Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predicting DNAPL mass discharge and contaminated site longevity probabilities: Conceptual model and high‐resolution stochastic simulation

Improper storage and disposal of nonaqueous‐phase liquids (NAPLs) has resulted in widespread contamination of the subsurface, threatening the quality of groundwater as a freshwater resource. The high frequency of contaminated sites and the difficulties of remediation efforts demand rational decisions based on a sound risk assessment. Due to sparse data and natural heterogeneities, this risk assessment needs to be supported by appropriate predictive models with quantified uncertainty. This study proposes a physically and stochastically coherent model concept to simulate and predict crucial impact metrics for DNAPL contaminated sites, such as contaminant mass discharge and DNAPL source longevity. To this end, aquifer parameters and the contaminant source architecture are conceptualized as random space functions. The governing processes are simulated in a three‐dimensional, highly resolved, stochastic, and coupled model that can predict probability density functions of mass discharge and source depletion times. While it is not possible to determine whether the presented model framework is sufficiently complex or not, we can investigate whether and to which degree the desired model predictions are sensitive to simplifications often found in the literature. By testing four commonly made simplifications, we identified aquifer heterogeneity, groundwater flow irregularity, uncertain and physically based contaminant source zones, and their mutual interlinkages as indispensable components of a sound model framework.
Evidence for the eastward migration of the Alboran Sea based on regional subsidence analysis: A case for basin formation by delamination of the subcrustal lithosphere?

The paradox of an extensional basin forming at a site of colliding continents is apparent in the evolution of the Neogene Alboran Sea basin of the westernmost Mediterranean. Processes that may be responsible for such basins forming at sites of continental collision include subduction and the removal of subcrustal lithosphere by either convection (extensional collapse) or delamination and have recently been invoked to explain the formation of the Alboran Sea basin. Decoupling of the thermal boundary layer can reverse the stress field from a state of compression to one of extension. The processes of extensional collapse and delamination involve removal of this layer and would have similar consequences in terms of modifying lithosphere geometry: replacement of the detached thermal boundary layer by hot asthenospheric material, which would produce a high geothermal gradient and in turn cause uplift at the surface. With identical effects, it is difficult to distinguish between the two mechanisms. Using the technique of backstripping, a subsidence history which evidences the coexistence of subsided and uplifted areas in the Alboran Sea basin through the Miocene to the Quaternary, has been reconstructed for the basin. While the deformation front of the Alboran Domain migrated westward, subsidence in the Alboran Sea basin propagated in the opposite sense, east/southeastward. This is best explained as the basin forming above a southeastward-propagating, delaminating subcrustal lithospheric slab.
DEVELOPMENT OF AN IMPROVED INTENSITY MEASURE IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE VARIABILITY IN SEISMIC DEMANDS UNDER NEAR-FAULT GROUND MOTIONS

Intensity measure (IM) which describes the strength of an earthquake record plays an important role in the seismic performance assessment of structures. An improved IM that can reduce the variability in seismic demands helps reducing the number of records necessary to predict the seismic performance with sufficient accuracy. In this study, an improved RMS-based IM is developed based on the results obtained from incremental dynamic analyses of short-to relatively long-period frames under an ensemble of near-fault pulse-like earthquake records. It is observed that the root-mean-square value of pseudo spectral accelerations, (Sa)rms, is generally superior to that of spectral velocities, (Sv)rms, in seismic demand prediction under near-fault records. To compute (Sa)rms as IM, two appropriate period ranges are suggested for short- and moderated-to relatively long-period frames, respectively. Comparing the efficiency of (Sa)rms with several advanced IMs shows that (Sa)rms is more efficient in predicting the inelastic response and collapse capacity of short-period frames. It is also found that intensity measure (Sa)rms is sufficient with respect to the magnitude and source-to-site distance for all frames of various heights under near-fault ground motions.
Stem volume estimation in boreal forests using ERS-1/2 coherence and SPOT XS optical data

The use of spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems to estimate stem volume and biomass in boreal forests has shown some promising results, but with saturation of the radar backscatter at relatively low stem volumes and limited accuracy of stem volume estimation. These limitations have motivated evaluation of more advanced methods, such as interferometry. The results presented in this study show that ERS interferometry, under favourable conditions, may be used to estimate stem volume at stand level with saturation level and accuracy useful for operational forestry management planning in boreal forests. Five interferograms were analysed, covering a test site located in the central part of Sweden with stem volume in the range of 0-305 m3 ha-1. The best interferogram showed a linear relationship between stem volume and coherence with a root mean square error (RMSE) of approximately 26 m3 ha-1, corresponding to 20% of the average stem volume, throughout the range of stem volume. No saturation was observed up to the maximum stem volume. However, the sensitivity of coherence to stem volume varied considerably between the interferograms. Finally, four SPOT XS images were evaluated and compared with the stem volume estimations obtained from the interferograms, resulting in a relative RMSE of about 24% of the stem volume, for the best case. The estimation of stem volume using coherence data was found to be better than optical data for stem volumes exceeding about 110 m3 ha-1. The statistical analysis was performed using linear regression models with cross-validation.
Elastic properties of clay minerals

