Land-surface segmentation as a method to create strata for spatial sampling and its potential for digital soil mapping

Sampling efforts are constrained by limited availability of resources. Therefore, methods to reduce the number of samples, while still achieving reasonable accuracy are needed. Land-surface segmentation (LSS) has proven a powerful technique to partition digital elevation models (DEMs) and their derivatives into relatively homogeneous areas, which can be further employed as support in soil sampling. Though topography is one of the main soil forming factors, a robust assessment of the potential of this technique to digital soil mapping (DSM) is still missing. In this study, we aimed at evaluating the potential of LSS in stratifying a landscape into relatively homogeneous areas, which can be used as strata for guiding the selection of sampling points in DSM. The experiments were carried out in two study areas where soil samples were available. Land-surface derivatives were derived from DEMs and segmented with a tool based on the multiresolution segmentation algorithm, into objects considered as homogeneous soil-landscape divisions. Thus, one sample was randomly selected within each segment from the existing sample data, based on which predictions of soil classes/sub-orders and properties, i.e. soil texture and A-horizon thickness, were made. Results were compared with predictions based on simple random sampling (SRS) and conditioned Latin hypercube (cLHS). The segmentation-based sampling (SBS) scheme performed better than SRS and cLHS schemes in predicting the A-horizon thickness, soil texture fractions and soil classes, showing a high potential of LSS in stratifying a landscape for the purposes of DSM. The novelty of this study is in the way strata are constructed, rather than in the sampling design itself. Further research is needed to demonstrate the value of a SBS design for practical use. The analyses presented here further highlight the importance of considering locally adaptive techniques in optimization of sampling schemes and predictions of soil properties.     

Relief-rejuvenation and topographic length scales in a fluvial drainage basin, Napf area, Central Switzerland

This paper explores how, and to what extent, a phase of relief-rejuvenation modifies the mode of surface erosion in an approximately 63 km² drainage basin located at the northern border of the Swiss Alps (Luzern area). In the study area, the retreat of the Alpine glaciers at the end of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) caused base level to lower by approximately 80 m. The fluvial system adapted to the lowered base level by headward erosion. This is indicated by knickzones in the longitudinal stream profiles and by the continuous upstream narrowing of the width of the valley floor towards these knickzones. In the headwaters above these knickzones, processes are still to a significant extent controlled by the higher base level of the LGM. There, frequent exposure of bedrock in channels and especially on hillslopes implies that sediment flux is to a large extent limited by weathering rates. In the knickzones, however, exposure of bedrock in channels implies that sediment flux is supply-limited, and that erosion rates are controlled by stream power.The morphometric analysis reveals the existence of length scales in the topography that result from distinct geomorphic processes. Along the tributaries where the upstream sizes of the drainage basins exceed 100,000–200,000 m², the mode of sediment transport and erosion changes from predominantly hillslope processes (i.e., landsliding, creep of regolith, rock avalanches and to some extent debris flows) to processes in channels (fluvial processes and debris flows). This length scale reflects the minimum size of the contributing area for channelized processes to take over in the geomorphic development (i.e., threshold size of drainage basin). This threshold size depends on the ratio between production rates of sediment on hillslopes, and export rates of sediment by processes in channels. Consequently, in the headwaters, erosion rates and sediment flux, and hence landscape evolution rates, are to a large extent limited by weathering processes. In contrast, in the lower portion of the drainage basin that adjusts to the lowered base-level, rates of channelized erosion and relief formation are controlled mainly by stream power. Hence, this paper shows that base-level lowering, headward erosion and establishment of knickzones separate drainage basins in two segments with different controls on rates of surface erosion, sediment flux and relief formation.     

