Surface runoff as influenced by slope position and land use in the Koupendri catchment of northwest Benin: field observation and model validation

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to evaluate: (i) the influence of slope position and land use on plot-scale runoff, and (ii) the ability of the curve number (CN) approach to estimate the measured runoff using microplots (1 m × 1 m) spaced 0.5 m apart. The study considered two slope positions: upslope (5.8%), and downslope (2.3%), and two land-use types: tilled maize-beans (TMB) intercrop and fallow shrub-grassland (FSG). Runoff was measured from September to November 2014 and from July to October 2015. The rainfall–runoff events in 2014 and 2015 were subjected to statistical analysis. The CN was computed with rainfall–runoff data. The results showed a significant (p < 0.05) effect of land use on surface runoff in 2015. Neither the slope position nor its interaction with land use had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on surface runoff. The runoff estimation captured the dynamics of runoff with better estimation observed under the TMB plot compared to the FSG.     

Features of volcanic tremors on Mt. Etna (Sicily) during the March–August 1983 eruption

The seismic analysis of the volcanic tremors preceding and accompanying the Etnean eruption of March–August, 1983 has shown a significant variation in the spectral content before the beginning of the eruption, the tremor peaks at 1.4 and 1.6 Hz — which might be associated with the feeding pipes of the NE crater (Schick et al., 1982a) — being the dominant feature of the spectra.A model of eruption mechanism is proposed where a feeder dyke would connect the NE crater with the effusive fracture.     

Severe soil erosion during a 3‐day exceptional rainfall event: combining modelling and field data for a fallow cereal field

Exceptional rainfall events cause significant losses of soil, although few studies have addressed the validation of model predictions at field scale during severe erosive episodes. In this study, we evaluate the predictive ability of the enhanced Soil Erosion and Redistribution Tool (SERT‐2014) model for mapping and quantifying soil erosion during the exceptional rainfall event (~235 mm) that affected the Central Spanish Pyrenees in October 2012. The capacity of the simulation model is evaluated in a fallow cereal field (1.9 ha) at a high spatial scale (1 × 1 m). Validation was performed with field‐quantified rates of soil loss in the rills and ephemeral gullies and also with a detailed map of soil redistribution. The SERT‐2014 model was run for the six rainfall sub‐events that made up the exceptional event, simulating the different hydrological responses of soils with maximum runoff depths ranging between 40 and 1017 mm. Predicted average and maximum soil erosion was 11 and 117 Mg ha^?1 event^?1, respectively. Total soil loss and sediment yield to the La Reina gully amounted to 16.3 and 9.0 Mg event^?1. These rates are in agreement with field estimations of soil loss of 20.0 Mg event^?1. Most soil loss (86%) occurred during the first sub‐event. Although soil accumulation was overestimated in the first sub‐event because of the large amount of detached soil, the enhanced SERT‐2014 model successfully predicted the different spatial patterns and values of soil redistribution for each sub‐event. Further research should focus on stream transport capacity. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Temporal (Un)correlations Between Coda <Emphasis Type="Italic">Q</Emphasis> and Seismicity: Multiscale Trend Analysis

This paper introduces a statistical technique, based on the recently developed Multiscale Trend Analysis (MTA), for quantifying correlations between non-stationary processes observed at irregular non-coincident time grids. We apply this technique to studying the temporal correlation between the dynamics of the ductile and brittle layers in the lithosphere. Our results confirm the previously reported strong positive correlation between the coda Q^–1 and seismicity and its drop before major earthquakes observed in California. The proposed technique has significant advantages over the conventional correlation analysis: (1) MTA allows one to work directly with non-coincident time series without preliminary resampling the data; (2) the correlation is defined via the stable objects—trends—rather than noisy individual observations, hence it is highly robust; (3) the correlations are quantified at different time scales. The suggested technique seems promising for the wide range of applied problems dealing with coupled time series.     

