The planet formation imager

The Planet Formation Imager (PFI, www.planetformationimager.org) is a next-generation infrared interferometer array with the primary goal of imaging the active phases of planet formation in nearby star forming regions. PFI will be sensitive to warm dust emission using mid-infrared capabilities made possible by precise fringe tracking in the near-infrared. An L/M band combiner will be especially sensitive to thermal emission from young exoplanets (and their disks) with a high spectral resolution mode to probe the kinematics of CO and H₂O gas. In this paper, we give an overview of the main science goals of PFI, define a baseline PFI architecture that can achieve those goals, point at remaining technical challenges, and suggest activities today that will help make the Planet Formation Imager facility a reality.     

Une methode d'etude experimentale “in situ” de la zone d'echange entre les nuages convectifs et leur environnement

Le développement d'un projet de recherche consacré à l'étude des nuages convectifs a amené les auteurs à concevoir et à élaborer un système complet de mesures adapté à cette étude. Les grandeurs thermodynamiques classiques (Température, Pression, Humidité) ainsi que les vitesses d'ascendance autour et à l'intérieur des nuages sont mesurées grâce à l'utilisation d'un avion Cessna 206 équipé de ce système. Une première étape consiste à mettre en évidence les phénomènes relatifs aux échanges entre le nuage et le milieu environnant.     

Influence of Drying on the Stiffness and Strength of Cement-Stabilized Soils

Nowadays, improving the strength and deformation properties of soft soils by deep soil mixing is a commonly used technique. There is also an increasing interest in the use of this technique for foundation/structural elements and excavation retaining walls applications. The compressive strength and elastic modulus of the soil mix material are key parameters in the design of these structures. However, there is very limited information available on the impact of exposure to air drying (in the case of retaining wall) on the strength and stiffness of cement stabilized soils. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of different curing conditions (immersion in water, cycles of wetting and drying, continuous air drying) on the mechanical properties of soils treated with cement in the laboratory. Free–free resonance tests and unconfined compression tests were performed on specimens of silt and sand treated with blastfurnace slag cement. Strength increases more rapidly than stiffness between 7 and 30 days. The strength of stabilized soils submitted to cyclic wetting and drying before the cement hydration process is complete continues to increase. As long as the periods of drying do not induce microcracks, the stiffness of the treated soil specimens also increases with time. However, the stiffness is lower than for the specimens cured in water indicating a disruptive effect of the imposed wetting–drying cycles on stiffness. Continuous exposure to air drying inhibits strength development due to insufficient water for hydration. Significant stiffness decreases were observed on specimens of stabilized silt and are attributed to microcracking.     

High-resolution monitoring of complex coastal morphology changes: cross-efficiency of SfM and TLS-based survey (Vaches-Noires cliffs,Normandy, France)

High-resolution digital elevation models (HRDEMs) on coastal areas, particularly cliffs, are an important asset for analyzing and quantifying the processes affecting their morphology. The Vaches-Noires coastal cliffs, located at the north-western part of the Pays-d’Auge region (Normandy, France), are an ideal site for the study of subaerial and marine erosion processes. Indeed, the coastline evolves through the accumulation of deposits resulting from rotational landslides and/or mudflows at the base of the cliff which are then undermined by the sea. The 3D modeling of a representative sector of the cliffs appears a suitable solution to monitor and quantify this evolution using HRDEMs. This paper presents the whole of a monitoring protocol, with high spatial resolution and high temporal resolution, on an original location characterized by reliefs of Badlands in coastal environments. The first results of these investigations are described with an evaluation of two methods for the creation of 3D models: a “heavy” method by Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) monitoring, and a “light” method using “Structure from Motion” (SfM) terrestrial photogrammetry. The small investment of time in the field and money is an important asset of the SfM method. The textured rendering quality of the SfM model makes it a powerful tool for geomorphological analysis. According to a recurrent monitoring protocol involving both measurements, it was possible to compare the accuracy of the SfM and TLS models. The results show a high accuracy of the SfM models with an overall average error of 0.05 m. The representations of the zones of accumulation and erosion as well as their spatial succession allow to investigate the dynamics of the involved processes with both methods. Preliminary volume calculation results are conclusive for TLS models.     

Use of point scale models to improve conceptual understanding in complex aquifers: An example from a sandstone aquifer in the Eden valley,Cumbria, UK

Understanding catchment functioning is increasingly important to enable water resources to be quantified and used sustainably, flood risk to be minimized, as well as to protect the system from degradation by pollution. Developing conceptual understanding of groundwater systems and their encapsulation in models is an important part of this understanding, but they are resource intensive to create and calibrate. The relative lack of data or the particular complexity of a groundwater system can prevent the development of a satisfactory conceptual understanding of the hydrological behaviour, which can be used to construct an adequate distributed model. A time series of daily groundwater levels from the Permo-Triassic sandstones situated in the River Eden Valley, Cumbria, UK have been analysed. These hydrographs show a range of behaviours and therefore have previously been studied using statistical and time series analysis techniques. This paper describes the application of AquiMOD, impulse response function (IRF) and combined AquiMOD-IRF methods to characterize the daily groundwater hydrographs. The best approach for each characteristic type of response has been determined and related to the geological and hydrogeological framework found at each borehole location. It is clear that AquiMOD, IRF and a combination of AquiMOD with IRF can be deployed to reproduce hydrograph responses in a range of hydrogeological settings. Importantly the choice of different techniques demonstrates the influence of differing processes and hydrogeological settings. Further they can distinguish the influences of differing hydrogeological environments and the impacts these have on the groundwater flow processes. They can be used, as shown in this paper, in a staged approach to help develop reliable and comprehensive conceptual models of groundwater flow. This can then be used as a solid basis for the development of distributed models, particularly as the latter are resource expensive to build and to calibrate effectively. This approach of using simple models and techniques first identifies specific aspects of catchment functioning, for example influence of the river, that can be later tested in a distributed model.     

