Detecting lateral resistivity inhomogeneities with the Schlumberger array

A method of detecting lateral resistivity inhomogeneities with a multi-electrode cable for the Schlumberger array is presented. Using such a cable system, two dipole-dipole soundings are gathered in addition to the Schlumberger sounding at each point. Offset differences calculated from the dipole-dipole data give qualitative information about lateral resistivity inhomogeneities. Results from 1D modelling can give quantitative information about the 2D resistivity distribution since the dipole-dipole soundings are made to either side of the Schlumberger sounding point. Examples from two different locations in Norway are shown. At Reinøya, northern Norway, a dipping layer, confirmed by refraction seismic data, was identified. In a sedimentary basin with a contamination plume at Haslemoen, southern Norway, the method has revealed lateral variations in resistivity. In both cases, the Schlumberger soundings could be fitted with a 1D resistivity model.     

Regions and sustainable development: regional planning matters

This paper looks at how the term 'sustainable development' has been used in the process of regional plan making over the past decade. It emphasizes the differing geographies of these debates within England, in terms of how sustainable development has been used to justify different types of approach in different parts of the country. Both drawing on and challenging recent work on state theory, the paper argues the need to see regional planning as a part of a multi-scalar governance system, whose importance should not be underestimated.     

Aliens like us?

Simon Conway Morris explains that as and when (and indeed if) we meet the extraterrestrials, they will look eerily like us.     

Clustering and visualization of earthquake data in a grid environment

We present a web client-server service WEB-IS, which we have developed for remote analysis and visualization of seismic data consisting of both small magnitude events and large earthquakes. We show that the problem-solving environment (PSE) intended for prediction of large magnitude earthquakes can be based on this WEB-IS idea. The clustering schemes, feature generation, feature extraction techniques and rendering algorithms form a computational framework of this environment. On the other hand, easy and fast access both to the seismic data distributed among distant computing resources and to computational and visualization resources can be realized in a GRID framework. We discuss the usefulness of NaradaBrokering (iNtegrated Asynchronous Real-time Adaptive Distributed Architecture) as a middleware, allowing for flexibility and high throughput for remote visualization of geophysical data. The WEB-IS functionality was tested both on synthetic and the actual earthquake catalogs. We consider the application of similar methodology for tsunami alerts.     

Stable axisymmetric SPH formulation with no axis singularity

The axisymmetric formulation of the governing equations for geomechanics in the framework of smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) is presented in this study. Two forms of SPH discretization for the motion equations, which are labeled as form I and form II, are proposed, and the methods to compute the hoop stress and strain terms including hoop strain rate and the acceleration introduced by the hoop stress are compared. To avoid possible singularity problem near the axis of symmetry, a perfectly smooth contact along with ghost particles are applied to prevent the real particles from overly approaching the axis of symmetry to remove this potential singularity. In addition, the Mohr–Coulomb constitutive model is implemented into the SPH formulation in describing soil behavior. Four numerical tests are carried out to validate and compare the accuracy and stability of the proposed algorithms, and their results are compared with analytical solutions and results from FEM analysis. The performance in these comparisons suggests that SPH II with hoop terms computed through direct hoop method is more stable than the others, and the adoption of contact for the symmetric axis is efficient in eliminating the singularity problem. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

It’s Time To Learn About Learning: Where Should the Environmental and Natural Resource Governance Field Go Next?

This Commentary reflects on the state of the scholarship on learning for environmental and natural resource policy and governance. How have we been learning about learning? We highlight theoretical and empirical advancements related to learning, as well as areas of divergence between learning theories and frameworks, and underdeveloped knowledge around processes and outcomes. To address these limitations and improve progress in both theory and practice, we offer recommendations for learning scholarship by focusing on how to collectively engage in ‘learning about learning’.     

A coupled discrete element model for the simulation of soil and water flow through an orifice

Soil erosion around defective underground pipes can cause ground collapses and sinkholes in urban areas. Most of these soil erosion events are caused by fluidization of the surrounding soil with subsequent washing into defective sewer pipes. In this study, this soil erosion process is simplified as the gradual washout of sand particles mixed with water through an orifice. The discrete element method is used to simulate the large deformation behavior of the sand particles, and the Darcy fluid model is coupled with this approach to simulate fluid flow through porous sand media. A coupled 3D discrete element model is developed and implemented based on this scheme. To simulate previous experiments using this coupled model considering the current computing capacity, we incorporated a ‘supply layer’ to study the continuous erosion process. The coupled model can predict the erosion flow rates of sand and water and the shape of erosion void. Thus, the model can be used as an effective and efficient tool to investigate the soil erosion process around defective pipes. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Physical determinants of intertidal communities on dissipative beaches: Implications of sea-level rise

Sea-level rise is likely to cause significant changes in the morphodynamic state of beaches in the higher latitudes, resulting in steeper beaches with larger particle sizes. These physical changes have implications for beach invertebrate communities, which are determined largely by sediment particle size, and hence for ecosystem function. Previous studies have explored the relationships between invertebrate communities and environmental variables such as particle size, beach slope and exposure to wave action, and often these physical variables can be integrated in various indices of morphodynamic state. Most of these studies incorporated a full range of beach types that included wave-dominated surf beaches, where the wave action is harsh enough to enable reliable estimates of breaker height, a parameter included in several of the indices, and concluded that more dissipative beaches with gentler slopes and finer particle sizes often support a higher number of species and greater abundance than more reflective beaches. Whether these predictions remain valid for less wave-dominated beaches, where breaker height is more difficult to determine, is uncertain. In the present study, the abundance of meio- and macrofauna was quantified across a range of beaches in the UK, which are generally towards the lower energy end of the morphodynamic gradient, and their relationships with beach physical properties explored. No significant relationships were found between abundance and the standard morphodynamic indices, but significant relationships were found for both macro- and meiofaunal abundance when these indices were combined with an exposure index (derived from velocity, direction, duration and the effective fetch). All the relationships identified between abundance and combined morphodynamic indices indicated a higher abundance of both macro- and meiofauna on the more dissipative beaches. The reverse was however found for species richness. If predictions that accelerated sea-level rise will move beaches towards a more reflective morphodynamic state are correct, this could lead to declines in the abundance of meio- and macrofauna, with potential adverse consequences for ecosystem functioning.