Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An investigation of braided river dynamics using a new numerical modelling approach

Braided Cascade has been developed from Cascade (Braun and Sambridge, (1997), a long-term (dt = 100 years) numerical model that simulates long-term landscape evolution. Herein it has been modified and applied to relatively short term process modelling of the evolution of complex river topography, discharge and sediment load of braided rivers. Braided Cascade is synthesist in spirit, there is no detailed hydrodynamic component to the model, a realistic simplification at the time scales considered. The major advantage of the model is the incorporation of an irregular time-varying grid using a triangulated irregular network (TIN) to represent a terrain surface. Advantages of using TINs include the ability to solve problems with non-rectangular geometeries and/or boundary conditions and the ability of river segments to form in all directions. The model routes water from node to node based on the local topographic slope. Sediment transport depends on the local stream power. Nodal elevation changes after each iteration according to the difference between the amount of sediment entering and leaving the node. Model output includes spatial and temporal (at one point) water discharge, bedload sediment transport, as well as maps of channel networks, erosion and deposition throughout the reach. Sensitivity analysis indicated that the most significant parameters for braiding are erosion length scale, splitting ratios and the allowance of the model to deposit sediment. Therefore an imbalance in the amount of sediment the river is carrying and the carrying capacity AND a reworking of the deposits is needed for a braided network to form. Sediment output from model runs indicate that the similarities between model data and other data sets are weak and all runs tended to reach static equilibrium. Braided Cascade therefore failed to adequately reproduce realistic data sets. It was found that the differences between model results and the flume data indicate that the model does not always match the physical systems as closely as physical systems match each other.
Future projections of heat waves around Japan simulated by CMIP3 and high‐resolution Meteorological Research Institute atmospheric climate models

Future changes in heat wave characteristics around Japan are investigated using Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 3 (CMIP3) model outputs, and high‐resolution present‐day (1979–2003) and future (2075–2099) climate simulations under the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES) A1B emission scenario. The high‐resolution simulations are conducted using 20, 60, and 180 km mesh atmospheric general circulation models (AGCMs), as well as a 5 km mesh regional climate model (RCM) nested within the 20 km mesh AGCM. The CMIP3 models project that the frequency of heat wave days (HWF) will increase 22.8, 22.3, and 26.5 d yr–1 in northern, eastern, and western Japan, respectively. The multimodel ensemble spread of future changes in HWF averaged around Japan is large (4–58 d yr–1). The spread is affected by the climate sensitivity of the models and the simulated magnitude of the interannual variation of the daily maximum temperature in present‐day climate. In the atmospheric model simulations, the 5 and 20 km mesh models can qualitatively simulate observed HWF distributions, which are affected by steep backbone mountain ranges in Japan. The 5 and 20 km mesh models project large (>30 d yr–1) increases in HWF in the coastal areas of Japan. The duration of heat wave days is projected to increase in areas with increasing HWF.
A contribution to the study of the influence of the energy of solar wind upon the atmospheric processes

According to the satellite observing of solar wind, and as well according the development of certain weather conditions it is realized that their interactive connections could have important role on the development of atmospheric processes. In this paper is given several of such situations. We have tried to point to a very important significance of new methodological approach in understanding development of meteorological conditions. Researching the influence of the solar wind on the changes of conditions in the atmosphere could develop in several ways but in any case for the further steps a multidiscipline approach is needed. Karen Labitske in Germany has done a lot of research in this area. "The physics is still highly speculative at this point though".
Magnetic control of the near equatorial neutral thermosphere

Neutral density data between 400 and 500 km obtained with the Ogo 6 neutral mass spectrometer indicate that at all longitudes the daytime N2 and O densities have latitudinal minimums at the magnetic equator that are about 20 and 10%, respectively, below maximums observed at ±20° magnetic latitude. Our calculations suggest that this anomaly could result from latitudinal variations in ion drag associated with the ‘equatorial anomaly’ in F region ionization. At latitudes of enhanced electron density the energy flow from the dayside to the nightside of the earth is damped, and thus the amplitude of the temperature and density variations is enhanced, and the time of maximum is shifted to later local times.
Neogene and Quaternary rollback evolution of the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Apennines, and the Sicilian Maghrebides

