Local Scale Research Articles

Mechanical properties of soils in internal waste bank of lignite mines and their primary characteristics

The modern development of urban areas is related to, among others, the location of industrial facilities on the outskirts of cities. More and more often, commercial buildings are founded on areas that have not been used for construction so far. Such areas include, among others: reclaimed lignite mine banks in the Konin region. The man-made soil is a chaotic mixture of fragments of glacial tills and Pliocene clays, often exceeding 20 m in thickness, which is naturally consolidated over time. Due to the method of formation of the embankment, despite the fact that banks are made of natural soil, their strength and deformation characteristics clearly differ from those characteristic of lithologically similar soils deposited as a result of geological processes. In this case, the use of a standard test approach may overestimate the strength and stiffness of the soil. Due to the complex structure of the bank in-situ tests were used for geotechnical exploration: CPTU and FVT, as well as laboratory tests in a triaxial apparatus and an oedometer. The results were compared with the results of studies conducted in similar naturally deposited soils. The obtained results provide valuable geotechnical characteristics of the embankment soil, which in its large fragments is built of natural soil clasts. The obtained results indicate a relatively small change in the geotechnical properties of the soils incorporated into the embankment within individual clasts of the natural soil (on a local scale) and a clear deterioration in the scale of the entire embankment, treated as the impact zone of building structures.

Deep reinforcement learning for inverting earthquake focal mechanism and its potential application to marine earthquakes

Earthquake data are one of the key means by which to explore our planet. At a large scale, the layered structure of the Earth is revealed by the seismic waves of natural earthquakes that go deep into its inner core. At a local scale, seismology for exploration has successfully been employed to discover massive fossil energies. As the volume of recorded seismic data becomes greater, intelligent methods for processing such a volume of data are eagerly anticipated. In particular, earthquake focal mechanisms are important for assessing the severity of tsunamis, characterizing seismogenic faults, and investigating the stress perturbations that follow a major earthquake. Here, we report a novel deep reinforcement learning method for inverting the earthquake focal mechanism. Unlike more typical deep learning applications, which require a large training dataset, a deep reinforcement learning system learns by itself. We demonstrate the validity and efficacy of the proposed deep reinforcement learning method by applying it to the Mw 7.1 mainshock of the Ridgecrest earthquakes in southern California. In the foreseeable future, deep learning technologies may greatly contribute to our understanding of the oceanographic process. The proposed method may help us understand the mechanism of marine earthquakes.

Protests

Citizens have long taken to the streets to demand change, expressing political views that may otherwise be suppressed. Protests have produced change at local, national, and international scales, including spectacular moments of political and social transformation. We document five new empirical patterns describing 1.2 million protest events across 218 countries between 1980 and 2020. First, autocracies and weak democracies experienced a trend break in protests during the Arab Spring. Second, protest movements also rose in importance following the Arab Spring. Third, protest movements geographically diffuse over time, spiking to their peak before falling off. Fourth, a country's year-to-year economic performance is not strongly correlated with protests; individual values are predictive of protest participation. Fifth, the United States, China, and Russia are the most overrepresented countries in academic studies. We discuss each pattern's connections to the existing literature and anticipate paths for future work.

Co to jest chaosmotechnika?

This article considers the problem of the scale of locality as a matter of placing technology in an (alter)cosmological perspective. It engages in a dialogue with two Simondon-inspired projects: on the one hand, Yuk Hui’s concept of cosmotechnics, and on the other, the transductive theory of systems outlined in the Deleuzoguattarian Thousand Plateaus. A new reading of a marginal thread of the latter, i.e., the universe of technical objects associated with the nomadism of the Great Steppe of the Bronze and Iron Ages, leads to the crystallization of the concept of chaosmotechnics, according to which the substrate of technical activities is the contingency of the cosmos. Answering the question of locality, the chaosmotechnic perspective allows for the untimely emergence of an alternative cosmology of the contemporary digital image from nomadic metal technical objects. Key-words: cosmos, technology, art, digital image, Witold Gombrowicz, Yuk Hui, Gilbert Simondon, Gilles Deleuze, Félix Guattari, Laura U. Marks

Updated Observations Provide Stronger Evidence for Increases in Subhourly to Hourly Extreme Rainfall in Canada

