Multidimensional-unified topological relations computation: a hierarchical geometric algebra-based approach

This article presents a geometric algebra-based model for topological relation computation. This computational model is composed of three major components: the Grassmann structure preserving hierarchical multivector-tree representation (MVTree), multidimensional unified operators for intersection relation computation, and the judgement rules for assembling the intersections into topological relations. With this model, the intersection relations between the different dimensional objects (nodes at different levels) are computed using the Tree Meet operator. The meet operation between two arbitrary objects is accomplished by transforming the computation into the meet product between each pair of MVTree nodes, which produces a series of intersection relations in the form of MVTree. This intersection tree is then processed through a set of judgement rules to determine the topological relations between two objects in the hierarchy. Case studies of topological relations between two triangles in 3D space are employed to illustrate the model. The results show that with the new model, the topological relations can be computed in a simple way without referring to dimension. This dimensionless way of computing topological relations from geographic data is significant given the increased dimensionality of geographic information in the digital era.     

State of the art and practice of pavement anti-icing and de-icing techniques

Pavement snow and icing are worldwide problems, but effective countermeasures are just beginning to be developed in China. The two most common snow and ice removal methods are mechanical clearance and chemical melting, and the advantages and disadvantages of each approach are discussed here, including environmental and structural damage caused by corrosive snow melting agents. New developments in chemical melting agents and mechanical equipment are discussed, and an overview of alternative thermal melting systems is presented, including the use of geothermy and non-geothermal heating systems utilizing solar energy, electricity, conductive pavement materials, and infrared/microwave applications. Strategic recommendations are made for continued enhancement of public safety in snow and ice conditions.     

Dating of two thermokarst lakes in Beiluhe Basin,Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Most of the thermokarst lakes are spread appreciably in Beiluhe Basin,Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,China,where ice-rich permafrost exists.Two typical thermokarst lakes with differing area and depth were examined to ascertain their age.We obtained lake-bottom samples of 50 cm length from lake BLH-A and 25 cm length from lake BLH-B.Environmental 137 Cs and 210 Pb and radiocarbon age dating techniques were applied to the 50 cm and 25 cm samples,respectively.The results indicate that the initiation of BLH-A is about 800-900 a B.P.,and approximately 1,450±30 a B.P.to 2,230±30 a B.P.for BLH-B.These results will provide scientific bases for sedimentological study and thermokarst activity in Beiluhe Basin.     

绵阳市度日数特征及其变化趋势分析

从20世纪50年代以来,度日数一直作为气候变化与供暖关系的一个综合评价指标。基于全球变暖可能对我国供暖天数和温度产生深刻的影响,本文采用绵阳市1946~2005年共49年的日最低、最高气温资料,分析了绵阳市度日数年变化特征,并对其进行了趋势分析。结果表明:绵阳市历年供暖度日数最小值处于1998年,比1976年最大值低93.5%,10a年均供暖度日数变化趋势为二次曲线;制冷度日数波动性很大,1960~1979年在1500℃·d左右波动,1979~1990年在1400℃·d左右波动,1990年以后基本处于1500℃·d以上,10a年均制冷度日数拟合趋势曲线为三次曲线。基于Mann-Kendall(M-K)检验法,在α=0.05水平下,对绵阳市供暖和制冷度日数进行检验,研究发现:供暖度日数明显减少,1992年为突变起始年份;制冷度日数波动增长,且自1997年起突变。     

湖南两次流域性致洪暴雨异同点分析

利用常规气象资料、水情资料及灾情资料,对发生地点、季节及影响系统相似的2010年7月8-14日和2012年7月11-19日两次湖南省持续性大范围暴雨天气过程进行对比分析,结果表明：（1）两次暴雨过程均具有持续时间长、暴雨频繁且集中、累计雨量大、洪涝严重等特点;（2）东北冷涡加强、副高东退南落,冷、暖空气在湖南交汇,导致连续性暴雨发生;（3）“10.7”暴雨过程冷、暖气流势力相当,雨带呈东西向,稳定少动,致灾性强.而“12.7”暴雨过程冷空气势力较强,雨带呈移动性,虽然致灾范围广,但灾情较前者轻.     