Reconstruction of the evolution of the Tyrrhenian Sea shows that the major stage of rifting associated with the opening of this basin began at ∼10 Ma. It involved two episodes of back arc extension, which were induced by the rollback of a west dipping subducting slab. The first period of extension (10–6 Ma) was prominent in the northern Tyrrhenian Sea and in the western part of the southern Tyrrhenian Sea. The second period of extension, mainly affected the southern Tyrrhenian Sea, began in the latest Messinian (6–5 Ma) and has been accompanied by subduction rollback at rates of 60–100 km Myr−1. Slab reconstruction, combined with paleomagnetic and paleogeographic constraints, indicates that in the central Apennines, the latest Messinian (6–5 Ma) arrival of a carbonate platform at the subduction zone impeded subduction and initiated a slab tear and major strike‐slip faults. These processes resulted in the formation of a narrow subducting slab beneath the Ionian Sea that has undergone faster subduction rollback and induced extreme rates of back arc extension.
Long-term Results in the Treatment of Menorrhagia and Hypermenorrhea With a Thermal Balloon Endometrial Ablation Technique

Background and Objectives: Evaluation of long-term results using a thermal balloon endometrial ablation technique to treat menorrhagia and hypermenorrhea, considered dysfunctional uterine bleedings. Methods: A single-arm, prospective study with long-term follow-up of 48 months at the department of obstetrics and gynecology, University of Kiel, Germany. Following hysteroscopic evaluation of the uterine cavity and fractionated curettage, the Cavaterm endometrial thermal ablation technique was performed on 70 patients over the age of 40 with menorrhagia and hypermenor-rhea in whom medical treatment had previously failed. The study included a group of 10 patients with adenomyosis and uterine fibroids. Results: In 65 patients, a complete 48-month follow-up evaluation was possible: 58% of patients reported amenorrhea and 33% hypomenorrhea. Nine percent of patients remained eumenorrheic. Fifty percent of the small group with failed indications for the procedure had to undergo a hysterectomy. Conclusions: The Cavaterm thermal coagulation system in the earlier mode of application (15 minutes at a temperature of 70°C and a pressure of 200 mm Hg) is a safe and highly effective method of endometrial ablation resulting in a minimal amount of posttreatment menstrual bleeding.
Evidence for New Madrid Earthquakes in A.D. 300 and 2350 B.C.

Six episodes of earthquake-induced liquefaction are associated with soil horizons containing artifacts of the Late Archaic (3000-500 B.C.) and Early to Middle Woodland (500 B.C.-A.D. 400) cultural periods at the Burkett archaeological site in the northern part of the New Madrid seismic zone, where little information about prehistoric earthquakes has been available. Radiocarbon dating of organic material and analysis of artifacts are used to estimate the ages of the liquefaction features and times of the causative earthquakes. The most recent episode of liquefaction occurred after A.D. 1670, produced small sand dikes, and is probably related to the 1895 Charleston, Missouri earthquake. The preceding episode struck the area in A.D. 300 ± 200 years and generated a sand blow that contains Late Woodland artifacts and buries an Early to Middle Woodland cultural horizon. Four older episodes of liquefaction occurred in 2350 B.C. ± 200 years and may have been produced by a sequence of closely timed earthquakes. The four earlier episodes produced graben structures, sand dikes, and associated sand blows on which a cultural mound was constructed. The Burkett liquefaction features that formed about 2350 B.C. and A.D. 300 are relatively large and similar in age to other liquefaction features in northeastern Arkansas and southeastern Missouri, respectively. If the prehistoric features at the Burkett site and those of similar age elsewhere in the region are the result of the same earthquakes, then this suggests that they were similar in size to the three largest (M 7-8) 1811-1812 New Madrid earthquakes. A New Madrid-type earthquake in A.D. 300 ± 200 years would support an average recurrence time of 500 years. Although this study extends the earthquake chronology back to 2500 B.C., it is uncertain that the record of New Madrid events is complete for the period between 2350 B.C. and A.D. 300. As demonstrated by this study, information about other prehistoric earthquakes may be buried beneath fluvial deposits of the Mississippi River Valley.
Uncertainty and bias of surface ozone measurements at selected Global Atmosphere Watch sites

