Airborne Laser Sensing of Scottish Coastal Waters

An Nd:YAG-based airborne lidar system has been used to measure the optical properties of littoral waters off the northwest Scottish coast. The small-scale structure of subsurface scattering layers was also investigated. Methods of solving the Lidar Sensing Equation in the single scattering approximation are described and the values of the derived extinction indices presented. The extinction index averaged over a series of five flights to the northeast of the Gulf Stream was k = 0.224 m -1 with a standard deviation of 0.212 m -1 . Further, it was demonstrated that, in coastal waters, optical inhomogeneities with dimensions between 50 m and 200 km obey the power law Sp k ~ k -P with the parameter P close to two. In turbid or transparent areas, the water extinction index can change by several tenths of a percent with respect to the surrounding water mass. This suggests that the observed nonmonotonic behavior of the power spectra of the water extinction index fluctuations is caused by the outer scale of turbulence, in particular, by the bottom depth at the measurement site.     

Combining Lidar Elevation Data and IKONOS Multispectral Imagery for Coastal Classification Mapping

This article studies the effect of airborne lidar (surface) elevation data on the classification of multispectral IKONOS images over a coastal area. The lidar data and IKONOS images are treated as independent multiple bands to conduct the classification. To do so, the lidar elevation data is first resampled to the same ground spacing interval and stretched to the same radiometric range as the IKONOS images. An unsupervised classification based on the ISODATA algorithm is then used to determine a class schema of six classes: road, water, marsh, roof, tree, and sand. Training sites and checking sites are selected over the lidar-IKONOS merged data set for the subsequent supervised classification and quality evaluation. The complete confusion matrices and average quality indices are presented to assess and compare the classification results. It is shown that the inclusion of the lidar elevation data benefits the separation of classes that have similar spectral characteristics, such as roof and road, water and marsh. The overall classification errors, especially the false positive errors, are reduced by up to 50%. Moreover, by using the lidar elevation data, the classification results show more realistic and homogeneous distribution of geographic features. This property will benefit the subsequent vectorization of the classification maps and the integration of the vector data into a geographical information system.     

A 14-year monthly climatology and trend in the 35–65 km altitude range from Rayleigh Lidar temperature measurements at a low latitude station

A sodium resonance lidar at 589 nm has been operated in São José dos Campos, Brazil (23°S, 46°W) since 1972 mainly for studies related to the origin, chemistry and dynamics of the mesospheric sodium layer. Beginning in 1993, the improved laser capability has also enabled the processing of the Rayleigh signal from which the temperatures from 35 to 65 km are retrieved on a nightly mean basis. We used these nightly profiles to determine the monthly temperature profiles from 1993 to 2006. The mean temperature characteristics for each year and for the whole period are obtained. Seasonal thermal amplitude is small (6 K peak to peak at 40 and 60 km). Compared with the MSISE-90 model, a large difference is noted, with temperature lower than the model below the stratopause and higher above. Also the seasonal variation has a large difference with better agreement occurring around local winter, but with temperatures higher by 8–10 K at the equinoxes. The semiannual component is dominant over the annual at all altitudes. Linear trends with decreasing temperature of 1.09, 2.29 and 1.42 K/decade are observed at 40, 50 and 60 km, respectively.     

Mud bank colonization by opportunistic mangroves: A case study from French Guiana using lidar data

Mud bank colonization by mangroves on the Amazon-influenced coast of French Guiana was studied using light detection and ranging (lidar) data which provide unique information on canopy geometry an sub-canopy topography. The role of topography was assessed through analysis of vegetation characteristics derived from these data. Measurements and analyses of mangrove expansion rates over space and time led to the identification of two distinct colonization processes. The first involves regular step-by-step mangrove expansion to the northwest of the experimental site. The second is qualified as ‘opportunistic’ since it involves a clear relationship between specific ecological characteristics of pioneer Avicennia and mud cracks affecting the mud bank surface and for which probabilities of occurrence were computed from terrain elevations. It is argued from an original analysis of the latter relationship that mud cracks cannot be solely viewed as water stress features that reflect desiccation potentially harmful to plant growth. Indeed, our results tend to demonstrate that they significantly enhance the propensity for mangroves to anchor and take root, thus leading to the colonization of tens of hectares in a few days. The limits and potential of lidar data are discussed with reference to the study of muddy coasts. Finally, the findings of the study are reconsidered within the context of a better understanding of both topography and vegetation characteristics on mangrove-fringed muddy coasts.     

