Absolute Calibration of the TOPEX/POSEIDON Altimeters using UK Tide Gauges,GPS, and Precise,Local Geoid-Differences

This article describes an "absolute" calibration of TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) altimeter bias using UK tide gauges equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers. The method is an extension of earlier work using the Newhaven tide gauge in the English Channel. However, the present analysis extends the research to a number of gauges around the UK and incorporates several improvements. The time-averaged TOPEX and POSEIDON biases are obtained with a precision of approximately 2 and 3 cm, respectively. The research complements work on bias determination by other groups in the T/P Science Working Team and can, in principle, be applied at other locations for which precise, local geoid-differences are available. The relatively sparse POSEIDON data set has been used as a test of our ability to perform an absolute calibration of upcoming Jason-1 altimetry as soon as possible after launch.     

Integrating neo- and paleolimnological approaches to refine interpretations of environmental change

With the development of quantitative transfer functions to relate community structure to physicochemical variables, reconstructions of past environmental conditions have been possible and have enhanced our understanding of various ecosystem processes. There are cases, however, in which this approach is not applicable, or does not provide enough information for the questions being asked. In these cases, some alternatives are to conduct experiments or to examine the distribution of species at a finer spatial resolution. These two approaches have been used as alternatives to or in conjunction with the development of transfer functions. In this review, I discuss the ways in which these two approaches are now being used in paleolimnological studies to enhance our understanding of the ecology of the species found in sediment records and thus refine interpretations of environmental change. My focus is primarily on studies that deal with establishing clearer relationships between environmental variables and the growth or distribution of organisms. I present examples of how these approaches have been integrated in a variety of studies, including those designed to: (1) refine and enhance reconstructions that are based on transfer functions; (2) develop new paleolimnological tools to reconstruct environmental change; (3) explore mechanistic links in the relationships between organisms and commonly reconstructed environmental variables; and (4) pose and test hypotheses based on patterns in the sediment record. These cases demonstrate that the use of these approaches was essential to clarify species-environment relationships as well as lake responses to disturbance. As in all disciplines, however, there are many challenges in this area of research. In particular, the quantitative integration of these approaches with the sediment record is a major challenge, due to disparate spatial and temporal scales. This research can also be quite labor-intensive, and provides information on fewer taxa than in the calibration set approach. It also requires interdisciplinary training and/or collaboration in fields that have historically been less integrated, hence they may require greater effort. These issues may hinder the use of these approaches because of the perceived difficulty. I discuss these challenges and address possible solutions.     

Directional borehole radar calibration

We are developing an innovative low-noise directional borehole radar system. Harsh and changing operating environments are a challenge to the low-noise sensitive electronic design. Additionally a system with such high sensitivity is susceptible to temperature changes and to component parameter variations. Therefore a calibration module was developed to calibrate the overall measurement system with a test signal generator. This calibration includes channel matching for accurate direction detection and sampling clock correction. After a brief introduction, testing and calibration methods are introduced. Additionally measurement results and figures depicting the practical results achieved thus far are included.     

用标定方法检测地震计的异常状态

以浙江省测震台网部分台站地震计为研究对象,选取一定时间窗口对阶跃标定波形进行计算,得出地震计在该时段内的周期和阻尼变化情况。结合台网台站运行维护工作,经过统计分析,表明利用此方法能够在一定程度上反映出台站地震计运行的异常状态。     

Shipborne Over- and Under-Water Integrated Mobile Mapping System and Its Seamless Integration of Point Clouds

ABSTRACT

The rapid acquisition techniques of over- and under-water geoinformation is urgently needed. The Shipborne Over- and Under-water integrated Mobile Mapping System (SiOUMMS) applies plug-in and multi-process network technology to achieve integrated data acquisition and cooperative control of multi-sensors, such as Global Navigation Satellite System, Inertial Measurement Unit, laser scanner, and multi-beam echo sounder. The proposed system can meet the requirements of diverse application scenarios and sensors, allowing for flexibility and scalability. Meanwhile, coarse calibration based on a set of common points and fine calibration using the plane feature constraint are proposed for integratedly obtaining the exterior orientation elements of the laser scanner and the multi-beam echo sounder. Together, these methods provide theoretical support and technical help to the seamless integration of over- and under-water point clouds. Experiments are also described, proving that the root mean square error of over-water point clouds is 0.133 m, the average elevation clearance spacing between adjacent over- and under-water point clouds is less than 0.3 m, and the average horizontal clearance spacing is less than 0.2 m. At the same time, cases in this paper show that SiOUMMS has made important achievements in the integrated measurement of reefs, coastal zone, and inland waterways, and has broad prospects for future applications.     

