Geo-scape,a granularity depended spatialization tool for visualizing multidimensional data sets

Recently, the expertise accumulated in the field of geovisualization has found application in the visualization of abstract multidimensional data, on the basis of methods called spatialization methods. Spatialization methods aim at visualizing multidimensional data into low-dimensional representational spaces by making use of spatial metaphors and applying dimension reduction techniques. Spatial metaphors are able to provide a metaphoric framework for the visualization of information at different levels of granularity. The present paper makes an investigation on how the issue of granularity is handled in the context of representative examples of spatialization methods. Furthermore, this paper introduces the prototyping tool Geo-Scape, which provides an interactive spatialization environment for representing and exploring multidimensional data at different levels of granularity, by making use of a kernel density estimation technique and on the landscape “smoothness” metaphor. A demonstration scenario is presented next to show how Geo-Scape helps to discover knowledge into a large set of data, by grouping them into meaningful clusters on the basis of a similarity measure and organizing them at different levels of granularity.     

High‐resolution topography and anthropogenic feature extraction: testing geomorphometric parameters in floodplains

In floodplains, anthropogenic features such as levees or road scarps, control and influence flows. An up‐to‐date and accurate digital data about these features are deeply needed for irrigation and flood mitigation purposes. Nowadays, LiDAR Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) covering large areas are available for public authorities, and there is a widespread interest in the application of such models for the automatic or semiautomatic recognition of features. The automatic recognition of levees and road scarps from these models can offer a quick and accurate method to improve topographic databases for large‐scale applications. In mountainous contexts, geomorphometric indicators derived from DTMs have been proven to be reliable for feasible applications, and the use of statistical operators as thresholds showed a high reliability to identify features. The goal of this research is to test if similar approaches can be feasible also in floodplains. Three different parameters are tested at different scales on LiDAR DTM. The boxplot is applied to identify an objective threshold for feature extraction, and a filtering procedure is proposed to improve the quality of the extractions. This analysis, in line with other works for different environments, underlined (1) how statistical parameters can offer an objective threshold to identify features with varying shapes, size and height; (2) that the effectiveness of topographic parameters to identify anthropogenic features is related to the dimension of the investigated areas. The analysis also showed that the shape of the investigated area has not much influence on the quality of the results. While the effectiveness of residual topography had already been proven, the proposed study underlined how the use of entropy can anyway provide good extractions, with an overall quality comparable to the one offered by residual topography, and with the only limitation that the extracted features are slightly wider than the investigated one. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bank erosion in agricultural drainage networks: new challenges from structure‐from‐motion photogrammetry for post‐event analysis

Drainage channels are an integral part of agricultural landscapes, and their impact on catchment hydrology is strongly recognized. In cultivated and urbanized floodplains, channels have always played a key role in flood protection, land reclamation, and irrigation. Bank erosion is a critical issue in channels. Neglecting this process, especially during flood events, can result in underestimation of the risk in flood‐prone areas. The main aim of this work is to consider a low‐cost methodology for the analysis of bank erosion in agricultural drainage networks, and in particular for the estimation of the volumes of eroded and deposited material. A case study located in the Veneto floodplain was selected. The research is based on high‐resolution topographic data obtained by an emerging low‐cost photogrammetric method (structure‐from‐motion or SfM), and results are compared to terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) data. For the SfM analysis, extensive photosets were obtained using two standalone reflex digital cameras and an iPhone5® built‐in camera. Three digital elevation models (DEMs) were extracted at the resolution of 0.1 m using SfM and were compared with the ones derived by TLS. Using the different DEMs, the eroded areas were then identified using a feature extraction technique based on the topographic parameter Roughness Index (RI). DEMs derived from SfM were effective for both detecting erosion areas and estimating quantitatively the deposition and erosion volumes. Our results underlined how smartphones with high‐resolution built‐in cameras can be competitive instruments for obtaining suitable data for topography analysis and Earth surface monitoring. This methodology could be potentially very useful for farmers and/or technicians for post‐event field surveys to support flood risk management. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Korean East Coast wave predictions by means of ensemble Kalman filter data assimilation

To respond to the need for preventing offshore and coastal accidents, damage and flooding, a state-of-the-art coastal wave forecast system for the East Coast of Korea waters is being developed. Given that the quality of the input wind has been identified as the main factor influencing the quality of the wave results, the effectiveness of adjusting the wind fields by means of data assimilation using the ensemble Kalman filter technique has been explored. In this article the model setup, the data assimilation parameters and the validation of the predictions during stormy periods is described. The validation shows that the model is able to provide predictions of coastal waves fulfilling available benchmarks; especially, the data assimilation analysis and forecast predictions are judged to be of high quality.     

Dynamical classification of trans-neptunian objects: Probing their origin, evolution, and interrelation

