Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Intraseasonal Variability of the Indian Summer Monsoon Using TMI Sea Surface Temperatures and ECMWF Reanalysis

Abstract The northward-propagating intraseasonal (30–40 day) oscillation (NPISO) between active and break monsoon phases exerts a critical control on summer-season rainfall totals over India. Advances in diagnosing these events and comprehending the physical mechanisms behind them may hold the potential for improving their predictability. While previous studies have attempted to extract active and break events from reanalysis data to elucidate a composite life cycle, those studies have relied on first isolating the intraseasonal variability in the record (e.g., through bandpass filtering, removing harmonics, or empirical orthogonal function analysis). Additionally, the underlying physical processes that previous studies have proposed have varied, both among themselves and with studies using general circulation models. A simple index is defined for diagnosing NPISO events in observations and reanalysis, based on lag correlations between outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) over India and over the equatorial I.
Natural and transmission line produced positive ions

Positive ions were studied at three field sites, two of which contained ions produced by high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission lines. Natural ions were also studied at two of the three sites. The observed differences between natural and anthropogenic ion spectra near HVDC lines are attributed primarily to a shortening of ion lifetimes by the strong electric field associated with the HVDC lines. One exception is the production of potassium- and probably sodium-based ions from the decomposition of insects in transmission line coronas. Several ions which have been observed previously at mass 60 and 130 were also identified for the first time, using tandem mass spectrometric techniques, as trimethylamine and quinoline (and isoquinoline), respectively.
Fishbone from the Emily Bay settlement site, Norfolk Island

Fishbone from the settlement site at Emily Bay and excavations in West Emily Bay was identified on the basis of five mouth parts, checked against eight paired bones and some multiple and unique bones. The number of specimens (NISP) was counted and the Minimum Number of Individuals (MNI) calculated to display relative abundance of families. Lethrinidae dominate all assemblages, with Carangidae, Labridae and Serranidae as significant secondaries. Many specimens are large examples of the species. The domination of benthic feeders implies baited hooks, used over submerged reefs close to shore, were probably the most common technology. There are no deep water species present. Norfolk Island fishing appears to be very like that of prehistoric New Zealand.
Effect of arsenic on soil, plant and foodstuffs by using irrigated groundwater and pond water from Nadia district, West Bengal

The total arsenic withdrawn by the seven shallow tubewells used for agricultural irrigation in the arsenic-affected areas of Nadia district per year is 3851 g (mean: 550 g, range: 118? 2410 g). When the amount of arsenic in the groundwater is high, it has been observed that the levels of arsenic in agricultural land soil and plants are correspondingly high. Arsenic concentration in paddy field soil and plants is higher, compared to other agricultural field soil and plants. Pond water is safer for cultivation compared to irrigated groundwater.
Performance evaluation of data fusion techniques for archaeological prospection based on satellite data

The application of Very High Resolution (VHR) satellite imagery to archaeological prospection can furnish useful information for the identification of archaeological features, related to ancient land use patterns, irrigation networks, paleo-hydrological systems, roads, walls and buildings. These archaeological features could be enhanced by using data fusion techniques which are able to merge the complementary characteristics of panchromatic and multispectral images. The quantitative evaluation of the quality of the fused images is one the most crucial aspects in the context of data fusion. This issue is particularly relevant in the case of the identification of archaeological features, because data fusion could enhance or lose the small spatial and spectral details which are generally linked with the presence of buried archaeological remains. This study is focused on the evaluation of data fusion algorithms applied to Quickbird images for the enhancement of archaeological features. Three different data fusion techniques, Gram-Schimdt, PCA, and wavelet, were applied to a study case located in the South of Italy. Focusing on the archaeological features, the evaluation process was performed by using two different protocols with and without a reference image. Results obtained from the two protocols showed that the best performance was obtained from the wavelet data fusion.
Quantitative 3D‐fracture analysis by means of microfocus X‐Ray Computer Tomography (µCT): An example from coal

