Low-cost volcano surveillance from space: case studies from Etna, Krafla, Cerro Negro, Fogo, Lascar and Erebus

 Satellite data offer a means of supplementing ground-based monitoring during volcanic eruptions, especially at times or locations where ground-based monitoring is difficult. Being directly and freely available several times a day, data from the advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHRR) offers great potential for near real-time monitoring of all volcanoes across large (3000×3000 km) areas. Herein we describe techniques to detect and locate activity; estimate lava area, thermal flux, effusion rates and cumulative volume; and distinguish types of activity. Application is demonstrated using data for active lavas at Krafla, Etna, Fogo, Cerro Negro and Erebus; a pyroclastic flow at Lascar; and open vent systems at Etna and Stromboli. Automated near real-time analysis of AVHRR data could be achieved at existing, or cheap to install, receiving stations, offering a supplement to conventional monitoring methods. Received: 21 January 1997 / Accepted: 3 April 1997     

Slope instability of San Miniato hill (Florence, Italy): possible deformation patterns

The hill of San Miniato (Florence, Italy) has been repeatedly identified in the past as the site of a slow moving, intermittent landslide. Possible hypotheses regarding the mechanisms responsible for past movements and for cracks and fissures present today are formulated based on the comparison of historical information and processed monitoring data. Although it is not possible to completely exclude a large inactive landslide that involves the entire northern slope, it seems more probable that the slide, if it does exist, is no longer active and that present-day damage is due to separate shallow movements concentrated in man-made deposits. This hypothesis can only be verified with a temporal extension of the monitoring activities, necessary in any case for planning possible safeguarding measures for the cultural heritage in the area.     

Estimating coefficients of volume compressibility from compression of strata and piezometric changes in a multiaquifer system in west Taiwan

This paper estimates the coefficients of volume compressibility from variation in compressible layer thickness and changes in piezometric heads by using detail ground surface surveys and a multilayer monitoring well at a selected site (Shigang) within the Choshui River alluvial fan in west Taiwan. The paper integrates various types of in situ monitoring tools, including leveling surveys, continuous global position system (GPS) stations, multilevel layer compression and groundwater pressure head-monitoring wells, to investigate the situation and progress of the subsidence problem in the region. The results from the cross-analyses of the measured data show that surface settlement caused by the compression of strata is between the depths of 60 and 210 m where the clayey stratum within 120-180 m was most pronounced and contributes up to 53% of the total compression. The results indicate that the clayey stratum is under normal consolidation. The results also reflect the fact that 20% of settlement contribution comes from the sandy stratum within 90-120 m; the elasto-plastic behavior of this sandy stratum is clear. The coefficients of volume compressibility of the clayey and sandy stratum analysed from the stratum's compression records; they were 6.38×10⁻⁸ and 5.71×10⁻⁹ m²/N, respectively. Ultimately, this parameter estimation would permit to control and predict land subsidence based on change in pressure head which are related to groundwater extraction.     

定点连续形变长周期频段信息研究

研究了定点连续形变长周期频段信息和块体构造活动的关系。研究结果表明，在川滇菱形块体内，定点连续形变观测获得的长周期频段信息中的长期趋势变化除去仪器零漂等局部干扰外，基本上都和块体运动方向或者块体边界主干断裂活动方式相一致，表明在定点连续形变长周期频段信息中，也存在有与地震孕育有关的地壳形变信息。对其在预报上的作用做了初步研究。     

机械光栅式测缝计应用于无砟轨道板上拱监测的可行性分析

高速铁路轨道的稳定性和平顺性是高速铁路正常运营的关键,因此对运营期高速铁路的轨下结构持续地开展变形监测是十分必要的。当前我国对轨道板变形的检测主要是依靠人工肉眼观察式的现场检查和常规水准测量方式进行监测,效率低下,难以在有限的天窗时间内完成辖区内轨道结构的全覆盖检测。基于此,从理论分析和实验测试两方面探讨机械光栅式测缝计应用于无砟轨道板上拱自动化监测的可行性,结果表明机械光栅式测缝计能够抵抗高温、淋水和振动等不良条件的影响,满足轨道板上拱监测的精度要求。     

1970～1976年四川地震群测群防实践

记述了1970-1976年四川地震群测群防的兴起和发展,介绍了四川群测群防、专群结合预测预报地震的典型事例,特别对松潘—平武7.2级地震预测预报群测群防的作用作了反映。在此基础上,就这一时间四川群测群防、专线结合地震工作实践作了评析和认识。     

复杂环境下地基SAR粗差探测及应用

雷达视线受施工机械等的间断遮挡导致部分影像产生相位奇异值,从而造成解缠错误及误差传递,简单的相关影像处理难以识别受遮挡影像。本文提出了改进的基于小波变换的信号奇异性检测方法,通过对地基SAR PS点时序相位特征进行分析,将遮挡影像识别转化为粗差探测问题;由PS点相位序列与影像位置关系,根据测区PS点相位序列的奇异点集合得到受遮挡影像集;最后将受遮挡影像剔除后得到的地基SAR监测结果与精密全站仪、水准与游标卡尺数据进行对比分析。结果表明：本文提出的方法用于受遮挡影像的识别是可行的,解决了地基SAR在实际工程应用中可能存在的影像遮挡带来的测量数据含有粗差的问题,提高了监测区域伪影像检测的效率与准确性。     

RESEARCH ON AUTOMATIC FOG IDENTIFICATION TECHNOLOGY BY METEOROLOGICAL SATELLITE REMOTE SENSING

There is an urgent need for the development of a method that can undertake rapid, effective, and accurate monitoring and identification of fog by satellite remote sensing, since heavy fog can cause enormous disasters to China’s national economy and people's lives and property in the urban and coastal areas. In this paper, the correlative relationship between the reflectivity of land surface and clouds in different time phases is found, based on the analysis of the radiative and satellite-based spectral characteristics of fog. Through calculation and analyses of the relative variability of the reflectivity in the images, the threshold to identify quasi-fog areas is generated automatically. Furthermore, using the technique of quick image run-length encoding, and in combination with such practical methods as analyzing texture and shape fractures, smoothness, and template characteristics, the automatic identification of fog and fog-cloud separation using meteorological satellite remote sensing images are studied, with good results in application.