Land-use and vegetation-cover mapping of an indigenous land area in the state of Mato Grosso (Brazil) based on spectral linear mixing model,segmentation and region classification

A spectral linear-mixing model using Landsat ETM+ imagery was undertaken to estimate fraction images of green vegetation, soil and shade in an indigenous land area in the state of Mato Grosso in the central-western region of Brazil. The fraction images were used to classify different types of land use and vegetation cover. The fraction images were classified by the following two methods: (a) application of a segmentation based on the region-growing technique; and (b) grouping of the regions segmented using the per-region unsupervised classifier named ISOSEG. Adopting a 75% threshold, ISOSEG generated 44 clusters that were grouped into eight land-use and vegetation-cover classes. The mapping achieved an average accuracy of 83%, showing that the methodology is efficient in mapping areas of great land-use and vegetation-cover diversity, such as that found in the Brazilian cerrado (savanna).     

Artificial neural networks and geostatistical models for housing valuations in urban residential areas

Property valuation studies often use classical statistics techniques. Among these techniques, the Artificial Neural Networks are the most applied, overcoming the inflexibility and the linearity of the hedonic models. Other researchers have used Geostatistics techniques, specifically the Kriging Method, for interpreting spatial-temporal variability and to predict housing unit prices. The innovation of this study is to highlight how the Kriging Method can help to better understand the urban environment, improving the results obtained by classical statistics. This study presents two different methods that share the general objective of extracting information regarding a city’s housing from datasets. The procedures applied are Ordinary Kriging (Geostatistics) and Multi-Layer Perceptron algorithm (Artificial Neural Networks). These methods were used to predict housing unit prices in the municipality of Pozuelo de Alarcon (Madrid). The implementation of both methods provides us with the urban characteristics of the study area and the most significant variables related to price. The main conclusion is that the Ordinary Kriging models and the Neural Networks models, applied to predicting housing unit prices are necessary methodologies to improve the information obtained in classical statistical techniques.

Abbreviations: ANN: Artificial Neural Networks; OK: ordinary Kriging; MLP: multi-layer perceptron     

Epibiotic traits of the invasive red seaweed Acanthophora spicifera in La Paz Bay,South Baja California (Eastern Pacific)

The aim of this study was to analyze the interaction of a non‐native macroalga (Acanthophora spicifera) with native macroalgae (Sargassum spp.) and sponge assemblages in a subtropical embayment of the Mexican Pacific. The intensity of A. spicifera epiphytism on the native seaweed Sargassum varied significantly over time and was inversely related to the Sargassum density and size. The higher intensity (up to 28 individuals per host plant) occurred when Sargassum was smaller and was lower in density (senescence period). The lower intensity was recorded during the growth period of Sargassum and the subsequent increase in intensity was attributed to a high fragmentation period of A. spicifera, which was evidenced by a decrease in its average size and biomass and by the presence of larger free‐floating accumulations on the subtidal zone. The facultative interaction between A. spicifera and Sargassum appears to be neutral, as no negative or positive effects were found for epiphytic or basibiont seaweeds. However, this invasive seaweed characteristically monopolizes almost all types of hard substrate, and its effects on other algae and benthic organisms should be investigated. Moreover, A. spicifera was often epizoic on epilithic sponges. This invasive seaweed was found anchored on the sponge tissue by rhizome‐like structures. In addition, free‐floating fronds of A. spicifera were frequently found carrying small pieces of the basibiont sponge in its basis (60% of them with eggs and embryos), which suggests a novel facilitation mechanism for some sponge species, as the A. spicifera epizoism could favor fragmentation, dispersal and recruitment of these invertebrates. This study shows that A. spicifera is not only a species that adapts rapidly to the new conditions of the receiving environment but, due to its epibiotic traits, it can directly interact with and influence the life histories of some native species.     

Study of the Contributions of Non‐Specific and Specific Interactions during Fluoxetine Adsorption onto Activated Carbons

The adsorption of fluoxetine onto activated carbons (ACs) prepared from almond tree pruning by steam and CO₂ activation under different temperature conditions (650–950°C), was studied. In both series increasing the temperature caused an increase in the BET apparent surface area, yielding ACs with S_BET up to 870 and 710 m² g^?1 after steam and CO₂ activation, respectively. Also, a slight widening of the porosity was found in both cases. In order to modify the functionality of the ACs, two of them were impregnated with triethylenediamine (TEDA) prior to the adsorption process, which caused a decrease in the AC apparent surface mainly due to micropore blockage. The fluoxetine adsorption isotherms at 25°C showed maximum adsorption capacities between 110 and 224 mg g^?1. The adsorption isotherms were analyzed using Langmuir and Freundlich models. Although the impregnation reduced the pore volume, it did not cause a decrease in the fluoxetine maximum adsorption capacity, but a modification in the adsorption mechanism was observed.     

4D Arctic: A Glimpse into the Structure and Evolution of the Arctic in the Light of New Geophysical Maps,Plate Tectonics and Tomographic Models

Knowledge about the Arctic tectonic structure has changed in the last decade as a large number of new datasets have been collected and systematized. Here, we review the most updated, publicly available Circum-Arctic digital compilations of magnetic and gravity data together with new models of the Arctic’s crust. Available tomographic models have also been scrutinized and evaluated for their potential to reveal the deeper structure of the Arctic region. Although the age and opening mechanisms of the Amerasia Basin are still difficult to establish in detail, interpreted subducted slabs that reside in the High Arctic’s lower mantle point to one or two episodes of subduction that consumed crust of possibly Late Cretaceous–Jurassic age. The origin of major igneous activity during the Cretaceous in the central Arctic (the Alpha–Mendeleev Ridge) and in the proximity of rifted margins (the so-called High Arctic Large Igneous Province—HALIP) is still debated. Models of global plate circuits and the connection with the deep mantle are used here to re-evaluate a possible link between Arctic volcanism and mantle plumes.     

