Spectral-finite-element approach to two-dimensional electromagnetic induction in a spherical earth

We present a spectral-finite-element approach to the 2-D forward problem for electromagnetic induction in a spherical earth. It represents an alternative to a variety of numerical methods for 2-D global electromagnetic modelling introduced recently (e.g. the perturbation expansion approach, the finite difference scheme). It may be used to estimate the effect of a possible axisymmetric structure of electrical conductivity of the mantle on surface observations, or it may serve as a tool for testing methods and codes for 3-D global electromagnetic modelling. The ultimate goal of these electromagnetic studies is to learn about the Earth's 3-D electrical structure.
Since the spectral-finite-element approach comes from the variational formulation, we formulate the 2-D electromagnetic induction problem in a variational sense. The boundary data used in this formulation consist of the horizontal components of the total magnetic intensity measured on the Earth's surface. In this the variational approach differs from other methods, which usually use spherical harmonic coefficients of external magnetic sources as input data. We verify the assumptions of the Lax-Milgram theorem and show that the variational solution exists and is unique. The spectral-finite-element approach then means that the problem is parametrized by spherical harmonics in the angular direction, whereas finite elements span the radial direction. The solution is searched for by the Galerkin method, which leads to the solving of a system of linear algebraic equations. The method and code have been tested for Everett & Schultz's (1995) model of two eccentrically nested spheres, and good agreement has been obtained.     

Modelling a discrete spatial response using generalized linear mixed models: application to Lyme disease vectors

Predicting disease risk by identifying environmental factors responsible for the geographical distribution of disease vectors can help target control strategies and optimize preventive measures. In this study we present a hierarchical approach to model the distribution of Lyme disease ticks as a function of environmental factors. We use the Poisson framework natural for count data while allowing for spatial correlations. To help identify environmental factors that best explain tick abundance, we develop an intuitive procedure for covariate selection in the spatial context. These methods could be useful in analysing effects of environmental and climatological changes on the distribution of disease vectors, and the spatial extrapolation of vector abundance under such scenarios.     

Access to supermarkets among poorer neighborhoods: a comparison of time and distance measures

This research assesses neighborhood differences in access to supermarkets for the Portland, Oregon region. Five-year American Community Survey data for the 2006–2010 period are used to compare a travel time and distance measure of supermarket access for neighborhoods of concentrated poverty relative to other neighborhoods, taking into account their distance to the city center. Poor and nonpoor outer neighborhoods have longer average travel times and distances to nearby supermarkets than their more centralized counterparts. Poor outer neighborhoods fare better on travel distance than nonpoor outer neighborhoods do, but endure penalties in longer travel times. This research demonstrates the potential for variation in results across methods measuring access to neighborhood amenities and suggests that more nuanced methodology will be required for us to understand sociospatial disparities in access.     

Littering in context(s): Using a quasi-natural experiment to explore geographic influences on antisocial behavior

Social science literature suggests that neighborhood-based visual cues have substantive effects on individuals' littering behaviors. Experimental research on this topic typically alters the appearance of a selected public location, and then monitors changes in littering due to these tightly controlled esthetic changes. The general finding is that littering occurs more frequently in relatively disorderly settings. The current paper extends this work by testing whether or not the same finding holds in more “real life” situations, wherein the operative visual cues come directly from the environment rather than through experimental manipulation. Specifically, the paper empirically identifies two study sites that serve similar functions in their urban system, but that differ markedly in contextual features. At the first site (#1), visual cues include liquor stores, vacant structures, and a noisy interstate highway. Notable visual cues at site #2 are scenic vistas, well-maintained housing, and greenspaces. When the same quasi-natural littering experiment was conducted at both locations, the littering rate was significantly higher at site #1 compared to site #2 (after controlling for individual-level demographic attributes). This result adds value to the applied geography community, as it confirms that spatially-based attributes do influence individual behaviors in a manner consistent with controlled, comparatively acontextual experimental findings. Additionally, the results implicate policy strategies that might be useful for counteracting antisocial urban behavior.     

A partial susceptibility approach to analysing the magnetic properties of environmental materials: a case study

An approach to expressing the magnetic properties of environmental materials in terms of the contributions of the magnetic susceptibilities of specific magnetic components is reported. The approach links the partial susceptibilities of discrete particles, domains or mineral fractions with the concentration-dependent parameters by means of multiple linear regression methods. The case study, using the Liverpool street dust data set, demonstrates that the technique is able to model the contributions of the main magnetic components satisfactorily. Several factors may have a significant impact on the regression results. These include the validity of the linear proportional relationships between partial susceptibilities and the relevant concentration-dependent parameters, the adequacy of the variable selection procedure and the regression model, and the suitability of certain magnetic parameters.     

The Geological Survey of Canada's Integrated Research and Monitoring Area (IRMA) projects: a contribution to Canadian global change research

The Global Change Program of the Geological Survey of Canada has chosen three regions as Integrated Research and Monitoring Areas (IRMAs). These are: i) the Palliser IRMA, encompassing the dry prairie region of southern Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba; ii) the Mackenzie IRMA, including the Mackenzie Valley corridor and Beaufort Sea coast; and iii) the High Arctic, where collaborative studies centred on north-central Ellesmere Island have been conducted since 1989. The primary objective in each area is to determine relationships between geomorphic processes and climate in order to help predict the potential geologic impact of global change. Establishment of a detailed paleoclimatic record for each region is essential to provide a context for ongoing climate change. Paleolimnological studies in concert with other proxy methodologies are directed at outlining Holocene climatic variability and are a primary research component in each region.     

Imaging distribution patterns of magnetic minerals by a novel high-Tc-SQUID-based field distribution measuring system: application to Permian sediments

A newly developed field distribution measuring system based on a high- T _c SQUID has been employed in the study of magnetic mineral distribution in several Permian sedimentary rocks. The instrument consists of a small, 1.4×1.4 mm sized YBaCu-oxide SQUID magnetic field sensor that is operated in a thin-walled dewar, so that the sample's surface, at room temperature, can be scanned at a distance of only ∼1.5 mm. The samples were subjected to a saturation remanence perpendicular to the surface and the scanning measurements in zero field reveal that the magnetization might be carried by only a small part of a sample, in one case associated with secondary oxide phases. High-resolution magnetic scans can aid in the interpretation of the magnetic remanence acquisition process.     

U- and Th-series disequilibria in coastal infill sediments from Praia da Rocha (Algarve Region, Portugal): a contribution to the study of late Quaternary weathering and erosion

U- and Th-series disequilibria observed in a sequence of infill sediments from Praia da Rocha, southern Portugal, were used in combination with geochemical and particle size data to investigate sediment provenance with a view to resolving the late Quaternary weathering and erosion history of the Algarve region, and the stratigraphy of coastal karstic exposures of the Faro/Quarteira (FQ) formation. The red infill units can be distinguished from the brown and buff units on the basis of their lower residual U- and Th-concentrations, their differing post-depositional histories (as revealed by U- and Th-series disequilibria in sequentially extracted sediment phases), and their greater degree of sediment processing. Hence, the buff and brown infill units appear to be derived locally from weathering of the Miocene limestone whilst the red infill may be linked to large-scale mass movement of the FQ formation from further inland, but south of Silves, during the Late Pleistocene. This sequence of events confirms a close association between the formation of karst topography and infilling by gravitational slumping, debris flow and fluvial activity, and, hence, accounts for the complex (three-stage) sediment provenance of the infill material.