[1] The Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) program currently coordinates 22 ground-based atmospheric background monitoring stations of global scope. The GAW World Calibration Centre for Surface Ozone, Carbon Monoxide and Methane (WCC-EMPA) is responsible for tracing surface ozone measurements at these stations to the designated reference within the GAW program, the Standard Reference Photometer SRP 2 maintained at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The recommended method for surface ozone measurements is based on UV absorption at 254 nm (Hg line). Repeated and regular intercomparisons of station instruments are necessary to achieve and maintain high and known data quality. In this paper, the traceability chain is explained, and standard uncertainties for each element are evaluated. Data of 26 intercomparisons performed at 14 stations between 1996 and 2002 are analyzed. On 23 occasions, the instruments passed the audit with “good” agreement, in one case with “sufficient” agreement. On 2 occasions, both first audits at the site, the audited instrument did not comply with the minimal data quality requirements. The best instruments in use exhibit a median absolute bias of approximately 0.32 ppbv and a standard uncertainty of approximately 0.8 ppbv (0–100 ppbv). The quantitative improvement of data quality as a result of repeated audits can be demonstrated with several stations.
Ensemble prediction of regional droughts using climate inputs and the SVM–copula approach

In this study, the climate teleconnections with meteorological droughts are analysed and used to develop ensemble drought prediction models using a support vector machine (SVM)–copula approach over Western Rajasthan (India). The meteorological droughts are identified using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI). In the analysis of large‐scale climate forcing represented by climate indices such as El Niño Southern Oscillation, Indian Ocean Dipole Mode and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation on regional droughts, it is found that regional droughts exhibits interannual as well as interdecadal variability. On the basis of potential teleconnections between regional droughts and climate indices, SPI‐based drought forecasting models are developed with up to 3 months' lead time. As traditional statistical forecast models are unable to capture nonlinearity and nonstationarity associated with drought forecasts, a machine learning technique, namely, support vector regression (SVR), is adopted to forecast the drought index, and the copula method is used to model the joint distribution of observed and predicted drought index. The copula‐based conditional distribution of an observed drought index conditioned on predicted drought index is utilized to simulate ensembles of drought forecasts. Two variants of drought forecast models are developed, namely a single model for all the periods in a year and separate models for each of the four seasons in a year. The performance of developed models is validated for predicting drought time series for 10 years' data. Improvement in ensemble prediction of drought indices is observed for combined seasonal model over the single model without seasonal partitions. The results show that the proposed SVM–copula approach improves the drought prediction capability and provides estimation of uncertainty associated with drought predictions. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The role of Mesozoic rifting in the opening of the NE Atlantic: evidence from deep seismic profiling across the Faroe–Shetland Trough

The FAST deep seismic reflection profile traverses the whole width of the Faroe–Shetland Trough. The principal target of the profile was the structure of the crust beneath the Faroe basalts. In this region, bright reflections are seen from between 7 and 9 km depth beneath the basalts, dipping westwards in the opposite direction to the dip of the basalts and reflections within the basalts. These sub-basalt reflections are regarded as originating from near top basement. The Moho has not been imaged beneath the basalts, possibly because of the absence of any impedance contrast at the base of the crust. The profile shows that the basement of the Faroe–Shetland Trough thins to c. 10 km beneath the centre of the trough. Thinning of the crystalline basement is probably the result of more than one phase of extension, the most recent of which occurred in the mid- to late Cretaceous. Extension appears to have been concentrated on a series of east-dipping normal faults cutting through the basement. These faults may have originated during a Precambrian rifting event. It is suggested that opening of the NE Atlantic occurred to the west of the Faroe Islands, as Mesozoic rifting in the Faroe–Shetland Trough had strengthened the lithosphere in this region.
Small scale sedimentary structures resulting from foot impressions in dune sands

