A digital elevation analysis: a spatially distributed flow apportioning algorithm

An integrated flow determination algorithm is proposed to calculate the spatial distribution of the topographic index to the channel network. The advantages of a single flow direction algorithm and other multiple flow direction schemes are selectively considered in order to address the drawbacks of existing algorithms. A spatially varying flow apportioning factor is introduced to distribute the contributing area from upslope cells to downslope cells. The channel initiation threshold concept is expanded and integrated into a spatially distributed flow apportioning algorithm to delineate a realistic channel network. The functional relationships between the flow apportioning factors and the expanded channel initiation threshold (ECIT) are developed to address the spatially varied flow distribution patterns considering the permanent channel locations. A genetic algorithm (GA) is integrated into the spatially distributed flow apportioning algorithm (SDFAA) with the objective function of river cell evaluation. An application of a field example suggests that the spatially distributed flow apportioning scheme provides several advantages over the existing approaches; the advantages include the relaxation of overdissipation problems near channel cells, the connectivity feature of river cells and the robustness of the parameter determination procedure over existing algorithms. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Historical Changes and Characteristics of Rehabilitation, Management and Utilization of Forest Resources in South Korea

This study analyzed the causes of forest devastation, the characteristics of forest rehabilitation process, and the success factors of reforestation. And it reviewed the management of rehabilitated forest resources and identified the income sources of mountain villages in South Korea. The devastation of forest starting from the early twentieth century was continued to the 1950＇s. The main causes of deforestation were the illegal cutting of trees for fuel and the slash-and-burning agriculture in forest. The success factors of reforestation were the decrease in the dependence on forest of fuel source, strict administration system and national participation. Sustainable forest management could be made possible through the practical use of social issues like public work project for prevention of landslide damages caused by the thinned logs left in the forest. Also it could be possible by making people realize that the public benefit was obtained from forest and the income sources of mountain villages were supplemented by non-timber forest products and tourism. Food and Agriculture Organization indicated Korea as the country that forestation was succeeded in a very short period. Korea seems to be not ordinary because economic growth was accomplished with rehabilitating natural environment. Korean forestation can become a good prototype of combining environmental rehabilitation and economic development.     

Statistical approach to determine the salinized ground water flow path and hydrogeochemical features around the underground LPG cavern,Korea

The ground water flow path of the coastal area in the Yellow Sea, Korea, was interpreted using both the cross‐correlation analysis of hydraulic properties and the principal component analysis (PCA) of ground water chemistry. Data was obtained from observation wells in the underground liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cavern constructed in the coastal area of Pyeongtaek. Cross‐correlation results showed that the operating pressure became more influenced on artificial factors for the variation of the groundwater level of the study area (45–66% of correlation coefficient) even though its affecting area was limited to the region with fractures or faults, and also showed that the delay time from the variation of operating pressure to the fluctuation of ground water level were relatively long periods (28–31 days). Three hydrogeochemical events (encrusted cement dissolution, host rock dissolution, and seawater intrusion), which were dominantly influenced on ground water quality, could be induced from the result of PCA. Quantitative evaluation for these events using the mixed equation with principal component scores suggest that the dissolution of encrusted cement materials was the predominant factor (39·0% of the total mixed proportion) to change the chemical composition of the seepage water during the ground water flow from the observation wells to the cavern. Integration of the statistical results also imply that ground water flow and hydrogeochemistry were predominantly affected by artificial factors such as cavern operation pressure and dissolution of encrusted cement materials, which were interdependent factors on the observation wells with high cross‐correlation coefficients and pH. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Inductive electric field of a time-dependent ring current

The inductive electric field generated by a time-dependent symmetric ring current has been investigated. The symmetric ring current was modelled by a population of protons drifting in a magnetic dipole field. The interaction of these protons with ion-cyclotron waves was assumed to be the dominant energy loss process for the ring current protons, at least under certain conditions. The calculation, with spectral densities for the ion-cyclotron waves that are based on experimental data, showed that an azimuthal inductive electric field of as much as 0.25 mV/m can be produced by this mechanism. Furthermore there is evidence that if the spectral density of the waves is substantially larger than the one adopted here, the electric field might increase to the order of 1.0 mV/m or more.     

Observations of soft electron flux during SAR arc event

Attempts to test the validity of the soft electron flux hypothesis for the excitation of SAR arcs have heretofore met with no apparent success. However, observations of other emissions during the times of some SAR arcs repeatedly favour the presence of the soft electron flux in the topside ionosphere.Although no new cases of coincident measurements of SAR arc intensities and the corresponding soft electron flux values are available, an instance has been analyzed in which an SAR arc was examined shortly after an OGO 6 measurement of the soft electron flux. The SAR arc observations were then interrupted by the weather, but in view of the behaviour of the electron flux during the arc development it is believed that this event lends strong observational support to the hypothesis that soft electrons can be an excitation source for SAR arcs.In the case considered, the precipitation of soft electron flux peaks at about the same location and time of occurrence as the SAR arc. The peak value is found to be 5.2 × 10⁸ cm^?2 sec^?1, which is more than adequate to excite the observed arc.     

