The role of long‐term human impact on avulsion and fan development

This study aims to understand (mainly qualitatively) the long‐term role of human impact on avulsion processes and the development of fluvial (mega‐) fans in semi‐arid environments. In this paper we refer to human impact as the direct influences of actions on the river's hydraulics (i.e. flow regulation, flow diversion and channel engineering). In five case‐studies drawn from the Khuzestan plains in southwest Iran we have analysed the setup and triggering conditions of specific avulsions that occurred in the past (timescale of millennia) and identified the role of human interference in their causation. Our analysis is based on the integration of historical, archaeological, geomorphological and geological data. Through this study we demonstrate that avulsions in the Khuzestan plains are the result of long‐term and complex interplay between multiple human‐induced and natural causes. In similar ways human‐induced actions may play important roles during different phases of avulsion development. The ‘success‘ of an avulsion in the post‐triggering phase may be defined by human‐induced setup causes as well as morphodynamic processes. We suggest that present‐day flood events may be partly inherited from long‐term human alterations of the natural processes. These finding could have implications for any fluvial system (e.g. distributive fluvial systems, deltas) where avulsion plays a major role in their development and research tends to emphasize on natural mechanisms. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of wavelet-artificial intelligence hybrid models for water quality prediction: a case study in Aji-Chay River,Iran

The accuracy of Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS), wavelet-ANN and wavelet-ANFIS in predicting monthly water salinity levels of northwest Iran’s Aji-Chay River was assessed. The models were calibrated, validated and tested using different subsets of monthly records (October 1983 to September 2011) of individual solute (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, SO₄ ^2? and Cl^?) concentrations (input parameters, meq L^?1), and electrical conductivity-based salinity levels (output parameter, µS cm^?1), collected by the East Azarbaijan regional water authority. Based on the statistical criteria of coefficient of determination (R²), normalized root mean square error (NRMSE), Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (NSC) and threshold statistics (TS) the ANFIS model was found to outperform the ANN model. To develop coupled wavelet-AI models, the original observed data series was decomposed into sub-time series using Daubechies, Symlet or Haar mother wavelets of different lengths (order), each implemented at three levels. To predict salinity input parameter series were used as input variables in different wavelet order/level-AI model combinations. Hybrid wavelet-ANFIS (R² = 0.9967, NRMSE = 2.9 × 10^?5 and NSC = 0.9951) and wavelet-ANN (R² = 0.996, NRMSE = 3.77 × 10^?5 and NSC = 0.9946) models implementing the db4 mother wavelet decomposition outperformed the ANFIS (R² = 0.9954, NRMSE = 3.77 × 10^?5 and NSC = 0.9914) and ANN (R² = 0.9936, NRMSE = 3.99 × 10^?5 and NSC = 0.9903) models.     

Wavelets applied to simplification of digital terrain models

Wavelet thresholding is used to generate simplified terrain models. This non-linear filtering technique is adaptive in the sense that the large wavelet coefficients in areas of high relief are kept, whereas all coefficients smaller than a threshold value, representing smooth areas, are thrown away. The degree of detail in the simplified model is controlled by the number of wavelet coefficients retained. Two different areas are analysed using this method. The experiments show the smoothing effect of the thresholding, and how the main terrain features survive as the threshold value increases. At large threshold values the method introduces blocking artifacts in the model.     

Measuring the significance of a divide to local drainage patterns

This article presents a framework for estimating a new topographic attribute derived from digital elevation models (DEMs) called maximum branch length (B _max). Branch length is defined as the distance travelled along a flow path initiated at one grid cell to the confluence with the flow path passing through a second cell. B _max is the longest branch length measured for a grid cell and its eight neighbours. The index provides a physically meaningful method for assessing the relative significance of drainage divides to the dispersion of materials and energy across a landscape, that is, it is a measure of ‘divide size’. B _max is particularly useful for studying divide network structure, for mapping drainage divides, and in landform classification applications. Sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the robustness of estimates of B _max to the algorithm used to estimate flow lengths and the prevalence of edge effects resulting from inadequate DEM extent. The findings suggest that the index is insensitive to the specific flow algorithm used but that edge effects can result in significant underestimation along major divides. Edge contamination can, however, be avoided by using an appropriately extensive DEM.     

Validation of 3D synthetic seismograms based on the ray-Born approximation

The first-order Born approximation is a weak scattering perturbation method which is a powerful tool. The combination of the Born approximation and the ray theory enables to extend the applicability of the ray theory in terms of the required smoothness of the model and ensures faster computations than with, e.g., the finite difference method. We are motivated to describe and explain the effects of the numerical discretization of the Born integral on the resulting seismograms. We focus on forward modelling and study the cases in which perturbation from the background model contains the interface. We restrict ourselves to isotropic models that contain two homogeneous layers. We compare the 2D and 3D ray-based Bornapproximation seismograms with the ray-theory seismograms. The Born seismograms are computed using a grid of finite extent. We anticipate that the computational grid should contain an appropriate number of gridpoints, otherwise the seismogram would be inaccurate. We also anticipate that the limited size of the computational grid can cause problems. We demonstrate numerically that an incorrect grid can produce significant errors in the amplitude of the wave, or it can shift the seismogram in time. Moreover, the grid boundaries work as interfaces, where spurious waves can be generated. We also attempt to explain these phenomena theoretically. We give and test the options of removing the spurious waves. We show that it is possible to compute the Born approximation in a sparser grid, if we use elastic parameters averaged from some dense grid.     

Catalyzed Reactions on Mineral Plaster Materials Used for Indoor Air Purification

Zeolites have been used for a long time for purification and catalytical purposes. Recently, first products appeared on the market using zeolites also for improving the indoor air quality so far volatile organic compounds (VOC) are concerned. However, porous compounds like zeolites can be found also in plaster material. Therefore, it was manifest to evaluate the capability of plaster with regard to air cleaning. In this article, the contribution of plaster compounds toward adsorption and catalytical decomposition of VOCs is evaluated using α‐pinene, chlorobenzene, 2‐ethoxyethylacetate, and pentanal as target substances under standard conditions (23°C, 50% r.H.). These compounds were chosen because of their VOC typical physicochemical properties like molecular dimensions, density, boiling point, vapor pressure, and octanol–water distribution coefficient (logk_ow). Hydrated lime and metakaolin were found out to have good adsorption properties under these circumstances. Also natural zeolites showed good results especially on pentanal. By investigations in environmental chambers the reduction potential of test plasters on chlorobenzene and 2‐ethoxyethylacetate concentrations could be shown. Application of coatings had no or only temporary influence on the performance of the plaster. Additional tests in small chambers demonstrated the possibility to improve the properties of plasters with help of FAU‐ or MFI‐type zeolites but the experiments also showed that α‐pinene and pentanal undergo chemical reactions. Further effort should be made on investigations also toward other compounds, especially more volatile ones like formaldehyde. Also additional building materials like insulation material or boards should be taken into account.