Seismic coda due to non-linear elasticity

Non-linear elastic response of rocks has been widely observed in laboratory, but very few seismic studies are reported in the literature, even though it is the most natural environment where this feature could be observed. Analytic solutions to the non-linear wave propagation phenomena are not readily available, and there is a need to use approximated techniques. It is clear that when a seismic wave propagates through a homogeneous non-linear elastic media, it will be perturbed by the non-linearity. This perturbation can be treated as a source of scattering, spreading the energy of the primary wave in space and time, contributing to the seismic coda. This is in some sense similar to the effect of heterogeneities. The properties of the coda due to the non-linearity depend on the amount of non-linearity and the seismic moment. Using a perturbation approach we calculate the amplitude of the scattered waves, and show that it can describe reasonably well the main features of real seismic codas.     

A 2-D spectral-element method for computing spherical-earth seismograms—II. Waves in solid–fluid media

We portray a dedicated spectral-element method to solve the elastodynamic wave equation upon spherically symmetric earth models at the expense of a 2-D domain. Using this method, 3-D wavefields of arbitrary resolution may be computed to obtain Fréchet sensitivity kernels, especially for diffracted arrivals. The meshing process is presented for varying frequencies in terms of its efficiency as measured by the total number of elements, their spacing variations and stability criteria. We assess the mesh quantitatively by defining these numerical parameters in a general non-dimensionalized form such that comparisons to other grid-based methods are straightforward. Efficient-mesh generation for the PREM example and a minimum-messaging domain decomposition and parallelization strategy lay foundations for waveforms up to frequencies of 1 Hz on moderate PC clusters. The discretization of fluid, solid and respective boundary regions is similar to previous spectral-element implementations, save for a fluid potential formulation that incorporates the density, thereby yielding identical boundary terms on fluid and solid sides. We compare the second-order Newmark time extrapolation scheme with a newly implemented fourth-order symplectic scheme and argue in favour of the latter in cases of propagation over many wavelengths due to drastic accuracy improvements. Various validation examples such as full moment-tensor seismograms, wavefield snapshots, and energy conservation illustrate the favourable behaviour and potential of the method.     

Modelling of evaporation in a sparse millet crop using a two-source model including sensible heat advection within the canopy

During two successive growing seasons meteorological measurements were made in a pearl millet field in the Sahel to investigate the evaporation process in relation to crop growth. The evaporation was measured by eddy correlation and simulated using the Shuttleworth Wallace (SW) model [Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 111 (1985) 839–855]. To take sun height and multi-layer scattering into account a radiation balance model was formulated. The model indicates that partitioning of the net radiation between the vegetation and the soil may be estimated (r²=0.94) from the fraction of diffuse radiation, the leaf area index and an attenuation coefficient, but that the attenuation coefficient may not be similar in different locations. To solve the SW-model with respect to the soil resistance an iterative solution was employed with the total evaporation estimated from the Bowen-ratio calculated from eddy correlation measurements. The procedure made it possible to derive stable estimates of soil resistance at soil evaporation rates down to 25 W m⁻². The soil resistance was found to be in accordance with evaporation through a dry surface layer. The SW-model indicates, that advection of sensible heat from the dry soil to the plants, increases transpiration considerably. This will cause management techniques, such as mulching and dry farming, aimed at reducing soil evaporation to be less effective than might be anticipated. The effects of raising the leaf area index to improve the microclimate is discussed in relation to management of the available water and crop security.     

通过根套结构分析研究羽毛三芒草抗旱机制

沙生植物能够通过不同的作用机制抵抗外界干旱。作为典型沙生植物的羽毛三芒草,可以通过根分泌一些黏性物质形成一种根套结构从而具有较高抗旱性。研究过程中首先培养羽毛三芒草的无菌苗,然后以此为基础利用光学显微镜和电子显微镜研究羽毛三芒草的根套结构。结果表明,羽毛三芒草的根套是自身生长出的,并且具有腔室结构,腔室为一个密闭的独立空间并被连接带隔开成许多小室。羽毛三芒草可能通过其独特的腔室结构储存水分来应对沙漠的干旱环境。     

Mapping Globalisation

As a form of restructuring with new winners and losers, globalisation begets resistance, and these processes occur in particular places that have distinctive features. A map of globalisation may be drawn by showing the spaces of resistance, many of which are found at the local level, sometimes with transnational links involving formal or informal networks. To do so, one must first assess the variety of meanings that have been assigned to the concepts of globalisation and resistance. Noting shades of meaning from the natural sciences, medicine, history, philosophy, law, and feminist and other branches of social theory, this paper argues that different frames may be used in conjunction with one another to help explain Southeast Asia's diverse encounters with globalisation. The frames show that resistance is not merely a negation of the jarring effects of globalisation, but also a matter of imagining, in a non-utopian manner, something better. Remapping globalisation is a quest for an appropriate temporal and spatial scale of social organisation.     

Suppressive Effects of Traditional Mulching Using Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica) on Solanaceae Crop Diseases

Poaceae plant species, such as silver grass, are commonly used in mulching activities Japan. In contrast, local farmers have traditionally used Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) mulch in the cultivation of solanaceous crops in the Nishi-Awa area of Japan, which is a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems site. We have previously evaluated the positive effects of Japanese knotweed mulching on solanaceous crops, such as eggplants, tomato, and potato. In the present study, we observed that the naturally occurring diseases in the solanaceous crops tended to decrease when the knotweed mulching system was adopted, in comparison to when Poaceae mulch was adopted. In eggplants, leaf mold and powdery mildew decreased under Japanese knotweed mulching. We further evaluated the effects of Japanese knotweed mulching by inoculating test plants with Pseudomonas cichorii. We observed suppression of bacterial disease and tomato mosaic virus under Japanese knotweed mulching and following spraying with Japanese knotweed extracts. In addition, disease-resistance genes were expressed at high levels in Arabidopsis thaliana, a model plant, following treatment with Japanese knotweed extracts. The results suggest that Japanese knotweed has potential applications in future sustainable agriculture activities.     

Observations on seismic wave equation and reflection coefficient symmetries in stratified media

Summary. The equations describing seismic waves in a stratified earth have a number of symmetry properties, one of which has recently been used by Garmany to derive a simple expression for the inverse of the matrix of eigenvectors appearing in the solution of the equations. We review these symmetries of the wave equation in several notations to demonstrate that the property used by Garmany is distinct from the usual symmetries found in the seismological literature. Like the others, the new symmetry has implications for the reflection and transmission properties of a medium. These implications are briefly reviewed in order to show how the new symmetry is placed relative to the others. A limited discussion of the physical origins of the symmetries is given and, though the overall picture is incomplete, it is noted that the new symmetry yields conservation of energy for reflection/transmission at a single interface in all types of media (anisotropic, lossy, etc.).     

Local site effects and dynamic soil behavior

Amplitudes of seismic waves increase significantly as they pass through soft soil layers near the earth's surface. This phenomenon, commonly known as site amplification, is a major factor influencing the extent of damage on structures. It is crucial that site amplification is accounted for when designing structures on soft soils. The characteristics of site amplification at a given site can be estimated by analytical models, as well as field tests. Analytical models require as inputs the geometry of all soil layers from surface to bedrock, their dynamic properties (e.g. density, wave velocity, damping), and the incident bedrock motions. Field tests involve recording and analyzing the dynamic response of sites to artificial excitations, ambient forces, and actual earthquakes. The most reliable estimates of site amplification are obtained by analyzing the recorded motions of the site during strong earthquakes. This paper presents a review of the types and the generating mechanisms of site amplification, and the models and methods that are used to characterize them from earthquake records.