Integration of high-resolution geophysical data for the characterization of alluvial aquifers : new approaches and implications for hydrological predictions

Abstract Accurate characterization of the spatial distribution of hydrological properties in heterogeneous aquifers at a range of scales is a key prerequisite for reliable modeling of subsurface contaminant transport, and is essential for designing effective and cost-efficient groundwater management and remediation strategies. To this end, high-resolution geophysical methods have shown significant potential to bridge a critical gap in subsurface resolution and coverage between traditional hydrological measurement techniques such as borehole log/core analyses and tracer or pumping tests. An important and still largely unresolved issue, however, is how to best quantitatively integrate geophysical data into a characterization study in order to estimate the spatial distribution of one or more pertinent hydrological parameters, thus improving hydrological predictions. Recognizing the importance of this issue, the aim of the research presented in this thesis was to first develop a strategy for the assimilation of several types of hydrogeophysical data having varying degrees of resolution, subsurface coverage, and sensitivity to the hydrologic parameter of interest. In this regard a novel simulated annealing (SA)-based conditional simulation approach was developed and then tested in its ability to generate realizations of porosity given crosshole ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and neutron porosity log data. This was done successfully for both synthetic and field data sets. A subsequent issue that needed to be addressed involved assessing the potential benefits and implications of the resulting porosity realizations in terms of groundwater flow and contaminant transport. This was investigated synthetically assuming first that the relationship between porosity and hydraulic conductivity was well-defined. Then, the relationship was itself investigated in the context of a calibration procedure using hypothetical tracer test data. Essentially, the relationship best predicting the observed tracer test measurements was determined given the geophysically derived porosity structure. Both of these investigations showed that the SA-based approach, in general, allows much more reliable hydrological predictions than other more elementary techniques considered. Further, the developed calibration procedure was seen to be very effective, even at the scale of tomographic resolution, for predictions of transport. This also held true at locations within the aquifer where only geophysical data were available. This is significant because the acquisition of hydrological tracer test measurements is clearly more complicated and expensive than the acquisition of geophysical measurements. Although the above methodologies were tested using porosity logs and GPR data, the findings are expected to remain valid for a large number of pertinent combinations of geophysical and borehole log data of comparable resolution and sensitivity to the hydrological target parameter. Moreover, the obtained results allow us to have confidence for future developments in integration methodologies for geophysical and hydrological data to improve the 3-D estimation of hydrological properties.

Endogenous labor market participation and the business cycle

Existing models of equilibrium unemployment with endogenous labor market participation are complex, generate procyclical unemployment rates and cannot match unemployment variability relative to GDP. We embed endogenous participation in a simple, tractable job market matching model, show analytically how variations in the participation rate are driven by the cross-sectional density of home productivity near the participation threshold, andhow this density translates into an extensive-margin labor supply elasticity. A calibration of the model to macro data not only matches employment and participation variabilities but also generates strongly countercyclical unemployment rates. With some wage rigidity the model also matches unemployment variations well. Furthermore, the labor supply elasticity implied by our calibration is consistent with microeconometric evidence for the US.

Modelo de evaluación integrada del stock norte-centro de la anchoveta peruana Engraulis ringens Jenyns

Se presenta un nuevo modelo integrado de evaluación para el stock norte-centro de la anchoveta peruana que permite reconstruir y hacer un seguimiento de la estructura de longitudes del stock desde un modelo basado en edades. El modelo fue calibrado usando estimados acústicos de biomasa y estructuras de tallas provenientes de cruceros científicos y de desembarques de la pesquería. Para la calibración se utilizó un algoritmo evolutivo con diferentes funciones de aptitud para cada variable calibrada (biomasas y capturas). Se presentan los estimados mensuales de biomasa total, biomasa desovante, reclutamiento y mortalidad por pesca obtenidos por el modelo de evaluación integrada para el periodo 1964-2008. Se encontraron tres periodos cualitativamente distintos en la dinámica de anchoveta, entre 1961-1971, 1971-1991 y 1991 al presente, que se distinguen tanto por las biomasas medias anuales como por los niveles de reclutamiento observado.

