Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Standing water detection using radar

Mapping of natural and man-made water bodies is a critical component of environmental studies, including climate change, agriculture, flood forecasting and groundwater recharge estimation. Moreover, standing water heavily impacts the ability to accurately estimate soil moisture from satellite, particularly from low resolution passive microwave data using a radiometer. NASA's soil moisture dedicated mission, the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP), will use 3km resolution L-band radar to downscale 36km resolution L-band radiometer observations to 9km. These brightness temperature estimates are subsequently interpreted for soil moisture content. Consequently, the 3km resolution radar that will be on-board the SMAP affords the opportunity to also detect dynamic standing water, and thus correct the radiometer signals accordingly prior to downscaling. The objective of this study was to develop and validate a standing water detection method, using radar observations collected from the Soil Moisture Active Passive Experiments (SMAPEx) undertaken near the township of Yanco in the Murrumbidgee Catchment in southeast New South Wales, Australia. There were three water detection methods put forward in this study, including: i) difference in backscatter at different polarizations; ii) direct backscatter threshold; and iii) the ratios between backscatter at different polarizations. These three methods were all applied to the data collected over a known flooding area, so as to compare the feasibility of each method and thus determine the criteria of water body detection. The direct backscatter threshold method had the best performance for detecting water bodies, which was subsequently applied to radar data over the entire SMAPEx site. In order to validate the capability of this detection method, the derived water map across the SMAPEx site was compared against a range of reference maps, including 1km resolution brightness temperature data, Land Remote Sensing Satellite (Landsat) derived farm dam maps, and aerial photographs taken during the regional flights of the study site area. To analyze the influence from incidence angle normalization on the backscatter, both normalized and non- normalized data were tested in this study. It was found that the water map derived from non-normalized backscatter was more accurate, due to the residual normalization error when using the backscatter data at its highest spatial resolution (10m). Consequently, the standing water map had the best estimation of water locations when used at coarser resolution (100m) due to the reduction in speckle as compared to data at high resolution (10m). Moreover, some areas were mis-identified as water, especially in grasslands, meaning that the method needs to be used with caution, and that radar is going to be a challenging approach to identify standing water in vegetated fields.
A Travel-Livability Index for Seniors, Phase I: Livability Attribute Importance

The overall purpose of this research was to develop a localized livability index that is particularly sensitive to the travel needs of seniors. This phase of the research included two objectives: (1) synthesize the survey data from previous AARP surveys which included livability attribute-importance; and (2) rank these attributes by their stated importance and identify the critical attributes in the determination of livability for seniors, for both urban and rural zip codes. The synthesis of the existing AARP survey data revealed that 9 of the 19 existing surveys had measures of the importance of livability attributes that could be used for a combined analysis. In 2005, AARP focus groups resulted in the creation of 7 categories of livability attributes. These include nearby quality health facilities, reliable public transportation, variety in housing types, safe and secure environment, access to shopping, a physical environment that fosters walking ("walkability"), and opportunities for recreation and culture. Although only two of these categories are directly related to transportation (reliable public transportation and a “ walkable” environment), all of the factors are indirectly related. The combined survey data provided at least one measure in each of the seven categories, and four of the categories had multiple measures. The ranking of the livability attributes by their stated importance and comparison by age and zip code type revealed several important patterns. First, safe neighborhoods with a nearby hospital dominate the livability concerns of older Americans in both age groups and area types. Housing was also deemed important. Attributes related to recreational opportunities tended to be unimportant, while attributes related to shopping, places of worship, and infrastructure were of varying importance between groups. The first phase of this research successfully identified the ranks of livability attributes for seniors in rural and urban communities. Phase II will include the identification of spatial and temporal livability metrics from other data sources to represent these attributes.
Collaborative Filtering and the Missing at Random Assumption

Rating prediction is an important application, and a popular research topic in collaborative filtering. However, both the validity of learning algorithms, and the validity of standard testing procedures rest on the assumption that missing ratings are missing at random (MAR). In this paper we present the results of a user study in which we collect a random sample of ratings from current users of an online radio service. An analysis of the rating data collected in the study shows that the sample of random ratings has markedly different properties than ratings of user-selected songs. When asked to report on their own rating behaviour, a large number of users indicate they believe their opinion of a song does affect whether they choose to rate that song, a violation of the MAR condition. Finally, we present experimental results showing that incorporating an explicit model of the missing data mechanism can lead to significant improvements in prediction performance on the random sample of ratings.
Ecology of deep‐sea hydrothermal vent communities: A review