Thin electron beam propagation in plasmas

The propagation of dense electron beams and the interaction with the ambient plasmas are studied by using two-dimensional electrostatic simulations. When the width of the beam is of the order of electron gyro-radius, the beam electrons move across the magnetic field lines and the beam-plasma interaction becomes prominent with the reduced beam density. When the width of the beam is of the order of ion gyro-radius, the propagation of beam electrons is possible only with the formation of the ion channel. However, since the time scale of the ionic motion is much longer than that of the electronic motion, most of the beam electrons return back to the original beam injection region     

Trip making, induced travel demand, and accessibility

Traditional transportation planning practice rests on the premise that the demand for transportation is derived. On the other hand, economic theory advances that enhancement to the transportation system leads to lower travel cost and hence to induced demand. Such an argument lends support to the view that the rate at which trips are generated is linked to the ease of making trips to potential destinations. Rather conflicting evidence has so far come out of aggregate trip generation modeling applications. This paper revisits this issue with proper characterization of integral accessibility. Poisson regression models of automobile trip generation by trip purpose are estimated on travel survey data in Minneapolis–St. Paul, MN. Alternative measures of accessibility are tested for statistical significance. Conclusions are drawn on the role of accessibility in trip making and on the comparison of integral accessibility measures.The first author gratefully acknowledges the financial support of NSF grant SBR- 9308394. We are particularly indebted to Rick Gelbmann, Robert Paddock, and Mark Philippi at the Metropolitan Council, Minneapolis–St. Paul, and William Barrett at the Office of Transportation Data Analysis, Minnesota Department of Transportation for their availability to answer all our data-related questions.     

A determination of the composition of the Saturnian stratosphere using the IUE

We reduced ultraviolet spectra of Saturn from the IUE satellite to produce a geometric albedo of the planet from 1500 to 3000 Å. By matching computer models to the albedo we determined a chemical composition consistent with the data. This model includes C₂H₂ and C₂H₆ with mixing ratios and distributions of (9 ± 3) × 10^?8 in the top 20 mbar of the atmosphere with none below for C₂H₂ and (6 ± 1) × 10^?6 also in the top 20 mbar with none below for C₂H₆. The C₂H₂ and C₂H₆ distributions and the C₂H₆ mixing ratio are taken directly from the Voyager IRIS model [R. Courtin et al., Bull. Amer. Astron. Soc.13, 722 (1981), and private communication]. The Voyager IRIS model also includes PH₃, which is not consistent with the uv albedo from 1800 to 2400 Å. Our model requires a previously unidentified absorber to explain the albedo near 1600 Å. After considering several candidates, we find that the best fit to the data is obtained with H₂O, having a column density of (6 ± 1) × 10^?3 cm-am.     

Web-based application for estimating water quality impacts due to environmental dredging

A Web-based dredge plume simulation software has been developed for estimating sediment transport and contaminant release from dredging operations. This application software comprises a near-field source model and far-field sediment transport model, combined with the settling analysis of flocculent particles. It is designed to run on all computing platforms with a standard Web browser and is accessible over the Internet. This paper describes its internal software structures and the major features of the application software. In addition, an example application of sediment transport in the Savannah River, GA, is included to illustrate typical input and output screens and to demonstrate the accuracy of the model. The water quality assessment software developed herein will greatly enhance the ability of the predictive tool for estimating sediment transport and resuspension during dredging operations.     

The low seismic activity of the Korean Peninsula surrounded by high earthquake countries

Although the Korean Peninsula is locatednear several great earthquake regions suchas NE China and SW Japan, it has neversuffered from catastrophic earthquakes forthe last 2000 years according to historicaland instrumental records. We investigatedthe low seismicity of Korea based on thehypothesis of the Baikal-Korea Plate (BKP)or Amurian Plate movement which isinitiated by the Baikal Rift Zone spreadingin a southeastward motion with acounter-clockwise rotation due to thecollision of the Indian Plate against theEurasian Plate. Many disastrous earthquakesof NE China, SW Japan and Sakhalin releaselarge amounts of seismic energy along theboundary of the Baikal-Korea Plate. It isnecessary to compute the released seismicenergy along the presumed boundary of theBaikal-Korea Plate compared to the KoreanPeninsula in order to estimate themicro-plate boundary. The total energyreleases (1900–1999) from the majordisastrous earthquakes (M6.0) alongthe Baikal-Korea plate are about10³–10⁴ times as much as theKorean Peninsula (M3.0). The focalmechanisms for the intra-continentalearthquakes near and/or along theBaikal-Korea Plate boundary of NE China, SW Japan, Sakhalin and Mongolia mostlyrepresent the horizontal motions of theright-lateral strike slip type, indicatingthat the Baikal-Korea Plate is acounter-clockwise and transcurrent motion. The relative displacement vectors of GPS(global positioning system) also indicatedthat the Baikal-Korea Plate movescounter-clockwise around the KoreanPeninsula. These factors may indicate thatthe Korean Peninsula is not located at thePlate boundary, but just within a margin ofthe Baikal-Korea Plate which movessoutheastward with a counter-clockwiserotation from the Baikal Rift Zone in NEAsia. Therefore there is no enoughaccumulated strain to generate largeearthquakes in the Korean Peninsula and itmakes the Korean Peninsula free fromseismic hazard of large catastrophicearthquakes.