The localization of fireball trajectories with the help of seismic networks

The seismic network can be used for the localization of the fireball trajectory in the atmosphere. The types of sonic or blasting waves, created during the meteorid’s penetration of the atmosphere, are discussed. The practical use of the localization based on cylindrical or spherical waves is shown on the examples of fireballs Morávka (2000), B?eclav (2007), Jesenice (2009) and Ko?ice (2010).     

Water transport in planetary ice shells by two-phase flow – a parametric study

We present a two-phase model for the generation of meltwater and its propagation through the outer shells of icy satellites such as Europa, Enceladus or Titan. We exploit the analogy with the process of partial melt generation in the Earth’s interior by adopting the formalism of two-phase flow developed in the mantle-dynamics community, and by means of scaling analysis we derive a reduced system appropriate for our planetary application. The resultant system couples Darcy’s law with the deformation of the viscous ice matrix. We numerically investigate the system in a simplified one-dimensional geometry, corresponding to a laterally uniform ice layer, and analyze the role of various physical parameters. We focus on the leading-order effects, namely (i) the key importance of ice permeability, (ii) the role of complex ice rheology depending on temperature, deformation mechanisms and water content, (iii) the possible contribution of surface tension and (iv) the effects of mechanical coupling between the phases. Our analysis suggests that the global water transport through temperate ice is mainly controlled by ice permeability and can be well approximated by a model in which the complex ice rheology is parameterized in terms of a constant viscosity. While the mechanical coupling between the phases dramatically affects the flow at the local scale, the surface tension appears to be insignificant.     

Indirect air–sea interactions simulated with a coupled turbulence-resolving model

A turbulence-resolving parallelized atmospheric large-eddy simulation model (PALM) has been applied to study turbulent interactions between the humid atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) and the salt water oceanic mixed layer (OML). The most energetic three-dimensional turbulent eddies in the ABL–OML system (convective cells) were explicitly resolved in these simulations. This study considers a case of shear-free convection in the coupled ABL–OML system. The ABL–OML coupling scheme used the turbulent fluxes at the bottom of the ABL as upper boundary conditions for the OML and the sea surface temperature at the top of the OML as lower boundary conditions for the ABL. The analysis of the numerical experiment confirms that the ABL–OML interactions involve both the traditional direct coupling mechanism and much less studied indirect coupling mechanism (Garrett Dyn Atmos Ocean 23:19–34, 1996). The direct coupling refers to a common flux-gradient representation of the air–sea exchange, which is controlled by the temperature difference across the air–water interface. The indirect coupling refers to thermal instability of the Rayleigh–Benard convection, which is controlled by the temperature difference across the entire mixed layer through formation of the large convective eddies or cells. The indirect coupling mechanism in these simulations explained up to 45 % of the ABL–OML co-variability on the turbulent scales. Despite relatively small amplitude of the sea surface temperature fluctuations, persistence of the OML cells organizes the ABL convective cells. Water downdrafts in the OML cells tend to be collocated with air updrafts in the ABL cells. The study concludes that the convective structures in the ABL and the OML are co-organized. The OML convection controls the air–sea turbulent exchange in the quasi-equilibrium convective ABL–OML system.     

The nested superblock approach for regional-scale analytic element models

A new approach is presented for improving the computational efficiency of regional-scale ground water models based on the analytic element method (AEM). The algorithm is an extension of the existing "superblock" algorithm, which combines the effects of multiple analytic elements into Laurent series and Taylor series (superblock expansions). With the new "nested superblock" formulation, Laurent series are nested in a hierarchical (quad-tree) data structure with direct mathematical relationships between parent and child superblock coefficients. Nested superblocks significantly accelerate the evaluation of the complex potential and discharge function in models that contain a large number of analytic elements at multiple scales. This evaluation process, the primary computational cost of AEM models, is required to determine the element coefficients, generate contour plots, and trace pathlines. The performance of the nested superblocks is demonstrated with a simplified model based on the Lake Ontario watershed geometry comprising thousands of hydrogeologic features at multiple geographic scales.     

