An empirical attenuation relationship for Northwestern Turkey ground motion using a random effects approach

Using a random effects model that takes into consideration the correlation of data recorded by a single seismic event, a database consisting of 195 recordings from 17 recent events is employed to develop empirical attenuation relationships for the geometric mean of horizontal peak ground acceleration and 5-percent damped spectral acceleration (S_a). The recordings employed are obtained from strong motion stations operating in Northwestern Turkey and resulted from events that include the Kocaeli (M_w=7.4) and the Düzce (M_w=7.1) earthquakes and their aftershocks as well as other events. By studying differences in standard errors, the random effects model is compared with a fixed effects model that does not account for distinctions between intra- and inter-event variability. Effects of local site conditions are included in the empirical relationships developed. The dependence on frequency of the various model parameters is also studied. Frequency-dependent attenuation coefficients for the proposed random effects models developed are summarized in tables to facilitate their use.     

Reef parameterisation schemes with applications to tidal modelling

A variety of analytical models is used to investigate the effects on tidal propagation of a barrier reef system. These models specify reef geometry by two parameters. They can accommodate cases where water flows over reefs, as well as through inter-reef gaps, and also incorporate quadratic bottom friction. Although based on a one-dimensional approach, adaptations of a solution by Huthnance are used to account for the additional blockage effects associated with two-dimensional flow patterns near reef barriers. The present work adopts the philosophy that only a numerical approach can cope with the wide variations in reef geometry that are encountered in areas such as the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) region of Australia. Moreover, since typical model grids cannot resolve inter-reef gaps and other features with sufficient accuracy, a parameterised approach is needed to accommodate the conflicting demands of reef geometry and an economically feasible model resolution. The formulation of the analytical models is such that they can be applied immediately to standard numerical algorithms. Numerical experiments for flow in a channel, with a reef barrier across its centre, are used to test the parameterisation schemes. Comparison of the results for parameterised reefs with those obtained using extremely fine grids, shows convincing evidence of the success of the schemes. A separate method for automatically generating reef parameters has simplified the task of applying the methodology to real reefal systems. A tidal model of the Southern GBR, a region which exhibits unusual tidal behaviour, but which also has ample field data available for model testing, is used to demonstrate the accuracy that can be attained with the parameterised approach. Although tides are considered specifically in the present work, the formulation should be applicable with equal ease to the many other significant classes of low frequency motions in the GBR.     

The integration of South African fisheries into the global economy: Past,present and future

The integration of the South African fisheries into the global economy has operated as a powerful constraint on post-apartheid fisheries reform. The shedding of South Africa's international pariah status and currency depreciation enhanced access to and competitiveness on global markets, sparking a demersal-led export boom, which has favoured incumbent producers. Increased exports have also allowed the post-apartheid state and nascent black capital to maximise their returns from the fisheries through cost recovery and share purchases. The protection and promotion of the fisheries’ “international competitiveness”, inter alia sought through “sustainable fishery” certification of the hake industry with the Maritime Stewardship Council (MSC), has in turn provided a cover-all for the refusal of populist redistribution demands and special treatment for black small capital.     

The solar occultation for ice experiment

The Solar Occultation For Ice Experiment (SOFIE) was launched onboard the Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) satellite on 25 April 2007, and began science observations on 14 May 2007. SOFIE conducts solar occultation measurements in 16 spectral bands that are used to retrieve vertical profiles of temperature, O₃, H₂O, CO₂, CH₄, NO, and polar mesospheric cloud (PMC) extinction at wavelengths from 0.330 to 5.006 μm. SOFIE performs 15 sunset measurements at latitudes from 65° to 85°S and 15 sunrise measurements from 65° to 85°N each day. This work describes the SOFIE instrument, measurement approach, and retrieval results for the northern summer of 2007.     

