Earth science test suites to evaluate grid tools and middleware—examples for grid data access tools

The Earth Science (ES) community has three major IT related concerns: Modeling (computing intensive), exploitation of datasets, and production of large shared datasets. All could be accomplishable using Grid. Different Grid middleware solutions exist and are being developed. In DEGREE (Dissemination and Exploitation of Grids in Earth sciencE) the aim was to disseminate and promote uptake of Grid in ES and to create a bridge between ES and Grid communities. DEGREE identified key ES requirements and has disseminated these to Grid projects, evaluated Grid middleware tools and standards regarding ES requirements and provided feedback to Grid developers. In order to convey requirements to the Grid community, test suite specifications were developed. Test suites provide real applications for testing functional and non-functional aspects of Grid, contrary to typical whiteboard tests or use cases. In this paper the GOMEVAL test suite is explained in detail and the results obtained are discussed.     

关于我国开展地球系统研究战略概念模型的讨论

自20世纪末以来,地球科学开始进入一个新的发展时期,地球系统科学理念逐渐成为引领新世纪地球科学的发展方向。世界各国在制定其地球科学战略时,均基于各自掌握的科学资源和实际需求,形成了各自的特色。我国地球科学发展的优势在于区域自然条件,以及社会经济快速发展产生的需求和机遇。基于我国的实际情况的分析,提出了一个地球系统科学研究的概念模型。在这一框架内,我国可以在两方面选择研究范例,并为地球系统科学的发展做出贡献：一是在地球系统物质、能量循环中关注我国具自然条件优势的关键环节;二是强化区域集成研究。同时,还需要加强地球系统观测和模拟的平台建设。     

Practical considerations on the GreenView application development and execution over SEE-GRID

Earth Science data and particularly the satellite images supplies important information on status and dynamics of earth covering vegetation. The development of environment applications is a challenge for Grid technologies and software development methodologies. This paper exemplifies and experiments the development of the GreenView application over SEE-GRID infrastructure by the Grid Application Development Methodology. The paper highlights through the ESIP and gProcess platforms based methodology the steps of the GreenView development. The application reveals three main functionalities—refinement of the satellite image resolution, field measurements based calibration and satellite image classification by vegetation index computation. A few experiments evaluate the execution time of the tasks at four sites of the SEE-GRID infrastructure.     

A Grid platform for the European Civil Protection e-Infrastructure: the Forest Fires use scenario

During the full cycle of the emergency management, Civil Protection operative procedures involve many actors belonging to several institutions playing different roles. In this context the sharing of information is a vital requirement to make correct and effective decisions. Therefore a European-wide technological infrastructure providing a distributed and coordinated access to different kinds of resources (data, information, services, expertise, etc.) could enhance existing Civil Protection applications and even enable new ones. In the recent years Grid technologies have reached a mature state providing a platform for secure and coordinated resource sharing between the participants in the so-called Virtual Organizations. Moreover the Earth and Space Sciences Informatics provide the conceptual tools for modelling the geospatial information shared in Civil Protection applications during its entire life cycle. Therefore a European Civil Protection e-infrastructure could be based on a Grid platform enhanced with Earth Sciences specific services. However Civil Protection applications stress the requirements of Earth Sciences research applications, for example in terms of real-time support. Therefore a set of high-level services specifically tailored for such applications must be built on top of the Grid platform. As a result of a requirement analysis, the FP6 project CYCLOPS has proposed an architectural framework for the future European Civil Protection e-Infrastructure. In this architecture a layer of high-level services tailored to Civil Protection applications is built on top of the EGEE Grid middleware. This architectural approach has been tested implementing a prototype of a grid-enabled RISICO, the application for wild fire risk assessment used by the Italian Civil Protection.     

