A New Method for C k -Surface Approximation from a Set of Curves,with Application to Ship Track Data in the Marianas Trench

We introduce a surface approximation technique to address the problem of fitting a surface to a given set of curves. The originality of the method lies in its ability to take into account the continuous aspect of the data, and also in the possibility to arbitrarily select the regularity (C⁰, C¹, or higher) of the approximant obtained. We demonstrate the efficiency of the approach by constructing a bathymetry map of the Marianas trench based upon a set of SONAR (SOnic Navigation And Ranging) bathymetry ship track data.     

Structural pounding between adjacent buildings subjected to strong ground motions. Part II: The effect of multiple earthquakes

The effect of collision between adjacent reinforced concrete building frames under multiple earthquakes is investigated in this paper. The four planar frames and the nine different pairs of adjacent reinforced concrete structures of the first companion paper are also examined here, under five real seismic sequences. Such a sequence of earthquakes results in a significant damage accumulation in a structure because any rehabilitation action between any two successive seismic motions cannot be practically materialised because of lack of time. Various parameters are investigated, such as the maximum horizontal displacement of top floor, ductility of columns, permanent displacements and so on. Furthermore, four different separation gaps between the building frames are considered to determine their influence on the behaviour of these frames. It is concluded that in most of the cases, the seismic sequences appear to be detrimental in comparison with the single seismic events. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Extreme flood‐driven fluvial bank erosion and sediment loads: direct process measurements using integrated Mobile Laser Scanning (MLS) and hydro‐acoustic techniques

This methods paper details the first attempt at monitoring bank erosion, flow and suspended sediment at a site during flooding on the Mekong River induced by the passage of tropical cyclones. We deployed integrated mobile laser scanning (MLS) and multibeam echo sounding (MBES), alongside acoustic Doppler current profiling (aDcp), to directly measure changes in river bank and bed at high (~0.05 m) spatial resolution, in conjunction with measurements of flow and suspended sediment dynamics. We outline the methodological steps used to collect and process this complex point cloud data, and detail the procedures used to process and calibrate the aDcp flow and sediment flux data. A comparison with conventional remote sensing methods of estimating bank erosion, using aerial images and Landsat imagery, reveals that traditional techniques are error prone at the high temporal resolutions required to quantify the patterns and volumes of bank erosion induced by the passage of individual flood events. Our analysis reveals the importance of cyclone‐driven flood events in causing high rates of erosion and suspended sediment transport, with a c. twofold increase in bank erosion volumes and a fourfold increase in suspended sediment volumes in the cyclone‐affected wet season. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A review of low‐cost space‐borne data for flood modelling: topography,flood extent and water level

During the last two decades, remote sensing data have led to tremendous progress in advancing flood inundation modelling. In particular, low‐cost space‐borne data can be invaluable for large‐scale flood studies in data‐scarce areas. Various satellite products yield valuable information such as land surface elevation, flood extent and water level, which could potentially contribute to various flood studies. An increasing number of research studies have been dedicated to exploring those low‐cost data towards building, calibration and evaluation, and remote‐sensed information assimilation into hydraulic models. This paper aims at reviewing these recent scientific efforts on the integration of low‐cost space‐borne remote sensing data with flood modelling. Potentials and limitations of those data in flood modelling are discussed. This paper also introduces the future satellite missions and anticipates their likely impacts in flood modelling. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Late Miocene to Quaternary slip history across the Qiulitag anticline in the southern Tianshan piedmont

In this study, we reconstruct the Miocene to Quaternary shortening history across the Qiulitag anticline, a complex fault‐bend fold located in southern Tianshan. We studied the Yaha and Kuche sections, where we combined surface structural measurements and seismic imaging to model the stratigraphic horizons. The history of folding was reconstructed based on magnetostratigraphic analyses and eight cosmogenic burial ages in Kuche. Pleistocene deformation rates were also quantified in Yaha based on a deformed fluvial terrace that we dated to ~67 ka using a cosmogenic depth profile. Our results suggest that the fold grew at a mean slip rate of 0.9–1.3 mm/a in both sections but accelerated to ~2.5 mm/a during the Pleistocene in Kuche. These results support a migration of the deformation towards the basin during the Pleistocene and suggest that most of the present deformation in the Tianshan is accommodated across the external structures of the range.     

