Areas of fuzzy geographical entities

Fuzzy Geographical Entities (FGEs) refer in this paper to geographical entities with fuzzy spatial extent. The use of FGEs in geographical information systems requires the existence of operators capable of processing them. In this paper, our contribution to that field focuses on the computation of areas. Two methods are considered, one crisp due to Rosenfeld (1984 Rosenfeld, A. 1984. The diameter of a fuzzy set. Fuzzy Sets and Systems, 13: 241–246. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]), which has limited applicability, and the other fuzzy, which is a new approach. The new fuzzy area operator gives more information about the possible values of the area and enables the fuzziness in the spatial extent of the entity to be propagated to the area. Crisp and fuzzy areas have different meanings, and the use of one or the other depends not only on the purpose of the computation but also on the semantics of the membership functions. When the FGEs are represented by normal fuzzy sets, the fuzzy area operator generates fuzzy numbers, and therefore arithmetic operations can be performed with them using fuzzy arithmetic. However, we show that care must be taken with the use of the fuzzy arithmetic operators because, in some situations, the usual operators should not be applied. Properties of the Rosenfeld and fuzzy area operators are analysed, establishing a parallel with properties of the areas of crisp sets.     

Global Distribution of Permian Conulariids and Palaeobiogeographical Implications

Previously, minimal work has been carried out on conulariids due to their rare occurrences and resultant biostratigraphical limitations. The palaeobiogeographical distribution of Permian conulariids suggests that they have a marked preference for cold to cool-water regions, that they are significant indicators for migration patterns, and that they can potentially provide information on the palaeogeographical configuration and movement of terranes. Permian conulariids are found in Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Kashmir, China, Japan, Russia, Germany, Canada, United States of America, and Bolivia. The diversity of Permian conulariids is markedly higher in the polar regions than in the palaeoequatorial region.

Permian conulariid genera include Notoconularia Thomas 1969, Gondaconularia Waterhouse 1986, Cheliconularia Waterhouse 1986, Neoconularia Sugiyama 1942, Calloconularia Sinclair 1952, Diconularia Sinclair 1952, Paraconularia Sinclair 1940, Mesoconularia Boucek 1939 and Conularia Sowerby 1821. This paper describes two new species of conulariids: Diconularia meadepeakensis sp. nov. from the Phosphoria Formation (Guadalupian), Idaho, USA and Paraconularia kazanensis sp. nov. from the Sokian Horizon (?Roadian), Volga Region, Russia.     

The Pitman Canyon paleoseismic record: A re-evaluation of southern San Andreas Fault segmentation

Correlation of three well-resolved paleoseismic records, including the Pitman Canyon site with its emerging record, presents a new possibility to understand fault segmentation. To be a useful concept, fault segment boundaries must be relatively stationary over multiple seismic cycles and must appear frequently in limiting the rupture extent of earthquakes; thus, sites on the same segment should share more paleoseismic events than those on different segments. A conclusive event correlation between sites is difficult or impossible due to dating uncertainties. However, often the data are adequate to preclude correlation and thus provide firm limits on rupture extent for those events. Thus clear non-correlations provide more information about segmentation than do unprovable potential correlations.The southern end of the most recent rupture in 1857, between Wrightwood and Pitman Canyon, is often used to define a segment boundary. However, there is an absence of significant non-correlation between the previous five Pitman Canyon events and the Wrightwood events. While both Pallett Creek and Wrightwood ruptured in 1857, only two of the previous five Wrightwood events can correlate with Pallett Creek events, which may or may not indicate that they actually do. These paleoseismic records do not support the existence of a segment boundary between Wrightwood and Pitman Canyon as defined by the 1857 rupture extent, suggesting a reevaluation of southern San Andreas Fault segmentation, and using historic ruptures to define segments in general.     

Variability of rainfall characteristics over the South Coast region of South Africa

Thirty years of daily rainfall data are analysed for the South Coast region of South Africa, a region which experiences substantial rainfall variability and frequent severe drought and flood events, but whose climate variability has not been much researched. It is found that El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) exerts an influence since most wet years correspond to mature phase La Niña years. ENSO also influences South Coast rainfall via increases in the number of cut-off lows in southern South Africa during mature phase La Niña years. A statistically significant correlation between the Niño 3.4 index and monthly rainfall totals, and between this index and the frequency of wet days, exists for two summer months and also for June. There are also changes in the heavy rainfall day frequencies from one decade to another. Examination of NCEP re-analyses indicates that wet (dry) years result from an equatorward (poleward) shift in the subtropical jet, cyclonic (anticyclonic) pressure anomalies over the South Atlantic and South Africa, and increased (decreased) density of mid-latitude cyclonic systems.     

圣安德烈斯断层南段大地震发生的准周期性

圣安德烈斯断层(美国加州)南段最后一次大地震距今已有153年了,而其平均震间间隔却仅为～100年.如果大地震的复发具有周期性,而并非随机发生或群集发生,则这个时间长度是很值得关注的,而且通常意味着概率意义上的地震危险性增大.遗憾的是,多数地震记录都很简单,这就限制了对单条断层上地震复发的分布特征的描述.本文利用加州Wr...