Testing different sorting techniques in macroinvertebrate samples from running waters

With the aim of finding an efficient, standardised and practical protocol for sorting macroinvertebrate samples for water management practice, three different sorting techniques were tested: RIVPACS sorting, a modified AQEM/STAR (MAS) sorting protocol and a Live-sorting method. Based on the same AQEM/STAR sample to ensure comparable results, we compared RIVPACS and MAS sorting for 20 samples, and Live-sorting and MAS for a different set of 20 samples. Comparisons were based on both ecological and financial parameters relevant for the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive in Germany. Parameters include recently developed multimetric assessment indices, their stream type specific core metric results, time effort and costs. While RIVPACS and MAS sorting produced similar results in terms of ecological assessment, time effort and costs, Live-sorting differed notably in all three respects. Live-sorting is the quickest and least expensive protocol, but shows higher variability than the other protocols. We discuss the differences and the level of standardisation for each of these methods.     

Effects of sampling microhabitats with low coverage within the STAR/AQEM macroinvertebrate sampling protocol on stream assessment

In the STAR/AQEM protocol microhabitats covering less than 5% of the sampling area were neglected. Driven by an ongoing discussion on the importance of these underrepresented microhabitats we tested the influence of sampling them. We investigated 48 streams representing 14 different stream types from all over Germany. Macroinvertebrates of underrepresented microhabitats were sampled in addition to the STAR/AQEM protocol. To ensure the method remains feasible in routine monitoring programmes the total sampling and sorting effort of additional sampling was limited to 20 min. Particularly those taxa were picked, which were not recognised during the routine STAR/AQEM sorting.To identify the effect of additional sampling on stream assessment results, we calculated the stream type-specific Multimetric Index (MMI) with the “main” and the “main+additional” data for each sample. The mean and median difference in MMI values between “main” and “main+additional” samples was 0.02 and 0.01, respectively. In seven of 48 samples (14.6%) a different ecological quality class was calculated with the “main+additional” dataset. Regarding common metrics within the MMI as well as intercalibration metrics differences between “main” and “main+additional” samples were analysed. The values differed most in richness metrics (e.g., number of EPTCBO Taxa, number of Trichoptera Taxa). The results of the present study show that additional sampling of underrepresented microhabitats could alter multimetric assessment results.     

Assessment of the SWMM model uncertainties within the generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation (GLUE) framework for a high‐resolution urban sewershed

This research incorporates the generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation (GLUE) methodology in a high‐resolution Environmental Protection Agency Storm Water Management Model (SWMM), which we developed for a highly urbanized sewershed in Syracuse, NY, to assess SWMM modelling uncertainties and estimate parameters. We addressed two issues that have long been suggested having a great impact on the GLUE uncertainty estimation: the observations used to construct the likelihood measure and the sampling approach to obtain the posterior samples of the input parameters and prediction bounds of the model output. First, on the basis of the Bayes' theorem, we compared the prediction bounds generated from the same Gaussian distribution likelihood measure conditioned on flow observations of varying magnitude. Second, we employed two sampling techniques, the sampling importance resampling (SIR) and the threshold sampling methods, to generate posterior parameter distributions and prediction bounds, based on which the sampling efficiency was compared. In addition, for a better understanding of the hydrological responses of different pervious land covers in urban areas, we developed new parameter sets in SWMM representing the hydrological properties of trees and lawns, which were estimated through the GLUE procedure. The results showed that SIR was a more effective alternative to the conventional threshold sampling method. The combined total flow and peak flow data were an efficient alternative to the intensive 5‐min flow data for reducing SWMM parameter and output uncertainties. Several runoff control parameters were found to have a great effect on peak flows, including the newly introduced parameters for trees. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Assessing morphological degradation in running waters using Blackfly communities (Diptera, Simuliidae): Can habitat quality be predicted from land use?

