This thesis presents precipitation, streamwater and soil chemistry from three upland catchments in Scotland situated upon granite parent material and receiving different deposition loadings. Marine ions are identified as important components of precipitation and streamwater at the two coastal sites (Bealach and Cardoon) and lesser importance at the inland site (Allt a'Mharcaidh). Similar ratios of Na:Ca:Mg in precipitation and streamwater indicate the importance of catchment hydrology and organic soils in controlling streamwater chemistry. Input/output budgets indicate SO4-S and H+ loss from the Cardoon (a region of high acid deposition inputs) compared with the other two less polluted sites which exhibit SO4-S and H + retention. The SO4-S loss from the Cardoon is also associated with a high DOC flux in streamwater. In all three catchments differences were found between published critical load values and those calculated as part of this study. Seasonal and annual variations in critical loads for freshwaters at all sites indicate sampling for the national mapping exercise does not reflect the most acid-sensitive periods. Streamwater was also more sensitive than standing waters, with lower critical load values. Soil critical load values were lower than published soil critical load values as well as freshwater critical loads calculated in this study. Inclusion of marine-derived base-cations in PROFILE calculations of soil critical loads increased values markedly (1 keq ha-1yr -1) at the 2 coastal sites. Soil critical load varied little between horizons, suggesting that the identification of hydrologically important mineral horizon was not important. Lowest critical load values for freshwaters were controlled by the organic horizons which are not considered in PROFILE calculations. The implications of the omission of organic horizons from critical load calculations for soil in upland catchments are discussed and the use of critical loads at a catchment based level addressed.

This M. Sc. thesis studies the statistical characteristics of convective storms in a monsoon regime in Darwin, northern Australia. It has been conducted with the use of radar. Enhanced knowledge of tropical convection is essential in studies of the global climate, and this study aims to bring light on some special characteristics of storms in a tropical environment. The observed behaviour of convective storms can be implemented in the parameterisation of these in cloud-resolving regional and global models. The wet season was subdivided into three regimes; build-up and breaks, the monsoon and the dry monsoon. Using a cell tracking system called TITAN, these regimes were shown to support different storm characteristics in terms of their temporal, spatial and height distributions. The build-up and break storms were seen to be more vigorous and particularly modulated diurnally by sea breezes. The monsoon was dominated by frequent but less intense and vertically less extensive convective cores. The explanation for this could be found in the atmospheric environment, with monsoonal convection having oceanic origins together with a mean upward motion of air through the depth of the troposphere. The dry monsoon was characterised by suppressed convection due to the presence of dry mid-level air. The effects of wind shear on convective line orientations were examined. The results show a diurnal evolution from low-level shear parallel orientations of convective lines to low-level shear perpendicular during build-up and breaks. The monsoon was dominated by complex orientations of convective lines. The thesis includes a study of merged and splitted cells, which have been separated from other storms, and mergers were shown to support more vigorous convection in terms of height distribution and reflectivity profiles. They were also seen to be the most long-lived category of storms as well as the most common type. Split storms were generally weaker, indicative of their general tendency to decay shortly after the split occurred. / En statistisk studie av konvektiva celler i en miljö som präglas av monsunförhållanden har utförts i Darwin, norra Australien, med hjälp av radar. En ökad förståelse for tropisk konvektion är nödvändig for att kunna studera klimatet globalt. Denna studie har bidragit till denna kunskapsbas genom att studera några viktiga parametrar hos konvektiva celler i en tropisk miljö. De observerade egenskaperna hos dessa celler kan implementeras i parametriseringen av högupplösta regionala och globala modeller. Regnperioden delades upp i tre olika regimer; uppbyggnad och avbrott, monsun och torr monsun. Genom att använda ett cellsökande system kallat TITAN, visade sig dessa regimer uppvisa olika karakteristika vad gäller tids- och rumsmässig samt vertikal distribution av konvektionsceller. Uppbyggnad- och avbrottsregimen dominerades av mäktiga och intensiva konvektionsceller, och modulerades av sjöbrisar på en daglig basis. Monsunen dominerades av talrika men mindre intensiva celler. Anledningen till detta kan finnas i atmosfäriska förhållanden, dar monsunen dominerades av konvektionsceller med oceanisk härkomst och allmän hävning genom större delen av troposfären. Den torra monsunen präglades av försvagad konvektion på grund av närvaron av mycket torr luft på medelhöga nivåer. Effekten av vindskjuvning på orienteringen av bylinjer undersöktes. Resultaten visar att en daglig övergång från en orientering som var parallell med vindskjuvningsvektorn till en vinkelrät orientering dominerade under uppbyggnad och avbrott. Monsunen präglades av komplexa orienteringar av bylinjer. Sammanväxande och splittrande celler separerades fran andra celler och undersöktes speciellt. De sammanväxande cellerna uppvisade mer intensiv konvektion och större vertikal maktighet. Denna kategori av celler, som var den vanligaste typen av ickeisolerade celler, levde också längre än andra celltyper. Splittrande celler var generellt svagare än andra celler, vilket indikerade den generella tendensen för denna celltyp att brytas ner strax efter det att en splittring ägt rum.