The orbital structure of trans-neptunian objects (TNOs) in the trans-neptunian belt (Edgeworth-Kuiper belt) and scattered disk provides important clues to understand the origin and evolution of the Solar System. To better characterize these populations, we performed computer simulations of currently observed objects using long-arc orbits and several thousands of clones. Our preliminary analysis identified 622 TNOs, and 65 non-resonant objects whose orbits penetrate that of at least one of the giant planets within 1 Myr (the centaurs). In addition, we identified 196 TNOs locked in resonances with Neptune, which, sorted by distance from the Sun, are 1:1 (Neptune trojans), 5:4, 4:3, 11:8, 3:2, 18:11, 5:3, 12:7, 19:11, 7:4, 9:5, 11:6, 2:1, 9:4, 16:7, 7:3, 12:5, 5:2, 8:3, 3:1, 4:1, 11:2, and 27:4. Kozai resonant TNOs are found inside the 3:2, 5:3, 7:4, and 2:1 resonances. We present detailed general features for the resonant populations (i.e., libration amplitude angles, libration centers, Kozai libration amplitudes, etc.). Taking together the simulations of Lykawka and Mukai [Lykawka, P.S., Mukai, T., 2007. Icarus 186, 331-341], an improved classification scheme is presented revealing five main classes: centaurs, resonant, scattered, detached and classical TNOs. Scattered and detached TNOs (non-resonant) have q (perihelion distance) <37 AU and q>40 AU, respectively. TNOs with 37 AU<q<40 AU occupy an intermediate region where both classes coexist. Thus, there are no clear boundaries between the scattered and detached regions. We also securely identified a total of 9 detached TNOs by using 4-5 Gyr orbital integrations. Classical objects are non-resonant TNOs usually divided into cold and hot populations. Their boundaries are as follows: cold classical TNOs (i?5°) are located at 37 AU<a<40 AU (q>37 AU) and 42 AU<a<47.5 AU (q>38 AU), and hot classical TNOs (i>5°) occupy orbits with 37 AU<a<47.5 AU (q>37 AU). However, a more firm classification is found with i>10° for hot classical TNOs. Lastly, we discuss some implications of our classification scheme comparing all TNOs with our model and other past models.     

The Shape of the Solar Limb: Models and Observations

In this paper we compare observed, empirical, and modelled solar limb profiles and discuss their potential use to derive physical properties of the solar atmosphere. The PHOENIX, SolMod3D, and COSI radiative transfer codes as well as VAL-C models are used to calculate the solar limb shape under different assumptions. The main properties of each model are shown. The predicted limb shape as a function of wavelength for different features on the solar disk, such as quiet Sun, sunspots, and faculae, is investigated. These models provide overall consistent limb shapes with some discrepancies that are discussed here in terms of differences in solar atmosphere models, opacities, and the algorithms used to derive the solar limb profile. Our analysis confirms that the most common property of all models is limb shapes that are much steeper than what is observed, or predicted by the available empirical models. Furthermore, we have investigated the role of the Fraunhofer lines within the spectral domain used for the solar limb measurements. Our results show that the presence of the Fraunhofer lines significantly displaces the limb inflection point from its position estimated assuming only the photospheric continuum. The PICARD satellite, launched on 15 June 2010, will provide measurements of the limb shape at several wavelengths. This work shows that the precision of these measurements allows for discrimination among the available models.     

HABIT PLANES OF PLATELIKE SCHREIBERSITE IN HEXAHEDRITES*

We have measured the habit planes of plate rhabdites [(Fe, Ni)₃P] with respect to the parent kamacite phase (α, Fe-Ni) in eight hexahedrites. This was accomplished using x-ray diffraction plus two-surface trace analysis. Results show that plate rhabdites form on either {001} or {122} planes in the parent kamacite. The meteorite Uwet exhibits a {112} habit plane which is possibly an anomaly due to the occurrence of a large shock event during rhabdite nucleation (～ 550–650 °C).     

Late Quaternary glacier and sea-ice history of northern Wijdefjorden,Svalbard

The deglaciation history and Holocene environmental evolution of northern Wijdefjorden, Svalbard, are reconstructed using sediment cores and acoustic data (multibeam swath bathymetry and sub-bottom profiler data). Results reveal that the fjord mouth was deglaciated prior to 14.5±0.3 cal. ka BP and deglaciation occurred stepwise. Biomarker analyses show rapid variations in water temperature and sea ice cover during the deglaciation, and cold conditions during the Younger Dryas, followed by minimum sea ice cover throughout the Early Holocene, until c. 7 cal. ka BP. Most of the glaciers in Wijdefjorden had retreated onto land by c. 7.6±0.2 cal. ka BP. Subsequently, the sea-ice extent increased and remained high throughout the last part of the Holocene. We interpret a high Late Holocene sediment accumulation rate in the northernmost core to reflect increased sediment flux to the site from the outlet of the adjacent lake Femmilsjøen, related to glacier growth in the Femmilsjøen catchment area. Furthermore, increased sea ice cover, lower water temperatures and the re-occurrence of ice-rafted debris indicate increased local glacier activity and overall cooler conditions in Wijdefjorden after c. 0.5 cal. ka BP. We summarize our findings in a conceptual model for the depositional environment in northern Wijdefjorden from the Late Weichselian until present.     

Research note: Laboratory study of the influence of changing the injection rate on the geometry of the fluid front and on P‐wave ultrasonic velocities in sandstone

Forced imbibition was performed in reservoir sandstone by injecting water into a dry sample. The injection was monitored with X‐ray computed tomography and acoustic acquisition to simultaneously visualize the displacement of the fluid and quantify its presence by calculating saturation and P‐wave velocities. We observed a strong influence when changing the injection rates on the acoustic response. Upon decreasing the injection rate from 5 mL/h to 0.1 mL/h, P‐wave velocities decreased sharply: 100 m/s in 1 h. This behaviour is related to the partially saturated conditions of the sample (76% of saturation) before decreasing the injection rate. The air that is still trapped is free to move due to a decrease of pore pressure that is no longer forced by the higher injection rate. After 1 hour, P‐wave velocities started increasing with small changes in saturation. Stopping injection for 16 hrs decreased saturation by 8% and P‐wave velocities by 100 m/s. Restarting injection at 5 mL/h increased saturation to 76% while P‐wave velocities fluctuated considerably for 2 hrs until they stabilized at 2253 m/s. Through the computed tomography scans we observed a water front advancing through the sample and how its shape changed from a plane to a curve after decreasing the injection rate.