An approach for GIS-based statistical landslide susceptibility zonation—with a case study in the Himalayas

Landslide susceptibility zonation (LSZ) is necessary for disaster management and planning development activities in mountainous regions. A number of methods, viz. landslide distribution, qualitative, statistical and distribution-free analyses have been used for the LSZ studies and they are again briefly reviewed here. In this work, two methods, the Information Value (InfoVal) and the Landslide Nominal Susceptibility Factor (LNSF) methods that are based on bivariate statistical analysis have been applied for LSZ mapping in a part of the Himalayas. Relevant thematic maps representing various factors (e.g., slope, aspect, relative relief, lithology, buffer zones along thrusts, faults and lineaments, drainage density and landcover) that are related to landslide activity, have been generated using remote sensing and GIS techniques. The LSZ derived from the LNSF method, has been compared with that produced from the InfoVal method and the result shows a more realistic LSZ map from the LNSF method which appears to conform to the heterogeneity of the terrain.     

Solar Eclipses and the Surface Properties of Water

Earth, Moon, and Planets - During four solar eclipse events (two annular, one total and one partial) a correlation was observed between a change in water surface tension and the magnitude of the...     

3‐D elemental and isotopic composition of presolar silicon carbides

Abstract— Thirteen presolar silicon carbide grains—three of supernova (SN) origin and ten of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) star origin—were examined with time‐of‐flight‐secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF‐SIMS). The grains had been extracted from two different meteorites—Murchison and Tieschitz—using different acid residue methods. At high lateral resolution of ～300 nm, isotopic and elemental heterogeneities within the micrometer‐sized grains were detected. The trace elemental abundances, when displayed in two‐element correlation plots, of Li, Mg, K, and Ca show a clear distinction between the two different meteoritic sources. The different concentrations might be attributed to differences of the host meteorites and/or of extraction methods whereas the stellar source seems to be less decisive. In one SN grain with ²⁶Mg‐enrichment from extinct ²⁶Al, the acid treatment, as part of the grain separation procedure, affected the Mg/Al ratio in the outer rim and therefore the inferred initial ²⁶Al/²⁷Al ratio. A second SN grain exhibits a lateral heterogeneity in ²⁶Al/²⁷Al, which either is due to residual Al‐rich contamination on the grain surface or to the condensation chemistry in the SN ejecta.     

A new scenario framework for climate change research: background,process, and future directions

The scientific community is developing new global, regional, and sectoral scenarios to facilitate interdisciplinary research and assessment to explore the range of possible future climates and related physical changes that could pose risks to human and natural systems; how these changes could interact with social, economic, and environmental development pathways; the degree to which mitigation and adaptation policies can avoid and reduce risks; the costs and benefits of various policy mixes; and the relationship of future climate change adaptation and mitigation policy responses with sustainable development. This paper provides the background to and process of developing the conceptual framework for these scenarios, as described in the three subsequent papers in this Special Issue (Van Vuuren et al., 2013; O’Neill et al., 2013; Kriegler et al., Submitted for publication in this special issue). The paper also discusses research needs to further develop, apply, and revise this framework in an iterative and open-ended process. A key goal of the framework design and its future development is to facilitate the collaboration of climate change researchers from a broad range of perspectives and disciplines to develop policy- and decision-relevant scenarios and explore the challenges and opportunities human and natural systems could face with additional climate change.     

The role of technology for achieving climate policy objectives: overview of the EMF 27 study on global technology and climate policy strategies

This article presents the synthesis of results from the Stanford Energy Modeling Forum Study 27, an inter-comparison of 18 energy-economy and integrated assessment models. The study investigated the importance of individual mitigation options such as energy intensity improvements, carbon capture and storage (CCS), nuclear power, solar and wind power and bioenergy for climate mitigation. Limiting the atmospheric greenhouse gas concentration to 450 or 550 ppm CO₂ equivalent by 2100 would require a decarbonization of the global energy system in the 21^st century. Robust characteristics of the energy transformation are increased energy intensity improvements and the electrification of energy end use coupled with a fast decarbonization of the electricity sector. Non-electric energy end use is hardest to decarbonize, particularly in the transport sector. Technology is a key element of climate mitigation. Versatile technologies such as CCS and bioenergy are found to be most important, due in part to their combined ability to produce negative emissions. The importance of individual low-carbon electricity technologies is more limited due to the many alternatives in the sector. The scale of the energy transformation is larger for the 450 ppm than for the 550 ppm CO₂e target. As a result, the achievability and the costs of the 450 ppm target are more sensitive to variations in technology availability.     

TOF‐SIMS analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Allan Hills 84001

Abstract— The presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Martian meteorite Allan Hills 84001 (ALH 84001) was considered to be a major sign of ancient biogenic activity on planet Mars (McKay et al. 1996). An asserted spatial association of PAHs with carbonates, carriers of so‐called nanofossils, was crucial for their suggested connection to early life forms. Although both observations can be explained individually without employing living organisms, a lateral correlation of PAHs and carbonates would suggest a genetic link between PAHs and the microstructures, favoring a biogenic explanation. On the other hand, without such a correlation, a biogenic or even a Martian origin of the PAHs cannot be inferred. Here we show that there is no correlation of PAHs and carbonates in ALH 84001. Furthermore, a general trend of high PAH concentrations at locations where terrestrial lead is present obviously suggests a terrestrial origin for PAHs in ALH 84001.     

