Orion: A 1–5 Micron Focal Plane for the 21st Century

The Orion program is a project to develop a 2K × 2K infrared focal plane using InSb p-on-n diodes for detectors. It is the natural follow-up to the successful Aladdin 1K × 1K program started in the early 90's. The work is being done at the Raytheon Infrared Operations Division (RIO, previously known as the Santa Barbara Research Center) by many of the same people who created the Aladdin focal plane. The design is very similar to the successful Aladdin design with the addition of reference pixels, whole array readout (no quadrants), two-adjacent-side buttability, and a packaging design that includes going directly to the ultimate focal plane size of 4K × 4K. So far we have successfully made a limited number of hybrid modules with InSb detectors. In this paper we will describe the design features and test data taken from some of these devices. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Analysis of Difference Between Direct and Geodetic Mass Balance Measurements at South Cascade Glacier, Washington

Net mass balance has been measured since 1958 at South Cascade Glacier using the 'direct method,' e.g. area averages of snow gain and firn and ice loss at stakes. Analysis of cartographic vertical photography has allowed measurement of mass balance using the 'geodetic method' in 1970, 1975, 1977, 1979–80, and 1985–97. Water equivalent change as measured by these nearly independent methods should give similar results. During 1970–97, the direct method shows a cumulative balance of about −15 m, and the geodetic method shows a cumulative balance of about −22 m. The deviation between the two methods is fairly consistent, suggesting no gross errors in either, but rather a cumulative systematic error. It is suspected that the cumulative error is in the direct method because the geodetic method is based on a non-changing reference, the bedrock control, whereas the direct method is measured with reference to only the previous year's summer surface. Possible sources of mass loss that are missing from the direct method are basal melt, internal melt, and ablation on crevasse walls. Possible systematic measurement errors include under-estimation of the density of lost material, sinking stakes, or poorly represented areas.     

Investigation on strength and stability of jointed rock mass using three‐dimensional numerical manifold method

This paper proposes a numerical model for jointed rock masses within the 3‐D numerical manifold method (NMM) framework equipped with a customized contact algorithm. The strength of rock sample containing a few sets of discontinuities is first investigated. The results of models with simple geometries are compared with the available analytical solutions to verify the developed computer code, whereas models with complex geometries are simulated to better understand the fundamental behavior and failure mechanism of jointed rock mass. Furthermore, the stability of jointed rock mass in an underground excavation is studied, where rock failure process is determined by the 3‐D NMM simulation. The simulation results provide valuable guidance on excavation process design and stabilization design in rock engineering practice. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

北秦岭华阳川地区重磁三维反演及岩浆岩特征研究

华山岩体、老牛山杂岩体等中酸性花岗岩体和华阳川韧性剪切带在北秦岭华阳川地区的成矿过程中起着重要的作用,既是构造演化的记录,又是构造—岩浆—成矿的重要指示。本文在系统研究华阳川地区地面和航空重力、磁测数据以及地面电法剖面等多种地球物理资料的基础上,完成物性统计分析、航空和地面数据融合处理,通过先验信息约束的重磁2.5D交互式反演和三维反演计算,构建了华阳川地区区域三维地质—地球物理模型,为区域地质背景和深部地质构造的研究提供地球物理依据;推断解释了华山岩体、老牛山岩体和华阳川韧性剪切带的三维形态和空间分布,探讨了华阳川韧性剪切带、老牛山岩体和华山岩体的深部接触关系,对大岩体外围接触带的铀、钼等矿床的深部找矿具有一定指导意义。     

Ecotourism and mass tourism in Southern Thailand: Spatial interdependence,structural connections,and staged authenticity

The desire to spend leisure time in natural settings represents a key factor behind the recent and rapid growth of ecotourism. A search by ecotourists for remote landscapes and locations has shaped the way in which geographers have defined ecotourism, but few scholars have explored, in detail, the mechanics of the spatial relationship between ecotourism and mass tourism, two forms of travel usually considered mutually exclusive in spatial terms. Using the island of Phuket — southern Thailands premier resort destination — as a case study, this paper investigates the spatial overlaps and connections between ecotourism and mass tourism and tests the assumption that ecotourism and mass tourism must exist spatially apart in order for the former to succeed. Despite Phukets association with mass tourism, and the small physical distances between built-up mass tourist areas and natural ecotourism settings, the communicative staging of natural authenticity allows ecotourism companies to convey geographical remoteness to tourists. Although ecotourism in Phuket must struggle constantly to overcome the perceptual impact of spatial proximity to resort locations, the tourist markets and business networks of the existing mass tourism industry remain crucial to the survival of ecotourism in this region. Thus, contrary to conventional notions that ecotourism and mass tourism must exist as separate entities, this paper argues that an interconnected, symbiotic, and spatially-contiguous relationship between the two is necessary in the case of Phuket.     

