Surface wave processes in air-sea interaction

We review briefly recent progress on understanding the role of surface waves on the marine atmospheric boundary layer and the ocean mixed layer and give a global perspective on these processes by analysing ERA-40 data. Ocean surface waves interact with the marine atmospheric boundary layer in two broad regimes: (i) the conventional wind-driven wave regime, when fast winds blow over slower moving waves, and (ii) a wave-driven wind regime when long wavelength swell propagates under low winds, and generates a wave-driven jet in the lower part of the marine boundary layer. Analysis of ERA-40 data indicates that the wave-driven wind regime is as prevalent as the conventional wind-driven regime. Ocean surface waves also change profoundly mixing in the ocean mixed layer through generation of Langmuir circulation. Results from large-eddy simulation are used here to develop a scaling for the resulting Langmuir turbulence, which is a necessary step in developing a parametrization of the process. ERA-40 data is then used to show that the Langmuir regime is the predominant regime over much of the global ocean, providing a compelling motivation for parameterising this process in ocean general circulation models.

A global climatology of wind–wave interaction

Generally, ocean waves are thought to act as a drag on the surface wind so that momentum is transferred downwards, from the atmosphere into the waves. Recent observations have suggested that when long wavelength waves, characteristic of remotely generated swell, propagate faster than the surface wind momentum can also be transferred upwards. This upward momentum transfer acts to accelerate the near-surface wind, resulting in a low-level wave-driven wind jet. Previous studies have suggested that the sign reversal of the momentum flux is well predicted by the inverse wave age, the ratio of the surface wind speed to the speed of the waves at the peak of the spectrum. ECMWF ERA-40 data has been used here to calculate the global distribution of the inverse wave age to determine whether there are regions of the ocean that are usually in the wind-driven wave regime and others that are generally in the wave-driven wind regime. The wind-driven wave regime is found to occur most often in the mid-latitude storm tracks where wind speeds are generally high. The wave-driven wind regime is found to be prevalent in the tropics where wind speeds are generally light and swell can propagate from storms at higher latitudes. The inverse wave age is also a useful indicator of the degree of coupling between the local wind and wave fields. The climatologies presented emphasise the non-equilibrium that exists between the local wind and wave fields and highlight the importance of swell in the global oceans.

Wave-driven wind jets in the marine atmospheric boundary layer

The interaction between ocean surface waves and the overlying wind leads to a transfer of momentum across the air–sea interface. Atmospheric and oceanic models typically allow for momentum transfer to be directed only downward, from the atmosphere to the ocean. Recent observations have suggested that momentum can also be transferred upward when long wavelength waves, characteristic of remotely generated swell, propagate faster than the wind speed. The effect of upward momentum transfer on the marine atmospheric boundary layer is investigated here using idealized models that solve the momentum budget above the ocean surface. A variant of the classical Ekman model that accounts for the wave-induced stress demonstrates that, although the momentum flux due to the waves penetrates only a small fraction of the depth of the boundary layer, the wind profile is profoundly changed through its whole depth. When the upward momentum transfer from surface waves sufficiently exceeds the downward turbulent momentum flux, then the near-surface wind accelerates, resulting in a low-level wave-driven wind jet. This increases the Coriolis force in the boundary layer, and so the wind turns in the opposite direction to the classical Ekman layer. Calculations of the wave-induced stress due to a wave spectrum representative of fast-moving swell demonstrate upward momentum transfer that is dominated by contributions from waves in the vicinity of the peak in the swell spectrum. This is in contrast to wind-driven waves whose wave-induced stress is dominated by very short wavelength waves. Hence the role of swell can be characterized by the inverse wave age based on the wave phase speed corresponding to the peak in the spectrum. For a spectrum of waves, the total momentum flux is found to reverse sign and become upward, from waves to wind, when the inverse wave age drops below the range 0.15–0.2, which agrees reasonably well with previously published oceanic observations.

