Neural networks for quick earthquake damage estimation

This paper proposes the use of neural networks to predict damage due to earthquakes from the indices of recorded ground motion. Since the relationship between ground motion indices and resulting damage is difficult to express in mathematical form, neural networks are conveniently applied for this problem. Simulated earthquake ground motions are used to have a well-distributed data set and the ductility factor from non-linear analysis of two single-degree-of-freedom structural models is used to represent the damage. A sensitivity analysis procedure is described to identify qualitatively the input parameters that have a greater influence on the damage. The result of the trained neural network is then verified by using several recorded earthquake ground motions. It is found that some instability in the prediction can occur. Instability occurs when input values exceed the range of the training data. The neural network model using PGA and SI as input give the best performance in the recall tests using actual earthquake ground motion, demonstrating the usefulness of neural network models for the quick estimation of damage through earthquake intensity monitoring.     

A distinction between ice-pushed and ice-lifted landforms on lacustrine and marine coasts

Study of a small lake, Second Roach Pond, in Maine, U.S.A. clarifies the distinction between shoreline features created by ice push which occurs on both lacustrine and marine coasts, and those created by ice lift related to tidal action in the marine environment. Ice lifting occurred as littoral sediments were frozen into the lake ice, followed by a rise in water level due to damming of the lake before the nival melt each spring. In the period 1905 to 1969 prominent barricades were constructed by this means. A classification based on this distinction is proposed. Ice-pushed landforms include ramparts, ridges in coarse and fine sediments, stone pavements, ice keel grooves, pushed boulder grooves, and tails off promontories. Ice-lift features include boulder barricades, perched stones, stone garlands, and ice keel depressions.     

Effects of fluids on the interaction of granites with limestones: The Notch Peak stock,Utah

In this paper we consider the mechanisms by which the mineralogy and composition of the margins of the Notch Peak granitic stock, Utah, were affected by calcareous argillite country rocks. The contact zone of the granite relative to the unaffected granite is enriched in: K₂O from about 4 to 10 wt.%, Rb from 250 to 510 ppm, Sr from 150 to 790 ppm and Ba from 250 to 2160 ppm. Locally, some of the intrusive rocks at the contact are nearly devoid of quartz and can be classified as syenites. The initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios range from 0.7069 in the unaffected rocks to 0.7100 in the potassium-enriched samples, approaching the values of the calc-silicate country rocks of about 0.7110.Calculations show that the characteristics of the contact zone near the top of the stock are the result of a number of sequential processes. CO₂-rich fluids derived from the heated calcareous argillites apparently caused a shift in the phase boundaries in the magma, enhancing accumulation of K-feldspar and high-Ca augite at the expense of other phases. The accumulation resulted in the high Ba and Sr concentrations in some samples. However, the high K₂O and Rb concentrations and magmatic ¹⁸O values indicate infiltration of magmatic fluid emanating from the solidifying lower portions of the pluton subsequent to solidification of the cap. The minimum fluid-rock ratios of 4.6 by mass, calculated on the basis of K₂O and Rb concentration shifts, indicate that a substantial amount of the fluid was channeled through this contact zone. The desilication of the rocks forming the syenitic samples at the contact apparently occurred when a chemical potential gradient of silica between the granite and wall-rocks was established as quartz was consumed in the wall-rocks during calc-silicate reactions. The infiltrating magmatic fluid probably acted as a medium for transport of silica across the contact and perhaps exchange of Sr between the country rocks and the intrusion where up to 30% of strontium in the granitic and syenitic samples from the contact zone was derived from the calc-silicates. The syenitic rocks cannot be explained by desilication reactions involving assimilation of the calc-silicates by the granite magma. The results of this study show that fluids interacting with the country rocks need to be considered to explain the effects of country rocks on the composition of the margins of granitic intrusions.     

