An evaluation of the Wellington Regional Genuine Progress Index

There is widespread discontent with the gross domestic product (GDP) as a measure of progress for society. Alternative measures have been proposed, including the genuine progress indicator (GPI). This paper examines the changing institutional arrangements and attitudinal context in the recently developed Wellington region (New Zealand) GPI. We found an alignment between the GPI framework and the Local Government Act. Despite this fit, we identified challenges, including the need to revitalise public participation through deliberative techniques. It remains too early to judge whether the GPI initiative will launch a viable alternative to the GDP for the Wellington region.     

Hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico: Does the science support the Plan to Reduce,Mitigate, and Control Hypoxia?

We update and reevaluate the scientific information on the distribution, history, and causes of continental shelf hypoxia that supports the 2001 Action Plan for Reducing, Mitigating, and Controlling Hypoxia in the Northern Gulf of Mexico (Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force 2001), incorporating data, publications, and research results produced since the 1999 integrated assessment. The metric of mid-summer hypoxic area on the LouisianaTexas shelf is an adequate and suitable measure for continued efforts to reduce nutrients loads from the Mississippi River and hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico as outlined in the Action Plan. More frequent measurements of simple metrics (e.g., area and volume) from late spring through late summer would ensure that the metric is representative of the system in any given year and useful in a public discourse of conditions and causes. The long-term data on hypoxia, sources of nutrients, associated biological parameters, and paleoindicators continue to verify and strengthen the relationship between the nitratenitrogen load of the Mississippi River, the extent of hypoxia, and changes in the coastal ecosystem (eutrophication and worsening hypoxia). Multiple lines of evidence, some of them representing independent data sources, are consistent with the big picture pattern of increased eutrophication as a result of long-term nutrient increases that result in excess carbon production and accumulation and, ultimately, bottom water hypoxia. The additional findings arising since 1999 strengthen the science supporting the Action Plan that focuses on reducing nutrient loads, primarily nitrogen, through multiple actions to reduce the size of the hypoxic zone in the northern Gulf of Mexico.     

The impact of precipitation on speed–flow relationships along a UK motorway corridor

Although the fundamental traffic diagram provides the characteristics of a typical road traffic speed–flow relationship, little consideration has been given to the impact of adverse weather conditions on the relationship and the subsequent impact on local speed–flow. For the first time, this study uses precipitation radar along with a state-of-the art traffic information system to ascertain the relationship between speed–flow and precipitation on a UK transport corridor at the local (junction to junction) scale. It is evident that precipitation causes a significant reduction in speed and maximum flow on many links of the corridor as well as a downward reduction in the overall speed-flow relationship. With increased instances of heavy precipitation predicted in the UK as a result of climate change, these findings highlight the subsequent impact on journey travel times and associated economic costs.     

Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope's “redeye” infrared camera system: Array performance

The Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) has recently commissioned two facility infrared cameras for astronomical observations in the 1.0 to 2.5 micron region. These cameras use NICMOS3 256×256 pixel arrays fabricated from Hg:Cd:Te. We report here on array performance and discuss two unique features of these arrays, namely corner glow and residual images. We have developed techniques for reducing corner glow and a method of clearing residual image charge. We discuss our techniques and their side effects.     

Estimation of ocean-bottom properties by matched-field inversion ofacoustic field data

A method for estimating properties of the ocean bottom such as bathymetry and geoacoustic parameters such as sound speed, density and attenuation, using matched-field inversion is considered. The inversion can be formulated as an optimization problem by assuming a discrete model of unknown parameters and a bounded search space for each parameter. The optimization then involves finding the set of parameter values which minimizes the mismatch between the measured acoustic field and modeled replica fields. Since the number of possible models can be extremely large, the method of simulated annealing, which provides an efficient optimization that avoids becoming trapped in suboptimal solutions, has been used. The matching fields are computed using a normal mode model. In inversions for range-dependent parameters, the adiabatic approximation is employed. This allows mode values to be precomputed for a grid of parameter values and stored in look-up tables for fast reference, which greatly improves computational efficiency. Synthetic inversion examples are presented for realistic range-independent and range-dependent environments     

The Growth of Facular Area Surrounding Large, Decaying Sunspots

In a previous paper, we investigated the facular area around 31 decaying sunspots of varied size. The growth of facular area as a function of spot decay was marginally significant (r ² = 0.1255, p = 0.05). Using new data, this paper examines the change in facular area surrounding large decaying sunspots some of which grew very rapidly. The data are from full-disk photometric images taken with CFDT2 (2.5″ pixels). For 10 sunspots, we find a statistically significant increase in facular area as a function of the spot decay rate with a regression coefficient, squared, of r ² = 0.611 (p < 0.02).     