Analysis of Abnormal Characteristics of Regional Crustal Deformation before the Menyuan MS6.4 Earthquake by GPS Continuous Data

In order to study the characteristics of crustal deformation around the epicenter before the 2016 M_S6.4 Menyuan earthquake, the GPS continuous stations of the period from 2010 to 2016 were selected according to the observation data of the tectonic environment monitoring network in Chinese Mainland. The deformation characteristics of the crust before the earthquake were discussed through inter-station baseline time series analysis and the strain time series analysis in the epicentral region. The results show that a trend turn of the baseline movement state around the epicenter region occurred after 2014, and the movement after 2014 reflects an obvious decreasing trend of compressional deformation. During this period, the stress field energy was in a certain accumulation state. Since the beginning of 2014, the EW-component linear strain and surface strain rate weakened gradually before the earthquake. It shows that there was an obvious deformation deficit at the epicentral area in the past two years, which indicates that the region accumulated a high degree of strain energy before the earthquake. Therefore, there was a significant background change in the area before the earthquake. The results of the study can provide basic research data for understanding the seismogenic process and mechanism of this earthquake.     

Tropical precipitation anomalies and d‐excess evolution during El Niño 2014‐16

The last 2014‐16 El Niño event was among the three strongest episodes on record. El Niño considerably changes annual and seasonal precipitation across the tropics. Here, we present a unique stable isotope data set of daily precipitation collected in Costa Rica prior to, during, and after El Niño 2014‐16, in combination with Lagrangian moisture source and precipitation anomaly diagnostics. δ²H composition ranged from ‐129.4 to +18.1 (‰) while δ¹⁸O ranged from ‐17.3 to +1.0 (‰). No significant difference was observed among δ¹⁸O (P=0.186) and δ²H (P=0.664) mean annual compositions. However, mean annual d‐excess showed a significant decreasing trend (from +13.3 to +8.7 ‰) (P<0.001) with values ranging from +26.6 to ‐13.9 ‰ prior to and during the El Niño evolution. The latter decrease in d‐excess can be partly explained by an enhanced moisture flux convergence across the southeastern Caribbean Sea coupled with moisture transport from northern South America by means of an increased Caribbean Low Level Jet regime. During 2014‐15, precipitation deficit across the Pacific domain averaged 46% resulting in a very severe drought; while a 94% precipitation surplus was observed in the Caribbean domain. Understanding these regional moisture transport mechanisms during a strong El Niño event may contribute to a) better understanding of precipitation anomalies in the tropics and b) re‐evaluate past stable isotope interpretations of ENSO events in paleoclimatic archives within the Central America region.     

1960年以来太湖水生植被演变

太湖的富营养化污染日益严重,针对太湖水生植被的研究工作非常重要,然而全面的太湖水生植被调查已经有将近二十年未见报道.基于2014年夏季全湖水生植被调查结果,结合历史资料,比较分析1960年以来太湖水生植被演变情况.结果表明,1960年以来,共有23种水生植物从太湖消失,其中1981、1997和2014年分别消失7、4和12种.从分布区面积来看,1960年以来太湖水生植被总体呈北部湖区水生植被消失,东北部、东部及南部湖区水生植被分布区面积持续扩张的态势,1981年全湖水生植被分布区面积占8%,到2014年已经有33.82%的水面有水生植被分布.从生物量组成来看,太湖水生植被先升后降,从1960年的10×10⁴ t,持续上升到1988年的44.72×10⁴ t,1997年下降到36×10⁴ t,2014年进一步下降到29.09×10⁴ t.但挺水植被以外的水生植被,尤其是浮叶植被的生物量一直保持上升态势.总生物量的下降与东太湖挺水植被大面积消失有关,到2014年全湖挺水植被生物量比重仅占5.15%,东太湖沼泽化问题已不复存在.从群落组成变化情况来看,苦草（Vallisneria natans）群落分布区面积锐减,马来眼子菜（Potamogeton malaianus）和荇菜（Nymphoides peltatum）分布区持续扩张.目前太湖水生植被管理面临的主要问题是北部湖区水生植被恢复和东部湖区水生植被过量生长.     