Relevance of software reuse in building advanced scientific data processing systems

Reuse of software and related components can contribute to the development of systems for processing scientific data. The reuse of components, which can be from any stage of the development life cycle, provides opportunities to realize benefits such as reduced costs and learning curves. However, the reuse of existing components also comes with risks that must be recognized in order to be mitigated. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration established the Earth Science Data Systems Software Reuse Working Group to support software reuse among members of the community of Earth science data systems developers. This is done through a variety of activities, including research, education, and public outreach, which are conducted to help encourage and enable reuse within the community. Considerations for realizing the benefits of software reuse and minimizing risks are presented along with recent working group activities to improve reuse capabilities for the community of Earth science data systems developers.     

浅谈固体地球科学与地球系统科学

地球科学在20世纪的诸多进展中,对后来科学发展具有深远影响的基本认识之一是地球演化的行为具有整体性,其不同的圈层确实通过多种途径相互作用,且人类活动已成为地球演化的重要营力之一。这些认识导致地球系统科学思想的产生和发展,并使不同圈层相互作用的过程和机理、人与环境的相互作用研究成为21世纪基础科学研究的前沿。地球系统科学强调地球不同圈层、不同单元相互作用的整体性和关联性,因而科学研究必须从"整体地球系统"的视野出发,但研究过程又必须从关键区域入手。我国是地球系统科学研究的关键地区之一,未来研究应立足地域优势和特色,攻克全球性重大科学问题,解决社会对地球科学的知识需求。     

Earth system curator: metadata infrastructure for climate modeling

The Earth System Curator is a National Science Foundation sponsored project developing a metadata formalism for describing the digital resources used in climate simulations. The primary motivating observation of the project is that a simulation/model’s source code plus the configuration parameters required for a model run are a compact representation of the dataset generated when the model is executed. The end goal of the project is a convergence of models and data where both resources are accessed uniformly from a single registry. In this paper we review the current metadata landscape of the climate modeling community, present our work on developing a metadata formalism for describing climate models, and reflect on technical challenges we have faced that require new research in the area of Earth Science Informatics.     

流体地球科学与地球系统科学

近年来,地球系统科学逐渐成为地球科学的新趋势,但固体地球科学尚难于融入其中。其根本原因在于地球系统科学属于系统科学或复杂科学的组成部分,而固体地球科学其本质上属于理想科学的范畴,以研究线性地球过程为主,或者以理想科学的手法研究非线性地球过程。流体地球科学不仅研究地球的流体系统,也研究流体系统与固体系统的强和弱相互作用,是固体地球科学融入地球系统科学的唯一途径。     

Earth Science Education in Sudan

This paper describes Earth Science Education in Sudan, with particular emphasis on the University of Khartoum. The first geological department in Sudan was founded in 1958 in the University of Khartoum. In the 1980s, six more geological departments have been added in the newer universities. The types of courses offered include Diploma, B.Sc. (General), B.Sc. (Honours), M.Sc. and Ph.D. The Geology programmes are strongly supported by field work training and mapping. Final-year students follow specialised training in one of the following topics: hydrogeology, geophysics, economic geology, sedimentology and engineering geology. A graduation report, written in the final year, represents 30–40% of the total marks. The final assessment and grading are decided with the help of internal and external examiners.Entry into the Geology programmes is based on merit and performance. The number of students who graduate with Honours and become geologists is between 20% to 40% of the initial intake at the beginning of the second year. Employment opportunities are limited and are found mainly in the Government's geological offices, the universities and research centres, and private companies. The Department of Geology at the University of Khartoum has long-standing internal and external links with outside partners. This has been manifested in the training of staff members, the donation of teaching materials and laboratory facilities. The chief problems currently facing Earth Science Education in Sudan are underfunding, poor equipment, laboratory facilities and logistics. Other problems include a shortage of staff, absence of research, lack of supervision and emigration of staff members.Urgent measures are needed to assess and evaluate the status of Earth Science Education in terms of objectives, needs and difficulties encountered. Earth Science Education is expected to contribute significantly to the exploitation of mineral resources and socio-economic development in the Sudan.     

