Complementing geotechnical slope stability and land movement analysis using satellite DInSAR

This paper explores the potential of using satellite radar inteferometry to monitor time-varying land movement prior to any visible tension crack signs. The idea was developed during dedicated geotechnical studies at a large open-pit lignite mine, where large slope movements (10–20 mm/day) were monitored and large fissures were observed in the immediate area outside the current pit limits. In this work, differential interferometry (DInSAR), using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) ALOS images, was applied to monitor the progression of land movement that could potentially thwart mine operations. Early signs of land movements were captured by this technique well before their visual observation. Moreover, a qualitative comparison of DInSAR and ground geodetic measurements indicates that the technique can be used for the identification of high risk areas and, subsequently, for the optimization of the spatial distribution of the available ground monitoring equipment. Finally, quantitative land movement results from DInSAR are shown to be in accordance with simultaneous measurements obtained by ground means.     

Effects of forest roads on the hydrological response of a small‐scale mountain watershed in Greece

The effects of land use changes on the ecology and hydrology of natural watersheds have long been debated. However, less attention has been given to the hydrological effects of forest roads. Although less studied, several researchers have claimed that streamflow changes related to forest roads can cause a persistent and pervasive effect on hillslope hydrology and the functioning of the channel system. The main potential direct effects of forest roads on natural watersheds hydrologic response are runoff production on roads surfaces due to reduced infiltration rates, interruption of subsurface flow by road cutslopes and rapid transfer of the produced runoff to the stream network through roadside ditches. The aforementioned effects may significantly modify the total volume and timing of the hillslope flow to the stream network. This study uses detailed field data, spatial data, hydro‐meteorological records, as well as numerical simulation to investigate the effects of forest roads on the hydrological response of a small‐scale mountain experimental watershed, which is situated in the east side of Penteli Mountain, Attica, Greece. The results of this study highlight the possible effects of forest roads on the watersheds hydrological response that may significantly influence direct runoff depths and peak flow rates. It is demonstrated that these effects can be very important in permeable watersheds and that more emphasis should be given on the impact of roads on the watersheds hydrological response. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The structure of chaos in a potential without escapes

We study the structure of chaos in a simple Hamiltonian system that does no have an escape energy. This system has 5 main periodic orbits that are represented on the surface of section by the points (1)O(0,0), (2)C ₁,C ₂(±y _c, 0), (3)B ₁,B ₂(O,±1) and (4) the boundary . The periodic orbits (1) and (4) have infinite transitions from stability (S) to instability (U) and vice-versa; the transition values of are given by simple approximate formulae. At every transitionS U a set of 4 asymptotic curves is formed atO. For larger the size and the oscillations of these curves grow until they destroy the closed invariant curves that surroundO, and they intersect the asymptotic curves of the orbitsC ₁,C ₂ at infinite heteroclinic points. At every transitionU S these asymptotic curves are duplicated and they start at two unstable invariant points bifurcating fromO. At the transition itself the asymptotic curves fromO are tangent to each other. The areas of the lobes fromO increase with ; these lobes increase even afterO becomes stable again. The asymptotic curves of the unstable periodic orbits follow certain rules. Whenever there are heteroclinic points the asymptotic curves of one unstable orbit approach the asymptotic curves of another unstable orbit in a definite way. Finally we study the tangencies and the spirals formed by the asymptotic curves of the orbitsB ₁,B ₂. We find indications that the number of spiral rotations tends to infinity as . Therefore new tangencies between the asymptotic curves appear for arbitrarily large . As a consequence there are infinite new families of stable periodic orbits that appear for arbitrarily large .     

Monitoring subsidence at Messara basin using radar interferometry

The Messara valley is the largest and most productive region in the island of Crete, Greece. Over the last 20 years, extensive exploitation of the aquifer mainly for agricultural purposes has led to a 40-m decrease in the level of groundwater. This investigation aims at mapping ground subsidence that might be induced by such overpumping of groundwater using conventional differential interferometry. A total of 29 ERS-1 and 2 SAR and 7 ALOS PALSAR images have been used for forming interferograms. The images used cover the period from 1992 to 2000 and 2007 to 2010, respectively. Processing of ALOS L-band data (λ = 23.6 cm) has revealed a ground motion away from the Line of Sight of the satellite (LOS direction) that amounts to at least 3 cm/year for the period 2007–2010. Piezometric measurements and other geological parameters have also been analyzed.     

Newtonian and relativistic periodic orbits around two fixed black holes

We compare families of simple periodic orbits of test particles in the Newtonian and relativistic problems of two fixed centers (black holes). The Newtonian problem is integrable, while the relativistic problem is highly non-integrable.The orbits are calculated on the meridian plane through the fixed centersM ₁ (atz=+1) andM ₂ (atz=–1) for energies smaller than the escape energyE=1. We use prolate spheroidal coordinates (, , =const) and also the variables =cosh and =–cos . The orbits are inside a curve of zero velocity (CZV). The Newtonian orbits are also limited by an ellipse and a hyperbola, or by two eillipses. There are 3 main types of periodic orbits (1) elliptic type (around both centers), (2) hyperbolic-type, and (3) resonant-type.The elliptic type orbits are stable in the Newtonian case and both stable and unstable in the relativistic case. From the stable orbits bifurcate double period orbits both symmetric and asymmetric with respect to thez-axis. There are also higher order bifurcations. The hyperbolic-type orbits are unstable. The Newtonian resonant orbits are defined by the ratiot _µ/t =n/m of oscillations along and during one period, and they are all marginally unstable. The corresponding relativistic orbits are stable, or unstable. The main families are figure eight orbits aroundM ₁, or aroundM ₂ (3/1 orbits); gamma, or inverse gamma orbits (4/2); higher resonant families 5/1,7/1,...,8/2,12/2,...;, more complicated orbits, like 5/3, and bifurcations from the above orbits. Satellite orbits aroundM ₁, orM ₂, and their bifurcations (e.g. double period) exist in the relativistic case but not in the Newtonian case. The characteristics of the various families are quite different in the Newtonian and the relativistic cases. The sizes of the orbits and their stabilities are also quite different in general. In the Appendix we study the various types of straight line orbits and prove that some subcases introduced by Charlier (1902) are impossible.