The IACOB project Simon-Diaz, S; Herrero, A
Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin),
2/2014, Letnik:
562
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Stellar rotation is an important parameter in the evolution of massive stars. Accurate and reliable measurements of projected rotational velocities in large samples of OB stars are crucial to ...confront the predictions of stellar evolutionary models with observational constraints. We reassess previous determinations of projected rotational velocities (v sin i) in Galactic OB stars using a large, high-quality spectroscopic dataset and a strategy that accounts for other sources of line-broadening in addition to rotation. An investigation of the impact of the revised v sin i distributions on the predictions of massive star evolutionary models is now warranted. The reliability of v sin i measurements in the low v sin i regime, using a more precise description of the intrinsic profiles that are employed for the line-broadening analysis, also needs to be investigated in more detail.
•This study is one of the first attempts of ultra-detailed flood risk analysis in Spain.•For hazard analysis, hydraulic parameters have been improved using 2D flood modeling.•Use of ultra-detailed ...magnitude–damage functions improves monetary losses assessment.•Definition of several scenarios let consider the effectiveness of preventive measures.•This methodological proposal can be exported to other little-medium villages.
The village of Pajares de Pedraza (Segovia, Spain) is located in the floodplain of the Cega River, a left bank tributary of the Douro River. Repeated flash flood events occur in this small village because of its upstream catchment area, mountainous character and impermeable lithology, which reduce concentration time to just a few hours. River overbank flow has frequently caused flooding and property damage to homes and rural properties, most notably in 1927, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2013 and 2014. Consequently, a detailed analysis was carried out to quantify the economic risk of flash floods in peri-urban and rural areas.
Magnitudes and exceedance probabilities were obtained from a flood frequency analysis of maximum discharges. To determine the extent and characteristics of the flooded area, we performed 2D hydraulic modeling (Iber 2.0 software) based on LIDAR (1m) topography and considering three different scenarios associated with the initial construction (1997) and subsequent extension (2013) of a linear defense structure (rockfill dike or levee) to protect the population.
Specific stage–damage functions were expressly developed using in situ data collection for exposed elements, with special emphasis on urban-type categories. The average number of elements and their unit value were established. The relationship between water depth and the height at which electric outlets, furniture, household goods, etc. were located was analyzed; due to its effect on the form of the function. Other nonspecific magnitude–damage functions were used in order to compare both economic estimates.
The results indicate that the use of non-specific magnitude–damage functions leads to a significant overestimation of economic losses, partly linked to the use of general economic cost data. Furthermore, a detailed classification and financial assessment of exposed assets is the most important step to ensure a correct estimate of financial losses. In both cases, this should include a consideration of the socio-economic and cultural conditions prevailing in the area, as well as the types of flood that affect it.
Floods from tailings dam failures Rico, M.; Benito, G.; Díez-Herrero, A.
Journal of hazardous materials,
06/2008, Letnik:
154, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
This paper compiles the available information on historic tailings dam failures with the purpose to establish simple correlations between tailings ponds geometric parameters (e.g., dam height, ...tailings volume) and the hydraulic characteristics of floods resulting from released tailings. Following the collapse of a mining waste dam, only a part of tailings and polluted water stored at the dam is released, and this outflow volume is difficult to estimate prior the incident. In this study, tailings’ volume stored at the time of failure was shown to have a good correlation (
r
2
=
0.86) with the tailings outflow volume, and the volume of spilled tailings was correlated with its run-out distance (
r
2
=
0.57). An envelope curve was drawn encompassing the majority of data points indicating the potential maximum downstream distance affected by a tailings’ spill. The application of the described regression equations for prediction purposes needs to be treated with caution and with support of on-site measurement and observations. However, they may provide a universal baseline approximation on tailing outflow characteristics (even if detailed dam information is unavailable), which is of a great importance for risk analysis purposes.
