Multiple longshore sand bars in the upper Chesapeake Bay

In the upper Chesapeake Bay (Maryland, U.S.A.) field surveys were conducted at 18 multiple longshore sand bar sites. The multiple bar systems were found in water depths less than approximately 2 m (mean sea level), and exhibited mild bottom slopes of 0·0052 or less. The number of bars composing each system ranged from four to 17 and the spacing between the crests typically increased in the offshore direction, ranging from 12 to 70 m. Bar height also typically increased with distance offshore and ranged from 0·03 to 0·61 m. A grain size analysis of crest and trough sediment did not reveal any significant differences and the sediment was categorized as ‘fine sand’. A review of the literature data indicated that the Chesapeake Bay multiple bars possessed similar characteristics to those found in Gelding Bay (Baltic Sea); similarities in fetch, wave height and tidal range between the two bays may account for this finding. The surf-scaling parameter indicated that the multiple bar systems were extremely dissipative with regard to wave energy, and wave height appeared to be an important factor in controlling bar spacing and bar height. A multiple wave break point hypothesis was discussed as a possible mechanism for the formation of Chesapeake Bay multiple longshore bars, and limited observational evidence appeared to support such a mechanism.     

An alternative approach to transverse and profile terrain curvature

Terrain curvature is one of the most important parameters of land surface topography. Well-established methods used in its measurement compute an index of plan or profile curvature for every single cell of a digital elevation model (DEM). The interpretation of these outputs may be delicate, especially when selected locations have to be analyzed. Furthermore, they involve a high level of simplification, contrasting with the complex and multiscalar nature of the surface curvature itself. In this paper, we present a new method to assess vertical transverse and profile curvature combining real-scale visualization and the possibility to measure these two terrain derivatives over a large range of scales. To this purpose, we implemented a GIS tool that extracts longitudinal and transverse elevation profiles from a high-resolution DEM. The performance of our approach was compared with some of the most commonly used methods (ArcMap, Redlands, CA, USA; ArcSIE, Landserf) by analyzing the terrain curvature around charcoal production sites in southern Switzerland. The different methods produced comparable results. While conventional methods quickly summarize terrain curvature in the form of a matrix of values, they involve a loss of information. The advantage of the new method lies in the possibility to measure and visualize the shape and size of the curvature, and to obtain a realistic representation of the average curvature for different subsets of spatial points. Moreover, the new method makes it possible to control the conditions in which the index of curvature is calculated.     

应用河流阶地10Be深度剖面计算千年至十万年尺度流域平均古侵蚀速率

古侵蚀速率的时空变化规律是研究构造-气候-地表侵蚀之间耦合关系的重要线索。已有的研究多侧重于百万年(10⁶)或百年(10²)尺度上的侵蚀速率限定, 但对千年至十万年(10³~10⁵)尺度上的侵蚀速率限定较少。河流阶地的发育能够延续千年至十万年, 其沉积记录保留了大量流域侵蚀信号, 为建立该时间尺度上的流域古侵蚀速率记录提供了理想的数据支撑。本研究介绍了一种千年至十万年尺度上的流域平均古侵蚀速率计算方法。基于河流阶地¹⁰Be深度剖面, 约束阶地表面沉积物的¹⁰Be继承浓度和阶地面废弃年龄, 进而计算出多期阶地发育期间的流域平均古侵蚀速率。随后, 以青藏高原东北缘北祁连西段为例, 基于山前6条河流(自西向东分别为石油河、白杨河、北大河、洪水坝河、丰乐河和马营河)已发表的16个阶地¹⁰Be深度剖面数据(共81个¹⁰Be样品)和7个现代河道沉积物的¹⁰Be浓度数据, 建立了北祁连西段约200 ka以来的流域平均侵蚀速率记录(共23个侵蚀速率值)。结果表明, 北祁连西段千年至十万年尺度上的流域平均古侵蚀速率变化趋势与气候波动曲线之间存在较强的对应性, 揭示了气候变化是引起流域地表侵蚀的关键因素。上述实例证明, 应用河流阶地¹⁰Be深度剖面可有效地计算千年至十万年尺度上的流域平均古侵蚀速率, 并有助于深入剖析构造、气候和地表侵蚀过程三者之间的潜在关系, 进而推动活动造山带地区定量地貌学研究的发展。

