Digital world meets urban planet – new prospects for evidence-based urban studies arising from joint exploitation of big earth data,information technology and shared knowledge

ABSTRACT

The digital transformation taking place in all areas of life has led to a massive increase in digital data – in particular, related to the places where and the ways how we live. To facilitate an exploration of the new opportunities arising from this development the Urban Thematic Exploitation Platform (U-TEP) has been set-up. This enabling instrument represents a virtual environment that combines open access to multi-source data repositories with dedicated data processing, analysis and visualisation functionalities. Moreover, it includes mechanisms for the development and sharing of technology and knowledge. After an introduction of the underlying methodical concept, this paper introduces four selected use cases that were carried out on the basis of U-TEP: two technology-driven applications implemented by users from the remote sensing and software engineering community (generation of cloud-free mosaics, processing of drone data) and two examples related to concrete use scenarios defined by planners and decision makers (data analytics related to global urbanization, monitoring of regional land-use dynamics). The experiences from U-TEP’s pre-operations phase show that the system can effectively support the derivation of new data, facts and empirical evidence that helps scientists and decision-makers to implement improved strategies for sustainable urban development.     

Assessing global Sentinel-2 coverage dynamics and data availability for operational Earth observation (EO) applications using the EO-Compass

ABSTRACT

Sentinel-2 scenes are increasingly being used in operational Earth observation (EO) applications at regional, continental and global scales, in near-real time applications, and with multi-temporal approaches. On a broader scale, they are therefore one of the most important facilitators of the Digital Earth. However, the data quality and availability are not spatially and temporally homogeneous due to effects related to cloudiness, the position on the Earth or the acquisition plan. The spatio-temporal inhomogeneity of the underlying data may therefore affect any big remote sensing analysis and is important to consider. This study presents an assessment of the metadata for all accessible Sentinel-2 Level-1C scenes acquired in 2017, enabling the spatio-temporal coverage and availability to be quantified, including scene availability and cloudiness. Spatial exploratory analysis of the global, multi-temporal metadata also reveals that higher acquisition frequencies do not necessarily yield more cloud-free scenes and exposes metadata quality issues, e.g. systematically incorrect cloud cover estimation in high, non-vegetated altitudes. The continuously updated datasets and analysis results are accessible as a Web application called EO-Compass. It contributes to a better understanding and selection of Sentinel-2 scenes, and improves the planning and interpretation of remote sensing analyses.     

FORSAT: a 3D forest monitoring system for cover mapping and volumetric 3D change detection

ABSTRACT

A 3D forest monitoring system, called FORSAT (a satellite very high resolution image processing platform for forest assessment), was developed for the extraction of 3D geometric forest information from very high resolution (VHR) satellite imagery and the automatic 3D change detection. FORSAT is composed of two complementary tasks: (1) the geometric and radiometric processing of satellite optical imagery and digital surface model (DSM) reconstruction by using a precise and robust image matching approach specially designed for VHR satellite imagery, (2) 3D surface comparison for change detection. It allows the users to import DSMs, align them using an advanced 3D surface matching approach and calculate the 3D differences and volume changes (together with precision values) between epochs. FORSAT is a single source and flexible forest information solution, allowing expert and non-expert remote sensing users to monitor forests in three and four (time) dimensions. The geometric resolution and thematic content of VHR optical imagery are sufficient for many forest information needs such as deforestation, clear-cut and fire severity mapping. The capacity and benefits of FORSAT, as a forest information system contributing to the sustainable forest management, have been tested and validated in case studies located in Austria, Switzerland and Spain.     

Comparison of three types of laser optical disdrometers under natural rainfall conditions

ABSTRACT

Optical disdrometers can be used to estimate rainfall erosivity; however, the relative accuracy of different disdrometers is unclear. This study compared three types of optical laser-based disdrometers to quantify differences in measured rainfall characteristics and to develop correction factors for kinetic energy (KE). Two identical PWS100 (Campbell Scientific), one Laser Precipitation Monitor (Thies Clima) and a first-generation Parsivel (OTT) were collocated with a weighing rain gauge (OTT Pluvio²) at a site in Austria. All disdrometers underestimated total rainfall compared to the rain gauge with relative biases from 2% to 29%. Differences in drop size distribution and velocity resulted in different KE estimates. By applying a linear regression to the KE–intensity relationship of each disdrometer, a correction factor for KE between the disdrometers was developed. This factor ranged from 1.15 to 1.36 and allowed comparison of KE between different disdrometer types despite differences in measured drop size and velocity.     

