A spatio-temporal ontology for geographic information integration

This paper presents an axiomatic formalization of a theory of top-level relations between three categories of entities: individuals, universals, and collections. We deal with a variety of relations between entities in these categories, including the sub-universal relation among universals and the parthood relation among individuals, as well as cross-categorial relations such as instantiation and membership. We show that an adequate understanding of the formal properties of such relations – in particular their behavior with respect to time – is critical for geographic information processing.

The axiomatic theory is developed using Isabelle, a computational system for implementing logical formalisms. All proofs are computer verified and the computational representation of the theory is available online.     

Nekton Communities in Hawaiian Coastal Wetlands: The Distribution and Abundance of Introduced Fish Species

Nekton communities were sampled from 38 Hawaiian coastal wetlands from 2007 to 2009 using lift nets, seines, and throw nets in an attempt to increase our understanding of the nekton assemblages that utilize these poorly studied ecosystems. Nekton were dominated by exotic species, primarily poeciliids (Gambusia affinis, Poecilia spp.) and tilapia. These fish were present in 50–85% of wetlands sampled; densities were up to 15 times greater than native species. High densities of exotic fish were generally found in isolated wetlands with no connection to the ocean, were often the only nekton present, were positively correlated with surface water total dissolved nitrogen, and were negatively correlated with native species richness. Native species were present in wetlands with complete or partial connection to the ocean. Additional studies are needed to document exotic fish impacts on native fish and bird habitat and whether native fish communities can contribute to invasion resistance of coastal wetlands. Future wetland restoration should include exotic fish eradication, maintenance of hydrological connection to the ocean, or programs to prevent future introductions in order to create wetlands that support native-dominated nekton communities.     

Site characterization in densely fractured dolomite: comparison of methods

One of the challenges in characterizing fractured-rock aquifers is determining whether the equivalent porous medium approximation is valid at the problem scale. Detailed hydrogeologic characterization completed at a small study site in a densely fractured dolomite has yielded an extensive data set that was used to evaluate the utility of the continuum and discrete-fracture approaches to aquifer characterization. There are two near-vertical sets of fractures at the site; near-horizontal bedding-plane partings constitute a third fracture set. Eighteen boreholes, including five coreholes, were drilled to a depth of approximately 10.6 m. Borehole geophysical logs revealed several laterally extensive horizontal fractures and dissolution zones. Flowmeter and short-interval packer testing identified which of these features were hydraulically important. A monitoring system, consisting of short-interval piezometers and multilevel samplers, was designed to monitor four horizontal fractures and two dissolution zones. The resulting network consisted of >70 sampling points and allowed detailed monitoring of head distributions in three dimensions. Comparison of distributions of hydraulic head and hydraulic conductivity determined by these two approaches suggests that even in a densely fractured-carbonate aquifer, a characterization approach using traditional long-interval monitoring wells is inadequate to characterize ground water movement for the purposes of regulatory monitoring or site remediation. In addition, traditional multiwell pumping tests yield an average or bulk hydraulic conductivity that is not adequate for predicting rapid ground water travel times through the fracture network, and the pumping test response does not appear to be an adequate tool for assessing whether the porous medium approximation is valid.     

Settling fluxes in Saanich and Jervis Inlets, British Columbia, Canada: sources and seasonal patterns

We conducted a multi-year sediment-trap experiment in Saanich and Jervis Inlets, British Columbia, Canada. Moorings with traps positioned at three depths were placed near the mouth and toward the head of each fjord, and deployments were monthly. We present fluxes of total mass, biogenic silica (BSi), particulate organic carbon (POC) and aluminium (Al), as well as the δ¹³C signal of the POC, and we compare the sediment-trap fluxes to primary-production measurements made during the experiment.Diatomaceous silica and aluminosilicates were the primary components of the settling flux, while organic matter from marine (largely diatoms) and terrestrial sources was occasionally a significant portion of the sinking material. Fluxes of BSi and POC were highest in the spring and summer, tracing maxima in local primary production. These fluxes decreased, increased or remained constant with depth due to water-column remineralisation and variability in processes that cause fluxes to increase with depth. Al fluxes followed local precipitation and river runoff at the landward stations, and with remarkable faithfulness in Saanich Inlet. Near the mouths, there was little seasonality in Al flux, and the increases of flux with depth reveal sedimentary plumes at each fjord’s sill. Tidal and deepwater-renewal components of the plumes are evident, and the plume in Saanich Inlet was particularly intense. Fluxes of Al to deep sediment traps associated with renewal flows were also observed toward the head of each fjord.Marine δ¹³C endmembers are estimated from relationships between δ¹³C and BSi concentrations, and measures of soil δ¹³C from each fjord were available. These endmembers are used with the δ¹³C record to quantify marine and terrigenous contributions to the POC flux. Marine POC composed 54-72% of the total POC caught by shallow sediment traps in spring and summer, and 36-54% in fall and winter. Primary production and sediment-trap fluxes are used to estimate annually averaged export ratios (shallow-trap flux:autotrophic assimilation) for marine POC and Si. POC export ratios (0.092-0.14) were low for these productive waters, but they compare with other results based on sediment-trap fluxes from coastal waters where terrigenous OC has been subtracted. Export ratios of Si were calculated using an estimated Si:C assimilation ratio and, therefore, are susceptible to error, but the high results (>0.8) suggest that BSi was exported more efficiently than POC. The possibility that POC was preferentially lost after interception by sediment traps is also considered. Primary production and settling fluxes were higher in Saanich Inlet than in Jervis Inlet, while export ratios of OC and Si were similar in both fjords, away from the nepheloid layer near the sill of Saanich Inlet.     

