Geoweb Services for Sharing Modelling Results in Biodiversity Networks

Biodiversity researchers in different institutions deal with predictive models for species distribution. These models are useful for biodiversity conservation policies. Species distribution modelling tools need large datasets from different sources and use many algorithms. To improve biodiversity science, scientists need to share models, data and results, and should be able to reproduce experiments from others. This article presents a geoweb service architecture that supports sharing of modelling results and enables researchers to perform new modelling experiments. We show the feasibility of the proposed architecture by developing a set of prototype services, called Web Biodiversity Collaborative Modelling Services – WBCMS. They provide a set of geospatial web services that support the sharing of species distribution models. The article includes an example of a model instance that explains the WBCMS prototype. We believe that WBCMS shows how to set up a cooperative research network on biodiversity research.     

Analysis of the Maierato landslide (Calabria,Southern Italy)

On 15 February 2010, a landslide of great dimensions occurred at Maierato (Calabria, Southern Italy) after a long rainy period. Although the zone was continuously affected by ground movements especially during the wet seasons, no monitoring system was installed before the occurrence of the landslide. However, many photos and two videos were taken during the failure process of the slope. In the present study, the available images are used to reconstruct the kinematics of the landslide. In addition, a finite element analysis is performed to define the main factors of triggering and to interpret the failure mechanism of the slope. This analysis is also based on the data from a site investigation carried out after the landslide to characterise the involved soils from a geotechnical viewpoint. The analysis also accounts for the strain-softening behaviour of some soils. The results have shown that the Maierato landslide was the reactivation of a pre-existing landslide body, which was caused by a significant increase in groundwater level.     

Occurrence and use of Compsopogon coeruleus (Rhodophyta: Compsopogonaceae) in Fiji,South Pacific

The rhodophyte Compsopogon coeruleus (Balbis ex C. Agardh) Montagne is newly recorded from Fiji, South Pacific. Plants occur in dense masses in the Wainivesi River in the province of Tailevu. Local villagers collect the plants and use them to cook a “pudding” with tinned fish, very similar to “puddings” prepared by coastal Fijians using marine species such as Gracilaria and Hypnea. This is the first documented account of the use of Compsopogon as a gelling agent in the preparation of human food.     

“Galileo Galilei” (GG) a small satellite to test the equivalence principle of Galileo, Newton and Einstein

“Galileo Galilei” (GG) is a small satellite designed to fly in low Earth orbit with the goal of testing the Equivalence Principle—which is at the basis of the General Theory of Relativity—to 1 part in 10¹⁷. If successful, it would improve current laboratory results by 4 orders of magnitude. A confirmation would strongly constrain theories; proof of violation is believed to lead to a scientific revolution. The experiment design allows it to be carried out at ambient temperature inside a small 1-axis stabilized satellite (250 kg total mass). GG is under investigation at Phase A-2 level by ASI (Agenzia Spaziale Italiana) at Thales Alenia Space in Torino, while a laboratory prototype (known as GGG) is operational at INFN laboratories in Pisa, supported by INFN (Istituto Nazionale di fisica Nucleare) and ASI. A final study report will be published in 2009.     

A proposed granite batholith along the western flank of the North Sea Viking Graben

Summary. A pronounced positive magnetic anomaly of approximately 300 gamma occurs over the eastern edge of the East Shetland Platform at approximately 60°N, 1°E. After the removal of the regional gravity variation and the gravity effect of the known geological structure, it is found that this magnetic high correlates with a negative gravity residual anomaly of approximately 30 mGal. Seismic data indicate that these anomalies occur in an area of relatively shallow basement on the upthrown side of the main Viking Graben margin fault. The presence of a buried granite batholith of approximately 40 × 40km may explain the gravity, magnetic and seismic observations. The observed deviation of the fault defining the edge of the Viking Graben in the proximity of the proposed granite may be explained in terms of the tectonic influence of the buoyant granite block during the taphrogenic development of the graben.     