A carbene insertion approach to functionalised poly(ethylene oxide)-based gels

Carbenes photogenerated from the novel bisdiazirine, 1, 3-bis(3-(trifluoromethyl)diazirin-3-yl) benzene 1, have been applied successfully to cross-linking of mono-methyl poly(ethylene oxide) (MePEO5000) in the presence of dichloromethane, leading to the simultaneous incorporation of alkylhalide functionalities. The PEO-based gels swell in a wide range of solvents with polarity index values varying from 3.1 to 9.0. Reaction of the alkylhalide functionalities present in the gels with 4-phenylazophenol provided loading capacities of up to 0.20 mmol g(-1) and demonstrated the potential of these materials for gel-phase synthesis applications. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Characterisation of blends based on hydroxyethylcellulose and maleic acid-alt-methyl vinyl ether

Hydrophilic polymeric films based on blends of hydroxyethylcellulose and maleic acid-co-methyl vinyl ether were produced by casting from aqueous solutions. The physicochemical properties of the blends have been assessed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, dielectric spectroscopy, etc. The pristine films exhibit complete miscibility due to the formation of intermacromolecular hydrogen bonding. The thermal treatment of the blend films leads to cross-linking via intermacromolecular esterification and anhydride formation. The cross-linked materials are able to swell in water and their swelling degree can be easily controlled by temperature and thermal treatment time. The formation of the crosslinks is apparent in the dynamic properties of the blends as observed through the mechanical relaxation and dielectric relaxation spectra. The dielectric characteristics of the material are influenced by the effects of change in the local structure of the blend on the ionic conduction processes and the rate of dipolar relaxation. Separation of these processes is attempted using the dielectric modulus method. Significant deviations from a simple additive rule of mixing on the activation energy are observed consistent with hydrogen bonding and crosslinking of the matrix. This paper indicates a method for the creation of films with good mechanical and physical characteristics by exposing the blends to a relatively mild thermal treatment.

Novel polyvinylpyrrolidones to improve delivery of poorly-water soluble drugs; from design to synthesis and evaluation

Polyvinylpyrrolidone is a widely used in tablet formulations with the linear form acting as a wetting agent and disintegrant whereas the cross-linked form is a super-disintegrant. We have previously reported that simply mixing the commercial cross-linked polymer with ibuprofen disrupted drug crystallinity with consequent improvements in drug dissolution behavior. In this study, we have designed and synthesized novel cross-linking agents containing a range of oligoether moieties which have then be polymerized with vinylpyrrolidone to generate a suite of novel excipients with enhanced hydrogen-bonding capabilities. The polymers have a porous surface and swell in most common solvents and in water; properties which suggest their value as disintegrants. The polymers were evaluated in simple physical mixtures with ibuprofen as a model poorly-water soluble drug. The results show that the novel PVPs induce the drug to become “X-ray amorphous”, which increased dissolution to a greater extent than that seen with commercial cross-linked PVP. The polymers stabilize the amorphous drug with no evidence for recrystallization seen after 20 weeks storage.

Wave spectra assimilation in typhoon wave modeling for the East China Sea

The East China Sea is a hot area for typhoon waves to occur. A wave spectra assimilation model has been developed to predict the typhoon wave more accurately and operationally. This is the first time where wave data from Taiwan have been used to predict typhoon wave along the mainland China coast. The two-dimensional spectra observed in Taiwan northeast coast modify the wave field output by SWAN model through the technology of optimal interpolation (OI) scheme. The wind field correction is not involved as it contributes less than a quarter of the correction achieved by assimilation of waves. The initialization issue for assimilation is discussed. A linear evolution law for noise in the wave field is derived from the SWAN governing equations. A two-dimensional digital low-pass filter is used to obtain the initialized wave fields. The data assimilation model is optimized during the typhoon Sinlaku. During typhoons Krosa and Morakot, data assimilation significantly improves the low frequency wave energy and wave propagation direction in Taiwan coast. For the far-field region, the assimilation model shows an expected ability of improving typhoon wave forecast as well, as data assimilation enhances the low frequency wave energy. The proportion of positive assimilation indexes is over 81% for all the periods of comparison. The paper also finds that the impact of data assimilation on the far-field region depends on the state of the typhoon developing and the swell propagation direction.

