On correct application of one-step inversion of gravity data

One of the main problems on the numerical solution of integral equations is the resolution of input data. Among the integral equations used in geodesy we have the “onestep inversion” based on the first derivative of the Poisson integral, which transforms gravity values on the Earth’s surface to the gravity potential on the reference ellipsoid. In this study, it is shown that the required spatial resolution of the input gravity data on the Earth’s surface for correct one-step inversion depends on the height of the computational region, the fact that if overlooked can cause totally wrong results. Consequently the following two major questions are posed: (i) How could one know whether the spatial resolution of the input gravity data for correct one-step inversion is sufficient? (ii) What should be done if the spatial resolution is not sufficient? By studying the behaviour of the integral kernel, an algorithm is presented which enables an appropriate answer to the former question. In order to address the latter question, a method is proposed to modify the integral kernel which overcomes the adverse effect of insufficient spatial resolution of the input gravity data. Our answers, which possess the novelty of the study, are numerically verified by means of real and simulated gravity data. The numerical results approve the efficiency of the proposed method in solving the problem of insufficient spatial resolution of the input gravity data for correct one-step inversion.     

Use of hydrological methods for assessment of environmental flow in a river reach

Environmental flow assessment and maintenance are relatively new practices, especially in developing countries. This paper describes the desktop assessment of environmental flows in a river with insufficient data on ecological features and values. In this study, the potential environmental flows in a typical river reach of the Shahr Chai River in Iran were investigated using a newly developed hydrological method (flow duration curve (FDC) shifting) and Global Environmental Flow Calculator software. This approach uses monthly flow data to develop an environmental FDC and to generate flow requirements corresponding to different features of the river ecosystem. Results were compared with those from four alternative hydrological methods: the desktop reserve model (DRM), Tennant, low-flow index, and flow duration curve analysis (FDCA). Comparisons of these methods indicated that to maintain the basic function of the river ecosystem, the river flows should be managed within an acceptable environmental level. The predictions from the Tennant method and the low-flow index (7-day low flow with a 10-year return period), and from the FDCA (for flows exceeding 90?% of occurrence) are not as reliable as those from the FDC shifting technique and DRM. Comparative results indicate that a minimum flow rate of 1.2?m³/s (equivalent to 23?% of the natural mean annual runoff, or flow with 80?% occurrence depicted from the FDC) is required for the Shahr Chai River to run toward the internationally recognized Urmia Lake in Iran.     

Exploring Real‐Time Geoprocessing in Cloud Computing: Navigation Services Case Study

Today, many real‐time geospatial applications (e.g. navigation and location‐based services) involve data‐ and/or compute‐intensive geoprocessing tasks where performance is of great importance. Cloud computing, a promising platform with a large pool of storage and computing resources, could be a practical solution for hosting vast amounts of data and for real‐time processing. In this article, we explored the feasibility of using Google App Engine (GAE), the cloud computing technology by Google, for a module in navigation services, called Integrated GNSS (iGNSS) QoS prediction. The objective of this module is to predict quality of iGNSS positioning solutions for prospective routes in advance. iGNSS QoS prediction involves the real‐time computation of large Triangulated Irregular Networks (TINs) generated from LiDAR data. We experimented with the Google App Engine (GAE) and stored a large TIN for two geoprocessing operations (proximity and bounding box) required for iGNSS QoS prediction. The experimental results revealed that while cloud computing can potentially be used for development and deployment of data‐ and/or compute‐intensive geospatial applications, current cloud platforms require improvements and special tools for handling real‐time geoprocessing, such as iGNSS QoS prediction, efficiently. The article also provides a set of general guidelines for future development of real‐time geoprocessing in clouds.     

Geodynamic setting and emplacement of mylonitic granitoids within the North Golpayegan shear zone,Iran

The metamorphic complex of the North Golpayegan is part of the Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone. There are at least three distinct stages of deformation in this complex. Throughout the first stage, Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary rocks have experienced regional metamorphism during Late Jurassic tectonic events related to the subduction of the Neo-Tethys oceanic lithosphere under the Iranian microcontinent. During the second deformation stage in the Late Cretaceous-Paleocene, the rocks have been mylonitized. The third stage of deformation in the region has led to folding and faulting superimposed on previous structures, and to exhumation of the metamorphic complex. This stage has determined the current morphology and N70E strike of the complex. The mylonitic zones of the second stage of deformation have been formed along the dextral transpressional faults. During the third stage of deformation and exhumation of the metamorphic complex, the mylonitic zones have been uplifted to the surface. The granitoids in the metamorphic complex have been injected along the extensional shear fractures related to the dextral transpressional displacements. The granitoids have been transformed into mylonites within the synthetic or antithetic shear zones. These granitoids are recognized as syncollision type (CCG) and have been formed at the end of orogenic events synchronous to the collision between the Arabian and the Iranian plates at the Late Cretaceous-Paleocene.     

