Cloud computing and virtualization within the regional climate model and evaluation system

The Regional Climate Model Evaluation System (RCMES) facilitates the rapid, flexible inclusion of NASA observations into climate model evaluations. RCMES provides two fundamental components. A database (RCMED) is a scalable point-oriented cloud database used to elastically store remote sensing observations and to make them available using a space time query interface. The analysis toolkit (RCMET) is a Python-based toolkit that can be delivered as a cloud virtual machine, or as an installer package deployed using Python Buildout to users in order to allow for temporal and spatial regridding, metrics calculation (RMSE, bias, PDFs, etc.) and end-user visualization. RCMET is available to users in an “offline”, lone scientist mode based on a virtual machine dynamically constructed with model outputs and observations to evaluate; or on an institution’s computational cluster seated close to the observations and model outputs. We have leveraged RCMES within the content of the Coordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) project, working with the University of Cape Town and other institutions to compare the model output to NASA remote sensing data; in addition we are also working with the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program (NARCCAP). In this paper we explain the contribution of cloud computing to RCMES’s specifically describing studies of various cloud databases we evaluated for RCMED, and virtualization toolkits for RCMET, and their potential strengths in delivering user-created dynamic regional climate model evaluation virtual machines for our users.     

Holocene peatland development and hydrological variability inferred from bog‐pine dendrochronology and peat stratigraphy – a case study from southern Sweden

Dendrochronological analysis was applied to subfossil remains of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) buried in a South Swedish peat deposit. In combination with peat stratigraphy, this approach was explored for its potential to provide information on the local hydrological and depositional history at the site, forming the basis for a regional palaeohydrological analysis. A 726‐year ring‐width chronology was developed and assigned an absolute age of 7233–6508 cal a BP (5284–4559 BC) through cross‐dating with German bog‐pine chronologies, whereas two short additional records of older ages were radiocarbon dated. Registration of growth positions of individual trees allowed assessment of the spatial dynamics of the pine population in response to hydrological changes and peatland ontogeny. Annually resolved growth variability patterns in the pine population reveal several establishment and degeneration phases, probably reflecting fluctuations in bog‐surface wetness. A major establishment phase at 7200–6900 cal a BP reflects the onset of a period of lowered groundwater level, also indicated by increased peat humification, and a development consistent with regional temperature and lake level reconstructions revealed from other proxies. This study demonstrates that subfossil bog‐pine populations may provide annually to decadally resolved reconstructions of local groundwater variability, which are highly relevant in a long‐term palaeoclimatic context. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A methodology to estimate the maximum offset and reflection imaging radius for a 2D/3D vertical seismic profiling survey

We have developed a straightforward and ray based methodology to estimate both the maximum offset and reflection imaging radius for multi‐layered velocity models, which can be used for a 2D/3D VSP survey design. Through numerical examples, we demonstrate that the presence of a high‐velocity layer above a target zone significantly reduces the maximum offset and reflection imaging radius. Our numerical examples also show that including in a migration VSP data acquired beyond a recommended maximum offset, radically degrades the quality of the final VSP image. In addition, unlike the conventional straight‐line based approximation that often produces an incorrect large reflection imaging radius, our methodology predicts the VSP imaging radius with more accuracy than does the conventional approximation.     

琼东定安翰林地区晚寒武世地层的厘定及其地质意义

蒙花岭组是新建的岩石地层单位,指定蒙花岭剖面为正层型剖面。岩性为一套高绿片岩相的变质岩,由变质石英细砂岩、各类片岩、绢云千枚岩夹细粒石英岩及数层变质基性―酸性火山岩组成。在剖面的下部第8层及上部第24层含丰富的藻类化石,地质时代为寒武纪;在剖面中部第16层变质火山岩中采人工重砂样、锆石U-Pb测年结果为499±6Ma~527±48Ma,地质时代为寒武纪中晚期。故将蒙花岭组划寒武系黔东统(∈2)到芙蓉统(∈4)。     

Constructing citizenship in the shadow state

This article addresses the contributions of local community-based nonprofit organizations to the construction of citizenship through three different examples of state–organization interaction in Minneapolis–St. Paul to integrate migrants into American society. These examples stand for broader questions about how shadow state relationships affect the shape and scale of citizenship relations to which organizations contribute. The article focuses empirically on how organizations enact state rules and resources in providing services to migrants. The conclusions are directed toward theorizing the kinds of shadow state relationships that contribute to nationally inclusive visions of citizenship as well as alternative, subnational visions of citizenship.     

