Electron transport and precipitation at Mercury during the MESSENGER flybys: Implications for electron-stimulated desorption

To examine electron transport, energization, and precipitation in Mercury's magnetosphere, a hybrid simulation study has been carried out that follows electron trajectories within the global magnetospheric electric and magnetic field configuration of Mercury. We report analysis for two solar-wind parameter conditions corresponding to the first two MESSENGER Mercury flybys on January 14, 2008, and October 6, 2008, which occurred for similar solar wind speed and density but contrasting interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) directions. During the first flyby the IMF had a northward component, while during the second flyby the IMF was southward. Electron trajectories are traced in the fields of global hybrid simulations for the two flybys. Some solar wind electrons follow complex trajectories at or near where dayside reconnection occurs and enter the magnetosphere at these locations. The entry locations depend on the IMF orientation (north or south). As the electrons move through the entry regions they can be energized as they execute non-adiabatic (demagnetized) motion. Some electrons become magnetically trapped and drift around the planet with energies on the order of 1–10 keV. The highest energy of electrons anywhere in the magnetosphere is about 25 keV, consistent with the absence of high-energy (>35 keV) electrons observed during either MESSENGER flyby. Once within the magnetosphere, a fraction of the electrons precipitates at the planetary surface with fluxes on the order of 10⁹ cm⁻² s⁻¹ and with energies of hundreds of eV. This finding has important implications for the viability of electron-stimulated desorption (ESD) as a mechanism for contributing to the formation of the exosphere and heavy ion cloud around Mercury. From laboratory estimates of ESD ion yields, a calculated ion production rate due to ESD at Mercury is found to be on par with ion sputtering yields.     

Interference of Human Impacts in Urban Growth Modelling with Transition Rules of Cellular Automata, GIS and Multi-Temporal Satellite Imagery: A Case Study of Maraghe, Iran

Urban growth is the result of physical and human impacts. In this study Cellular Automata (CA) has been used to analyze physical suitability and human forces in urban growth modelling of Maraghe. The multi-temporal satellite imagery, physical suitability and human impacts Layers have been applied to the modelling. In order to evaluate the accuracy of the image classification methods, Fuzzy ARTMAP is compared with Maximum Likelihood Classification (MLC) and Minimum Distance Classification (MDC) methods. The image classification results showed an overall accuracy of 93 %. Therefore, it is employed for classification of multi-temporal satellite imagery. In order to weight physical suitability and human impacts layers or geographical transition rules in the modelling, regression analysis, the correlation coefficient, trial-and-error method and visual comparison used. The statistical methods are presented to validate neighbourhood scales in the urban growth modelling. The calibration of the model is in fact to the estimate value of the physical suitability and human impacts layer (combinatory layer of demand for urban land and the government facilities) in the modelling. The results obtained from the model calibration showed that human impacts have the highest influence in the urban growth among other factors. Also a small neighbourhood scale (25:5?×?5 cells) is more realistic in the modeling. The accuracy of final validation is 83 % and the final scenario is based on this validation. A fuzzy CA has been used in urban growth modeling of Maraghe. The final scenario shows that Maraghe will growth on the east side, where the land demand for built up area and government facilities plays the significant role.     

On regularized time varying gravity field models based on grace data and their comparison with hydrological models

Determination of spherical harmonic coefficients of the Earth’s gravity field is often an ill-posed problem and leads to solving an ill-conditioned system of equations. Inversion of such a system is critical, as small errors of data will yield large variations in the result. Regularization is a method to solve such an unstable system of equations. In this study, direct methods of Tikhonov, truncated and damped singular value decomposition and iterative methods of ν, algebraic reconstruction technique, range restricted generalized minimum residual and conjugate gradient are used to solve the normal equations constructed based on range rate data of the gravity field and climate experiment (GRACE) for specific periods. Numerical studies show that the Tikhonov regularization and damped singular value decomposition methods for which the regularization parameter is estimated using quasioptimal criterion deliver the smoothest solutions. Each regularized solution is compared to the global land data assimilation system (GLDAS) hydrological model. The Tikhonov regularization with L-curve delivers a solution with high correlation with this model and a relatively small standard deviation over oceans. Among iterative methods, conjugate gradient is the most suited one for the same reasons and it has the shortest computation time.     

“Phasic” metropolitan settlers: a phase-based model for the distribution of households in US metropolitan regions

In this article, we develop a model for explaining spatial patterns in the distribution of households across metropolitan regions in the United States. First, we use housing consumption and residential mobility theories to construct a hypothetical probability distribution function for the consumption of housing services across three phases of household life span. We then hypothesize a second probability distribution function for the offering of housing services based on the distance from city center(s) at the metropolitan scale. Intersecting the two hypothetical probability functions, we develop a phase-based model for the distribution of households in US metropolitan regions. We argue that phase one households (young adults) are more likely to reside in central city locations, whereas phase two and three households are more likely to select suburban locations, due to their respective housing consumption behaviors. We provide empirical validation of our theoretical model with the data from the 2010 US Census for 35 large metropolitan regions.     