Response of the North Atlantic wave climate to atmospheric modes of variability

This study investigates the relationship between the wind wave climate and the main climate modes of atmospheric variability in the North Atlantic Ocean. The modes considered are the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), the East Atlantic (EA) pattern, the East Atlantic Western Russian (EA/WR) pattern and the Scandinavian (SCAN) pattern. The wave dataset consists of buoys records, remote sensing altimetry observations and a numerical hindcast providing significant wave height (SWH), mean wave period (MWP) and mean wave direction (MWD) for the period 1989–2009. After evaluating the reliability of the hindcast, we focus on the impact of each mode on seasonal wave parameters and on the relative importance of wind-sea and swell components. Results demonstrate that the NAO and EA patterns are the most relevant, whereas EA/WR and SCAN patterns have a weaker impact on the North Atlantic wave climate variability. During their positive phases, both NAO and EA patterns are related to winter SWH at a rate that reaches 1 m per unit index along the Scottish coast (NAO) and Iberian coast (EA) patterns. In terms of winter MWD, the two modes induce a counterclockwise shift of up to 65° per negative NAO (positive EA) unit over west European coasts. They also increase the winter MWP in the North Sea and in the Bay of Biscay (up to 1 s per unit NAO) and along the western coasts of Europe and North Africa (1 s per unit EA). The impact of winter EA pattern on all wave parameters is mostly caused through the swell wave component.

On the ability of statistical wind-wave models to capture the variability and long-term trends of the North Atlantic winter wave climate

A dynamical wind-wave climate simulation covering the North Atlantic Ocean and spanning the whole 21st century under the A1B scenario has been compared with a set of statistical projections using atmospheric variables or large scale climate indices as predictors. As a first step, the performance of all statistical models has been evaluated for the present-day climate; namely they have been compared with a dynamical wind-wave hindcast in terms of winter Significant Wave Height (SWH) trends and variance as well as with altimetry data. For the projections, it has been found that statistical models that use wind speed as independent variable predictor are able to capture a larger fraction of the winter SWH inter-annual variability (68% on average) and of the long term changes projected by the dynamical simulation. Conversely, regression models using climate indices, sea level pressure and/or pressure gradient as predictors, account for a smaller SWH variance (from 2.8% to 33%) and do not reproduce the dynamically projected long term trends over the North Atlantic. Investigating the wind-sea and swell components separately, we have found that the combination of two regression models, one for wind-sea waves and another one for the swell component, can improve significantly the wave field projections obtained from single regression models over the North Atlantic.

Recovery and upgrading bovine rumen protein by extrusion: Effect of lipid content on protein disulphide cross-linking, solubility and molecular weight

Bovine rumen protein with two levels of residual lipids (1.9% or 3.8%) was subjected to thermoplastic extrusion under different temperatures and moisture contents. Protein Solubility in different buffers, disulphide cross-linking and molecular weight distribution were determined on the extrudates. After extrusion, samples with 1.9% residual lipids content had a higher concentration of protein insoluble by undetermined forces, irrespective of feed moisture and processing temperature used. Lipid content of 3.8% in the feed material resulted in more protein participating in the extrudate network through non-covalent interactions (hydrophobic and electrostatic) and disulphide bonds. A small dependency of the extrusion process on moisture and temperature and a marked dependency on lipid content, especially phospholipid, was observed, Electrophoresis under non-reducing conditions showed that protein extrusion with low feed moisture promoted high molecular breakdown inside the barrel, probably due to intense shear force, and further protein aggregation at the die end. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Desenvolvimento de redes de polímeros interpenetrantes (IPN) para a aplicação como eletrólito polimérico

