Evidence That Sea State Bias is Different for Ascending and Descending Tracks

Jason-1 and TOPEX/Poseidon (T/P) measured sea-surface heights (SSHs) are compared for five regions during the verification tandem phase. The five regions are of similar latitude and spatial extent and include the Gulf of Mexico, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and locations in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans away from land. In all five regions, a bias, defined as Jason SSH—TOPEX-B SSH, exists that is different for ascending and descending tracks. For example, in the Gulf of Mexico the bias for ascending tracks was ?0.13 cm and the bias for descending tracks was 2.19 cm. In the Arabian Sea the bias for ascending tracks was ?2.45 cm and the bias for descending tracks was ?1.31 cm. The bias was found to depend on track orientation and significant wave height (SWH), indicating an error in the sea state bias (SSB) model for one or both altimeters. The bias in all five regions can be significantly reduced by calculating separate corrections for ascending and descending tracks in each region as a function of SWH. The correction is calculated by fitting a second-order polynomial to the bias as a function of SWH separately for ascending and descending tracks. An additional constraint is required to properly apply the correction, and we chose to minimize the sum of the TOPEX-B and Jason-1 root-mean-square (rms) crossover differences to be consistent with present SSB models. Application of this constraint shows that the correction, though consistent within each region, is different for each region and that each satellite contributes to the bias. One potential source that may account for a portion of the difference in bias is the leakage in the wave forms in TOPEX-B due to differing altitude rates for ascending and descending tracks. Global SSB models could be improved by separating the tracks into ascenders and descenders and calculating a separate SSB model for each track.     

Comparison of the Ku-Band Range Noise Level and the Relative Sea-State Bias of the Jason-1, TOPEX,and Poseidon-1 Radar Altimeters Special Issue: Jason-1 Calibration/Validation

TOPEX/Poseidon is a well known success, with the operational altimeter (TOPEX) and the experimental one (Poseidon-1), providing data of unprecedented quality. However, there are two major differences between the TOPEX and Poseidon-1 radar altimeters on board TOPEX/Poseidon. The first is related to the estimated range noise; the second is linked to the sea-state bias (SSB) model estimates. Since the recent launch of the Jason-1 radar altimeter (also called Poseidon-2), we have been cross-comparing these three systems to better characterize each of them. Analyzing standard user products, we have found that Jason-1 is behaving like Poseidon-1 and thus shows the same observed differences when compared with TOPEX. A comparative analysis of their features was performed, starting from the on-board acquisition of the ocean return and ending with the ground generation of the high level accuracy oceanographic product. The results lead us to believe that the sources for these differences lie in both the waveform tracking processing and the presence or abscence of a retracking procedure whether on-board or on ground. Because Poseidon-1 and Jason-1 waveforms are retracked while TOPEX waveforms are not in the products distributed to the users, we have applied the same ground retracking algorithm to the waveforms of the three radar altimeters to get consistent data sets. The analysis of the outputs has shown that: (a) the noise level for the three radar altimeters is definitively the same, and (b) the source of the relative SSB between Jason-1 and TOPEX lies in the different behavior of the on-board tracking softwares.     

Offshore sand sources for beach replenishment: Potential borrows on the continental shelf of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico

Erosion of sandy beaches is a worldwide problem that elicits innovative geoengineer‐ing techniques to reduce adverse impacts of shoreline retreat. Beach replenishment has emerged as the “soft”; shore‐stabilization technique of choice for mitigating beach erosion. This method of shore protection involves the addition of sand to the littoral sediment budget for sacrificial purposes. Because inland sand sources are often uneconomical or impractical to use, and known nearshore sources are limited, finding adequate quantities of suitable sand on the inner continental shelf is often vital to beach replenishment projects. The technical studies of survey and materials analysis that identify and delineate usable sand sources are sometimes almost as expensive as small‐project dredging, pumping, and placing the sand on the beach as fill. Inadequate quantity or substandard quality of shelf sand, as well as often‐prohibitive overhead expenses, thus compel shoreline managers to seek suitable sand sources offshore.

In the study area off the central‐west coast of Florida, offshore potential borrow areas (PBAs) were identified on the basis of studies conducted in reconnoitory and detailed phases. Sophisticated state‐of‐the‐art equipment used in this investigation provided more detailed subbottom mapping information than is normally obtained with conventional seismic equipment. An example of sand exploration studies was incorporated in a 215‐km² survey of offshore areas by conducting bathymetric surveys and subbottom seismic profiling, collecting jet probes, grab samples, and vibrocores, and analyzing sediment grading in subsamples from vibrocores. These combined analyses indicated that at least 8.8 ×10⁶ m³ of sand is available in potential borrow areas from 7.0 to 12 km offshore in water depths of 8.0 to 11.5 m. In the PBAs, mean grain size of sand falls into the range 0.13–0.53 mm, sorting averages 0.65–1.31ø, and the overall silt content varies from 3.9–8.5%. High silt contents (13–19%) mapped in some areas make these sedimentary deposits unsuitable as fill for artificial beach renourishment.     