Based on benthic macroinvertebrate samples from 57 sites of streams in the European Central Highlands (Ecoregion 9; Illies (1978). Limnofauna Europaea, Stuttgart), the composition and the abundance of Simuliid species were analysed in relation to hydromorphological and land use parameters. Sampling sites were located at two stream types differing in catchment geology, stream morphology and channel width. Land use data were taken from the official German information system for cartography and topography (ATKIS) and the German River Habitat Survey. Land use categories suitable to describe the sampling sites were ‘agricultural land’, ‘urban’ and near-natural areas. Hydromorphological parameters of the sites were recorded using the AQEM site protocol (AQEM Consortium (2002). Manual for the application of the AQEM system. A comprehensive method to assess European streams using benthic macroinvertebrates, developed for the purpose of the Water Framework Directive. EVK1-CT1999-00027, Version 1.0. Available via the Internet from www.aqem.de). Relevant parameters controlling Simuliid distribution in streams were the mineral substrates and the biotic microhabitats. Blackfly larvae and pupae were sampled at each site for 15 min. Statistical analysis was performed by CANOCO^® (Ter Braak & Smilauer (1997). CANOCO Version 4.5. Biometrics Plant Research International, Wageningen, The Netherlands) using redundancy analysis (RDA).

Our results show a stream type-specific composition of the Blackfly fauna. The analyses reveal sensitivity of the Simuliid species to morphological degradation, which is indicated by the shift in the longitudinal zonation of the Simuliid communities. Especially, Prosimulium hirtipes (Fries, 1824) and Simulium argyreatum Meigen, 1838 are typical representatives of headwater streams. While they seem to indicate undisturbed conditions of this stream type and react sensitively to the degradation of stream habitats, Simulium ornatum Meigen, 1818 and Simulium equinum (Linnaeus, 1758) are more tolerant to stream degradation.

On catchment scale, ‘% natural forest’ and ‘% agricultural land use’ illustrate the degree of degradation of the two selected stream types. ‘Average stream depth’ and ‘relation riffles/pools’ account for hydromorphological degradation reflected by Simuliid species on the smaller reach scale. The analysis of habitat quality revealed that ‘% woody debris’ represents an important parameter of morphological degradation reflected by the Blackfly community.     

基于稀疏约束的地震数据高效采集方法理论研究

随着地震勘探目标复杂化和精细化程度的提高以及"两宽一高"等采集技术的广泛应用,当前地震数据采集的时间越来越长、成本越来越高.针对此问题,本文基于压缩感知理论开展了地震数据高效采集方法的改进和探索研究.根据波动方程解的一般表示式,从波场传播的角度给出了地震数据具有稀疏性的数学物理依据及寻找适应地震数据稀疏变换的一般方案;在稀疏性先验信息的指导下,发展了具有"蓝色噪声"频谱特征的改进的分段采样方法,并基于最优化理论提出了地震数据重建方法.地震数据的稀疏性理论、稀疏约束下的高效采集方法以及地震数据的重建方法构成了相对完善的地震数据高效采集理论.把该理论用于指导地震数据采集,即利用稀疏约束的随机采样方法改变常规规则密集测网中炮点和检波点(或二者之一)的分布,设计了三种随机且均匀的高效采集测网,提出了利用相应测网获取的地震数据重建为常规规则密集测网地震数据的针对性方案,并使用重建精度、高效采集数据的直接成像和重建后再成像的结果对比证明了上述重建方案的有效性.基于Marmousi模型的高效采集试验检验了本文构建的基于稀疏约束的地震数据高效采集方法理论框架在提高当前地震数据采集效率、降低勘探成本上的优势以及方法的有效性和可行性.     

Application of randomized sampling schemes to curvelet‐based sparsity‐promoting seismic data recovery

Reconstruction of seismic data is routinely used to improve the quality and resolution of seismic data from incomplete acquired seismic recordings. Curvelet‐based Recovery by Sparsity‐promoting Inversion, adapted from the recently‐developed theory of compressive sensing, is one such kind of reconstruction, especially good for recovery of undersampled seismic data. Like traditional Fourier‐based methods, it performs best when used in conjunction with randomized subsampling, which converts aliases from the usual regular periodic subsampling into easy‐to‐eliminate noise. By virtue of its ability to control gap size, along with the random and irregular nature of its sampling pattern, jittered (sub)sampling is one proven method that has been used successfully for the determination of geophone positions along a seismic line. In this paper, we extend jittered sampling to two‐dimensional acquisition design, a more difficult problem, with both underlying Cartesian and hexagonal grids. We also study what we term separable and non‐separable two‐dimensional jittered samplings. We find hexagonal jittered sampling performs better than Cartesian jittered sampling, while fully non‐separable jittered sampling performs better than separable jittered sampling. Two other 2D randomized sampling methods, Poisson Disk sampling and Farthest Point sampling, both known to possess blue‐noise spectra, are also shown to perform well.     

