Multiscale mesh generation on the sphere

A method for generating computational meshes for applications in ocean modeling is presented. The method uses a standard engineering approach for describing the geometry of the domain that requires meshing. The underlying sphere is parametrized using stereographic coordinates. Then, coastlines are described with cubic splines drawn in the stereographic parametric space. The mesh generation algorithm builds the mesh in the parametric plane using available techniques. The method enables to import coastlines from different data sets and, consequently, to build meshes of domains with highly variable length scales. The results include meshes together with numerical simulations of various kinds.     

Morphological responses of an estuarine intertidal mudflat to constructions since 1978 to 2005: The Seine estuary (France)

Since 1834 the Seine estuary (France) has been the site of numerous construction projects with the aim to accommodate and secure boat traffic. Since 1978, the increasing of the activities of Le Havre port, located at the mouth of the estuary, has accelerated the construction work rate. Several dykes, a bridge, and new port facilities have been constructed in rapid succession, modifying considerably the hydrodynamic conditions which sustain a partially vegetated sandy–muddy tidal flat located in the North bank of the estuary between the new port of Le Havre and the Normandy bridge achieved in 1995.The present study deals with the morphological evolution of this zone from 1978 to 2005. The use of a low altitude remote sensing technique combined with traditional methods of ground survey and probes allow to demonstrate the impact of human activities on sedimentary and vegetation dynamics. The Northern mudflat of the estuary is the most affected by these human activities, which surface have reduced of 62% during the last 27 years with an intensified local erosion during the last 27 months corresponding to a loss 1 250 000 m³ of fine-grained sediment. At the same time, the general sanding up in the channel of the zone has caused a loss of more than 31% of the tidal prism, more than three quarters of which occurred during the last three years. Results also establish that the response times of the sedimentary or topographic readjustment to an installation depend on the extent and the nature of the construction. In fact, the sedimentary readjustments to an installation can be delayed by up to 10 years in the case of the Seine estuary. This delay is explained by a rapid succession of construction works which may occult the effect of a single installation. Except in the case of a dyke built perpendicular to ebb and flood currents, the impacts of these installations reach a hydro-sedimentary equilibrium on the level between 1 and 7 years after their completion.     

Serpentinization of the martian crust during Noachian

This paper proposes a model of serpentinization of the Southern martian crust that may explain the topographic dichotomy, the absence of an associated free-air gravity anomaly and the presence of strong magnetic anomalies in the Southern Hemisphere. The thermodynamical conditions for serpentinization were likely met in the lithosphere during the Noachian period. This process may have decreased the density in the Southern crust and created the topographic dichotomy. Different reactions of serpentinization that can form magnetite have been considered. Assuming an intense magnetic field (core dynamo), we obtain chemical remanent magnetizations that are in the order of the estimates deduced from martian magnetic anomaly studies. The pertinence and the implications of our model concerning the early thermal evolution of Mars are discussed, with emphasis on the intensity of the paleo-magnetic field.     

Fluvial erosion and post-erosional processes on Titan

The surface of Titan has been revealed by Cassini observations in the infrared and radar wavelength ranges as well as locally by the Huygens lander instruments. Sand seas, recently discovered lakes, distinct landscapes and dendritic erosion patterns indicate dynamic surface processes. This study focus on erosional and depositional features that can be used to constrain the amount of liquids involved in the erosional process as well as on the compositional characteristics of depositional areas. Fluvial erosion channels on Titan as identified at the Huygens landing site and in RADAR and Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) observations have been compared to analogous channel widths on Earth yielding average discharges of up to 1600 m³/s for short recurrence intervals that are sufficient to move centimeter-sized sediment and significantly higher discharges for long intervals. With respect to the associated drainage areas, this roughly translates to 1-150 cm/day runoff production rates with 10 years recurrence intervals and by assuming precipitation this implies 0.6-60 mm/h rainfall rates. Thus the observed surface erosion fits with the methane convective storm models as well as with the rates needed to transport sediment. During Cassini's T20 fly-by, the VIMS observed an extremely eroded area at 30° W, 7° S with resolutions of up to 500 m/pixel that extends over thousands of square kilometers. The spectral characteristics of this area change systematically, reflecting continuous compositional and/or particle size variations indicative of transported sediment settling out while flow capacities cease. To account for the estimated runoff production and widespread alluvial deposits of fine-grained material, release of area-dependent large fluid volumes are required. Only frequent storms with heavy rainfall or cryovolcanic induced melting can explain these erosional features.     

