The height datum problem and the role of satellite gravity models

Regional height systems do not refer to a common equipotential surface, such as the geoid. They are usually referred to the mean sea level at a reference tide gauge. As mean sea level varies (by ±1 to 2 m) from place to place and from continent to continent each tide gauge has an unknown bias with respect to a common reference surface, whose determination is what the height datum problem is concerned with. This paper deals with this problem, in connection to the availability of satellite gravity missions data. Since biased heights enter into the computation of terrestrial gravity anomalies, which in turn are used for geoid determination, the biases enter as secondary or indirect effect also in such a geoid model. In contrast to terrestrial gravity anomalies, gravity and geoid models derived from satellite gravity missions, and in particular GRACE and GOCE, do not suffer from those inconsistencies. Those models can be regarded as unbiased. After a review of the mathematical formulation of the problem, the paper examines two alternative approaches to its solution. The first one compares the gravity potential coefficients in the range of degrees from 100 to 200 of an unbiased gravity field from GOCE with those of the combined model EGM2008, that in this range is affected by the height biases. This first proposal yields a solution too inaccurate to be useful. The second approach compares height anomalies derived from GNSS ellipsoidal heights and biased normal heights, with anomalies derived from an anomalous potential which combines a satellite-only model up to degree 200 and a high-resolution global model above 200. The point is to show that in this last combination the indirect effects of the height biases are negligible. To this aim, an error budget analysis is performed. The biases of the high frequency part are proved to be irrelevant, so that an accuracy of 5 cm per individual GNSS station is found. This seems to be a promising practical method to solve the problem.     

Experimental analysis of different software packages for orientation and digital surface modelling from UAV images

The use of UAVs finds application in a variety of fields, among which are the small scale surveys for environmental protection application. In this frame some experimental tests were carried out at Politecnico di Milano to assess metric accuracies of images acquired by UAVs and derived photogrammetric products. A block of 5 strips and 49 photos was taken by fixed wing system SenseFly, carrying a camera Canon Ixus 220HS on a rural area included in an Italian Park. Images are processed through bundle adjustment, automatic DEM extraction and orthoimages production steps with several software packages, with the aim to evaluate their characteristics, capabilities and weaknesses. The software packages tested were Erdas-LPS, EyeDEA (University of Parma), Agisoft Photoscan, Pix4UAV, PhotoModeler Scanner. For the georeferencing of the block 16 pre-signalized ground control points were surveyed in the area through GPS (NRTK survey). Comparison of results is given in terms of differences among orientation parameters and their accuracies. Moreover, comparisons among different digital surface models are evaluated. Furthermore, exterior orientation parameters, image points and ground points coordinates, obtained by the various software packages, were used as initial values in a comparative adjustment made by scientific in-house software. Paper confirms that computer vision software are faster in computation and, even if their main goal is not to pursue high accuracy in points coordinates determination, they seems to produce results comparable to those obtainable with standard photogrammetric approach. Agisoft Photoscan seems in this case to yield the best results in terms of quality of photogrammetric products.     

Modeling hydrothermal fluid circulation and gravity signals at the Phlegraean Fields caldera

The Phlegraean Fields caldera is an active volcanic system where episodes of ground deformation are accompanied by significant changes in geochemical and geophysical parameters monitored at the surface. These changes derive from a complex interaction between magmatic system and hydrothermal fluid circulation. We calculate the gravity changes associated with the variable density of hydrothermal fluids. We simulate the multi-phase and multi-component fluid circulation triggered by a pulsating magma degassing, periodically increasing the discharge of CO₂-enriched fluids into the shallow hydrothermal system. The simulated evolution of the hydrothermal system successfully reproduces the observed composition of gas discharged at the surface. At the same time, results indicate that changes in average fluid density generate a detectable gravity signal that is of the same order of magnitude of the observed changes. This contribution to gravity changes can explain the peculiar behavior of gravity data collected at Solfatara, where surface hydrothermal phenomena are present. Simultaneous fitting of two independent sets of monitoring data (gas composition and gravity changes) confirms the conceptual model proposed for the hydrothermal system at Solfatara, and it provides new insights for the interpretation of gravity data.     

