Inversion of surface gravity data for 3-D density modeling of geologic structures using total variation regularization

We develop an inversion procedure using the total variation (TV) regularization method as a stabilizing function to invert surface gravity data to retrieve 3-D density models of geologic structures with sharp boundaries. The developed inversion procedure combines several effective algorithms to solve the TV regularized problem. First, a matrix form of the gradient vector is designed using the Kronecker product to numerically approximate the 3-D TV function. The piecewise polynomial truncated singular value decomposition (PP-TSVD) algorithm is then used to solve the TV regularized inverse problem. To obtain a density model with depth resolution, we use a sensitivity-based depth weighting function. Finally, we apply the Genetic Algorithm (GA) to select the best combination of the PP-TSVD algorithm and the depth weighting function parameters. 3-D simulations conducted with synthetic data show that this approach produces sub-surface images in which the structures are well separated in terms of sharp boundaries, without the need of a priori detailed density model. The method applied to a real dataset from a micro-gravimetry survey of Gotvand Dam, southwestern Iran, clearly delineates subsurface cavities starting from a depth of 40 m within the area of the dam reservoir.     

Steady two-layer vortices on the beta-plane

Monopolar vortices are studied in the framework of the quasigeostrophic two-layer equations. Steady, eastward-travelling vortex solutions with a baroclinic vertical structure and closed streamlines in both layers are obtained' by perturbation analysis. The radial profile is essentially arbitrary in the region of closed streamlines. Westward-travelling vortices with a similar structure radiate barotropic waves, and are therefore unsteady. The propagation velocity of the vortices is essentially determined by the ‘hetonic’ mechanism, i.e. by the horizontal shift between the upper and lower-layer vortices. Their dynamics are studied qualitatively, and it is concluded that eastward-travelling vortices are stable, whereas those travelling westward are unstable.     

Capturing the time-dependence in the precipitation process for weather risk assessment

This work investigates the seasonal, long-term and time-dependence properties of the precipitation process using daily precipitation amount records in Calgary and develops occurrence–amount models which capture the complex properties of the process. Data show that: (a) the probability of precipitation occurrence not only depends on the occurrence of the previous days, but also depends on the amount values. Moreover this dependence varies with season. (b) The expected amount and its volatility depend on the occurrence as well as the amount on the previous days—these dependencies reveal seasonal patterns. (c) There is a strong long-term dependence in Calgary’s data. The proposed models in this work satisfy these properties. A large set of covariates is built to capture the complexity of various properties of the precipitation process. A grouped sequential model selection approach is used to pick the appropriate covariates which works by assigning the predictors to various groups and sequentially exploring them. This framework is assessed by comparing the simulations from the models to the observed data. This confirms a satisfactory agreement.     

Prediction of River Stage-Discharge Process Based on a Conceptual Model Using EEMD-WT-LSSVM Approach

Water Resources - This study proposed a hybrid pre-processing approach along with a conceptual model to enhance the accuracy of river discharge prediction. In order to achieve this goal, Ensemble...     

Geochemical Anomaly and Mineral Prospectivity Mapping for Vein-Type Copper Mineralization,Kuhsiah-e-Urmak Area,Iran: Application of Sequential Gaussian Simulation and Multivariate Regression Analysis

Natural Resources Research - In this paper, sequential Gaussian simulation (SGS) and number–size (N–S) fractal modeling were used for copper geochemical anomaly mapping in the western...     

Supergene Mass-Balance Study Assuming Zero Lateral Copper Flux Using Geostatistics to Recognize Metal Source Zones in Exotic Copper Deposits