Abstract Global warming is expected to lead to increases in atmospheric moisture and intensify subhourly to hourly rainfall extremes. However, signal-to-noise ratios are low, especially at the local scale, making detection of changes in the observational record difficult. For Canada, previous studies based on short data records from 1965 to 2005 did not show conclusive evidence of increases in short-duration extreme rainfall. This study updates single-site and regional trend analyses of 5-min–24-h annual maximum rainfall in Canada using data from 1950 to 2021. Estimates of temporal trends are extended to also consider the association between rainfall intensity and dewpoint temperature, a measure of moisture availability. With longer records, evidence for increases in extreme rainfall at individual sites is stronger. Field significant increasing trends are found for the majority of durations, whereas before results were mixed and typically not statistically significant. Intensification is even more pronounced in single-site scaling of rainfall intensity with summer mean dewpoint temperature. Field significant positive scaling rates are detected for all durations. When data are pooled in space—irrespective of choice of regionalization—the results are even more clear. Notably, the strongest and most spatially homogeneous intensification of short-duration extreme rainfall is detected in subhourly to 2-h durations. When data are pooled across Canadian climate regions, field significant positive scaling is found in 72.7%–81.8% of regions for 5-min–2-h durations, with median scaling rates ranging from 5.3% to 9.4% °C−1. For durations ≥ 6 h, this falls to 27.3%–53% of regions, with scaling rates less than 4% °C−1.

Small mammal assemblages in heterogeneous landscapes at the Southern tip of Italian peninsula evidence clear eco-biogeographic patterns

We investigated the frequencies of sympatric small mammal species in 12 habitat-types located in the extreme south of the Italian peninsula (Calabria) using trapping techniques. Ten species were detected with Apodemus sylvaticus, the most abundant species. The assemblages of small mammal species recorded in the 12 selected habitat types revealed clear ecological and biogeographical patterns in the extreme southern tip of the Italian peninsula. Ecologically, we observed a clear dissimilarity between a guild of species linked to thermo-xerophilous habitat types and a comparable guild of mesophilous species linked to forest and sciaphilous habitat types. The differences among communities inhabiting in different habitat types also emerged in rarefaction curves, DCA analysis and Whittaker plots. Thus, all these sets of analyses were consistent in their interpretation of the variation of small mammal community structure along the gradient (β-diversity) among habitat types. From a biogeographical point of view, this is an apparent expression of a clear North–South gradient pattern that was already observed at the species level with Calabria being characterized by a strong impoverishment in species’ richness and diversity (“peninsula effect”). However, this rationale has been based so far on indirect data of small mammals preyed upon and recorded in owl’s pellets: the fact that a similar pattern was obtained also using small mammals recorded by traps indicates that the results were robust and generalizable. Ecological factors at the local scale and biogeographical factors at the peninsular scale could explain the community patterns that we observed in the present study.

A Localized Particle Filtering Approach to Advance Flood Frequency Estimation at Large Scale Using Satellite Synthetic Aperture Radar Image Collection and Hydrodynamic Modelling

This study describes a method that combines synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data with shallow-water modeling to estimate flood hazards at a local level. The method uses particle filtering to integrate flood probability maps derived from SAR imagery with simulated flood maps for various flood return periods within specific river sub-catchments. We tested this method in a section of the Severn River basin in the UK. Our research involves 11 SAR flood observations from ENVISAT ASAR images, an ensemble of 15 particles representing various pre-computed flood scenarios, and 4 masks of spatial units corresponding to different river segmentations. Empirical results yield maps of maximum flood extent with associated return periods, reflecting the local characteristics of the river. The results are validated through a quantitative comparison approach, demonstrating that our method improves the accuracy of flood extent and scenario estimation. This provides spatially distributed return periods in sub-catchments, making flood hazard monitoring effective at a local scale.

Dissimilarity of megabenthic community structure between deep-water seamounts with cobalt-rich crusts: Case study in the northwestern Pacific Ocean

