A rough set approach to the discovery of classification rules in spatial data

This paper proposes a novel rough set approach to discover classification rules in real‐valued spatial data in general and remotely sensed data in particular. A knowledge induction process is formulated to select optimal decision rules with a minimal set of features necessary and sufficient for a remote sensing classification task. The approach first converts a real‐valued or integer‐valued decision system into an interval‐valued information system. A knowledge induction procedure is then formulated to discover all classification rules hidden in the information system. Two real‐life applications are made to verify and substantiate the conceptual arguments. It demonstrates that the proposed approach can effectively discover in remotely sensed data the optimal spectral bands and optimal rule set for a classification task. It is also capable of unraveling critical spectral band(s) discerning certain classes. The framework paves the road for data mining in mixed spatial databases consisting of qualitative and quantitative data.     

Glacially derived material in an Inner Mongolian desert lake during Marine Isotope Stage 2

Establishing the precise timing of continental glacial dynamics and abrupt high‐latitude climate events is crucial to understanding the causes of global climate change. Here we present multi‐proxy records in a lake sediment core from arid Inner Mongolia (Wuliangsuhai Lake) that show two distinct glacially derived sedimentation events at ～26.2–21.8 and ～17.3–11.5k cal a BP. Fine sediments from the Last Glacial Maximum separate these glacially derived coarse sediments. Within these intervals, the occurrence of granite clasts at ～24–23.5, 17.3–17 and 15.6–14.1k cal a BP implies either sediment discharge by meltwater as well as strong current flow in the Yellow River and/or sediment influx through hill‐slope mass wasting and landsliding from the nearby Yin Mountains. Surface microfeatures of quartz grains and spot elemental analysis of black specks in these intervals, however, indicate that physical weathering is dominant and that the provenance of the rocks is probably from a glacial source. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time glacier‐derived materials have been detected in any desert lake in the Yellow River basin. The occurrence of granite clasts roughly correlates with Heinrich events in the North Atlantic, suggesting synchronous ice sheet dynamics in high‐ and mid‐latitude regions during the Last Glacial period. Although our data provide unprecedented evidence for the influence of glacier‐related processes in arid Inner Mongolia, further well‐dated records are clearly needed to re‐evaluate the correlative inference drawn between granite clast layers in Wuliangsuhai Lake and Heinrich events in the North Atlantic. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the nonlinear waves in a developing process

Based on the discrete form of the main governing equation derived, a single wave as the main motion of the instability analysis was found. This solution gives the whole process from the initial stage to the nonlinear equilibrium state. Next we examined the instability of the main motion above-mentioned in the initial stage and showed the instability properties of a developing process. Contribution No. 987 from the Institute of Oceanology, Academia Sinica.     

Summer rain events in south-east Asia: Spatial and temporal variations

During the summer monsoon period in south-east Asia marine airstreams normally prevail at the south China coast. However, when tropical cyclones approach then polluted airmasses from south-eastern China can impart high ionic concentrations and high acidity to rainwater. This is illustrated by two examples and the small-scale horizontal variations in rainwater composition are minor during these episodes. Since long-term quality-assured studies of the composition of rainwater in south-east Asia are scarce, the results at three sampling sites in Hong Kong during summer monsoon periods are compared with previous data from the same season. The results for the mid- to end-1990's show a similar trend to those for the ambient concentrations of sulphate and nitrate in aerosol in Hong Kong, which show flattened trends from 1995 to 1999. A marked increase in acidity is found in the summer monsoon period of 2004 which is attributed to the greater proportion of approaching cyclone weather systems in the dataset, reflecting both the increased local emission sources and the burgeoning economic growth of the Pearl River Delta Region. Comparison of the rainwater composition with that at other south-east Asian cities during the summer monsoon period shows that it is most acidic in Hong Kong.     