Since the introduction of medical computer tomography (CT) in geological sciences, many applications have been worked out. However, its limited resolution (optimal 60 × 60 × 1000 µ³) restricts its general use. Enhanced resolution is achieved with synchrotron X‐ray tomography, but these instruments are expensive and have a limited access. Another technique is microfocus X‐ray tomography of which the advantages will be discussed. This instrument is more accessible than synchrotron facilities. It furthermore has a superior resolution (present‐day 10 × 10 × 10 µm³) compared to medical CT. In this study, a thorough calibration is performed on samples of 8 mm in diameter and fracture widths from 0 to 400 µm. A statistical evaluation shows that the beam hardening artefact can be neglected and the standard deviation on aperture measurements of 100 µm is about 15 µm. The application of quantitative fracture aperture analysis will be demonstrated on a coal sample whereby a good correlation (r=0.94) with fracture analysis by reflected light microscopy is illustrated.
CONSTRUCTING THE LANGUAGE IDENTITY OF A HONG KONG CHINESE LANGUAGE TEACHER: A NARRATIVE SELF-STUDY i

: This study examines the development of second language (L2) identity based on the author's personal experiences as a citizen of Hong Kong. Employing a narrative self-study method, the author explores how Hongkongers' perceptions of their language identities evolve over time. The study reveals that the author's own perception of L2 identities has changed due to shifting political and social contexts as she has taken on various roles throughout her life, including daughter, granddaughter, student, and teacher. By using Mandarin and English at different times, the author has gained a unique understanding of her language identity as a Hong Kong citizen. This research demonstrates that L2 identity is fluid and constantly evolving, adapting to roles and experiences, which in turn influence teaching practices. 本研究透過探索香港教師的個人經歷，研究第二語言身份的發展和演變。 透過自我敘說
Gravity modeling of the ocean‐continent transition along the South Atlantic margins

[1] Gravity, magnetic, and seismic data have been used to examine changes in crustal structure of conjugate portions of the South Atlantic volcanic margins south of the Walvis Ridge-Rio Grande Rise hot spot tracks. We have constructed 18 seismically constrained crustal-scale gravity models of the ocean-continent transition: 12 across the African margin and 6 across the South American margin. We attribute changes in character of the gravity anomalies to variations in crustal thickness, sedimentation, and magmatic underplating. To investigate variations in the lower crust and upper mantle, we have removed the relatively well-constrained contributions to the gravity field from shallow sources. The resulting residual anomalies delineate distinct crustal domains associated with crustal thinning and regions of underplating that correspond well with those independently identified from limited seismic refraction data. Near the hot spot tracks, we find underplated crust to be symmetrically distributed with a horizontal extent of ∼240 km for each margin. Further south, however, the underplated region is asymmetric with significantly more beneath the African than the corresponding South American margin. Residual gravity anomalies indicate that the width of underplated crust decreases from 240 km to ∼150 km at 33°S on the African side and to ∼100 km at 38°S on the South American side. The wider underplated region on the African side suggests an asymmetric rifting mechanism in which greater melts accumulate beneath an upper plate margin. Our results are consistent with recently proposed asymmetric rifting models that involve strain softening of a coupled, cold frictional upper lithosphere at low rifting velocities. Such models also predict greater symmetry for areas with more heat such as those associated with the hot spot.
Flood generation during the SW monsoon season in northern Thailand

