Calibration of a Seawater Sound Velocimeter

We calibrated a sound velocimeter to a precision of plusmn0.034 m/s using Del Grosso's sound-speed equation for seawater at temperatures of 2, 7.2, 11.7, and 18degC in a tank of seawater of salinity 33.95 at one atmosphere. The sound velocimeter measures the time-of-flight of a 4-MHz acoustic pulse over a 20-cm path by adjusting the carrier frequency within a 70-kHz band until the pulse and its echo are inphase. We used the adjustable carrier frequency to determine the internal timing characteristics of the sound velocimeter to nanosecond precision. Similarly, sound-speed measurements at four different temperatures determined the acoustic pathlength to micrometer precision. The velocimeter was deployed in the ocean from the surface to 4500 dbar alongside conductivity, temperature, and pressure sensors (CTD). We demonstrated agreement of plusmn0.05 m/s (three parts in 10⁵) with CTD-derived sound speed using Del Grosso's seawater equation from 500 to 4500 dbar after removing a bias and a trend     

SECOND-ORDER ANALYSIS OF BIVARIATE POINT PATTERNS

Second-order methods of point pattern analysis have only recently received attention from geographers. This paper demonstrates the use of these methods in a spatial analysis of two interrelated categories of objects in a finite region. Two contrasting methods of analyzing the spatial structure of bivariate point data provide insight into the potential of second-order methods. The first is the conventional “within” group analysis that compares a spatial pattern of points to a Poisson random pattern. The second, a “between” groups analysis, allows a distribution-free investigation of locational interdependencies between two categories of points. The map pattern of a sample of commercial investments in Cincinnati illustrates the utility of this approach.     

Diagenetic sulfate reduction in marine sediments

The importance of interstitial pore water as a vehicle for transport of dissolved ions between sediment at depth and the overlying ocean reservoir may be overestimated. The major cause of this overestimation is the assumption that the rate of ionic diffusion through the sediment is of a similar magnitude to the rate of reaction occurring within the sediment column. Examples are given to indicate that the above assumption may not be correct, at least for diagenetic sulfate reduction. Closed-system modeling, although approximate, is shown to be consistent, both qualitatively and isotopically, with measured changes that are observed for several sedimentary environments.     

Long-term diagnostics of precipitation estimates and the development of radar hardware monitoring within a radar product data quality management system

Abstract

Quality is key to ensuring that the potential offered by weather radar networks is realized. To achieve optimum quality, a comprehensive radar data quality management system, designed to monitor the end-to-end radar data processing chain and evaluate product quality, is being developed at the UK Met Office. Three contrasting elements of this system are described: monitoring of key radar hardware performance indicators; generation of long-term integrations of radar products; and monitoring of radar reflectivity factor using synthesized observations from numerical weather prediction model fields. Examples of each component are presented and ways in which the different types of monitoring information have been used to both identify issues with the radar product data quality and help formulate solutions are given.

Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz; Guest editor R.J. Moore

Citation Harrison, D., Georgiou, S., Gaussiat, N., and Curtis, A., 2013. Long-term diagnostics of precipitation estimates and the development of radar hardware monitoring within a radar product data quality management system. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 59 (7), 1327–1342. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2013.841316     

Evaluation of the response modification coefficient and collapse potential of special concentrically braced frames

Special concentrically braced frames (SCBFs) are commonly used for seismic design of buildings. Their large elastic stiffness and strength efficiently sustains the seismic demands during smaller, more frequent earthquakes. During large, infrequent earthquakes, SCBFs exhibit highly nonlinear behavior due to brace buckling and yielding and the inelastic behavior induced by secondary deformation of the framing system. These response modes reduce the system demands relative to an elastic system without supplemental damping using a response modification coefficient, commonly termed the R factor. More recently, procedures put forth in FEMAP695 have been made to quantify the R factor through a formalized procedure that accounts for collapse potential. The primary objective of the research in this paper was to evaluate the approach for SCBFs. An improved model for SCBFs that permits simulation of brace fracture was used to conduct response history analyses. A series of three‐story, nine‐story and 20‐story SCBFs were designed and evaluated. Initially, the FEMAP695 method was conducted to estimate collapse and the corresponding R factor. An alternate procedure for scaling the multiple acceleration records to the seismic design hazard was also evaluated. The results show significant variation between the two methods. Of the three variations of buildings studied, the largest vulnerability was identified for the three‐story building. To achieve a consistent margin of safety against collapse, a significantly lower R factor is required for the low‐rise SCBFs (three‐story), whereas the mid‐rise and high‐rise SCBFs (nine‐story and 20‐story) may continue to use the current value of 6, as provided in ASCE‐07. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dawn; the Vesta–HED connection; and the geologic context for eucrites,diogenites, and howardites

The Dawn mission has provided new evidence strengthening the identification of asteroid Vesta as the parent body of the howardite, eucrite, and diogenite (HED) meteorites. The evidence includes Vesta's petrologic complexity, detailed spectroscopic characteristics, unique space weathering, diagnostic geochemical abundances and neutron absorption characteristics, chronology of surface units and impact history, occurrence of exogenous carbonaceous chondritic materials in the regolith, and dimensions of the core, all of which are consistent with HED observations and constraints. Global mapping of the distributions of HED lithologies by Dawn cameras and spectrometers provides the missing geologic context for these meteorites, thereby allowing tests of petrogenetic models and increasing their scientific value.     

Interactive Visualization to Advance Earthquake Simulation

The geological sciences are challenged to manage and interpret increasing volumes of data as observations and simulations increase in size and complexity. For example, simulations of earthquake-related processes typically generate complex, time-varying data sets in two or more dimensions. To facilitate interpretation and analysis of these data sets, evaluate the underlying models, and to drive future calculations, we have developed methods of interactive visualization with a special focus on using immersive virtual reality (VR) environments to interact with models of Earth’s surface and interior. Virtual mapping tools allow virtual “field studies” in inaccessible regions. Interactive tools allow us to manipulate shapes in order to construct models of geological features for geodynamic models, while feature extraction tools support quantitative measurement of structures that emerge from numerical simulation or field observations, thereby enabling us to improve our interpretation of the dynamical processes that drive earthquakes. VR has traditionally been used primarily as a presentation tool, albeit with active navigation through data. Reaping the full intellectual benefits of immersive VR as a tool for scientific analysis requires building on the method’s strengths, that is, using both 3D perception and interaction with observed or simulated data. This approach also takes advantage of the specialized skills of geological scientists who are trained to interpret, the often limited, geological and geophysical data available from field observations.     

Long-Term Changes in Soil Water Tables over thePast 4500 Years: Relationships with Climate and NorthAtlantic Atmospheric Circulation and Sea Surface Temperature

A record of mean annual water table changes in Englandover the past 4500 years is derived from a transferfunction applied to protozoan assemblages in peatprofiles. A 100-year running mean value based on threeprofiles shows short-term changes which are closelyrelated to instrumental records of mean annualtemperature changes (past 300 yr) and documentaryrecords of summer wetness and winter severity (past900 yr). Long-term (>1000 yr) changes in thiscomposite record are positively correlated with theGISP2 ice accumulation record, suggesting moisturebudgets were in phase across the North Atlantic regionover at least the last 2000 years and probably changeddue to north-south movements of major pressurecentres. This hypothesis is further supported bycomparisons with indicators of sea surface temperatureand ocean circulation. Existing regional climatepredictions may underestimate the impact of futurewarming on soil moisture status, with significant implications for agriculture and water supply in northwestern Europe.