Seismic response of classical monuments-a numerical perspective developed at the Temple of Apollo in Bassae,Greece

We report on the initial phase of assessing numerically the seismic vulnerability of sections of the Temple of Apollo in Bassae, in the W. Peloponnesus, Greece. The site is exposed to large subduction earthquakes and to smaller local extensional events. In this phase the only link with the seismotectonic environment is the selection of representative recorded accelerograms for numerical analysis. The analysis confirms the highly non-linear nature of the response of megalithic structures relying for their stability on the friction and cohesion between the constituent blocks. Intact sections of the Temple showed substantial resistance to strong ground motions due to their capacity to absorb energy with large relative movements of the building blocks that do not impair the stability of the structure. However, imperfections typical of the present condition of the monument, namely deterioration of the building stones and of the foundation material, substantially reduce the stability threshold. Powerful numerical tools are available to assist rational schemes for the protection of ancient structures and to subject archaeological hypotheses to numerical tests. This analysis quantifies the effects of weaknesses of the structure and allows testing the effectiveness of strengthening procedures. In the archaeological context there is a strong interaction with the ongoing geodynamic processes.     

The clustering of barred galaxies in the local Universe

We study the clustering properties of barred galaxies using data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. We compute projected redshift-space two-point cross-correlation functions   w _p( r _p)  for a sample of nearly 1000 galaxies for which we have performed detailed structural decompositions using the methods described in Gadotti. The sample includes 286 barred galaxies. The clustering of barred and unbarred galaxies of similar stellar mass is indistinguishable over all the scales probed (∼20 kpc–30 Mpc). This result also holds even if the sample is restricted to bars with bluer   g − i   colours (and hence younger ages). Our result also does not change if we split our sample of barred galaxies according to bar-to-total luminosity ratio, bar boxyness, effective surface brightness, length or the shape of the surface density profile within the bar. There is a hint that red, elliptical bars are more strongly clustered than red and less elliptical bars, on scales  ≳1 Mpc  , although the statistical significance is not high. We conclude that there is no significant evidence that bars are a product of mergers or interactions. We tentatively interpret the stronger clustering of the more elliptical bars as evidence that they are located in older galaxies, which reside in more massive haloes.     

Prediction of surface charge on oxides in salt solutions: Revisions for 1:1 (ML) electrolytes

Quantitative characterization of the development of proton surface charge on the surfaces of minerals is necessary for a fundamental understanding of reactions between minerals and aqueous electrolyte solutions. Despite many experimental studies of charge development, few attempts have been made to integrate the results of such studies with a theoretical framework that permits prediction. The present study builds on a theoretical framework to analyze a total of 55 sets of proton surface charge data referring to wide ranges of ionic strengths, and types of electrolyte and oxide. The resulting parameters were interpreted with the aid of crystal chemical, electrostatic, and thermodynamic theory, which enable a number of generalizations. Prediction of values of the pHZPC and ΔpKnθ reduces the number of triple-layer parameters to be estimated. New standard states for the equilibrium constants for electrolyte adsorption (KM+θ and KL−θ) permit direct comparison of samples with a range of surface areas or site densities. Predicted cation binding on high dielectric constant solids (e.g., rutile) shows KM+θ, increasing in the sequence Cs+, Rb+, K+, Na+, Li+. In contrast, on low dielectric constant solids (e.g., amorphous silica), the predicted sequence is Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, Cs+. The opposite sequences are attributable to the large solvation energy contribution opposing adsorption on low-dielectric constant solids. Cation and anion binding constants are in general different, which enables direct prediction of the point-of-zero-salt effect (pHPZSE) relative to the pristine point-of-zero charge. The inner and outer capacitances in the triple-layer model (C1 and C2) are predictable parameters consistent with physically reasonable distances and interfacial dielectric constants for water. In summary, all the parameters in the triple-layer model can be estimated with the revised equations of this study, which enables prediction of proton surface charge for any oxide in 1:1 electrolyte solutions independent of experiments. Such predictions can serve as a complement to the experimental study of new oxide/electrolyte systems, or more complex systems, where additional mechanisms of charge development are likely.     

Atmospheric lee waves in the Aegean Sea and their possible influence on the sea surface

Unusual satellite images of the Aegean Sea, in both the visible and infrared ranges, are discussed. Alternating bright and dark features downwind of islands suggest the presence of atmospheric lee waves. However, close examination of these features indicates that the observed signal is likely the signature of the influence of the lee waves on the sea surface rather than the signature of the lee waves themselves through atmospheric effects.