Uma nova rede de polímeros interpenetrantes (IPN) baseada em poliuretana de óleo de mamona e poli(etileno glicol) e poli(metacrilato de metila) foi preparada para ser utilizada como eletrólito polimérico. Os seguintes parâmetros de polimerização foram avaliados: massa molecular do poli(etileno glicol) (PEG), concentração de PEG e concentração de metacrilato de metila. As membranas de IPN foram caracterizadas por calorimetria diferencial de varredura (DSC) e espectroscopia de infravermelho por transformada de Fourier (FT-IR). Os eletrólitos de redes de polímeros interpenetrantes (IPNE) foram preparados a partir da dopagem com sal de lítio através do inchamento numa solução de 10% em massa de LiClO4 na mistura de carbonato de etileno e carbonato de propileno na razão mássica de 50:50. As IPNEs foram caracterizadas por espectroscopia de impedância eletroquímica e Raman. As IPNEs foram testadas como eletrólito polimérico em supercapacitores. As células capacitivas foram preparadas utilizando eletrodos de polipirrol (PPy). Os valores de capacitância e eficiência foram calculados por impedância eletroquímica, voltametria cíclica e ciclos galvonostáticos de carga e descarga. Os valores de capacitância obtidos foram em torno de 90 F.g-1 e eficiência variou no intervalo de 88 a 99%. Os valores de densidade de potência foram superiores a 250 W.kg-1 enquanto que a densidade de energia variou de 10 a 33 W.h.kg-1, dependendo da composição da IPNE. As características eletroquímicas do eletrólito formado pela IPN-LiClO4 (IPNE) foram comparadas aos eletrólitos poliméricos convencionais, tais como poli(difluoreto de vinilideno)-(hexafluorpropileno) ((PVDF-HFP/LiClO4) e poliuretana comercial (Bayer desmopan 385) (PU385/LiClO4). As condutividades na temperatura ambiente foram da ordem de 10-3 S.cm-1. A capacitância da célula utilizando eletrodos de PPy com eletrólito de PVDFHFP foi de 115 F.g-1 (30 mF.cm-2) e 110 F.g-1 (25 mF.cm-2) para a célula com PU385 comparadas a 90 F.g-1 (20 mF.cm-2) para a IPNE. Os capacitores preparados com eletrólito de IPNE apresentaram valores de capacitância inferior aos demais, entretanto provaram ser mais estáveis e mais resistentes aos ciclos de carga/descarga. A interpenetração de duas redes poliméricas, PU e PMMA produziu um eletrólito com boa estabilidade mecânica e elétrica. Um protótipo de supercapacitor de estado sólido foi produzindo utilizando eletrodos impressos de carbono ativado (PCE) e o eletrólito polimérico de IPNE. A técnica de impressão de carbono possui várias vantagens em relação aos outros métodos de manufatura de eletrodos de carbono, pois a área do eletrodo, espessura e composição são variáveis que podem ser controladas experimentalmente. As células apresentaram uma larga janela eletroquímica (4V) e valores da capacitância da ordem de 113 mF.cm-2 (16 F.g-1). Métodos alternativos de preparação do PCE investigados incluem o uso de IPNE como polímero de ligação ao carbono ativado, estes eletrodos apresentaram valores de capacitância similares aos produzidos com PVDF. A influência do número de camadas de carbono usadas na produção do PCE também foi alvo de estudo. Em relação ao eletrólito polimérico, o plastificante e o sal de lítio foram adicionados durante a síntese, formando a IPNGel. As células apresentaram alta capacitância e boa estabilidade após 4000 ciclos de carga e descarga. As membranas de IPN foram testadas também como reservatório de medicamento em sistemas de transporte transdérmico por iontoforese. Os filmes, mecanicamente estáveis, formaram géis quando inchado em soluções saturadas de lidocaina.HCl, anestésico local, em propileno glicol (PG), poli(etileno glicol) (PEG400) e suas misturas. O grau de inchamento em PG foi de 15% e 35% em PEG400. Agentes químicos de penetração foram utilizados para diminuir a resistência da barreira causada pela pele, dentre eles o próprio PG, a 2-pirrolidinona (E1) e a 1-dodecil-2-pirrolidinona (E2). Os géis foram caracterizados por espectroscopia de impedância eletroquímica e transporte passivo e por iontoforese através de uma membrana artificial (celofane). O sistema IPN/ lidocaina.HCl apresentou uma correlação linear entre medicamento liberado e a corrente aplicada. Os melhores resultados de transporte de medicamento foram obtidos utilizando o PG como solvente.

