A travel time-based variable grid approach for an activity-based cellular automata model

Urban growth and population growth are used in numerous models to determine their potential impacts on both the natural and the socio-economic systems. Cellular automata (CA) land-use models became popular for urban growth modelling since they predict spatial interactions between different land uses in an explicit and straightforward manner. A common deficiency of land-use models is that they only deal with abstract categories, while in reality, several activities are often hosted at one location (e.g. population, employment, agricultural yield, nature…). Recently, a multiple activity-based variable grid CA model was proposed to represent several urban activities (population and economic activities) within single model cells. The distance-decay influence rules of the model included both short- and long-distance interactions, but all distances between cells were simply Euclidean distances. The geometry of the real transportation system, as well as its interrelations with the evolving activities, were therefore not taken into account. To improve this particular model, we make the influence rules functions of time travelled on the transportation system. Specifically, the new algorithm computes and stores all travel times needed for the variable grid CA. This approach provides fast run times, and it has a higher resolution and more easily modified parameters than the alternative approach of coupling the activity-based CA model to an external transportation model. This paper presents results from one Euclidean scenario and four different transport network scenarios to show the effects on land-use and activity change in an application to Belgium. The approach can add value to urban scenario analysis and the development of transport- and activity-related spatial indicators, and constitutes a general improvement of the activity-based CA model.     

Accumulation Rate Measurements at Taylor Dome, East Antarctica: Techniques and Strategies for Mass Balance Measurements in Polar Environments

Accumulation rate measurements on the East Antarctic plateau are challenging due to both spatial and temporal variability. Annual stratigraphy is often not reliably or consistently preserved in the firn, and so accumulation cannot be determined from snow pit stratigraphy. We present a suite of accumulation rate measurements collected over several seasons at Taylor Dome, East Antarctica. We compare net accumulation results from direct burial rate measurements and β -activity firn cores along a 35 km traverse. The two methods are consistent and show that the net accumulation varies from greater than 10 cm a⁻¹ to about 1 cm a⁻¹ (ice equivalent) southwest to northeast across the dome. We map the depth of shallow radar layering to interpolate and extrapolate these point-location measurements and show that considerable variations occur over kilometer scales resulting from subtle surface topography. We also present accumulation rates estimated from concentration of the cosmogenic isotope ¹⁰Be and from activity profiles of ²¹⁰Pb. Finally, satellite passive microwave data are used to estimate spatially averaged accumulation rates on the regional to continental scale to provide a context for these local observations. We show that robust mass balance measurements in this environment must rely on spatial and/or temporal averaging.     

Human response to the Holocene environmental changes in the Biržulis Lake region, NW Lithuania

Palaeoenvironmental studies combining ¹⁴C dating, palaeobotanical and archaeological data provide information about the human reaction to Holocene environmental changes registered in the surroundings of Biržulis Lake in northwest Lithuania.Responding to water regression, early Mesolithic communities were established on the lower lake terraces, which were overgrown by predominantly birch and pine forest. The formation of a mixed forest with Ulmus (immigrated at 8100–7500 cal yr BC), Corylus (7600–7200 cal yr BC) and Alnus (7300–6900 cal yr BC) provided plenty of natural resources, which led to the increase in population during the late Mesolithic. The expansion of Tilia (6400–5900 cal yr BC) and Quercus (5900–5700 cal yr BC), as well as the subsequent flourishing of broad-leaved forest, provided inhabitants with suitable living conditions.The reduction of broad-leaved woodland and the expansion of Picea (4400–3700 cal yr BC), which suggest changing temperature and moisture conditions as well as increasing erosion activity, could have negatively influenced the early-middle Neolithic population, as evidenced by the partial abandoning of the land. The lowering of the water level and thinning of the forest structure possibly related to some dry episode, positively influenced late Neolithic groups, as intensive exploitation of the area, including the earliest attempts at agriculture, has been registered. Since 1770–1490 cal yr BC, when intensive bogging began, evidence of periodic inhabitation around the lake has been registered.     

Observing the critical zone on a critical budget: The Peri Lake experimental catchment

The Peri Lake Experimental Catchment, in Southern Brazil, is a small coastal lake (5 km², 7 m depth) with a total catchment area of 20 km². The catchment is mainly covered by subtropical Atlantic Forest. Peri Lake is a recreational destination, an important ecosystem for biodiversity preservation, and a major water supply source. Even though there is a clear social and economic relevance, the information on this ecosystem is scarce, especially regarding the dynamics of water balance and water quality. We built this observatory using a low-cost, low-technology monitoring system to estimate the major components of the water budget on what we called a critical budget. We monitor meteorology, rainfall interception in two plots, overland flow and groundwater connectivity in a representative hillslope; and streamflow and velocity are measured in several small headwater rivers mostly starting during 2015. Geographic information on topography, land cover, geology, soil characteristics and the location of all the equipment installed in the field are also provided. The data set can be used to understand rainfall interception in Atlantic forests, catchment connectivity and streamflow permanence in coastal areas, spatial patterns of baseflow, and the modelling of complex processes in the critical zone involving the interaction between surface and groundwater, that are important in coastal lake ecosystems. Besides being used for research and education, we hope this observatory built on a shoestring budget will encourage fieldwork particularly in underrepresented and underfunded regions of the world.     

