Sensitivity of Spatial Analysis Neural Network Training and Interpolation to Structural Parameters

A Spatial Analysis Neural Network (SANN) algorithm was applied for the analysis of geospatial data, on the basis of nonparametric statistical analysis and the concepts of traditional Artificial Neural Networks. SANN consists of a number of layers in which the neurons or nodes between layers are interconnected successively in a feed-forward direction. The Gaussian Kernel Function layer has several nodes, and each node has a transfer or an activation function that only responds (or activates) when the input pattern falls within its receptive field, which is defined by its smoothing parameter or width. The activation widths are functions of the model structural parameters, including the number of the nearest neighbor points P and a control factor F. The estimation method is based on two operational modes, namely, a training-validation mode in which the model structure is constructed and validated, and an interpolation mode. In this paper we discuss the effect of varying F and P upon the accuracy of the estimation in a two-dimensional domain for different input field sizes, using spatial data of wheat crop yield from Eastern Colorado. Crop yield is estimated as a function of the two-dimensional Cartesian coordinates (easting and northing). The results of the research led to the conclusion that optimal values of F and P depend on the sample size, i.e., for small data sets F=1.5 and P=7 while for large data sets F=2.5 and P=9. In addition, the accuracy of the interpolated field varies with the sample size. As expected for small sample sizes, the interpolated field and its variability may be significantly underestimated.     

Effects of Unstable Thermal Stratification on Vertical Fluxes of Heat and Momentum in Urban Areas

A Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes microscale model is used for the simulation of the effect of unstable thermal stratification on the flow within an aligned configuration of building-like cubes as used in Santiago et al. (Urban Clim 9:115–133, 2014). The spatially-averaged results show increased dispersive fluxes, turbulent length scales and sectional drag coefficient. An extension of K-theory is presented to parametrize the sum of the turbulent and dispersive fluxes, and the length scale and drag coefficient increases are parametrized as functions of the ratio of buoyant and inertial forces. This approach improves the results of urban canopy parametrization simulations inside and above the urban canyon and represents the first attempt to account for the dispersive fluxes and the effect of solar radiation on the flow.     

Assessing the influence of a rapid water drawdown on the seismic response characteristics of a reservoir rock slope using time–frequency analysis

Acta Geotechnica - To investigate the influence of a rapid water drawdown (RWD) on the seismic response characteristics of reservoir rock slopes, numerical dynamic analyses and shaking table tests...     

Seismic attenuation of coda waves in the eastern region of Cuba

Cuba's seismic attenuation had never been studied in detail. In this paper we present the results of the research on the seismic attenuation of Cuba's eastern zone based upon the information collected by the seismological Cuban network from 1998 to 2003. 581 earthquakes were selected from the Cuban catalogue to make this study. All of them, recorded by at least three seismic stations, had their epicenters located in the eastern Cuban region (19.3–22 N, 79–73 W), epicentral distances between 15 km and 213 km, their coda duration magnitudes ranging from 2 and 4.1 and their focal depths reaching up to 30 km. The seismic wave attenuation was studied using coda waves. The single scattering method proposed by Sato in 1977 was applied, the attenuation and frequency dependency for different paths and the correlation of the results with the geotectonics of the region are presented in this paper.The mean Q_c value calculated was Q_c = (64 ± 2)f^{0.84 ± 0.01}. The relatively low Q₀ and the high frequency dependency agree with the values of a region characterized by a high tectonic activity. The Q_c values of seven subregions of eastern Cuba were calculated and correlated with the geology and tectonics of the area.     

Cenomanian radiolitid bivalves from Malchina, Karst of Trieste, Italy

A radiolitid fauna, rudist bivalves, composed of Durania acuticostata Caffau and Pleni?ar, Eoradiolites fleuriausus (d’Orbigny), Eoradiolites liratus (Conrad), Paronaites zuffardii (Parona), and Sauvagesia sharpei (Bayle) is described from the upper Cenomanian Monrupino Formation in the Malchina area, Karst of Trieste. The taxonomic part includes [1] the proposal of the new genus Paronaites and [2] neotypes for E. liratus, [3] the identification of several junior synonyms (Eoradiolites zucchii Caffau and Pleni?ar and Praeradiolites acutilamellosus Caffau and Pleni?ar for E. fleuriausus; Eoradiolites zizensis Astre and Eoradiolites adriaticus Caffau and Pleni?ar for E. liratus; and Eoradiolites carsicus Caffau and Pleni?ar for P. zuffardii), [4] the discrimination between E. liratus and Eoradiolites schweinfurthi Zittel, and [5] the identification in Europe of species so far only reported in North Africa, besides [6] illustrating the diagnostic characters and morphologic variability of the treated species. All this facilitates their proper identification and certainly helps the stratigraphic correlation of the Cenomanian shallow water carbonates deposited on the margins of the Tethys.     

Lithological control of land subsidence induced by groundwater withdrawal in new urban AREAS (Granada Basin,SE Spain). Multiband DInSAR monitoring

Ground subsidence in the southeastern border of the Granada Basin (SE Spain) has been studied using remote sensing techniques. Over the last decades, the region has experienced a huge urban expansion, which has caused a substantial increase in water supply requirements. Water needs are exclusively met by groundwater by means of numerous pumping wells, which exploit a confined detrital aquifer of alluvial fan deposits with a heterogeneous facies distribution. A general piezometric level decline (up to 50 m) has been recorded in the aquifer during the past 30 years that has induced the generation of a subsiding area with oval shape oriented WNW‐ESE just where the new urban areas and pumping wells are located. Subsidence has been monitored by exploiting synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images from ENVISAT (2003–2009) and Cosmo‐SkyMed (2011–2014). A new approach, which combines A‐DInSAR and small‐area persistent scatterer interferometry (PSI) analysis, has been applied obtaining a good accuracy regarding temporal and spatial dimension of the subsidence. ENVISAT data (2003–2009) reveal subsidence rates up to 10–15 mm/year, and Cosmo‐SkyMed (2011–2014) values slightly lower; up to 10 mm/year. Temporal variations in the subsidence velocity are in accordance with the rainfall pattern and piezometric fluctuations in the aquifer. The sector with highest rates of subsidence does not correspond to the area with more intense groundwater exploitation but to the area with greater presence of clays in the confining layer of the aquifer. There is a clear lithological control in the spatial distribution of the ground subsidence. This work integrates detailed geological and hydrogeological data with differential SAR interferometry monitoring with the aim to better understand subsidence processes in detrital aquifers with small‐scale heterogeneity. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.