长江中游沙质河段床沙级配调整过程计算

三峡工程运用后,长江中游荆江河段持续冲刷,床沙与推移质、悬移质泥沙不断交换,从而造成该河段床沙发生不同程度的调整,对长江中下游河床演变及非平衡输沙机理的研究具有重要影响.在新水沙条件下,总结分析了沙波运动特性及床沙交换方式,引入Markov三态转移概率及非均匀沙隐暴系数,得到基于状态转移概率的沙质河段床沙级配调整的计算模型.研究结果表明:(1)20092014年,沙市站年内床沙中值粒径有先增大后减小的趋势,而监利站年内床沙中值粒径则先减小后增大,且荆江河段年际床沙中值粒径总体呈上升趋势,粗化程度约为6.9%~9.3%;(2)20092014年,沙市站床沙组成中粒径d<0.062 mm的泥沙所占比重不变,0.062 mm≤d<0.25 mm的泥沙所占比重逐年减少(累计减少11.4%),d≥0.25 mm的泥沙所占比重逐年增加(累计增加11.4%),而监利站床沙组成均存在波动性变化;(3)荆江河段床沙转换为推移质的概率随着泥沙粒径的增大而增大,床沙转换为悬移质的概率随着泥沙粒径的增大而减小,而推移质和悬移质转换为床沙的概率均随着泥沙粒径的增大而增大,河床发生冲刷粗化时泥沙输移的主要形式为悬移质(概率为81%~87%),而淤积细化时床沙补给主要来源于推移质(概率为8%~12%).通过验证,本文概率模型的计算结果与实测资料符合较好,能够应用于长江中游沙质河段年际床沙粗化及年内床沙级配调整过程预报,为进一步开展三峡工程下游非均匀悬移质泥沙沿程恢复机理的研究提供理论基础.     

Solar cycle length hypothesis appears to support the ipcc on global warming

Since the discovery of a striking correlation between 1-2-2-2-1 filtered solar cycle lengths and the 11-year running average of northern hemisphere land air temperatures, there have been widespread speculations as to whether these findings would rule out any significant contributions to global warming from the enhanced concentrations of greenhouse gases. The solar hypothesis (as we shall term this assumption) claims that solar activity causes a significant component of the global mean temperature to vary in phase opposite to the filtered solar cycle lengths. In an earlier article we have demonstrated that for data covering the period 1860–1980 the solar hypothesis does not rule out any significant contribution from man-made greenhouse gases and sulphate aerosols. The present analysis goes a step further. We analyse the period 1579–1987 and find that the solar hypothesis—instead of contradicting—appears to support the assumption of a significant warming due to human activities. We have tentatively corrected the historical northern hemisphere land air temperature anomalies by removing the assumed effects of human activities. These are represented by northern hemisphere land air temperature anomalies calculated as the contributions from man-made greenhouse gases and sulphate aerosols by using an upwelling diffusion-energy balance model similar to the model of Wigley and Raper, 1993 employed in the Second Assessment Report of The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It turns out that the agreement of the filtered solar cycle lengths with the corrected temperature anomalies is substantially better than with the historical anomalies, with the mean square deviation reduced by 36% for a climate sensitivity of 2.5°C, the central value of the IPCC assessment, and by 43% for the best-fit value of 1.7°C. Therefore our findings support a total reversal of the common assumption that a verification of the solar hypothesis would challenge the IPCC assessment of man-made global warming.     

Control of structures with friction controllable sliding isolation bearings

A friction controllable sliding isolation system was developed and experimentally and analytically investigated by Feng et al. (Feng, Q., Shinozuka, M. & Fujii, S. A. friction controllable sliding isolation system. J. Eng. Mech., ASCE, 1993, 119(6), in press), the control algorithm having been developed based on a key assumption that the structural motion is always in the sliding phase. However, this assumption may not be valid in cases where the sticking phase of the structural motion dominates. In this paper a new control algorithm is developed including the effects of stick—slip phases. Effect of time delay is included in the formulation. The developed algorithm is used to evaluate the accuracy and limitations of the algorithm with continuous sliding assumption. Response to various earthquake motions, simulated using the two control algorithms, is presented. Comparisons with experimental results are also presented. Effects of stick—slip phases on the response are evaluated.     

Die Ausbalanzierung der Erdkruste (Versuch einer Drei-Schichten-Isostasie)