Studies of the many active and inactive hydrothermal vents found during the past 15 years have radically altered views of biological and geological processes in the deep sea. The biological communities occupying the vast and relatively stable soft bottom habitats of the deep sea are characterized by low population densities, high species diversity, and low biomass. In contrast, those inhabiting the generally unstable conditions of hydrothermal vent environments exhibit high densities and biomass, low species diversity, rapid growth rates, and high metabolic rates. Biological processes, such as rates of metabolism and growth, in vent organisms are comparable to those observed in organisms from shallow-water ecosystems. An abundant energy source is provided by chemosynthetic bacteria that constitute the primary producers sustaining the lush communities at the hydrothermal sites. Fluxes in vent flow and fluid chemistry cause changes in growth rates, reproduction, mortality, and/or colonization of vent fauna, leading to temporal and spatial variation of the vent communities. Vent populations that cannot adapt to modified flow rates are adversely affected, as is evidenced by high mortality or lower rates of colonization, growth, or reproduction. Substantial changes in biota have been witnessed at several vents, and successional cycles have been proposed for the Galapagos vent fields. Dramatic temporal and spatial variations in vent community structure may also relate to variations in larval dispersal and chance recruitment, as well as biotic interactions.
Tropical Cyclone Movement and Surrounding Flow Relationships

Abstract This paper presents results of a comprehensive study of the relationship between the movement of tropical cyclones and the large-scale circulation which surrounds them. Cyclones have been stratified by direction and speed of movement, latitude, intensity change and size (as determined by the radius of the outermost closed surface isobar) in three ocean basins: the northwest Pacific, the west Atlantic and the Australian-South Pacific region. Twenty-one different stratifications are available in the northwest Pacific, 13 in the west Atlantic and 6 in the Australian-South Pacific area. Cyclone movement and surrounding flow relationships were studied at different pressure levels and a variety of radii. Pressure-weighted layer-averages were also analyzed in search of such relationships. Results show an important relationship between surrounding large-scale flow and tropical cyclone movement. For all stratifications, the winds in the mid-troposphere (500–700 mb) at 5–7° latitude radius from the cyclone.
High alumina (HA) and very high potassium (VHK) basalt clasts from Apollo 14 breccias. I - Mineralogy and Petrology - Evidence of crystallization from evolving magmas

The mineralogy and petrography of very high potassium (VHK) and high alumina (HA) basalts from the Apollo 14 site provide an insight into their magmatic evolution. Generally, their parageneses are similar, with olivine and chromite the early liquidus phases, followed by plagioclase and pyroxene, which crystallized together. Although late-stage ilmenite and FeNi metal occur in both VHK and HA samples, the VHKs also crystallize K-feldspar and Fa-rich olivine. Zoning of constituent minerals is similar for both basalt types, demonstrating that the parental magmas for both HA and VHK basalts became enriched in K, Na, Ca, Fe, and Ti and depleted in Mg and Al as crystallization proceeded. Enrichment of K in the VHK basalts is above that expected from normal fractional crystallization.
Future emissions and concentrations of carbon dioxide: Key ocean / atmosphere / land analyses

Various projections of the relation between future CO2 concentrations and future emissions were undertaken as part of the scientific assessment for Working Group 1 of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. There were three types of calculation: (i) forward projections, calculating the atmospheric CO2 concentrations resulting from specified emission scenarios, (ii) inverse calculations determining the emission rates that would be required to achieve stabilisation of CO2 concentrations via specified pathways and (iii) impulse response function calculations required for determining Global Warming Potentials. The use of a standardised set of conditions allows an intercomparison of models. Sensitivity studies explore other aspects of the uncertainties of such projections. This report documents the specifications, the models that were used and the results that were obtained. Some preliminary interpretations of the results are included.
Geographical visualization: Past, present and future development

Geographical Visualization has formalised the use of New Media and digital technologies for depicting geography. Powerful and innovative tools enable users to explore geographical information and to appreciate both ‘broadbrush’ geographical concepts and discrete and associated geographical phenomena. Since the late 1980s interest has grown in developing geographical visualization tools to assist in personal and collaborative use of the myriad of data sets available about things geographical. This has resulted in the conceptualisation of different theoretical approaches to what we do, and new ways for viewing and using geographical information. This paper provides an overview of geographical visualization and how it has, is and can be used. It also addresses the need for geographical visualization producers to embrace a closer collaboration with the GIScience community so as to provide tools that are based on the strong analytical applications of GIS packages. And, it highlights the need for applying the techniques of user‐centered design to ensure that usable geospatial products are created and delivered.
Language, identities and ideologies of the past and present Chukotka

