Year‐round estimation of soil moisture content using temporally variable soil hydraulic parameters

Soil moisture plays a key role in the hydrological cycle as it controls the flux of water between soil, vegetation, and atmosphere. This study is focused on a year‐round estimation of soil moisture in a forested mountain area using the bucket model approach. For this purpose, three different soil moisture models are utilised. The procedure is based on splitting the whole year into two complement periods (dormant and vegetation). Model parameters are allowed to vary between the two periods and also from year to year in the calibration procedure. Consequently, two sets of average model parameters corresponding to dormant and vegetation seasons are proposed. The process of splitting is strongly supported by the experimental data, and it enables us to variate saturated hydraulic conductivity and pore‐size characterisation. The use of the two different parameter sets significantly enhances the simulation of two (Teuling and Troch model and soil water balance model‐green–ampt [SWBM‐GA]) out of three models in the 6‐year period from 2009 to 2014. For these two models, the overall Nash‐Sutcliffe coefficient increased from 0.64 to 0.79 and from 0.55 to 0.80. The third model (the Laio approach) proved to be insensitive to parameter changes due to its insufficient drainage prediction. The variability of the warm and cold parameter sets between particular years is more pronounced in the warm periods. The cold periods exhibited approximately similar character during all 6 years.     

Model of the expansive nondecelerative universe

The joint article is concerned with derivation of equations of dynamics of the expansive nondecelerative universe and determination of its basic properties, relations, and parameters with the state equationp=–1/3.     

Similarities of and differences between three mountain belts at the border of the pannonian basin due to the behaviour of the mohorovičić discontinuity

Summary The Dinarides, the Eastern Alps and the Western Carpathians being situated at the borders of the Pannonian basin, are of very similar origin. Therefore, the results obtained in the investigation of correlations between Earth gravity field parameters (absolute geoid undulations, gravity anomalies), the surface topography and the shape of the Mohorovičić discontinuity, were compared. It was found that these three regions have the same basic characteristics, but also their own specific features. While the similarities follow clearly from these investigations, the found differences might partly be a consequence of non-uniformity and unmatched quality of data sets used for the three regions. A short version of this paper, entitled "Kindredness of three mountain belts at the border of the Pannonian basin — deduced from the behavior of the Mohorovičić discontinuity" was presented at the 7th International Symposium "Geodesy and Physics of the Earth", Potsdam, October 5–10, 1992 and published in the Proceedings. Presently a visiting professor at the Graz University of Technology, Institute for Theoretical Geodesy, Department for Physical Geodesy, Austria. Presently at the Berlin University of Technology, Germany, as an Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Research Fellow.     

Graphic symbols and local identity: the case of use and perception of municipal emblems in the Liberec Region (Czechia)

This paper analyses the role of graphic symbols in local representation and in the process of local identity formation. The extent of graphic symbols utilization by local development actors in the region, its importance for image formation of the locality (municipality) from the point of view of the local development actors and an assessment of the degree of identification with the municipal emblems among the local population are evaluated, based on the results of a corresponding survey targeted at municipal representatives. Municipal emblems tend to (and also should) have a local representative function. These should emphasize local specificity, uniqueness. Municipal emblems have a potential to play the role of connecting, mediating and activating factors also on a higher as well as a local level. Municipal emblems are still not used enough and in the right way by actors of municipality representations. These are often misunderstood and deemed unimportant for local development.     

Comparison of two modeling approaches for groundwater–surface water interactions

An assessment of interactions between groundwater and surface water was carried out by applying two different modeling approaches to a small‐scale study area in the municipality of Havelock, Quebec. The first approach involved a commonly used sequential procedure that consists in determining the daily recharge rate using a quasi 2D infiltration model (HELP), applied in the next step as an imposed flux to a 3D finite‐element groundwater flow model. The flow model was calibrated under steady‐state and transient conditions against measured water levels. The second approach was based on a recently developed physically based, 3D fully coupled groundwater–surface water flow model (CATHY) applied to the entire flow domain in an integrated manner. Implementation, calibration, and results of the simulations for both approaches are presented and discussed. For equal annual precipitation (1038 mm/y) and evapotranspiration (556 mm/y), the second approach computed a recharge rate of 233 mm/y (8.9% higher than the first approach) and a net upward flow from the fractured aquifer (the first approach predicted a net downward flow to the rock). The simulated annual discharge was similar for the two approaches (9.6% difference). Both approaches were found to be useful in understanding the interactions between groundwater and surface water, although limitations are apparent in the sequential procedure's inability to account for surface–subsurface feedbacks, for instance near stream reaches where groundwater discharge is prevalent. The decoupled, two‐model approach provides disaggregated surface, vadose, and aquifer flows, and a simple aperçu at the different components of total discharge. The fully coupled model accounts for continuous water exchanges between the land surface, subsurface, and stream channel in a more complex manner, and produces a better match against observed data. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optical spectra of supernova remnant candidates in the Sculptor Group galaxy NGC 300