Stationary Wave Activity Associated with the East Asian Winter Monsoon Pathway

The pathway of the East Asian winter monsoon(EAWM) that usually leads to the out-of-phase pattern of surface air temperature between northern and southern East Asia is an important feature in the variability of the EAWM besides its strength.Using the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts 40-year(ERA40) reanalysis dataset,this study investigates the pathway-related stationary wave activity to explore the mechanism of the interannual variations in the EAWM pathway.It reveals that when the southern pathway of the EAWM is strong,the phase of the climatological stationary wave tends to be shifted westward significantly in both the horizontal and vertical directions by an anomalous wavenumber 2 pattern at mid-latitudes,whereas the changes are relatively small in the subtropics.The horizontal changes in the stationary wave phase facilitate a north-south-oriented East Asian trough in the middle troposphere that eventually produces the strong southern pathway of the EAWM.The vertical changes in the stationary wave,in contrast,feature a westward-tilted phase line with height over the North Pacific,indicating enhanced upward propagation of waves into the stratosphere.This result suggests that the phase of stationary waves at mid-latitudes dominate the interannual variations in the EAWM pathway.Moreover,it supports our previous interpretation of the possible role of the North Pacific sea surface temperature(SST) in the EAWM pathway variability.It also implies that the excitation of anomalous mid-latitude stationary waves may be the key in the response of the EAWM pathway to the North Pacific SST.     

Stationary Wave Activity Associated with the East Asian Winter Monsoon Pathway简

The pathway of the East Asian winter monsoon（EAWM） that usually leads to the out-of-phase pattern of surface air temperature between northern and southern East Asia is an important feature in the variability of the EAWM besides its strength.Using the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts 40-year（ERA40） reanalysis dataset,this study investigates the pathway-related stationary wave activity to explore the mechanism of the interannual variations in the EAWM pathway.It reveals that when the southern pathway of the EAWM is strong,the phase of the climatological stationary wave tends to be shifted westward significantly in both the horizontal and vertical directions by an anomalous wavenumber 2 pattern at mid-latitudes,whereas the changes are relatively small in the subtropics.The horizontal changes in the stationary wave phase facilitate a north-south-oriented East Asian trough in the middle troposphere that eventually produces the strong southern pathway of the EAWM.The vertical changes in the stationary wave,in contrast,feature a westward-tilted phase line with height over the North Pacific,indicating enhanced upward propagation of waves into the stratosphere.This result suggests that the phase of stationary waves at mid-latitudes dominate the interannual variations in the EAWM pathway.Moreover,it supports our previous interpretation of the possible role of the North Pacific sea surface temperature（SST） in the EAWM pathway variability.It also implies that the excitation of anomalous mid-latitude stationary waves may be the key in the response of the EAWM pathway to the North Pacific SST.     

800年来苏北废黄河三角洲的演变模式

根据历史资料、数据和相关研究,结合研究区域背景,分析苏北废黄河三角洲的演变。结果显示,岸线演变在发育阶段和侵蚀阶段分别为向海延伸约90 km和侵蚀后退约22 km,面积相差约800 km2,三角洲地貌演变表现为岸线平直-曲折-平滑-平直的过程。在废三角洲陆海相互作用的基础上,运用演化模式分析三角洲的演变过程。该三角洲演变可以分为7个演变阶段,发育期在径流和潮流作用下以沙洲并陆淤积延伸方式进行,侵蚀期在波浪和潮流作用下以沙洲合并侵蚀后退和淤积外长交替侵蚀的方式。泥沙输运、人类活动和气候变化对废三角洲的演变有重要影响,巨量的来沙是三角洲发育的原因,泥沙平衡被打破是侵蚀的主要原因。发育期中,泥沙输运影响淤积速度和位置,人类活动和气候变化影响黄河河道迁移、输沙量和产沙量;侵蚀期中,泥沙输运影响侵蚀状态,人类活动在一定程度上影响海岸带冲/淤,气候变化将影响三角洲的演变趋势。