AUTOMATED GEOGRAPHY

Analytical methods and computer technology for spatial analysis have advanced rapidly. Geographers can now consider a general form of automated geography which integrates all of the new techniques into an analytical whole. Computer cartography, computer graphics, digital remote sensing, geographic information systems, spatial statistics, and quantitative spatial modeling can be combined eclectically with traditional manual techniques to address geographic problems that are too large and complex for manual treatment alone. Small systems are widely available to facilitate small, less complex problems. Automation can assist in all forms of geography—scientific and humanistic, nomothetic and idiographic, basic and applied—but its adoption is likely to be highest among applied scientists. The immediate challenge is to prepare for a major shift toward computer instruction and automated geography in the late 1980s. Long term effects will include improved contributions by geographers to national and international policy analyses, a greater emphasis on team-work and sharing, stronger ties with other disciplines, and a generally more viable discipline.     

Lattice Boltzmann simulation of turbulence-induced flocculation of cohesive sediment

Both the floc formation and floc breakup of cohesive sediment are affected by turbulent shear which is recognized as one of the most important parameters, and thus, on the settling and transport of cohesive sediment. In this study, the development of floc characteristics at early stage and steady-state of flocculation were investigated via a three-dimensional lattice Boltzmann numerical model for turbulence-induced flocculation. Simulations for collision and aggregation of various size particles, floc growth, and breakup in isotropic and homogenous turbulent flows with different shear stresses were conducted. Model results for the temporal evolution of floc size distribution show that the normalized floc size distributions is time-independent during early stage of flocculation, and at steady-state, shear rate has no effect on the shape of normalized floc size distribution. Furthermore, the size, settling velocity, and effective density of flocs at the non-equilibrium flocculation stage do not change significantly for shear stresses in the range 0–0.4 N m^?2. The relationships between floc size and settling velocity established during floc growth stages and that during steady-states are different.     

The effects of geological heterogeneities and piezometric fluctuations on groundwater flow and chemistry in a hard-rock aquifer, southern India

Crystalline aquifers of semi-arid southern India represent a vital water resource for farming communities. A field study is described that characterizes the hydrodynamic functioning of intensively exploited crystalline aquifers at local scale based on detailed well monitoring during one hydrological year. The main results show large water-table fluctuations caused by monsoon recharge and pumping, high spatial variability in well discharges, and a decrease of well yields as the water table decreases. Groundwater chemistry is also spatially variable with the existence of aquifer compartments within which mixing occurs. The observed variability and compartmentalization is explained by geological heterogeneities which play a major role in controlling groundwater flow and connectivity in the aquifer. The position of the water table within the fracture network will determine the degree of connectivity between aquifer compartments and well discharge. The presented aquifer conceptual model suggests several consequences: (1) over-exploitation leads to a drop in well discharge, (2) intensive pumping may contribute to the hydraulic containment of contaminants, (3) groundwater quality is highly variable even at local scale, (4) geological discontinuities may be used to assist in the location of drinking-supply wells, (5) modeling should integrate threshold effects due to water-table fluctuations.     

Experiments with scale models of oil collectors for subsea well blowouts — Part II

A previous paper of the same title indicated the feasibility of the collection of oil by an open bottom collector above a blowout with a marine riser above the collector; the whole collection system being driven by gas lift from the blowout gas. That paper was based on small-scale laboratory experiments and it identified the salient dimensionless parameters governing those experiments. This paper describes laboratory experiments on a refinement of the collection system and also describes the results of intermediate scale experiments. The length scale of these experiments was about four times greater than laboratory scale and about one-fourth of full scale. Generally, the intermediate scale results are consistent with the laboratory predictions. Furthermore, two scale-dependent parameters have been identified. The effects of these have been included in an analysis of the results.     

Soil evolution and subalpine ecosystem changes in the French Alps inferred from geochemical analysis of lacustrine sediments

