Use of Geospatial Data and Technology for Wilderness Search and Rescue by Nonprofit Organizations

Geospatial data and tools are key in locating lost or missing persons in as short a time as possible. In this study, we used a geographic information system (GIS) to analyze four years of search and rescue (SAR) mission data from Colorado to determine the appropriate use of GIS for volunteer-based SAR organizations with limited resources and GIS expertise. GIS can provide more sophisticated analyses of geospatial data than simple mapping technologies, but our findings indicated that complex spatial analysis might not be required on all missions, because the majority of missions were completed within six to ten hours. Instead, new technologies such as tablets with mapping software and online GIS systems that provide quick and easy access to up-to-date geospatial data such as imagery offer capabilities that could improve mission planning. Here we provide a framework in which SAR missions can apply geospatial technologies to aid with missions, identify critical “hotspots,” and enhance postanalysis and training. The work here is highly applicable for nonprofit SAR groups when deciding on what GIS technologies to consider for their areas.     

Vulnerability of Kuwait coast to sea level rise

Assessing coastal vulnerability to sea level rise (SLR) at local and regional scales is a fundamental step for designing successful long-term coastal management plans. This study was thus designed to assess Kuwait coastal vulnerability to SLR at four scenarios (.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 m). Potential inundated areas and the number of people at risk were estimated based on these SLR scenarios. A coastal vulnerability index (CVI) map of Kuwait was then computed based on the lowest scenario using eight parameters: elevation, coastal slope, geomorphology, distance to 20-m isobath, population, land use, cultural heritage and transportation. The geographic distribution of inundated areas at an SLR of .5 m revealed that the northern islands of Kuwait and coastal areas along Kuwait Bay would be highly impacted, whereas the coastal area near Shuaibah Port was the most influenced among the southern coasts. Most of the coastal area exhibited a moderate vulnerability to SLR, especially the northern islands. This study presented an initial vulnerability assessment for Kuwait coasts to SLR, which can be extended with more variables. The integrated remote sensing and geographic information system methodology demonstrated in this study can be applied in similar studies elsewhere.     

古尔班通古特沙漠南缘梭梭茎干液流变化及其对环境因子的响应

利用TDP热扩散式茎流计,结合气象观测系统,对古尔班通古特沙漠南缘原生梭梭的树干液流及环境因子进行连续监测,分析了梭梭树干液流对环境要素的响应,基于潜在蒸散发和蒸腾需求指数对梭梭茎干液流进行了模拟。结果表明：（1）梭梭树干液流在晴天的日变化呈单峰曲线,液流速率上升阶段时间短于下降阶段时间,与气象因素的日变化规律不一致。不同季节梭梭树干液流速率日变化规律存在差异,夏季液流与春季、秋季相比,启动早,停止晚,峰值更大且发生更早。（2）环境要素间存在着不同程度的相关性,主成分分析表明：前三个主成分共能解释85%的环境信息,其中以空气湿度、空气温度、水汽压亏缺、潜在蒸散发、净辐射为主的第一主成分能解释47%环境信息变化,以土壤温度、水汽压为主的第二主成分能解释20%环境信息变化,以土壤含水量、风速为主的第三主成分能解释17.6%的环境信息变化。（3）在春季和夏季基于潜在蒸散发的S型模型模拟梭梭液流速率的精度更高,在秋季基于蒸腾需求指数模拟的梭梭液流速率的精度更高。（4）梭梭树干液流速率与大气水分亏缺、净辐射、潜在蒸散发之间存在非对称响应,且不同季节间的响应规律存在差异,在春季和秋季,液流速率与水汽压亏缺呈顺时针状,与净辐射、潜在蒸散发呈逆时针状;在夏季,液流速率与水汽压亏缺呈顺时针状,与净辐射、潜在蒸散发呈斜8字顺时针状。     

Chironomids as indicators of climate change: a 100‐lake training set from a subarctic region of northern Sweden (Lapland)

Multivariate numerical analyses (DCA, CCA) were used to study the distribution of chironomids from surface sediments of 100 lakes spanning broad ecoclimatic conditions in northern Swedish Lapland. The study sites range from boreal forest to alpine tundra and are located in a region of relatively low human impact. Of the 19 environmental variables measured, ordination by CCA identified mean July air temperature as one of the most significant variables explaining the distribution and the abundance of chironomids. Lossonignition (LOI), maximum lake depth and mean January air temperature also accounted for significant variation in chironomid assemblages. A quantitative transfer function was created to estimate mean July air temperature from sedimentary chironomid assemblages using weightedaveraging partial least squares regression (WAPLS). The coefficient of determination was relatively high (r² = 0.65) with root mean squared error of prediction (RMSEP, based on jack-knifing) of 1.13 °C and maximum bias of 2.1 °C, indicating that chironomids can provide useful quantitative estimates of past changes in mean July air temperature. The paper focuses mainly on the relationship between chironomid composition and July air temperature, but the relationship to LOI and depth are also discussed.     

