽  
AKIKO SAKAI ◽  
RIJAN B. KAYASTHA

ABSTRACTWe conducted a mass-balance study of debris-free Trambau Glacier in the Rolwaling region, Nepal Himalaya, which is accessible to 6000 m a.s.l., to better understand mass-balance processes and the effect of precipitation on these processes on high-elevation Himalayan glaciers. Continuous in situ meteorological and mass-balance observations that spanned the three melt seasons from May 2016 are reported. An energy- and mass-balance model is also applied to evaluate its performance and sensitivity to various climatic conditions. Glacier-wide mass balances ranging from −0.34 ± 0.38 m w.e. in 2016 to −0.82 ± 0.53 m w.e. in 2017/18 are obtained by combining the observations with model results for the areas above the highest stake. The estimated long-term glacier mass balance, which is reconstructed using the ERA-Interim data calibrated with in situ data, is −0.65 ± 0.39 m w.e. a−1for the 1980–2018 period. A significant correlation with annual precipitation (r= 0.77,p< 0.001) is observed, whereas there is no discernible correlation with summer mean air temperature. The results indicate the continuous mass loss of Trambau Glacier over the last four decades, which contrasts with the neighbouring Mera Glacier in balance.


2013 ◽  
Vol 93 (4) ◽  
pp. 497-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andre F. Christensen ◽  
Hailong He ◽  
Miles F. Dyck ◽  
E. Lenore Turner ◽  
David S. Chanasyk ◽  
...  

Christensen, A. F., He, H., Dyck, M. F., Turner, L., Chanasyk, D. S., Naeth, M. A. and Nichol, C. 2013. In situ measurement of snowmelt infiltration under various topsoil cap thicknesses on a reclaimed site. Can. J. Soil Sci. 93: 497–510. Understanding the soil and climatic conditions affecting the partitioning of snowmelt to runoff and infiltration during spring snow ablation is a requisite for water resources management and environmental risk assessment in cold semi-arid regions. Soil freezing and thawing processes, snowmelt runoff or infiltration into seasonally frozen soils have been documented for natural, agricultural or forested systems but rarely studied in severely disturbed systems such as reclaimed lands. The objective of this study was to quantify the snowmelt infiltration/runoff on phosphogypsum (PG) tailings piles capped with varying thicknesses of topsoil (0.15, 0.3, and 0.46 m) at a phosphate fertilizer production facility in Alberta. There are currently no environmental regulations specifying topsoil capping thickness or characteristics for these types of tailings piles. Generally, the function of the topsoil cap is to facilitate plant growth and minimize the amount of drainage into the underlying PG. Experimental plots were established in 2006 to better understand the vegetation and water dynamics in this reconstructed soil. In 2011, time domain reflectometry (TDR) probes and temperature sensors were installed at various depths for continuous, simultaneous, and automated measurement of composite dielectric permittivity (ɛeff) and soil temperature, respectively. An on-site meteorological station was used to record routine weather data. Liquid water and ice content were calculated with TDR-measured effective permittivity (ɛeff) and a composite dielectric mixing model. Spatial and temporal change of total water content (ice and liquid) revealed that snowmelt infiltration into the topsoil cap increased with increasing topsoil depth and net soil water flux from the topsoil cap into the PG material was positive during the snowmelt period in the spring of 2011. Given the objective of the capping soil is to reduce drainage of water into the PG material it is recognized that a capping soil with a higher water-holding capacity could reduce the amount of meteoric water entering the tailings.


