Identifying and interpreting stratification in sedimentary rocks on Mars : insight from Rover and orbital observations and terrestrial field analogs

Sedimentary rocks on Mars provide insight into past aqueous and atmospheric processes, climate regimes, and potential habitability. The stratigraphic architecture of sedimentary rocks on Mars is similar to that of Earth, indicating that the processes that govern deposition and erosion on Mars can be reasonably inferred through reference to analogous terrestrial systems. This dissertation aims to understand Martian surface processes through the use of (1) ground-based observations from the Mars Exploration Rovers, (2) orbital data from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and (3) the use of terrestrial field analogs to understand bedforms and sediment transport on Mars. Chapters 1 and 2 trace the history of aqueous activity at Meridiani Planum, through the reconstruction of eolian bedforms at Victoria crater, and the identification of a potential mudstone facies at Santa Maria crater. Chapter 3 uses Terrestrial Laser Scanning to study cross-bedding in pyroclastic surge deposits on Earth in order to understand sediment transport in these events and to establish criteria for their identification on Mars. The final chapter analyzes stratal geometries in the Martian North Polar Layered Deposits using tools for sequence stratigraphic analysis, to better constrain past surface processes and past climate conditions on Mars.

Interpreting the environmental record in the sediments of Blelham Tarn

Two aspects of the environmental record in the sediments of Blelham Tarn have been investigated: (1) the ecological history of the catchment, and lake-catchment relationships, by detailed analysis of the preserved pollen (as an indication of vegetation) and sediment composition with respect to a range of inorganic and organic geochemical variables and (2) a detailed investigation of the manner in which sediment is being formed today, including the way in which microfossils (pollen and diatoms) are being recruited and incorporated into sediments. When the record was examined by biological and geochemical analysis, together with radionuclide dating, of closely spaced samples, it was found that the changes of the last 30 yrs represented only the most recent episode in a long history of modification of the lake by man. To find an approach to this it is necessary to go back for at least 2500 yrs.

Integração de dados geofísicos de poços e geoquímicos na avaliação do potencial gerador dos folhelhos betuminosos da Formação Tremembé, Bacia de Taubaté

Nos depósitos cenozóicos da Bacia de Taubaté são encontrados depósitos de folhelhos betuminosos (oleígenos) pertencentes à Formação Tremembé, de idade oligocênica, que durante alguns anos na década de 50 foram investigados com relação ao seu aproveitamento econômico através da extração industrial do óleo nele contido. Entretanto, em face de aspectos tecnológicos e conjunturais da época, esse aproveitamento industrial foi considerado inviável do ponto de vista econômico. Nesta dissertação é proposta uma aplicação da perfilagem geofísica para a caracterização da faciologia dos folhelhos betuminosos da Formação Tremembé, tendo como objetivo principal a identificação das eletrofácies nos perfis elétricos, através de uma metodologia robusta e consistente. A identificação de eletrofácies é importante para ajudar na determinação da caracterização de uma reserva não convencional e na análise da viabilidade econômica. Neste estudo foram utilizados os perfis convencionais de poço: Raio gama, resitividade, potencial espontâneo e sônico. Os dados de perfis de poços foram integrados com os testemunhos e dados geoquímicos, mais precisamente os dados de COT, S, IH, S2 para uma caracterização realística das eletrofácies. Os dados foram obtidos a partir de três sondagens rotativas realizadas na Bacia de Taubaté, resultantes de testemunhagem contínua e perfilagem a cabo ao longo do intervalo de folhelhos da Formação Tremembé. A partir disto, obtém-se como resposta um modelo específico para cada litologia, onde cada pico corresponde a uma eletrofácies, permitindo o estabelecimento de alguns padrões ou assinaturas geofísicas para as principais fácies ocorrentes. Como resultado deste trabalho, foi possível correlacionar as eletrofácies entre os poços numa seção modelo, a partir de similaridade lateral das eletrofácies entre os marcos estratigráficos representado, foi possível observar a continuidade de duas sequências de folhelhos betuminoso com alto teores de COT, S, IH, S2, considerados os mais importantes do ponto de vista econômico e gerado um modelo faciológico 2D e 3D dessas camadas. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho são bastante promissores, apontando para a possibilidade de aplicação desta técnica a outros poços da Bacia de Taubaté, fornecendo subsídios relevantes à determinação da evolução sedimentar.

