Representing the visibility structure of a polyhedral terrain through a horizon map

Abstract

We present a model for describing the visibility of a polyhedral terrain from a fixed viewpoint, based on a collection of nested horizons. We briefly introduce the concepts of mathematical and digital terrain models, and some background notions for visibility problems on terrains. Then, we define horizons on a polyhedral terrain, and introduce a visibility model, that we call the horizon map. We present a construction algorithm and a data structure for encoding the horizon map, and show how it can be used for solving point visibility queries with respect to a fixed viewpoint.     

Evaluation of hydraulic conductivity through particle shape and packing density characteristics of sand–silt mixtures

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the relationship between saturated hydraulic conductivity with particle shape and packing density characteristics of silty sand soils. The article presents a series of hydraulics tests performed on three kinds of sand with different particles shapes (Chlef rounded sand, Fontainebleau sub-rounded sand and Hostun sub-angular sand) mixed with low plastic rounded Chlef silt in the range of 0–30% fines content. The sand–silt mixture samples were tested in the constant-head permeability device at a loose relative density (D_r = 18%) and a constant room temperature (T?=?20?°C). The obtained results indicate that the measured saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_s) correlates very well with the fines content (F_c), packing density in terms of [maximum void ratio “e_max,” minimum void ratio “e_min,” predicted maximum void ratio “e_max”_pr and predicted minimum void ratio “e_min”_pr] and particle shape characteristics ratios in terms of roundness ratio (R_r = R_hs/R_mixture) and sphericity ratio (S_r = S_hs/S_mixture) of the silty sand materials under consideration. Moreover, the analysis of the available data show a noticeable success in exploring the prediction of the saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_s) based on the particle shape and packing density characteristics (R_r, S_r, e_max, and e_min) of the studied sand–silt mixture samples.     

Synchronization of late-glacial vegetation changes at Crystal Lake, Illinois, USA with the North Atlantic Event Stratigraphy

Late-glacial (17–11 cal ka BP) pollen records from midwestern North America show similar vegetation trends; however, poor dating resolution, wide-interval pollen counts, and variable sedimentation rates have prevented the direct correlation with the North Atlantic Event Stratigraphy as represented in the Greenland ice-core records, thus preventing the understanding of the teleconnections and mechanisms of late-Quaternary events in the Northern Hemisphere. The widespread occurrence of late-glacial vegetation and climates with no modern analogs also hinders late-glacial climate reconstructions. A high-resolution pollen record with a well-controlled age model from Crystal Lake in northeastern Illinois reveals vegetation and climate conditions during the late-glacial and early Holocene intervals. Late-glacial Crystal Lake pollen assemblages, dominated by Picea mariana and Fraxinus nigra with lesser amounts of Abies and Larix, suggest relatively wet climate despite fluctuations between colder and warmer temperatures. Vegetation changes at Crystal Lake are coeval with millennial-scale trends in the NGRIP ice-core record, but major shifts in vegetation at Crystal Lake lag the NGRIP record by 300–400 yr. This lag may be due to the proximity of the Laurentide ice sheet, the ice sheet's inherent slowness in response to rapid climate changes, and its effect on frontal boundary conditions and lake-effect temperatures.     

Environmental characterization of a karst polje: an example from Izeh polje,southwest Iran

Groundwater contamination is a well-known phenomenon, which occurs on local and regional scales in Izeh polje. The aims of this paper are investigation of the impact of human activities on the polje ecosystem, determination of the vulnerability of ground water, and to solve environmental problems. Nitrate contamination of groundwater in the Izeh polje was predicted using a solute transport model. The nitrate concentration in groundwater in most parts of Izeh polje is greater than maximum concentration permissible for drinking water, i.e., 45 mg/l. The main source of nitrate in the eastern underground areas of Izeh city is the domestic sewage. Bacterial pollution of shallow ground water in Izeh polje is severe and widespread. About 45% of ground water samples in May and September 2001 have positive MPN coliforms. Infiltration of polluted surface waters and decrease of water table depth, have lead to bacterial pollution of 80% of ground water samples in January 2002. The northeast, south and southwest areas of Izeh polje have higher pollution potential rather than its middle parts. The aquifer vulnerability indices in the middle, eastern, and northern parts of the polje are moderately lower as a result of decreased sediment size of the aquifer. The pollution in the polje depends on the amount and presence of pollutants. If they do exist, the possibility of pollution is considerable due to the coarseness of materials and shallow depth of groundwater table.     