ABSTRACT Small scale deformation structures are illustrated from well sorted, evenly laminated, fine aeolian dune sands. Vertical stress on moist sands results in differential compaction, cohesion through the influence of surface tension, and the production of structures that can resist deflation. The specific structures described are humanoid traces, but analogues produced by the feet of animals could be preserved in fossil dunes and be confused with inorganic structures.
Effect of vegetation heterogeneity on radiative transfer in forest fires.

Wildland fires are driven by the heat transferred from the fire source to the unburned fuel bed and this transfer is likely to be affected by the spatial heterogeneity of fuel element distributions at different scales from shoot to stand. In a context of theoretical fire modelling, we investigated the impact of a departure from randomness of fuel distributions on the radiative transfer of energy. Our methodology was derived from the approach developed for solar radiation in heterogeneous canopies or clouds and was modified to suit an analysis of fire behaviour. Some fine and coarse fuel distributions for several Mediterranean fuel types were derived from field measurements and plant architecture modelling. A comparison of the average irradiances in different fuels showed whether heterogeneity effects were significant or not. Results showed that both marked spatial variability in fuel distribution (low cover fraction and large clumps) and a high vegetation density were required to provide significant effects. The radiative transfer in heterogeneous maritime pines and in dense shrub stands was significantly affected by heterogeneity, mainly at crown and shoot scales. Less pronounced effects were observed in Aleppo pine stand and light shrubs. In terms of fuel modelling, the 2-m resolution used in a fire model such as FIRETEC seems to be sufficient for the fuel types investigated here, with the exception of dense small clumps in shrublands. An effective coefficient was proposed for these latter cases.
Letters. Rock-forming moissanite (natural α-silicon carbide)

Abstract We report the first occurrence of moissanite (SiC) as a rock-forming mineral (8.4 vol%) in one unique specimen of a terrestrial rock. The sample has a homogeneous, porphyritic texture, and was found as a beach pebble thought to be derived from a Tertiary volcanic province of the Aegean Sea region. The matrix is bluish-colored and consists of very fine-grained brucite, calcite, and magnesite, in which macrocrysts of quartz (25.3 vol%) and moissanite are found. Other accessory phases are phlogopite-3T, magnesiochromite, an Fe-rich phase, Cl-bearing brucite, Al-rich orthopyroxene, and unidentified MgFe-silicates (4 vol%). The bulk-rock composition shows a “kimberlitic” chemistry (55.8 wt% SiO2, 28.5 wt% MgO, 1.4 wt% CaO, 18.1 wt% LOI). Colorless gemmy, and blue or black moissanite crystals are subhedral and display characteristic hexagonal symmetry (6H polytype). Most moissanite grains contain metallic Si and Fe-silicide (Fe3Si7) inclusions, and more rarely, other Fe-silicides with varying amounts of Al (≤24.5 wt%), Ca (≤8.0 wt%), Mn (≤6.8 wt%), Ti (≤16.3 wt%), and Ni (≤2.6 wt%). The δ13C value of the moissanite is -28.1‰. According to available data, the fO2 stability field of SiC is five to six log units below the iron-wüstite (IW) buffer curve. Therefore, the observed Fe-bearing silicates cannot have been equilibrated with SiC under ambient pressure. Instead, our finding indicates that the rock most likely formed at the ultrahigh-pressure conditions of the upper mantle or transition zone.
Opportunities to improve and integrate coastal water quality monitoring in Nova Scotia