SORTAN: An Analytical Method to Determine Fault Slip as Induced by Stress

We propose an analytical method, namely the SORTAN method, to determine the sense of slip on faults as induced by stresses. This method is useful to infer the sense of motion along faults whose surface cannot be directly accessed, such as faults imaged in the subsurface. Because the SORTAN method is based on the Wallace–Bott hypothesis, we assume that the shear stress vector applied to a given fault is parallel to the slip vector on this fault. The assumptions allow for simplification of the method that in turn implies very short calculation times. A concise formalism is adopted. We introduce the stress ratio ' that accounts for (1) the type of stress regime (i.e., strike-slip, reverse or normal) and (2) the degree of anisotropy of the stress state. The formalism of the SORTAN method permits an easy exploration and imaging of the complete collection of slip motions that may theoretically occur on fault planes. The input parameters are the fault plane orientation, the type and anisotropy of the stress regime, and the azimuth of the horizontal stress axes.     

Diel variability of glycolate in the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean

The concentration of dissolved glycolate in sea water was measured by high performance liquid chromatography in the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean during the Eumeli 4 oceanographic cruise in June 1992. Diurnal concentrations of glycolate reached 74 kg 1⁻¹ 1⁻¹ in mesotrophic waters and 17 μg 1⁻¹ 1 in oligotrophic waters. At midday total dissolved glycolate exceeded 1 g of carbon per m² of ocean, decreasing strongly during the night (less than 0.1 g of carbon per m²). At the three stations studied, glycolate carbon difference between night and day in the water column was of the same order as the daily primary production estimated by incorporation of ¹⁴C0₂. Disappearance of this compound at night suggested a rapid consumption by heterotrophic organisms. These data suggest that glycolate excretion by phytoplankton may be important, and possibly influenced by ambient nutrient concentrations. Further, with glycolate representing up to 50% of daily productivity, our estimates of the total biological reduction of C0₂ need to be re-examined.     

Transfrontier macroseismic observations of the Ml = 5.4 earthquake of February 22, 2003 at Rambervillers,France

The 2003 Ml = 5.4 Rambervillers earthquake, north-east of France, is the largest seismic event recorded north of the Alps since the 1992 Ms = 5.3, I₀ = VII, Roermond earthquake, Netherlands. With a maximum macroseismic intensity of VI-VII EMS-98, the 2003 event was broadly felt to a distance of 300 km from the epicentre. It provides a unique opportunity to test and compare the different procedures used in France, Germany and Switzerland when evaluating macroseismic intensities. The main purpose of this paper is to present a common transfrontier macroseismic map based on the EMS-98 intensity scale. Maximum horizontal accelerations recorded in the area are compared to the intensity values, and we propose to use a differential technique to re-estimate the magnitude of the 1682 Remiremont, I₀ = VIII, earthquake, which occurred 40 km south of Rambervillers.     

Infrared Spectroscopy of Jupiter's Atmosphere after the A and E Impacts of Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9

Infrared spectra of Jupiter's atmosphere were obtained with the infrared spectrometer (IRS) on the 1.5-m telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) during the first 2 days of the impacts of the fragments of Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9 (1993e). We monitored 3.51 ± 0.17 μm radiation from the impact areas, undisturbed areas, and auroral regions of Jupiter after the A and E impacts. The strong emission of a portion of the P-branch of the ν₃band of CH₄was detected on the A impact area 4 hr after the impact. H⁺₃emissions are found to be decreased at the A and E impact sites after 4 hr and 10 hr 50 min of the impacts, respectively, compared with undisturbed areas at the same latitude. The temperatures of the southern H⁺₃aurora were normal within the first several hours following the A and E impacts.     

Modelling the behaviour of a large landslide with respect to hydrogeological and geomechanical parameter heterogeneity

Thanks to a sophisticated transient hydrogeological modelling allowing the determination of the pore pressure fields in La Frasse landslide mass during a crisis, it has been possible to model the mechanical behaviour of the slide and obtain results that prove to be similar to the monitored data, in terms of peak velocity, distribution of velocity with time and space and total displacements. Such results are reached only when appropriate constitutive modelling laws are used, and when geotechnical tests supply all the required parameters. The main results concern the potential effect of a drainage system during a crisis, like the one experienced in 1994. It can include vertical boreholes equipped with pumps or drains drilled from a gallery. The draining system reduces horizontal displacements down to 5% of the values modelled during the crisis. This effect, which appears to extend over a large width, will be even more significant if the boreholes discharge the drained water into the gallery, due to its extension in the presently stabilised landslide mass below the active zone. The modelling tools developed for La Frasse landslide thus provide all the necessary information to optimise the drainage scheme.