International Modeling Efforts Focusing on Climate Impact Assessments

How climate change impacts on the factors that make the planet habitable, such as water and food availability, differ between a global warming of two degrees compared to three degrees? The modelers struggle to provide better understanding of climate change impacts by launching a new comprehensive comparison of model simulations. The impact models and simulations will be provided by more than two dozen research groups from Germany, Austria,     

Heidornit Na2Ca3[Cl · (SO4)2 · B5O8(OH)2] ein neues Bormineral aus dem Zechsteinanhydrit Mit einer röntgenographischen Untersuchung

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Coastal landslides and swelling clays at Røsnæs,Denmark

Prior, D. B., 1973: Coastal landslides and swelling clays at Røsnæs, Denmark. Geografisk Tidsskrift, 72: 45–48. København, September 30, 1973.

The landslide morphology of the Røsnæs area has been examined and materials involved in active landsliding analysed.     

Vibration of hydraulic vessels

Summary The present paper is a continuation of a previous study by the author(1), dealing with expansion waves in fluids. Relating to hydro-dynamic effects due to harmonic vibrations, with special reference to earthquakes, it contains solutions for some rigid-walled vessels of geometrically determined shape. A salient feature of the problem is that the motion is assumed discontinuous in the sense that it starts from the initial condition of rest.     

Geochemistry of acidic volcanic clasts in Silurian conglomerates of the Midland Valley of Scotland: Implications on the Caledonian orogeny

20 clasts of acidic volcanic rocks from Silurian conglomerates of the Midland Valley of Scotland are similar in their geochemical composition to rhyolithes, rhyodacites and dacites of recent island arcs and active continental margins. They differ from the geochemical composition of upper Ordovician peralkaline rhyolites of the Tweed Valley in the Southern Uplands (Scotland) because of their lower Zr, Nb, Ce and Y contents. It is argued that these volcanic clasts represent erosional remnants of an island arc or active continental margin which was situated in the Midland Valley during upper Ordovician or lower Silurian time. This has implications on palaeogeographic models which have been suggested for the Scottish Caledonides.

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Zusammenfassung 20 Gerölle saurer Vulkanite aus silurischen Konglomeraten des Midland Valley in Schottland haben in ihrer geochemischen Zusammensetzung Ähnlichkeiten mit Rhyolithen, Rhyodaziten und Daziten von rezenten Inselbögen und aktiven Kontinentalrändern. Sie unterscheiden sich durch niedrigere Gehalte an Zr, Nb, Ce und Y von oberordovizischen Peralkali-Rhyolithen des Tweed Valley in den Southern Uplands (Schottland). Es wird vermutet, daß die analysierten Gerolle Erosionsreste eines Inselbogens oder aktiven Kontinentalrandes darstellen, der zur Zeit des oberen Ordoviziums oder unteren Silurs im Raum des Midland Valley gelegen hat. Es ergeben sich daraus Folgerungen für paläogeographische Modelle, die für die schottischen Kaledoniden entwickelt worden sind.

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Résumé La présente note porte sur 20 galets de volcanites acides contenus dans des conglomérats siluriens du Midland Valley (Ecosse). Leurs compositions géochimiques sont analogues à celles de rhyolites, rhyo-dacites et dacites d'arcs insulaires et de marges continentales actives actuels. Leur faible teneur relative en Zr, Nb, Ce et Y les distinguent des rhyolites peralcalines d'âge ordovicien supérieur des Southern Uplands (Ecosse). Ces galets de volcanites sont interprétés comme des produits de l'érosion soit d'un arc insulaire, soit d'une marge active, situés à l'emplacement de l'actuelle Midland Valley au cours de l'Ordovicien supérieur ou du Silurien inférieur.Ceci entraîne certaines implications dans les modèles paléogéographiques qui ont été proposés pour les Calédonides d'Ecosse.

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20 Midland Valley, . , . Tweed Valley , . , , , , Midland Valley. .

     

Visible electrical discharges inside thunderclouds

Summary Lightning discharge streamers are occasionally visible inside and above the base of isolated convection thunderclouds. Two photographs of such a transparent cloud are discussed. They show that the negatively charged region reaches to an altitude of 8 km and has a horizontal width of about 8 km.