Abstract This paper analyses the annual floods for the city of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand using a relatively long dataset (1921–2009) to study the mechanisms behind flood generation in this region. Four floods of different magnitudes were chosen for the empirical analysis. Daily rainfall, flow and baseflow data are analysed together with information about tropical storm occurrence–frequency and El Ninõ Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events to identify the occurrence and causes of floods. We found that floods are caused by a variety of factors but the most extreme floods are often caused by a combination of wet catchment conditions and heavy rainfall due to monsoonal effects or tropical storms. Tropical storms play a variable role in that their occurrence in the earlier part of the monsoon season may only wet up the catchment and have no part to play in the peak-flow generation. However, heavy rainfall due to tropical storms during the later part of the monsoon season may result in extreme floods. Typhoon Damrey (2005) is such an example as a 100 year flood event occurred after the passage of this typhoon across northern Thailand. Flood forecasting and management therefore need more high-resolution information about rainfall patterns and tropical storm activity.
Radiocarbon Age Calibration at Archaeological Sites of Coastal Massachusetts and Vicinity

Abstract Radiocarbon ages of 15 paired marine and terrestrial archaeological samples, along with 10 marine samples of known historic age from Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut and New York, provide data for studying the reservoir effect on these coasts. The marine calibration method of Stuiver, Pearson & Braziunas (1986 proves effective at correcting the ages of shells from Boston Harbor, Cape Cod and Nan ucket Island, Massachusetts, and several samples from Maine and Long Island Sounc. However, some shells from Long Island Sound and the lower Hudson and Merrimack Rivers exhibit very large reservoir ages. Fluvial discharges carrying old terrestrial carbon can explain these large variations, although oceanic upwelling cannot be ruled out.
Woodlands and Agrobiodiversity in Irrigation Landscapes Amidst Global Change: Bolivia, 1990–2002

The global shift to small- and medium-scale irrigation is potentially compatible with high-agrobiodiversity production. A case study of the Cochabamba region in central Bolivia between 1990 and 2002 is designed to examine new interactions of irrigation with agrobiodiversity through change and continuity of landscape structures and functions. Irrigation change contributed to increased commercial potato and peach farming. Still persistent interactions of canal woodland habitat (landscape matrix including uncultivated or “wild” agrobiodiversity) with patches of cultivated agrobiodiversity helped ensure nutrient transfer and likelihood of gene flow. Farmers' field-level responses continued to include agrobiodiversity, especially multiple farmer varieties (FVs) of Andean maize. Capacities of social–ecological resilience in the period from 1990 to 2002 are estimated to have been moderate in anthropogenic canal woodlands (> 95 percent continued cover, albeit with reduced connectivity) and cultivated agrobiodiversity (viable with local loss of Andean potato FVs) and moderate-high in wild agrobiodiversity (viable with reduced capacity due to modified weed management). Indigenous “ethnodevelopment” applied to Andean community irrigation contributed positively to social–ecological resilience, albeit with significant limitations. Findings recommend that global change policies build emphasis on the interactions of water resource and agrobiodiversity management.
Hydroinformatics: computational intelligence and technological developments in water science applications—Editorial

LINDA SEE, DIMITRI SOLOMATINE, ROBERT ABRAHART & ELENA TOTH 1School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK geolms@leeds.ac. uk 2UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, PO Box 3015, 2601 DA Delft, The Netherlands d.solomatine@unesco-ihe.org 3School of Geography, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK bob.abrahart@nottingham.ac. uk 4DISTART, Faculty of Engineering, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy elena.toth@mail.ing. unibo.it
A Comparison of Rainfall-Runoff Models

Five different rainfall - runoff models including three sophisticated conceptual models (Sacramento, Stanford and Monash Models), a simple conceptual model (Boughton Model) and a black-box or purely mathematical method involving a recursive time series alogirithm were tested on three catchments in the south-west region of Western Australia. A variety of techniques were used to assess the performance of each of the models which were calibrated on about six years of data and then tested on a further six or seven years of extra data. As well as the objective comparison of the models, a subjective assessment of the user and computation aspects of model calibration is presented. All of the models except the Boughton Model performed in a satisfactory manner with the Sacramento Model and Time Series Method being given overall recommendation.
An interannual study of the Atlantic North Equatorial Countercurrent