As anthropogenic disturbance on deep-sea seamount ecosystems grows, there is an urgent need for a better understanding of the biodiversity and community structure in benthic ecosystems, which can vary at local and regional scales. A survey of the benthic megafauna on two adjacent deep-water seamounts in the northwestern Pacific Ocean was conducted, which are covered by cobalt-rich crusts, to assess the biodiversity patterns and dissimilarity of assemblage composition. Based on a multidisciplinary dataset generated from video recordings, multibeam bathymetry data, and near-bottom currents, environmental and spatial factors impacting the megabenthic communities were explored. Results showed that these two deep-water seamounts were dominated by hexactinellids, crinoids, and octocorals. The seamounts were able to support diverse and moderately abundant megafauna, with a total of 6436 individuals classified into 94 morphospecies. The survey covered a distance of 52.2 km across a depth range of 1421–3335 m, revealing multiple distinct megabenthic assemblages. The megabenthic communities of the two deep-water seamounts, with comparable environmental conditions, exhibited similarities in overall density, richness, and faunal lists, while dissimilarities in the relative abundance of taxa and assemblage composition. No gradual depth-related change in terms of abundance, richness, or species turnover was observed across the two seamounts, despite the statistical significance of depth in structuring the overall communities. The spatial distribution of megabenthic communities displayed a discontinuous and patchy pattern throughout the two deep-water seamounts. This patchiness was driven by the interactive effects of multiple environmental factors. Near-bottom currents and microhabitat features were the primary drivers influencing their dissimilarities in megabenthic community structure. This case study on the megabenthic community structure of two adjacent seamounts with cobalt-rich crusts can serve as an environmental baseline, providing a reference status for the conservation and management of seamount ecosystems, particularly valuable for areas being considered for deep-sea mining.

Improving exhaust emission evaluation: An integrated modelling approach for urban road networks in diverse operating environments

Motorized vehicle operation stands as a significant contributor to urban air pollution, necessitating immediate attention to prevent its adverse impacts on human mortality and morbidity. However, estimating traffic emissions at a local scale in developing countries is challenging due to heterogeneous traffic conditions. This study proposes an integrated modelling framework called VISSIM-MOVES Integration Model for Delhi City (VMIMD), designated to assess emissions from the congested road network in Delhi's central business district. In addition, the study revises the default emission inventory of the MOVES model by applying correction factors (CFs) developed during the study. These CFs are tailored to address heterogeneous traffic conditions typical of developing nations like India. The application of the CFs has significantly enhanced the overall efficiency of the model for Indian conditions. The study's findings indicate a significant correlation between the duration vehicles spend in different operating conditions (idle, cruise, and braking) and the emission generation. Notably, during heavy traffic hours, emission increases significantly as vehicles reduce their speed and require higher power to transition between different operating modes. The study also includes a comparison between the emissions estimated by VMIMD and emission standards. The results indicate significant differences in emissions, especially during peak traffic hours.

Anthropogenic features are the most important drivers of striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) space use in a human-dominated Midwestern landscape

Striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) are widespread generalist mesocarnivores that occur in a variety of habitats and are often associated with anthropogenic environments. They are also highly persecuted by humans, however, due to their noxious smell and propensity to carry disease. Consequently, the species is relatively understudied and there is still much unknown about the factors that affect their occurrences. To determine the probability of use patterns of striped skunks at the local (within 100 m) and landscape (within 1 km) scales, we deployed 46 and 54 motion-activated cameras between Dec 2021 – Jun 2022 and Nov 2022 – May 2023, respectively, across sites throughout the state of Illinois. We used an a priori, hypothesis-based approach to model striped skunk occupancy. The best local-scale probability of use model included road density and urban edge (w = 0.79), suggesting an avoidance of roads and selection for the interfaces of urban environments by skunks. The best model at the landscape scale included the interaction of housing density and coyote (Canis latrans) relative abundance (w = 0.31), describing a spatial niche differentiation among coyotes and skunks in urban settings compared to rural environments. Overall, our results suggest the primary drivers of striped skunk use in Illinois are anthropogenic features, but there exists a nuanced relationship, confirming the species’ designation as synanthropic misanthrope. Meanwhile, humans may mediate shifts in space-use patterns among sympatric mesocarnivores due to an expansion and divergence of ecological niches, resulting in reduced spatial overlap and competitive pressures among species.

Development of A Rural-Urban Classification System for Public Health Research that Accommodates Structural Differences Between States.

Rural environments in the United States present challenges to wellness, but there is a lack of tools to categorize rurality at the subcounty level. The most common tool, the FDA's 2010 RUCA codes, uses data that are over a decade old and cannot accommodate regional differences in rurality. The purpose of this study was to develop a census-tract classification system of rurality and demonstrate its use in describing HIV outcomes. We transformed census-tract measures (population density, natural resource workforce, walkability index, household type, and air quality) into local scales of rurality using factor analysis. We surveyed public health practitioners to determine cut-points and compared the resulting categorization to RUCA codes. We described the incidence of HIV in WA by rural category. Our classification system categorized 25% of census tracts as rural, 19% as periurban and 56% as urban. Our survey yielded cut-offs that were more conservative in categorizing areas urban than RUCA codes. The rate of HIV diagnosis was substantially higher in urban areas. Our rural-urban classification system offers an alternative to RUCA codes that is more responsive to regional differences.