Interpreting long-term fish landings records: environment and/or exploitation?

The California Department of Fish and Game data base of California commercial fish landings for the period 1928 to 1985 has been assembled in computer accessible form at the Pacific Fisheries Environmental Group in Monterey, California. Time series for fishes whose landings are known to vary during periods of ocean warming were compared to time series of sea surface temperature. Expected patterns of variation were confirmed in the seasonal cycle, but were less clear on the interannual scale. When interannual variation was considered, the most serious hindrance to interpretation of the landings series appeared to be the continued reduction of the fish stocks due to commercial exploitation; other factors are discussed. Landings data contain information potentially useful in climatological studies, but problems should be anticipated in their use.

Interpreting the input admittance of violins and guitars

The most widespread vibration measurement on musical instrument bodies is of the point mobility at the bridge. Analysis of such measurements is presented, with a view to assessing what range of information could feasibly be extracted from the corpus of data. Analysis approaches include (1) pole-residue extraction; (2) damping trend analysis based on time decay information; (3) statistical estimates based on SEA power-balance and variance theory. Comparative results are shown for some key quantities. Damping trends with frequency are shown to have unexpectedly different forms for violins and for guitars. Linear averaging to estimate the "direct field" component gives a simple and clear visualisation of any local resonance behaviour near the bridge, such as the "bridge hill", and reveals some violins that show a double hill, while viols show only weak hills, and guitars none at all. © S. Hirzel Verlag · EAA.

Application Of (CS)-C-137 fingerprinting technique to interpreting sediment production records from reservoir deposits in a small catchment of the Hilly Loess Plateau；China

IEECAS SKLLQG

Land-cover classification of China: integrated analysis of AVHRR imagery and geophysical data

Over last two decades, numerous studies have used remotely sensed data from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) sensors to map land use and land cover at large spatial scales, but achieved only limited success. In this paper, we employed an approach that combines both AVHRR images and geophysical datasets (e.g. climate, elevation). Three geophysical datasets are used in this study: annual mean temperature, annual precipitation, and elevation. We first divide China into nine bio-climatic regions, using the long-term mean climate data. For each of nine regions, the three geophysical data layers are stacked together with AVHRR data and AVHRR-derived vegetation index (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) data, and the resultant multi-source datasets were then analysed to generate land-cover maps for individual regions, using supervised classification algorithms. The nine land-cover maps for individual regions were assembled together for China. The existing land-cover dataset derived from Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) images was used to assess the accuracy of the classification that is based on AVHRR and geophysical data. Accuracy of individual regions varies from 73% to 89%, with an overall accuracy of 81% for China. The results showed that the methodology used in this study is, in general, feasible for large-scale land-cover mapping in China.

Tectonic geomorphology of the Ryukyu Trench-Arc-Backarc System: geological-geophysical exploration and mapping

OKINAWA TROUGH; BASIN

Geophysical signatures associated with fluid flow and gas hydrate occurrence in a tectonically quiescent sequence, Qiongdongnan Basin, South China Sea

Interpretation of high-resolution two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) seismic data collected in the Qiongdongnan Basin, South China Sea reveals the presence of polygonal faults, pockmarks, gas chimneys and slope failure in strata of Pliocene and younger age. The gas chimneys are characterized by low-amplitude reflections, acoustic turbidity and low P-wave velocity indicating fluid expulsion pathways. Coherence time slices show that the polygonal faults are restricted to sediments with moderate-amplitude, continuous reflections. Gas hydrates are identified in seismic data by the presence of bottom simulating reflectors (BSRs), which have high amplitude, reverse polarity and are subparallel to seafloor. Mud diapirism and mounded structures have variable geometry and a great diversity regarding the origin of the fluid and the parent beds. The gas chimneys, mud diapirism, polygonal faults and a seismic facies-change facilitate the upward migration of thermogenic fluids from underlying sediments. Fluids can be temporarily trapped below the gas hydrate stability zone, but fluid advection may cause gas hydrate dissociation and affect the thickness of gas hydrate zone. The fluid accumulation leads to the generation of excess pore fluids that release along faults, forming pockmarks and mud volcanoes on the seafloor. These features are indicators of fluid flow in a tectonically-quiescent sequence, Qiongdongnan Basin. Geofluids (2010) 10, 351-368.