Progressive niedriggradige Metamorphose glaukonitführender Horizonte in den helvetischen Alpen der Ostschweiz

Glauconite-bearing formations of Cretaceous and Tertiary age in the Helvetic zone of the Glarus Alps have been investigated by microscopic, X-ray, wet chemical, electron microprobe, Mössbauer spectroscopic, and K-Ar dating methods. 3 different metamorphic zones with increasing grade can be distinguished (Fig. 3). Original, unmetamorphosed sediments containing glauconite-calcite-quartz±chlorite comprise zone I. The glauconite is very rich in potassium (8–9 wt.%) and the chlorite is Fe-rich. In zone II green stilpnomelane forms by the reaction: glauconite±chlorite + quartz = stilpnomelane + k-feldspar + H₂O + O₂. The green stilpnomelane contains as much as ten times the amount of K found in brown stilpnomelane, which is believed to be a weathering feature. In zone III biotite appears by the reaction: chlorite + k-feldspar = biotite + stilpnomelane + quartz + H₂O. Riebeckite is a possible additional phase in all three zones. Generally, zones I–III are arranged nearly parallel to the Alpine border with metamorphic grade increasing to the south. In the Glarnisch Massif, however, the transition from zone I to zone II is clearly controlled by the overburden of the nappe pile (Fig. 6). The beginning of zone II also seems to coincide with the middle of the anchizone, as defined by illite-crystallinity measurements in adjoining marly shales and slates; this corresponds approximately to the transition from the zeolite facies to the prehnitepumpellyite facies.K-Ar-ages on glauconites regularly decrease when approaching the zone I/II-transition. Field evidence and combined K-Ar age determinations on glauconites, stilpnomelanes and riebeckites point to a peak of the metamorphism during Lower to Middle Oligocene, shortly after the main orogenic phase in this part of the Helvetic Alps.

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Die Autoren danken Herrn Prof. E. Niggli für das fördernde Interesse an dieser Arbeit, die Überlassung der Probe EN 8999 sowie die kritische Durchsicht des Manuskriptes. Für wertvolle Diskussionen und Hinweise danken wir den Prof. E. Jäger, R. Herb und P. M. Orville sowie Dr. W. D. Brückner und Dr. N. Clauer. M.F. möchte Herrn E. Weber herzlich für die Einführung auf der Mikrosonde danken. Herrn Prof. Th. Hügi danken wir für die Benützung des geochemischen Labors, Herrn Prof. H. Schwander für einige Na-Bestimmungen auf der Basler Mikrosonde und Herrn Dr. F. Hofmann für die Bestimmung der C-Gehalte. Den Herren Theo Küpfer und J. Fuhrimann verdanken wir verschiedene Laborarbeiten. Diese Arbeit wurde durch die folgenden Stipendien des Schweizerischen Nationalfonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung unterstützt: Nr. 5358.2 an M.F., Nr. 2.367.70 an J.H. sowie Nr. 2598 an P.R. Die Durchführung der Mikrosondenanalysen wurden zudem möglich dank eines Studienaufenthaltes von M. F. an der Yale Universität, New Haven, Connecticut, wofür dieser Autor der Forschungskommission der Universität Bern zu großem Dank verpflichtet ist.     

Elevation effects on rainfall: A stochastic model

The variation in point precipitation with elevation is investigated using an event-based stochastic model of thunderstorm rainfall and empirical data. Parameters of the model correspond to the number of events per unit of time and the depth of rainfall per event. An increase in precipitation with elevation may be due to an increase in the number of events, in the amount of rainfall per event or to some combination of both possibilities. The distribution of the number of events per season is assumed to be a Poisson variate while the distribution of point rainfall depths may be taken as geometric. The summation of a random number of random variables is used to represent seasonal point precipitation. Assuming that the two parameters of the model increase linearly with elevation, then total seasonal rainfall increases as a quadratic polynomial with elevation. The use of the model allows one to obtain the return period of storm rainfall of a given magnitude despite a short historical record. An independent set of data was used to verify the procedure.     

