Search results for "element"
showing 10 items of 13601 documents
Soil and Plant Nitrogen Pools as Related to Plant Diversity in an Experimental Grassland
2007
Increasing plant species richness decreases soil NO 3 - concentrations in experimental plant mixtures, but the role of particular plant functional groups has remained unclear. Most analyses have focused on particular times of the year or were restricted to NO 3 - . We tested whether plant species richness or particular plant functional groups affect the size of plant-available N pools in soil (KCl-extractable NO 3 - , dissolved inorganic N and organic N [DON] and total dissolved N [TDN] in soil solution) and N concentrations and pools in aboveground biomass. Furthermore, we assessed seasonal variations in the effects of plant species richness and plant functional groups. The experimental gr…
Some Considerations on 3-D and 2-D Numerical Models for the Assessment of the Stability of Underground Caves
2014
The application of numerical modeling to the analysis of the stability of both natural and man-made underground caves is rapidly increasing due to the availability of powerful numerical codes, that can account for either continuum or discontinuum behavior of the rock masses. Numerical methods allow to overcome traditional methods for cave stability analysis that assume too simplified geometrical, geological and geomechanical conditions. Further, they are also able to assess the potential failure mechanisms of underground systems. On the other hand, the application of numerical methods requires availability of a detailed geo-structural survey of the cave, as well as a proper geomechanical ch…
Behavior of rare earth elements in an aquifer perturbed by CO2 injection: Environmental implications
2019
International audience; Three cubic-meters of CO2-saturated water was injected into a subsurface fractured aquifer in a post-mined area, using a push-pull test protocol. Groundwater samples were collected before and after CO2-injection to quantify geochemical changes. CO2-injection initially reduced the pH of water from 7.3 to 5.7, led to the enrichment of major ions (Ca2+, Mg2+, and alkalinity), and dissolved trace metals (including Fe, Mn, As, and Zn) in the groundwater. Rare earth elements (REE) and yttrium concentrations were also measured in these samples before and after CO2 perturbation, to evaluate their behavior. An enrichment of total Y plus REE (REY) occurred. REY fractionation w…
Radon measurements in the SE and NE flank of Mt. Etna (Italy)
2007
Abstract Soil Radon has been monitored at two fixed sites located in the northeastern and southeastern flank of Mt. Etna. In this study we report the comparison between in-soil Radon concentration trend recorded in the SE flank and that one recorded in the NE one, where an in-soil Radon detection system is operating since 2001. The aim of this work was to implement the investigation area finding a suitable radon detection site, in the south-east flank of Mt. Etna, in order to better understand possible links between Radon anomalies and volcano dynamic. Radon data collected in NE and SE sites were compared with the volcanic tremor, frequency of occurrence of earthquakes and seismic strain-re…
The Foundation Seamount Chain: A first survey and sampling
1997
The Foundation Seamounts form a 1400 km-long chain on the Pacific plate from 32 °S, 127 °W to the Pacific-Antarctic spreading axis at 38 °S, 111 °W. Previously only known from sparse single-beam echosoundings and satellite altimetry, we present here the first multibeam bathymetric survey and geological sampling results. We confirm that the submarine topography correlates with the altimetry, and that the chain is volcanic rather than tectonic or microcontinental in origin. The chain can be divided up morphologically and geochemically into three section: (1) west of 125 °W large flat-topped volcanoes composed of incompatible-element depleted lavas ( ≈ 1) of a near-ridge origin with little or …
Grooving by Nd:YAG laser treatment
2000
Abstract The properties of the laser beam have been used to produce deep and thin grooves in metals, melted material being removed with the assistance of a high velocity gas. Preliminary experiments show that the geometry and the location of the gas inlet tube are the main parameters governing the evacuation of the scoria. The influence of the nature of the materials on the depth of the grooves is discussed from examination of the grooves realized on various metals (copper, aluminum, titanium,…). Finally, a statistical study is performed to indicate the parameters that have to be controlled to secure regular grooves. It appears that the groove width is not too much affected by parameter var…
Positron Studies of Subsurface Zone in Titanium Created in Sliding Wear
2014
Positron annihilation studies of the subsurface zone constituted during dry sliding in pure titanium are reported. A new type of defect depth profile in this zone, which is not an exponential decay usually reported for other metals and alloys, is observed. Two layers in the subsurface zone are present in this metal. In the layer adjacent to the worn surface, the characteristic plateau of the mean positron lifetime that extends to a depth of 60–70 μm was observed. Small vacancy clusters and dislocations were recognized in this layer. At deeper zone, the mean positron lifetime decreased exponentially in the manner typical for the other metals. In this zone, vacancy clusters increase in size a…
Numerical study of silicon crystal ridge growth
2014
Abstract The size of the ridge-like protrusions appearing on the external surface of dislocation-free 〈 100 〉 silicon crystals grown from a melt was studied theoretically. According to existing models the growth of the ridges is caused by the presence of { 111 } crystal planes at the crystal–melt interface. They affect the height of triple phase line, free surface orientation and the crystal growth angle. A numerical 2-dimensional model was proposed for the calculation of the size of the crystal ridges. The model included the effect of the undercooling of the crystal–melt interface on the crystal growth angle. The numerical model estimated the effect of the ridge size on the free surface at…
Volcanic and anthropogenic contribution to heavy metal content in lichens from Mt. Etna and Vulcano island (Sicily)
1998
Major and trace element concentrations were determined in two lichen species (Parmelia conspersa and Xanthoria calcicola) from the island of Vulcano and all around Mt. Etna. In both areas, the average concentrations of Al, Ca, Mg, Fe, Na, K, P and Ti are substantially greater than those of other elements. Several elements (Br, Pb, Sb, Au, Zn, Cu) resulted enriched with respect to the local substrates. The Br and Pb enrichment factors turned out to be the highest among those calculated in both areas. Data indicate that mixing between volcanic and automotive-produced particles clearly explains the range of Pb/Br shown by lichen samples. Sb is also enriched, revealing a geogenic origin at Vulc…
Complex-forming properties of peat humic acids from a raised bog profiles
2013
Abstract Humic substances (HS) belong to the most powerful complex-forming agents, significantly affecting major and trace element speciation in natural environment. Several authors have focused on humic–metal interactions, using differing methods and comparing humic substances on different sources. However, the intrinsic differences among the HS of different origin and the impact of humification degree on the complex formation between humic substances and metals have not received the necessary attention until now. The aim of this study is to determine the Cu(II) complexing capacity and stability constants of Cu(II) complexes of humic acids (HA) isolated from two well-characterized raised b…