Talkoot: software tool to create collaboratories for earth science

“Open science,” where researchers share and publish every element of their research process in addition to the final results, can foster novel ways of collaboration among researchers and has the potential to spontaneously create new virtual research collaborations. Based on scientific interest, these new virtual research collaborations can cut across traditional boundaries such as institutions and organizations. Advances in technology allow for software tools that can be used by different research groups and institutions to build and support virtual collaborations and infuse open science. This paper describes Talkoot, a software toolkit designed and developed by the authors to provide Earth Science researchers a ready-to-use knowledge management environment and an online platform for collaboration. Talkoot allows Earth Science researchers a means to systematically gather, tag and share their data, analysis workflows and research notes. These Talkoot features are designed to foster rapid knowledge sharing within a virtual community. Talkoot can be utilized by small to medium sized groups and research centers, as well as large enterprises such a national laboratories and federal agencies.     

本期内容提要(英文)

This issue of Earth Science FrontiersZENG Hualin,Consultant for Earth Science FrontiersThe theme of the issues 4 and 5 of Earth Science Frontiers is“Research on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau”.There are 22 papers dealing withthis themeinthisissueincluding 20 papersin Chinese with English ab-stract and 2 papers in English. The other 3 papers deal with tectonics and energy resources .XU Zhi-qin et al .suggest that the Qinghai-Tibetplateau, a huge collisional orogenic collage , wasformed …     

On the role of Geography in Earth System Science

Geography is fundamentally a non-reductionist and holistic discipline. While we tend to focus on particular areas (Physical, Human, etc.), or we focus on specific successes (Quaternary studies for example) this paper argues that selling Geography though emphasizing these specific areas or strengths misses a major potential contribution our discipline can make. While most sciences have become reductionist over the last two centuries, they have recently discovered that the Earth is a “complex system” with “emergent” properties that cannot be explained through understanding the components parts individually. Many of these sciences are now contributing to a major effort called Earth System Science, an integrative super-discipline that accepts that biophysical sciences and social sciences are equally important in any attempts to understand the state, and future of the Earth System. This paper argues that the development of Earth System Sciences is a risk for Geography since it is, in effect, Geography with few Geographers. While representing a threat, the development of Earth System Science is also an opportunity. I argue that Geography could be a lead discipline among the other biophysical and social sciences that are now building Earth System Science to address key problems within the Earth System. While I am optimistic about the potential of Geography to take this leadership role, I am pessimistic about the likelihood that we will. I provide suggestions on how we might take on the leadership of Earth System Science including individual engagement and a refinement of tertiary training of some Geography students.     

Paving the way for conservation?

Limestone pavement is a unique part of Britain's physical landscape. Along with other forms of naturally weathered rock, it is under threat from exploitation for the horticultural market. Valued for its delicate and sculptured form, limestone pavement has been frequently used as decorative stone in rockeries and other landscaped ground. If this unique landscape is to be protected, its exploitation must stop. Yet it must be remembered that the use of rock in gardens and landscaped ground has an important role in raising the public profile of geology within urban areas. We have a simple message: the use of limestone pavement is wrong and must stop, but the use of other forms of stone in urban gardens is beneficial for the Earth sciences.     

Analysis of drought areas in northern Algeria using Markov chains

Journal of Earth System Science - The present work studies the trends in drought in northern Algeria. This region was marked by a severe, wide-ranging and persistent drought due to its...     

现代地球化学的理论思维结构

地球科学和地球化学的进展,不但加深和扩大了对地球的认识和理论成果,同时也总结提炼出了全新的科学思维方法。复杂性理论和系统思维是科学认识论的一次飞跃。现代地球化学建立了较完整的理论和方法体系,给地质科学认知地球提供了依据和支撑。作者论证了系统思维和逻辑演绎法相结合的思维方式,是研究和认识地球复杂巨系统以及推动地球科学理论创新的指导思想,并提出了运用现代地球化学理论构架和方法体系,综合地球科学系统思维与逻辑思维相结合方向的地球化学认知模型,为深入研究地球物质能量系统的行为和解决人类面临的资源、环境和灾害问题提供新的思路。     