不确定分析技术中的多项式正态转换方法研究

不确定性及可靠性分析技术已广泛应用于水利及土木系统工程分析中，可靠性计算的核心之一是对随机变量进行正态转换。对土木工程系统不确定性及可靠性分析中有着潜在应用前景的非正态随机变量的多项式正态转换方法进行了研究，通过在各种条件下非正态随机变量的正态多项式转换成果之评价，发现在水利及土木工程可靠性分析中常用的许多分布可以保留其自身的比较好的特征。     

Reliability analysis of hydraulic structures considering unit hydrograph uncertainty

Unit hydrographs (UHs), along with design rainfalls, are frequently used to determine the discharge hydrograph for design and evaluation of hydraulic structures. Due to the presence of various uncertainties in its derivation, the resulting UH is inevitably subject to uncertainty. Consequently, the performance of hydraulic structures under the design storm condition is uncertain. This paper integrates the linearly constrained Monte-Carlo simulation with the UH theory and routing techniques to evaluate the reliability of hydraulic structures. The linear constraint is considered because the water volume of each generated design direct runoff hydrograph should be equal to that of the design effective rainfall hyetograph or the water volume of each generated UH must be equal to one inch (or cm) over the watershed. For illustration, the proposed methodology is applied to evaluate the overtopping risk of a hypothetical flood detention reservoir downstream of Tong-Tou watershed in Taiwan.     

Combined effects of current and waves on fluid force

Combined effects of current and waves on the force exerted on an element of a cylinder in a random gravity wave field in deep water are studied. Wave-current interactions are taken into account. Statistical quantities of the fluid force such as force spectrum and root mean square value of the force are obtained numerically and presented in graphical forms. Comparisons are made of the cases in which wave-current interactions are considered and ignored. It is shown that wave-current interactions contribute to changes in fluid force to an appreciable extent and therefore should be considered in the evaluation of fluid forces on objects.     

Earthquake response of sea-based storage tanks

An effective method for the linear analysis of dynamic response of submerged underwater oil storage tanks resting on a horizontal seabed to horizontal earthquake excitations is presented. The tank is axisymmetric in shape, has a flexible wall/roof, and is filled with oil and water. A general hybrid-finite element solution procedure has been formulated, wherein the tank structure, the interior fluids, as well as the near-field of the exterior water region are discretized into a toroidal finite-element network. The tank displacement is calculated as a superposition of the first few modes of the structure's free vibration. Contribution from the hydrodynamic interaction to the coupled motion is obtained by solving the Laplace equation with the appropriate boundary conditions, which includes a matching to the exterior far-field pressure (analytic) representation to simplify the computation process. The effects of fluids surrounding and inside the tank are studied. It is demonstrated that these effects have, in general, a significant impact on the tank earthquake response analysis.A comprehensive and predictive computer program for use in such tank response analysis has been developed for engineering applications.     

雷州半岛珊瑚礁生物地貌带与全新世多期相对高海平面

通过多次野外调查，将灯楼角珊瑚礁分为8个生物地貌带；礁前斜坡活珊瑚林带，外礁坪大块滨珊瑚礁岩带，中礁坪块状珊瑚混合带，中礁坪块状珊瑚-角孔珊瑚混合带，内礁坪角孔瑚瑚带，沙坪台-海滩，沙堤和洼地，它们是海平面和气候环境变化的产物，以珊瑚礁及其生物地貌带作为高海平面的标志，根据13个表层珊瑚礁样品的TIMS铀系年代和1个^14C年代，指出全新世以来至少存在过5期相对高海平面（7.2-6.7,约5.8,5.0-4.2,2.8-2.0，约1.5cal.kaBP)，每一期中还存在低海平面的波动，其中6.7-7.2kaBP是整个全新世最高海平面时期，在这个时间段已经基本形成了现代珊瑚礁的地貌格局，这个时间段以后形成的珊瑚礁是在6.7-7.2kaBP形成的珊瑚礁礁坪的礁塘或礁坑等低洼地中形成的，迄今为止，没有再出现过高出6.7-7.2kaBP时期的海平面。