Estimated mass and stiffness matrices of shear building from modal test data

A method that estimates mass and stiffness matrices of shear building from modal test data is presented in this paper. The method depends on only measurable points that are less in number than the total structural degrees of freedom, and on the first two orders of structural mode measured. So it is applicable to most of the general test. Based on this method modal data of unmeasurable points are estimated, then global mass and stiffness matrices of structure are obtained by using the first two orders of modal data. Taking advantage of iteration the optimum global mass and stiffness matrices are gained. Finally, an example is studied in this paper. Its result shows that this method is reliable. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

西秦岭北带泥盆纪Nereites遗迹相及其环境分析

西秦岭北带泥盆系舒家坝组下一中上部的巨厚陆源碎屑岩系中含有极丰富的遗迹化石,它们可为解释该组沉积环境提供重要信息:（1）由大量典型深水遗迹化石组成的Nereites遗迹相,可与世界各地浊积岩系和复理石相中的Nereites遗迹相进行对比,该遗迹相主要发育在浊流沉积区直至深海平原,其沉积水深最大可超过2000m;（2）舒家坝组的遗迹群落中,除大量属深水型分子外,还见有典型的浅水分子,两种水深性质不同的遗迹组合共生在一个沉积剖面,正是浊积岩系和复理石相才具有的独特分布特征;（3）根据沉积层序和遗迹组合的对比确认舒家坝组不存在风暴岩。     

Finite element analysis of the effect of corrosion on the behavior of reinforced earth walls

A simple model for the corrosion‐induced loss of stiffness and strength of the steel strips of earth‐reinforced walls was introduced in a finite element simulation of the long‐term behavior of the wall, in which the backfill‐strips interactions are taken into account by means of a generalized homogenization procedure (called a multiphase model). The results show an initial phase of slow displacements induced by the loss of stiffness, followed after a few decades by a steep acceleration of the displacements, leading to wall failure. The influences of the parameter controlling corrosion, the backfill cohesion and the heterogeneity of the corrosion process are discussed. Results are used to discuss a strategy for reinforced earth wall surveillance. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

中国土地利用效益的时空特征研究

基于经济、社会、生态三维视角构建土地利用效益评价指标体系,运用灰色关联方法测度2004—2014年中国土地利用效益水平,并借助于Arc GIS空间分析技术分析其空间异质性及空间演变格局。从时序特征来看,2004—2014年全国土地利用效益波动性提升。从空间特征来看,中国土地利用效益的空间格局存在差异性,但差异日渐缩小;土地利用效益的增减空间分布不均,随着时间的推移,土地利用效益提升省份增加的幅度越来越大,土地利用效益降低省份的下降幅度越来越小;中国土地利用效益空间集聚特征明显,热点主要分布在内蒙古、辽宁和西藏,冷点主要分布在东南沿海地区;土地利用效益的变化也表现出集聚特征,东南沿海与西部地区为中国土地利用效益变化最强烈的集聚区,其土地利用效益变化呈互逆发展态势;中国土地利用效益变化具有明显的政策导向性。     

Geochemical reconstruction of late Holocene drainage and mixing in Kluane Lake,Yukon Territory

The level of Kluane Lake in southwest Yukon Territory, Canada, has fluctuated tens of metres during the late Holocene. Contributions of sediment from different watersheds in the basin over the past 5,000 years were inferred from the elemental geochemistry of Kluane Lake sediment cores. Elements associated with organic material and oxyhydroxides were used to reconstruct redox fluctuations in the hypolimnion of the lake. The data reveal complex relationships between climate and river discharge during the late Holocene. A period of influx of Duke River sediment coincides with a relatively warm climate around 1,300 years BP. Discharge of Slims River into Kluane Lake occurred when Kaskawulsh Glacier advanced to the present drainage divide separating flow to the Pacific Ocean via Kaskawulsh and Alsek rivers from flow to Bering Sea via tributaries of Yukon River. During periods when neither Duke nor Slims river discharged into Kluane Lake, the level of the lake was low and stable thermal stratification developed, with anoxic and eventually euxinic conditions in the hypolimnion.     

Application of saddlepoint approximation in reliability analysis of dynamic systems

The application of the saddlepoint approximation to reliability analysis of dynamic systems is investigated. The failure event in reliability problems is formulated as the exceedance of a single performance variable over a prescribed threshold level. The saddlepoint approximation technique provides a choice to estimate the cumulative distribution function (CDF) of the performance variable. The failure probability is obtained as the value of the complement CDF at a specif ied threshold. The method requires computing the saddlepoint from a simple algebraic equation that depends on the cumulant generating function (CGF) of the performance variable. A method for calculating the saddlepoint using random samples of the performance variable is presented. The applicable region of the saddlepoint approximation is discussed in detail. A 10-story shear building model with white noise excitation illustrates the accuracy and effi ciency of the proposed methodology.