Angle gathers in wave‐equation imaging for transversely isotropic media

In recent years, wave‐equation imaged data are often presented in common‐image angle‐domain gathers as a decomposition in the scattering angle at the reflector, which provide a natural access to analysing migration velocities and amplitudes. In the case of anisotropic media, the importance of angle gathers is enhanced by the need to properly estimate multiple anisotropic parameters for a proper representation of the medium. We extract angle gathers for each downward‐continuation step from converting offset‐frequency planes into angle‐frequency planes simultaneously with applying the imaging condition in a transversely isotropic with a vertical symmetry axis (VTI) medium. The analytic equations, though cumbersome, are exact within the framework of the acoustic approximation. They are also easily programmable and show that angle gather mapping in the case of anisotropic media differs from its isotropic counterpart, with the difference depending mainly on the strength of anisotropy. Synthetic examples demonstrate the importance of including anisotropy in the angle gather generation as mapping of the energy is negatively altered otherwise. In the case of a titled axis of symmetry (TTI), the same VTI formulation is applicable but requires a rotation of the wavenumbers.     

Stacking angle‐domain common‐image gathers for normalization of illumination

Unequal illumination of the subsurface highly impacts the quality of seismic imaging. Different image points receive different folds of reflection‐angle illumination, which can be caused by irregular acquisition or by wave propagation in complex media. Illumination problems can deteriorate amplitudes in migrated images. To address this problem, we present a method of stacking angle‐domain common‐image gathers, in which we use local similarity with soft thresholding to determine the folds of local illumination. Normalization by local similarity regularizes local illumination of reflection angles for each image point of the subsurface model. This approach compensates for irregular illumination by selective stacking in the image space, regardless of the cause of acquisition or propagation irregularities. Additional migration is not required because the methodology is implemented in the reflection angle domain after migration. We use two synthetic examples to demonstrate that our method can normalize migration amplitudes and effectively suppress migration artefacts.     

Optimal Initial Conditions for Simulation of Seismotectonic Tsunamis

Numerical simulation of seismotectonic tsunamis usually starts with specification of the initial elevation of the water surface in the tsunami source. The initial elevation is traditionally set equal to the vertical residual bottom deformation resulting from earthquakes. We discuss the imperfectness of the traditional approach and suggest an improved practical method of calculating the initial elevation from the solution of the 3D problem in the framework of potential theory. The method takes into account horizontal and vertical components of bottom deformation and bathymetry in the source area. Within the assumption of instant tsunami generation the suggested method represents the optimal way to specify the initial condition in the tsunami propagation problem. The tsunamis in the Central Kuril Islands on 15 November 2006 and 13 January 2007 are taken as examples to demonstrate the efficiency of the new method.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987111000247

Recent advances in modeling of tornadoes and twisters consist of significant achievements in mathematical calculation of occurrence and evolution of a violent F5-class tornado on the Fujita scale, and four-dimensional mathematical modeling of a tornado with the fourth coordinate time multiplied by its characteristic velocity.Such a tornado can arise in a thunderstorm supercell filled with turbulent whirlwinds.A theory of the squall storms is proposed.The squall storm is modeled by running perturbation of...     

Mineralogy, conditions of crystallization and melt generation of epidote-bearing porphyries from the Middle Urals, Russian federation

Epidote-bearing porphyritic dikes (whole rock analysis: SiO₂?=?55–65 wt. %, MgO <2.1 wt. %, K₂O <2.5 wt. %, Al₂O₃ >17 wt. %, Na₂O + K₂O?=?5.7–9.4 wt. %) situated in the continental margin zone, the Middle Urals, Russian Federation have been dated using SHRIMP U-Pb zircon techniques and give a Middle Devonian age of 388?±?2 Ma and 389?±?6 Ma. The porphyries contain phenocrysts of magmatic epidote (Ps?=?17–25 %), Ca- and Mn-rich (CaO >9 wt. %; MnO >6 wt. %) almandine garnet, Al-rich (Al₂O₃?=?12–16 wt. %) amphibole, titanite, plagioclase, biotite, muscovite, apatite, and quartz. 60 to 70 % groundmass of the porphyritic dikes consists of fine-grained albite, quartz, and K-feldspar. A variety of thermobarometric estimations, plus comparison with published experimental data indicate that the phenocryst assemblage was stable between 5 and 11 kbar and 690 to 800 °C. Oxygen fugacity was close to or greater than logfo₂ = Ni-NiO + 1. Later stage formation of the quartz-feldspar groundmass took place at hypabyssal conditions, corresponding to 1 to 2 kbar and 660 to 690 °C. The porphyritic dikes are metaluminous to slightly peraluminous (ACNK?=?0.7–1.17). They are enriched in REE and depleted Nb and Ti. They show features typical of subduction-related magmas. Chemical composition and isotopic ratios of ⁸⁶Sr/⁸⁷Sr_i?=?0.709–0.720 suggest that both mantle- and deep crustal-derived materials were involved in their petrogenesis.     

GIS-based cost distribution analysis of new consumer connections to an urban power grid

In this paper, we propose a method of cost distribution analysis of new consumer connections to a city power grid by accounting for spatial restrictions and characteristics of existing networks. In practice, the calculation of connection costs for each new consumer includes the network design and financial expenditure. We suggest that connection costs should be calculated for the whole city based on the normative parameters at the stage when the object location is selected by investors and when power grid development is planned by power companies. The proposed method enables the modeling of new power line connection routes from every parcel of city land to possible points of connection to the operating networks based on the raster design of the area. The optimal path is chosen by one criterion consisting of two components: the costs of both laying new power lines and providing sufficient power reserve in the chosen network connection point. Realized as a computer program, the method has been used to calculate the costs of connections to low-voltage power lines.     

Evolution of the X-ray luminosity and metallicity of starburst blown superbubbles

We have modelled the evolution of hot superbubbles in starbursts, taking into account the rapid changes in the chemical composition of the interior of the superbubbles resulting from the large stellar mass loss, i.e. stellar winds from massive young stars and type II supernovae. We have followed in detail the time-dependent production and mixing of oxygen and iron in the interior of the hot superbubbles and showed that while the oxygen abundance rapidly climbs to over solar values in less than 10 Myr, iron abundance remains always under solar. This highly enhanced oxygen metallicity boosts the early X-ray luminosity of superbubbles while keeping the iron abundance subsolar. This brings theory and X-ray observations of the luminosity and metal content of young starbursts closer together.