A 2-year study of soil tillage and cattle manure application effects on soil fauna populations under Zea Mays cultivation, in western Iran (Sanandaj)

The absence of environmentally sensitive soil management systems can be considered as one of the major risks to sustainability of agricultural soils in Iran. Tillage is the most critical operation in soil management designed to achieve high crop yield, but it can adversely affect the soil fauna in several ways. In the present study, assessment of soil fauna was carried out in Western Iran in 2008 and 2009 in soil subjected to conventional (CT), minimum (MT) and no (NT)-tillage systems and amended with three levels of cattle manure (CM). Earthworm, mite, springtail and nematode populations were measured as indicators of macro, meso and micro fauna groups, respectively. Soil moisture and bulk density were also determined. Generally, low populations of soil fauna were observed consistent with expectations under similar conditions for this region. Earthworm populations were low and had a patchy distribution. Tillage and CM were found to have no effects on soil mites in both years. Soil springtails were reduced by soil tillage, indicating their sensivity to soil disturbance induced by tillage. In 2008, the nematode population was greater with application of 40 ton ha^?1 CM applications (113 N.100 g soil^?1). Soil tillage-induced disturbance reduced nematode population in 2009 (214 N.100 g soil^?1 at CT). Minimum seedbed preparation besides less soil disturbance makes MT a proper tillage system for Zea mays cultivation. Cattle manure application increased Z. mays’ biomass, but according to our results its annual application is not recommended. There were no changes in BD in both years. We conclude that in short-term studies, soil nematode populations are suitable biological indices (under similar soil and climatic conditions) for the ecological comparison of agricultural management systems in Iran.     

Evaluating the generalizability of GEP models for estimating reference evapotranspiration in distant humid and arid locations

Evapotranspiration estimation is of crucial importance in arid and hyper-arid regions, which suffer from water shortage, increasing dryness and heat. A modeling study is reported here to cross-station assessment between hyper-arid and humid conditions. The derived equations estimate ET₀ values based on temperature-, radiation-, and mass transfer-based configurations. Using data from two meteorological stations in a hyper-arid region of Iran and two meteorological stations in a humid region of Spain, different local and cross-station approaches are applied for developing and validating the derived equations. The comparison of the gene expression programming (GEP)-based-derived equations with corresponding empirical-semi empirical ET₀ estimation equations reveals the superiority of new formulas in comparison with the corresponding empirical equations. Therefore, the derived models can be successfully applied in these hyper-arid and humid regions as well as similar climatic contexts especially in data-lack situations. The results also show that when relying on proper input configurations, cross-station might be a promising alternative for locally trained models for the stations with data scarcity.

     

Geochemical evaluation and thermal modeling of the Eocene–Oligocene Pabdeh and Middle Cretaceous Gurpi Formations in the northern part of the Dezful Embayment