     

Spectral line profile variations in the γ Doradus variable HD 164615: non-radial pulsations versus star-spots

High-resolution spectral data of the Fe  II 5318 Å line in the γ Doradus star HD 164615 are presented. These show systematic changes in the spectral lineshapes with the photometric period of 0.8133 d which are modelled using either non-radial pulsations or cool star-spots. The non-radial modes that can fit the lineshape changes have m degree of 2–4. However, only the m = 2 mode seems to be consistent with the amplitude of the radial velocity variations measured for this star. The star-spot model, although it can qualitatively fit the lineshape changes, is excluded as a possible hypothesis on the basis of (1) poorer fits to the observed spectral line profiles, (2) an inability to account for the large changes in the spectral linewidth as a function of phase, (3) a predicted radial velocity curve that looks qualitatively different from the observed one, and (4) a predicted photometric curve that is a factor of 5 larger than the observed light curve (and with the wrong qualitative shape). Finally, a 'Doppler image' (assuming cool spots) derived from a sequence of synthetic line profiles having non-radial pulsations results in an image that is almost identical to the Doppler image derived for HD 164615. These results provide strong evidence that non-radial pulsations are indeed the explanation for the variability of HD 164615 as well as the other γ Dor variables.     

Effects of laser beam alignment tolerance on lidar accuracy

One of the major lidar error sources not yet analyzed in the literature is the tolerance of the laser beam alignment with respect to the scanning mirror. In this paper, the problem of quantifying these errors is solved for rotating polygon mirror type lidar systems. An arbitrary deviation of the beam from its design direction–the vector of beam misalignment–can be described by two independent parameters. We choose these as horizontal and vertical components of the misalignment vector in the body frame. Either component affects both, horizontal and vertical lidar accuracy. Horizontal lidar errors appear as scan line distortions—along and across track shifts, rotations and scaling. It is shown that the horizontal component of misalignment results in a scan line first being shifted across the track and then rotated around the vertical at the new center of the scan line. Resulting vertical lidar error, being a linear function of the scan angle, is similar to that produced by a roll bias. The vertical component of the beam misalignment causes scan line scaling and an along track shift. The corresponding vertical error is quadratic with respect to the scan angle. The magnitude of these effects is significant even at tight alignment tolerances and cannot be realistically accounted for in the conventional calibration model, which includes only range, attitude and GPS biases. Therefore, in order to attain better accuracy, this model must be expanded to include the beam misalignment parameters as well. Addition of new parameters into the model raises a question of whether they can be reliably solved for. To give a positive answer to this question, a calibration method must utilize not only ground control information, which is typically very limited, but also the relative accuracy information from the overlapping flight lines.     

ACCURACY OF THE RETRIEVED TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY FIELDS FOR TYPHOON HAIYAN UTILIZING THE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY MICROWAVE SOUNDER

One-dimensional retrieval was performed on Typhoon Haiyan utilizing the advanced technology microwave sounder onboard the satellite Suomi NPP to retrieve the temperature and water vapor profiles of the typhoon. Comparisons of the retrieved profiles and ECMWF reanalysis were made to assess the results. The main conclusions are as follows. (1) The results have high spatial resolution and therefore can precisely represent the temperature and humidity distribution of the typhoon. (2) The retrieved temperature is low in the areas of low temperature and high in the areas of high temperature; similar patterns are observed for humidity. This means that systematic revision may be needed during routine application. (3) The results of the retrieved temperature and humidity profiles are generally accurate, which is quite important for typhoon monitoring.     

Hydraulic parameters in channels with wall vegetation and gravel bed

In this experimental study,field observations and laboratory experiments have been carried out to assess the impacts of the vegetated channel walls and aspect ratio on flow velocity profiles,shear stress distribution and roughness coefficient of channel.Results show that the presence of vegetation cover on channel wall causes deviation of the Reynolds stress distribution from the linear one under uniform flow condition.It is also noticed that the Reynolds stress distribution is influenced by the aspect rati...