Geophysical evaluation methods for buried hill reservoirs in the Jiyang superdepression of the Bohai Bay basin, eastern China

The Jiyang superdepression is one of the richest hydrocarbon accumulations in the Bohai Bay basin, eastern China. Comprehensive seismic methods have been used in buried hill exploration in Jiyang to describe these fractured reservoirs better. Accurate seismic stratigraphic demarcation and variable-velocity mapping were applied to reveal the inner structure of the buried hills and determine the nature of the structural traps more precisely. Based on the analysis of rock properties and the characteristics of well-developed buried hill reservoirs, we have successfully linked the geology and seismic response by applying seismic forward technology. Log-constrained inversion, absorption coefficient analysis and tectonic forward-inversion with FMI loggings were applied to analyse and evaluate the buried hill reservoirs and gave satisfying results. The reservoir prediction was successful, which confirmed that the comprehensive utilization of these methods can be helpful in the exploration of buried hill reservoirs.

On SAR wind speed ambiguities and related geophysical model functions

Recent investigations show that normalized radar cross sections for C-band microwave sensors decrease under high wind conditions with certain incident angles instead of increase, as is the case for low to moderate wind speeds. This creates the problem of ambiguities in high wind speed retrievals from synthetic aperture radar (SAR). In the present work, four geophysical model functions (GMFs) are studied, namely the high wind C-band model 4 (CMOD4HW), C-band model 5 (CMOD5), the high wind vertical polarized GMF (HWGMF_VV), and the high wind horizontal polarized GMF (HWGMF_HH). Our focus is on model behaviours relative to wind speed ambiguities. We show that, except for CMOD4HW, the other GMFs exhibit the wind speed ambiguity problem. To consider this problem in high wind speed retrievals from SAR, we focus on hurricanes and propose a method to remove the speed ambiguity using the dominant hurricane wind structure.

超参数控制下的波阻抗约束反演

The seismic survey is the most effective geophysical method during exploration and development of oil/gas. As a main means in processing and interpreting seismic data, impedance inversion takes up a special position in seismic survey. This is because the impedance parameter is a ligament which connects seismic data with well-logging and geological information, while it is also essential in predicting reservoir properties and sand-body. In fact, the result of traditional impedance inversion is not ideal. This is because the mathematical inverse problem of impedance is poor-pose so that the inverse result has instability and multi-result, so it is necessary to introduce regularization. Most simple regularizations are presented in existent literature, there is a premise that the image(or model) is globally smooth. In fact, as an actual geological model, it not only has made of smooth region but also be separated by the obvious edge, the edge is very important attribute of geological model. It's difficult to preserve these characteristics of the model and to avoid an edge too smooth to clear. Thereby, in this paper, we propose a impedance inverse method controlled by hyperparameters with edge-preserving regularization, the inverse convergence speed and result would be improved. In order to preserve the edge, the potential function of regularization should satisfy nine conditions such as basic assumptions edge preservation and convergence assumptions etc. Eventually, a model with clear background and edge-abnormity can be acquired. The several potential functions and the corresponding weight functions are presented in this paper. The potential functionφLφHL andφGM can meet the need of inverse precision by calculating the models. For the local constant planar and quadric models, we respectively present the neighborhood system of Markov random field corresponding to the regularization term. We linearity nonlinear regularization by using half-quadratic regularization, it not only preserve the edge, and but also simplify the inversion, and can use some linear methods. We introduced two regularization parameters (or hyperparameters) λ2 and δ in the regularization term. λ2 is used to balance the influence between the data term and the transcendental term; δ is a calibrating parameter used to adjust the gradient value at the discontinuous position(or formation interface). Meanwhile, in the inverse procedure, it is important to select the initial value of hyperparameters and to change hyperparameters, these will then have influence on convergence speed and inverse effect. In this paper, we roughly give the initial value of hyperparameters by using a trend- curve of φ-(λ2, δ) and by a method of calculating the upper limit value of hyperparameters. At one time, we change hyperparameters by using a certain coefficient or Maximum Likelihood method, this can be simultaneously fulfilled with the inverse procedure. Actually, we used the Fast Simulated Annealing algorithm in the inverse procedure. This method overcame restrictions from the local extremum without depending on the initial value, and got a global optimal result. Meanwhile, we expound in detail the convergence condition of FSA, the metropolis receiving probability form Metropolis-Hasting, the thermal procession based on the Gibbs sample and other methods integrated with FSA. These content can help us to understand and improve FSA. Through calculating in the theoretic model and applying it to the field data, it is proved that the impedance inverse method in this paper has the advantage of high precision practicability and obvious effect.