Determination of Zr and Hf in a Flux-Free Fusion of Whole Rock Samples using Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) with Isotope Dilution Calibration

Isotope dilution calibration has been applied to the determination of Zr and Hf in whole rocks by laser ablation (LA)-ICP-MS. Enriched isotopes were added during the preparation of flux-free, synthetic whole rock glasses and homogenised through a combination of grinding and fusion. This method avoids problems, such as solution instability and the chemical resistance of minerals such as zircon, inherent in acid digestion sample preparation. The use of isotope dilution removes the need for external calibration using certified reference material glasses such as NIST SRM 612 for which certified Zr and Hf values are not available. The precision of Zr and Hf determinations were found to be < 1% and 3.5% respectively, limited by Poisson counting statistics which contributed to 50% of the final precision of analysis. Measured values correlate closely with compiled literature values.     

Determining asteroid spin states using radar speckles

Knowing the shapes and spin states of near-Earth asteroids is essential to understanding their dynamical evolution because of the Yarkovsky and YORP effects. Delay-Doppler radar imaging is the most powerful ground-based technique for imaging near-Earth asteroids and can obtain spatial resolution of <10 m, but frequently produces ambiguous pole direction solutions. A radar echo from an asteroid consists of a pattern of speckles caused by the interference of reflections from different parts of the surface. It is possible to determine an asteroid’s pole direction by tracking the motion of the radar speckle pattern. Speckle tracking can potentially measure the poles of at least several radar targets each year, rapidly increasing the available sample of NEA pole directions. We observed the near-Earth asteroid 2008 EV5 with the Arecibo planetary radar and the Very Long Baseline Array in December 2008. By tracking the speckles moving from the Pie Town to Los Alamos VLBA stations, we have shown that EV5 rotates retrograde. This is the first speckle detection of a near-Earth asteroid.     

Investigation of calcareous beach sands in the Akumal and Tulum areas for use in constructed wetlands,Eastern Yucatan Peninsula

Constructed wetlands can be a low-cost, ecologically based technology to locally treat domestic wastewater prior to discharge. Wetland systems implemented in the resort village of Akumal in the state of Quintana Roo, in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico have been considered moderately successful over approximately 10 years of operation. Yet the wide-scale implementation of constructed wetlands has not occurred in the region nor throughout Mexico due largely to the cost of the crushed aggregate used in these systems. Variation in the geotechnical and mineralogical properties of 29 samples of local calcareous beach sands collected from the tourist areas of Akumal and Tulum in the Yucatan, Mexico were analyzed and compared to those of crushed aggregate currently used in constructed wetland systems in Akumal. Powder X-ray diffraction on beach sand samples from Akumal and Tulum indicates that the proportion of aragonite varies from 24 to 84%, calcite varies from 7 to 38% and Mg-calcite varied from 8 to 57% compared to crushed aggregate which consists of 0–25% aragonite and 75–100% calcite. Compared to crushed aggregate beach sands are unimodal and have better uniformity coefficients, making them a better geotechnical choice than crushed sands with respect to these properties. Grain-size of the beach sands is much smaller compared to that of the crushed aggregate currently used in the constructed wetland systems in Akumal which should enhance the efficiency of the filtration of organic matter and bacteria. The average hydraulic conductivity measurements of 0.010 and 0.016 cm/s for beach sands from Akumal and Tulum, respectively are comparable or less than the average of 0.016 cm/s for crushed aggregate currently used in engineered wetland systems. Yet a combination of high bulk porosity, intragranular pores, and the presence of Mg-calcite observed in beach sands may likely result in higher dissolution rates versus the crushed aggregate. Preliminary assessment suggests that the use of local sand may be a technical, economic, and perceptual enhancement to the systems. Still a careful and thorough analysis of the potential environmental and aesthetic impacts of mining beach sands is necessary.     