Direct dating of Plio-Quaternary pumices by Ar/Ar step-heating and single-grain laser fusion methods: the example of the Monts-Dore massif (Massif Central, France)

K-feldspars separated from Plio-Quaternary pumice flows of the Monts-Dore massif (Massif Central, France) give ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar saddle-shaped age spectra. Laser-probe analysis of hand-picked single grains gives ages in agreement with those of overlying and underlying lava flows previously dated by the conventional K-Ar method. The laser-probe ages are lower than the minimum ages measured on the populations of grains by the step-heating method. As previously suggested by Lo Bello and co-workers for the pumice flow of Neschers belonging to the same volcanic massif, the saddle-shaped age spectra are ascribed to the different Ar-release patterns of two populations of K-feldspars: (1) young sanidine phenocrysts of the pumices; and (2) old K-feldspars plucked from the Hercynian basement during the explosive eruption. Measurements of both the granitic rocks from surrounding areas and the granitic xenoliths included in pumices give ages around 330 Ma and show that most of the xenocrysts included in the pumices did not lose significant amounts of argon during the eruption. With the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar step-heating method, we were able to detect contamination of Quaternary K-feldspars by Hercynian K-feldspars as low as 0.25. Because pumice flows of the Monts-Dore massif crop out over large areas, these new ages will be useful for establishing a precise stratigraphy of the European Plio-Quaternary.     

Migration de la truite lacustre (Salmo trutta lacustris L.) dans le Léman et ses affluents

A total of 2588 adult migratory brown trout (Salmo trutta lacustris) have been tagged from 1964 to 1974 on their spawning sites, in tributaries of the western part of Lake Geneva (Switzerland). Most of the fish (96.2%) recaptured during spawning seasons in the following years have been found in the same river where they had previously been caught. Most tagged fish recaptured by fishermen were found in the western part of the Lake, near their home rivers. This tendency is very strong in autumn and winter. It still remains highly significant in spring and summer.

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Dédié à Wolfgang Geiger     

Source rock and asphaltene biomarker characterization by pyrolysisgas chromatography-mass spectrometry-multiple ion detection

Biomarkers produced by microscale pyrolysis of extracted source rocks, kerogens and asphaltenes have been analysed directly by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the MID mode. A series of experiments have been undertaken. These include an investigation into the production of the hopanes at different pyrolysis temperatures and a comparison of results obtained from Curie point pyrolysis and the Chemical Data Systems pyroprobe. Steranes and triterpanes produced by pyrolysis of a series of vitrinites were investigated and correlated with maturity variations. Finally, the biomarkers produced from asphaltenes were compared with those produced from the extract and extracted rock in order to further investigate the theory that asphaltenes are a liquid kerogen. The results of these experiments showed that the biomarkers released by pyrolysis of source rocks have a potential use for source and maturity determinations. The method is advantageous in that it can be said with some certainty that the biomarkers are indigenous to the rock and not present in the rock as a possible result of migration.     

Portable magnetometer theodolite with fluxgate sensor for earth's magnetic field component measurements

A new portable magnetometer theodolite with fluxgate sensor has been developed for measuring the components of the earth's magnetic field. With this instrument, used as a null detector, it is possible to make absolute measurements of declination (D) and inclination (I). The compensation of the main magnetic field allows direct intensity measurements (H, X, Y, Z components); in this case the calibration is made by reference to a proton magnetometer.The observation procedure is particularly easy and quick. The accuracy is better than 5 sec of arc forD andI and better than 1 nT for direct intensity measurements.     

The Implications of Including Women's Daily Lives in a Feminist GIScience

In this paper, we argue that a feminist geographical analysis that examines women as active agents in their daily lives, pays attention to the multiplicity of women's experiences in relational space, and values knowledge for transformative purposes, provides insights as to how GIScience might develop in the near future. We draw upon our research with two different community organizations in North Philadelphia to show how a feminist geographical analysis can shape the conceptualization of a community GIS. We argue that collaborative work with community organizations based on “a view from below” necessitates alternative institutional arrangements while providing rich data to better understand the intersection of daily life and information and communication technologies (ICT) as experienced, in the particular case of our work, by poor women. Our research illustrates that understanding ICT frameworks from the perspective of women and in the context of their daily lives has important implications for GIScience.