A combination of implicit and adaptative upwind tools for the numerical solution of incompressible free surface flows

This paper is concerned with the numerical solutions of time dependent two-dimensional incompressible flows. By using the primitive variables of velocity and pressure, the Navier-Stokes and mass conservation equations are solved by a semi-implicit finite difference projection method. A new bounded higher order upwind convection scheme is employed to deal with the non-linear (advective) terms. The procedure is an adaptation of the GENSMAC (J. Comput. Phys. 1994; 110: 171-186) methodology for calculating confined and free surface fluid flows at both low and high Reynolds numbers. The calculations were performed by using the 2D version of the Freeflow simulation system (J. Comp. Visual. Science 2000; 2:199-210). In order to demonstrate the capabilities of the numerical method, various test cases are presented. These are the fully developed flow in a channel, the flow over a backward facing step, the die-swell problem, the broken dam flow, and an impinging jet onto a flat plate. The numerical results compare favourably with the experimental data and the analytical solutions. Copyright (c) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Detection and classification of voltage disturbances using a Fuzzy-ARTMAP-wavelet network

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Avaliação do comportamento de argila ativada na presença de água destilada, soluções salinas e inibidores de hidratação catiônicos

The clay swelling is today one of the major problems during the well drilling. Nearly 50% of clays that constitute shale expand easily in the presence of water molecules. During the drilling of a geological formation containing swelling clays, when is feasible the use of water base fluids, it is necessary to apply clay inhibitors. This avoids the incorporation of the cutting to the drilling fluid which is responsible for the wall swelling and crumbling. The aim of this work was to evaluate the synergistic behavior that occurs when swelling clay inhibitors are associated to NaCl and KCl salts. Three swelling clay inhibitors samples, INIB A, INIB B and INIB C, were analyzed. Each inhibitor was characterized by the amount of chlorides and active matter content. For the water-clay interaction evaluation in the presence of various fluids, it was used the Capillary Suction Timer (CST, Fann) and Linear Swell Meter (LSM 2000, Fann). For better interpretation of results, a Design of Experiments (DOE, Umetrics MODDE 7.0 TM) through Result Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed, taking into account the type, the swelling inhibitors concentration and the contact time with the clay. The results showed different efficiencies among the inhibitors employed, and the salt-inhibitors mixtures were more efficient than those products alone. However, for field operation, other parameters should be taking into account, as operational cost, environmental requests and time of application for each product

Modelagem do clima de ondas e seus efeitos sobre as feições morfológicas costeiras no litoral setentrional do Rio Grande do Norte

This thesis presents the results of application of SWAN Simulating WAves Nearshore numerical model, OF third generation, which simulates the propagation and dissipation of energy from sea waves, on the north continental shelf at Rio Grande do Norte, to determine the wave climate, calibrate and validate the model, and assess their potential and limitations for the region of interest. After validation of the wave climate, the results were integrated with information from the submarine relief, and plant morphology of beaches and barrier islands systems. On the second phase, the objective was to analyze the evolution of the wave and its interaction with the shallow seabed, from three transverse profiles orientation from N to S, distributed according to the parallel longitudinal, X = 774000-W, 783000-W e 800000-W. Subsequently, it was were extracted the values of directional waves and winds through all the months between november 2010 to november 2012, to analyze the impact of these forces on the movement area, and then understand the behavior of the morphological variations according to temporal year variability. Based on the results of modeling and its integration with correlated data, and planimetric variations of Soledade and Minhoto beach systems and Ponta do Tubarão and Barra do Fernandes barrier islands systems, it was obtained the following conclusions: SWAN could reproduce and determine the wave climate on the north continental shelf at RN, the results show a similar trend for the measurements of temporal variations of significant height (HS, m) and the mean wave period (Tmed, s); however, the results of parametric statistics were low for the estimates of the maximum values in most of the analyzed periods compared data of PT 1 and PT 2 (measurement points), with alternation of significant wave heights, at times overrated with occasional overlap of swell episodes. By analyzing the spatial distribution of the wave climate and its interaction with the underwater compartmentalization, it was concluded that there is interaction of wave propagation with the seafloor, showing change in significant heights whenever it interacts with the seafloor features (beachrocks, symmetric and asymmetric longitudinal dunes, paleochannel, among others) in the regions of outer, middle and inner shelf. And finally, it is concluded that the study of the stability areas allows identifications of the most unstable regions, confirming that the greatest range of variation indicates greater instability and consequent sensitivity to hydrodynamic processes operating in the coastal region, with positive or negative variation, especially at Ponta do Tubarão and Barra do Fernandes barrier islands systems, where they are more susceptible to waves impacts, as evidenced in retreat of the shoreline