CostMAP: an open-source software package for developing cost surfaces using a multi-scale search kernel

ABSTRACT

Cost surfaces are a crucial aspect of route optimization and least cost path (LCP) calculations and are used in awide range of disciplines including computer science, landscape ecology, and energy-infrastructure modeling. Linear features present akey weakness to traditional routing calculations along cost surfaces because they cannot identify whether moving from acell to its adjacent neighbors constitutes crossing alinear barrier (increased cost) or following acorridor (reduced cost). Following and avoiding linear features can drastically change predicted routes. We introduce an approach to address this adjacency issue using asearch kernel that identifies these critical barriers and corridors. We have built this approach into anew Java-based open-source software package– CostMAP (cost surface multi-layer aggregation program)– which calculates cost surfaces and cost networks using the search kernel. CostMAP allows users to input multiple GIS data layers and to set weights and rules for developing aweighted-cost network. We compare CostMAP performance with traditional cost surface approaches and show significant performance gains– both following corridors and avoiding barriers– by modeling the movement of alarge terrestrial animal– the Baird’s Tapir (Tapirus bairdii)– in amovement ecology framework and by modeling pipeline routing for carbon capture and storage (CCS).     

Probing the Earth’s Interior with the LENA Detector

A future large-volume liquid scintillator detector such as the proposed 50 kton LENA (Low Energy Neutrino Astronomy) detector would provide a high-statistics measurement of terrestrial antineutrinos originating from β-decays of the uranium and thorium chains. Additionally, the neutron is scattered in the forward direction in the detection reaction . Henceforth, we investigate to what extent LENA can distinguish between certain geophysical models on the basis of the angular dependence of the geoneutrino flux. Our analysis is based on a Monte-Carlo simulation with different levels of light yield, considering an unloaded PXE scintillator. We find that LENA is able to detect deviations from isotropy of the geoneutrino flux with high significance. However, if only the directional information is used, the time required to distinguish between different geophysical models is of the order of severals decades. Nonetheless, a high-statistics measurement of the total geoneutrino flux and its spectrum still provides an extremely useful glance at the Earth’s interior.     

GPS在长输管道同沟光缆施工中的应用

近年来,油气田光缆施工大多采用与长输管道同沟敷设方式,但因征地、跨越农田地段和穿越等复杂多变环境,管道施工经常采用跳跃式施工,光缆自然不可能实现按顺序连续敷设。采用传统测量方式,耗时、效率低、误差大。如采用GPS测量方式,既能达到精确配盘保证施工质量,又能减轻劳动强度、减少作业时间,同时节省材料降低施工成本,且形成的数字化资料对用户今后光缆巡线、抢修和维护也都十分方便。     

Cloud radiative forcing of subtropical low level clouds in global models

Simulations of subtropical marine low clouds and their radiative properties by nine coupled ocean-atmosphere climate models participating in the fourth assesment report (AR4) of the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) are analyzed. Satellite observations of cloudiness and radiative fluxes at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) are utilized for comparison. The analysis is confined to the marine subtropics in an attempt to isolate low cloudiness from tropical convective systems. All analyzed models have a negative bias in the low cloud fraction (model mean bias of −15%). On the other hand, the models show an excess of cloud radiative cooling in the region (model mean excess of 13 W m⁻²). The latter bias is shown to mainly originate from too much shortwave reflection by the models clouds rather than biases in the clear-sky fluxes. These results confirm earlier studies, thus no major progress in simulating the marine subtropical clouds is noted. As a consequence of the combination of these two biases, this study suggests that all investigated models are likely to overestimate the radiative response to changes in low level subtropical cloudiness.     

2008年初低温、雨雪、冰冻灾害的成因分析

本文对郴州市2008年1月中旬至2月上旬出现的历史罕见雨雪冰冻天气灾害的特点,天气、气候成因和地形作用等方面进行了深入细致剖析.结果表明:中低层的逆温和强盛的西南暖湿气流、冷暖空气在长江中下游地区稳定对峙是产生重度冰雪天气的必要条件,郴州特殊地形增加了冰冻强度和持续时间.这些分析结论对今后开展冰雪天气预报预警业务和科研工作都有重要参考作用.     