Zusammenfassung In der Verteilung der Schwere an der Erdoberfläche sind gewisse grosse Züge bereits kenntlich geworden. So sind allgemein die (wie gebräuchlich) isostatisch reduzierten Schwerewerte im Ozeangebiet grösser, im Kontinent kleiner als die Normalschwere, u.z. beträgt Unterschied zwischen beiden ca. 60 mgal. Man hat das dahin gedeutet, dass wirklich eineAbweichung vom Zustand isostatischen Gleichgewichtes vorliege. Das führt zu geologisch unbefriedigenden Folgerungen. Andrerseits kann eine isostatisch vollkommen ausbalanzierte Massenverteilung der Erde im Meeresniveau Schwerewerte liefern, die von der Normalschwere systematisch abweichen, ja — genau besehen — müssen solche rechnungsmässige «Anomalien» die Regel sein.In dem gebräuchlichen Modell der 2-Schichten-Isostasie überwiegt die Gravitationswirkung der Unregelmässigkeiten in der Oberflächenschicht jene der Kompensationsmassen, die in derAiry-(Pratt-) Zone bis 60 (bezw. 120) km tief liegen. Daher muss über einem in vollkommenem isostatischen Gleichgewicht flottierenden Kontinent positive, über dem Ozean negative «Anomalie» aufscheinen. Der Unterschied zwischen beiden Bereichen ist nicht gross (ca. 10 mgal), aber dem Vorzeichen nach das Gegenteil des Beobachteten.Wir schlagen dagegen ein 3-Schichten-Modell vor, in dem die Massenunregelmässigkeiten der Oberfläche (Schicht 1) durch Massen entgegengesetzten Vorzeichens, die in derAiry-Zone (2) liegen, stark — fast bis ans doppelte — überkompensiert werden, worauf erst in Schicht 3 (Tiefherd-Zone, –50 bis –500 km) die vollständige Ausbalanzierung zum hydrostatischen Gleichgewicht herbeigeführt wird. Das ergibt sich — mit plausibeln Annahmen über die Dichten — im Ozean positive, im Kontinent negative «Anomalie», und wenn man die Dimensionen wie die des Pazifik, bezw. Asiens annimmt, beträgt der Unterschied zwischen beiden rund 60 mgal—genau wie beobachtet! Die neue Ausgleichszone wurde in –500 km gewählt, weil in dieser Tiefe eine Sprungschicht von grösserer Nachgiebigkeit liegt. Das ergibt sich aus der Verbreitung der Tiefherdbeben, deren Vorkommen allein schon beweist, dass unter derAiry-(Pratt)schen Ausgleichszone, gegen die Grundannahme von hydrostatischem Gleichgewicht dortselbst und tiefer, grosse Gleichgewichtsstörungen noch viel tiefer auftreten und das recht häufig. Diese Wahl der Ausgleichstiefe wird auch durch andere geophysikalische Ueberlegungen gestützt.

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Summary In the distribution of gravity at the Earth's surface the main features are already discernible. So the isostatically corrected gravity is greater than the normal gravity at the area of the ocean, but it is smaller than this on the continent. The difference between both amounts to ca. 60 milligal. One has explained this by the assumption of areal deviation from equilibrium. This hypothesis leads to geologically unsatisfyng conclusions. On the other hand a perfectly equilibrated mass — distribution of the Earth may furnish values of gravity at the sea-level, which are systematically deviating from the normal gravity, and — after careful consideration — such calculated «anomalies» must be almost a rule.In the common model of a 2-layers-isostasy the attraction of the irregularities in the surface-layer outweighs that of the compensation-masses, which are situated in a depth up to 60 (respectively 120) km, in theAiry-Pratt-zone. Therefore positive anomalies must appear on a continent floating in a perfect isostatic equilibrium and negative ones on the ocean. The difference between the two regions is not great (approximately 10 milligal) but has just the opposite sign as it is observed.On the other hand we propose a 3-layers-model of isostasy, in which the mass-irregularities of the surface (layer I.) are intensively (almost up to the double value) overcompensated in theAiry-zone (layer II.), whereupon only then at the layer III. (zone of deep-shocks: –50 to –500 km) the perfect equipoised hydrostatic equilibrium is brought about. Thereform results — with plausible assumptions concerning the densities of the layers etc. — positive anomaly on the ocean and a negative one on the continent; and if we assume the dimensions like that one of the Pacific (respetively Asia), the difference between both amounts in round numbers to 60 milligal — exactly as it has been observed! The new zone of isostatic adjustement was chosen in –500 km, because there is a zone of yielding at this depth. This results from the distribution of thedeep focus earthquakes, the mere occurrence of which already proofs that under the zone of isostatic adjustement assumed byPratt orAiry great deviations from equilibrium take place in contradiction to their fundamental assumption of hydrostatic equilibrium in this depth and still deeper. This is also supported by other geophysical evidence.

