A new approximation in determination of zonation boundaries of ignimbrite by ground penetrating radar: Kayseri,Central Anatolia,Turkey

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) method is used as a tool to identify the zonation boundaries in ignimbrite series through their columnar section. Ignimbrites can be classified in terms of welding degree, colour, texture and mineralogical compositions. The research area comprises a part of İncesu (Kayseri) ignimbrite at Central Anatolia, Turkey. This ignimbrite is divided into three levels and each level has clear differences in terms of macroscopic and microscopic views. This paper presents the results of an application of GPR for the determination of zonation boundary within the ignimbrite flow unit in the view of their textural and petrological features. RAMAC CU II equipment was used with 250 MHz shielded antenna on parallel ten profiles to observe the physical difference among the ignimbrite levels of the study area. Two levels out of three have been defined at the İncesu ignimbrite and supported by field geology and petrographical studies. The first level, which is extremely fractured structure, is about 1.5 m thick and matches with middle level of the İncesu ignimbrite. The second level has an average 50–75 cm thickness and matches with lower level of the ignimbrite. In this manner, vertical lithological variations should be taken into consideration during petrological investigation of the ignimbrites.     

Dr. František Fiala's Eightieth Birthday

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Multi-Wavelength Analysis of High-Energy Electrons in Solar Flares: A Case Study of the August 20, 2002 Flare

A multi-wavelength spatial and temporal analysis of solar high-energy electrons is conducted using the August 20, 2002 flare of an unusually flat (γ₁ = 1.8) hard X-ray spectrum. The flare is studied using RHESSI, Hα, radio, TRACE, and MDI observations with advanced methods and techniques never previously applied in the solar flare context. A new method to account for X-ray Compton backscattering in the photosphere (photospheric albedo) has been used to deduce the primary X-ray flare spectra. The mean electron flux distribution has been analysed using both forward fitting and model-independent inversion methods of spectral analysis. We show that the contribution of the photospheric albedo to the photon spectrum modifies the calculated mean electron flux distribution, mainly at energies below ∼100 keV. The positions of the Hα emission and hard X-ray sources with respect to the current-free extrapolation of the MDI photospheric magnetic field and the characteristics of the radio emission provide evidence of the closed geometry of the magnetic field structure and the flare process in low altitude magnetic loops. In agreement with the predictions of some solar flare models, the hard X-ray sources are located on the external edges of the Hα emission and show chromospheric plasma heated by the non-thermal electrons. The fast changes of Hα intensities are located not only inside the hard X-ray sources, as expected if they are the signatures of the chromospheric response to the electron bombardment, but also away from them.     

The influence of precipitation intensity growth on the urban drainage systems designing

For 50 years of long observation period (1960–2009), on a high level of statistical significance (95 %), a decreasing trend of annual precipitation amounts and an increasing trend of the number of rainy days during the year (64 %) were found. For the seasonal changes (V–X), similarly, there was found a statistically significant (94 %) decreasing precipitation amount trend and an increasing trend of the number of rainy days (50 %). As far as the intensity of maximum precipitation is concerned, a very statistically significant increasing trend (95 %) was found. Taking as the basis, the model for a trend, defined for the period of 1960–2009, the increase of weighted average interval values of maximum precipitation amounts (h?≥?0.75?t ^0.5) in the year 2059 was estimated to be about 26 %, in comparison with the starting year 1960. An increasing trend of maximum precipitation frequency in Wroc?aw was also proved. To a safe sewerage systems designing in Wroc?aw according to current standards (EN 752 2008; DWA-A118 2006), the precipitation frequency to the simulations of excessive accumulation occurrences to the land level should be changed.     

Space weathering and the color indexes of minor bodies in the outer Solar System

The surfaces of small bodies in the outer Solar System are rich in organic compounds and carbonaceous refractories mixed with ices and silicates. As made clear by dedicated laboratory experiments space weathering (e.g. energetic ion bombardment) can produce red colored materials starting from bright and spectrally flat ices. In a classical scenario, the space weathering processes “nurture” alter the small bodies surface spectra but are in competition with resurfacing agents that restore the original colors, and the result of these competing processes continuously modifying the surfaces is supposed to be responsible for the observed spectral variety of those small bodies. However an alternative point of view is that the different colors are due to “nature” i.e. to the different primordial composition of different objects. In this paper we present a model, based on laboratory results, that gives an original contribution to the “nature” vs. “nurture” debate by addressing the case of surfaces showing different fractions of rejuvenated vs. space weathered surface, and calculating the corresponding color variations. We will show how a combination of increasing dose coupled to different resurfacing can reproduce the whole range of observations of small outer Solar System bodies. Here we demonstrate, for the first time that objects having a fully weathered material turn back in the color–color diagrams. At the same time, object with the different ratio of pristine and weathered surface areas lay on specific lines in color–color diagrams, if exposed to the same amount of irradiation.     

Bayesian spectral density approach for modal updating using ambient data

The problem of identification of the modal parameters of a structural model using measured ambient response time histories is addressed. A Bayesian spectral density approach (BSDA) for modal updating is presented which uses the statistical properties of a spectral density estimator to obtain not only the optimal values of the updated modal parameters but also their associated uncertainties by calculating the posterior joint probability distribution of these parameters. Calculation of the uncertainties of the identified modal parameters is very important if one plans to proceed with the updating of a theoretical finite element model based on modal estimates. It is found that the updated PDF of the modal parameters can be well approximated by a Gaussian distribution centred at the optimal parameters at which the posterior PDF is maximized. Examples using simulated data are presented to illustrate the proposed method. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reliability‐based robust control for uncertain dynamical systems using feedback of incomplete noisy response measurements

A reliability‐based output feedback control methodology is presented for controlling the dynamic response of systems that are represented by linear state‐space models. The design criterion is based on a robust failure probability for the system. This criterion provides robustness for the controlled system by considering a probability distribution over a set of possible system models with a stochastic model of the excitation so that robust performance is expected. The control command signal can be calculated using incomplete response measurements at previous time steps without requiring state estimation. Examples of robust structural control using an active mass driver on a shear building model and on a benchmark structure are presented to illustrate the proposed method. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Probabilistic approach for modal identification using non‐stationary noisy response measurements only

This paper addresses the problem of identification of the modal parameters for a structural system using measured non‐stationary response time histories only. A Bayesian time‐domain approach is presented which is based on an approximation of the probability distribution of the response to a non‐stationary stochastic excitation. It allows one to obtain not only the most probable values of the updated modal parameters and stochastic excitation parameters but also their associated uncertainties using only one set of response data. It is found that the updated probability distribution can be well approximated by a Gaussian distribution centred at the most probable values of the parameters. Examples using simulated data are presented to illustrate the proposed method. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.