Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nearshore Evidence in Support of the Bruun Rule on Shore Erosion

The Bruun Rule on shore erosion states that for a beach and nearshore profile at equilibrium, as water level rises, sediments are eroded from the beach and deposited in the nearshore zone; in turn, the nearshore bottom is elevated in direct proportion to the rise in water level. The Rule was tested under field conditions. At Terry Andrae State Park, Wisconsin, nearshore profiles in Lake Michigan were surveyed once a week from April through July, 1971 as lake water level seasonally rose. The nearshore zone consists of two longshore bars which parallel the shore. The Bruun Rule is applicable in the zone of the first longshore bar system. As lake water level rose, the bars advanced landward, and from the base of the foreshore to the crest of the first bar, the elevation of the nearshore bottom increased. On the lakeward slope of the first bar crest, no deposition or erosion occurred. The elevation of the second bar crest remained constant as water level rose.
Sounding rocket study of two sequential auroral poleward boundary intensifications

[1] The Cascades-2 sounding rocket was launched on 20 March 2009 at 11:04:00 UT from the Poker Flat Research Range in Alaska, and flew across a series of poleward boundary intensifications (PBIs). The rocket initially crosses a diffuse arc, then crosses the equatorward extent of one PBI (a streamer), and finally crosses the initiation of a separate PBI before entering the polar cap. Each of the crossings have fundamentally different in situ electron energy and pitch angle structure, and different ground optics images of visible aurora. It is found that the diffuse arc has a quasi-static acceleration mechanism, and the intensification at the poleward boundary has an Alfvenic acceleration mechanism. The streamer shows characteristics of both types of acceleration. PFISR data provide ionospheric context for the rocket observations. Three THEMIS satellites in close conjunction with the rocket foot point show earthward flows and slight dipolarizations in the magnetotail associated with the in situ observations of PBI activity. An important goal of the Cascades-2 study is to bring together the different observational communities (rocket, ground cameras, ground radar, satellite) with the same case study. The Cascades-2 experiment is the first sounding rocket observation of a PBI sequence, enabling a detailed investigation of the electron signatures and optical aurora associated with various stages of a PBI sequence as it evolves from an Alfvenic to a more quasi-static structure.
Climate models produce skillful predictions of Indian summer monsoon rainfall

After more than one hundred years of statistical forecasting and fifty years of climate model development, this paper shows that the skill of predicting Indian monsoon rainfall with coupled atmosphere‐ocean models initialized in May is statistically significant, and much higher than can be predicted empirically from May sea surface temperatures (SSTs). The superior skill of dynamical models is attributed to the fact that slowly evolving sea surface temperatures are the primary source of predictability, and to the fact that climate models produce more skillful predictions of June‐September sea surface temperatures. The recent apparent breakdown in SST‐monsoon relation can be simulated in coupled models, even though the relation is significant and relatively constant on an ensemble mean basis, suggesting that the observed breakdown could be due, in large part, to sampling variability. Despite the observed breakdown, skillful predictions of monsoon rainfall can be constructed using sea surface temperaturespredictedby dynamical models. This fact opens the possibility of using readily available seasonal predictions of sea surface temperatures to make real‐time skillful predictions of Indian summer monsoon rainfall. In addition, predictors based on tendency of SST during spring information show skill during both the recent and historical periods and hence may provide more skillful predictions of monsoon rainfall than predictors based on a single month.
Complex fault interactions in a restraining bend on the San Andreas Fault, southern Santa Cruz Mount