     

Composite titanomagnetite-ferrian ilmenite grains and correlative magnetic components in a dacite with self-reversed TRM

Electron microprobe and reflected light microscopic examinations confirm the presence of composite grains of ferrian ilmenite with X_ilm = 0.53 and titanomagnetite with X_usp = 0.13 in a dacite with self-reversed TRM. A parallel TRM component associated with titanomagnetite and a reversed component associated with self-reversing ferrian ilmenite are the principal NRM components. A subordinate, parallel component is associated with ferrian ilmenite which is not magnetically coupled to an “χ-phase”. The natural self-reversing properties are mainly a consequence of the dacite's high quenching temperature, calculated at 862–864°C using the Fe—Ti oxide geothermometer, and are most consistent with the self-reversal mechanism proposed by Lawson et al. [9].The conduction of thermal demagnetization and TRM induction tests in air had a much greater effect on the Fe—Ti oxides than did natural cooling, and resulted in significant oxidation with the consequent modification of some magnetic properties and the formation of another reversed TRM component. The subdivision of titanomagnetite grains by oxidation along fractures decreased its effective grain size and caused an apparent increase in its magnetic intensity, in addition to a slight increase in its resistance to alternating field demagnetization. The χ-phase associated with the reversed NRM component, with 0.42 > X_ilm 0.31, became Fe-enriched during the earlier stages of heat treatment. It is suggested that after heating at 600°C for two hours or more, this χ-phase exsolves as titanohematite with X_ilm < 0.33. The ferrian ilmenite host is consequently enriched in Ti, and another χ-phase much closer in composition to the host generates a reversed TRM component with T_b < 200°C.     

The solar activity and the summer rainfall in the mediterranean

Summary This study deals with the influence of sunspots on the summer rainfall of 30 selected Stations of the Mediterranean, having records covering at least 4 cycles of sunspots. — It was found that the minimum of summer rainfall occurs near the maximum of sunspots and the maximum of rainfall in the beginning or at the end of sunspots cycle. — The variation of summer rainfall during the sunspots cycle presents four typesA: simple oscillation,B andC: double oscillation andD: triple oscillation.

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Résumé Cette étude s'occupe de l'influence des taches solaires sur la pluie estivale des 30 Stations de la Mediterranée, choisies parmi celles qui couvrent au moins 4 cycles des taches solaires. — On a trouvé que le minimum des pluies estivales a lieu près du maximum des taches solaires et que le maximum des pluies aussi a lieu au commencement ou à la fin du cycle de l'activité solaire. — La variation de la pluie durant le cercle des taches solaires presente 4 typesA: une oscillation simple,B etC une oscillation double etD une oscillation triple.

     

Über einige Methoden der «sekundären» gravimetrischen Auswertung

Summary After definitions is given an interpolation-like residual method. —It is pointed out the usual disjoining in two parts of the Bouguer-map to be unsatisfactory; in general is the whole «spectrum» to disjoin in several parts from the «noise» to the «regional». — There are someg _zz (andg _z) methods represented; in this way of representation are the methods without examples direct comparable.     

Coefficient estimation for a generalized equation of earthquake magnitude by means of the linear programming

Summary Beginning with a definition to the equation of the earthquake magnitude a generalization of this equation is obtained by approximating the magnitude and depth — distance functions with the help ofmth andnth degree polynomial functions. The determination of the polynomial function coefficients is proposed to be done either by the method of the least squares or by the linear programming. Owing to the solving proportions the use of electronic computers is considered as being necessary. By means of this generalized equation, magnitude equations formerly studied by different authors, are obtained through particularisation.     

Lake ice and temperature trends for Ontario and Manitoba: 2001 to 2014

Lakes are a prominent geographic feature in northern landscapes and play an important role in understanding regional climate systems. In order to better model changes within climate systems, it is important to study lake ice processes. Although the availability of records for lake ice through ground measurements has declined in recent years, the increased use of remote sensing provides an alternative to this. Using a preclassified snow and ice remote sensing product with a 500‐m resolution, based on images from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS/MOD10A1), and the use of measured and reanalysis temperature data, this study evaluated lake ice phenology dates in connection to recent trends in temperature and 0 °C isotherms within Ontario and Manitoba between 2001 and 2014. Temperature trends indicated both regional warming and cooling, with significant cooling observed in Southern Ontario (p < .05) and significant warming in Southern Manitoba (p < .1) during the fall. Spatial analysis of the trends in the lake ice data showed significant clustering of significant trends in ice on dates (p < .01). When analysing the trends in ice phenology in connection to the trends in temperature, it was found that 70% of lakes experienced a change in the ice on date with the expected change in temperature and 85% of lakes for ice off date. When shifting ice on and ice off dates are investigated in relation to 0 °C isotherms, it was seen that 80% of ice on dates and 100% of ice off dates shifted in sync with the isotherm dates. This demonstrates that the ice phenology of lakes in Ontario and Manitoba, Canada, is responding to short‐term variability in temperature. The MODIS product could be used to investigate ice phenology on a large scale and contribute towards expanding existing records of ice phenology. Establishing long‐term ice records could be a valuable asset for other research ranging from water balance studies to the response of lake biota under changing climate.     