基于Biome-BGC模型的小兴安岭森林碳通量时空分析

全球气候变化是当前人类生存和发展所面临的严峻挑战,森林生态系统在减缓温室效应和维持全球碳平衡中发挥着重要作用.本文以黑龙江省小兴安岭地区森林为研究对象,将通量观测和生态过程模型相结合,采用Biome-BGC模型估算森林碳通量,使用M-K方法和EOF方法进行了时空分析,并发现了2000—2015年小兴安岭森林碳通量的时空特征规律.研究结果表明:在时间上,具有明显的年际变化特征,且呈波动下降的总趋势;在空间上,具有同向分布模式和反向分布模式的空间分布特征.本研究成果将为我国制定应对全球变化的战略决策,以及生态文明建设和环境保护提供科学参考依据.     

基于FBG技术的饱和膨胀土失水致裂过程试验研究

为了解饱和膨胀土在失水条件下,干缩裂隙发育过程中土体内的应变状态、分布以及变化规律,设计了一个长40cm、宽5cm、深3cm的一维模型槽,将3条FBG传感光栅串埋入饱和膨胀土试样中,对膨胀土不同位置的应变进行了测量,得到了土体失水干缩致裂过程中,各个FBG传感器的应变状态及其变化规律,并分析了首条干缩裂隙及其附近土体的应变分布特征及其时空演化规律。试验结果表明:随着土体含水率的降低,土体首先呈现出整体收缩,之后应变状态发生分异,呈现出拉张区和收缩区交替出现的分布规律; 位于最大收缩区的边缘,当FBG传感器的应变由压缩状态转变为拉伸状态,并且拉应变及其变化速率相对较大的区域将产生首条裂隙。可见,本文所采用的高空间分辨率FBG传感技术为分析膨胀土裂隙发育全过程、揭示膨胀土失水致裂机理,以及膨胀土裂隙性特征的研究提供了新的思路和技术手段。     

岩体生长过程的传热学制约及其岩浆熔融效应

研究岩体生长过程的传热学制约及其引起的岩浆熔融效应能为我们认知地壳演化提供新的思路和手段。本文从年代学和测量技术两个方面综述岩体(或者岩浆房)逐渐长大的证据,然后运用Heat-3D程序简单模拟了Mount Stuart和Tenpeak岩体逐渐长大过程的传热学制约,结合年代学证据证明Mount Stuart岩体是逐渐长大的,并且每期次岩浆之间有很长的时间间隔,而Tenpeak岩体的长大可能是岩浆连续不断侵入或者各期次岩浆的短时间间隔所致。岩体逐渐长大过程引起的岩浆熔融效应是很明显的,模拟实验表明,岩浆多期次侵入地壳时生成的酸性熔体量更接近于地质观察事实。     

电感耦合等离子体发射光谱法测定铝土矿中镓——酸溶和碱熔预处理方法比较

研究了盐酸-硝酸-氢氟酸-高氯酸酸溶和氢氧化钠碱熔两种测定铝土矿石样品中镓的前处理方法,利用电感耦合等离子体发射光谱法(ICP-AES)进行测定。对熔矿试剂及条件、分析谱线的选择和元素的干扰进行了讨论,采用不同含量的铝土矿石国家标准物质样品进行了条件实验。分析结果表明:采用盐酸-硝酸-氢氟酸-高氯酸溶解样品,会导致铝土矿石样品溶解不完全,得到的数据失真;而采用氢氧化钠碱熔法处理铝土矿石样品后,用ICP-AES法测定,镓的测定值准确度高,方法检出限为0.15μg/g,相对标准偏差(RSD,n=11)为2.51%～5.97%,回收率为94.8%～108.2%。该方法灵敏度高,精密度好,分析时间短,易于流程操作。方法经国家一级标准物质分析验证,测定结果与标准值相符,特别适用于铝土矿石样品中镓的测定。