Disaggregation of Green Space Access, Walkability, and Behavioral Risk Factor Data for Precise Estimation of Local Population Characteristics.

Social and Environmental Determinants of Health (SEDH) provide us with a conceptual framework to gain insights into possible associations among different human behaviors and the corresponding health outcomes that take place often in and around complex built environments. Developing better built environments requires an understanding of those aspects of a community that are most likely to have a measurable impact on the target SEDH. Yet data on local characteristics at suitable spatial scales are often unavailable. We aim to address this issue by application of different data disaggregation methods. We applied different approaches to data disaggregation to obtain small area estimates of key behavioral risk factors, as well as geospatial measures of green space access and walkability for each zip code of Allegheny County in southwestern Pennsylvania. Tables and maps of local characteristics revealed their overall spatial distribution along with disparities therein across the county. While the top ranked zip codes by behavioral estimates generally have higher than the county's median individual income, this does not lead them to have higher than its median green space access or walkability. We demonstrated the utility of data disaggregation for addressing complex questions involving community-specific behavioral attributes and built environments with precision and rigor, which is especially useful for a diverse population. Thus, different types of data, when comparable at a common local scale, can provide key integrative insights for researchers and policymakers.

Diffusion model-based probabilistic downscaling for 180-year East Asian climate reconstruction

As our planet is entering into the “global boiling” era, understanding regional climate change becomes imperative. Effective downscaling methods that provide localized insights are crucial for this target. Traditional approaches, including computationally-demanding regional dynamical models or statistical downscaling frameworks, are often susceptible to the influence of downscaling uncertainty. Here, we address these limitations by introducing a diffusion probabilistic downscaling model (DPDM) into the meteorological field. This model can efficiently transform data from 1° to 0.1° resolution. Compared with deterministic downscaling schemes, it not only has more accurate local details, but also can generate a large number of ensemble members based on probability distribution sampling to evaluate the uncertainty of downscaling. Additionally, we apply the model to generate a 180-year dataset of monthly surface variables in East Asia, offering a more detailed perspective for understanding local scale climate change over the past centuries.

Modal Analysis of a Multi-Supported Beam: Macroscopic Models and Boundary Conditions

This paper deals with the long-wavelength behaviour of a Euler beam periodically supported by co-located rotation and compression springs. An asymptotic homogenization method is applied to derive the several macroscopic models according to the stiffness contrasts between the elastic supports and the beam. Effective models of differential order two or four are obtained, which can be merged into a single unified model whose dispersion relations at long and medium wavelengths fit those derived by Floquet-Bloch. Moreover, the essential role of rotation supports is clearly evidenced. A mixed “discrete/continuous” approach to the boundary conditions is proposed, which allows the boundary conditions actually applied at the local scale to be expressed in terms of Robin-type boundary conditions on macroscopic variables. This approach can be applied to both dominant-order and higher-order models. The modal analysis performed with these boundary conditions and the homogenised models gives results in good agreement with a full finite element calculation, with great economy of numerical resources.

Systematic planning shows more than half of the most species-rich ocean region is needed to include all species in representative protected areas