The role of observations in the inverse analysis of landslide propagation

Model calibration is usually based on trial-and-error procedures that, in turn, rely on expert judgment or previously acquired experiences for similar phenomena. Efficient and reliable procedures for model calibration of the propagation stage of landslides are still needed. This paper addresses this issue by proposing an inverse analysis procedure and applying it to the case history of a short run-out landslide triggered by a rising perched water table after a heavy rainfall. It focuses on the key role played by the field observations used to set up the inverse analysis, and evaluating the reliability of the numerical simulations. It also investigates the effect of different types of optimization parameters on the inverse analysis results, referring to a mixed-phase model or to a two-phase model for the propagating soil. Several sets of observations are used; all of them refer to the soil deposit thickness at the end of propagation, but differ in both location and number of the adopted values. The numerical analysis of the case history is performed through the academic “GeoFlow_SPH” model, and model calibration by inverse analysis is conducted using the “UCODE” software. The results obtained are discussed with the aim to provide practical criteria to identify the minimum amount of information required for a satisfactory model calibration.     

FDEM-flow3D: A 3D hydro-mechanical coupled model considering the pore seepage of rock matrix for simulating three-dimensional hydraulic fracturing

A hydro-mechanical coupled model that can simultaneously consider the pore seepage of a rock matrix and the fracture seepage is proposed to simulate three-dimensional hydraulic fracturing. This model appropriately takes into account the fluid leak-off into the surrounding rock matrix from the fracture. Several examples are given to validate the seepage algorithms and the coupled model. The results suggest that this model can solve problems involving pore seepage and fracture seepage through simple pure fracture seepage. Moreover, it can reproduce the fluid pressure distribution and the crack initiation and propagation and consider the fluid loss during hydraulic fracturing.     

Seismic performance of bar-mat reinforced-soil retaining wall: Shaking table testing versus numerical analysis with modified kinematic hardening constitutive model

Reinforced-soil retaining structures possess inherent flexibility, and are believed to be insensitive to earthquake shaking. In fact, several such structures have successfully survived destructive earthquakes (Northridge 1994, Kobe 1995, Kocaeli 1999, and Chi-Chi 1999). This paper investigates experimentally and theoretically the seismic performance of a typical bar-mat retaining wall. First, a series of reduced-scale shaking table tests are conducted, using a variety of seismic excitations (real records and artificial multi-cycle motions). Then, the problem is analyzed numerically employing the finite element method. A modified kinematic hardening constitutive model is developed and encoded in ABAQUS through a user-defined subroutine. After calibrating the model parameters through laboratory element testing, the retaining walls are analyzed at model scale, assuming model parameters appropriate for very small confining pressures. After validating the numerical analysis through comparisons with shaking table test results, the problem is re-analyzed at prototype scale assuming model parameters for standard confining pressures. The results of shaking table testing are thus indirectly “converted” (extrapolated) to real scale. It is shown that: (a) for medium intensity motions (typical of M_s≈6 earthquakes) the response is “quasi-elastic”, and the permanent lateral displacement in reality could not exceed a few centimeters; (b) for larger intensity motions (typical of M_s≈6.5–7 earthquakes) bearing the effects of forward rupture directivity or having a large number of strong motion cycles, plastic deformation accumulates and the permanent displacement is of the order of 10–15 cm (at prototype scale); and (c) a large number of strong motion cycles (N>30) of unrealistically large amplitude (A=1.0 g) is required to activate a failure wedge behind the region of reinforced soil. Overall, the performance of the bar-mat reinforced-soil walls investigated in this paper is totally acceptable for realistic levels of seismic excitation.     

广东地区近震M_L震级量规函数

收集了广东地震台网记录的地震资料,根据Richter提出的原始M_L震级定义,分别采用了频率域和时间域2种仿真技术将宽频带速度波形仿真为伍德-安德森地震仪波形,在仿真后的波形上自动量取地震水平向最大振幅,研究获得了广东地区近震M_L震级的量规函数。通过对各台站计算的M_L震级残差的统计分析,获得了广东地震台网44个台站的台站校正。对台站校正的Z检验结果表明,44个台站中有38个台站的台站校正明显不为0。新量规函数以及台站校正的应用,有效提高了广东地震台网测定M_L震级的精度,使M_L震级测定的离散程度降低约30%。     

一种地应力连续测量系统的标定方法

在地应力连续测量方法"渗透率法"的基础上,设计了一种对观测系统进行标定的方法。经对原有推导结果进行数学转换,给出了新的计算公式以及其中有关参数的测定方法。结果表明,经过标定之后,原有的连续相对测量方法可转换为抗干扰性强、灵敏度高、经济简便且物理意义确切的有效正应力连续测量方法。