Abstract Beginning in 1983, the dynamic height difference at the sea surface defining the countercurrent trough at 38°W was continuously observed by Inverted Echo Sounders at 3°N and 9°N for six years and ten months. The amplitude of the average annual signal for that time period was 36 cm, and the range of the interannual variability was 25 cm. Thus, the annual signal dominates as expected, but the interannual variability is of comparable magnitude. Two years, 1983 and 1987, are noted as years of sharp increase in the interannual signal (periods immediately following El Nino events in the Pacific). From a derived relationship for geostrophic volume transport, it is estimated that every year the North Equatorial Countercurrent attained a transport of 20 Sv (≡ 106 m3 s−1) for at least one month, while in the cited years it sustained this value for over half the year. The output of an unbounded reduced-gravity model, forced by monthly averaged wind stress, is compared to the observations. The model can be t.
Mars Climate Sounder: An investigation of thermal and water vapor structure, dust and condensate distributions in the atmosphere, and energy balance of the polar regions

[1] Against a backdrop of intensive exploration of the Martian surface environment, intended to lead to human exploration, some aspects of the modern climate and the meteorology of Mars remain relatively unexplored. In particular, there is a need for detailed measurements of the vertical profiles of atmospheric temperature, water vapor, dust, and condensates to understand the intricately related processes upon which the surface conditions, and those encountered during descent by landers, depend. The most important of these missing data are accurate and extensive temperature measurements with high vertical resolution. The Mars Climate Sounder experiment on the 2005 Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, described here, is the latest attempt to characterize the Martian atmosphere with the sort of coverage and precision achieved by terrestrial weather satellites. If successful, it is expected to lead to corresponding improvements in our understanding of meteorological phenomena and to enable improved general circulation models of the Martian atmosphere for climate studies on a range of timescales.
Identification and Validation of Rolling Friction Models by Dynamic Simulation of Sandpile Formation

AbstractRolling friction plays an important role in the heap formation of granular materials. In this paper, three rolling friction models, which are incorporated into the discrete element method, are compared with simulation of sandpile formation in detail. The experiments were first implemented for cement particles to verify the reliability of simulated results. An approximate approach, which can be used to determine the friction coefficient between particles and between particles and a boundary, is also proposed. Then, numerical simulations parallel to the experiments were carried out by using the three rolling friction models. The simulated results are detailed and discussed compared with the experimental results. In addition, the rolling friction between the particles and boundaries was also studied through an example of a sphere moving on a horizontal plate with an initial translational velocity. The numerical results suggest that the rolling friction model described by the relative angular velocity.
Source mechanism of Vulcanian degassing at Popocatépetl Volcano, Mexico, determined from waveform inversions of very long period signals

[1] The source mechanism of very long period (VLP) signals accompanying volcanic degassing bursts at Popocatepetl is analyzed in the 15–70 s band by minimizing the residual error between data and synthetics calculated for a point source embedded in a homogeneous medium. The waveforms of two eruptions (23 April and 23 May 2000) representative of mild Vulcanian activity are well reproduced by our inversion, which takes into account volcano topography. The source centroid is positioned 1500 m below the western perimeter of the summit crater, and the modeled source is composed of a shallow dipping crack (sill with easterly dip of 10°) intersecting a steeply dipping crack (northeast striking dike dipping 83° northwest), whose surface extension bisects the vent. Both cracks undergo a similar sequence of inflation, deflation, and reinflation, reflecting a cycle of pressurization, depressurization, and repressurization within a time interval of 3–5 min. The largest moment release occurs in the sill, showing a maximum volume change of 500–1000 m3, pressure drop of 3–5 MPa, and amplitude of recovered pressure equal to 1.2 times the amplitude of the pressure drop. In contrast, the maximum volume change in the dike is less (200–300 m3), with a corresponding pressure drop of 1–2 MPa and pressure recovery equal to the pressure drop. Accompanying these volumetric sources are single-force components with magnitudes of 108 N, consistent with melt advection in response to pressure transients. The source time histories of the volumetric components of the source indicate that significant mass movement starts within the sill and triggers a mass movement response in the dike within a few seconds. Such source behavior is consistent with the opening of a pathway for escape of pent-up gases from slow pressurization of the sill driven by magma crystallization. The opening of this pathway and associated rapid evacuation of volcanic gases induces the pressure drop. Pressure recovery in the magma filling the sill is driven by diffusion of gases from the resulting supersaturated melt into bubbles. Assuming a penny-shaped crack at ambient pressure of 40 MPa, the observed pressure and volume variations can be modeled with the following attributes: crack radius (100 m), crack aperture (5 m), bubble number density (1010–1012 m−3), initial bubble radius (10−6 m), final bubble radius (∼10−5 m), and net decrease of gas concentration in the melt (0.01 wt %).
Positive charge in the stratiform cloud of a mesoscale convective system

