The research presented in this thesis has highlighted (bio)geochemical, hydrological, and wetland ecological processes that interact and enhance ecosystem development on wetlands built on fine sediment. A combination of greenhouse and laboratory experiments were conducted. Some measured data from these experiments formed important input for subsequent analysis in a modeling environment. The findings presented in Chapters 2-6 can be divided into four topics: 1) Plant–soil interactions in the terrestrial zone, 2) wetland–terrestrial processes influencing nutrient availability in the land–water zone, 3) effects of plants on sediment consolidation in the terrestrial zone, and 4) effects of bioturbation on nutrient availability in the aquatic zone. The next sections give a summary of the results for these four topics. The last section summarizes the recommendations formulated for the Marker Wadden project.
MULTIFILE
At this moment, no method is available to objectively estimate the temperature to which skeletal remains have been exposed during a fire. Estimating this temperature can provide crucial information in a legal investigation. Exposure of bone to heat results in observable and measurable changes, including a change in colour. To determine the exposure temperature of experimental bone samples, heat related changes in colour were systemically studied by means of image analysis. In total 1138 samples of fresh human long bone diaphysis and epiphysis, varying in size, were subjected to heat ranging from room temperature to 900 °C for various durations and in different media. The samples were scanned with a calibrated flatbed scanner and photographed with a Digital Single Lens Reflex camera. Red, Green, Blue values and Lightness, A-, and B-coordinates were collected for statistical analysis. Cluster analysis showed that discriminating thresholds for Lightness and B-coordinate could be defined and used to construct a model of decision rules. This model enables the user to differentiate between seven different temperature clusters with relatively high precision and accuracy. The proposed decision model provides an objective, robust and non-destructive method for estimating the exposure temperature of heated bone samples.
MULTIFILE
Particle image velocimetry has been widely used in various sectors from the automotive to aviation, research, and development, energy, medical, turbines, reactors, electronics, education, refrigeration for flow characterization and investigation. In this study, articles examined in open literature containing the particle image velocimetry techniques are reviewed in terms of components, lasers, cameras, lenses, tracers, computers, synchronizers, and seeders. The results of the evaluation are categorized and explained within the tables and figures. It is anticipated that this paper will be a starting point for researchers willing to study in this area and industrial companies willing to include PIV experimenting in their portfolios. In addition, the study shows in detail the advantages and disadvantages of past and current technologies, which technologies in existing PIV laboratories can be renewed, and which components are used in the PIV laboratories to be installed.