Effect of preloading on the amplification characteristics of soil profiles

Preloading is a temporary loading, usually an embankment, applied to improve subsurface soils by densification. This paper studies the effect of preloading on the amplification characteristics of soft sites with an elaborate parametric analysis. The soil type, the depth of the bedrock, the water table depth, the level of preloading, the applied earthquake, the shear wave velocity of the bedrock and the shear modulus and damping versus shear strain relations were varied in a systematic manner. The analysis was performed by the commonly used one-dimensional equivalent-linear dynamic method. The shear wave velocity versus depth and the effect of preloading on shear velocity are computed with well-established soil mechanics equations. The results illustrated that the seismic response at the top of the profile generally decreases as a result of preloading. A more detailed analysis of results shows that the effect of preloading on the seismic response depends on the soil type and the depth of the bedrock. Based on these results, a method is proposed by which a practicing engineer involved with improvement of soft ground can simulate the effect of preloading on the seismic motion.     

钻井船插桩CEL数值模拟中的若干问题分析

依据模拟钻井船在不同场地条件下贯入阻力的离心模型试验结果及具体工程实例,对利用耦合欧拉-拉格朗日（CEL）有限元方法模拟钻井船在黏土、砂土、黏土下覆砂土、砂土下覆黏土及成层土场地插桩过程时,影响贯入阻力计算结果的几个因素进行了研究。结果表明,对于不同土层场地条件,有限元模型中欧拉区域范围对贯入阻力几乎没有影响。为确保CEL数值结果的精度,有限元建模时靠近桩靴部分设置为细网格区域,以外区域设置为粗网格区域;对于不同土层场地条件,减小细网格尺寸及增大细网格范围可以减小贯入阻力的振荡情况;经比较总结,细网格尺寸建议取0.05倍桩靴直径,细网格范围建议取2倍桩靴直径。采用位移控制模拟钻井船插桩时,桩靴贯入速率对黏土场地的贯入阻力影响较小,对砂土下覆黏土场地的贯入阻力影响很大,对一般成层土场地的贯入阻力有一定影响。经比较总结,建议在研究钻井船在不同土层场地的计算贯入阻力时,有限元模型的桩靴贯入速率取0.2 m/s。     

The gravel fans of upper Glen Roy,Lochaber, Scotland: their importance for understanding glacial,proglacial and glaciolacustrine dynamics during the Younger Dryas cold period in an Atlantic margin setting

Over the past 200 years significant research effort has gone into explaining the origin of the obvious former shorelines in Glen Roy (the so-called “Parallel Roads”). The large gravel deposit at the mouth of Glen Turret has attracted similar interest, but a solution to its origin and age remains contested: the same applies to the associated gravel fans in upper Glen Roy. This paper presents the results of systematic mapping and instrumental levelling of these features and new evidence from two previously unrecorded gravel fans in the nearby Allt Chonnal valley. Interpretation of altitudinal and lithofacies data indicates that all the fans (including the one at the mouth of Glen Turret) were deposited in a series of ice-dammed lakes during the Loch Lomond Stadial (Younger Dryas). The largest gravel fans were deposited in the shallow lake heads of the 260 m, 325 m and 350 m lakes in upper Glen Roy, infilling these areas to the extent that deposition was in part subaerial. The absence of foreset bedding from the deposits is explained by the relatively shallow depth of lake waters, which inhibited development of classic Gilbert-type deltas and encouraged Hjulström-type fans. The previous assumption that gravel deposition into the 325 m and 350 m lakes was relatively limited is shown to be erroneous. The Allt Chonnal gravel fans, deposited into these lakes, have an estimated combined volume of 6,000,000 m³ deposited in about 200 years. Significant gravel deposition into these former lakes continued at least until glaciers started to retreat in Glen Roy. When glacier retreat began, gravel deposition was reduced by over 85%. This research also concludes that the glacier which deposited the Turret fan emanated from Glen Gloy, supplied not only by ice from the south but also from ice that spilled into Glen Gloy from the adjacent Great Glen. The Loch Lomond Stadial (LLS) ice cap mapped in the Monadhliath Mountains was connected to the west Highland ice cap, which at the time filled the Great Glen. Regional equilibrium line altitude (ELA) estimates, based solely on the Monadhliath LLS ice cap evidence, may therefore be altitudinally too high.     