Behavior of Weak Soils Reinforced with End-Bearing Soil-Cement Columns Formed by the Deep Mixing Method

This article reports on a series of small-scale, plane strain, 1 g physical model tests designed to investigate the bearing capacity and failure mechanics of end-bearing soil-cement columns formed via Deep Mixing (DM). Pre-formed soil-cement columns, 24 mm in diameter and 200 mm in length, were installed in a soft clay bed using a replacement method; the columns represented improvement area ratios, a_p, of 17%, 26%, and 35% beneath a rigid foundation of width 100 mm. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) was implemented in conjunction with close-range photogrammetry in order to track soil displacement during loading, from which the failure mechanisms were derived. Bearing capacity performance was verified using Ultimate Limit State numerical analysis, with the results comparing favorably to the analytical static and kinematic solutions proposed by previous researchers. A new equation for bearing capacity was derived from this numerical analysis based on the improvement area ratio and cohesion ratio of the soil column and ground model.     

Assessment of Risk Due to Debris Flow and Its Application to a Marine Environment

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the behavior and mechanism of a debris flow on various slopes through numerical simulation. The numerical simulation consisted of using equations related to mass conservation and momentum conservation in order to consider erosion and deposition, and the Finite Difference Method was applied. As the inflow water discharge in the upstream of the channel increases, the curve of the water discharge exhibits instability and, as time passes, the fluctuation of the high water discharge continues. In regions where the mountain areas and the ocean are connected, it is deduced that the high level of sediment concentration can greatly affect the environment surrounding the ocean. The numerical model of this study was applied in Kangwon Province of South Korea. The results show that when the debris flow reaches downstream, the flow discharge and water flow depth increase. Erosion occurs more than deposition and much of the sediment runs off downstream. The result of the simulation performed at point of sediment discharge runoff is 114,216 m³. This study will provide useful information in predicting disasters caused by debris flow and in planning for various countermeasures to prevent debris-flow-related disasters.     

东海海底管道海流冲刷作用的影响因素探讨

依据以往多次东海海底管道检测成果资料,分析和探讨了形成海流冲刷作用的各种因素,可以归结为内部海洋环境和外部环境变化两大因素,以及这些因素可能对海底管道产生危害影响的程度,并总结了在长期的海流冲刷作用下海管的空间状态、海底受冲蚀的表现形式和海床冲淤变化,提出了今后检测和维护工作的一些建议.     

辽西黄土陡坡的冲刷破坏机制

以70°辽西黄土陡坡为例,在降雨强度为2.7 mm/min条件下对边坡坡面冲刷破坏特征进行了室内物理试验模拟。试验发现：随着降雨的持续坡面水流能量不断增加,致使侵蚀强度增强;边坡的侵蚀方式从试验初期的片蚀,到中期的细沟侵蚀,最后演化为坡顶部的切沟侵蚀和坍塌。基于试验成果,采用SEEP/W程序对降雨条件下边坡降雨入渗规律进行数值模拟,发现在降雨过程中坡顶部所产生的水头压力最大,随高度降低呈减小趋势;运用PFC2D颗粒流软件从微观角度对坡体土颗粒运动情况进行模拟,结果发现位于坡顶的颗粒最先被径流冲刷带走,且下落速度很快。经对比表明：数值模拟结果和物理模拟试验现象基本一致,可为进一步研究黄土边坡冲刷破坏规律提供参考。     

甘肃黄土高边坡可靠度研究

以甘肃省266个黄土自然极限状态坡为研究对象,将其按地形地貌、地层岩性等特征划分为4个亚区,对每个亚区的极限状态坡高与坡宽进行双对数线性模型回归和不同置信度下的统计分析,给出4个亚区不同置信度下坡高与坡宽的相关关系。以1 024组黄土物理力学指标统计结果作为计算参数,用Bishop法的稳定系数计算公式建立极限状态方程,利用 Monte Carlo法对各亚区不同置信度下的边坡进行可靠度模拟,系统分析了坡高、坡度、参数变异性对失效概率的影响,以及失效概率与稳定系数的关系。结果表明,临洮-永靖亚区边坡坡度低于31.5?,失效概率可控制在10%以下;陇东亚区、兰州-定西-会宁亚区和天水-秦安-通渭亚区在强度参数变异系数取当地平均水平,稳定系数为1.3情况下失效概率在10%以内,稳定系数为1.2情况下,失效概率多在20%以内。     

金川三矿地应力测量及应力状态特征研究

金川三矿位于金川矿区F17断层以东,是超基性贫矿。随着选矿和冶炼水平的提高,三矿区逐渐进入开采阶段。了解矿山深部的地应力状态可以为巷道开挖和支护设计提供科学依据。为此在三矿1 200 m水平进行了系统的地应力测量,以了解三矿区的地应力状态特征。现场测量采用改进的空芯包体应力解除法,共获得了7个测点的三维应力数据,并绘出了各测点不同法线方向的截面应力椭圆。测量结果表明,在井下约520 m深度,最大主应力量值约为17～21 MPa,属于中等应力水平。最大主应力方向分为NNW～NNE和NE～WE两组,与区域应力场基本吻合,但又表现出新的趋势方向,其原因可能是受三矿区内两条断裂的影响。部分测点最大主应力倾角超过20°,最大达-49°,以水平应力为主的矿区应力场特征发生改变。研究结果对矿山设计及施工具有重要意义。     

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