Local Recovery of Sub-Crustal Stress Due to Mantle Convection from Satellite-to-Satellite Tracking Data

Two integral transformations between the stress function, differentiation of which gives the meridian and prime vertical components of the sub-crustal stress due to mantle convection, and the satellite-to-satellite tracking (SST) data are presented in this article. In the first one, the SST data are the disturbing potential differences between twin-satellites and in the second one the line-of-sight (LOS) gravity disturbances. It is shown that the corresponding integral kernels are well-behaving and therefore suitable for inversion and recovery of the stress function from the SST data. Recovery of the stress function and the stress components is also tested in numerical experiments using simulated SST data. Numerical studies over the Himalayas show that inverting the disturbing potential differences leads to a smoother stress function than from inverting LOS gravity disturbances. Application of the presented integral formulae allows for recovery of the stress from the satellite mission GRACE and its planned successor.     

Solving the nonstationary Richards equation with adaptive hp-FEM

This paper examines the potential of the adaptive hp-FEM method for the numerical solution of time-dependent variably saturated Darcian flow problems described by the Richards equation. The method is illustrated on three model problems: a benchmark with known exact solution, groundwater seepage into a dry lysimeter box with time-dependent boundary conditions, and capillary barrier behavior under an intense infiltration. In the second part of the paper we present the weak formulation of the Richards equation for the Newton’s and Picard’s methods, give a brief overview of adaptive hp-FEM with emphasis on aspects that are usually not discussed in the literature, and we briefly introduce the open source adaptive hp-FEM library HERMES that was used to generate numerical results for this paper. All computations that we present are easily reproducible.     

How can stream bank erosion be predicted on small water courses? Verification of BANCS model on the Kubrica watershed

The current paper deals with the evaluation of the BANCS erosion prediction model and its two componentsethe Bank Erosion Hazard Index(BEHI)and Near-Bank Stress(NBS)indices.To construct the erosion prediction curves,18 experimental sections were established on the Kubrica Stream,district of Trencín,Slovakia.Each section was assessed through the NBS index and BEHI index and real annual bank erosion was measured using erosion toe pins.Subsequently,the relations between the BEHI and real annual bank erosion was assessed through regression and correlation analyses.The relation proved to be moderately strong,with the correlation coefficient(R)reaching 0.47.Further,the relation between the NBS index and real annual bank erosion was evaluated,which was also moderately strong,with R=0.65.Based on the measured data,two erosion prediction curves were constructed,the first for moderate BEHI,with R=0.69 and coefficient of determination(R2)of 0.47 and the second for high BEHI with R=0.74 and R2=0.55.The prediction curves were based on data from one year of measurements and can,therefore,be used only for discharges that occurred within that year and in the region where the model was developed.In the current case,according to runoff Curve Numbers(CN),the real culmination discharge was Q=1.88 m3/s,which is roughly equivalent to 1.5-year recurrence interval flow(Q1.5).     

Spherical integral formulas for upward/downward continuation of gravitational gradients onto gravitational gradients

New integral formulas for upward/downward continuation of gravitational gradients onto gravitational gradients are derived in this article. They provide more options for continuation of gravitational gradient combinations and extend available mathematical apparatus formulated for this purpose up to now. The starting point represents the analytical solution of the spherical gradiometric boundary value problem in the spatial domain. Applying corresponding differential operators on the analytical solution of the spherical gradiometric boundary value problem, a total of 18 integral formulas are provided. Spatial and spectral forms of isotropic kernels are given and their behaviour for parameters of a GOCE-like satellite is investigated. Correctness of the new integral formulas and the isotropic kernels is tested in a closed-loop simulation. The derived integral formulas and the isotropic kernels form a theoretical basis for validation purposes and geophysical applications of satellite gradiometric data as provided currently by the GOCE mission. They also extend the well-known Meissl scheme.     

Development of local authorities in EU-member states between 1950–2011

The aim of the submitted study was to illustrate the development of the number of local authorities in all current EU states in the long period between 1950 and 2011 comprehensively, and also by particular decades, thus demonstrating the originality and uniqueness of the topic analysed in this context. Thus, we obtain a more detailed picture of the development of the number of local authorities in EU countries, and we can monitor how local authorities within a specific country gradually developed. (The stabilisation of the number of local units and an increase or gradual or sudden drop in local units are shown, for example). A sudden drop in local units can be associated with significant administrative reforms and with the development of large units of the so-called municipalities. When it becomes necessary to merge local authorities, many countries look to other countries where extensive reforms took place in the past for inspiration. However, it must be borne in mind that in a general European context, we cannot apply a universal system of public administration reforms, and solutions in the form of these reforms inspired by other countries may not always be appropriate.     

Seasonal and interannual variability of the planktic foraminiferal flux in the vicinity of the Azores Current

Planktic foraminiferal (PF) flux and faunal composition from three sediment trap time series of 2002–2004 in the northeastern Atlantic show pronounced year-to-year variations despite similar sea surface temperature (SST). The averaged fauna of the in 2002/2003 is dominated by the species Globigerinita glutinata, whereas in 2003/2004 the averaged fauna is dominated by Globigerinoides ruber. We show that PF species respond primarily to productivity, triggered by the seasonal dynamics of vertical stratification of the upper water column. Multivariate statistical analysis reveals three distinct species groups, linked to bulk particle flux, to chlorophyll concentrations and to summer/fall oligotrophy with high SST and stratification. We speculate that the distinct nutrition strategies of strictly asymbiontic, facultatively symbiontic, and symbiontic species may play a key role in explaining their abundances and temporal succession. Advection of water masses within the Azores Current and species expatriation result in a highly diverse PF assemblage. The Azores Frontal Zone may have influenced the trap site in 2002, indicated by subsurface water cooling, by highest PF flux and high flux of the deep-dwelling species Globorotalia scitula. Similarity analyses with core top samples from the global ocean including 746 sites from the Atlantic suggest that the trap faunas have only poor analogs in the surface sediments. These differences have to be taken into account when estimating past oceanic properties from sediment PF data in the eastern subtropical North Atlantic.     

Using external tropospheric corrections to improve GNSS positioning of hot-air balloon

High accurate global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) require to correct a signal delay caused by the troposphere. The delay can be estimated along with other unknowns or introduced from external models. We assess the impact of the recently developed augmentation tropospheric model on real-time kinematic precise point positioning (PPP). The model is based on numerical weather forecast and thus reflects the actual state of weather conditions. Using the G-Nut/Geb software, we processed GNSS and meteorological data collected during the experiment using a hot-air balloon flying up to an altitude of 2000 m. We studied the impacts of random walk noise setting of zenith total delay (ZTD) on estimated parameters and the mutual correlations, the use of external tropospheric corrections, the use of data from a single or dual GNSS constellation and the use of Kalman filter and backward smoothing processing methods. We observed a significant negative correlation of the estimated rover height and ZTD which depends on constraining ZTD estimates. Such correlation caused a degraded performance of both parameters when estimated simultaneously, in particular for a single GNSS constellation. The impact of ZTD constraining reached up to 50-cm differences in the rover height. Introducing external tropospheric corrections improved the PPP solution regarding: (1) shortened convergence, (2) better overall robustness, particularly, in case of degraded satellite geometry, (3) less adjusted parameters with lower correlations. The numerical weather model-driven PPP resulted in 9–12- and 5–6-cm uncertainties in the rover altitude using the Kalman filter and the backward smoothing, respectively. Compared to standard PPP, it indicates better performance by a factor of 1–2 depending on the availability of GNSS constellations, the troposphere constraining and the processing strategy.