A preliminary study of stress pattern at Phlegraean Fields as inferred from focal mechanisms

Thirty-seven selected earthquakes which occurred in Phlegraean Fields from April to December 1983 are investigated from the focal mechanism point of view in order to attempt a preliminary representation of the stress pattern in the area. From 37 earthquakes, 15 reliable solutions were obtained. Ten mechanisms for events located around the Solfatara crater are of tensional type; 2 located in the Gulf of Pozzuoli seem to be compressive. No predominant orientation ofP andT axes seem to occur. Evidently, a more accurate analysis with a greater number of data — in particular for compressive events — is necessary in order to resolve a detailed map of stress pattern.     

1950s以来洪湖主要优势沉水植物群落变化

通过野外调查并结合历史数据对洪湖沉水植被进行长时间序列变化研究,构建自1950s以来洪湖主要优势沉水植物群落穗状狐尾藻(Myriophyllum spicatum)、微齿眼子菜(Potamogeton maackianus)、金鱼藻(Ceratophyllum demersum)和轮叶黑藻(Hydrilla verticillata)的群落分布图并计算其面积.结果表明:穗状狐尾藻群落面积从1950s占全湖的6%增加至1990s的65%,而后急剧下降至2010年的2%,然后又恢复至2014年的15%;微齿眼子菜群落面积从1950s的10%增至1990s的65%,然后下降至2014年的38%;金鱼藻群落面积从1980s的6%增至1990s的39%,2010年以后则稳定在25%;轮叶黑藻群落面积1950s占全湖的32%,随后急剧下降至1980s的6%,2000年以后逐步增加,至2014年为15%.1950s1990s,穗状狐尾藻、微齿眼子菜和金鱼藻群落分布范围从周边向湖心扩展,而轮叶黑藻群落从湖中心消失;2000年以后洪湖沉水植物群落分布破碎化明显.分析认为,1950s 1990s的围垦和水文过程变化,1990s 2005年的围网养殖、水生植物过度利用以及由此导致的水质恶化等,以及2006年至今开展的拆围和生态修复是导致这些变化的主要因素.建议取缔围网,控制入湖水质,提高水体透明度,促进水生植被恢复,但同时增加水位变幅,促进植物资源合理利用,避免沼泽化重演.     

Earth Surface Exchanges (ESEX) Commentary on ‘Plants as river system engineers’ by A. Gurnell. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 39: 4–25, 2014. DOI 10.1002/esp.3397

In a review of the role of plants in river systems, Gurnell (2014) explains how living riparian vegetation can moderate and manipulate river environments by trapping sediment and promoting longer‐term stability. Although the review concentrates on perennial plants in the humid temperate zone, this commentary acts as a reminder that some plants in other kinds of fluvial environment do not act in this way. This is done by describing how Impatiens glandulifera (Himalayan Balsam), a highly invasive annual plant that is now found in many countries on three separate continents, may significantly increase soil erosion along riverbanks and the riparian zone of inland watercourses. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nonparametric estimation of wave dispersion in high‐rise buildings by seismic interferometry

Interferometric identification and health monitoring of high‐rise buildings has been gaining increasing interest in recent years. The wave dispersion in the structure has been largely ignored in these efforts but needs to be considered to further develop these methods. In this paper, (i) the goodness of estimation of vertical wave velocity in buildings, as function of frequency, by two nonparametric interferometric techniques is examined, using realistic fixed‐base Timoshenko beam benchmark models. Such models are convenient because the variation of phase and group velocities with frequency can be derived theoretically. The models are those of the NS and EW responses of Millikan Library. One of the techniques, deconvolution interferometry, estimates the phase velocity on a frequency band from phase difference between motions at two locations in the structure, while the other one estimates it approximately at the resonant frequencies based on standing wave patterns. The paper also (ii) examines the modeling error in wave velocity profiles identified by fitting layered shear beam in broader band impulse response functions of buildings with significant bending flexibility. This error may affect inferences on the spatial distribution of damage from detected changes in such velocity profiles. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.