Initial investigations were conducted to determine the feasibility of applying a post solution heat treatment stress relief stretching operation to near-net-shaped taper rolled aerospace aluminium plate, in terms of the possible process window and the impact on key mechanical properties. Finite element modelling (FEM) and simulations, validated using digital image correlation to measure the strain distribution in flat tapered tensile specimens, have demonstrated the existence of a suitable process window for the production of near-net-shape wing skin blanks. It was revealed that the limits of the available taper geometry are dictated by the work hardening behaviour of the specific aluminium alloy. In addition, in the case of two typical upper wing skin alloys AA2195 and AA7055, tensile and toughness testing revealed that the resultant strain gradient offers the potential for graded mechanical properties suited to this application, with a higher level of toughness at the wing root and an increase in the yield strength of the material at the wing tip. Further, investigations explore the effect of increased tensile pre-stretching, to the maximum achievable before tensile instability, on the strength, microstructure, and precipitation kinetics seen during ageing alloys AA2195 and AA7055. Subsequently, in both alloys, microstructure data have been used to deconvolute and model the effects of increasing pre-strain on the main strengthening components that contribute to the T8 yield strength of the material. In the case of the AA2195 alloy, the T8 yield strength was observed to increase continually as a function of pre-strain to a maximum value of ~670MPa at 15%. It was shown that refinement of the T1 phase continued to the maximum obtainable pre-strain, which was predicted to result in a reduction in the precipitate strengthening contribution. The increase in the T8 yield strength resulting from high levels of pre-strain was attributed to a large increase in residual strain hardening following artificial ageing, owing to a low level of recovery. In the AA7055 alloy, increased pre-strain led to a substantial increase in the T3 yield strength, which was revealed to be due to the dynamic precipitation of GP-Zones. In the T8 temper the yield strength of the alloy increased continually as a function of pre-strain to a maximum of ~607MPa at 24%. Increasing pre-strain was shown to result in a continual and significant increase in the residual strain hardening contribution to the alloys T8 yield strength, due to the occurrence of limited recovery. However, it was also shown that increasing pre-strain led to a progressive reduction in the precipitate strengthening contribution from the eta prime phase, due to an increase in the volume fraction of precipitate free zones (PFZs) with increased dislocation density. Therefore, the increase in the T8 yield strength, as a function of pre-strain, is attributed to an increased residual strain hardening contribution which outweighs a smaller progressive reduction in the precipitate strengthening contribution.