Effect of combined translation and torsion on undrained uplift capacity of plate anchors: Plastic limit analysis (PLA) solution

Uplift capacity of plate anchors has been the focus of numerous studies, because anchor plates are designed for pull‐out in normal operating conditions. However, the response of plate anchors under 6‐degrees‐of‐freedom loading caused during extreme loading conditions is poorly understood. The purpose of this study is to propose a simple yet sufficiently accurate analytical solution to investigate the behavior of plate anchor under combined in‐plane translation and torsion and to evaluate its effect on the plate uplift bearing capacity. To this end, a modified plastic limit analysis (PLA) approach is introduced and compared with limit equilibrium and simplified upper bound baseline solutions. The proposed method is verified with 3‐dimensional finite element. The variables considered in this study include plate aspect ratio, plate thickness, as well as load direction and eccentricity. Results of analytical solutions indicate the insensitivity of the “shape” of the shear‐torsion yield envelope to plate thickness. This finding facilitates the use of simplified yet reasonable yield envelope for infinitely thin plate obtained from simplified PLA approach for other plate thicknesses. The “size” of the failure envelope (controlled by pure torsional and translational capacity) could be predicted fairly accurately by PLA and limit equilibrium methods. Combination of these analytical methods offers a simple yet reasonably accurate solution to describe shear‐torsion response of anchor plate. The obtained shear‐torsion yield envelope is then fitted in the generalized 6‐degrees‐of‐freedom yield surface which describes the reducing effect of moment, torsion, and planar forces on the uplift capacity of plate.     

Strong-motion observations from the OGS temporary seismic network during the 2012 Emilia sequence in northern Italy

Strong-motion data consisting of peak ground acceleration and velocity and 5 % damped response spectra are presented for 46 earthquakes of the Emilia seismic sequence which occurred in the Po Plain (northern Italy) in 2012. The data were recorded by the OGS temporary network installed close to the town of Ferrara following the main shock of May 20, 2012. Ground-motion peak parameters and spectral responses are compared with the ground-motion prediction equation (GMPE) of Bindi et al. (Bull Earthq Eng 9:1899–1920, 2011) for soft soils and reverse faults. Peak ground accelerations are in general in good agreement with those predicted by GMPE, while predicted peak ground velocities underestimate the observed data, especially for stronger events at more distant stations. The response spectra follow the trend in peak ground velocities, with observed values higher than predicted values at longer periods. This behavior has been interpreted as a site effect due to the deep soft alluvial cover of the Po Plain, which promotes ground motion characterized by a large low-frequency spectral content that is not yet well modeled by the Italian GMPE. A peculiar behavior was shown by the event occurring on June 6, 04:08:33 UTC, \(\hbox {M}=4.5\) , located at the eastern edge of the Po Plain, which produced peak ground accelerations exceeding three times the values estimated by attenuation laws. Such a great discrepancy could be related to post-critically reflected S-waves and multiples from the Moho (SmSM).     

Seismic response of multi‐span simply supported bridges to a spatially varying earthquake ground motion

This paper carries out a parametrical study of the pounding phenomenon associated with the seismic response of multi‐span simply supported bridges with base isolation devices. In particular, the analyses focus on the causal relationship between pounding and the properties of a spatially varying earthquake ground motion. In order to include the effect of the torsional component of pounding forces on the seismic response of the whole structure, a three‐dimensional (3D) finite element model has been defined and 3D non‐linear time‐history analyses have been performed. A parametrical study on the size of the gaps between adjacent bridge decks has highlighted that the pounding effects are amplified when the spatially varying ground motion time histories at each support are considered. Because of a spatially varying input, the pounding forces can assume values 3–4 times larger than those derived by a conventional seismic analysis with uniform input or with spatial input but considering ground motion wave passage effect only. The numerical results show that in order to achieve an acceptably safe structural performance during seismic events, a correct design of the isolation devices should take into account the relative displacements calculated by means of a non‐linear time‐history analysis with multi‐support excitation. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The ARIEL mission reference sample

