Optimization approach to automatic first arrival picking for three‐component three‐dimensional vertical seismic profiling data

A new, adaptive multi‐criteria method for accurate estimation of three‐component three‐dimensional vertical seismic profiling of first breaks is proposed. Initially, we manually pick first breaks for the first gather of the three‐dimensional borehole set and adjust several coefficients to approximate the first breaks wave‐shape parameters. We then predict the first breaks for the next source point using the previous one, assuming the same average velocity. We follow this by calculating an objective function for a moving trace window to minimize it with respect to time shift and slope. This function combines four main properties that characterize first breaks on three‐component borehole data: linear polarization, signal/noise ratio, similarity in wave shapes for close shots and their stability in the time interval after the first break. We then adjust the coefficients by combining current and previous values. This approach uses adaptive parameters to follow smooth wave‐shape changes. Finally, we average the first breaks after they are determined in the overlapping windows. The method utilizes three components to calculate the objective function for the direct compressional wave projection. An adaptive multi‐criteria optimization approach with multi three‐component traces makes this method very robust, even for data contaminated with high noise. An example using actual data demonstrates the stability of this method.     

Some characteristics of quasi-biennial geomagnetic oscillations of solar origin

Summary The monthly means of the geomagnetic index aa and of the relative sunspot numbers were used to analyse the quasi-biennial oscillations (QBO) in geomagnetic activity related to an analogous variation in solar activity. Statistical methods of time series analysis were applied: autocorrelation and power spectrum, cross-correlation, complex demodulation, and the digital filter technique. The aim of this investigation was not only the detection of QBO in geomagnetic activity, which has been done by various authors, but also the determination of the time variation of the period, phase and amplitude of these oscillations in the given time interval with reference to the results of Apostolov [2] and Apostolov and Letfus [4]. The following main results have been obtained: The characteristic period of QBO in geomagnetic activity is shorter and varies in a narrower interval than that in sunspot activity; the lifetime of the oscillations is about 22 years and roughly coincides with Hale's cycle; the amplitude of QBO in geomagnetic activity has its maximum on the decreasing branch of the sunspot cycle; the QBO in geomagnetic activity follows the analogous variation in sunspot activity with a delay of 2 to 6 months for various solar cycles, as compared with the 3 to 22 moths for the raw, unfiltered data. The causes of the differences in the characteristics of QBO in geomagnetic and sunspot activity are considered and it is shown that these differences do not contradict the solar control of this phenomenon.

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Paleo-evolution of the Black Sea watershed: sea level and water transport through the Bosporus Straits as an indicator of the Lateglacial–Holocene transition

The paleo-evolution of the Black Sea level during the Lateglacial–Holocene transition is still unclear, which motivates us to provide new estimates for that period based on the analysis of water budget. Hydrological conditions in the Black Sea catchment area are reconstructed here using water balance equation, available data, and constraints based on simple theory relating the runoff ratio with climatic characteristics. In order to estimate the impact of the aridity of climate we consider two alternative scenarios: (1) climate change under constant in time gradient in precipitation and evaporation over land and sea, and (2) climate change accounting for changes in the horizontal distribution of precipitation and evaporation. Hydrological data are compiled from available present-day data and paleo-observations. A number of sensitivity experiments is carried out revealing that the hydrological conditions in the Black Sea watershed should have evolved towards a very arid climate (similar to the present-day climate in the Caspian Sea area) in order to initiate a drop of sea level of ∼100 m below the sill depth of the Bosporus Straits, as speculated in some recent research. Estimates of sea level changes reveal a qualitative agreement with the coast-line evolution inferred from paleo-observations. The Younger Dryas draw down of the Black Sea starts at about 13.3 to 13 kyr BP, with a maximum low-stand of 104 m at 11.5 kyr BP. In an arid climate scenario the sea level reaches the outlet at about 8.8 to 7.4 kyr BP. Approximately at that time, Mediterranean sea level was about 10 m higher, making flooding events of the Black Sea possible. However, the nature and exact timing of the Holocene reconnection depends also on other (not well known) factors; one of them is the Bosporus sill depth, motivating further research in this field. Estimates of the water transport through the Bosporus Straits are also provided for the time of Lateglacial–Holocene transition.     

Über Miktitbildung

Ohne ZusammenfassungHerrn Professor Dr.O. H. Erdmannsdörffer zur Vollendung des 75. Lebensjahres gewidmet.     

The order–disorder potential of the crystal structure of monohydrocalcite,CaCO3·H2O

Mineralogy and Petrology - Monohydrocalcite, CaCO3·H2O, forms a P31 structure composed of composite rods in which a spiral arrangement of Ca ions is accompanied by spiral arrangements of CO3...     

