What can we tell about global auroral-electrojet activity from a single meridional magnetometer chain?

The AE indices are generally used for monitoring the level of magnetic activity in the auroral oval region. In some cases, however, the oval is either so expanded or contracted that the latitudinal coverage of the AE magnetometer chain is not adequate. Then, a longitudinal chain in the key region would give more information of the real situation, but, of course, only during some limited UT-period. In order to find out the UT coverage of a single meridional chain, we have compared the global AL and AU indices with corresponding local indices determined using data from the meridional part of the EISCAT Magnetometer Cross during the years 1985–1987. A statistical study shows that the local indices are close (within relative error of 0.2) to the global AU and AL during periods 1500–2000 UT ( 1730–2230 MLT) and 2130–0130 UT (000–0400 MLT), respectively. In the middle of these optimal MLT-sectors the EISCAT Cross sees more than 70% of the cases when the global AE chain records activity. Then, also the correlation between the local and global indices is generally good (>0.7). Thus we conclude that five to six evenly located meridional chains are needed for covering all the UT-periods. On the other hand, already the combination of IMAGE, CANOPUS, and the Greenland chains catches 50% of the substorms. Case-studies show that usually during 2130 – 1100 UT the AL achieved from these chains reproduces the real AL with good timing, although it does not follow all transient variations.     

Geomorphological evidence of paleoseismicity: Surficial and underground structures of Pasmajärvi postglacial fault

The cyclic nature of glaciations and related postglacial faulting represents a risk for the deep geological disposal of spent nuclear fuel in areas likely to be affected by future glaciations. Seismic history was therefore studied by means of detecting geomorphological structures on airborne laser scanning digital elevation models and underground by excavating in an esker and trenching across a postglacial fault located in northern Fennoscandia. OLS dating and assessing the geomorphological structures was used for timing of the seismic history. The results suggest that the faulting of different segments in the Pasmajärvi complex is due to at least two late Weichselian events, which probably occurred both subglacially and postglacially. The most reliable input for the moment magnitude estimates was vertical slip profiles, and therefore these estimates (M_W ≈ 6.4–6.9) are suggested. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Estimation of groundwater storage from seismic data using deep learning

Convolutional neural networks can provide a potential framework to characterize groundwater storage from seismic data. Estimation of key components, such as the amount of groundwater stored in an aquifer and delineate water table level, from active-source seismic data are performed in this study. The data to train, validate and test the neural networks are obtained by solving wave propagation in a coupled poroviscoelastic–elastic media. A discontinuous Galerkin method is applied to model wave propagation, whereas a deep convolutional neural network is used for the parameter estimation problem. In the numerical experiment, the primary unknowns estimated are the amount of stored groundwater and water table level, while the remaining parameters, assumed to be of less of interest, are marginalized in the convolutional neural network-based solution. Results, obtained through synthetic data, illustrate the potential of deep learning methods to extract additional aquifer information from seismic data, which otherwise would be impossible based on a set of reflection seismic sections or velocity tomograms.     

Comparing long term sediment records to current biological quality element data - Implications for bioassessment and management of a eutrophic lake

Defining reference conditions for lakes situated in areas of human settlement and agriculture is rarely straightforward, and is especially difficult within easily eroding and nutrient rich watersheds. We used diatoms, cyanobaterial akinetes, remains of green algae and chironomid head capsules from sediment samples of Lake Kirmanjärvi, Finland, to assess its deviation from the initial ecological status. These site-specific records of change were compared to current type-specific ecological status assessment. All paleolimnological data indicated deviation from natural conditions and mirrored the current, monitoring-based assessment of “moderate” ecological lake status. However, the sediment data showed that the lake should be re-typified as a naturally eutrophic lake. Sediment records as well as current monitoring data indicated temporary improvement in water quality in response to extensive fish manipulation. Our results suggest that paleolimnological records can be used to derive site-specific reference conditions and that extensive restoration efforts can result in gradual, observable improvements of water quality and ecological status.     