Aluminum-zirconium alloys exhibit superior strength at elevated temperature in comparison to traditional aluminum casting alloys. These alloys are heat-treatable and their strength depends to a large extent on the quenching and aging steps of the heat treatment process. However, measurements show that the critical cooling rate necessary to retain 0.6 wt. pct. zirconium(the minimum amount necessary for significant strengthening) in a super-saturated solid solution with aluminum is 90ºC/s, which is un-attainable with traditional casting processes. On the other hand, the critical cooling rate necessary to retain 0.4 wt. pct vanadium and 0.1 wt. pct. zirconium in a super- saturated solidsolution with aluminum is only 40ºC/s; which suggests that substituting vanadium for zirconium significantly decreases the critical cooling rate of the alloy. This is an important finding as it means that, unlike the Al-0.6Zr alloy, the Al-0.4V-0.1Zr alloy may be processed into useful components by traditional high pressure die-casting. Moreover, measurements show that the hardness of the Al-0.4V-0.1Zr alloy increases upon aging at 400ºC and does not degrade even after holding the alloy at 300ºC for 100 hours. Also, measurements of the tensile yield strength of the Al-0.4V-0.1Zr alloy at 300ºC show that it is about 3 times higher than that of pure aluminum. This increase in hardness and strength is attributed to precipitation of Al3(Zr,V) particles. Examination of these particles with high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and conventional TEM show that vanadium co-precipitates with zirconium and aluminum and forms spherical particles that have the L12 crystal structure. It also shows that the crystallographic misfit between the precipitate particles and the aluminum matrix is almost eliminated by introducing vanadium into the Al3Zr precipitate and thatthe mean radius of the Al3(Zr,V) particles is in the range from 1nm to 7nm depending on the alloy composition and aging practice. Finally, it is found that adding small amounts of silicon to the Al-0.4V-0.1Zr alloy effectively accelerates formation of the Al3(Zr,V) precipitate.

Precipitation hardening of eutectic and hypoeutectic Al-Ni alloys by 2-4 wt pct. manganese is investigated with focus on the effect of the alloys’ chemical composition and solidification cooling rate on microstructure and tensile strength. Within the context of the investigation, mathematical equations based on the Orowan Looping strengthening mechanism were used to calculate the strengthening increment contributed by each of the phases present in the aged alloy. The calculations agree well with measured values and suggest that the larger part of the alloy’s yield strength is due to the Al3Ni eutectic phase, this is closely followed by contribution from the Al6Mn particles, which precipitate predominantly at grain boundaries

Le contexte général de l'étude est la caractérisation des variations du régime hydrologique et glaciologique du glacier de Zongo (16°15' de latitude sud en Bolivie) à partir du régime pluviométrique. L'hypothèse de base considère que les caractéristiques et propriétés de la saison des pluies ont une forte influence sur le bilan de masse et sur le régime hydrologique du glacier.Une base de données pluviométriques de 32 ans (données annuelles) et 19 ans (données journalières) a été compilée, critiquée et utilisée pour l'analyse de la précipitation à une échelle locale. Quatre régions climatiquement homogènes sont distinguées : l'Altiplano, la ville de La Paz, la partie haute et moyenne de la vallée du Zongo. Quatre méthodes pour l'identification des propriétés de la saison des pluies sont développées, deux basées sur l'intensité des pluies et deux basées sur l'occurrence des pluies. Finalement, six propriétés de la saison des pluies sont identifiées : la date de démarrage, la date de fin, la durée de la saison des pluies, la précipitation tombée durant cette saison, un indice de concentration et un indice d'intensités des pluies. Les résultats montrent que la variabilité interannuelle de la précipitation est contrôlée par les nombres de jours pluvieux pour le régime altiplanique, et par les intensités pour le régime amazonien (section moyenne de la vallée du Zongo). Une analyse de la variabilité interannuelle de la pluie a été comparée avec l'ENSO et les corrélations sont faibles durant les dernières 32 années entre ces deux variables.En comparant les deux dernières décennies [1992-2000] et [2001-2009] on observe une diminution de l'occurrence et de l'intensité des pluies durant l'installation de la saison des pluies mais une augmentation des intensités durant la saison des pluies.Dans la deuxième partie de cette étude on quantifie l'impact de la saison des pluies sur le bilan de masse et sur le régime hydrologique en tenant en compte chaque propriété. La corrélation entre les propriétés de la saison des pluies et les débits de fonte du glacier est plus forte qu'avec les bilan de masse. De plus, on met en évidence que la date de démarrage, la durée et la quantité de précipitation tombée durant le cœur de la saison des pluies sont les caractéristiques de la saison des pluies qui expliquent le mieux la variabilité interannuelle de la fusion. Finalement, cette étude permet d'avoir des nouveaux outils d'analyse qui pourraient être mise en place dans des modèles hydrologiques appliqués sur des bassins versants englacés. / L'auteur n'a pas fourni de résumé en anglais