We present moderate-resolution (<5 Å) long-slit optical spectra of 51 nebular objects in the nearby Sculptor Group galaxy NGC 300 obtained with the 2.3 meter Advanced Technology Telescope at Siding Spring Observatory, Australia. Adopting the criterion of [S?ii]_Total:Hα≥0.4 to confirm supernova remnants (SNRs) from optical spectra, we find that of 28 objects previously proposed as SNRs from optical observations, 22 meet this criterion with six showing [S?ii]_Total:Hα of less than 0.4. Of 27 objects suggested as SNRs from radio data, four are associated with the 28 previously proposed SNRs. Of these four, three (included in the 22 above) meet the criterion. In all, 22 of the 51 nebular objects meet the [S ii]_Total:Hα criterion as SNRs while the nature of the remaining 29 objects remains undetermined by these observations.     

Consequences of climate change for the soil climate in Central Europe and the central plains of the United States

This study aims to evaluate soil climate quantitatively under present and projected climatic conditions across Central Europe (12.1°–18.9° E and 46.8°–51.1° N) and the U.S. Central Plains (90°–104° W and 37°–49° N), with a special focus on soil temperature, hydric regime, drought risk and potential productivity (assessed as a period suitable for crop growth). The analysis was completed for the baselines (1961–1990 for Europe and 1985–2005 for the U.S.) and time horizons of 2025, 2050 and 2100 based on the outputs of three global circulation models using two levels of climate sensitivity. The results indicate that the soil climate (soil temperature and hydric soil regimes) will change dramatically in both regions, with significant consequences for soil genesis. However, the predicted changes of the pathways are very uncertain because of the range of future climate systems predicted by climate models. Nevertheless, our findings suggest that the risk of unfavourable dry years will increase, resulting in greater risk of soil erosion and lower productivity. The projected increase in the variability of dry and wet events combined with the uncertainty (particularly in the U.S.) poses a challenge for selecting the most appropriate adaptation strategies and for setting adequate policies. The results also suggest that the soil resources are likely be under increased pressure from changes in climate.     

Depth-Recursive Tomography of the Bohemian Massif at the CEL09 Transect—Part A: Resolution Estimates and Deblurring Aspects

The refraction CEL09 profile from the CELEBRATION 2000 project intersects the main terranes of the Bohemian Massif in the NW–SE direction: the Saxothuringian, the Teplá-Barrandian, the Moldanubian and the Moravo-Silesian. In its easternmost part, it crosses the Western Outer Carpathians overthrust westward onto the Bohemian Massif. Only the first 450 km were surveyed with the densest deployment of shot points providing data suitable for a reliable geological interpretation. The first-arrival depth-recursive tomography was applied here to derive a P-wave velocity image of the upper and middle crust (Part A). The proper interpretation of the obtained velocity features is the subject of the accompanying paper (Part B). The attained resolution in the velocity image is shown to be superior as compared with the previous CEL09 models based also on the more uncertain later arrivals of reflection waves. The applied DRTG (depth-recursive tomography on grid) method is based on a regular network of refraction grid rays generated for iteratively updated starting models. Only the distinct first arrivals with minimum uncertainty are used for the DRTG inversions to yield the maximum resolution. Thanks to the full control of the data fit by the grid rays used, the statistical lateral resolution could be determined at single grid depths for the chosen confidence levels. Thus, the lateral sizes of the anomalies that can be yet resolved are determined in dependence on their depths and their velocity excesses. The defocusing of the imaged features is studied on the basis of the spatial responses to spike excitation. The calculated spatial responses also allowed the edge smearing of the velocity anomalies to be assessed. Special attention is paid to the imaging of low-velocity zones that are usually suppressed by the smoothing measures used in standard tomographic methods. An improvement was achieved if the smoothing was suggested with regard to the occurrence of the low-velocity zones repeatedly appearing in higher iterations. The gained deblurring effect concerns both the negative and positive anomalies as documented on the velocity features interpreted in the accompanying paper.