Historical records are an important source of information on extreme and rare floods and fundamental to establish a reliable flood return frequency. The use of long historical records for flood ...frequency analysis brings in the question of flood stationarity, since climatic and land-use conditions can affect the relevance of past flooding as a predictor of future flooding. In this paper, a detailed 400 yr flood record from the Tagus River in Aranjuez (central Spain) was analysed under stationary and non-stationary flood frequency approaches, to assess their contribution within hazard studies. Historical flood records in Aranjuez were obtained from documents (Proceedings of the City Council, diaries, chronicles, memoirs, etc.), epigraphic marks, and indirect historical sources and reports. The water levels associated with different floods (derived from descriptions or epigraphic marks) were computed into discharge values using a one-dimensional hydraulic model. Secular variations in flood magnitude and frequency, found to respond to climate and environmental drivers, showed a good correlation between high values of historical flood discharges and a negative mode of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index. Over the systematic gauge record (1913–2008), an abrupt change on flood magnitude was produced in 1957 due to constructions of three major reservoirs in the Tagus headwaters (Bolarque, Entrepeñas and Buendia) controlling 80% of the watershed surface draining to Aranjuez. Two different models were used for the flood frequency analysis: (a) a stationary model estimating statistical distributions incorporating imprecise and categorical data based on maximum likelihood estimators, and (b) a time-varying model based on "generalized additive models for location, scale and shape" (GAMLSS) modelling, which incorporates external covariates related to climate variability (NAO index) and catchment hydrology factors (in this paper a reservoir index; RI). Flood frequency analysis using documentary data (plus gauged records) improved the estimates of the probabilities of rare floods (return intervals of 100 yr and higher). Under non-stationary modelling flood occurrence associated with an exceedance probability of 0.01 (i.e. return period of 100 yr) has changed over the last 500 yr due to decadal and multi-decadal variability of the NAO. Yet, frequency analysis under stationary models was successful in providing an average discharge around which value flood quantiles estimated by non-stationary models fluctuate through time.
•We analyse social perception of flash flood risk at the local level.•We assess level of awareness of a specific emergency Civil Protection Plan.•Risk communication must be implemented to improve ...risk perception and awareness.•Increasing risk perception and awareness will improve resilience of the community.
In urban areas prone to flash floods, characterization of social resilience is critical to guarantee the success of emergency management plans. In this study, we present the methodological approach that led to the submission and subsequent approval of the Civil Protection Plan of Navaluenga (Central Spain), in which the first phase was to analyse flood hazard by combining the Hydrological Modelling System (HEC-HMS) and the Iber 2D hydrodynamic model. We then analysed social vulnerability and designed measures to put into practice within the framework of the Civil Protection Plan. At a later phase, we assessed citizens’ flash-flood risk perception and level of awareness regarding some key variables of the Civil Protection Plan. To this end, 254 adults representing roughly 12% of the population census were interviewed. Responses were analysed descriptively, comparing awareness regarding preparedness and response actions with the corresponding information and behaviours previously defined in the Civil Protection Plan. In addition, we carried out a latent class cluster analysis aimed at identifying the different groups present among the interviewees. Our results showed that risk perception is low. Specifically, 60.8% of the interviewees showed low risk perception and low awareness (cluster 1); 24.4% had high risk perception and low awareness (cluster 2), while the remaining 14.8% presented high long-term risk perception and high awareness (cluster 3). These findings suggest the need for integrating these key variables of social risk perception and local tailored information in emergency management plans, especially in urban areas prone to flash-floods where response times are limited.
ABSTRACT
We present a highly complete and reliable mid‐infrared (MIR) colour selection of luminous active galactic nucleus (AGN) candidates using the 3.4, 4.6 and 12 μm bands of the Wide‐field ...Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) survey. The MIR colour wedge was defined using the wide‐angle Bright Ultrahard XMM–Newton survey (BUXS), one of the largest complete flux‐limited samples of bright (f4.5--10 keV >6×10−14 erg s−1 cm −2) ‘ultrahard’ (4.5–10 keV) X‐ray‐selected AGN to date. The BUXS includes 258 objects detected over a total sky area of 44.43 deg2 of which 251 are spectroscopically identified and classified, with 145 being type 1 AGN and 106 type 2 AGN. Our technique is designed to select objects with red MIR power‐law spectral energy distributions (SEDs) in the three shortest bands of WISE and properly accounts for the errors in the photometry and deviations of the MIR SEDs from a pure power‐law. The completeness of the MIR selection is a strong function of luminosity. At L2–10 keV >1044 erg s‐1, where the AGN is expected to dominate the MIR emission, 97.1−4.8+2.2 and 76.5−18.4+13.3 per cent of the BUXS type 1 and type 2 AGN, respectively, meet the selection. Our technique shows one of the highest reliability and efficiency of detection of the X‐ray‐selected luminous AGN population with WISE amongst those in the literature. In the area covered by BUXS our selection identifies 2755 AGN candidates detected with signal‐to‐noise ratio ≥5 in the three shorter wavelength bands of WISE with 38.5 per cent having a detection at 2–10 keV X‐ray energies. We also analysed the possibility of including the 22 μm WISE band to select AGN candidates, but neither the completeness nor the reliability of the selection improves. This is likely due to both the significantly shallower depth at 22 μm compared with the first three bands of WISE and star formation contributing to the 22 μm emission at the WISE 22 μm sensitivity.