Author(s):  
Alenka Fikfak ◽  
Saja Kosanović ◽  
Miha Konjar ◽  
Janez P. Grom ◽  
Martina Zbašnik-Senegačnik

The study conducted in this paper is focused on a predominantly residential area of the City of Ljubljana &ndash; Koseze, which is characterized by generally favorable (bio)climatic conditions. Nonetheless, thermal satellite imaging showed that residential neighborhoods within the Koseze district display unexpected variations in summer temperatures. This observation called into question the benefits of existing bioclimatic features and indicated the need to investigate and compare two neighborhoods with similar urban parameters, with the aim to identify morphological differential characteristics impacting urban heat island (UHI) intensity. By applying the study methodology based on a literature review, surveys of key precedents, detailed mapping in two Koseze locations, in situ measurements, observations and recordings, thermal imaging and the analyses of statistical data, as well as by defining the four main categories of morphological urban parameters &ndash; structure, cover, fabric and metabolism, it was concluded that both neighborhoods have common morphological elements mitigating the UHI effect. Additionally, it was found that the neighborhood with higher UHI intensity has several less favorable features, such as busier roads, larger surface of parking corridors, and the existence of underground parking space. The traffic as an element of urban morphology hence represents the main cause of differences among UHI levels in the two Koseze neighborhoods.


Author(s):  
V.K. Riabchun ◽  
N.V. Kuzmyshyna ◽  
R.L, Boguslavskyi ◽  
O.M. Bezuglaya ◽  
V.M. Bondarenko ◽  
...  

The aim of the article is to summarize the results of plant gene pool samples introduction into the National Plant Genebank from different countries and ecological and geographical zones for use in domestic breeding. Results and Discussion. In 2016 – 2018, 5984 samples were introduced to the Centre for Plant Genetic Resources of Ukraine using various information sources, including 2093 samples from Ukraine and 3891 from foreign countries. The greatest samples variety was attracted by cereals, leguminous, fodder, medicinal and essential oil, vegetable and melon crops, corn. Seeds of new forms having valuable properties are attached from research and breeding institutions of Ukraine. The samples of foreign origin were most actively introduced through cooperation with research institutions of Russia, Belarus, and Moldova. A significant number of samples came from genebanks in Europe: the Czech Republic, Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands; Asia: Kazakhstan Turkey, Israel, China as well as from South (Mexico) and North America - USA, Canada. The ways of pre-adaptation and adaptation of samples from geographically remote regions for use in Ukraine are indicated. To collect local cultural and wild-growing samples of different crops, collecting missions were carried out in the central and southern regions of the forest-steppe and northeastern regions of Ukraine during which 1641 gene pool samples were collected. For the Red Book species of plants and species that are not listed in the Red Book of Ukraine but are rare or are threatened with extinction under natural conditions, a points have been identified for possible arrangement of in situ conservation reserves. A number of objects with a rich genetic diversity of fodder and medicinal plants have been identified, on which it is necessary to monitor coenoses and ensure in situ conservation. The introduced samples were transferred for use in research and breeding programs in Ukraine. Conclusions. The definition of a model of ecologically adapted in Ukraine genotypes of different crops that are carriers of valuable traits from countries with similar climatic conditions as well as from geographically remote regions, has made it possible to increase the efficiency of introduction and to more specifically search and attract to the National Genebank the plant samples with the necessary manifestation levels of economic and biological traits.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Humphrey ◽  
Brian L. Dorsey ◽  
Christian Frankenberg

&lt;p&gt;Canopy water content is a direct indicator of vegetation water use and hydraulic stress, reflecting how ecosystems respond and adapt to droughts and heatwaves. It represents an interesting target for Earth system models which attempt to predict the response and resilience of the vegetation in the face of changing climatic conditions. So far, in-situ estimates of vegetation water content often rely on infrequent and time-consuming samplings of leaf water content, which are not necessarily representative of the canopy scale. On the other hand, several satellite techniques have demonstrated a promising potential for monitoring vegetation optical depth and water content, but these large-scale measurements are still difficult to reference against sparse in-situ level observations.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Here, we present an experimental technique based on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) to bridge this persisting scale gap. Because GNSS microwave signals are obstructed and scattered by vegetation and liquid water, placing a GNSS sensor in a forest and measuring changes in signal quality can provide continuous information on canopy water content and forest structure. We demonstrate that variations in GNSS signal attenuation reflect the distribution of biomass density and liquid water in the canopy, consistent with ancillary relative leaf water content measurements, and can be monitored continuously. Of particular interest, this technique can resolve diurnal variations in canopy water content at sub-hourly time steps. The few rainfall events captured during the 8-months observational record also suggest that canopy water interception can be monitored at 5 minutes intervals. We discuss future strategies and requirements for deploying such off-the-shelf passive bistatic radar systems at existing FluxNet sites.&lt;/p&gt;


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastien J.P. Lenard ◽  
Maarten Lupker ◽  
Irene Schimmelpfennig ◽  
Vincent Godard ◽  
Clement Desormeaux ◽  
...  

