Comparison of two techniques for applying disjunctive kriging: The Gaussian anamorphosis model versus the direct statistical inference of the bivariate distributions

Indicator cokriging is an alternative to disjunctive kriging for estimation of spatial distributions. One way to determine which of these techniques is more accurate for estimation of spatial distributions is to apply each to a particular type of data. A procedure is developed for evaluation of disjunctive kriging and indicator cokriging for such an application. Application of this procedure to earthquake ground motion data found disjunctive kriging to be at least as accurate as indicator cokriging for estimation of spatial distributions of peak horizontal acceleration. Indicator cokriging was superior for all other types of earthquake ground motion data.     

Vertical distribution of trace elements in the surface waters offshore Nova Scotia

Concentrations of the trace elements Fe, Al, Mn, Cu, Cd, Zn and Ni were measured in shallow vertical profiles (maximum depth 500 m) off the Scotian Shelf in the western North Atlantic. The distributions of the trace elements show variations with depth, the most consistent of which are for Fe and Zn. A minimum concentration near the surface followed by an increase with depth is attributed to in situ mechanisms.     

Activities to Develop a Spatial Perspective Among Students in Introductory Geography Courses

Abstract

Teaching students to gain a spatial perspective is one of the most difficult yet important components of geographic education. This paper presents a series of activities designed to develop a more comprehensive understanding of spatial concepts among students in introductory geography courses. The activities and content are most appropriate for high school or university undergraduate students. An evaluation of these activities demonstrates that they enhance the student's spatial perspective and their understanding of the role of spatial concepts in geography.     

Seasonal variation in water column conditions in the upper Gulf of Thailand

Seasonal variation in water column conditions in the upper Gulf of Thailand (UGoT) was analyzed by considering four major factors including surface heat flux, freshwater discharge, tidal and wind stirrings. The coincidence of surface heat loss, low river discharge and strong wind resulted in vertical well-mixing in December. Strong stratification developed in September and October due to large river discharge and moderate heat flux. Strong surface heating in April and May has a potential to generate strong stratification, although not as large as that in September and October due to low river discharge. Although no factors are prominent during January and March, and June and August, weak to moderate stratification results, because the influences of river discharge and surface heating are still larger than those of tidal and wind stirrings. The results of water column analysis based on monthly average data agree well with analyses derived from cruise data in the same months. Most analytical results correspond to the distributions of temperature and salinity from field observations. Disagreement, however, was found in December 2003 (cruise CU-2) when stratification in some small regions occurs in the distribution of water properties, but the water column analysis suggests vertical well-mixing. This phenomenon is triggered by non-uniform distribution of freshwater over UGoT, which is related to river discharge, monsoonal wind and current. Compared to a previous study regarding surface chlorophyll dynamics, water column conditions may be used to explain the occurrence of phytoplankton bloom in this region.     

Testing a statistical curve‐fitting procedure for quantifying sediment populations within multi‐modal particle‐size distributions

This paper describes a series of tests designed to evaluate the capacity of a personal computer (PC) based statistical curve‐fitting program called MIX to quantify composite populations within multi‐modal particle‐size distributions. Three natural soil samples were analysed by a Coulter Multisizer, and their particle‐size distributions analysed using MIX software to identify the modes, standard deviations and proportions of their composite populations. The particle‐size distributions of the three natural soil samples were then numerically combined in equal proportions using a spreadsheet program to create synthetic particle‐size distributions of known populations. MIX was then tested on the synthetic particle‐size distributions to see if the modes and proportions it identified were similar to those modes and proportions known to characterize the synthetic particle‐size distributions. The main outcome is that MIX can very accurately describe the modal particle size and proportions of the major composite populations within a particle‐size distribution. However MIX has difficulty in identifying small populations (those contributing <10 per cent of a total particle‐size distribution), particularly when they are located in the central sections of particle‐size distributions, overlain by larger populations, or when positioned in the fine tails of distributions. Despite these minor shortcomings, MIX is a valuable tool for the examination and interpretation of particle‐size data. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hypotheses for earthquake occurrences

Very little work has been done in generating alternatives to the Poisson process model. The work reported here deals with alternatives to the Poisson process model for the earthquakes and checks them using empirical data and the statistical hypothesis testing apparatus. The strategy used here for generating hypotheses is to compound the Poisson process. The parameter of the Poisson process is replaced by a random variable having prescribed density function. The density functions used are gamma, chi and extended (gamma/chi). The original distribution is then averaged out with respect to these density functions. For the compound Poisson processes the waiting time distributions for the future events are derived. As the parameters for the various statistical models for earthquake occurrences are not known, the problem is basically of composite hypothesis testing. One way of designing a test is to estimate these parameters and use them as true values. Momentmatching is used here to estimate the parameters. The results of hypothesis testing using data from Hindukush and North East India are presented.     

中尺度对流系统与东北暴雨的关系

利用2005-2007年6～8月FY-2C卫星逐30min红外云图资料,对东北及其邻近地区中尺度对流系统（包括椭圆型（MCC型）和持续拉长型（PECS型））进行普查分析,并把中尺度对流系统（MCS）分成3种尺度：MCC（或PECS）、MαCS和MβCS,统计分析了它们的时空分布及其与暴雨的关系。结果表明,MCS主要分布...     

IMPACT OF UPLIFT OF TIBETAN PLATEAU AND CHANGE OF LAND-OCEAN DISTRIBUTION ON CLIMATE OVER ASIA

Using an improved CCM1/NCAR climate dynamic model and a combination distribution ofland-ocean-vegetation during 40-50 MaBP,a series of numerical experiments representingdifferent stages of the Tibetan Plateau uplifting and different land-ocean distributions are designedto discuss the influence of the Plateau uplifting and land-ocean distribution variation on Asianclimate change.It is shown that Tibetan Plateau uplifting can firstly increase the precipitation inChina during the period from initial uplift to half height of modern Tibetan Plateau and thendecrease the rainfall during the time from the half height to the present plateau.At the same time.the uplifting can reduce surface air temperature over China.Besides.the effects of the uplift andland-ocean distribution change on the variation of winter and summer Asian monsoon circulationare also discussed.     

金衢盆地第四纪红土沉积粒度组成特征

浙江金衢盆地第四纪红土分布广泛,是开展红土与全球变化研究的理想场所之一。汤溪红土沉积剖面的粒度组成研究表明:砂(>63 μm)含量极少,平均1.58%,粉砂(4~63 μm)和黏粒(<4 μm)为众数粒组,其含量的平均值分别为48.51%和49.91%,频率曲线呈双峰式,推测红土母质具风成特性,沉积后经历了较强的风化成壤作用;均质红土与网纹红土具有相似的粒度分布特征,但网纹红土的分选更为复杂,底部有近源物质的混入;汤溪红土粒度的纵向变化旋回和纵向变化趋势,可能指示了中更新世以来南方气候的不稳定性和气候逐渐变干冷的趋势。     

Programme of the Galactic meridian: Star counts and Galactic models 2. Distribution of absolute proper motions

A comparison of the observed distribution of absolute proper motions with a kinematical model of the Galaxy is presented. Proper motions with respect to galaxies were obtained for about 40 000 stars along the main Galactic meridian and in two fields near the North Galactic pole (programme MEGA). The Galaxy is considered as composed of the disk (main sequence and disk red giants), the thick disk and spheroid populations. For each subsystem, spatial velocity components and their dispersions were computed. The distribution of kinematical parameters were modelled for stars located in different directions of the Galaxy.