Estimating Sensible and Latent Heat Fluxes over an Inland Water Body Using Optical and Microwave Scintillometers

Boundary-Layer Meteorology - Observations of turbulent heat fluxes over inland water bodies are scarce despite being critical to adequate lake parametrization for numerical weather forecast and...     

A new assemblage of ray-finned fishes (Teleostei) from the Lower Oligocene “Schistes à Meletta” from the Glières plateau, Bornes Massif, eastern France

A recently discovered fish assemblage from the “Schistes à Meletta” facies (Lower Oligocene) of the Glières Plateau, Bornes Massif, Haute–Savoie, eastern France is described. The assemblage, comprising specimens ranging from fully-articulated skeletons to isolated scattered ossifications, is composed of Anenchelum cf. glarisianum, Pristigenys sp., Fistularia sp., Caranx cf. glarisianus alongside indeterminate teleosts. This new assemblage greatly increases the fish diversity previously known from the “Schistes à Meletta” of this area. The fauna shows biogeographic affinities with assemblages from the Peritethys domain, in particular from the Helvetic molassic basin and from the Paratethys. The genera identified at the Glières locality are represented today by species living in tropical nearshore environments together with species from the open sea. A possible explanation is that the environment of deposition was rather deep, and that shallow-water fishes were brought in by turbidity currents.     

Monitoring the evolution of irrigated areas with Landsat images using backward and forward change detection analysis in the Kou watershed,Burkina Faso

The Kou watershed is characterized by important water resources used for drinking, agriculture (especially in the irrigated areas), industry and the preservation of aquatic fauna and flora. For several decades, there has been increasing pressure on the Kou's water resources, partly because of the expansion of the irrigated agricultural areas. This study was conducted to examine this issue, focusing on one specific irrigated area. In order to monitor the expansion of irrigated areas in developing countries, a low-cost remote sensing method based on Landsat images and aerial photographs was developed. The method is based on maximum-likelihood classification, followed by backward and forward change detection analysis requiring agronomic expertise. Using pixel trajectory analysis, the method connects all pixels to their consecutive states in order to correct their current states. The study showed that the irrigated area has expanded by almost 70% over 20 years, with most of this expansion occurring in the past 10 years. The method, if validated, could be used to obtain better information on past occupation in the rural irrigated areas for which there is currently no archived data, making temporal analyses impossible.     

北半球白垩纪-古近纪之交生物灭绝期孢粉地层学

长期以来,科学家们对白垩纪-古近纪(K-Pg)之交陆地上生物大灭绝事件的趋势与灭绝速率争论不断。这些争论主要集中在脊椎动物上,尤其是非鸟恐龙。尽管如此,在理解K-Pg之交的生物响应以及相关的生态系统扰动时,植被的演化也是一个重要的组成部分。本文综述北半球内白垩纪晚期至古近纪Aquilapollenites古孢粉地理大区的孢粉地层学:在美国,晚白垩世生物组合以一系列关键门类的出现为标志,其中三冬期—坎潘期过渡期以Aquilapollenites以及相关的三突起型属的出现为标志,而马斯特里赫特阶的底界以睛形型的Wodehouseia属与Kurtzipitessp.的出现为标志;Wodehouseia spinata生物组合带以较大的个体与复杂的壁构造为特征,其中一系列的被子植物孢粉单元在K-Pg之交的记录中消失了,这使得K-Pg灭绝事件容易识别;具孔类花粉和Momipites与Caryapollenites两个属的关键种的出现,标志着古近纪孢粉植物群的复苏。近期的资料涵盖了北美大陆的大部分记录,而中国、欧洲和南半球的更多研究将更有助于理解全球陆地生物圈对K-Pg之交撞击事件的响应。     

Blocky regularization schemes for Full‐Waveform Inversion★

With ill‐posed inverse problems such as Full‐Waveform Inversion, regularization schemes are needed to constrain the solution. Whereas many regularization schemes end up smoothing the model, an undesirable effect with FWI where high‐resolution maps are sought, blocky regularization does not: it identifies and preserves strong velocity contrasts leading to step‐like functions. These models might be needed for imaging with wave‐equation based techniques such as Reverse Time Migration or for reservoir characterization. Enforcing blockiness in the model space amounts to enforcing a sparse representation of discontinuities in the model. Sparseness can be obtained using the ?¹ norm or Cauchy function which are related to long‐tailed probability density functions. Detecting these discontinuities with vertical and horizontal gradient operators helps constraining the model in both directions. Blocky regularization can also help recovering higher wavenumbers that the data used for inversion would allow, thus helping controlling the cost of FWI. While the Cauchy function yields blockier models, both ?¹ and Cauchy attenuate illumination and inversion artifacts.