Determination of extreme floods using a distributed hydrological model

Hydrological models developed for extreme precipitation of PMP type are difficult to calibrate because of the scarcity of available data for these events. This article presents the process and results of calibration for a distributed hydrological model at fine scale developed for the estimation of probable maximal floods in the case of a PMP. This calibration is done on two Swiss catchments for two events of summer storms. The calculation done is concentrated on the estimation of the parameters of the model, divided in two parts. The first is necessary for the computation of flow speeds while the second is required for the determination of the initial and final infiltration capacities for each terrain type. The results, validated with the Nash equation show a good correlation between the simulated and observed flows. We also apply this model on two Romanian catchments, showing the river network and estimated flow.

The three horsemen of riches: Plague, war and urbanization in early modern Europe

How did Europe escape the "Iron Law of Wages?" We construct a simple Malthusian model withtwo sectors and multiple steady states, and use it to explain why European per capita incomes andurbanization rates increased during the period 1350-1700. Productivity growth can only explain a smallfraction of the rise in output per capita. Population dynamics changes of the birth and death schedules were far more important determinants of steady states. We show how a major shock to population cantrigger a transition to a new steady state with higher per-capita income. The Black Death was such ashock, raising wages substantially. Because of Engel's Law, demand for urban products increased, andurban centers grew in size. European cities were unhealthy, and rising urbanization pushed up aggregatedeath rates. This effect was reinforced by diseases spread through war, financed by higher tax revenues.In addition, rising trade also spread diseases. In this way higher wages themselves reduced populationpressure. We show in a calibration exercise that our model can account for the sustained rise in Europeanurbanization as well as permanently higher per capita incomes in 1700, without technological change.Wars contributed importantly to the "Rise of Europe", even if they had negative short-run effects. We thustrace Europe s precocious rise to economic riches to interactions of the plague shock with the belligerentpolitical environment and the nature of cities.

Parallelizing remote sensing image geometric correction

Remote sensing spatial, spectral, and temporal resolutions of images, acquired over a reasonably sized image extent, result in imagery that can be processed to represent land cover over large areas with an amount of spatial detail that is very attractive for monitoring, management, and scienti c activities. With Moore's Law alive and well, more and more parallelism is introduced into all computing platforms, at all levels of integration and programming to achieve higher performance and energy e ciency. Being the geometric calibration process one of the most time consuming processes when using remote sensing images, the aim of this work is to accelerate this process by taking advantage of new computing architectures and technologies, specially focusing in exploiting computation over shared memory multi-threading hardware. A parallel implementation of the most time consuming process in the remote sensing geometric correction has been implemented using OpenMP directives. This work compares the performance of the original serial binary versus the parallelized implementation, using several multi-threaded modern CPU architectures, discussing about the approach to nd the optimum hardware for a cost-e ective execution.

A wearable system for multi-segment foot kinetics measurement.

This study aims to design a wearable system for kinetics measurement of multi-segment foot joints in long-distance walking and to investigate its suitability for clinical evaluations. The wearable system consisted of inertial sensors (3D gyroscopes and 3D accelerometers) on toes, forefoot, hindfoot, and shank, and a plantar pressure insole. After calibration in a laboratory, 10 healthy elderly subjects and 12 patients with ankle osteoarthritis walked 50m twice wearing this system. Using inverse dynamics, 3D forces, moments, and power were calculated in the joint sections among toes, forefoot, hindfoot, and shank. Compared to those we previously estimated for a one-segment foot model, the sagittal and transverse moments and power in the ankle joint, as measured via multi-segment foot model, showed a normalized RMS difference of less than 11%, 14%, and 13%, respectively, for healthy subjects, and 13%, 15%, and 14%, for patients. Similar to our previous study, the coronal moments were not analyzed. Maxima-minima values of anterior-posterior and vertical force, sagittal moment, and power in shank-hindfoot and hindfoot-forefoot joints were significantly different between patients and healthy subjects. Except for power, the inter-subject repeatability of these parameters was CMC>0.90 for healthy subjects and CMC>0.70 for patients. Repeatability of these parameters was lower for the forefoot-toes joint. The proposed measurement system estimated multi-segment foot joints kinetics with acceptable repeatability but showed difference, compared to those previously estimated for the one-segment foot model. These parameters also could distinguish patients from healthy subjects. Thus, this system is suggested for outcome evaluations of foot treatments.