Summer Phytoplankton Physiognomy in Coastal Waters of the Gulf of Naples

Abstract. Thirteen sampling cruises were conducted at weekly intervals in the inner part of the Gulf of Naples in the summer of 1983 to investigate the effects of excess nutrient inputs on phytoplankton communities. High surface phytoplankton concentrations (up to 1.15 ×10⁸ cells 1^-1) were recorded, particularly near Naples harbour and along the eastern coast, two locations that receive most of the area's sewage and industrial discharge. Phytoplankton populations were generally dominated by small species, mainly diatoms, which were associated with small phytoflagcllatcs. Species diversity values were relatively high (H'≤ 3.62) in most samples. Throughout the sampling period a high spatial and temporal variability for phytoplankton abundances and species composition was observed.     

Calibration of magnitude scales for earthquakes of the Mediterranean

In order to provide the tools for uniform size determination for Mediterranean earthquakes over the last 50-year period of instrumental seismology, we have regressed the magnitude determinations for 220 earthquakes of the European-Mediterranean region over the 1977–1991 period, reported by three international centres, 11 national and regional networks and 101 individual stations and observatories, using seismic moments from the Harvard CMTs. We calibrate M(M₀) regression curves for the magnitude scales commonly used for Mediterranean earthquakes (M_L, M_WA, m_b, M_S, M_LH, M_LV, M_D, M); we also calibrate static corrections or specific regressions for individual observatories and we verify the reliability of the reports of different organizations and observatories. Our analysis shows that the teleseismic magnitudes (m_b, M_S) computed by international centers (ISC, NEIC) provide good measures of earthquake size, with low standard deviations (0.17–0.23), allowing one to regress stable regional calibrations with respect to the seismic moment and to correct systematic biases such as the hypocentral depth for M_S and the radiation pattern for m_b; while m_b is commonly reputed to be an inadequate measure of earthquake size, we find that the ISC m_b is still today the most precise measure to use to regress M_W and M₀ for earthquakes of the European-Mediterranean region; few individual observatories report teleseismic magnitudes requiring specific dynamic calibrations (BJI, MOS). Regional surface-wave magnitudes (M_LV, M_LH) reported in Eastern Europe generally provide reliable measures of earthquake size, with standard deviations often in the 0.25–0.35 range; the introduction of a small (±0.1–0.2) static station correction is sometimes required. While the Richter magnitude M_L is the measure of earthquake size most commonly reported in the press whenever an earthquake strikes, we find that M_L has not been computed in the European-Mediterranean in the last 15 years; the reported local magnitudes M_WA and M_L do not conform to the Richter formula and are of poor quality and little use, with few exceptions requiring ad hoc calibrations similar to the M_S regression (EMSC, ATH). The duration magnitude M_D used by most seismic networks confirms that its use requires accurate station calibrations and should be restricted only to events with low seismic moments.     

A non-parametric bivariate entropy estimator for spatial processes

In this paper, entropy is presented as an alternative measure to characterize the bivariate distribution of a stationary spatial process. This non-parametric estimator attempts to quantify the concept of spatial ordering, and it provides a measure of how Gaussian the experimental bivariate distribution is. The concept of entropy is explained and the classical definition presented, along with some important results. In particular, the reader is reminded that, for a known mean and covariance, the bivariate Gaussian distribution maximizes entropy. A relative entropy estimator is introduced in order to measure departure of an experimental bivariate distribution from the bivariate Gaussian. Two case studies are presented as examples.     

Conditioning of the stationary kriging matrices for some well-known covariance models

In this paper, the condition number of the stationary kriging matrix is studied for some well-known covariance models. Indeed, the robustness of the kriging weights is strongly affected by this measure. Such an analysis can justify the choice of a covariance function among other admissible models which could fit a given experimental covariance equally well.     

Nonseparable Space-Time Covariance Models: Some Parametric Families

By extending the product and product–sum space-time covariance models, new families are generated as integrated products and product–sums. These include nonintegrable space-time covariance models not obtainable by the Cressie–Huang representation. It is shown how to fit the spatial and temporal components of the models as well as the probability density function. The methods are illustrated by a case study.