Spatio-temporal prediction of daily temperatures using time-series of MODIS LST images

A computational framework to generate daily temperature maps using time-series of publicly available MODIS MOD11A2 product Land Surface Temperature (LST) images (1 km resolution; 8-day composites) is illustrated using temperature measurements from the national network of meteorological stations (159) in Croatia. The input data set contains 57,282 ground measurements of daily temperature for the year 2008. Temperature was modeled as a function of latitude, longitude, distance from the sea, elevation, time, insolation, and the MODIS LST images. The original rasters were first converted to principal components to reduce noise and filter missing pixels in the LST images. The residual were next analyzed for spatio-temporal auto-correlation; sum-metric separable variograms were fitted to account for zonal and geometric space-time anisotropy. The final predictions were generated for time-slices of a 3D space-time cube, constructed in the R environment for statistical computing. The results show that the space-time regression model can explain a significant part of the variation in station-data (84%). MODIS LST 8-day (cloud-free) images are unbiased estimator of the daily temperature, but with relatively low precision (±4.1°C); however their added value is that they systematically improve detection of local changes in land surface temperature due to local meteorological conditions and/or active heat sources (urban areas, land cover classes). The results of 10–fold cross-validation show that use of spatio-temporal regression-kriging and incorporation of time-series of remote sensing images leads to significantly more accurate maps of temperature than if plain spatial techniques were used. The average (global) accuracy of mapping temperature was ±2.4°C. The regression-kriging explained 91% of variability in daily temperatures, compared to 44% for ordinary kriging. Further software advancement—interactive space-time variogram exploration and automated retrieval, resampling and filtering of MODIS images—are anticipated.     

Interannual variability of Mediterranean evaporation and its relation to regional climate

Gridded monthly evaporation data for 1958–2006 from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution data set are used to investigate interannual variability of Mediterranean evaporation during cold and hot seasons and its relation to regional atmospheric dynamics, sea surface temperature and atmospheric elements of the hydrological cycle. The first EOF mode of Mediterranean evaporation, explaining more than 50% of its total variance, is characterized by the monopole pattern both in winter and summer. However, despite structural similarity, the EOF-1 of Mediterranean evaporation is affected by different climate signals in cold and hot seasons. During winter the EOF-1 is associated with the East Atlantic teleconnection pattern. In summer, there is indication of tropical influence on the EOF-1 of Mediterranean evaporation (presumably from Asian monsoon). Both in winter and summer, principal components of EOF-1 demonstrate clear interdecadal signals (with a stronger signature in summer) associated with large sea surface temperature anomalies. The results of a sensitivity analysis suggest that in winter both the meridional wind and the vertical gradient of saturation specific humidity (GSSH) near the sea surface contribute to the interdecadal evaporation signal. In summer, however, it is likely that the signal is more related to GSSH. Our analysis did not reveal significant links between the Mediterranean evaporation and the North Atlantic Oscillation in any season. The EOF-2 of evaporation accounts for 20% (11%) of its total variance in winter (in summer). Both in winter and summer the EOF-2 is characterized by a zonal dipole with opposite variations of evaporation in western and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea. This mode is associated presumably with smaller scale (i.e., local) effects of atmospheric dynamics. Seasonality of the leading modes of the Mediterranean evaporation is also clearly seen in the character of their links to atmospheric elements of the regional hydrological cycle. In particular, significant links to precipitation in some regions have been found in winter, but not in summer.     