中巴资源卫星CBERS-1数据在巴西的应用

本文重点介绍了当前巴西以用户为导向的 CBERS数据的应用项目 ,并对今后利用中巴地球资源卫星开展国家项目发表了一些看法。     

Response Surface Analysis to Improve Dispersed Crude Oil Biodegradation

In this research, the bioremediation of dispersed crude oil, based on the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus supplementation in the closed system, was optimized by the application of response surface methodology and central composite design. Correlation analysis of the mathematical‐regression model demonstrated that a quadratic polynomial model could be used to optimize the hydrocarbon bioremediation (R² = 0.9256). Statistical significance was checked by analysis of variance and residual analysis. Natural attenuation was removed by 22.1% of crude oil in 28 days. The highest removal on un‐optimized condition of 68.1% were observed by using nitrogen of 20.00 mg/L and phosphorus of 2.00 mg/L in 28 days while optimization process exhibited a crude oil removal of 69.5% via nitrogen of 16.05 mg/L and phosphorus 1.34 mg/L in 27 days therefore optimization can improve biodegradation in shorter time with less nutrient consumption.     

Two-phase SPH modelling of waves caused by dam break over a movable bed

This paper describes the application of the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics（SPH） method for modeling two dimensional waves caused by dam break over a movable bed in two dimensions.The two phase SPH method is developed to solve the Navier-Stokes equations.Both fluid and sediment phases are described by particles as weakly compressible fluids and the incompressibility is achieved by the equation of state.The sediment phase is modeled as a non-Newtonian fluid using three alternative approaches of artificial viscosity and Bingham Model.In this paper,the new formulations for two-phase flows are proposed.The numerical results obtained from the developed SPH model show acceptable accuracy with comparison to experimental data.     

Considering potential seismic sources in earthquake hazard assessment for Northern Iran

Located on the Alpine-Himalayan earthquake belt, Iran is one of the seismically active regions of the world. Northern Iran, south of Caspian Basin, a hazardous subduction zone, is a densely populated and developing area of the country. Historical and instrumental documented seismicity indicates the occurrence of severe earthquakes leading to many deaths and large losses in the region. With growth of seismological and tectonic data, updated seismic hazard assessment is a worthwhile issue in emergency management programs and long-term developing plans in urban and rural areas of this region. In the present study, being armed with up-to-date information required for seismic hazard assessment including geological data and active tectonic setting for thorough investigation of the active and potential seismogenic sources, and historical and instrumental events for compiling the earthquake catalogue, probabilistic seismic hazard assessment is carried out for the region using three recent ground motion prediction equations. The logic tree method is utilized to capture epistemic uncertainty of the seismic hazard assessment in delineation of the seismic sources and selection of attenuation relations. The results are compared to a recent practice in code-prescribed seismic hazard of the region and are discussed in detail to explore their variation in each branch of logic tree approach. Also, seismic hazard maps of peak ground acceleration in rock site for 475- and 2,475-year return periods are provided for the region.     

Thunderstorm days,thunderstorm duration and the number of lightning flashes in Czechoslovakia and in Finland

Zusammenfassung In dem Artikel werden die Gleichungen zwischen der Anzahl von Gewittertagen, der Gewitterdauer und der Anzahl von Blitzentladungen abgeleitet, die durch den CIGRE-Blitzzähler in 13 Stationen in der SSR und 6 Stationen in Finnland während einer 4-jährigen ununterbrochenen Beobachtungspheriode registriert wurden. Es wurde festgestellt, dass die die Beziehungen zwischen der Anzahl von Gewittertagen und der Anzahl von Blitzentladungen und zwischen der Gewitterdauer und der Anzahl von Blitzentladungen nichtlinear sind. Die Nichtlinearität zwischen den Jahressummen ist höher als die Nichtlinearität zwischen den Monatssummen einzelner Parameter.     

Characteristics of southern California atmospheric rivers

Theoretical and Applied Climatology - Atmospheric rivers (ARs) are channels of high water vapor flux that transport moisture from low to higher latitudes on synoptic timescales. In areas of...