国际全球变化研究发展态势文献计量评价

全球变化研究是国际上地球系统综合研究的重大跨学科研究领域.随着全球环境问题的日益突出,国际上先后组织发起了全球环境变化研究的四大科学计划WCRP、IGBP、IHDP、DIVERSITAS及其组成的地球系统科学联盟ESSP,开展对全球变化和地球系统科学的研究.当前,全球变化问题不仅是科学界关注和研究的问题,也是政治界、经济界都关注的重大问题.科技文献能够反映科学前沿的发展动态.对SCIE和SSCI数据库收录的全球变化研究文献进行统计,从文献计量学的角度,分析国际全球变化研究领域的发展态势,了解中国全球变化研究的国际影响力.可以看出:国际上全球变化研究的论文数量一直呈增长趋势,以地球科学多学科、生态学、环境科学、自然地理学、植物学等学科领域为主.中国自2000年以来在该领域的发文数量增长较快,特别是中国科学院的发文量已进入国际前列,但中国在该研究领域尚缺少高影响力的论文.     

面向数据共享的地球系统科学数据分类探讨

地球系统科学数据共享在国际、国内都有迫切的需求。由于地球系统科学固有的学科交叉性和综合性,如何建立科学、通用的数据分类体系是困扰该领域数据共享和服务的难题。首先综合分析了国际上地球系统科学领域主要的数据分类体系,重点对美国全球变化主目录(GCMD)分类系统及其2005—2013年的演变趋势进行分析,指出当前该数据分类呈现扁平化、两极化的显著特征。在此基础上,重点梳理了国家科技基础条件平台———地球系统科学数据共享平台的用户服务记录,揭示了用户访问频次最高的数据集和检索关键词。结合GCMD系统化、结构化的分类思想和国家地球系统科学数据共享平台用户化的数据服务需求,提出扁平化的地球系统科学数据目录分类和规范化的关键词表体系2种分类模式。     

对地球系统科学的几点认识

地球系统科学将是２１世纪地球科学的主旋律,它被定义为：“将地球作为一个整体来伯全部知识;对地球的气圈、水圈、生物圈和岩石中的各种作用及各层圈间相互作用时间进行的研究”。此种学术思想可追溯到１００多年前,见於文字也有近二十年。它对当代地学的发展起了重要的推动作用,有四个特点：地球现象的远距离相互联系、影响;内动力和外动力研究一体化;地质作用和生物作用研究一体化;一类活动作为地球系统的一部分。当前地球系统科学的发展也提出了一些新问题,主要的是：在学术思路上对与岩石圈有关的地质作用有所忽视;观察研究系统不全面;还未深人到资源形成和小环境的研究中。近年来的观测试验表明,发生在岩石圈的各种地质作用正积极参与垒球各圈层间的物质能量交换。对它们的忽视,可能正是目前一些生物地球化学循环模型无法平衡的原因。     

黄土与地球系统--李希霍芬对黄土研究的贡献及对地球系统科学研究的现实意义

李希霍芬是19世纪德国著名的地质学家,对欧洲和中国黄土的研究工作,以及后来的黄土研究有着深刻影响,其学术思想在地球系统科学研究的时代依然有重要的现实意义。文章简要回顾了李希霍芬对黄土研究的贡献,并探讨这些贡献与黄土研究在地球系统科学研究中的现实意义。从李希霍芬时代到今天,黄土作为全球宝贵的地球系统演化的历史记录,在揭示地球岩石圈、水圈、大气圈、冰冻圈、生物圈及宇宙事件对地球系统的影响发挥了重要作用,并在未来地球系统科学研究时代有旺盛的生命力。     

Climate change and its role in forecasting energy demand in buildings: A case study of Douala City,Cameroon

Journal of Earth System Science - The foremost role of a building is to assure the comfort of its occupants. The thermal comfort of a building depends on the outdoor climate and requires a demand...