Clay minerals are the most abundant materials in sedimentary basins. The most common—like kaolinite, illite, chlorite, and smectite—are found in various amounts in mudstones and are also often found in clastic and nonclastic reservoir rocks. Their presence alters the elastic behavior of reservoir rocks significantly as a function of mineral type, volume and distribution. Thus, two sandstones with the same clay amount might have different elastic properties due to differences within the clay population. The elastic properties of clay minerals are therefore important in rock physics modeling to understand the seismic and sonic log responses of shaley sequences and clay-bearing reservoir rocks.
Comment on “What do we know about the evolution of Mg to Ca ratios in seawater?” by Wally Broecker and Jimin Yu

[1] A record of the Mg/Ca ratio of ancient seawater is essential to understand variations in the major geological processes that control ocean chemistry and for estimating past ocean temperatures. A recent contribution by Broecker and Yu (2011) regarding past seawater Mg/Ca provides an unbalanced assessment of the uncertainties and key assumptions of the methodologies considered. It misrepresents aspects of a new method to estimate past ocean Mg/Ca proposed by Coggon et al. (2010); here we provide clarification of that approach. We estimate the accuracy and precision of seawater Mg/Ca estimates derived from planktonic foraminifera test calcite, the preferred approach of Broecker and Yu. These are shown to be consistent with other records that suggest major changes in seawater cation chemistry. An explanation of how major changes in the Mg/Ca of seawater might occur is beyond the scope of this comment.
Measurement of Myocardial Contractility in the Ischemic Heart – A Disease Immanent Uncertainty

The standard procedure for measuring left ventricular (LV) contractility is by use of a conductance catheter with which LV volume and LV pressure can be determined simultaneously. In 1973, Sagawa (1) was the first to use this catheter, which had been developed at the University Hospital Leiden, and he was able to show that an elastance curve can be determined from a series of loop diagrams which were obtained under acute preload reduction. The slope of the elastance curve (Ees) increased when the positive inotropic substance isoprenaline was administered (Fig. 1).
Poststack Time Migration Velocity Analysis by CRS Diffraction Stacking

The Common Reflection Surface stack provides the stacked section as well as kinematic wavefield attributes. We demonstrate on synthetic examples, how this attributes can be used to effectively separate reflected and diffracted energy. After separating the diffracted wavefield we introduce a technique for poststack time migration velocity analysis. Due to the application in the poststack data domain the presented procedure is stable and fast producing highly focused time migrated images.
In search of regularities in extreme rainstorms

Extreme rainstorms play an important role in the hydrologic design and operation of water resource systems. Due to the lack of complete knowledge of the complex meteorological mechanisms that produce and sustain extreme storms, statistical and correlation analyses are a valuable and complementary tool in identifying regularities of extreme rainfall characteristics. In this paper the authors have studied the statistical properties of several characteristics of extreme midwestern storms. In particular, they have analyzed the storm occurrence process in space and time, storm shape and orientation, total storm center depth, storm duration, storm areal extent, and depth-area relationships. Analysis is based on the data base of extreme storms published by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Several trends and regularities among extreme midwestern storms have been identified and are expected to prove useful in developing and/or evaluating empirical and physically based models of extreme rainfall.
How Does the Record July 1996 Illinois Rainstorm Affect Probable Maximum Precipitation Estimates

The probable maximum precipitation (PMP), an estimate of the upper limit to storm rainfall, is determined using a catalog of extreme rainstorms. The effect of a recent extreme rainstorm—the northeastern Illinois storm of July 17–18, 1996—on PMP estimates for the Chicago area, is evaluated using standard PMP moisture maximization procedures. The results show that although the storm is a record rainfall event, its maximized precipitation is still below the PMP estimates for the Chicago area. Instead, a storm that occurred in Oklahoma, or perhaps another in Iowa, established the 24-h, 26- km2 (10- mi2 ) PMP estimate for Chicago. In either case, the higher maximized precipitation can be attributed to the combination of a larger storm rainfall amount, and a larger in-place moisture maximization factor. The case study also illustrates potential limitations with using standard PMP procedures. For instance, it is difficult to obtain an objective index to represent the mean moisture availability for this storm, si.
North Atlantic Storm Track Variability and Its Association to the North Atlantic Oscillation and Climate Variability of Northern Europe