Stable isotope compositions of mammoth teeth from Niederweningen, Switzerland: Implications for the Late Pleistocene climate, environment, and diet

Oxygen and carbon isotope compositions of well-preserved mammoth teeth from the Middle Wurmian (40-70 ka) peat layer of Niederweningen, the most important mammoth site in Switzerland, were analysed to reconstruct Late Pleistocene palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental conditions. Drinking water (delta(18)O values of approximately -12.3 +/- 0.9 parts per thousand were calculated front oxygen isotope compositions of mammoth tooth enamel apatite using a species-specific calibration for modern elephants. These delta(18)O(H2O) values reflect the mean oxygen isotope composition of the palaeo-precipitation and are similar to those directly measured for fate Pleistocene groundwater from aquifers in northern Switzerland and southern Germany. Using a present-day delta(18)O(H2)o-precipitation-air temperature relation for Switzerland, a mean annual air temperature (MAT) of around 4.3 +/- 2.1 degrees C can be calculated for the Middle Wurmian at this site. This MAT is in good agreement with palaeotemperature estimates on the basis of Middle Wurmian groundwater recharge temperatures and beetle assemblages. Hence, the climatic conditions in this region were around 4 degrees C cooler during the Middle Wurmian interstadial phase, around 45-50ka BP, than they are today. During this period the mammoths from Niederweningen lived in an open tundra-like, C(3) plant-dominated environment as indicated by enamel (delta(13)C values of -11.5 +/- 0.3 parts per thousand and pollen and macroplant fossils found in the embedding peat. The low variability of enamel delta(13)C and delta(18)O values from different mammoth teeth reflects similar environmental conditions and supports a relatively small time frame for the fossil assemblage. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.

Mitä musiikkiopistojen pääsykokeissa testataan? : tutkimus Helsingissä sijaitsevien SML:n liittoon kuuluvien musiikkiopistojen pääsykokeista

Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli selvittää, mitä musiikkiopistoissa käytössä olevat pääsykoetestit mittaavat sekä mitataanko niissä varsinaisesti musikaalisuutta. Lisäksi tutkimuksessa tarkasteltiin lahjakkuuden ja musikaalisuuden teorioita sekä niiden suhdetta käytössä oleviin pääsykoetesteihin. Tutkimus kohdistui Helsingissä sijaitsevien Suomen musiikkioppilaitosten liittoon (SML) kuuluvien musiikkiopistojen 4-7-vuotiaille pyrkijöille suunnattuihin pääsykokeisiin. Tutkimusaineisto koostui pääsykoekäytäntöjen osalta musiikkiopistojen rehtoreiden teemahaastattelusta sekä analysoitavaksi saaduista kirjallisista yksilö- tai ryhmätesteistä. Helsingissä sijaitsevista yhdestätoista musiikkiopistosta kymmenen osallistui teemahaastatteluun (10/11), ja ensimmäisessä vaiheessa mukana olleista kymmenestä opistosta seitsemällä oli tarjota myös pyydetty kirjallinen materiaali tutkimuksen toista vaihetta, kirjallisen testiaineiston analyysia varten (7/10). Haastattelujen ja testien analyysin perusteella saatiin selville musiikillisia ja ei-musiikillisia osatekijöitä, joiden mittaamisesta pääsykoe muodostui. Tutkimusmenetelmänä oli sisällönanalyysi. Johtopäätösten kannalta oli olennaista analysoida saatuja tuloksia suhteessa teoriataustassa esiteltyihin lahjakkuus- ja musikaalisuuskäsityksiin. Tulosten valossa on ilmeistä, että musikaalisuuden määrittelyn ongelmallisuudesta johtuen ei voida yksiselitteisesti vastata kysymykseen siitä, mitataanko pääsykoetesteissä juuri musikaalisuutta. Käytetyt testit mittaavat sekä musiikillisia että ei-musiikillisia tekijöitä ja erityisesti niihin harjaantumista. Testien kehittämisessä tulisi selkeämmin huomioida lapsen ikäkauden asettamat haasteet sekä lapsen yleiseen kehitykseen että erityiseen musiikilliseen kehitykseen kohdistuva tutkimus.