Untersuchung von suspendiertem Material in den Hydrothermallaugen des Atlantis-II-Tiefs

Suspended matter was separated from the hydrothermal brines of the Atlantis-II Deep in the Red Sea. Contents of iron, manganese, copper, and zink collected on membrane filters were measured by X-ray-flourescence, and the main results were:

1. Metal concentrations in suspended form were lower by 10^?1 to 10^?5 compared to the dissolved concentrations of the brines.
2. Suspended copper and zink were enriched most pronounced in the deeper brine zone — markedly so in the SW-basin, values there ranged between 10 and 30μg/l, one Zn-value was as high as 60μ/l, the other basins contained mostly less than 1 to 10μg/l.
3. Iron, copper, and zink in the deeper brine zone and in few cases also in the 50°-brine were suspended in the form of sulfide compounds. This conclusion is based only on the slightly purple-, green-, and blue-colored gray hues of the material on the filters and its rapid oxidation upon contact with the air.
4. In the transition zone of the 50°/60°-brine iron hydroxides were highly concentrated with values ranging up to 1000μg Fe/l.
5. Suspended manganese is found only within the transition zone of brine to the normal sea water, where up to 200μg Mn/l in form of darkbrown manganese hydroxides were found.
6. Concurrently with the increased thermal activity since 1966 more strongly reducing conditions within the brines seemed apparent which were caused by discharge of higher amounts of Sulfides into the basins. Increased precipitation of heavy metal sulfides was found to be most pronounced in the SW-basin.

     

Die Entwicklung des Lebens im Präkambrium und seine geologische Bedeutung

Zusammenfassung Das Studium präkambrischer Lebensvorgänge und Organismen, das heute auch auf stabile biogene chemische Verbindungen (Chemofossilien) erweitert wird, erfordert eine genaue Zeitskala, besondere Forschungsmethoden und eine zweckmäßige Klassifikation. Die ersten 2000 Millionen Jahre des Lebens werden als die Zeit der Prokaryonten (Bakterien und Blaualgen) beschrieben. Die Entwicklung aller höherer Organismen (Eukaryonten) begann erst vor 1200–1400 Millionen Jahren. Während des Mittel- und Jungpräkambriums (und bis zum Ordovizium) bildeten Blaualgen und Bakterien vielfach biogen-sedimentäre Strukturen, die Stromatolithen, unter denen die säulenförmig-verzweigten Formen Anzeichen einer Evolution aufweisen. Wir können sie daher, mit entsprechenden Methoden, als wichtige Leitfossilien für die Gliederung und Korrelation präkambrischer Sedimentserien verwenden. Der evolutionäre Ursprung der vielzelligen Tiere (Metazoen), wohl von Algenkolonien, läßt sich wegen der Kleinheit und Hinfälligkeit der sie zusammensetzenden Zellgruppen nicht paläontologisch nachweisen. Erst größere Tiere, die widerstandsfähige Gewebe und eine genügend starke Muskulatur besitzen, können erkennbare Lebensspuren in Sedimentgesteinen hinterlassen. Die ältesten sicher bekannten und charakteristischen fossilen Metazoen sind etwa 600–650 Millionen Jahre alt. Sie besaßen noch keine Kalkschalen, aber morphologisch sind sie hoch entwickelt (Anneliden und primitive Arthropoden sind in der Ediacara-Fauna nachgewiesen), so daß eine längere Entwicklungsperiode der Metazoen anzunehmen ist, bevor sie als Zeitmarken des jüngsten Präkambriums stratigraphisch verwendbar werden.

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The study of Precambrian life processes and organisms which today extends to stable biogenic chemical compounds (chemical fossils), requires a precise time scale, special research methods, and an appropriate classification. The first 2000 million years of life comprise the time of the Prokaryota (bacteria and bluegreen algae). The evolution of all higher, eucaryote, organisms began 1200–1400 million years ago. During Middle and Late Precambrian (and until Ordovician) time, blue-green algae and bacteria built abundant biogenic-sedimentary structures, the stromatolites, of which the columnar-branching forms show indications of evolution. With suitable methods we can utilize them as important index fossils for subdivision and correlation of sequences of Precambrian strata. The evolutionary origin of Metazoa, presumably from algal colonies cannot be documented by fossils because of the small size and destructibility of such small groups of cells. Only larger animals, with resistant tissues and stronger muscles can leave recognizable trace fossils in sediments. The oldest known distinctive assemblage of fossil Metazoa is about 600–650 million years old. They did not form calcareous shells but morphologically they are advanced. Annelids and primitive arthropods occur in the Ediacara fauna. We have to assume a longer period of evolution for the Metazoa preceding their appearance as stratigraphic markers of the youngest Precambrian rocks.