Abstract The primary mode of North Atlantic storm track variability is identified using rotated principal component analysis (RPCA) on monthly fields of root-mean-squares of daily high-pass filtered (2–8-day periods) sea level pressures (SLP) for winters (December–February) 1900–92. It is examined in terms of its association with 1) monthly mean SLP fields, 2) regional low-frequency teleconnections, and 3) the seesaw in winter temperatures between Greenland and northern Europe. The principal storm track component is characterized by high synoptic variability preferring one of two areas at any given time. The northeastern Atlantic center (identified by positive RPCA scores) is characterized by deep cyclones in the area extending from Iceland northeastward to the Norwegian and Barents Seas, whereas the Bay of Biscay center (negative scores) is linked to cyclone activity around that area and into the Mediterranean basin. Combined principal component analysis is used to link the high-frequency storm track pre.
Using the Ecosystem Service Value of Habitat Areas for Wildlife Conservation: Implications of Carbon-Rich Peatswamp Forests for the Bornean Orang-utan, Pongo Pygmaeus

Forest fragmentation and degradation of lowland tropical peatswamp forests in Borneo pose a serious threat to the endangered Bornean orang-utan, whose decreasing population trends are attributed primarily to habitat loss. The orang-utan is projected to be extinct by 2020 unless existing populations can be connected and new conservation areas established, which is not currently economically viable. However, peatswamp forests, on which orang-utans can be found at their greatest densities, have a large capacity for carbon sequestration and storage and, thus, a high potential value on the carbon market. Unfortunately, as these wetlands are being deforested, drained, and burned for development, the peat soil is decomposing, emitting CO 2 into the atmosphere, and impacting global climate change. This project is a spatially explicit analysis of an area of fragmented peatswamp forest in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia that explores how the conservation targets of ape preservation and carbon sequestration and storage can be mutually satisfied through land management strategies. First, I prioritized intact peatswamp forest patches for conservation based on orang-utan presence and patch geometry metrics. To do this, I surveyed line transects in the study area, Block C of the Former Mega Rice Project, for orang-utan sleeping nests and produced a regional density estimate of 2.517 individuals / km 2. I identified patches greater than 350 ha from Landsat 7 TM data and then calculated the number of individuals and patch geometry metrics for each patch. I found the total population on Block C to be 2,161 individuals, only 1,146 of which are located in forest fragments with a population size large enough to be considered viable. I generated a model of habitat suitability for the orang-utan using maximum entropy methods. Then, I proposed corridors through degraded areas between the six priority patches of intact forest using least-cost path methods. The corridors included areas of high habitat suitability and also areas of high carbon value, and would increase the viable population size of orang-utans to 1,788 individuals. This project demonstrates how the incentive of carbon financing can make possible wildlife protection strategies, and how we might begin to use spatial planning to maximize biodiversity and ecosystem service benefits on the landscape.
Dynamics of a tidally‐forced stratified shear flow on the continental slope

[1] The near seabed mean and turbulent processes on the continental slope were measured for a three week period using an array of acoustic-Doppler velocimeters and thermistors over the bottom 30 m at the 400 m isobath. Baroclinic motions with characteristics similar to internal bores or boluses propagated onshore during the flood phase of both spring and neap tides. The arrival time of these internal bores at our measurement site varied amongst tidal cycles and their characteristics were not highly correlated with the amplitude of the barotropic tidal forcing. The passage of the internal bores was associated with large turbulent overturns, enhanced turbulent kinetic energy dissipation (e > 10−6 W kg−1) and intensified currents (>6 times the barotropic forcing) within meters of the seabed. During the deployment, stratification and shear competed to govern our observed overturning length scale (≲4 m) that were characterized by the Ellison length scale LE. Only measurements closest to the seabed (1.7 m) were described by the log law-of-the-wall; generally both buoyancy and the presence of the bottom boundary influenced LE, while sometimes flow-induced shear determined LE. As the distance of our measurements from the seabed increased, the influence of buoyancy became more pronounced. These results highlight that a more general descriptor of the overturning length scale is necessary for complex stratified shear flows.
BRYOZOAN DIVERSITY IN THE MIOCENE OF THE KUTAI BASIN, EAST KALIMANTAN, INDONESIA

ABSTRACT Miocene bryozoans from the Indonesian Archipelago have seldom been investigated in the past. Several factors combine to explain their poor fossil record, including rare exposures in a lushly vegetated terrane, dominance of inconspicuous encrusting species, and the adverse effects of diagenesis on fossil preservation. A large collection of samples from the Kutai Basin (East Kalimantan) has allowed new insights into the diversity of Miocene bryozoans in this region. The bryozoan assemblage as a whole consists of 123 species; a remarkable increase in known diversity. Substrate availability appears to be the main factor controlling bryozoan distribution. The majority of encrusting species are associated with plate-like scleractinian corals. Collecting curves allow sampled sites to be divided into three groups characterized by high, medium, and low species richness. The site of highest diversity is a mesophotic reef slope, an environment influenced by high input of terrigenous sediment. Ordination plots show no clear patterns of distribution among sites, with putatively endemic species accounting for most of the discrimination. A similar level of endemism and habitat heterogeneity characterizes modern, tropical bryozoan faunas. However, many more intermediate sites need to be sampled to achieve a fuller understanding of the true pattern of bryozoan species distribution in the Miocene of the Kutai Basin.
A decision support system for improving “fish friendly” flow compliance in the regulated Okanagan Lake and River System of British Columbia