The unusual oblique thrust mechanism of the October 18, 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake focused attention on the complex tectonic setting of this segment of the San Andreas Fault. Near the mainshock epicenter, the San Andreas Fault curves to the left defining a restraining bend. The large thrust component of the mainshock focal mechanism is consistent with the horizontal compression expected across restraining bends. However, repeated Loma Prieta type earthquakes cannot exclusively produce the observed topography of the southern Santa Cruz Mountains, the highest point of which experienced subsidence during the 1989 earthquake. In this paper, the authors integrate seismic, geomorphic and tectonic data to investigate the possibility that motions on faults adjacent to the San Andreas Fault play an important role in producing the observed topography. The three-dimensional geometry of active faults in this region is imaged using the Loma Prieta preshock and aftershock sequences. The most conspicuous features of the fault geometries at depth are: (1) the presence of two distinct zones of seismicity corresponding to the San Andreas and the Sargent-Berrocal Fault Zones, (2) the concave upward shape of the Loma Prieta rupture surface, (3) the reduction in dip of the deepest portions of the rupture plane asmore » the mainshock hypocenter is approached, (4) the apparent transfer of shallow slip in some areas from faults in the San Andreas Fault Zone to those in the Sargent-Berrocal Fault Zone, and (5) the presence of a deep northeasterly dipping plane associated with the Sargent-Berrocal Fault Zone. The authors find that a model of fault interactions which involves displacement on faults in both the San Andreas and the Sargent-Berrocal Fault Zones is consistent with Loma Prieta coseismic displacements, preshock and aftershock seismicity and observed topography. « less
Field Measurements of Wave Characteristics on a Near-Horizontal Shore Platform, Mahia Peninsula, North Island, New Zealand

Waves are an important process responsible for the initiation and subsequent development of intertidal shore platforms. However, few field studies to date have described wave processes on shore platforms. A field experiment was conducted using an across-shore array of wave gauges, including a directional sensor, on a near-horizontal platform at Mahia Peninsula, North Island, New Zealand. Results show that the platform is very efficient in filtering wave energy at gravity wave frequencies (>0.05 Hz), with 40–80% reduction in wave height measured across the 140 m wide platform. By contrast, infragravity waves are present on the platform and increase in magnitude towards the cliff toe. Directional wave analysis indicates that wave reflection is mainly restricted to infragravity wave frequencies, demonstrating the differences in gravity and infragravity wave behaviour on the platform studied. Results indicate that, under fair weather conditions, the role of waves as an agent of cliff toe erosion is likely to be limited at present, although they are probably important for removing sediments accumulated at the cliff toe. The observed increase in infragravity wave energy towards the cliff toe implies that these long-period waves may be important geomorphic agents on shore platforms.
Deprived neighbourhoods and risk of road trauma (incidence and severity) among under 25 year-olds in the Rhone Departement (France)

Previous research has shown that there are inequalities with regard to traffic accident risk between different social categories. This study describes the influence of the type of residential municipality (with or without deprived urban areas, “ZUS, zones urbaines sensibles”), used as an indicator of contextual deprivation, on the incidence and severity of road trauma involving people of under 25 years of age in the Rhône. Injury data was taken from The Rhône Road Trauma Registry. The study covers the 2004-2007 period, totalling 13,589 young casualties. The incidences of traffic injury of all severities were computed according to the type of municipality, the age, gender and type of road user. The ratios of the incidences of deprived municipalities, compared with others were calculated. Subsequently the severity factors and incidences according to the severity level (ISS 1-8, ISS 9+) were studied. For the main types of road users except motorized two-wheeler users, the incidences were higher in the deprived municipalities: the greatest difference was for pedestrians, where the incidences were almost twice those of other municipalities. This excess risk, constituting a health inequality topic rarely considered, was even greater in municipalities with 2 or 3 ZUS’s. It was essentially observed for minor injuries among motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. While the incidence increased among people less than 25 years of age, the severity of road injuries was lower in deprived neighbourhoods, contrary to what is suggested by other studies. This lower severity disappeared when taking into account the crash characteristics.
Marine oil spill detection, statistics and mapping with ERS SAR imagery in south-east Asia

