Evaporation Through a Dry Soil Layer: Column Experiments

Modeling of water vapor transport through a dry soil layer (DSL), typically formed in the top soil during dry seasons in arid and semi-arid areas, is still problematic. Previous laboratory experiments in controlled environments showed that the only vapor transport process through the DSL is by Fick's law of diffusion. However, field experiments exhibited consistently higher evaporation rates than predicted by diffusion flow only. Some proposed reasons for the mismatch were: (a) daily cycles of condensation and evaporation in the DSL due to changes in solar radiation; (b) wind effects on air movement in the DSL; (c) atmospheric pressure fluctuations; (d) nonlinear influence of the DSL thickness on the evaporation process. To link the laboratory experiments with field observations, we performed soil column experiments in the laboratory with thick (>50 cm) DSL, and with different wind speeds, two radiative lamp schedules (continuous and 12 h daily cycles) and different thicknesses of DSL. Atmospheric pressure, air temperature and humidity were measured continuously. The results show that the evaporation rates observed are larger than those predicted by diffusion flow only. We found that it was possible to model the evaporation rates as a function of atmospheric pressure fluctuations. In conclusion, atmospheric pressure fluctuations can induce evaporation rates in DSL larger than estimated by diffusion flow only, possibly explaining the discrepancy between laboratory and field evaporation rates

Thermal activation between Landau levels in the organic superconductor β′′\beta''-(BEDT-TTF)2_{2}SF5_{5}CH2_{2}CF2_{2}SO3_{3}

We show that Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations in the interlayer resistivity of the organic superconductor $\beta''$-(BEDT-TTF)$_{2}$SF$_{5}$ CH$_{2}$CF$_{2}$SO$_{3}$ become very pronounced in magnetic fields $\sim$~60~T. The conductivity minima exhibit thermally-activated behaviour that can be explained simply by the presence of a Landau gap, with the quasi-one-dimensional Fermi surface sheets contributing negligibly to the conductivity. This observation, together with complete suppression of chemical potential oscillations, is consistent with an incommensurate nesting instability of the quasi-one-dimensional sheets.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Superconductivity mediated by charge fluctuations in layered molecular crystals

We consider the competition between superconducting, charge ordered, and metallic phases in layered molecular crystals with the theta and beta" structures. Applying slave-boson theory to the relevant extended Hubbard model, we show that the superconductivity is mediated by charge fluctuations and the Cooper pairs have d(xy) symmetry. This is in contrast to the kappa-(BEDT-TTF)(2)X family, for which theoretical calculations give superconductivity mediated by spin fluctuations and with d(x)2(-y)2 symmetry. We predict several materials that should become superconducting under pressure

Hydrogeological conceptual model of large and complex sedimentary aquifer systems – Central Kalahari Basin (Botswana)

Successful groundwater resources evaluation and management is nowadays typically undertaken using distributed numerical groundwater flow models. Such models largely rely on hydrogeological conceptual models. The conceptual models summarize hydrogeological knowledge of an area to be modelled and thereby providing a framework for numerical model design. In this study, an efficient data integration method for developing hydrogeological conceptual model of the large and hydrogeologically-complex, Central Kalahari Basin (CKB) aquifer system, was undertaken. In that process, suitability of 3-D geological modelling with RockWorks code in iterative combination with standard GIS (ArcGIS) was tested. As a result, six hydrostratigraphic units were identified, their heads and related flow system interdependencies evaluated and hydraulic properties attached. A characteristic feature of the CKB is a thick unsaturated Kalahari Sand Unit (KSU), that restricts the erratic recharge input to <1 mm yr −1 in the centre to about 5–10 mm yr −1 in the eastern fringe. The analysis of the spatial distribution of topological surfaces of the hydrostratigraphic units and hydraulic heads of the aquifers, allowed to identify three flow systems of the three aquifers, Lebung, Ecca and Ghanzi, all three having similar radially-concentric regional groundwater flow patterns directed towards discharge area of Makgadikgadi Pans. That pattern similarity is likely due to various hydraulic interconnections, direct or through aquitard leakages, and also due to the presence of the overlying unconfined, surficial KSU, hydraulically connected with all the three aquifers, redistributing recharge into them. The proposed 3-D geological modelling with RockWorks, turned to be vital and efficient in developing hydrogeological conceptual model of a large and complex multi-layered aquifer systems. Its strength is in simplicity of operation, in conjunctive, iterative use with other software such as standard GIS and in flexibility to interface with numerical groundwater model. As a result of conceptual modelling, fully 3-d, 6 layer numerical model, with shallow, variably-saturated, unconfined layer is finally recommended as a transition from conceptual into numerical model of the CKB