Mg-Zn-Zr (ZK) alloys are widely employed in weight critical applications due to their high specific strength properties. Zinc and zirconium are added into the alloy for the purpose of forming precipitation hardening and grain refinement, respectively. However, both elements are likely to form some intermetallic compounds and may have effect on strengthening of the alloys. The purpose of this work was to explore this interaction to understand how to optimise the composition and processing of ZK alloys. In the present study, ZK60 with composition of 6 wt.%Zn and 0.6 wt.%Zr was heat treated by solutionizing and aging at various temperatures and times. The resultant microstructure was characterised by using optical microscope, X-ray Diffractometer (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and the age hardening response determined by using Vicker's microhardeness testing. The results show that the interaction between zinc and zirconium causes stable compound formation, including hcp (Zn_2Zr) Laves phase and cubic Zn_2Zr phase. These compounds are distributed unevenly, causing beta'_1 strengthening precipitate to form inhomogeneously during aging. This reduces the strengthening effect of aging, e.g. low age hardening response. It has been shown that the areas containing Zn_2Zr particles are essentially free of strengthening beta'_1 precipitates, an undesirable microstructure. The aged hardening and strengthening of ZK60 alloys accounting for the interaction between Zn and Zr has been explored through a new model for ZK alloys. The simulated age hardening strengthening in ZK60 is similar to the combination of the grain size strengthening and solution strengthening. The prediction has shown that the benefit of adding zirconium, which is grain boundary strengthening improvement by refining grain size, is balanced by a depletion in age hardening response. The total strength is estimated to increase by 15% if the grain size, that is normally obtained by zirconium alloying, could be achieved by another grain refinement method without the loss of zinc solute. The experiments and the models have identified the importance of considering the interaction between Zn and Zr when optimising the processing and composition of ZK magnesium alloys. That had never been emphasised and very well presented. In particular, when ZK alloys are used in wrought applications, control of grain size by recrystallisation rather than Zr may be beneficial in enabling a greater age hardening response.