With a large coverage, short repeativity, day and night, and all- weather capability, ERS SAR imagery has been proven to be a useful tool for ocean oil spill monitoring. The paper discusses ocean oil pollution detection, statistics and mapping in south-east Asian waters by using ERS-1/2 SAR data. The work is roughly divided into four main steps. Possible oil slicks are first identified from each image. Next, the scene in which most slicks have been detected within a frame is selected for re-examination and all oil slicks detected on this image are further classified into either high, medium or low probability categories. The overall statistical results are then complied and values of normalized oil slick occurrence intensity for various scenarios computed for each ERS frame. Finally, spatial oil spill distribution maps in the south-east Asian waters are derived. The results show very good agreement with shipping routes as well as in situ data in the region.
A mechanism for the generation of wave‐driven rhythmic patterns in the surf zone

The coupling between topographic irregularities and wave-driven mean water motion in the surf zone is examined. This coupling occurs because the topographic perturbations produce excess gradients in the wave radiation stress that cause a steady circulation. This circulation, in turn, creates a sediment transport pattern that can reinforce the bottom disturbance and may thereby lead to the growth of large-scale bed forms. To investigate this coupling mechanism, the linearized stability problem with an originally plane sloping beach and normal wave incidence is solved in two different cases. First, the breaking line is considered to be fixed, and second, the perturbations in water depth that produce a displacement of the breaker line are accounted for. The first case shows that the basic topography can be unstable with respect to two different modes: a giant cusp pattern with shore-attached transverse bars that extend across the whole surf zone and a crescentic pattern with alternate shoals and pools at both sides of the breaking line showing a mirroring effect. In the second case, the varying breaker line may have a strong influence on the circulation. This is clear for the giant cusp topography whose growth is totally inhibited. In contrast, the morphology and the growth of the crescentic pattern remains almost unchanged.
Microcrack evolution and brittle failure of Inada granite in triaxial compression tests at 140 MPa

[1] A tensorial measure, called the crack tensor, is proposed to objectively define the crack geometry in crystalline rock as general as possible. Change of crack populations during brittle failure of rock (Inada granite) is analyzed in terms of the crack tensor and its invariants, which can be evaluated by a conventional petrographic analysis combined with stereology. A crack evolution law is formulated as a function of inelastic strain, so that we can easily depict how much damage accumulates in a sample loaded in a triaxial vessel by measuring the inelastic strain. When rock is loaded up to failure, the crack population satisfies a unique relation in the plot of the crack density versus the anisotropy, which are defined using the invariants of the crack tensors. It is suggested that failure of rock in uniaxial compression may be determined by a local condition such as a stress intensity factor at a crack tip. In the triaxial tests, on the other hand, rock fails when the crack density increases over a threshold value, which is a global condition depending on all cracks existing at failure. The threshold density is about 7 for the rock subjected to differential stress under confining pressures larger than 25 MPa. Under such a high crack density, the rock does not behave like a cracked solid, but rather like an assembly of rock blocks (granular material), and it starts to fail mainly due to the structurally induced instability, not due to the critical stress intensity factor at a crack tip. A throughgoing fault may develop as a result of the relative motion among the disintegrated blocks, sliding and rolling.
A note on the estimation of permeability of granular soils

Abstract Three methods are frequently adopted to measure the permeability of granular soils: determinations made on the basis of the soil's particle size distribution; on the results of in situ rising or falling head tests; and on the results of in situ pumping tests. The paper presents the results of permeability tests made using these three methods on granular soils during investigations for the construction of the Nigg Bay fabrication yard, Cromarty Firth. Of the methods based on particle size distribution, the one due to Masch & Denny was found to give results closest to the pumping test values. Permeabilities calculated using Hazen's rule were significantly higher than the pumping test results, while those calculated from the results of in situ falling head tests were significantly lower. On the basis of the results presented, there would appear to be a case for the adoption of a method such as Masch & Denny's for permeability estimation of granular soils.
The Chi‐Chi, Taiwan earthquake: Large surface displacements on an inland thrust fault