Coastal water quality (CWQ) has been identified as a priority issue in the development of a Sustainable Coastal Development Strategy for Nova Scotia. While a host of different monitoring programs currently contribute to monitoring of Nova Scotia’s coastal waters, there is concern over the effectiveness of these programs to collectively address the province’s needs and objectives for CWQ. To address these concerns, actions have been identified to improve and integrate CWQ monitoring. This research evaluates the effectiveness of seven programs conducting monitoring activities in Nova Scotia to meet the needs and objectives for CWQ monitoring in the province. It considers their potential for inclusion in an integrated strategy in the context of Nova Scotia. Key directions for improvement and integration include applying an ecosystem-based approach to monitoring activities, and greater involvement of community-groups to expand coverage.
Variable-source-area controls on phosphorus transport: Bridging the gap between research and design

ABSTRACT: Transport factors incorporated within most versions of the phosphorus index (Pl) are expected to represent the potential for phosphorus (P) to be mobilized on the field and subsequently move from the field source to a stream or other surface-water body. Consequently, these factors must be designed to capture the nature of the hydrologic properties of both the field and the watershed. The field-related transport factors typically included in Pls, e.g., the NRCS soil runoff class and erosion loss via RUSLE are generally accepted as sufficient to represent edge-of-field P loss. However, there has not been a unified approach to represent connectivity of field to stream within the Pl. Here, we develop a generalized connectivity factor for inclusion in Pls based on design rainfall, the variable-source-area (VSA) hydrologic concept, and readily available watershed geomorphic data. The NRCS curve number method is used to determine runoff volume from the watershed for design rainfalls representing a range of return periods. A simplification of VSA hydrology is used to derive the contributing area from which this runoff is expected to occur. Finally, the width of land adjacent to the stream contributing surface runoff is estimated using drainage density. For illustration, the methodology is applied to a small upland watershed in east-central Pennsylvania, and the results are examined in light of hydrologic investigations being conducted on the watershed.
An Early Cambrian archaeocyath–trilobite fauna in limestone erratics from the Upper Carboniferous Fitzroy Tillite Formation, Falkland Islands

ABSTRACT: Rare clasts of limestone contained in the uppermost Carboniferous Fitzroy Tillite Formation of the Falkland Islands contain a rich Cambrian fauna of archaeocyaths together with a radiocyath and a few trilobites. Neither Cambrian strata nor limestone are present in the indigenous rock succession and the clasts are regarded as exotic erratics, introduced during the Permo-Carboniferous glaciation of southern Gondwana, prior to its Mesozoic break-up. Nineteen archaeocyath taxa have been identified, with seven (plus a radiocyath) occurring in a single clast. Trilobite identifications are less definitive, but they are compared to Yorkella and the Siberian genera Edelsteinaspis, Namanoia and Chondrinouyina. The archaeocyath fauna has an Australo–Antarctic character and the Transantarctic Mountains seem the most likely source for these unusual erratics. Most recent reconstructions of Gondwana rotate a Falklands microplate into a position between South Africa and East Antarctica. There, it is in proximity with the Eastern Cape Province, where tillites within the Permo-Carboniferous Dwyka Group are correlatives of the Fitzroy Tillite Formation, and the ‘Atlantic’ end of the Transantarctic Mountains. The Dwyka Group tillites also contain rare clasts of archaeocyathan limestone and the rotational reconstruction produces a continuity of the apparent ice-flow directions in South Africa and the Falkland Islands.
Paleozoic Tectonics and Sedimentation in the Northern Half of the West Canadian Basin

ABSTRACT With the help of fourteen maps, six geological cross sections and a short connecting text, an attempt was made to give a regional description of the subsurface geology and the geological history of a considerable portion of the West Canadian Basin. The sedimentation from Cambrian to the end of Paleozoic shows a regional pattern which is preformed by faults. The mild structures preformed by repeatedly renewed faults and the differential movements of the basement have governed the sedimentation during the different periods of the Paleozoic. The ancient structural trends, directly or indirectly, are important factors in determining the locations of structural and stratigraphic traps. A large portion of the area has been a basin surrounded by three prominent, block faulted, positive features.