Stability studies of surficial sediments in the Wilmington-Lindenkohl Canyons area,eastern U.S. margin

Stability analysis, based on infinite slope analysis and geotechnical data from a suite of 34 cores collected from the continental slope between Wilmington and Lindenkohl Canyons, indicates that the Quaternary surficial silty clay sediments on gentle slopes are stable; that sediment stability on steeper slopes (14°–19°) is marginal; and that on precipitous slopes (>50°) only a thin veneer of unconsolidated sediments can exist. Small earthquake-induced accelerations or the effects of internal waves can result in slope sediment instabilities.     

A study of the angle dependence of roll damping moment

The angle dependence of the roll damping moment is investigated by analysing experimentally obtained free roll decay records. Two ship models were used with and without bilge keels, also results with forward speed were obtained. The analysis indicate strong angle dependence and explains why the quadratic and cubic velocity dependent damping moments are successful in many cases.     

Bottom processes, morphology, and geotechnical properties of the continental slope south of Baltimore Canyon

The continental slope south of Baltimore Canyon seaward of the coasts of Delaware and Maryland has a different morphology and sedimentary structure than adjacent portions of the continental margin. Ridges of sediment 600 m thick and transverse to the slope contain many unconformities that can be traced from ridge to ridge. The age of the sediment is inferred to be late tertiary to recent with the morphology related to a major drainage system. Physical properties of a suite of sediment cores display a pattern that varies in relationship to the morphology and depositional environment. Sedimentary structures and low shear strengths indicate instability of surficial sediments present on the upper slope and can be correlated with regions where the seismic reflection profiles show slumping has occurred. A veneer of sand overlying the general silty clay of the area is present on the upper slope and on the ridges indicating sand spillover from the shelf with a recent change in deposition pattern.     

Mission to the universe

This paper represents a commentary on the importance of communicating science to the general public, and offers specific suggestions on how best to gain public support for space astronomy. The presentation of space astronomy makes use of the contextual framework called Mission to the Universe, as developed by an international working group of astrophysicists and by the author.Presented at the 2nd UN/ESA Workshop, held in Bogotá, Colombia, 9–13 November, 1992.Humanity has embarked on a great voyage of discovery, with a mission to understand the origin, nature, and fate of our universe. Our ships are an international fleet of space observatories. Our captains are scientists from nearly every country of the world. All of us can be the explorers. Come share in our adventure...     

A method for preparing maps of mean daily global radiation

Summary Daily values of global radiation from 10 stations for the period 1950–1960 are used as a base to describe the distribution of the global radiation of solar energy in the Intermontane Basin and Plateau Region of the western United States (including areas of the States from Washington and Idaho in the North to the Mexican frontier in the south). The empirical relations between radiation and more commonly available climatic and geographic variables—percent of possible sunshine, mean daily cloud cover, presence or absence of snow on the ground, optical air mass, and station elevation and latitude—are established through regression and correlation analysis for these stations and used to estimate radiation at 16 additional locations where radiation data are not collected. This provides better geographic coverage than could be obtained from use of radiation data alone. The technique also permits the filling-in of missing data in the records of the 10 stations to provide each with a complete record for the study period. Selected monthly maps of mean daily global radiation are presented for the region.