In the early morning (01:47 local time) of September 21, 1999, the largest earthquake of the century in Taiwan (Mw=7.6, ML=7.3) struck the central island near the small town of Chi-Chi. The hypocenter was located by the Central Weather Bureau Seismological Center at 23.87°N, 120.75°E, with a depth of about 7 km. There were extensive surface ruptures for about 85 km along the Chelungpu fault with vertical thrust and left lateral strike-slip offsets. The maximum displacement of about 9.8 meters is among the largest fault movements ever measured for modern earthquakes. There was severe destruction in the towns of Chungliao, Nantou,Taichung, FengYuan, and Tungshi, with over 2300 fatalities and 8700 injuries.
A pore space model for rock permeability and bulk modulus

A simple network model of pore space in rocks has been developed with which permeability and bulk modulus as a function of confining pressure can be calculated. Pores are modeled as straight conduits with circular, elliptic, or tapered cross sections. The interconnection of these conduits is modeled by emplacing them in regular two-dimensional hexagonal, square, or triangular networks. Flow through each conduit is modeled using Poiseuille's law. Flow through the network is calculated based upon the analogy of fluid flow in Darcy's law to current flow in Ohm's law. An estimate of the effective bulk modulus is obtained by summing the contributions of the individual pores. The effect of confining pressure on permeability and bulk modulus is determined by the solid properties and the shape of the pores. For appropriate aspect ratio distributions, the permeability and bulk modulus characteristics of the network model are similar to those found for laboratory rock samples. For rocks of moderate porosity, like sandstone, the model predicts that the bulk modulus is most affected by small, low aspect ratio pores. In contrast, for rocks like granite and tight sandstones (permeability less than 0.5 mdarcy) in which there are relatively few round pores, the bulk modulus and the permeability are both controlled by easily deformed pores. These types of responses are observed in experimental data. The success of the model in predicting these general bulk modulus and permeability responses indicates that while the models presented are too simple to represent a rock completely, the network theory approach is a promising method for modeling porous media.
The Production of Copper-arsenic Alloys in the Central Andes: Highland Ores and Coastal Smelters?

AbstractThe alloy of copper and arsenic was one of the most common metallurgical products in the central Andean area during the Late Intermediate Period (A.C. 900–1476), and a large part of that production took place at smelting sites on the north coast of what is today Peru. The research of the Battan Grande-La Leche Archaeological Project has made available for the first time a rich body of data on the smelting/refining furnaces used to win copper-arsenic metal from metallic ores at Battan Grande, a key north coast center of production of the alloy. There is general agreement that mixed ores were charged into the Battan Grande furnaces, some containing minerals that contributed primarily copper to the alloy, others that contributed primarily arsenic. Whereas the types of copper ore have been identified, the types of arsenic-bearing ores and their sources remain in question.The two arsenic minerals most likely to have been used in the north coast production of copper-arsenic alloys are enargite and arsen.
Characterizing Disturbed Desert Soils Using Multiobjective Parameter Optimization

Simulating soil moisture dynamics in coarse‐textured alluvial soils under high evaporative demand and infrequent rainfall challenges both characterization and numerical methods. For this study, three geomorphically young disturbed soils in the central Mojave Desert were characterized using direct, indirect, and inverse parameter estimation methods for numerical simulations using HYDRUS. Observations of soil water content (θ) and matric head (h) were used to formulate our multiobjective framework optimized using the AMALGAM algorithm. Both the direct and indirect parameterization methods reproduced θ but proved inadequate for h data. Sensitivity analysis found the parameters related to the dry end of the soil hydraulic function—including residual water content (θr) and pore‐size distribution (n)—most sensitive but often conflicting between the two criteria while soil temperature was effectively simulated but insensitive. At the sites, a large dynamic range of h (1–400 m) was accompanied by a relatively small range of θ (0.04–0.10 m3 m−3), limiting our ability to resolve the wet‐end of the hydraulic functions. Direct parameterization from infiltrometer data and indirect pedotransfer functions had good agreement with θ but largely underestimated h. Pareto analysis determined the trade‐off between fitting both criteria and revealed model structure inadequacies as well as bifurcations into parameter populations, favoring either θ or h error minimization. The Pareto solutions compensated for the underestimation of h by forcing the α and n parameters to uncharacteristically low values for such coarse textures. This compensation kept the water capacity sufficiently high at lower θ to maintain conductivity toward the surface. These results are likely a consequence of either the disturbed soil system or hysteresis between measurements of θ and h.
GROWING TREES IN ROAD FOUNDATION MATERIALS