山东半岛砂质海滩动力地貌演化特征

为探讨山东半岛砂质海滩的动力地貌学特征,利用波浪和潮汐资料计算了山东半岛浪潮作用指数K和波浪-沉积物参数(Dean参数(Ω)),并进行了地貌类型划分;结合2012~2015年对山东半岛不同地理岸段砂质海岸地形地貌、表层沉积物进行的7次监测,对海滩监测剖面地形高程和表层沉积物粒度监测数据进行了研究,结果表明:山东半岛北部烟台多处海滩为消散型,局部过渡性;威海东侧和山东半岛南部海滩属于过渡型或反射型;不同类型沙滩季节变化差别明显,消散型海滩夏季容易形成沿岸沙坝,冬季海滩沙坝明显受到侵蚀;而过渡型或反射型海滩变化趋势相反,冬季靠近高潮线的部位淤积,形成滩肩,夏季受到侵蚀消失。山东半岛北部海滩粒径较粗,并呈现逐年变粗的趋势,而山东半岛南部粒径较细且逐年变细;季节变化受到波浪条件和季节差异的控制,招远、龙口、威海、日照地区较牟平、海阳、青岛等平直岸段冬季沉积物比夏季粗。山东半岛砂质海滩的地貌形态受海岸的地理位置、海洋动力条件、岸线走向及沙源供给等多种沉积环境因素的影响,人类活动的影响可在短期内对海滩造成剧烈变化,引起海岸严重侵蚀。     

河套永济灌域土壤酸碱性与养分元素的关系

为了探讨干旱区灌区不同土地利用方式下盐碱化土壤剖面pH值与土壤水分和养分之间的关系,测定河套永济灌域荒地、林地、农田3种土地利用方式下0~20、20~40、40~60、60~80、80~100 cm剖面土壤pH值、含水率（SMC）、有机质（OM）、总氮（TN）、Zn、Cu的含量。结果表明：土壤pH值平均值为9.13;土壤含水率2.96%~31.35%;土壤OM、TN含量平均值分别为11.30、0.49 g·kg^-1;微量营养元素Zn、Cu平均值分别为107.20、32.78 mg·kg^-1,是相应背景值的1.9、1.7倍;3种土地利用方式下,土壤pH值差异性极显著（P<0.001）,高低顺序为荒地 > 农田 > 林地,在垂直剖面含量差异并不显著（P>0.05）;3种土地利用方式下,土壤pH值主要受TN含量的影响,回归方程为Y_pH=9.336-0.409X_TN（P=0.001）;表层（0~40 cm）土壤pH值在一定程度上受Cu含量的影响,回归方程为Y_pH=0.018 X_Cu+8.523（P=0.003）。在河套永济灌域,一方面土壤碱化会导致土壤养分含量的贫瘠,另一方面施肥等农业活动在一定程度上降低了土壤表层碱性,同时造成微量元素的累积,加重土壤碱性的作用也非常显著,因此在增加农业投入的同时应合理科学地施用农药化肥。     

Lithological and fluvial controls on the geomorphology of tropical montane stream channels in Puerto Rico

An extensive survey and topographic analysis of five watersheds draining the Luquillo Mountains in north‐eastern Puerto Rico was conducted to decouple the relative influences of lithologic and hydraulic forces in shaping the morphology of tropical montane stream channels. The Luquillo Mountains are a steep landscape composed of volcaniclastic and igneous rocks that exert a localized lithologic influence on the stream channels. However, the stream channels also experience strong hydraulic forcing due to high unit discharge in the humid rainforest environment. GIS‐based topographic analysis was used to examine channel profiles, and survey data were used to analyze downstream changes in channel geometry, grain sizes, stream power, and shear stresses. Results indicate that the longitudinal profiles are generally well graded but have concavities that reflect the influence of multiple rock types and colluvial‐alluvial transitions. Non‐fluvial processes, such as landslides, deliver coarse boulder‐sized sediment to the channels and may locally determine channel gradient and geometry. Median grain size is strongly related to drainage area and slope, and coarsens in the headwaters before fining in the downstream reaches; a pattern associated with a mid‐basin transition between colluvial and fluvial processes. Downstream hydraulic geometry relationships between discharge, width and velocity (although not depth) are well developed for all watersheds. Stream power displays a mid‐basin maximum in all basins, although the ratio of stream power to coarse grain size (indicative of hydraulic forcing) increases downstream. Excess dimensionless shear stress at bankfull flow wavers around the threshold for sediment mobility of the median grain size, and does not vary systematically with bankfull discharge; a common characteristic in self‐forming ‘threshold’ alluvial channels. The results suggest that although there is apparent bedrock and lithologic control on local reach‐scale channel morphology, strong fluvial forces acting over time have been sufficient to override boundary resistance and give rise to systematic basin‐scale patterns. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.