The spatial distribution of galaxies within the cosmic microwave background cold spot in the Corona Borealis supercluster

We study the spatial distribution and colours of galaxies within the region covered by the cold spot in the cosmic microwave background recently detected by the Very Small Array interpherometer (VSA) towards the Corona Borealis supercluster (CrB-SC). The spot is in the northern part of a region with a radius  ∼1° (∼5 Mpc  at the redshift of CrB-SC) enclosing the clusters Abell 2056, 2065, 2059 and 2073, and where the density of galaxies, excluding the contribution from those clusters, is approximately two times higher than the mean value in typical intercluster regions of the CrB-SC. Two of such clusters (Abell 2056 and 2065) are members of the CrB-SC, while the other two are in the background. This high-density intercluster region is quite inhomogeneous, being the most remarkable feature a large concentration of galaxies in a narrow filament running from Abell 2065 with a length of ∼35 arcmin (  ∼3 Mpc  at the redshift of CrB-SC) in the SW–NE direction. This intercluster population of galaxies probably results from the interaction of clusters Abell 2065 and 2056. The area subtended by the VSA cold spot shows an excess of faint  (21 < r < 22)  and red  (1.1 < r − i < 1.3)  galaxies as compared with typical values within the CrB-SC intercluster regions. This overdensity of galaxies shows a radial dependence and extends out to ∼15 arcmin. This could be the signature of a previously unnoted cluster in the background.     

Combining the standardized precipitation index and climatic water deficit in characterizing droughts: a case study in Romania

This paper characterizes droughts in Romania using the approach of both the standardized precipitation index (SPI) and climatic water deficit (WD). The values of the main climatic factors (rainfall, temperature, reference evapotranspiration, etc.) were obtained from 192 weather stations in various regions of Romania. Penman–Monteith reference evapotranspiration (ET_o-PM) was used to calculate WD as the difference between precipitation (P) and ET_o-PM. SPI was calculated from precipitation values. There is a clear difference between drought and aridity. Drought occurrence determines higher WD values for plains and plateaus and lower climatic excess water (EW) values for high mountains in Romania, depending on the aridity of the specific region considered and drought severity. WD calculated as mean values for both normal conditions and, for all locations studied, various types of drought was correlated with mean annual precipitation and temperature, respectively. The combined approach of WD and SPI was mainly carried out for periods of 1 year, but such studies could also be done for shorter periods like months, quarters, or growing season. The most arid regions did not necessarily coincide with areas of the most severe drought, as there were no correlations between WD and SPI and no altitude-based SPI zones around the Carpathian Mountains, as is the case for other climate characteristics, soils and vegetation. Water resource problems arise where both SPI values characterize extremely droughty periods and WD values are greatly below ?200 mm/year. This combined use of SPI and WD characterizes the dryness of a region better than one factor alone and should be used for better management of water in agriculture in Romania and also other countries with similar climate characteristics.     

Sporadic breakdowns of stability in the PBL over simple and complex terrain

Breakdowns of stability in the PBL are examined using one-minute average horizontal wind speeds and temperatures observed over many nights at stations located in simple and complex terrain. The analysis is based on the temporal behavior of the wind speed-temperature covariance, which is obtained by digital bandpass filtering. It is shown that breakdowns are a common feature of the stable PBL over both simple and complex environments. Vertical fluxes of heat during breakdowns are estimated to be a significant fraction of the nighttime average heat flux. It is hypothesized that a major portion of the nighttime vertical transfer of heat, momentum, and atmospheric pollutants occurs during periods of stability breakdowns.     

The nature and distribution of organic matter in the surface sediments of world oceans and seas

Existing data on the distribution of organic carbon and nitrogen in marine sediments have been analyzed in order to better understand the physical and chemical processes involved in this aspect of the global carbon cycle. Maps of the global distribution of organic carbon and nitrogen in the sediments of world oceans and seas are presented.Correlation analyses of the available information dealing with the distribution of marine sedimentary organic matter has revealed that in terms of bulk parameters (%C_Org and %N Kjeldahl), there is an apparent accumulation of organic matter on the continental slope (water column depth 200–2000 m). Specific interactions between clays and organic matter, although indicated in laboratory experiments, have not been detected by these analyses.     

Further constraints for Permo-Carboniferous magnetostratigraphy: case study of the sedimentary sequence from San Salvador–Patlanoaya (Mexico)De nouvelles contraintes pour la magnétostratigraphie du Permo-Carbonifères : cas d'étude de la séquence sédimentaire de San Salvador–Patlanoaya (Mexique)

We report rock-magnetic and magnetostratigraphic results from one of the best exposed Permo-Carboniferous outcrops in Mexico, in order to determine some decisive magnetostratigraphy constraints. Some spinels, most probably titanomagnetites, seem to be responsible for aimantation, although greigite may also exist judging from thermal desaimantation of isothermal remanence. Remanence analyses indicate that only one remanent component could be recognized with minor secondary overprint, which were easily removed applying 100–180 °C. Six normal and four reverse magnetozones were recognized from bottom to top in Patlanoya section between 340 and 280 Myr. Both normal and reverse polarity rocks were found in Carboniferous time around 340 Myr, in agreement with previous paleomagnetic works. Our record revealed two normal subchrons within PCRS (Kiaman), the dominantly reverse superchron, at 305 and 280 Myr, respectively. These, which may be speculatively correlated to normal aimantation, occasionally occurred during PCRS interval. More detailed studies are needed in order to establish a more precise magnetostratigraphy for Permo-Carboniferous time. To cite this article: L.M. Alva-Valdivia et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 811–817.