Assessing streams in Germany with benthic invertebrates: Development of a multimetric invertebrate based assessment system

The main aim of the study was to develop a multimetric assessment system for macroinvertebrate communities of small and mid-sized streams in Germany in accordance with the Water Framework Directive of the European Union. The system should be applicable by water authorities, capable of distinguishing between different impacts, and specifically adapted to all types of small and mid-sized rivers in Germany. An assessment system has been developed consisting of two modules based on the established indices for saprobic degradation and acidity, and a third module covering general degradation. For the third module a new multimetric index (MMI) was developed and tested using preclassifications for stream hydromorphological degradation, land use and general impairment as impact measures. More information on sampling method, season and the type of dominating human impairment allowed to further analyse the index' capabilities and sensitivity. It performed well in all seasons and detected all types of impairment except acidity. The usefulness of the impact measures used in this study is discussed with regard to the development of a multimetric index. The comparison of the new index with other indices showed that it is especially sensitive in detecting macroinvertebrate community responses to hydromorphological degradation and pollution such as the German AQEM index, while IBI 12 and Renkonen's similarity more reflect general community shifts caused by any type of disturbance. The new assessment system will be proposed for future use by state agencies for nationwide monitoring in the context of the Water Framework Directive implementation.     

评价漓江健康的RIVPACS预测模型研究

RIVPACS类河流健康评价模型是广泛应用的河流健康评价工具.利用漓江流域48个样点的底栖动物和环境数据,按照建立RIVPACS模型的方法和步骤,开展预测模型试点研究.48个样点中有32个参照样点,随机选取其中27个用于模型构建.余下的5个参照样点、10个轻至中度干扰样点和6个严重干扰样点用于模型验证.首先通过Bray...     

Bias and precision of percentiles of bulk grain size distributions

Percentiles such as D₅₀ and D₈₄, calculated from weights retained on different sieves, are widely used to characterize grain size distributions (GSDs) of bulk samples of sedimentary deposits or sediment fluxes. The sampling variability of such percentiles is not well known, and few sampling guidelines exist for reliable characterization of GSDs. We report results from computer sampling experiments on the variability of sample percentiles in different-sized samples from populations with a log-normal GSD by weight and different sorting coefficients. Sample sizes are scaled by the volume of a median-sized grain so that results can be applied to any log-normal GSD. Sampling is random for the GSD by number that is equivalent to a specified GSD by weight. Results show important differences from standard sampling theory applicable to pebble-count GSDs. In small bulk samples all percentiles, including the median, are underestimated (more so for smaller samples, coarser percentiles and poorer sorting), and precision does not improve with the square root of sample size until fairly large sample sizes are exceeded. Non-dimensional equations fitted by eye to the results give good approximations to expected bias and precision in any percentile from 50 to 95 for any given sample size and population sorting coefficient. They are inverted to estimate the sample size required to avoid significant bias, or achieve specified precision, in any percentile of interest given estimates of the population D₅₀ and sorting coefficient. Target sample sizes are sometimes considerably smaller, but in other circumstances larger, than suggested by previous guidelines relating to estimation of the entire grain size distribution. Bias is likely in small samples of river bedload and good precision requires very large samples of poorly sorted gravel deposits. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

多制式数据流的复分接技术及其在地震遥测中的应用

在数字无线遥测地震台网中，用异步采样原理研制的多制式复分接设备，借助数字微波通道的大容量，可以解决不同制式、不同速率、不同接口标准数据流的复分接问题。同时，利用数字锁相环原理来降低异步采样带来的相位抖动，该设备在三峡数字遥测地震台网中首次应用，即获得成功。     

对城市地震科普知识宣传方法与效果的调查与分析

本文以绵阳市为例,采用随机抽样的方式对3500余名城市不同层次的人员进行问卷调查,还对目前地方地震机构普遍采用的地震科普知识宣传方法进行了社会检验,综合评判与分析。指出了当前地震宣传工作与社会需求之间的偏差,提出了城市地震科普知识宣传的最佳方法和较好组合模式,以实现目前在人、财、物力十分有限的情况下,发挥最佳经济和社会效益。     

A Kriging-based approach for locating a sampling site—in the assessment of air quality

Air quality assessment studies have either high sampling or analyses costs. In these studies the representation of a city by a single sampling point is still a serious problem, especially in the metropolitans of developing countries, because of the absence of equipments required for sampling at different locations. In this paper, the smoke data measurements of long years are used in the determination of the region for the representation of the city by drawing contours through the Kriging method. Then, the selection of the sampling site in this region is done on the basis of the criteria recommended by the EPA. By this way, the data taken from this sampling point are used for assessing the average city concentrations with lower sampling and analyses costs. This information is valuable for monitoring the air quality and defining environmental policies, although the local distribution and the extreme concentration values over the city are not measurable.     