Application of Principal Component Analysis and Spectral Angle Mapper in the Mapping of Hydrothermal Alteration in the Jebal–Barez Area,Southeastern Iran

The southeastern part of the central Iranian Cenozoic magmatic belt contains many areas with copper mineralization. In an analysis of this region, we used the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) and Enhanced Thematic Mapper plus (ETM⁺) images to map the distribution of hydrothermally altered rocks, based on their mineral assemblages. The spectral measurements, based on the field samples and satellite‐image‐derived spectra, show dominantly Al–OH (sericite and clays) and Fe–O absorption features in the visible–near infrared to shortwave infrared regions of the spectrum. Silica–bearing rocks, as well as silicic alteration, show an intense Si–O vibrational feature in the thermal infrared wavelength region. We analyzed ASTER/ETM⁺ images, performed a directed principal component analysis, and used spectral angle mapper to map areas of hydrothermal alteration and iron oxide/hydroxide minerals. The individual principal component images compiled by directed principal component analysis reveal the distribution of individual alteration minerals such as sericite, kaolinite, chlorite, epidote, and quartz. The best results, in terms of mapping the distribution of alteration, were obtained using the spectral angle mapper method. The altered areas were then sampled and the samples subjected to X–ray diffraction analysis, spectral analysis, and thin sections were observed under a microscope. Field observations reveal that more than 98% of the known copper mineralization occurs within the interpreted alteration areas. The present results indicate the great potential of ASTER and ETM⁺ data for mapping the distribution of alteration and exploring for copper mineralization in areas with a similar climate and geological setting to those of the present study.     

The 27 August 2010 Mw 5.7 Kuh-Zar earthquake (Iran): field investigation and strong-motion evidence

In this study, seismological aspects and field observation of the 2010 Kuh-Zar earthquake has been investigated. The Kuh-Zar earthquake, of magnitude 5.7 (Mw), occurred in northeastern Iran on August 27, 2010. The area is surrounded by branches of the active faults which are coated by the quaternary alluvium. During the past several decades, this area has been struck by a number of earthquakes. This earthquake with a moderate magnitude caused a higher rate of damage contrasted with previous earthquakes of the same magnitude range in Iran. Fortunately, the source of the Kuh-Zar earthquake was in a sparsely populated area, and therefore, it caused a few loss of life with the highest observed intensity of shaking VII (modified Mercalli intensity) in the Kuh-Zar village. The shock killed 4 people, injured 40, and destroyed more than 12 villages. According to the field observation, the mechanism of this shock is defined as a left-lateral strike slip. We also checked out the properties of strong ground motions in this earthquake using the records availed by Iranian strong motion network. At KUZ station, about 7 km east of the epicenter, the recorded PGA and PGV in both horizontal and vertical components were remarkably large for an event of this size, and visual inspection of the velocity time history reveals a pulse-like shape. Unfortunately no other recording stations were located close enough to the fault to capture a directivity pulse. Finally, according to the strong-motion properties and observed information, ShakeMaps of the earthquake have been generated by the native intensity observations and the recorded strong motions.     

Problematic Soft Soil Improvement with Both Polypropylene Fiber and Polyvinyl Acetate Resin

Several methods are used to improve mechanical properties of loose soils including rewetting, soil replacement, compaction control, chemical additives, moisture control, thermal methods, and more recently, discrete fibers. All the methods are applied to soft soil to increase load bearing capacity and to improve other properties such as prevention of erosion and dust generation. In the present study, a new method of soil improvement using both discrete polypropylene (PP) fibers and polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) is introduced. The method is applied to improve load bearing capacity of a problematic sandy soil in both dry and saturated states. Based on the results from CBR tests on various specimens, it has been revealed that the combination of PP fiber and PVAc resin with weight percentages of 0.1 and 0.6 %, respectively, had the optimum effect in increasing the CBR value in both saturated and dry soil specimens. It should be mentioned that this method has caused a great increase in the CBR value in the saturated soil.     

Spectral Combination of Spherical Gradiometric Boundary-Value Problems: A Theoretical Study

The Earth’s gravity potential can be determined from its second-order partial derivatives using the spherical gradiometric boundary-value problems which have three integral solutions. The problem of merging these solutions by spectral combination is the main subject of this paper. Integral estimators of biased- and unbiased-types are presented for recovering the disturbing gravity potential from gravity gradients. It is shown that only kernels of the biased-type integral estimators are suitable for simultaneous downward continuation and combination of gravity gradients. Numerical results show insignificant practical difference between the biased and unbiased estimators at sea level and the contribution of far-zone gravity gradients remains significant for integration. These contributions depend on the noise level of the gravity gradients at higher levels than sea. In the cases of combining the gravity gradients, contaminated with Gaussian noise, at sea and 250?km levels the errors of the estimated geoid heights are about 10 and 3 times smaller than those obtained by each integral.     

The PBRM (perception-based regional mapping): A spatial method to support regional development initiatives

This paper examines the relevance of a perception-based regional level mapping tool in rural Niger. Two regions in Niger are examined. Results permit to assume that such a tool helped to fill several gaps: (i) a scale gap between local and nation wide studies; (ii) a scientific gap between biophysical and socio-anthropological sciences; and (iii) a methodological gap of integration between data sources. Moreover, this method is fast, cheap and action-oriented. Data are easily understandable and usable both by rural communities and development agencies. It provides information about human dynamics at a regional level, which cannot be achieved by other methods.     

A geoid solution for airborne gravity data

Airborne gravity data is usually attached with satellite positioning of data points, which allow for the direct determination of the gravity disturbance at flight level. Assuming a suitable gridding of such data, Hotine’s modified integral formula can be combined with an Earth Gravity Model for the computation of the disturbing potential (T) at flight level. Based on T and the gravity disturbance data, we directly downward continue T to the geoid, and we present the final solution for the geoid height, including topographic corrections. It can be proved that the Taylor expansion of T converges if the flight level is at least twice the height of the topography, and the terrain potential will not contribute to the topographic correction. Hence, the simple topographic bias of the Bouguer shell yields the only topographic correction. Some numerical results demonstrate the technique used for downward continuation and topographic correction.