A balloon sounding of electric field in the trailing stratiform cloud of a bow echo mesoscale convective system reveals only two substantial in-cloud positive charge regions. These charge regions are located at altitudes of 5.1–5.6 km and 6.4–6.8 km, above the level of 0°C at 4.2 km. The two positive charge regions are the likely sources of six positive cloud-to-ground flashes with large peak currents (>32 kA) that occurred within 60 km of the balloon during its flight. The amount of charge transferred by three of these positive flashes that made Q bursts is calculated in the range of 97–196 C. Flashes of this sort are known to produce sprites and elves in the mesosphere. The positive charge regions in this stratiform cloud are substantially lower than the 10-km altitude commonly assumed for the positive charge in many sprite modeling studies.
An adaptive neural-fuzzy-based multi-sensor data fusion architecture for target tracking systems

In this work, an adaptive neural-fuzzy-based multi-sensor data fusion (ANF-MDF) architecture for target tracking systems is presented. In this architecture, neural networks are employed to detect and estimate target manoeuvres, and adaptive-network-based fuzzy inference systems (ANFIS) are used to adjust the measurement noise covariance matrices. They are combined as an adaptive mechanism to cooperate with Kalman filters to process measurements from multiple sensors, whose outputs are fused by a specific neural network to obtain optimal results. The results of simulations demonstrate this architecture can adjust system parameters and respond quickly to avoid mistracking effectively.
Passive tracking with sensors of opportunity using passive coherent location

Passive coherent location (PCL), which uses the commercial signals as illuminators of opportunity, is an emerging technology in air defense systems. The advantages of PCL are low cost, low vulnerability to electronic counter measures, early detection of stealthy targets and low-altitude detection. However, limitations of PCL include lack of control over illuminators, poor bearing accuracy, time-varying sensor parameters and limited observability. In this paper, multiple target tracking using PCL with high bearing error is considered. In this case, the challenge is to handle high nonlinearity due to high measurement error. In this paper, we implement the converted measurement Kalman filter, unscented Kalman filter and particle filter based PHD filter for PCL radar measurements and compare their performances.
Exploiting available data sources: location/allocation modeling for health service planning in rural Ghana

Abstract The preconditions for applying GIS-based location-allocation analysis for health service planning in rural Ghana are examined in terms of data availability and quality. A population map is established from the latest available census using geo-coding methods and digital topographic sheets. A vector-based transport model of the region is established by merging data from several sources including GPS. It is suggested that a hybrid transport model is required. This model combines the possibilities for all-direction transportation inherent in the raster-based approach with the possibilities for road/path transportation inherent in the vector-based approach. All-direction movements are expected to take place close to the villages in order to reach a suitable linear transport corridor represented by a vector. Several scenarios for improving the accessibility aspects of the health service provision are examined in light of Ghana's current health service policy. Location-allocation modelling tools are used to select optimal locations and provide statistics on average distance to health centres and percentage of population covered.