&lt;p&gt;Denudation rates are routinely derived from concentrations of terrestrial in situ produced cosmogenic nuclides (TCN), particularly from &lt;sup&gt;10&lt;/sup&gt;Be concentrations in river sand. Denudation rates are calculated assuming that they remain steady throughout the integration time scale of the TCN. However, such an assumption is possibly unverified in settings with negligible tectonics, where rates typically range from 10 to 100 mm/ky. In those settings, the TCN conveys a signal that integrates denudation over a time span longer than a few thousand years. The signal may include periods when anthropogenic and climatic forcing on denudation was distinct from modern times. For instance, agricultural practices were limited before 6,000 years B.P. and climatic conditions were colder and drier before 10,000 years B.P. A variable forcing may produce variable and transient denudation rates. In that case, the assumption of steady denudation rates is invalid, and their derivation may introduce a bias.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;To detect transient landscapes and resolve such a bias, we can take advantage of the different sensitivity of the &lt;sup&gt;14&lt;/sup&gt;C and &lt;sup&gt;10&lt;/sup&gt;Be TCNs to recent and short-term changes in surface denudation. In situ &lt;sup&gt;14&lt;/sup&gt;C is more sensitive than &lt;sup&gt;10&lt;/sup&gt;Be to such changes, because of a shorter half-life (5,700 y compared to 1.4 My). This potential application of coupled &lt;sup&gt;14&lt;/sup&gt;C - &lt;sup&gt;10&lt;/sup&gt;Be measurements has recently been discussed in several theoretical studies (Hippe, 2017; Mudd, 2017; Skov et al., 2019). Despite the improvement of &lt;sup&gt;14&lt;/sup&gt;C extraction lines and measurement facilities (Hippe et al., 2009; Lupker et al., 2019), sensitivity tests remain limited on natural cases (Hippe et al., 2012).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Here, we propose assessing this new application by in situ &lt;sup&gt;14&lt;/sup&gt;C - &lt;sup&gt;10&lt;/sup&gt;Be measurements on river sand from the Cevennes and the Monts Margeride within the Variscan Massif Central in France. With an average elevation of ~700 m, this mountain range presents an asymmetrical topography, composed of a low-relief surface reaching 1,700 m, and bordered by a gently sloping flank to the west and a steep escarpment to the southeast, along the Cevennes fault. This escarpment receives frequent and seasonal extreme precipitation events (300-700 mm in 48h) on its southeast flank.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The range is subject to very limited seismic activity and appears relevant for an application of the &lt;sup&gt;14&lt;/sup&gt;C-&lt;sup&gt;10&lt;/sup&gt;Be couple. Basins are rich in quartz and have homogeneous lithology. The recent paleoclimatic context is well constrained, with substantial climatic variations but with limited Pleistocene glaciations (e.g. Fauquette et al., 1999; Magny et al., 2003; Mayewski et al., 2004). The Massif Central is subject to active erosion processes, without major contribution from stochastic events such as landslides. Denudation rates are in the range of the theoretical study of Skov et al. 2019 (Schaller et al. 2001; Molliex et al. 2016; Olivetti et al. 2016; Desormeaux et al., 2021) and several studies have suggested transient denudation patterns (Schaller et al. 2001; Olivetti et al. 2016). With our new measurements, we will verify whether the &lt;sup&gt;14&lt;/sup&gt;C-&lt;sup&gt;10&lt;/sup&gt;Be couple has sufficient resolution to detect such transience in natural cases.&lt;/p&gt;


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