SUMMARY
Data from dense seismic arrays allow nowadays to map directly the radiation of the seismic source in space. However, the main features observed on these maps are usually linked to the ...propagation, its attenuation and some site effects. Only few parameters like the magnitude or fault extension may be inferred through the shape and the size of the epicentral area. In this work, we propose a new strategy able to produce fast qualitative maps, ‘Sourcemaps’, that highlight directly some basic characteristics of the seismic source. They are based on a parameter which is robust and fast to compute with a minimal processing: the displacement response spectrum (DRS) computed at low frequency. In order to highlight the source effects, we correct the DRS by the geometrical spreading. We have applied this strategy to some earthquakes occurred in Japan in the last 25 yr using K-NET/KiK-net data. In these examples, we show that the source parameters such as the focal mechanism (nodal planes) and the directivity may be clearly seen on the Sourcemaps. Some site effects at large scale are still visible. The strategy proposed in this work is completely automatic without the need of a visual inspection of the input data. Thus it provides a robust assessment of key parameters of the source. We suggest a systematic computation of these ‘Sourcemaps’ after each event inside a dense network.
This critical review focuses on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and its management from a dental medicine perspective. OSA is characterized by ≥10-s cessation of breathing (apnea) or reduction in ...airflow (hypopnea) ≥5 times per hour with a drop in oxygen and/or rise in carbon dioxide. It can be associated with sleepiness and fatigue, impaired mood and cognition, cardiometabolic complications, and risk for transportation and work accidents. Although sleep apnea is diagnosed by a sleep physician, its management is interdisciplinary. The dentist’s role includes 1) screening patients for OSA risk factors (e.g., retrognathia, high arched palate, enlarged tonsils or tongue, enlarged tori, high Mallampati score, poor sleep, supine sleep position, obesity, hypertension, morning headache or orofacial pain, bruxism); 2) referring to an appropriate health professional as indicated; and 3) providing oral appliance therapy followed by regular dental and sleep medical follow-up. In addition to the device features and provider expertise, anatomic, behavioral, demographic, and neurophysiologic characteristics can influence oral appliance effectiveness in managing OSA. Therefore, OSA treatment should be tailored to each patient individually. This review highlights some of the putative action mechanisms related to oral appliance effectiveness and proposes future research directions.
An important issue that is not considered in most flood risk assessments in mountain villages in Spain is the transport of solids associated with the flood flow, in this case, large wood transport. ...The transport and deposition of this wood in urban areas may be a potentially worse hazard than the flood flow itself. Despite its importance, large wood is a key ecological element in rivers, so removing it could be an unsuccessful approach. Therefore, efforts are needed in the better understanding of wood transport and deposition in streams. To analyse this process, scenario-based 2D hydrodynamic flood modelling was carried out. Since flood risk assessment has considerable intrinsic uncertainty, probabilistic thinking was complemented by
possibilistic
thinking, considering worst-case scenarios. This procedure obtained a probabilistic flood map for a 500-year return period. Then, a series of scenarios was built based on wood budget to simulate wood transport and deposition. Results allowed us to identify the main infrastructures sensitive to the passing of large wood and simulate the consequences of their blockage due to wood. The potential damage was estimated as well as the preliminary social vulnerability for all scenarios (with and without wood transport). This work shows that wood transport and deposition during flooding may increase potential damage at critical stream configurations (bridges) by up to 50 % and the number of potentially exposed people nearby these areas by up to 35 %.
ABSTRACT
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are carbon-based molecules resulting from the union of aromatic rings and related species, which are likely responsible for strong infrared emission ...features. In this work, using a sample of 50 Seyfert galaxies (DL < 100 Mpc) we compare the circumnuclear (inner kpc) PAH emission of AGN to that of a control sample of star-forming galaxies (22 luminous infrared galaxies and 30 H ii galaxies), and investigate the differences between central and extended PAH emission. Using Spitzer/InfraRed Spectrograph spectral data of Seyfert and star-forming galaxies and newly developed PAH diagnostic model grids, derived from theoretical spectra, we compare the predicted and observed PAH ratios. We find that star-forming galaxies and AGN-dominated systems are located in different regions of the PAH diagnostic diagrams. This suggests that not only are the size and charge of the PAH molecules different, but also the nature and hardness of the radiation field that excite them. We find tentative evidence that PAH ratios in AGN-dominated systems are consistent with emission from larger PAH molecules (Nc > 300–400) as well as neutral species. By subtracting the spectrum of the central source from the total, we compare the PAH emission in the central versus extended region of a small sample of AGN. In contrast to the findings for the central regions of AGN-dominated systems, the PAH ratios measured in the extended regions of both type 1 and type 2 Seyfert galaxies can be explained assuming similar PAH molecular size distribution and ionized fractions of molecules to those seen in central regions of star-forming galaxies (100 < Nc < 300).
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