Weathering of phlogopite in simulated bioleaching solutions

The purpose of this study was to examine structural alterations of finely ground phlogopite, a trioctahedral mica, when exposed to acid, iron- and sulfate-rich solutions typical of bioleaching systems. Phlogopite suspensions were supplemented with ferrous sulfate and incubated with iron- and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans) at 22 °C. As bacteria oxidized ferrous iron, ferric iron thus formed partially precipitated as K-jarosite. K-jarosite precipitation was contingent on the preceding ferrous iron oxidation by bacteria and the release of interlayer-K from phlogopite. This chemically and microbially induced weathering involved alteration of phlogopite to a mixed layer structure that included expansible vermiculite. The extent of phlogopite weathering and structure expansion varied with duration of the contact, concentration of ferrous iron and phlogopite, and the presence of monovalent cations (NH₄⁺, K⁺, or Na⁺) in the culture solution. NH₄⁺ and K⁺ ions (100 mM) added to culture suspensions precipitated as jarosite and thereby effectively prevented the loss of interlayer-K and structural alteration of phlogopite. Additional Na⁺ (100 mM) was insufficient to precipitate ferric iron as natrojarosite and therefore the precipitation was coupled with interlayer-K released from phlogopite. When ferrous iron was replaced with elemental sulfur as the substrate for A. ferrooxidans, the weathering of phlogopite was based on chemical dissolution without structural interstratification. The results demonstrate that iron oxidation and the concentration and composition of monovalent ions can have an effect on mineral weathering in leaching systems that involve contact of phlogopite and other mica minerals with acid leach solutions.     

An improved methodology for filling missing values in spatiotemporal climate data set

In this paper, an improved methodology for the determination of missing values in a spatiotemporal database is presented. This methodology performs denoising projection in order to accurately fill the missing values in the database. The improved methodology is called empirical orthogonal functions (EOF) pruning, and it is based on an original linear projection method called empirical orthogonal functions (EOF). The experiments demonstrate the performance of the improved methodology and present a comparison with the original EOF and with a widely used optimal interpolation method called objective analysis.     

Radiometer studies of low-salinity sea ice

Theoretical and experimental studies of ultra-high-frequency (UHF) and microwave radiometry to sense remotely the thickness and other characteristics of low-salinity (less than one per mille) sea ice are described. The experimental studies used a 600-MHz and a multichannel, multibeam, 4.7-GHz radiometer carried by a helicopter to measure the brightness temperature of different types of sea ice in the Gulf of Bothnia in 1975 and 1976.The developed theory and experiments show that the brightness temperature of low-salinity sea ice oscillates as a function of ice thickness at UHF frequencies. Due to higher attenuation, the oscillations quickly die away at 4.7 GHz and the brightness temperature reaches an almost constant value when the thickness exceeds a few decimetres. By using a three-channel UHF radiometer with suitably selected center frequencies, the oscillations can be reduced and the effective brightness temperature will grow more linearly with the ice thickness.Experiments show that ice ridges appear as thick ice at 600 MHz and as thinner ice at 4.7 GHz, thus allowing them to be detected by radio techniques.     

Asteroid taxonomic signatures from photometric phase curves

We explore the correlation between an asteroid’s taxonomy and photometric phase curve using the H, G₁₂ photometric phase function, with the shape of the phase function described by the single parameter G₁₂. We explore the usability of G₁₂ in taxonomic classification for individual objects, asteroid families, and dynamical groups. We conclude that the mean values of G₁₂ for the considered taxonomic complexes are statistically different, and also discuss the overall shape of the G₁₂ distribution for each taxonomic complex. Based on the values of G₁₂ for about half a million asteroids, we compute the probabilities of C, S, and X complex membership for each asteroid. For an individual asteroid, these probabilities are rather evenly distributed over all of the complexes, thus preventing meaningful classification. We then present and discuss the G₁₂ distributions for asteroid families, and predict the taxonomic complex preponderance for asteroid families given the distribution of G₁₂ in each family. For certain asteroid families, the probabilistic prediction of taxonomic complex preponderance can clearly be made. In particular, the C complex preponderant families are the easiest to detect, the Dora and Themis families being prime examples of such families. We continue by presenting the G₁₂-based distribution of taxonomic complexes throughout the main asteroid belt in the proper element phase space. The Nysa–Polana family shows two distinct regions in the proper element space with different G₁₂ values dominating in each region. We conclude that the G₁₂-based probabilistic distribution of taxonomic complexes through the main belt agrees with the general view of C complex asteroid proportion increasing towards the outer belt. We conclude that the G₁₂ photometric parameter cannot be used in determining taxonomic complex for individual asteroids, but it can be utilized in the statistical treatment of asteroid families and different regions of the main asteroid belt.