Seismic Ground Motion Expected for the Eastern District of Naples

The seismic ground motion of a test area in the eastern district of Naples is computed with a hybrid technique based on the mode summation and the finite difference methods. This technique allows us the realistic modelling of source and propagation effects, including local soil conditions. In the modelling, we consider the 1980 Irpinia earthquake, a good example of strong shaking for the area of Naples, which is located about 90 km from the epicenter.The detailed geological setting is reconstructed from a large number of drillings. The sub-soil is mainly formed by alluvial (ash, stratified sand and peat) and pyroclastic materials overlying a pyroclastic rock (yellow neapolitan tuff), representing the neapolitan bedrock. The detailed information available on mechanical properties of the sub-soil and its geometry warrants the application of the sophisticated hybrid technique.As expected, the sedimentary cover causes an increase of the signal's amplitudes and duration. If thin peat layers are present, the amplification effects are reduced, and the peak ground accelerations are similar to those observed for the bedrock model. This can be explained by the backscattering of wave energy at such layers, that tend to seismically decouple the upper from the lower part of the structure.For SH-waves, the influence of the variations of the S-wave velocities on the spectral amplification is studied, by considering locally measured velocities and values determined from near-by down-hole measurements. The comparison between the computed spectral amplifications confirms the key role of an accurate determination of the seismic velocities of the different layers.The comparison performed between a realistic 2-D seismic response and a standard 1-D response, based on the vertical propagation of waves in a plane layered structure, shows considerable difference, from which it is evident that serious caution must be taken in the modelling of expected ground motion at a specific site.     

Book Reviews

Pauline von Bornsdorff and Arto Haapala, eds. Aesthetics in the Human Environment James D. Proctor and David M. Smith, eds. Geography and Ethics: Journeys in a Moral Terrain G. Malcolm Lewis, ed. Cartographic Encounters: Perspectives on Native American Mapmaking and Map Use Richard Symanski, Blackhearts: Ecology in Outback Australia Donald W. Meinig, The Shaping of America: A Geographical Perspective on 500 Years of History Peter J. Taylor, Modernities: A Geohistorical Interpretation Keith Harries, Mapping Crime: Principle and Practice Leland T. Saito, Race and Politics: Asian Americans, Latinos, and Whites in a Los Angeles Suburb Frank McDonald, The Construction of Dublin Lisa M. Benton, The Presidio: From Army Post to National Park Bob R. O'Brien, Our National Parks and the Search for Sustainability Eric Damian Kelly and Barbara Becker Community Planning: An Introduction to the Comprehensive Plan Avinoam Meir As Nomadism Ends: The Israeli Bedouin of the Negev David Pinder, ed. The New Europe: Economy, Society, and Environment R. P. Misra and Kamlesh Misra Million Cities of India: Growth Dynamics, Internal Structure, Quality of Life, and Planning Perspectives. Vol 1     

A discrete particle representation of hillslope hydrology: hypothesis testing in reproducing a tracer experiment at Gårdsjön,Sweden

Despite the long history of the continuum equation approach in hydrology, it is not a necessary approach to the formulation of a physically based representation of hillslope hydrology. The Multiple Interacting Pathways (MIPs) model is a discrete realization that allows hillslope response and transport to be simultaneously explored in a way that reflects the potential occurrence of preferential flows and lengths of pathways. The MIPs model uses random particle tracking methods to represent the flow of water within the subsurface alongside velocity distributions that acknowledge preferential flows and transition probability matrices, which control flow pathways. An initial realization of this model is presented here in application to a tracer experiment carried out in Gårdsjön, Sweden. The model is used as an exploratory tool, testing several hypotheses in relation to this experiment. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Orbital motion of a massive object in a dense stellar system

In this paper we show the positional oscillation of a massive object in a dense stellar system by numerical N -body simulations. We found that the central massive object, which at first is placed at rest at the centre of the surrounding spherical stellar system, promptly departs from the centre and rotates in accordance with the rotation of the stellar system, if the stellar system has an appreciable rotation. This oscillatory motion continues for a long time because of the absence of dynamical friction. Such a long-lasting oscillation may explain the asymmetric structure observed in the centres of M31 and NGC 4486B, may cause the secular flow of gaseous elements distributed in the central regions of galaxies on to the massive object, and may ignite activity in the centres of galaxies.     