Evaporation through a Dry Soil Layer: Column Experiments

Modeling of water vapor transport through a dry soil layer (DSL), typically formed in the top soil during dry seasons in arid and semi-arid areas, is still problematic. Previous laboratory experiments in controlled environments showed that the only vapor transport process through the DSL is by Fick's law of diffusion. However, field experiments exhibited consistently higher evaporation rates than predicted by diffusion flow only. Some proposed reasons for the mismatch were: (a) daily cycles of condensation and evaporation in the DSL due to changes in solar radiation; (b) wind effects on air movement in the DSL; (c) atmospheric pressure fluctuations; (d) nonlinear influence of the DSL thickness on the evaporation process. To link the laboratory experiments with field observations, we performed soil column experiments in the laboratory with thick (>50 cm) DSL, and with different wind speeds, two radiative lamp schedules (continuous and 12 h daily cycles) and different thicknesses of DSL. Atmospheric pressure, air temperature and humidity were measured continuously. The results show that the evaporation rates observed are larger than those predicted by diffusion flow only. We found that it was possible to model the evaporation rates as a function of atmospheric pressure fluctuations. In conclusion, atmospheric pressure fluctuations can induce evaporation rates in DSL larger than estimated by diffusion flow only, possibly explaining the discrepancy between laboratory and field evaporation rates

Validation of satellite-based rainfall in Kalahari

Water resources management in arid and semi-arid areas is hampered by insufficient rainfall data, typically obtained from sparsely distributed rain gauges. Satellite-based rainfall estimates (SREs) are alternative sources of such data in these areas. In this study, daily rainfall estimates from FEWS-RFE∼11 km, TRMM-3B42∼27 km, CMOPRH∼27 km and CMORPH∼8 km were evaluated against nine, daily rain gauge records in Central Kalahari Basin (CKB), over a five-year period, 01/01/2001-31/12/2005. The aims were to evaluate the daily rainfall detection capabilities of the four SRE algorithms, analyze the spatio-temporal variability of rainfall in the CKB and perform bias-correction of the four SREs. Evaluation methods included scatter plot analysis, descriptive statistics, categorical statistics and bias decomposition. The spatio-temporal variability of rainfall, was assessed using the SREs' mean annual rainfall, standard deviation, coefficient of variation and spatial correlation functions. Bias correction of the four SREs was conducted using a Time-Varying Space-Fixed bias-correction scheme. The results underlined the importance of validating daily SREs, as they had different rainfall detection capabilities in the CKB. The FEWS-RFE∼11 km performed best, providing better results of descriptive and categorical statistics than the other three SREs, although bias decomposition showed that all SREs underestimated rainfall. The analysis showed that the most reliable SREs performance analysis indicator were the frequency of “miss” rainfall events and the “miss-bias”, as they directly indicated SREs' sensitivity and bias of rainfall detection, respectively. The Time Varying and Space Fixed (TVSF) bias-correction scheme, improved some error measures but resulted in the reduction of the spatial correlation distance, thus increased, already high, spatial rainfall variability of all the four SREs. This study highlighted SREs as valuable source of daily rainfall data providing good spatio-temporal data coverage especially suitable for areas with limited rain gauges, such as the CKB, but also emphasized SREs' drawbacks, creating avenue for follow up research

Fermi surface studies of low-dimensional organic conductors based on BEDT-TTF

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