电阻率测井反演方法应用研究

Formation resistivity is one of the most important parameters to be evaluated in the evaluation of reservoir. In order to acquire the true value of virginal formation, various types of resistivity logging tools have been developed. However, with the increment of the proved reserves, the thickness of interest pay zone is becoming thinner and thinner, especially in the terrestrial deposit oilfield, so that electrical logging tools, limited by the contradictory requirements of resolution and investigation depth of this kinds of tools, can not provide the true value of the formation resistivity. Therefore, resitivity inversion techniques have been popular in the determination of true formation resistivity based on the improving logging data from new tools. In geophysical inverse problems, non-unique solution is inevitable due to the noisy data and deficient measurement information. I address this problem in my dissertation from three aspects, data acquisition, data processing/inversion and applications of the results/ uncertainty evaluation of the non-unique solution. Some other problems in the traditional inversion methods such as slowness speed of the convergence and the initial-correlation results. Firstly, I deal with the uncertainties in the data to be processed. The combination of micro-spherically focused log (MSFL) and dual laterolog(DLL) is the standard program to determine formation resistivity. During the inversion, the readings of MSFL are regarded as the resistivity of invasion zone of the formation after being corrected. However, the errors can be as large as 30 percent due to mud cake influence even if the rugose borehole effects on the readings of MSFL can be ignored. Furthermore, there still are argues about whether the two logs can be quantitatively used to determine formation resisitivities due to the different measurement principles. Thus, anew type of laterolog tool is designed theoretically. The new tool can provide three curves with different investigation depths and the nearly same resolution. The resolution is about 0.4meter. Secondly, because the popular iterative inversion method based on the least-square estimation can not solve problems more than two parameters simultaneously and the new laterolog logging tool is not applied to practice, my work is focused on two parameters inversion (radius of the invasion and the resistivty of virgin information ) of traditional dual laterolog logging data. An unequal weighted damp factors- revised method is developed to instead of the parameter-revised techniques used in the traditional inversion method. In this new method, the parameter is revised not only dependency on the damp its self but also dependency on the difference between the measurement data and the fitting data in different layers. At least 2 iterative numbers are reduced than the older method, the computation cost of inversion is reduced. The damp least-squares inversion method is the realization of Tikhonov's tradeoff theory on the smooth solution and stability of inversion process. This method is realized through linearity of non-linear inversion problem which must lead to the dependency of solution on the initial value of parameters. Thus, severe debates on efficiency of this kinds of methods are getting popular with the developments of non-linear processing methods. The artificial neural net method is proposed in this dissertation. The database of tool's response to formation parameters is built through the modeling of the laterolog tool and then is used to training the neural nets. A unit model is put forward to simplify the dada space and an additional physical limitation is applied to optimize the net after the cross-validation method is done. Results show that the neural net inversion method could replace the traditional inversion method in a single formation and can be used a method to determine the initial value of the traditional method. No matter what method is developed, the non-uniqueness and uncertainties of the solution could be inevitable. Thus, it is wise to evaluate the non-uniqueness and uncertainties of the solution in the application of inversion results. Bayes theorem provides a way to solve such problems. This method is illustrately discussed in a single formation and achieve plausible results. In the end, the traditional least squares inversion method is used to process raw logging data, the calculated oil saturation increased 20 percent than that not be proceed compared to core analysis.