Integrated spatial sampling modeling of geospatial data

Sampling is to, by efficient selection of samples, acquire the accurate information about the population (the research object) at less cost. Spatial sampling is a kind of sampling toward geospatial objects or features with spatial correlation. The differences between effi-cient sampling and completely universal survey lie in quality, time and cost. Sampling provides a kind of economical, prompt and accurate survey[13]. Efficient spatial sampling can be regarded as the optimization of the sampl…     

瞬变电磁采样函数优化法降噪技术

常用的双极性同步采样方法对瞬变电磁系统的观测噪声具有一定的抑制作用,但在实际工作中其噪声抑制能力仍显不足.本文在双极性同步采样方法基础上提出一种优化方法,以提升瞬变电磁系统的噪声抑制能力,即:通过对取样道加高斯窗函数的方式,赋予取样道内各采样点合适的累加权重,提升系统对取样道内高频噪声的抑制能力;使用高斯窗函数与梳状滤波器构造复合窗函数,通过对包含所有叠加周期的完整观测序列加复合窗函数的形式优化各周期的叠加权重,提升系统对实际工频噪声的抑制能力.对优化前后不同采样函数的谱特性及野外实测数据的处理效果进行比较,结果表明本文提出的方法较传统双极性同步采样方法具有更强的噪声抑制能力.     

A hybrid method for size characterization of coarse subsurface fluvial sediments

This paper introduces and evaluates a novel method for ascertaining the grain‐size distribution of subsurface sediments that involves profoundly less sampling effort than standard methods. It is based on hybrid sampling principles previously applied to the construction of synthetic surface grain‐size distributions. The method is developed from an empirical demonstration of the approximate similarity of surface and subsurface grain‐size distributions when compared over a common range of sizes. Subsurface hybrid models are found to provide good facsimiles of grain‐size distributions de?ned using standard criteria and to yield distribution percentiles with millimetre accuracy. The technique is presented as an expedient alternative to standard methods for large, perennial gravel‐bed rivers. As this is a new technique, prudent application is advised in lieu of further investigation. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Robowell: An Automated Process for Monitoring Ground Water Quality Using Established Sampling Protocols

Robowell is an automated process for monitoring selected ground water quality properties and constituents by pumping a well or multilevel sampler. Robowell was developed and tested to provide a cost-effective monitoring system that meets protocols expected for manual sampling. The process uses commercially available electronics, instrumentation, and hardware, so it can be configured to monitor ground water quality using the equipment, purge protocol, and monitoring well design most appropriate for the monitoring site and the contaminants of interest. A Robowell prototype was installed on a sewage-treatment plant infiltration bed that overlies a well-studied u neon fined sand and gravel aquifer at the Massachusetts Military Reservation, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, during a time when two distinct plumes of constituents were released. The prototype was operated from May 10 to November 13, 1996, and quality-assurance/quality-control measurements demonstrated that the data obtained by the automated method was equivalent to data obtained by manual sampling methods using the same sampling protocols. Water level, specific conductance, pH, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and dissolved ammonium were monitored by the prototype as the wells were purged according to U.S. Geological Survey (LJSGS) ground water sampling protocols. Remote access to the data record, via phone modem communications, indicated the arrival of each plume over a few days and the subsequent geochemical reactions over the following weeks. Real-time availability of the monitoring record provided the information needed to initiate manual sampling efforts in response to changes in measured ground water quality, which proved the method and characterized the screened portion of the plume in detail through time. The methods and the case study described are presented to document the process for future use.     