Mineralogy and environmental stability of slags from the Tsumeb smelter,Namibia

Three types of smelting slags originating from historically different smelting technologies in the Tsumeb area (Namibia) were studied: (i) slags from processing of carbonate/oxide ore in a Cu–Pb smelter (1907–1948), (ii) slags from Cu and Pb smelting of sulphide ores (1963–1970) and (iii) granulated Cu smelting slags (1980–2000). Bulk chemical analyses of slags were combined with detailed mineralogical investigation using X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDS) and electron microprobe (EPMA). The slags are significantly enriched in metals and metalloids: Pb (0.97–18.4 wt.%), Cu (0.49–12.2 wt.%), Zn (2.82–12.09 wt.%), Cd (12–6940 mg/kg), As (930–75,870 mg/kg) and Sb (67–2175 mg/kg). Slags from the oldest technology are composed of primary Ca- and Pb-bearing feldspars, spinels, complex Cu–Fe and Cu–Cr oxides, delafossite–mcconnellite phases and Ca–Pb arsenates. The presence of arsenates indicates that these slags underwent long-term alteration. More recent slags are composed of high-temperature phases: Ca–Fe alumosilicates (olivine, melilite), Pb- and Zn-rich glass, spinel oxides and small sulphide/metallic inclusions embedded in glass. XRD and SEM/EDS were used to study secondary alteration products developed on the surface of slags exposed for decades to weathering on the dumps. Highly soluble complex Cu–Pb–(Ca) arsenates (bayldonite, lammerite, olivenite, lavendulan) associated with litharge and hydrocerussite were detected. To determine the mineralogical and geochemical parameters governing the release of inorganic contaminants from slags, two standardized short-term batch leaching tests (European norm EN 12457 and USEPA TCLP), coupled with speciation-solubility modelling using PHREEQC-2 were performed. Arsenic in the leachate exceeded the EU regulatory limit for hazardous waste materials (2.5 mg/L). The toxicity limits defined by USEPA for the TCLP test were exceeded for Cd, Pb and As. The PHREEQC-2 calculation predicted that complex arsenates are the most important solubility controls for metals and metalloids. Furthermore, these phases can readily dissolve during the rainy season (October to March) and flush significant amounts of As, Pb and Cu into the environment in the vicinity of slag dumps.     

Statistical Analysis of Landslide Events in Central America and their Run-out Distance

Statistical analyses of landslide deposits from similar areas provide information on dynamics and rheology, and are the basis for empirical relationships for the prediction of future events. In Central America landslides represent an important threat in both volcanic and non-volcanic areas. Data, mainly from 348 landslides in Nicaragua, and 19 in other Central American countries have been analyzed to describe landslide characteristics and to search for possible correlations and empirical relationships. The mobility of a landslide, expressed as the ratio between height of fall (H) and run-out distance (L) as a function of the volume and height of fall; and the relationship between the height of fall and run-out distance were studied for rock falls, slides, debris flows and debris avalanches. The data show differences in run-out distance and landslide mobility among different types of landslides and between debris flows in volcanic and non-volcanic areas. The new Central American data add to and seem consistent with data published from other regions. Studies combining field observations and empirical relationships with laboratory studies and numerical simulations will help in the development of more reliable empirical equations for the prediction of landslide run-out, with applications to hazard zonation and design of optimal risk mitigation measures.     

The 20 May 2016 Petermann Ranges earthquake: centroid location,magnitude and focal mechanism from full waveform modelling

Ground velocity records of the 20 May 2016 Petermann Ranges earthquake are used to calculate its centroid-moment-tensor in the 3?D heterogeneous Earth model AuSREM. The global-centroid-moment-tensor reported a depth of 12?km, which is the shallowest allowed depth in the algorithm. Solutions from other global and local agencies indicate that the event occurred within the top 12?km of the crust, but the locations vary laterally by up to 100?km. We perform a centroid-moment-tensor inversion through a spatiotemporal grid search in 3?D allowing for time shifts around the origin time. Our 3?D grid encompasses the locations of all proposed global solutions. The inversion produces an ensemble of solutions that constrain the depth, lateral location of the centroid, and strike, dip and rake of the fault. The centroid location stands out with a clear peak in the correlation between real and synthetic data for a depth of 1?km at longitude 129.8° and latitude –25.6°. A collection of acceptable solutions at this centroid location, produced by different time shifts, constrain the fault strike to be 304?±?4° or 138?±?1°. The two nodal planes have dip angles of 64?±?5° and 26?±?4° and rake angles of 96?±?2° and 77?±?5°, respectively. The southwest-dipping nodal plane with the dip angle of 64° could be seen as part of a near vertical splay fault system at the end of the Woodroffe Thrust. The other nodal plane could be interpreted as a conjugate fault rupturing perpendicular to the splay structure. We speculate that the latter is more likely, since the hypocentres reported by several agencies, including the Geoscience Australia, as well as the majority of aftershocks are all located to the northeast of our preferred centroid location. Our best estimate for the moment magnitude of this event is 5.9. The optimum centroid is located on the 20?km surface rupture caused by the earthquake. Given the estimated magnitude, the long surface rupture requires only ～4?km of rupture down dip, which is in agreement with the shallow centroid depth we obtained.