The ARIEL (Atmospheric Remote-sensing Exoplanet Large-survey) mission concept is one of the three M4 mission candidates selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) for a Phase A study, competing for a launch in 2026. ARIEL has been designed to study the physical and chemical properties of a large and diverse sample of exoplanets and, through those, understand how planets form and evolve in our galaxy. Here we describe the assumptions made to estimate an optimal sample of exoplanets – including already known exoplanets and expected ones yet to be discovered – observable by ARIEL and define a realistic mission scenario. To achieve the mission objectives, the sample should include gaseous and rocky planets with a range of temperatures around stars of different spectral type and metallicity. The current ARIEL design enables the observation of ～1000 planets, covering a broad range of planetary and stellar parameters, during its four year mission lifetime. This nominal list of planets is expected to evolve over the years depending on the new exoplanet discoveries.     

Investigation of topographic site effects using 3D waveform modelling: amplification,polarization and torsional motions in the case study of Arquata del Tronto (Italy)

Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering - The combined effect of topography and near-surface heterogeneities on the seismic response is hardly predictable and may lead to an aggravation of the ground...     

On the reliability of long‐period response spectral ordinates from digital accelerograms

Using records from co‐located broadband and digital strong motion (SM) instruments, it is first shown that the displacement waveforms obtained by double integration of the accelerogram need not be free of unrealistic baseline drift to yield reliable spectral ordinates up to at least 10 s. Secondly, to provide objective criteria for selecting reliable digital SM records for ground motion predictions at long periods, a set of synthetic accelerograms contaminated by random long‐period noise has been used, and the difference between the original accelerograms and the spurious ones in terms of response spectra has been quantified, by introducing a noise index that can be easily calculated based on the velocity waveform of the record. The results of this study suggest that high‐pass filtering the digital acceleration record from a cutoff period selected to suppress baseline drifts on the displacement waveform appears to be in most cases too conservative and unduly depletes reliable information on long‐period spectral ordinates. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Far-field Gravity and Tilt Signals by Large Earthquakes: Real or Instrumental Effects?

A wide set of dynamics phenomena (i.e., Geodynamics, Post Glacial Rebound, seismicity and volcanic activity) can produce time gravity changes, which spectrum varies from short to long (more than 1 year) periods. The amplitude of the gravity variations is generally in the order of consequently their detection requires instruments with high sensitivity and stability: then, high quality experimental data. Spring and superconducting gravimeters are intensively used with this target and they are frequently jointed with tiltmeters recording stations in order to measure the elasto-gravitational perturbation of the Earth. The far-field effects produced by large earthquakes on records collected by spring gravimeters and tiltmeters are investigated here. Gravity and tilt records were analyzed on time windows spanning the occurrence of large worldwide earthquakes; the gravity records have been collected on two stations approximately 600 km distant. The background noise level at the stations was characterized, in each season, in order to detect a possible seasonal dependence and the presence of spectral components which could hide or mask other geophysical signals, such as, for instance, the highest mode of the Seismic Free Oscillation (SFO) of the Earth. Some spectral components (6.5; 8; 9; 14, 20, 51) have been detected in gravity and tilt records on the occasion of large earthquakes and the effect of the SFO has been hypothesized. A quite different spectral content of the EW and NS tiltmeter components has been detected and interpreted as a consequence of the radiation pattern of the disturbances due to the earthquakes. Through the analysis of the instrumental sensitivity, instrumental effects have been detected for gravity meters at very low frequency.F.S.E. (Fondo Sociale Europeo -European Community -)