Length‐mass models for some common New Zealand littoral‐benthic macroinvertebrates,with a note on within‐taxon variability in parameter values among published models

Regression models are developed and presented to predict dry mass (mg) from two linear dimensions (mm) for 17 benthic macroinvertebrate taxa common to littoral zones of New Zealand lakes. We also provide regression models to predict body length from head capsule width for the major insect taxa. Dry mass was best explained as a power function of all linear dimensions: M = aL _b .Parameters are presented in the log₁₀‐transformed linear form of this power function. Body length was a simple linear function of head capsule width for all insect taxa, hence parameters for these models are presented as untransformed values. We also provide family level models for the Chironomidae, and compare our chironomid body length‐mass model with other published Chrionomidae length‐mass models. There was a very high degree of variability in parameter values among published length‐mass models for the family Chironomidae (mean coefficient of variation for mass at length = 148%). We discuss the potential causes and implications of this variability.     

赤道印度洋中部断面东西水交换的季节变化及其区域差异

采用海洋再分析资料和实测资料研究了热带印度洋中部东西水交换特征。结果表明存在两个相互独立的过程,即北印度洋过程(4°~6°N)和赤道过程(2°S-2°N)。北印度洋过程受季风影响显著,11月至翌年3月冬季风期间表现出很强的低盐水向西输送,5-9月夏季风期间则为高盐水向东输送;由于冬季风期间的输送较强,年平均表现为低盐水向西输送。赤道过程分为表层过程和次表层过程。表层赤道过程受局地风场驱动,有明显的半年周期;4-5月和10-11月的东向流将赤道西印度洋的高盐水向东输送,其余月份相反;向东的输送较强,年平均表现为净高盐水向东输送。在次表层赤道过程没有明显的季节变化,海流全年一致向东,将海盆西部的高盐水向东输送。     

Morphology and affiliation of the centric diatom Anaulus birostratus (Grunow) Grunow from South Africa

The morphology of a rectangular, pillow-shaped, centric diatom from the surf zone in False Bay and Algoa Bay was studied with the light microscope and by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Acid-cleaned (i.e. free of organic material), and critical-point- and freeze-dried material was used. Certain important features were seen. There was a large variation in cell size and shape. Threads connecting the cells in chains, an external organic layer covering the cell, and chromatophore colour, number and shape are reported for the species, probably for the first time. Valve, girdle and areolar structure was studied in detail, and the notch seen with the light microscope in the middle part of the valve was identified with the electron microscope as a labiate process, the off-centre position of this process being distinctive of the species. The geographical distribution of the species, as described in available literature, is discussed.     

On the Conversion of Antarctic Ice-Mass Change to Sea Level Equivalent

This technical note aims to provide a quick reference and some computational examples for the conversion between Antarctic ice-mass changes and global sea level equivalent (SLE) changes using a few assumptions that computationally simplify this complex problem and that acknowledge gaps in our knowledge of the Antarctic environment. A number of factors involved in the conversion process are discussed, and the sensitivity of the conversion result to certain aspects is analyzed. It was found that the global ocean area calculated from a recently improved global shoreline dataset has little impact on the uncertainty of the SLE estimation. SLE estimation using satellite gravity observations, such as those by GRACE, are sensitive to glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) models. One more important result from the computation is that the effective density of the volume that is gained or lost during mass change may greatly affect the outcome of the conversion if it differs greatly from the actual density of the firn/ice layers. Finally, a table of computational examples is provided for reference under some assumptions for simplifying the computation.     

Wave‐induced pore pressure in relation to ocean floor stability of cohesionless soils

One of the important geotechnical considerations for many engineering installations, such as pipelines and anchors, in an oceanic environment involving sand deposits is that of potential ocean floor instability due to the development of high pore pressures caused by the direct action of waves. This article presents a procedure for evaluating the magnitude and distribution of wave‐induced pore pressures in ocean floor deposits. The method takes into account the distribution of wave‐induced pore pressures in ocean floor deposits. The method takes into account the distribution of cyclic shear stresses in the soil profile as well as the important factor of pore‐pressure dissipation. The variation of properties within the soil profile can also be easily incorporated into the analytical procedure. The analysis provides the complete time history of pore‐pressure response and shows clearly that failure to include the pore‐pressure dissipation effects would lead to radically conservative design. The results also provide a basis for designing remedial measures, if required, to avert the development of high pore pressures and their deleterious effects.