Radar observations and a physical model of contact binary Asteroid 4486 Mithra

Arecibo (2380 MHz, 12.6 cm) and Goldstone (8560 MHz, 3.5 cm) delay-Doppler radar images obtained in July and August of 2000 reveal that 4486 Mithra is an irregular, significantly bifurcated object, with a central valley ∼380 m deep and a long axis potentially exceeding 2 km. With its bimodal appearance, Mithra is a strong candidate for a contact binary asteroid. Sequences of Goldstone images spanning up to 3 h per day show very little rotation and establish that Mithra is an unusually slow rotator. We used Goldstone and Arecibo data to estimate Mithra’s 3D shape and spin state. We obtain prograde (λ = 337°, β = 19°) and retrograde (λ = 154°, β = −19°) models that give comparable fits, have very similar shapes roughly resembling an hourglass, and have a rotation period of 67.5 ± 6.0 h. The dimensions of these two models are very similar; for the prograde solution the maximum dimensions are X = 2.35 ± 0.15 km, Y = 1.65 ± 0.10 km, Z = 1.44 ± 0.10 km. Dynamical analysis of our models suggests that in the past, Mithra most likely went through a period of even slower rotation with its obliquity close to 90°. The spin rate is predicted to be increasing due to thermal torque (YORP), while the obliquity, which is currently +68° and +106° for the prograde and retrograde models, respectively, is predicted to move away from 90°.     

A Potential Global Standard Stratotype-Section and Point of the Moscovian Stage (Carboniferous)

Conodonts and fusulinids are the two most widely used biotic groups for subdividing and correlating Bashkirian and Moscovian strata. The definition of the base of the Global Moscovian Stage is undecided because there are many disagreements among existing boundary definition proposals, each of which has disadvantages. Declinognathodus donetzianus is easily recognized but somewhat limited in its paleogeographic distribution. Idiognathoides postsulcatus is slightly more widespread, but it is less easily identified and its occurrences may be diachronous from region to region. Diplognathodus ellesmerensis is easily recognized and even more widespread, but it is usually rare and its ancestry is not adequately known. The Naqing Section of South Guizhou, South China contains diverse conodont evolutionary lineages among different taxa, including Idiognathoides, Idiognathodus, Diplognathodus, Neognathodus, Gondolella and Mesogondolella. There are numerous transitional forms in almost every lineage of the Naqing section, which shows that the prospects for South China to play a critical role in determining the basal Moscovian Stage definition are good.     

Verification of model simulated mass balance, flow fields and tabular calving events of the Antarctic ice sheet against remotely sensed observations

The Antarctic ice sheet (AIS) has the greatest potential for global sea level rise. This study simulates AIS ice creeping, sliding, tabular calving, and estimates the total mass balances, using a recently developed, advanced ice dynamics model, known as SEGMENT-Ice. SEGMENT-Ice is written in a spherical Earth coordinate system. Because the AIS contains the South Pole, a projection transfer is performed to displace the pole outside of the simulation domain. The AIS also has complex ice-water-granular material-bedrock configurations, requiring sophisticated lateral and basal boundary conditions. Because of the prevalence of ice shelves, a ‘girder yield’ type calving scheme is activated. The simulations of present surface ice flow velocities compare favorably with InSAR measurements, for various ice-water-bedrock configurations. The estimated ice mass loss rate during 2003–2009 agrees with GRACE measurements and provides more spatial details not represented by the latter. The model estimated calving frequencies of the peripheral ice shelves from 1996 (roughly when the 5-km digital elevation and thickness data for the shelves were collected) to 2009 compare well with archived scatterometer images. SEGMENT-Ice’s unique, non-local systematic calving scheme is found to be relevant for tabular calving. However, the exact timing of calving and of iceberg sizes cannot be simulated accurately at present. A projection of the future mass change of the AIS is made, with SEGMENT-Ice forced by atmospheric conditions from three different coupled general circulation models. The entire AIS is estimated to be losing mass steadily at a rate of ~120 km³/a at present and this rate possibly may double by year 2100.