Geochemistry and Evolution of Subcontinental Lithospheric Mantle in Central Europe: Evidence from Peridotite Xenoliths of the Kozakov Volcano, Czech Republic

Neogene basanite lavas of Kozákov volcano, located alongthe Lusatian fault in the northeastern Czech Republic, containabundant anhydrous spinel lherzolite xenoliths that providean exceptionally continuous sampling of the upper two-thirdsof central European lithospheric mantle. The xenoliths yielda range of two-pyroxene equilibration temperatures from 680°Cto 1070°C, and are estimated to originate from depths of32–70 km, based on a tectonothermal model for basalticunderplating associated with Neogene rifting. The sub-Kozákovmantle is layered, consisting of an equigranular upper layer(32–43 km), a protogranular intermediate layer that containsspinel–pyroxene symplectites after garnet (43–67km), and an equigranular lower layer (67–70 km). Negativecorrelations of wt % TiO₂, Al₂O₃, and CaO with MgO and clinopyroxenemode with Cr-number in the lherzolites record the effects ofpartial fusion and melt extraction; Y and Yb contents of clinopyroxeneand the Cr-number in spinel indicate 5 to 15% partial melting.Subsequent metasomatism of a depleted lherzolite protolith,probably by a silicate melt, produced enrichments in the largeion lithophile elements, light rare earth elements and highfield strength elements, and positive anomalies in primitivemantle normalized trace element patterns for P, Zr, and Hf.Although there are slight geochemical discontinuities at theboundaries between the three textural layers of mantle, theretends to be an overall decrease in the degree of depletion withdepth, accompanied by a decrease in the magnitude of metasomatism.Clinopyroxene separates from the intermediate protogranularlayer and the lower equigranular layer yield ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd valuesof 0·51287–0·51307 (_Nd = +4·6 to+8·4) and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values of 0·70328–0·70339.Such values are intermediate with respect to the Nd–Srisotopic array defined by anhydrous spinel peridotite xenolithsfrom central Europe and are similar to those associated withthe present-day low-velocity anomaly in the upper mantle beneathEurope. The geochemical characteristics of the central Europeanlithospheric mantle reflect a complex evolution related to Devonianto Early Carboniferous plate convergence, accretion, and crustalthickening, Late Carboniferous to Permian extension and gravitationalcollapse, and Neogene rifting, lithospheric thinning, and magmatism. KEY WORDS: xenoliths; lithospheric mantle; REE–LILE–HFSE; Sr–Nd isotopes; Bohemian Massif     

The role of expansion for the entropy of the Universe

Under assumption of the closed FRW-universe, the idea is presented that the cosmological expansion/contraction on its own, has an entropy balancing effectively the changing entropy of the cosmic fluid in such a way that at every epoch the total entropy of the Universe remains constant.     

Interval anisotropic parameter estimation from walkaway vertical seismic profiling data

This paper presents a new explicit method for the estimation of layered vertical transverse isotropic (VTI) anisotropic parameters from walkaway VSP data. This method is based on Dix‐type normal moveout (NMO) inversion. To estimate interval anisotropic parameters above a receiver array, the method uses time arrivals of surface‐related double‐reflected downgoing waves. A three‐term NMO approximation function is used to estimate NMO velocity and a non‐hyperbolic parameter. Assuming the vertical velocity is known from zero‐offset VSP data, Dix‐type inversion is applied to estimate the layered Thomsen anisotropic parameters ?, δ above the receivers array. Model results show reasonable accuracy for estimates through Dix‐type inversion. Results also show that in many cases we can neglect the influence of the velocity gradient on anisotropy estimates. First breaks are used to estimate anisotropic parameters within the walkaway receiver interval. Analytical uncertainty analysis is performed to NMO parameter estimates. Its conclusions are confirmed by modelling.     

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for assessment of qualitative classification of Norway spruce in temperate forest stands

Abstract

The study investigates the potential of UAV-based remote sensing technique for monitoring of Norway spruce health condition in the affected forest areas. The objectives are: (1) to test the applicability of UAV visible an near-infrared (VNIR) and geometrical data based on Z values of point dense cloud (PDC) raster to separate forest species and dead trees in the study area; (2) to explore the relationship between UAV VNIR data and individual spruce health indicators from field sampling; and (3) to explore the possibility of the qualitative classification of spruce health indicators. Analysis based on NDVI and PDC raster was successfully applied for separation of spruce and silver fir, and for identification of dead tree category. Separation between common beech and fir was distinguished by the object-oriented image analysis. NDVI was able to identify the presence of key indicators of spruce health, such as mechanical damage on stems and stem resin exudation linked to honey fungus infestation, while stem damage by peeling was identified at the significance margin. The results contributed to improving separation of coniferous (spruce and fir) tree species based on VNIR and PDC raster UAV data, and newly demonstrated the potential of NDVI for qualitative classification of spruce trees. The proposed methodology can be applicable for monitoring of spruce health condition in the local forest sites.