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Zusammenfassung Tagessummen der Globalstrahlung von 10 Stationen aus der Periode 1950 bis 1960 werden verwendet, um die Verteilung der Globalstrahlung von Sonne und Himmel im Westen der Vereinigten Staaten (Intermontane Basin und Plateau Region, umfassend Gebiete der Staaten von Washington und Idaho im Norden bis zur mexikanischen Grenze, jedoch unter Ausschluß der tieferen Lagen von Kalifornien) darzustellen. Die empirischen Beziehungen zwischen Strahlung und anderen, allgemeiner verfügbaren klimatischen und geographischen Variabeln — wie relative Sonnenscheindauer, Tagesmittel der Himmelsbedeckung, Vorhandensein oder Fehlen einer Schneedecke, optische Luftmasse, Meereshöhe und Breite der Station —werden durch Regressions- und Korrelationsanalyse für diese Stationen aufgestellt und dazu benützt, um für weitere 16 Orte, für welche keine Strahlungsbeobachtungen vorliegen, die Strahlungswerte abzuschätzen. Dadurch wird die geographische Verteilung besser erfaßt als lediglich durch die vorhandenen Strahlungsdaten. Das gleiche Verfahren gestattet auch, fehlende Werte in den Aufzeichnungen der Ausgangsstationen zu ergänzen und dadurch die Reihen zu vervollständigen. Eine Auswahl von Monatskarten der mittleren Tagessumen der Globalstrahlung für das Gebiet wird vorgelegt.

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Résumé Pour représenter la répartition du rayonnement global du soleil et du ciel dans l'ouest des Etats-Unis, on s'est servi des sommes journalières du dit rayonnement recueillies à 10 stations pendant la période allant de 1950 à 1960. La région considérée comprend les bassins versants et les hauts plateaux s'étendant des Etats de Washington et de l'Idaho au nord jusqu'à la frontière du Méxique au sud, mais à l'exception des terres basses de la Californie. Afin d'estimer les valeurs de la radiation globale en 16 stations différentes, mais où elle n'est pas mesurée, on s'est servi de rapports empiriques entre la dite radiation et les éléments météorologiques ou géographiques généralement disponibles. Ceux-ci sont: la durée d'insolation relative, la nébulosité journalière moyenne, la présence ou l'absence d'une couche de neige, l'épaisseur optique de la masse d'air, l'altitude et la latitude du lieu. Les rapports empiriques utilisés sont calculés au moyen d'une analyse en régressions et en corrélations. On peut alors mieux se rendre compte de la répartition géographique réelle de la radiation globale qu'en se servant des seuls relevés effectués. Les mêmes procédés permettent en outre de combler les lacunes que présentent les mesures faites aux stations de base afin d'obtenir des séries complètes pour la période entière. On présente enfin un choix de cartes de la région, cartes contenant les moyennes mensuelles de la somme journalière de la radiation globale.

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With 12 Figures     

Gamma-ray bursts with peculiar temporal asymmetry

Based on Link & Epstein's study of temporal asymmetry of 631 gamma-ray bursts from the BATSE 3B catalogue, we identify the population of bursts with rising times that are longer than their decays, thus showing atypical profiles. We analyse their sky distribution, morphology, time–space clustering and other average properties and compare them with those associated with the bulk of the bursts. We show how most of the peculiar bursts analysed are consistent with recent fireball models, but a fraction of bursts (∼4 per cent of the total sample) appear to be inconsistent.     

Waves in Twisted Magnetic Flux Tubes

The modes of oscillation of a twisted magnetic flux tube in an incompressible medium are investigated analytically. An exact dispersion relation for the case of uniform twist is obtained. In contrast to the case of an untwisted incompressible tube, body, surface, and hybrid (surface-body) modes arise.     

Exploring the Solution Space of Semi-structured Geographical Problems Using Genetic Algorithms

Semi-structured geographical problems are often addressed by groups of decision-makers. Each group member is likely to have a specific set of objectives that they wish to address and a unique perspective on the way in which the problem should be solved. The solution to such problems often requires consensus building and compromise among decision-makers as they attempt to optimize their own criteria. The set of criteria adopted by a particular decision-maker constrains the set of solutions he/she will deem acceptable. Compromise among multiple decision-makers can occur at the intersection of these constrained solution sets. Knowledge about the criteria space, the solution space, and the relation between the two is often incomplete for semi-structured problems. New tools are needed to explore, analyze, and visualize the solution space of a problem with respect to multiple analytical models and criteria. In this research we explore the utility of genetic algorithms as an effective means to: (1) search the solution space of geographical problems; (2) visualize the spatial ramifications of alternative criteria spaces; and (3) identify compromise solutions.