Tree Coring as a Complement to Soil Gas Screening to Locate PCE and TCE Source Zones and Hot Spots

Preliminary risk assessment for prioritisation of site investigations requires efficient screening to reveal type and level of contamination. The screening methods, tree coring and soil gas sampling were applied and compared at two forested sites contaminated with tetrachloroethylene (PCE) or trichloroethylene (TCE) to evaluate their ability to locate source zones and contaminant hot spots. One test site represented a relatively homogeneous sandy soil and aquifer, and the second a more heterogeneous geology with both sandy and less permeable clay till layers overlying a chalk aquifer. Tree cores from different tree species were sampled and analysed, and compared to soil gas measurements and existing soil gas data. Both methods were found useful as screening tools to locate hot spots of PCE and TCE in the shallow subsurface. Tree coring was found to be particularly beneficial as a complement to soil gas sampling at sites with low permeable soils, and where contamination was located in the capillary rise or shallow groundwater. The shorter time required for tree coring reduced the costs compared to soil gas sampling, but the sensitivity and precision of tree coring were lower. However, this did not affect the feasibility of using tree coring to locate the hot spots. Moreover, a combination of the two methods can help to focus any subsequent investigations like soil or groundwater sampling. The use of tree coring to complement soil gas sampling for pre‐screening is expected to result in higher certainty for revealing hot spots and source zones at contaminated sites.     

震害预测中抽样方法的研究

本文阐述了在震害预测中采用分块抽样方法的一般原理,对于确定抽样样本总额的方法和样本总额在分块抽样中的理想分配进行了讨论,文中以乌鲁木齐市钢筋混凝土房屋的震害预测为对象,说明了分块抽样法的实际应用及其对于随机抽样法的优越性。文中对逐栋调查和分块抽样调查所得到的震害预测结果进行了对比,论述了这一抽样方法的可行性。     

南北地震带地震台网监测能力评估的不同方法比较研究

为探讨不同地震台网监测能力评估方法的结果差异性及其原因,本文选用目前国际上比较前沿的“基于概率的完整性震级”(PMC)方法和“完整性震级范围”(EMR)方法,以及中国地震台网常规采用的“震级-最大距离”方法,对2008年10月1日—2015年9月17日南北地震带地区表征地震监测能力的最小完整性震级进行了比较研究.研究中考虑了以往关注不够的地震观测质量一致性问题,统一采用至少3个台站记录的地震资料.结果显示,3种方法的结果差异显著,最小完整性震级的差值在南北地震带个别地区甚至可达M_L2.0,其中,PMC方法获得的最小完整性震级M_p值在32°N以北地区显著低于其它两种方法,震级-最大距离方法获得的最小完整性震级M_r低值结果仅与高台站密度地区有关,与包括EMR方法获得的最小完整性震级M_cEMR相比较在统计均值上则呈M_cEMR < M_p < M_r.进一步对各地震台站的地震检测能力进行评分,结果显示,台站运维水平和对记录地震分析的完整程度,是造成M_p值显著不同于其它方法结果的主要原因,而是否选用相同的记录台站数量等数据质量约束标准,会造成EMR方法与其它方法结果的显著差异.因此,考虑到地震台网运行的实际情况和不同评估方法的计算原理,推荐PMC方法用于地震监测能力的评估.      

ANALYSIS OF THE CONFIDENCE INTERVAL OF THE COMPOSITE FAULT PLANE SOLUTION OBTAINED FROM THE GRID SEARCH METHOD: AN EXAMPLE OF SOUTHERN JIANGXI PROVINCE

In order to quantitatively analyze the reliability of the composite fault plane solution of small earthquakes, the Bootstrap sampling technique is introduced into the grid search method, and the ideas and methods for calculating the confidence interval from the grid search method are proposed initially. There are two sample sets that can represent the characteristics of the composite fault plane solution. One sample set is the optional solutions obtained by the grid search method and the other is obtained by the Bootstrap sampling technique. Then, we calculate the confidence intervals of the two sample sets (P, B and T axis). The research results of tectonic stress field in southern Jiangxi Province are relatively few. In view of such situation, we use the focal mechanism solutions of small earthquakes to calculate and analyze the composite fault plane solution and the confidence interval. This study shows that the confidence interval of the principal stress axis can be obtained well by both of the sample methods. The reliability of the results and the confidence range of the principal stress axis can be better represented by the confidence intervals. The middle principal stress in southern Jiangxi Province is nearly vertical, and the maximum and minimum principal stresses are nearly horizontal. The direction of maximum principal stress is NWW-SEE and that of the minimum principal stress is NNE-SSW. And, the area is in a strike-slip stress regime. The results are consistent with previous studies, and the stress directions obtained by previous researchers are within the confidence interval calculated by this paper.