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Résumé L'étude des organismes fossiles anté-cambriens et des molécules biogéniques stables dans les roches doit être basée sur une échelle géochronologique précise, sur des méthodes spécialisées et sur une propre classification systématique. Les 2 premiers milliards d'années de l'histoire de la vie sont le temps des bactéries et des algues bleues (procaryotes). L'évolution de tous les organismes possédant des cellules nuclées et des organelles (eucaryotes) commença il y a 1,2–1,4 milliards d'années. Les algues bleues et les bactéries formaient des édifices stromatolithiques pendant l'antécambrien moyen et supérieur et jusqu'à l'ordoviclen. A cause des processus évolutifs qui se produisaient pendant l'antécambrien, les stromatolithes en colonnes ramifiées peuvent servir comme fossiles indicateurs pour les corrélations des séries sédimentaires. Les animaux multicellulaires ont évolué probablement à partir des algues coloniales. Les premiers groupes de cellules, étant fragiles et de petite taille, ne pouvaient pas laisser de traces fossiles dans les roches. Les premiers animaux métazoaires fossiles étaient des organismes plus grands possédant des tissus résistants et une musculature assez puissante pour former dans les sédiments des traces de processus de leur vie (locomotion etc.). L'âge des plus anciens métazoaires characteristiques est 600–650 millions d'années. Ils ne possédaient pas encore de coquilles minéralisées. Ils étaient assez évolués (annélides et arthropodes primitives existaient dans la faune Édiacarienne) pour en justifier l'hypothèse d'un éspace de temps assez long précédant l'époque finale de l'antécambrien pour laquelle la faune Édiacarienne peut servir comme premier indice zonal biostratigraphique basé sur des animaux fossiles.

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: , — , , . , . 2 , —, —. — – 1,2–1,4 . ( ) - - — , - . . , , . () — — . , , . 600–650 . , ( Ediaoara). , .

     

Die Anomalie der Wassertemperatur und der Zirkulation im Nordpazifischen Ozean und an der Küste Perus im Jahre 1955

Zusammenfassung Die Anomalien der Wassertemperatur des Nordpazifik im Jahre 1955 stehen offensichtlich in Verbindung mit einer ausgeprägten Anomalie der atmosphärischen Zirkulation. Als Beleg dafür wird die Karte der mittleren Luftdruckabweichung 1955 gebracht. Anschließend werden die Verhältnisse an der peruanischen Küste besonders behandelt. Das Kaltwasser-Jahr 1955 war hier besonders ausgeprägt, war allerdings nur das Zentraljahr einer dreijährigen kalten Periode. Übernormale Windstärke (im Südostpassat) deutet auch hier auf eine Anomalie der atmosphärischen Zirkulation als Ursache der Erscheinung. Abschließend wird die langjährige Wassertemperatur-Reihe von Puerto Chicama (Peru) mitgeteilt.

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Some notes on the anomalies of sea surface temperatures and of atmospheric circulation observed in the north pacific ocean and on the coast of peru in 1955

Summary The anomalies of sea surface temperature observed in the North Pacific Ocean during the year of 1955 are, evidently associated with a pronounced anomaly of atmospheric circulation. A map showing the mean deviation of atmospheric pressure gives evidence of these correlations. The conditions on the coast of Peru is given special consideration. The cold-water-year 1955 is strongly marked, though being only the coldest year in a three years' period of low sea surface temperatures. Above-normal windforces associated with the south-east trade wind indicate that also here the cause of the phenomenon is to be sought in an anomaly of atmospheric circulation. At the end of the paper, a some thirty years' series of sea surface temperature observations from Puerto Chicama (Peru) is given.

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Notes sur les anomalies de la température des eaux superficielles et de la circulation atmosphérique dans l'océan Pacifique Nord et sur la côte du Pérou en 1955

Résumé Les anomalies de la température des eaux superficielles se sont évidemment trouvées être associées à des anomalies prononcées de la circulation atmosphérique. La carte de l'écart moyen de la pression atmosphérique en 1955, ci-inclus, en fait preuve. Les conditions rencontrées sur la côte du Pérou font l'objet d'une étude spéciale. L'année de 1955 qui montra des températures particulièrement basses n'était, cependant, que l'année la plus froide de trois années successives aux températures basses. La force anormale par excès du vent (associée aux alizés du sud-est) y indique, elle aussi, que l'anomalie de la circulation atmosphérique est la cause de ce phénomène. Une série d'observations de la température des eaux effectuée à Puerto Chicama (Pérou) pendant la période de 1925 à 1957 se trouve dans le tableau 12 à la fin de ce travail.