Fatores envolvidos na supressividade a Rhizoctonia solani em alguns solos tropicais brasileiros

O experimento foi realizado em condições de casa de vegetação, na Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, no período de março a agosto de 1995, visando determinar, em sete classes de solo, a supressividade ao fungo Rhizoctonia solani e estudar o possível relacionamento dessa característica com a mineralogia, propriedades físicas e químicas e populações de fungos do solo. Após proceder à inoculação dos solos com R. solani, multiplicada em grãos de sorgo autoclavados, observou-se que o índice de doença em plântulas de soja aumentou em todos eles. Tal índice foi sempre maior na camada de 0-20 cm, associando-se com o maior teor de matéria orgânica, com exceção do Solo Orgânico eutrófico (SOe), o qual apresentou um índice de doença similar nas duas profundidades (0-20 e 20-40 cm). O efeito supressivo a R. solani, observado no material do Plintossolo distrófico (PTd) e no Latossolo Vermelho-Escuro álico (LEa), relacionou-se com a textura muito argilosa, com a alta saturação por alumínio e com a vegetação (fase cerrado), mesmo com a ausência de Trichoderma spp. Os materiais do Solo Orgânico eutrófico (SOe), do Latossolo Roxo distrófico (LRd) e da Terra Roxa Estruturada eutrófica (TRe) apresentaram maior conducividade a R. solani , possivelmente relacionada com o caráter eutrófico e com o teor da matéria orgânica, decorrente do tipo de cobertura vegetal (fase vegetação). O material do Latossolo Vermelho-Escuro álico textura média (LEam) e o do Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo álico (LVa) mostraram comportamento intermediário. O índice de doença correlacionou-se negativamente com a saturação por alumínio e teor de argila e positivamente com a saturação de bases (V) e com o pH. A mineralogia parece não ter influência direta na supressividade ou conducividade dos solos estudados, provavelmente por variar apenas no que se refere às formas de óxidos de ferro.

Avaliação de métodos de extração de silício em solos cultivados com arroz de sequeiro

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a eficiência de quatro métodos de extração (ácido acético 0,5 mol L-1, tampão pH 4,0, cloreto de cálcio 0,0025 mol L-1 e água) em estimar a disponibilidade de silício (Si) no solo para plantas de arroz de sequeiro cultivadas em casa de vegetação. Quatro solos, correspondentes às classes: Latossolo Vermelho-Escuro álico (LEa), Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo álico (LVa), Latossolo Roxo distrófico (LRd) e Areia Quartzosa álica (AQa), todos da região do Triângulo Mineiro e ainda não cultivados foram utilizados no estudo. Cinco níveis de Si foram estabelecidos em cada um dos solos. Plantas de arroz foram cultivadas em vasos até a maturação. Como resultado deste trabalho, concluiu-se que o ácido acético 0,5 mol L-1 foi o método que apresentou a melhor estimativa do Si disponível no solo para o arroz de sequeiro. O silício da parte aérea do arroz revelou alta correlação com o Si extraível pelo método ácido acético.