两次西南低涡造成广西暴雨差异的对比分析

利用ECMWF 2.5°×2.5°客观分析资料和MICAPS常规资料,对2008年6月12日和16日两次西南低涡影响,造成广西暴雨范围和强度明显差异的成因进行了对比分析,结果表明:(1)"6.12"过程西南低涡深厚,其发展过程中始终伴随着强盛的西南低空急流;而"6.16"过程西南低涡较浅薄,其发展过程中无西南低空急流的配合;(2)"6.12"过程低涡发展强盛,涡旋度大,正涡度值达200 hPa高度,上升运动强烈;而"6.16"过程低涡发展较弱,涡旋度小,正涡度值只到500 hPa高度,上升运动相对较小;(3)"6.12"过程水汽来源于孟加拉湾和南海,水汽辐合强;而"6.16"过程水汽仅来源于孟加拉湾,水汽辐合较弱;(4)两次西南低涡影响,对流层上下之间的风垂直切变小,有利于中尺度对流云团的发生发展.     

2003年7月4~5日梅雨锋暴雨维持的诊断分析

利用卫星云图、 多普勒雷达产品以及探空资料, 结合NCEP/NCAR再分析资料, 对2003年7月4~5日淮河流域大暴雨过程发生的环境场条件、 强降水的中尺度特征、 低空急流与能量锋的配置对强降水天气的影响等进行了详细的天气学分析, 并对大气正压非平衡强迫、 低空急流与能量锋相互作用对强降水天气发生\, 发展与持续过程中的影响进行了动力诊断。结果表明： 这次梅雨锋暴雨过程, 暴雨区上空气柱内水汽较少, 孟加拉湾与南海地区向暴雨区输送的水汽占据主导地位。暴雨区的平均散度与垂直速度变化与强降水天气变化比较一致。对流层低层能量锋与低空急流的配置及其相互作用对强降水天气的发生\, 发展和维持具有重要影响。当低层能量锋与低空急流处于同时强的配置状态时, 强降水天气发生并持续; 当两者处于一强一弱或两者皆弱的配置状态时, 则没有强降水天气发生或持续。正压非平衡强迫对强降水启动作用较大, 而湿斜压热动力相互作用对强降水天气持续影响较大, 是导致强降水过程维持的主要动力机制。     

UVolution, a photochemistry experiment in low earth orbit: Investigation of the photostability of carbonates exposed to martian-like UV radiation conditions

The detection and identification of carbonates on Mars are of prime importance to establish the evolution of its atmosphere, correlated to the history of the liquid water, or even to determine the existence of a possible ancient biological activity. Till date, no large deposits of carbonates have been found. In fact, their detection is specific to local areas and in very low amounts. The absence of such deposits is commonly attributed to the harsh environmental conditions at the surface of Mars. Additionally, the presence of UV radiation has been proposed to explain their photodecomposition and hence their absence. However, contradictory results from laboratory experiments mimicking Mars’ surface UV radiation did not resolve the behaviour of carbonates in such an environment, which is why we exposed, in low Earth orbit and in laboratory experiments, both abiotic and biotic calcium carbonates to UV radiation of wavelength above 200 nm, the same spectral distribution as the one reaching the surface of Mars. For low Earth orbit (LEO) exposure, this was done for the UVolution experiment on board the BIOPAN ESA module, which was set outside a Russian Foton automated capsule, and exposed to space conditions for 12 days in September 2007. The targeted carbonates are biominerals and abiotic samples. Our laboratory results mainly show that the exposed carbonates appear to be stable to UV radiation if directly exposed to it. The LEO experiment results tend to the same conclusion, but the integrated exposition time to Solar UV during the experiment is not sufficient to be conclusive. However, the stability of the biominerals derived from the laboratory experiment could strengthen the interest to explore deeper their potential as life records at Mars. Hence, they should be considered as primary targets for in situ analyses during future missions.     

孟连回林低温热液构造角砾岩型金多金属矿

对矿化蚀变带进行分析研究,矿床位于中-下石炭统接触裂隙破碎带中,总结成矿规律,建立找矿标志,为该区的地质找矿指明方向。     

地面高精度磁测在印尼滨海型磁铁矿应用

综合运用低纬度化极与建立模型正演等数据处理手段进行隐伏矿体预测,发现与成矿有关的磁异常,显示良好成矿前景。钻孔证实有工业矿体。