This study aimed to reconstruct the history of soil development, ecosystem changes and associated erosional processes in a small mountain lacustrine basin at the decennial to millennial scale. Geochemical proxies of soil evolution were analysed in the Holocene lacustrine sediments and peats from Thyl Lake, Maurienne Valley, French Alps. Podzolization and chemical weathering processes were assessed using secondary Al- and Fe-bearing phases together with major and Rare Earth Elements (REE). The resulting proxy records, spanning ca. 4,400 years between 8.6 and 4.2 cal ka BP, indicate that progressive pedogenesis occurred after deglaciation in a relatively stable subalpine ecosystem. As shown by the associated increase in Al- and Fe-bearing phases and some REE fractions, the establishment of a mixed cembra pine ecosystem from ca. 7.2–6.5 ka BP was associated with enhanced podzolisation processes in the catchment. The progressive soil development was followed by a rapid transformation of the local environment and plant cover (the open waters of the lake were replaced by a confined peat environment) together with changes in forest fire regimes from ca. 6.8 ka BP. Depleted REE patterns, associated with low contents of secondary Al and Fe, suggest a decrease in chemical weathering and podzolization in the catchment at that time, possibly associated with local intensification of weathering and drainage processes in a relatively acidic peat environment. The higher variability of cembra pine and the increased abundance of sedge and other herbaceous plant remains in the lake sediment indicate semi-open vegetation environments from 5.7 cal ka BP onwards. Whereas fire events and plant cover appear to be significantly related, the soil processes seem primarily linked to vegetation composition, and secondarily to changes in fire regime.     

Thermal periodicities in the Venus atmosphere

A search was made for periodic fluctuations in the thermal brightness temperatures recorded by the Pioneer Venus orbiter's infrared radiometer. Data were averaged in 10 × 10° latitude-longitude bins for each of the 72 days the instrument was in operation. This time series of thermal brightness temperatures was then analyzed to determine the amplitude of fluctuations at periods from 2 to 64 days at four levels in the atmosphere (at the cloud tops and at approximately 70, 80, and 90 km). The amplitude of such fluctuations is small at equatorial latitudes and increases to a maximum at 60–70° latitude at most altitudes. The period of the highest amplitude fluctuation is 5.3±0.4 days (at all altitudes) except at 70–80°, where a 2.9-day period which appears to correspond to the polar dipole dominates the cloud-top channel. The amplitude of the periodic fluctuations is a maximum at the cloud tops, decreasing to a minimum at the 80-km channel, and increasing again at the 90-km channel.     

Characteristics of the Sahara as a meteorite recovery surface

We describe the geological, geomorphological, and paleoclimatic setting of the Sahara of North Africa in particular, focused on the main meteorite dense collection areas (DCA; Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya). We report on the outcome of several meteorite recovery field expeditions in Morocco and Tunisia since 2008, by car and by foot, that applied systematic search methods. The number of meteorites collected is 41 ordinary chondrites and one brachinite. The statistics of unpaired ordinary chondrites indicates that H chondrites are more abundant (21) than L chondrites (12), while LL chondrites are rare (2). Our meteorite density estimates for Tunisia and Morocco are in the order of magnitude of 1 met km^?2. An estimate of the total maximum number of meteorites that could be recovered from the Sahara is 780,000 meteorites. We selected 23 meteorites from Aridal, Bou Kra, Bir Zar, and Tieret DCAs for ¹⁴C dating. The results show a wide range of terrestrial ages from 0.4 to more than 40 kyr with a majority of meteorites showing ages between 0.4 and 20 kyr. The weathering degree of these meteorites is ranges from minor (W1) to strong (W4). The highest weathering grades result from repeated oscillations between high and low humidity in the Sahara. However, there appears to be no correlation between weathering grade and terrestrial age of meteorites.     

Experimental shock metamorphism of terrestrial basalts: Agglutinate-like particle formation,petrology, and magnetism

Hypervelocity impacts occur on bodies throughout our solar system, and play an important role in altering the mineralogy, texture, and magnetic properties in target rocks at nanometer to planetary scales. Here we present the results of hypervelocity impact experiments conducted using a two-stage light-gas gun with 5 mm spherical copper projectiles accelerated toward basalt targets with ~6 km s⁻¹ impact velocities. Four different types of magnetite- and titanomagnetite-bearing basalts were used as targets for seven independent experiments. These laboratory impacts resulted in the formation of agglutinate-like particles similar in texture to lunar agglutinates, which are an important fraction of lunar soil. Materials recovered from the impacts were examined using a suite of complementary techniques, including optical and scanning electron microscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy, and high- and low-temperature magnetometry, to investigate the texture, chemistry, and magnetic properties of newly formed agglutinate-like particles and were compared to unshocked basaltic parent materials. The use of Cu-projectiles, rather than Fe- and Ni-projectiles, avoids magnetic contamination in the final shock products and enables a clearer view of the magnetic properties of impact-generated agglutinates. Agglutinate-like particles show shock features, such as melting and planar deformation features, and demonstrate shock-induced magnetic hardening (two- to seven-fold increases in the coercivity of remanence B_cr compared to the initial target materials) and decreases in low-field magnetic susceptibility and saturation magnetization.