统计费用网络流相位解缠并行处理

针对雷达干涉测量(InSAR)相位解缠中的单机计算资源不足和相对运算效率不高的问题,提出了数据并行处理策略。以统计费用网络流相位解缠为例,分析了该算法的数据划分方法,构建了并行运算实验系统,实现了统计费用网络流相位解缠并行处理,并从解缠效果、内存使用量和运算效率3个方面对实验结果进行了分析。     

长庆中部气田奥陶纪马家沟组储层成岩模式与孔隙系统

长庆中部气田奥陶纪马家沟组马五1^1-马五4^1储层的主要成岩作用包括：（Ⅰ）准同生白云石化作用;（Ⅱ）白云石对小球状硬石膏结核（简称“膏球”）和板状硬石膏晶体的交代;（Ⅲ）石膏的溶解;（Ⅳ）自生石英、自生粘土矿物在白云石晶间生长;（Ⅴ）早期方解石的充填作用;（Ⅵ）晚期方解石的充填作用;（Ⅶ）钾石盐的充填作用;（Ⅷ）去白云石化作用。其中造成孔隙的是（Ⅰ）、（Ⅱ）、（Ⅲ）,破坏孔隙的主要是（Ⅴ）、（Ⅵ）、（Ⅶ）、（Ⅷ）。最重要的成岩作用是（Ⅰ）、（Ⅱ）、（Ⅲ）。主要的成岩模式有：云化-溶蚀型、云化-溶蚀-充填型、云化-解型、云化-交代-溶解型、云化-交代-溶解-早充填型、云化-交代-溶解-早充填-晚充填型、云化-交代-溶解-早充填-晚充填-钾石盐充填型。其中云化-溶解型、云化-交代-溶解型以及云化-溶蚀型是形成孔隙的主要成岩方式。主要的孔隙系统类型有5种：密球型、“球＋胀裂缝型”、“球＋晶间溶孔型”、晶模孔型、晶间溶孔型。其中,密球型、“球＋胀裂缝型”、“球＋晶间溶孔型”是最主要的孔隙系统类型。长庆中部气田马五段储层的发育首先受沉积微相控制,即膏球的发育;在此基础上还受成岩方式控制。膏球发育于马五1^1、马五1^2、马五1^3、马五3^3,尤其是马五4^1。白云石对硬石膏球的交代作用和石膏的溶解作用广泛发育于马五1^1、马五1^2、马五1^3、马五1^4、马五2^1、马五2^2、马五3^3、马五4^1地层中。早期方解石、晚期方解石和钾石盐的充填作用主要发育在马五1^4、马五2^1、马五2^2和马五4^1地层中,而在马五1^3、马五1^2地层中不发育。膏球在马五1^4、马五2^1、马五2^2不发育。所以,马五1^2、马五1^3、马五3^3是最好的储集层段。马五4^1、马五1^1是其次的储集层段。马五2^1、马五2^2、马五1^4是最差的储集层段。     

西藏狮泉河地区高钾-钾玄质火山岩的岩石学、地球化学及锆石U-Pb年龄

报道的高钾-钾玄质火山岩位于狮泉河镇南东方向约20km处,向东延伸。高钾-钾玄质火山岩SiO2变化于60.35%~68.68%之间,属中酸性岩范畴;具有高的K2O+Na2O含量（8.8%~10.66%）,K2O/Na2O值在1.92~2.49之间,MgO含量较低,介于0.88%~3.47%之间,Al2O3含量为14.02%~14.91%,属于高钾-钾玄质系列。岩石强烈富集大离子亲石元素（LILE）Rb、Ba、Th、U和轻稀土元素（LREE）,高场强元素（HFSE）Nb、Ta、Ti具有明显负异常,Cr、Ni、Co相容元素含量低于或接近地壳的平均含量,结合Th/Yb-Ta/Yb、（Th×100）/Zr-（Nb×100）/Zr判别图及La-La/Yb图解,暗示岩浆源区可能为下地壳。在左左乡南东约2km处和狮泉河水泥厂北东约1km处各采集1个高钾-钾玄质火山岩样品,对其中的锆石进行LA-ICP-MS U-Pb同位素测定,得到的206Pb/238U年龄加权平均值分别为22.04±0.42Ma和22.29±0.31Ma,此年龄被解释为狮泉河一带高钾-钾玄质火山岩的喷发时代,即中新世阿启塔期。由此表明,该火山岩是印度板片向北俯冲时在狮泉河一带俯冲板片断离,岩浆发生部分熔融的产物。