Exploring aberrant bivalve shell ultrastructure and geochemistry as proxies for past sea water acidification

Throughout much of Earth's history, marine carbonates have represented one of the most important geological archives of environmental change. Several pivotal events during the Phanerozoic, such as mass extinctions or hyperthermal events have recently been associated with ocean acidification. Nevertheless, well‐defined geological proxies for past ocean acidification events are, at best, scarce. Here, experimental work explores the response of bivalve shell ultrastructure and isotope geochemistry (δ¹³C, δ¹⁸O and δ²⁶Mg) to stressful environments, in particular to sea water acidification. In this study, the common blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, was cultured (from early juvenile stages to one year of age) at four pH regimes (pH_NBS 7·2 to pH 8·0). Shell growth rate and ultrastructure of mainly the calcitic portion of the shells were compared between experimental treatments. Specimens exposed to low‐pH environments show patches of disordered calcitic fibre orientation in otherwise well‐structured shells. Furthermore, the electron backscattered diffraction analyses reveal that, under acidified conditions, the c‐axis of the calcite prisms exhibits a bimodal or multi‐modal distribution pattern. Similar shell disorder patterns have been reported from mytilids kept under naturally acidified sea water conditions. In contrast, this study found no evidence that different pH regimes affect shell carbon, oxygen or magnesium isotope ratios. Based on these observations, it is proposed that: (i) stressful environments, in this case low sea water pH, predictably affect bivalve biomineralization patterns; and (ii) these findings bear potential as a novel (petrographic) proxy for ancient sea water acidification. An assessment of the applicability of these data to well‐preserved fossil shell material from selected time intervals requires additional work.     

The Smart Panoramic Optical Sensor Head (SPOSH)—A camera for observations of transient luminous events on planetary night sides

We have developed a camera dedicated to imaging faint transient noctilucent phenomena, such as aurorae, electric discharges, meteors or impact flashes, on dark planetary hemispheres. The Smart Panoramic Optical Sensor Head (SPOSH) is equipped with a back-illuminated 1024×1024 CCD chip E2V 47-20 with up to 90% quantum efficiency and has a custom-made optical system of high light-gathering power with a wide field of view of 120°×120°. Images can be obtained over extended periods at high rate to make monitoring for transient events possible. To reduce the data transmission rate, only those images (or relevant portions thereof) that contain events are returned to the user. The camera has a sophisticated processing unit prepared to interface with a spacecraft system, for image processing and event detection at rates of up to 3 images per second at full resolution. While software optimized for detection of any noctilucent phenomenon can be implemented, the software is currently optimized for the detection of meteors. Over the past years, we have routinely carried out outdoor tests with 4 camera breadboard units that demonstrate that the camera has excellent radiometric performance and geometric resolution at low light levels over its large field of view. The camera has been demonstrated to capture meteors of magnitudes as faint as +6^m moving at angular speeds of 5°/s. The camera opens up new science opportunities for planetary missions.     

Shock‐metamorphic microfeatures in chert from the Jebel Waqf as Suwwan impact structure,Jordan

Abstract– The petrographic investigation of a shocked, chalcedony‐, quartzine‐, and quartz‐bearing allochthonous chert nodule (probably Upper Cretaceous) recovered from surficial wadi gravels in the inner parts of the central uplift of the approximately 6 km in diameter Jebel Waqf as Suwwan impact structure, Jordan, reveals new potential shock indicators in microfibrous–spherulitic silica, in addition to well‐established shock‐metamorphic effects in coarser crystalline quartz. The microcrystalline chert groundmass exhibits a macroscopic dendritic and suborthogonal fracture pattern commonly associated with thin “recrystallization bands” that intersect the pre‐existing diagenetic chert fabric. Fibrous aggregates of quartzine spherulites in chalcedony‐quartzine‐quartz veinlets locally have a shattered appearance and show conspicuous “curved fractures” perpendicular to the quartzine fiber direction (and parallel to [0001]) that commonly trend subparallel to planar fractures (PFs) in neighboring shocked quartz. Quartz exhibits PFs, feather features (FFs), and mainly single sets of planar deformation features (PDFs) parallel to the basal plane (0001) (Brazil twins) and, rarely, additional PDFs parallel to {101¯3}. Shock petrography indicates shock pressures of ≥10 GPa and high shock‐induced differential stresses that affected the chert nodule. The internal crosscutting relationships of primary diagenetic and impact‐related deformational features together with shockpressure estimates suggest that the curved fractures across quartzine spherulites might represent specific (low‐ to medium‐pressure) shock‐metamorphic features, possibly in structural analogy to basal plane PFs in quartz. The dendritic–suborthogonal fractures in the microcrystalline chert groundmass and recrystallization bands are likely related to impact‐induced shear deformation and recrystallization, respectively, and cannot be considered as definite shock indicators.