The historical background of Chukotka is one of intensive language contact and of rapid socio-political, economic, cultural and spiritual change, which often makes any predictions difficult, also in regard to language. When I first came to Chukotka in 2003, the Yupiget sense of ethnic awareness was very strong. The majority of the Yupik population expressed positive attitudes towards their Native language and seemed to be supportive of its revitalisation. However, when I returned to Chukotka in 2005, I found out that the Yupik language status and loyalty had shifted. In this paper, I discuss language shift in Chukotka with reference to St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. I also cast light on language transformations and adaptation that I have documented during my fieldwork in the area in 2003 and 2005, and give possible explanations as to why the revitalisation movement that I witnessed in the beginning of the new millennium was short-lived and had ceased by 2005.
COMPETING 3D PRIORS FOR OBJECT EXTRACTION IN REMOTE SENSING DATA

A recognition-driven variational framework was developed for automatic three dimensional object extraction from remote sensing data. The essence of the approach is to allow multiple 3D priors to compete towards recovering terrain objects’ position and 3D geometry. We are not relying, only, on the results of an unconstrained evolving surface but we are forcing our output segments to inherit their 3D shape from our prior models. Thus, instead of evolving an arbitrary surface we evolve the selected geometric shapes. The developed algorithm was tested for the task of 3D building extraction and the performed pixel- and voxel-based quantitative evaluation demonstrate the potentials of the proposed approach.
Tree Species Diversity and Forest Stand Structure of Pahang National Park, Malaysia

Information on composition, diversity of tree species and species-rich communities is of primary importance in the planning and implementation of biodiversity conservation efforts. In addition, the diversity of trees is fundamental to the total tropical rainforest diversity as trees provide resources and habitat structure for almost other forest species (Cannon et al., 1998). According to Singh (2002), biodiversity is essential for human survival and economic well being and ecosystem function and stability. UNEP (2001) reported that habitat destruction, over exploitation, pollution and species introduction are identified as major causes of biodiversity loss. Hubbel et al. (1999) mentioned that disturbances created by these factors determine forest dynamics and tree diversity at the local and regional scales. These disturbances have been considered as an important factor structuring communities (Sumina, 1994).
SPOT-VGT time series based estimation of fire-induced variability in vegetation covers

The dynamics of vegetation covers in burned and unburned areas can be monitored by using satellite data, which provide a wide spatial coverage and internal consistency of data sets. Several indices based on satellite data can be used for this aim. In particular, NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) is the most widely used index for vegetation monitoring based on remote sensing. This paper aims to perform a dynamical characterization of burned and unburned vegetation covers, using time series of remotely sensed data of some fire-affected and fire-unaffected sites. For this purpose, we used the Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (DFA), which permits the detection of persistent properties in nonstationary signals. Our results point out that the persistence of vegetation dynamics is significantly increased by the occurrence of fires.
Groundwater flow patterns adjacent to a long‐term stratified (meromictic) lake

This paper examines, for the first time, the unique situation of a groundwater system adjacent to a long‐term stratified (meromictic) lake. Using conceptual and numerical models, the configuration of groundwater interfaces between the three different water bodies (regional groundwater and upper and lower lake waters) and the flow patterns were quantitatively evaluated assuming a homogenous aquifer. A complex flow system, controlled by density difference, is created near the lake, where three circulation cells are developed. These results are different from the classic circulation cell that is found adjacent to nonstratified water bodies (lakes or oceans). Sensitivity analyses reveal that the results are sensitive to changes in thickness and density of the upper water mass of the lake. The Dead Sea, under its possible future meromictic conditions, serves as an ideal example of such a system. Thus, the model's results can be used as a preliminary assessment for groundwater behavior adjacent to the lake, if and when stratification will develop.
Do Perceptions Change? A Comparative Study

ABSTRACT For developing nations affected by negative stereotypes, the question of whether a change in perceptions can be achieved through the tourism experience is important. This research aims to determine whether the perceptions of foreign tourists regarding a country and its people change as a result of the cultural tourism experience. The study examines the discrepancy between pre-travel and post-travel perceptions, matching the responses for every respondent. These changes are investigated from the comparative perspective of two sets of foreign tourists representing geographically different markets. Qualitative methodology is also used to enrich interpretation. The results determine that the perceptions of tourists regarding the host country and its people may positively change after the cultural tourism experience, although this effect is observed to be different for both samples. Implications are discussed, focusing on the role of tourism as benefiting other areas of the country such as trade and international relations.
Assessing the catastrophic break-up of Briksdalsbreen, Norway, associated with rapid climate change