A contribution to the pseudoleucite problem

A study has been made of the differences produced in leucites by different methods of cooling charges, in the system NaAlSiO₄-KAlSiO₄-SiO₂-H₂O, consisting of leucite and silicate liquid. The results indicate that the ion exchange reaction in the system is so fast that metastable leucite-analcite solid solutions may be produced between leucite crystals and hydrous glass.     

The interpretation of U-U-Th-Ra disequilibria produced by rock-water interactions

A mathematical model is set up to describe the evolution in time of the activity ratios of the long lived members of the ²³⁸U decay series following alteration of the initial state of secular equilibrium in the rock by a rock-water interaction. Both sudden (that is to say, of duration very much shorter than any of the half-lives involved) and continuously acting disturbances are considered. Continuous processes may involve either the removal or the deposition of uranium and these are represented in the formalism as first and zero order effects respectively. Difficulties of principle are identified, but in spite of these an attempt is made to show that the predictions of the model are useful in the interpretation of activity ratios obtained for suites of samples under circumstances in which complementary geochemical information is available.     

Ore and Alteration Types of the Gold and Copper Mineralization in the Lascogon Project, Surigao del Norte, Mindanao Island, Philippines

Two ore and three alteration types were identified in the Lascogon Project of Philex Gold Philippines, in Surigao del Norte, Mindanao Island, Philippines. The jasperoid ore is the host to the Carlin‐like gold mineralization in the Lascogon and Danao prospects. The ore occurs in a decalcified and silicified horizon, with minor chlorite and goethite, stibnite, pyrite and quartz crystals ranging from cryptocrystalline to botryoidal. The stringer–stockwork type Cu‐Au mineralization in the Suyoc prospect is hosted in argillized andesitic rocks of the Mabuhay Formation. The primary ore minerals are chalcopyrite with minor amounts of sphalerite. The alteration types identified are propylitic alteration, argillic alteration and silicification. The propylitized basaltic and andesitic flows of the Bacuag Formation bound the jasperoid mineralization in the Lascogon prospect. Stratigraphically, the relationship between propylitized basalts and stringer–stockwork Cu‐Au is not clear but a lateral change can be inferred from jasperoid in the center and stringer–stockwork towards the east.     

The paragenesis leucite-Na feldspar

Veins in a basanite from Central France show the hitherto unrecorded paragenesis of leucite-Na feldspar. These veins frequently occur in association with lherzolite nodules but are not restricted to the vicinity of the nodules. This assemblage may be stable at higher temperature in preference to nepheline-K feldspar.     

Understanding different perspectives on the preservation of community and heritage buildings in the Wellington Region,New Zealand

The Canterbury (New Zealand) earthquake sequence of 2010–2012 caused unexpectedly extreme levels of damage and disruption, being an unparalleled event in New Zealand in terms of the damage extent. Christchurch’s heritage buildings were seriously damaged during these events, with churches especially affected in 22 February 2011 M _w 6.2 earthquake. During this earthquake, a total of 84% of the heritage unreinforced stone and 81% of the clay brick masonry churches in the Canterbury region were either considered unsafe (receiving red placards) or with restricted access (yellow placards). Following the earthquakes, authorities across New Zealand are reassessing the capacity of older buildings to resist earthquakes. Current legislation requires that a building judged as earthquake prone either be strengthened by retrofitting or be demolished within a legislated number of years. Many building owners are facing the problems of owning earthquake-prone buildings and lacking the funding to upgrade. This affects both community and heritage buildings, resulting in the likely abandonment or demolition of some buildings. To address the problem of the balance between life safety and preservation in the Wellington Region, this project gathered and compared the perspectives of the general public, church communities, heritage specialists, professional engineers, and local authorities to assist in balancing the interests of these stakeholders. As a result of the findings, several recommendations have been provided that include standardizing structural assessment processes and training, feasibility of additional public funding to upgrade buildings, new signage to increase public awareness of earthquake-prone buildings, and regular communication among stakeholders to understand and resolve differences.