A simple two-step method for spatio-temporal design-based balanced sampling

We introduce a two-step method to perform spatio-temporal balanced sampling in a design-based approach. For populations with spatio-temporal trends and with anisotropic effects in the variable of interest, the prediction can be further improved by selecting samples that are well spread over the entire population in space and time. We control the spread of the sample over the population by using the volume of the corresponding three-dimensional Voronoi tessellation. Indeed, spatio-temporal design-based balanced sampling is even more efficient under the presence of a trend and anisotropic effects. We present an intensive simulation study comparing our method to other available methods for spatio-temporal sampling. Finally, we analyze real data by sampling from a population of temperature stations over six European countries.     

A computational workflow for rupture‐to‐structural‐response simulation and its application to Istanbul

Scenario‐based earthquake simulations at regional scales hold the promise in advancing the state‐of‐the‐art in seismic risk assessment studies. In this study, a computational workflow is presented that combines (i) a broadband Green's function‐based fault‐rupture and ground motion simulation—herein carried out using the “UCSB (University of California at Santa Barbara) method”, (ii) a three‐dimensional physics‐based regional‐scale wave propagation simulation that is resolved at  Hz, and (iii) a local soil‐foundation‐structure finite element analysis model. These models are interfaced with each other using the domain reduction method. The innermost local model—implemented in ABAQUS—is additionally enveloped with perfectly matched layer boundaries that absorb outbound waves scattered by the structures contained within it. The intermediate wave propagation simulation is carried out using Hercules , which is an explicit time‐stepping finite element code that is developed and licensed by the CMU‐QUAKE group. The devised workflow is applied to a  km region on the European side of Istanbul, which was modeled using detailed soil stratigraphy data and realistic fault rupture properties, which are available from prior microzonation surveys and earthquake scenario studies. The innermost local model comprises a chevron‐braced steel frame building supported by a shallow foundation slab, which, in turn, rests atop a three‐dimensional soil domain. To demonstrate the utility of the workflow, results obtained using various simplified soil‐structure interaction analysis techniques are compared with those from the detailed direct model. While the aforementioned demonstration has a limited scope, the devised workflow can be used in a multitude of ways, for example, to examine the effects of shallow‐layer soil nonlinearities and surface topography, to devise site‐ and structure‐specific seismic fragilities, and for calibrating regional loss models, to name a few.     

Late quaternary evolution of a subantarctic paleofjord, Tierra del Fuego

Lago Roca-Lapataia valley (54°50′S, 68°34′W) is a paleofjord that was occupied by a valley-glacier system during the glacial maximum of the late Pleistocene (estimated ca. 18–20 ka BP). Deglaciation began before 10,080 ± 270 BP. The marine fauna in several marine terraces found in the area shows that early-middle Holocene climatic conditions were basically the same as at present. Species found are characteristic of cold and shallow waters, although minor temperature fluctuations cannot be ruled out for this period. A recent radiocarbon date of 7518 ± 58 BP on Chlamys patagonica (NZ # 7730) confirms that Lago Roca was transformed into a fjord ca. 7500–8000 BP. The sea reached its maximum level of 8–10 m a.s.l. around 6000 BP and at 4000–4500 BP was at least above 6 ± 1 m a.s.l. Later, when sea level fell, Lago Roca was occupied by fresh water and was no longer tidal. The relative land-sea positions during this period are a consequence of combined eustatic and neotectonic processes.     

Status of an endangered subspecies: the peninsular pronghorn at Baja California

During November 1993, we traversed by ground and by air the Vizcaíno Desert, the last redoubt of the peninsular pronghorn (Antilocapra americana peninsularis). A total of 29 h of aerial census was performed and a total of 1900 km²were covered by ground, totalling 400 man hours of survey. At present the peninsular pronghorn population consists of 175 individuals, and inhabits an area of approximately 5000 km². Because of the impossibility of controlling its activities over such an area and because of the present small population size, we propose to manage part of the population in semi-captivity at Mesa de la Choya island, with the objective of assuring the survival of this subspecies, the most endangered mammal in Mexico.     

Remarks on the one-photon-pair annihilation in strong magnetic fields

We report specifically on a quantum electrodynamic feature of the one-photon-pair annihilation. Most of the calculation related with this process (not excluding other ones) have been carried out usually utilizing the wave functions obtained from the Dirac equation in the Landau gauge A = (0,Bx, 0), where B is oriented along the z-axis (Johnson and Lippman, 1949). Although, the eigenstates of the Dirac Hamiltonian as it was introduced by Johnson and Lippman, do not consider the coupling to the radiation field and consequently they reflect only forp _z = 0 the same linear combination of the two degenerate polarization states.We report the transition rate function for the one-photon-pair annihilation in a strong magnetic field by using the Sokolov and Ternov eigenstate |± as far asp _z = 0 andN > 0 is concerned. The difference between the expression for the transition rate by using the Sokolov and Ternov eigenstates and the one calculated by (Wunneret al., 1986), is just the functionI _s,s which corresponds to the degeneracy of the orbit center of the electrons characterized by the quantum numberss ands. Presented at the 2nd UN/ESA Workshop, held in Bogotá, Colombia, 9-13 November, 1992.     

Stretch-free generalized normal moveout correction

The effective application of normal moveout correction processes mainly depends on four factors: the chosen traveltime approximation, the stretching associated with the given traveltime, crossing events and phase changes, the last two being inherent to the seismic data. In this context, we conduct a quantitative analysis on stretching considering a general traveltime expression depending on half-offset and midpoint coordinates. Through this analysis, we propose a mathematically proven procedure to eliminate stretching, which can be applied to any traveltime approximation. The proposed method is applied to synthetic and real data sets, considering different traveltime approximations and achieved complete elimination of stretching.