Rock–Eval pyrolysis analysis, burial history, and 1D thermal maturity modeling have allowed the evaluation of the source rock potential, thermal maturation state, and impacts of the Pabdeh and Gurpi Formations in Cretaceous–Miocene petroleum system in the Naft Safid (NS) and Zeloi (ZE) oilfields, North Dezful Embayment. The total organic carbon (TOC) content of the Pabdeh and Gurpi Formations ranges from 0.2 to 4.7 wt% and 0.3 to 5.3 wt%, respectively. S2 values of the Pabdeh Formation in the ZE and NS oilfields vary from 0.41 to 13.77 and 0.29 to 14.5 mg HC (Hydrocarbon)/g rock, with an average value of 4.48 and 4.14 mg HC/g rock, respectively. These values for the Gurpi Formation in the ZE and NS oilfields range from 0.31 to 16.96 and 0.26 to 1.44 mg HC/g rock, with an average value of 8.54 and 2.43 mg HC/g rock, respectively. The S2 versus TOC diagram reveals a fair to good hydrocarbon generation potential of the Pabdeh Formation and poor to fair potential of the Gurpi Formation. The high values of S2 (S2 > S1) for samples of the both formations in the ZE and NS oilfields show that the samples are not contaminated with petroleum generated from underlying source rocks. The samples of the Pabdeh Formation in the ZE oilfield are characterized by a relatively narrow range of activation energy values with principal activation energy of 46 kcal/mol and frequency factor of 5.27 × 10⁺¹¹ s^?1. It seems that the high sulfur content of the Pabdeh organic matter probably caused the frequency factor and principal activation energy to be lower than usual. Hydrogen index (HI) values of the Pabdeh and Gurpi Formations in the ZE oilfield vary from 71 to 786 and 97 to 398 mg HC/g TOC, with an average value of 310 and 277 mg HC/g TOC, respectively. These values in the NS oilfield range from 66 to 546 and 51 to 525 mg HC/g TOC, with an average value of 256 and 227 mg HC/g TOC, respectively. Plot of HI vs. T _max value indicates that the majority of the Pabdeh and Gurpi samples contain predominantly type II kerogen and their organofacies are directly related to the more homogeneous precursor materials. Based on thermal maturity modeling results, kinetic parameters, and Rock–Eval analysis, both formations in the ZE and NS oilfields are thermally mature and immature or early mature stage, respectively.     

Forced vertical and horizontal movements of a rectangular rigid foundation on a transversely isotropic half‐space

An analytical investigation of a half‐space containing transversely isotropic material under forced vertical and horizontal displacements applied on a rectangular rigid foundation is presented in this paper. With the goal of a rigorous solution to the shape‐ and rigidity‐ induced singular mixed boundary value problem, the formulation employs scalar potential representation, the Fourier expansion and the Hankel integral transforms method to obtain the surface arbitrary point‐load solution in cylindrical coordinate system. The obtained Green's functions are rewritten in rectangular coordinate system, allowing the response of the half‐space because of an arbitrary distributed load on a rectangular surface area be given in terms of a double integral. The numerical evaluations of stresses are done with the use of an element, which is singular at the edge and the corner of the rectangle. Upon the imposition of the rigidity displacement boundary condition for a rigid foundation and the use of a set of two‐dimensional adaptive‐gradient elements, which can capture the singular behavior in the contact stress effectively, a set of new numerical results are presented to illustrate the effect of transverse isotropy on the foundation response. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ground Water Replenishment with Reclaimed Water in the City of Los Angeles

A two-year pilot study involving the recharge of a ground water basin with reclaimed water was completed in the city of Los Angeles. The city's Department of Water and Power is planning to initiate several ground water recharge projects using reclaimed water in the near future. One such project is the Headworks Recharge Project, the focus of this paper, Approximately 1 cfs of the Los Angeles (LA) River water comprised of 70% tertiary treated reclaimed water was recharged on a two-day wet and five-day dry cycle. The recharge water was then extracted from the basin approximately 1000 feet downgradient. Results showed greater than 4-log removal of coliform bacteria, up to 87% reduction in TOC, and compliance of the product water with federal and state drinking water standards. Model simulation showed after 15 years of recharging 3000 acre-feet per year of the LA River water and extracting about 10,000 acre-feet from the basin, the product water would contain from 5% to 15% reclaimed water. This is well below the maximum allowable limit of 20% stipulated by the California regulation.     

Application of chlorine dioxide for secondary effluent polishing

There are still many difficulties for developing the projects of using treated effluents. In this study, the efficiency of chlorine deoxide in the process of preparing the effluent of Sahebgharanieh Plant of Tehran for reuse purposes has been determind. Major results are as follows: Total COD reductions resulted from effluent treatment by ClO₂ solutions having concentrations equal to 1/4, 1/2 and 1/1 of COD samples at one hour contact time have been about 42%, 49% and 59% respectively. Total suspended solids were also reduced by treatment with ClO₂ solutions having the certain concentrations mentioned, and the reductions were about 37%,47% and 58% respectively. Besides total and fecal coliforms results indicated that ClO₂ apllied was quite efficient in effluent disinfection. The conclusion is that reasonable reductions would be expected in the amounts of remained major pollutants and so reuse applications for some non-potable purposes may become possible. The acidification of chlorite has been used for ClO₂ generation as it is better suited to small treatment systems.