Network geoinformation technology for seismic hazard research

In this paper, we present two network geoinformation technologies. Their common major features are (1) network access to geographical information, which may be distributed over network servers or reside on the user PC, (2) modern methods of knowledge acquisition from spatial and spatio-temporal data and (3) high interactivity and clarity of visualization boosting the decision-making efficiency. The technologies are incorporated into web-GIS GeoProcessor 2.0 and GeoTime 2.0. By means of analyzing several case studies, we argue that the proposed applications are effective tools for seismic hazard research.     

Thermal state of ice-rich soils on the Tommot-Yakutsk Railroad right-of-way

This paper summarizes the results of investigations carried out in the northern section of the Tommot-Yakutsk Railroad in eastern Siberia, underlain by ice-rich permafrost. The ongoing permafrost and geotechnical research program in support of railroad construction includes assessment of the ground thermal state on the right-of-way and adjacent areas based on long-term field observations using the method of terrain thermal physics. These studies focus on the upper permafrost within the depth of annual temperature variation. In undisturbed areas, inter-annual variability of the ground thermal state shows little response to recent climatic variations. However, forest clearing and surface disturbance during right-of-way construction cause an increase in permafrost temperature, deepening of the active layer, thaw settlement, and water accumulation along the embankment. The active layer is thickest along the sun-exposed left berm and is thinnest along the more shaded right berm. Measures to prevent thaw-related embankment problems are recommended.     

The Košice meteorite fall: Atmospheric trajectory,fragmentation, and orbit

The Ko?ice meteorite fall occurred in eastern Slovakia on February 28, 2010, 22:25 UT. The very bright bolide was imaged by three security video cameras from Hungary. Detailed bolide light curves were obtained through clouds by radiometers on seven cameras of the European Fireball Network. Records of sonic waves were found on six seismic and four infrasonic stations. An atmospheric dust cloud was observed the next morning before sunrise. After careful calibration, the video records were used to compute the bolide trajectory and velocity. The meteoroid, of estimated mass of 3500 kg, entered the atmosphere with a velocity of 15 km s^?1 on a trajectory with a slope of 60° to the horizontal. The largest fragment ceased to be visible at a height of 17 km, where it was decelerated to 4.5 km s^?1. A maximum brightness of absolute stellar magnitude about ?18 was reached at a height of 36 km. We developed a detailed model of meteoroid atmospheric fragmentation to fit the observed light curve and deceleration. We found that Ko?ice was a weak meteoroid, which started to fragment under the dynamic pressure of only 0.1 MPa and fragmented heavily under 1 MPa. In total, 78 meteorites were recovered in the predicted fall area during official searches. Other meteorites were found by private collectors. Known meteorite masses ranged from 0.56 g to 2.37 kg. The meteorites were classified as ordinary chondrites of type H5 and shock stage S3. The heliocentric orbit had a relatively large semimajor axis of 2.7 AU and aphelion distance of 4.5 ± 0.5 AU. Backward numerical integration of the preimpact orbit indicates possible large variations of the orbital elements in the past due to resonances with Jupiter.     

Book reviews

Geographical, seasonal, and day-to-day variations in the vertical distributions of atmospheric density and temperature must be considered in the design and operation of reentry vehicles. This work is part of a continuing effort to compile, analyze, and present information on the distribution of the atmospheric temperature in a form suitable for use in the design and operation of aerospace vehicles. We have used temperature data obtained from rockets which are mostly based on the datasonde system throughout the decade 1969–1978. Profiles and the individual arrays of coefficients of correlation of the temperature at 20 km with temperature at higher altitudes up to 60 km are shown for each season for locations in the low, middle, and high latitudes.     

Numerical Studies on the Harmonic Downward Continuation of Band-Limited Airborne Gravity

In this paper, the numerical stability and efficiency of methods of harmonic downward continuation from flying altitudes are treated for sampled gravity field data. The problem is first formulated in its continuous form, i.e. as the inverse solution of the spherical Dirichlet problem, and is then approximated by Gaussian quadrature to yield a finite system of linear equations. The numerical stability of this system is investigated for both error-free gravity data and for the noisy and band-limited gravity measurements usually obtained from airborne gravity surveys. It can be shown that the system becomes ill-conditioned, once the ratio between flying altitude and data sampling rate exceeds a certain limit. It can also be shown that noisy measurements tend to generate a solution that is practically useless, long before the system becomes ill-conditioned. Therefore, instead of treating the general solution of the discrete downward continuation problem, the more modest question is studied, for which range of flying altitudes and sampling rates, the numerical solution of the discrete linear system can be considered as practically useful. Practically useful will be defined heuristically as of sufficient accuracy and stability to satisfy the requirements of the user. The question will be investigated for the specific application of geoid computation from gravity data sampled at flying altitudes. In this case, a stable solution with a standard deviation of a few centimeters is required. Typical flight parameters are heights of 2–6 km, a minimum half-wavelength resolution of 2 km, and data noise between 0.5 and 1.5 mGal. Different methods of geoid determination, different solution techniques for the resulting systems of linear equations, and different minimization principles will be compared. As a result operational parameters will be defined which, for a given noise level, will result in a geoid accuracy of a few centimeters for the estimated band-limited gravity field spectrum.     

Is the description of the gravitational force as a manifestation of deviation of a body from the geodesic the correct interpretation of the general relativity theory?

A deeper analysis connected to general relativity is presented, considering dynamics of a solid body in a gravitational field. Two basic situations are described: namely, the case of weightlessness in free fall, and that when a solid body at rest relative to the source of the gravitational field has weight. Finally, the principle of equivalence is reformulated.     

Elimination of the gravitational singularities within the framework of Einstein's general theory of relativity

In this paper two examples are given, showing that the existence of black holes in the Universe violates, in its consequences, the principle of causality. The solution presented is based on the idea that the primordial black holes have zero-mass-energy and consequently zero-radius of the event horizon. Despite the existence of the surface of last influence, gravitational collapse does not produce black holes during a finite time interval as measured by an external observer. The only singularity, possible to accept (if any), is the initial and final cosmological singularity.     

Was the Planck era of the universe a ‘cold’ or a ‘hot’ stage of the Big Bang?

Two models are presented of the Planck era in the Big Bang.The first of them starts from the state of an essentially cold and non-expanding universe (assumed to be closed). It is shown that the conditions in the Planck era rendered the total annihilation of the matter with the Planck density absolutely necessary. The annihilation was, further, a necessary condition for the expansion of the post-Planck universe, which, by itself, also was a necessity. The hot stage of the Big Bang in the post-Planck era was, in fact, a necessary consequence resulting from the scheme.The second model is motivated by the weak points of the first one. It is concluded that, owing to the extreme physical conditions, the cosmic medium within the Planck era could only consist of ultrahighly energetic photons.Finally, it is proposed that the second model is to be preferred.     

Seasonal, interannual and long-term variability of precipitation and snow depth in the region of the Barents and Kara seas

Observation data of temperature, precipitation and snow depth have been compiled and generalized climatologically for a network of 38 stations in and around the Barents and Kara seas, for the period 1951–1992. The monthly precipitation totals were corrected for measuring errors, and the correction method is described in detail. The corrected precipitation values show that the annual precipitation in the region ranges from more than 500 mm along the coast of the Kola Peninsula to less than 200 mm in parts of the north-eastern Kara Sea. The solid fraction of the annual precipitation ranges from 70% in northern parts to 35% in southern parts. For the period 1951–1992 the analysis indicates decreasing trends in annual values of temperature, precipitation and snow depths in the north-eastern parts of the region.