Summary The use of traditional methods for establishing road foundations makes root growth from trees planted in holes within the foundations or close to them impossible. The performance of commonly used urban tree species in traditional and alternative foundation materials was documented through a growth test, which used a total of eight materials and three species of tree: Acer platanoides ‘Emerald Queen’, Fraxinus excelsior ‘Westhof's Glory’ and Tilia x vulgaris ‘Pallida’. Three crushed materials—granite, lava and brick—when combined with topsoil, allowed root growth and consequent crown growth, and are suited for practical use. The root/crown ratio for plants cultivated in the three mixtures, in which soil constituted a maximum of 30 per cent of the total volume, was higher than for plants cultivated in unmixed topsoil, which indicates that less growth will be obtained per unit soil volume of the mixture in relation to the same volume of unmixed topsoil. The study also shows that roots cannot grow in .
Coupled Hydrologic-Hydraulic Modeling of the Upper Paraguay River Basin

AbstractThis paper presents a detailed modeling of rainfall-runoff processes and flow routing along a complex large-scale region, the Upper Paraguay River Basin (UPRB), encompassing a drainage area of approximately 600,000 km2, which extends over Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia. Within the UPRB lies the Pantanal, the world’s largest wetland, with extraordinary biodiversity and great ecologic value, but which currently is threatened by anthropogenic activities. A conceptual model was applied with two main components: (1) simulation of the basin and part of the Paraguay River tributaries by means of the distributed large-scale hydrological model MGB-IPH using simpler flow routing methods; and (2) simulation of the main drainage network, approximately 4,800 km of river reaches, with a one-dimensional hydrodynamic model. Despite the data scarcity, complexity, and the intricate river drainage network of the region, the coupled model was able to represent the hydrological regime of the basin. Comparisons between.
Rift valley/no rift valley transition at mid‐ocean ridges

A simple mechanical model for the axial topographic and gravity variations with spreading rate is developed. The model emphasizes the rapid transition from one mechanism to another with changing spreading rate. Our model has a brittle layer over a ductile layer which are being pulled by forces away from the ridge axis. There exists a potential failure zone of width Lf where the stresses within the brittle plate exceeds its yield strength. If the yield strength of the brittle plate is nearly constant, this width is largely determined by the strain rate and the viscosity of the “strong” mantle. The high ductility of oceanic crust at high temperatures relative to that of mantle at the same temperatures leads to the concept of a decoupling region, a critical feature in this model. The size of the decoupling region Ld is determined by the thickness of the oceanic crust and temperatures within the crust. If the decoupling region is small (Ld Lf), as shown to be the case for fast spreading ridges, then each of the two layers responds separately to the horizontal stretching. The brittle plate will be broken only at the axis, and any buoyant force of the region would lift it up to form the rise crest high as a result of local isostasy. The changing size of the decoupling region gives rise to the transition from Atlantic type axial topography to Pacific type, as well as the transition from a high amplitude, highly variable gravity signature to a low amplitude, very uniform gravity signature. Parameters can be chosen so that such a transition occurs at a half-rate of 35 mm/yr, which is the critical half-rate suggested by both topographic and gravity data.