南极海洋动物粪土源N2O稳定同位素实验研究

N₂O是一种重要的温室气体,土壤是全球N₂O的重要排放源。通过测定土壤源N₂O中N、O同位素值,可以有效识别N₂O的来源途径。本文采集了南极法尔兹半岛两个地点的海豹粪土（HS和GS）、阿德雷岛两个地点的企鹅粪土(AB和AF)以及东南极的帝企鹅粪土(DQ和DQT),在室内对所采集的样品分别在有氧和厌氧条件下进行冻融培养实验。结果表明：土壤在厌氧条件下比有氧条件下排放了更多的N₂O。土壤排放的N₂O与当地大气N₂O相比普遍贫15N和18O。除DQT和HS外, δ15N和δ18O在有氧和厌氧培养下均呈现很好的正相关性。N₂O排放量下降的同时伴随着培养瓶内剩余N₂O中δ15N和δ18O 值的增加,证实N₂O还原为N2的过程会引起重同位素富集。高的水分含量有利于土壤反硝化作用的进行,使释放的N₂O气体富集重同位素;pH值也会影响N₂O的同位素组成,低pH会引起δ15N值增加。     

Computing the Light Periods of Blazars with the Periodogram Spectral Analysis Method

The periodogram spectral analysis method applicable to equallyspaced time series is discussed, and the method is tested first with a simulated data series. It is confirmed that this method is effective for noisy series. Then, applying this method to the analysis of the light periods of the quasars 3C 279 and 3C 345 as well as the BL Lac objects OJ 287 and ON 231, we obtain their light periods to be 7.14 yr, 10.00 yr, 11.76 yr and 6.80 yr, respectively. These results obtained by periodogram spectral analysis are consistent with those obtained by the Jurkevich method in the literature. We have analyzed the effects of different window functions, and commented on their correct selection in practical applications.     

Laboratory study of deep-water breaking waves

In an attempt to elucidate the mechanics of deep-water wave breaking, a variety of breaking waves, including spilling and plunging waves, of different length scales and geometries was studied. The waves were generated through wave-wave interactions using wave packets with constant-steepness components, constant-amplitude components, and also components following the Pierson-Moskowitz distribution. Wave steepening prior to breaking were found to cause an increase in the high frequency spectral slope of the wave spectrum. The slopes were correlated to the type of breaking and the intensity of the breaking. The energy loss through breaking varied with the spectral characteristics of the wave packet. On the other hand, it was also noted that, irrespective of the wave packet, the losses were from the higher frequency end of the first harmonics.     

Effect of hysteretic smoothness on inelastic response spectra with constant‐ductility

This paper presents an efficient methodology for computing constant‐ductility inelastic response spectra. The computation of constant‐ductility spectra involves numerical root‐finding algorithms to find the strongest structure providing a desired ductility response. Smooth inelastic structural behavior is modeled using a first‐order nonlinear differential equation and the transient structural response is solved using an implicit algorithm requiring Newton iterations at each time step. For structural models with smooth hysteretic behavior (not piece‐wise linear), a simple root‐finding method involving a combination of hyperbolic fits, linear interpolation, and Newton's method converges upon the highest strength (conservative) solution with a small number of iterations. The effect of the hysteretic smoothness on the occurrence of multiple roots is examined for two near‐fault and two far‐fault earthquake records, and for two measures of ductility and for normalized hysteretic energy. The results indicate how the smoothness of the hysteretic behavior affects ductility demand and constant‐ductility response spectra. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Exploring Saturation of Themes and Spatial Locations in Qualitative Public Participation Geographic Information Systems Research

Use of public participation geographic information systems (PPGIS) studies that collect local knowledge in a spatial format is increasing as a tool in natural resources management. Qualitative PPGIS studies have been conducted as individual interviews, as workshops, and in focus groups. As the number of qualitative PPGIS studies increases, so does the need to understand their quality. Saturation, the point when the researcher determines that the collection of additional data will provide minimal new information as it relates to a particular issue, directly reflects on the validity of the study. While the concept of saturation is well established, it is still inconsistently assessed and reported. Furthermore, how saturation applies to qualitatively collected spatial data has not been addressed. A method is presented to assess spatial saturation of qualitative PPGIS data from 19 focus groups that were conducted to investigate important places for recreation, livelihoods, and the environment in the Florida Panhandle.