The Okanagan Valley of British Columbia (BC) has one of the lowest per-capita water supplies in Canada. Large fluctuations in water supplies routinely induce seasonal extremes of flood and drought conditions that challenge the ability of decision makers to operate complex water management infrastructure (dams, dikes, irrigation networks, flood control channels) to satisfy competing objectives to meet human-system versus natural-system needs (e.g. protect property, irrigate land, protect aquatic biota). An audit of water management performance from 1982 to 1997 indicated frequent non-compliance of water regulation decisions with “fish friendly,” lake level and river discharge ranges specified by the 1982 Canada–BC Okanagan Basin Implementation Agreement (OBIA). Development and deployment of an environmental decision support system (EDSS) to provide real-time fish and water management tools (FWMT) to decision makers offered a potential means to improve the balance of water management decisions affecting both human and natural systems. The resultant FWMT-EDSS described here includes: a coupled set of four biophysical models of critical relationships among climate, fish and water that interact with a fifth water management rules model used to predict potential consequences of decisions for fish and other water users; a network of stations providing nearly instantaneous observations of lake elevation, river-discharge, precipitation and snowpack; a Structured Query Language (SQL) server database; an internet-accessible, graphical user interface; and a set of end users representing decision makers from government agencies, industry and local communities. FWMT provides a risk assessment framework to integrate biophysical processes, deal with multiple species and geographic locations, anticipate socioeconomic outcomes of water management decisions and increase cooperation among water users to improve fish and water management. Comparisons of observations from pre-FWMT “control” versus FWMT deployment years (n = 20 and 11, respectively) indicate significant improvements at both daily (p < 0.001) and annual (p < 0.05) time scales in compliance of water management decisions with OBIA guidelines to protect salmon during critical egg-to-fry emergence stages. These FWMT-enabled improvements were achieved without any increased damage to water system infrastructure, riparian property or agricultural production from flood or drought conditions.
Three‐dimensional chemical forecasting: A methodology

During the recent ASHOE (Airborne Southern Hemisphere Ozone Experiment) and SESAME (Second European Stratospheric Arctic and Middle-Latitude Experiment) field campaigns we produced a number of 10-day chemical forecasts of the stratosphere to aid in flight planning and interpretation of the observations. A general circulation model was integrated at high resolution to produce a 10-day meteorological forecast. These forecast fields were then used to specify the circulation in an off-line three-dimensional chemical transport model to produce a medium-range chemical forecast of the stratosphere. The chemical model has a detailed stratospheric chemistry scheme, including heterogeneous reactions on polar stratospheric clouds and sulfate aerosols. The NASA ER-2 high-altitude research aircraft made in situ measurements of chemical tracers in the lower stratosphere during the ASHOE campaign, which took place in four deployments from March to October 1994. This paper presents examples from the chemical forecasts made during the second and fourth deployments. We show that the ability to indicate the likely composition of the atmosphere is an important improvement over the standard meteorological forecasts, especially in air perturbed by chemical processing on polar stratospheric clouds. Of particular interest was the ability to forecast the chemical composition of filaments, which had been eroded from the vortex edge. Furthermore, immediate post-flight comparison between observed data and synoptic model data gave useful chemical interpretation of the observations.
Buffer Methods for Determining Lime Requirement of Soils With Appreciable Amounts of Extractable Aluminum

Studies were conducted to determine why certain soil test methods fail to indicate the actual lime requirement in many Ohio soils. Samples of 14 soils from various areas of the State were collected for study. The soils were incubated with various rates of applied CaCO₃ to determine actual lime requirement of each soil. Attempts were made to find laboratory methods that would accurately indicate the lime requirement of each. For these soils the Woodruff method had indicated only about half the amount of the actual lime requirement. The Mehlich triethanolamine method indicated accurately the amount of lime required for the unlimed acid soils. However, this method indicated too high a lime requirement on soils partially limed. Subtraction of the acidity measured above pH 6.8 by the triethanolamine method and then addition of the extractable Al, gave a very good indication of lime needs on all soils not limed above neutrality regardless of lime additions. Addition of extractable Al to total bases and triethanolamine-measured acidity to pH 6.8 gave nearly constant cation-exchange capacities of soils regardless of lime additions. These studies have led to development of an improved soil test buffer method for rapid routine laboratory analyses. It appears to be adequate for indicating lime needs of soils regardless of extractable (soluble) Al present.