Recognition of effective factors that influence the spatial extension of supergene weathering zones is important both for the identification of high potential areas of exotic deposits and for the cost-effective planning of mining. In particular, recognition of exotic mineralization around porphyry copper deposits early in mine development prevents them from being buried beneath mine infrastructures such as waste dump and tailing structures. Mass-balance modeling, a practical method for determining high potential areas of undiscovered exotic mineralization, investigates important factors in forming exotic deposits. Mass-balance modeling is a two-phase methodology that becomes progressively more detailed. An initial result, presented here as phase 1, is based solely on Cu assays. Phase 2 incorporates relict sulfide mineral studies to improve phase 1 modeling results and computes actual fluxes of copper that escaped vertically downward from the leached cap to form the enrichment blanket and then flowed laterally away to form exotic mineralization. In addition, geostatistical approaches, especially sequential Gaussian simulation, are useful tools for investigating the spatial relationships and modeling of mass-balance results in phase 1 studies. This paper introduces a method for interpolation and downscaling of the preliminary mass-balance analysis (phase 1) to highlight the role of geological features in the evolution of the supergene process. Using only copper assays without any need for relict sulfide mineralogy, this approach can be used to approximately identify the geographic direction of metal movement in exotic copper deposits, and thus serve as an initial exploration guide in prospecting for exotic deposits. For this, a vertical columnar block model was constructed for each of the supergene weathering zones and preliminary analysis of mass balance was conducted to reconstruct the apparent total leached zone column height assuming zero lateral flux. This analysis was applied to each of the vertical block model columns. The results of mass balance were interpolated in a 5?×?5 m grid by sequential Gaussian simulation method, and the simulated surface of the total leached zone was conflated with geological features. The roles of topography, argillic alteration and linear structures were identified in the transport of supergene solutions in the Miduk porphyry copper deposit of Iran. In the northern section of the deposit, which is in accordance with the topography gradient and the presence of advanced argillic alteration zone, the computed top total of leaching is below the actual surface topography, whereas the hypogene isograd curves confirm the expansion of primary copper in these areas. The northern section of the deposit was introduced as a susceptible area for the removal of copper-bearing solutions from the supergene enrichment system.

     

The critical stage for inducing oviparity and embryonic diapause in parthenogenetic Artemia(Crustacea: Anostraca): an experimental study

The brine shrimp Artemia exhibits two reproductive modes:1)oviparity,producing diapause embryos;and 2)ovoviviparity,producing free-swimming nauplii.Previous studies have suggested the existence of a critical stage that determines the reproductive mode.Physicochemical factors,such as photoperiod,temperature,and salinity,have been suggested to irreversibly affect the reproductive mode of oocytes during this critical stage.In this study,experiments were carried out using a photoperiod and temperature-sensitive parthenogenetic Artemia clone where maternal Artemia were shifted bidirectionally between ovoviviparity(18 h L:6 h D,27℃)and oviparity(6 h L:18 h D,19℃)culture conditions.In the main experiment(Artemia shifted at six different stages including the post-larva Ⅱ to adult Ⅱ),the reproductive mode of first brood was converted when shifting was performed on post-larva II and III but was not converted when females were shifted after post-larva Ⅲ.A supplementary experiment further revealed that the reproductive mode of first brood could be altered when shifting females at an "early phase of postlarva Ⅳ",characterized by a developing ovisac reaching the middle of the third abdominal segment,ventral spines,and some oocytes growing larger than the others.In both experiments,reproductive modes of the second brood were significantly affected when the shifting was performed on post-larva Ⅳ.These results suggest that the critical stage for inducing oviparity and embryonic diapause is at the previtellogenic stage of oocytes,or at maternal "early phase of post-larva Ⅳ" for the first-brood offspring.During this stage,differential gene expression patterns of the two destined oocytes may be triggered by the token stimuli signals received by the oocytes.     

An evolutionary approach to modelling the thermomechanical behaviour of unsaturated soils

A new data‐mining approach is presented for modelling of the stress–strain and volume change behaviour of unsaturated soils considering temperature effects. The proposed approach is based on the evolutionary polynomial regression (EPR), which unlike some other data‐mining techniques, generates a transparent and structured representation of the behaviour of systems directly from raw experimental (or field) data. The proposed methodology can operate on large quantities of data in order to capture nonlinear and complex relationships between contributing variables. The developed models allow the user to gain a clear insight into the behaviour of the system. Unsaturated triaxial test data from the literature were used for development and verification of EPR models. The developed models were also used (in a coupled manner) to produce the entire stress path of triaxial tests. Comparison of the EPR model predictions with the experimental data revealed the robustness and capability of the proposed methodology in capturing and reproducing the constitutive thermomechanical behaviour of unsaturated soils. More importantly, the capability of the developed models in accurately generalizing the predictions to unseen data cases was illustrated. The results of a sensitivity analysis showed that the models developed from data are able to capture and represent the physical aspects of the unsaturated soil behaviour accurately. The merits and advantages of the proposed methodology are also discussed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Regionalization of potential evapotranspiration using a modified region of influence

Theoretical and Applied Climatology - This study examined the effect of different attributes on regionalization of potential evapotranspiration (ETp) in Urmia Lake Basin (ULB), Iran, using the...