Imaging sediment structure: the emerging use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for 3D analysis of sediment structures and internal flow processes

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can be used for 3D analysis of small-scale porous media structure and internal flow-related processes. It offers notable advantages over traditional sediment sampling (e.g. cores or surface-based scanning) as it is capable of high spatio-temporal resolution of the full 3D volume, including the sub-surface. Similarly, compared to X-Ray tomography, the extensive catalogue of MR pulse sequences typically provides: faster capture for imaging dynamic fluid processes; greater flexibility in resolving chemical species or tracers; and a safer radiation-free methodology. To demonstrate the relevance of this technique in geomorphological research, three exemplar applications are described: porous media structure of gravel bed rivers; measurements of fluid processes within aquifer pores and fractures; and, concentration mapping of contaminants through sand/gravel frameworks. Whilst, this emerging technique offers significant potential for visualizing many other ‘black-box’ processes important to the wider discipline, attention is afforded to discussion of the present constraints of the technique in field-based analysis

Estimation of longitudinal dispersion co-efficient: A review

Accurate determination of longitudinal dispersion coefficient in rivers or streams is necessary for pollution control and management. This can be achieved through tracer studies and has proven to be a reliable method for measuring pollution spread. However, tracer studies practise which is expensive, time gulping and requiring large labour input have been substituted with empirical approaches thereby reducing the applicability of the dispersion coefficient models generated. This study reviews the various models derived as well as methods associated in the collection of tracer concentration data (measurement) existing in the literature. A sustainable approach to this study was identified and research needs were also listed

Initial Conditions for Models of Dynamical Systems

The long-time behaviour of many dynamical systems may be effectively predicted by a low-dimensional model that describes the evolution of a reduced set of variables. We consider the question of how to equip such a low-dimensional model with appropriate initial conditions, so that it faithfully reproduces the long-term behaviour of the original high-dimensional dynamical system. Our method involves putting the dynamical system into normal form, which not only generates the low-dimensional model, but also provides the correct initial conditions for the model. We illustrate the method with several examples. Keywords: normal form, isochrons, initialisation, centre manifoldComment: 24 pages in standard LaTeX, 66K, no figure

Modelling Water Dynamics, Transport Processes and Biogeochemical Reactions in Soil Vadose Zone

Large numbers of numerical models are nowadays available for the description of physical and chemical processes affecting water flow and solute transport in soil vadose zone. This chapter explains basic principles of water flow and solute transport modelling in soil vadose (variably saturated) zone and some of the most important processes present in it. First part deals with water dynamics in the soil, that is, soil water content, pressure head, soil porosity, and water flow. Also, some of the measurement techniques used to estimate water dynamics in soil are explained. Water retention curve and soil hydraulic properties needed for modelling are briefly discussed with the explanation of basic (i.e. most commonly used) hydraulic relationship in soil (van Genuchten equation) and water flow (Richards equation) approaches. Second part includes solute transport description in vadose zone, including processes such as advection, diffusion, dispersion, and adsorption. Basic advection‐dispersion equation is explained and also the implementation of boundary and initial conditions in the numerical model. Preferential flow is shortly discussed with the basic principles behind its occurrence and modelling in the soil vadose zone. One real case one‐dimensional (1D) example of modelling with HYDRUS software is presented in which water flow and nitrate transport is simulated on the lysimeter study. Short overview of the most widely used numerical models for simulating vadose zone processes is also presented, whereas the final part is focused on chemical speciation modelling in relatively homogeneous soil solutions using visual MINTEQ interface

Diffusion–dispersion numerical discretization for solute transport in 2D transient shallow flows

The 2D solute transport equation can be incorporated into the 2D shallow water equations in order to solve both flow and solute interactions in a coupled system of equations. In order to solve this system, an explicit finite volume scheme based on Roe’s linearization is proposed. Moreover, it is feasible to decouple the solute transport equation from the hydrodynamic system in a conservative way. In this case, the advection part is solved in essence defining a numerical flux, allowing the use of higher order numerical schemes. However, the discretization of the diffusion–dispersion terms have to be carefully analysed. In particular, time-step restrictions linked to the nature of the solute equation itself as well as the numerical diffusion associated to the numerical scheme used are question of interest in this work. These improvements are tested in an analytical case as well as in a laboratory test case with a passive solute (fluorescein) released from a reservoir. Experimental measurements are compared against the numerical results obtained with the proposed model and a sensitivity analysis is carried out, confirming an agreement with the longitudinal coefficients and an underestimation of the transversal ones, respectively