Estimation of baseflow residence times in watersheds from the runoff hydrograph recession: method and application in the Neversink watershed,Catskill Mountains,New York

A method for estimation of mean baseflow residence time in watersheds from hydrograph runoff recession characteristics was developed. Runoff recession characteristics were computed for the period 1993–96 in the 2 km² Winnisook watershed, Catskill Mountains, southeastern New York, and were used to derive mean values of subsurface hydraulic conductivity and the storage coefficient. These values were then used to estimate the mean baseflow residence time from an expression of the soil contact time, based on watershed soil and topographic characteristics. For comparison, mean baseflow residence times were calculated for the same period of time through the traditional convolution integral approach, which relates rainfall δ¹⁸O to δ¹⁸O values in streamflow. Our computed mean baseflow residence time was 9 months by both methods. These results indicate that baseflow residence time can be calculated accurately using recession analysis, and the method is less expensive than using environmental and/or artificial tracers. Published in 2002 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

3s23p–3s3p2 transitions in S iv

We use both the civ3 and mchf codes to calculate oscillator strengths of allowed and intercombination lines in the  3s²3p–3s3p²  multiplets. Valence, core–valence and some core–core correlation effects are included. The two approaches give results in excellent agreement. Core effects are particularly important for the intercombination lines, though relatively minor for allowed transitions.
We obtain a branching ratio of 1.42 with an estimated accuracy of 0.02 for the     transitions, compared with an experimental value of  1.12±0.1  . The A -values of the     intercombination lines are substantially different from those of previous calculations.     

Determination of potential mine water discharge zones in crystalline rocks at Rozna,Czech Republic

The Rozna Mine is one of the last active uranium mines in Europe. When the mine is closed and flooded, the natural groundwater flow pattern will be partly restored. Re-established groundwater flow system will be associated with an increase of groundwater discharge into draining rivers and streams. Since the groundwater inflows to streams can be contaminated by the mine water, the groundwater drainage characteristic of fractured aquifer should be carefully identified. Several methods of groundwater discharge zones identification were used including morphological analysis, thermometry, and electrical conductivity (EC) measurements. Stream temperatures and EC at more than 700 points in the area covering about 85 km² were measured. The measurements were performed during winter period, when stream discharges were low and there was a maximum temperature contrast. There was a frequent presence of preferential discharge zones with resulting anomalous temperatures and electric conductivity values of stream water. The results show evident correlation of discharge zones with surface morphology and geological settings. Just like the aquifer discharge characteristics, the aquifer is strongly heterogeneous. The thermometry supported by measurement of EC proved to be a useful tool for large-scale investigation of groundwater flow and drainage in fractured aquifers.     

Numerical Simulation of Groundwater Flow and Vulnerability in Wadi El-Natrun Depression and Vicinities,West Nile Delta,Egypt

During the last 25 years, rapid and unplanned land reclamation activity has been carried out in the areas located in both south and east of Wadi El - Natrun Depression of Egypt. Accordingly, negative effects on groundwater levels and vulnerability are frequently caused by localized high levels of abstraction and the return-flow of polluted irrigation water respectively. A groundwater model is a computational method that presents an approximation of an underground water system. In this study the groundwater system is simulated both in quantity and quality by using Mass Balance Transfer Model (NETPATH), Groundwater Modeling System (GMS) and DRASTIC Model to investigate the water - rock interactions, groundwater levels drawdown and vulnerability respectively. Three main geochemical processes namely dedolomitisation, dissolution of halite and silicate weathering were estimated during the flow path. The present over-abstraction of groundwater (105.84 million m³/year) has induced a general head drawdown from 3 to 40 m in years 2015 and 2050 respectively. Best estimate using a 3D GMS hydraulic model was (157000 m³/day) a strategy proposed for the management of groundwater without critical depletion (second scenario). The results document the extent to which a high drawdown can greatly reach 4 m by the end of simulation year 2050. The vulnerability maps of groundwater were constructed using the DRASTIC index method. The results indicated that, the southeastern and central portions of the study area are having high vulnerability rate (> 110). Modified DRASTIC map showed many more dominant high risk areas in the eastern parts of the study area that were low risk, which may be attributed to return flow of polluted irrigation water.