Abstract: Recent research has raised concerns about the potential influence of rapid climate change on the stability of major ice sheets. The behaviour of glaciers is determined largely by the processes and conditions operating at their base. Technological advances have allowed these factors to be examined and their contribution to ice flow constrained. This study investigated the rapid disintegration of an aquatic based Norwegian glacier, through the study of boreholes, video, ground-penetrating radar, differential global positioning system, bathymetry and Glacsweb wireless probes. Briksdalsbreen retreated dramatically between 2000 and 2007, with c. 56 × 105 m3 of ice lost from the glacier tongue, equivalent to a rate of 70 m a−1. This was due to the combined effect of higher summer temperatures, decreased precipitation (resulting from a negative phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation) and increased fracturing of the glacier tongue. The enlargement of a proglacial lake played a key role in Brikdalsbreen's rapid retreat, allowing calving events and promoting crevassing and fluctuating water contents at the glacier margin. We suggest that hydro-fracturing was the dominant mechanism responsible for generating more crevasses each year, which facilitated the development of an efficient englacial drainage system. This fed increasing quantities of water to the bed, where it was stored in subglacial cavities and transferred through a distributed (‘slow') drainage system. However, despite this increase in subglacial water content, ice velocities remained constant during the break-up. Comparisons are made between the processes observed at Briksdalsbreen and those associated with the acceleration and rapid retreat of Greenland's tidewater glaciers.
The GOddard SnoW Impurity Module (GOSWIM) for the NASA GEOS-5 Earth System Model: Preliminary Comparisons with Observations in Sapporo, Japan

The snow darkening module evaluating dust, black carbon (BC), and organic carbon (OC) depositions on the mass of snow impurities and albedo has been developed for the ASA Goddard Earth Observing System, Version S (GEOS-S) Earth System Model, as the GOddard SnoW Impurity Module (GOSWIM). GOSWIM consists of the updated snow albedo scheme from a previous study (Yasunari et al. 2011) and a newly developed mass concentration calculation scheme, directly using aerosol deposi tions from the chemical transport model (GOCART) in GEOS S. Compared to observations at Sapporo, the off-line simulations, forced by observation-based meteorology and aerosol depositions from GOES-S, reasonably simulated the seasonal migration of snow depth, albedos, and impurities of dust, BC, and OC in the snow surface. However, the simulated dust and BC mass concen trations in snow were especially underestimated except for the BC in the early winter, compared to the observations. Increasing the deposition rates of dust and BC could explain the observations. Removing BC deposition could possibly lead to an extension of snow cover duration in Sapporo of four days. Comparing the off line GOSWIM and the GEOS-S global simulations, we found that determining better local precipitation and deposition rates of the aerosols are key factors in generating better GOSWIM snow darkening simulation in NASA GEOS-S. 14: GOddard SnoW Impurity Module (GOSWIM) for the NASA GEOS-S Earth System Model: Prelimi nary comparisons with observations in Sapporo, II. )
XMM-Newton observations of the Lockman Hole - III. A relativistic Fe line in the mean X-ray spectra of type-1 and type-2 AGN

Using the 770 ks XMM-Newton survey of the Lockman Hole field in combination with extensive optical identifica- tions of the AGN population, we derive an average rest-frame spectrum of AGN types-1 and 2. The most prominent feature in the averaged spectrum is a strong fluorescent Fe line. In both type-1 and type-2 AGN, a clear relativistic line profile is revealed. A laor line profile with an inner disk radius smaller than the last stable orbit of a Schwarzschild black hole is most consistent with the data, indicating that the average supermassive black hole has significant spin. Equivalent widths of the broad relativis- tic lines range between 400-600 eV. We used the disk reflection model to compare the observed strength of the line with the amplitude of the reflection component, concluding that to consistently describe the observations the average iron abundance should be about three times the solar value.
Comparison of temperature lapse rates from the northern to the southern slopes of the Himalayas

Based on 20‐year (1985–2004) records of surface‐air‐temperature at 16 stations between the elevations of 3553 m and 4801 m a.s. l. in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau (or the northern slopes of the eastern Himalayas), this paper examines the monthly, seasonal and annual characteristics of near‐surface temperature lapse rates (TLRs). A linear regression model was fitted for the lapse rate calculation. The annual cycle of the TLR shows a distinct seasonal pattern, i.e. steepest in winter and shallowest in summer. Results are partially consistent with those from the southern slopes of the central Himalayas, in particular in summer, and correspond to the warm, rainy and humid season. In response to the monsoonal effect, the released latent heat of water vapour condensation causes an increase in air temperature at higher elevations. Therefore, the TLR is shallowest in the summer. The considerable amount of solar radiation at higher elevations also causes a reduction of the TLR in this season. The lowest diurnal range of lapse rates for summer is associated with lower diurnal variability in net radiation due to cloud cover and relative humidity. The steepest TLR occurs in winter in association with intense cooling at higher elevations, corresponding to the continental dry and cold air surges, and considerable snow‐temperature feedback. Lower insolation, deeper snow cover and a weaker inversion effect cause a lower diurnal range of TLR in this season. The observed contrast of winter TLR from the northern to southern slopes of the Himalayas is due to differences in elevation and topography, as well as the pronounced effect of cold air surges.