Este estudo teve por finalidade investigar a frequência e intensidade dos Sistemas Frontais (SF) avaliando-os com os episódios ENOS (El Niño Oscilação Sul) para o período da Primavera (SON) de 2000 a 2010 sobre o Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (RS). As análises mostraram que os anos em que se tem a menor ocorrência de SF estão associados principalmente a eventos de La Niña Fraco e Neutralidade. Em contrapartida, um número maior de Sistemas Frontais foi verificado com relação aos episódios de El Niño Moderado e Neutralidade. Especificamente, no que se refere à questão mensal, percebeu-se que no mês de Outubro há uma maior influência dos Sistemas Frontais do que em Setembro e Novembro. Outro fator pertinente e evidenciado deu-se pelas comparações entre o período escolhido (no qual não ocorreram eventos fortes) e os episódios de ENOS Fortes. Notou-se, neste caso, que não ocorreram variações impactantes no número de Sistemas Frontais, embora se tenha o conhecimento dos efeitos e alterações existentes nos padrões de circulação atmosférica devido à atuação dos fenômenos de escala interanual. Ainda, tendo a necessidade de ampliar a gama de entendimento, foi realizada uma abordagem com relação ao comportamento da precipitação em seis sub-regiões do Estado, onde se observou de forma geral, um aumento da precipitação em praticamente todas as áreas do RS, quando comparado com a média Histórica. Com isso, ressaltou-se que os volumes mensais abaixo da média Histórica estão ligados a episódios de Neutralidade. Já a normalidade do regime de precipitação, mostrou-se interligado em média para todas as regiões ao evento de El Niño e por último, as precipitações acima da normal climatológica estão mais presentes em condições de El Niño, mais especificamente de intensidade Moderada. Dentre as sub-regiões analisadas, destacou-se a parte Oeste do Estado por ter apresentado uma maior intensidade nos volumes de precipitação. Outro fator importante analisado foram os valores percentuais das precipitações derivadas dos sistemas frontais. Levando-se em conta a média das avaliações, verificou-se que as sub-regiões Sul e Sudoeste do Rio Grande do Sul são as mais influenciadas pelas passagens dos Sistemas Frontais, enquanto os menores impactos na precipitação podem ser notados nas regiões Central e Norte do Rio Grande do Sul. Além disso, realizou-se um estudo de caso para avaliar o comportamento dos Sistemas Frontais em episódios de ENOS diferentes, nos campos de pressão atmosférica e temperatura do ar. Logo, averigou-se que em um ano de Neutralidade, as passagens de SF sobre o Estado costumam ser mais prolongadas em sua duração de tempo, permanecendo mais dias, com algumas variações significativas nos campos meteorológicos observados. Enquanto para um ano referente à condição de El Niño Moderado, os Sistemas Frontais possuem, na maioria dos casos, uma duração de tempo menor, consequentemente com menores variações na temperatura e pressão. / This study aimed to investigate the frequency and intensity of the frontal systems (FS) evaluating them with respect to the episodes of El Niño – South Oscillation (ENSO) for the spring season (SON) from 2000 to 2010, over the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS - Brazil). The analysis showed that the years having a smaller incidence of SF are mainly associated to events of weak La Nina and neutrality. In contrast, a larger number of frontal systems were observed with respect to episodes of moderate El Nino and neutrality. Specifically with relation to the monthly aspect, it was noticed that there is a major influence of the frontal systems in October than in September and November. Another inherent and evidenced factor was given by the comparisons between the selected period (with no occurrence of strong events) and the Strong ENSO episodes. In this case it was noticed that there has not occurred impacting variations in the number of frontal systems although the effects and changes of the atmospheric circulation patterns due to the action of the interannual scale phenomena are known. Further, to enlarge the range of understanding, it was made one approach relating to the precipitation behavior in six sub regions of the state where in general it was observed an increase in the precipitation almost in all areas of the RS when compared to the historic average. Thus, the monthly volumes below the historic average are linked to neutral episodes. Otherwise, the normal precipitation regime, on average, was proved to be interconnected for all regions to the event El Niño, and finally the rainfall above the climatology are more common in El Niño conditions, specifically with Moderate intensity. In this manner, considering the analyzed sub regions, the west part of the state has presented a higher intensity of precipitation volumes. Another important factor analyzed were the percentage values of rainfall derived from frontal systems. Taking into account the average of the evaluations, it was found that the South and southwest sub-region of Rio Grande do Sul is the most influenced by passages from the SF, while smaller impacts on precipitation can be noticed in the Central and North regions. In addition, it was realized a case study to evaluate the behavior of frontal systems in different episodes of ENSO, with respect to the fields of atmospheric pressure and air temperature. Thus, it was found that in a year of neutrality, the frontal systems crossings on the state tend to be more prolonged, remaining more days, with some significant variations in the observed meteorological fields. While for a year related to the condition of Moderate El Nino the frontal systems have, in mosta cases, a shorter duration, thus with minor variations in temperature and pressure.

No description available.

This study examines variability in the isotopic composition of precipitation in southern Illinois, USA using a 5-year, event-based record, novel in its duration and in potential to extract important isotopic information of precipitation in a dynamic region, and the seasonality of major moisture sources. The isotopic composition of precipitation exhibited seasonal variations in δ18O and δ2H, where values are distinctively higher (lower) during summer (winter). Average values for d-excess were the highest (lowest) during autumn (summer). Seasonality is also present in events originating from the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), isolated by Langrangian methods. GOM JJA events showed more isotopically depleted precipitation than of non-GOM events due to a stronger “amount effect” signal (R2 = -0.40). To date, the amount effect has never been reported this far inland in the US. Precipitation analysis as it related to the ENSO phases exhibited statically significant differences in d-excess values. Precipitation events that occurred during a La Niña phase exhibited positive d¬-excess values, with an average value of 25.18‰. δ18O and δ2H values during El Niño phase were on average more depleted. Overall results highlight that the GOM, as a dominating moisture source, and ENSO phases can modulate the seasonal and intra-seasonal variability in the isotopic composition of precipitation in this region. The data collected, from a single location, can highlight moisture dynamics occurring on a regional scale and highlight the importance of the GOM as prevailing source of moisture for the Midwestern US. The second part of this study involved determining what were the best predictors for 18O and d-excess values. The study revealed that sea surface temperature and oxygen isotope values in the ambient vapor were the best predictors for 18O values but were the poorest predictors of d-excess values. The best predictors of d-excess were land surface characteristics such as the volumetric soil moisture, evaporation from bare soil variable, as well as SST, temperature of the air and specific humidity of the air. However, these predictors worked best with positive d-excess values that equaled or above 20‰.