The Convention on Biological Diversity Target 3 aims for at least 30 % of each marine habitat to be protected by 2030. How much biodiversity will be protected depends on where this 30 % is located. The West Pacific region, having the richest marine biodiversity on Earth, is especially important for nature conservation. Here, using multiple data-driven measures of the breadth biodiversity, from species to ecosystems from the sea surface to seabed, at a spatial resolution of 0.5° (∼55 km latitude), we mapped the optimal “Representative Biodiversity Areas” (RBA) for West Pacific countries using decision support software. The measures included surface and near seabed Ecosystems, which were mapped by physical, biochemical and nutrient variables relevant to ecological functioning. Species richness, seagrass, kelp, mangrove, and shallow water coral reef biomes (biological habitats at a local scale) and seabed topographic variation (as rugosity) were also included as complementary measures to maximise representivity of biodiversity overall. The 30 % RBA generally covered 30 % of the Ecosystems, over 77 % of the Biomes of seagrass, kelp, mangrove, and shallow water corals, and 60 % of physical habitat heterogeneity (topography) and the most species rich areas. Because protecting only these four biomes was not sufficient to include all species, physical habitat heterogeneity and ecosystems should be included in conservation prioritisation because they extend offshore and to all depths. To cover the distributions of 80 % species in the region, at least 53 % of the total area should be under protection. Only 25 % of the RBA were in MPAs, and < 1 % in no-take MPAs. Three countries, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand, occupied almost half (47 %) of the RBA, and 11 countries had more than 30 % of their Exclusive Economic Zones in the RBA. Opportunities exist to expand and merge existing MPA, increase levels of protection, and having MPA in areas of disputed or shared governance, including 5 % of RBA being in the study area’s High Seas. Consideration of the geographically uneven distribution of biodiversity is thus necessary in achieving the 30 % by 2030 target. Systematic conservation planning, as shown here, can lead to at least twice as much biodiversity being protected per area. That at least half of the West Pacific Ocean in MPA may be necessary to protect all marine biodiversity, indicates how critical it is to use resources outside MPA in an ecologically sustainable way.

Horticultural Irrigation Systems and Aquacultural Water Usage: A Perspective for the Use of Aquaponics to Generate a Sustainable Water Footprint

The expansion of food production is becoming more important due to a rising world population, which is relying on food security on regional and local scales. Intensive food production systems exert a negative impact on the regional ecosystem because of agrochemical pollution and nutrient-rich water discharging into nearby rivers. Furthermore, these systems highly depend on regional water resources, causing water scarcity and soil erosion due to the overexploitation of natural resources in general. The objective of this article is to review the water usage in the two most water-intensive food production systems, agriculture and aquaculture, showing lacking areas like system management and climate change, which must be considered in the implementation of a sustainable water footprint. In addition, the review includes an analysis of the combination of both production systems in aquaponic food production and the possibilities of water saving. There are a variety of analyses related to water usage for crop and aquatic animal production, but in these analyses, there is a lack of information about system management in general, which includes cleaning processes, water substitution, pond removal, water evaporation, and, especially in aquaculture, the water usage required for industrially elaborated fish feed.

Numerical modelling of melting front structures during floating zone silicon crystal growth

We propose a mathematical model of the thin molten silicon film to describe the quasi-steady shape of the inhomogeneous structures on the open melting front of polycrystalline feed rod during the floating zone process for single crystal silicon growth. As a result, precise shapes of the phase boundaries in a three-phase environment on a local scale were determined with the use of moving meshes. The presence of the local structures influences the heat transfer on the open melting front. Consequently, the global phase boundary model can be adjusted, resulting in improved agreement with the experimentally measured interface shape.

Source types of induced earthquakes in underground mines: Revealed by regional moment tensor inversion

Mining-induced earthquakes have been very frequent in recent years due to increasing mechanized mining. Compared with natural earthquakes, even a small one may cause significant damage to the mine area and its surroundings. Source type identification is important for better understanding the physical processes and is a crucial and fundamental issue for hazard assessment and emergency rescue in the mining environment. The moment tensor (MT) theory plays a pivotal role in distinguishing different source types. In this study, we concentrated on two strong reported “mine collapse earthquakes” in Qufu (ML 3.2, July 13, 2020) and Zoucheng (ML2.9, June 09, 2020), Shandong Province, China. Seismograms from regional seismic stations were utilized to calculate the full moment tensors through low-frequency full-waveform inversion. Our results show that the two studied events exhibit notably different source types. The DC (Double-Couple) component of both events are 5% (Qufu) and 60% (Zoucheng), respectively. The Qufu event which contains approximately 75% closing crack component, is more consistent with the theoretical models of collapse seismic source. However, the Zoucheng event, which exhibits a significant proportion of DC components, demonstrates characteristics typical of shear failure. Focusing on the Zoucheng event, which occurred at the Dongtan Coal Mine, further research was conducted on a local mining scale. Analyzed in conjunction with microseismic sensor data, geologic setting, and mining progress, we illustrated that the source type of Zoucheng event is not a collapse one. The fracture slip of a thick-hard roof due to an overlying load, characterized by a large DC component, is a plausible geomechanical interpretation.

Human Agency and Coastal Landscape Transformation in Early Modern Atlantic Europe: An Interdisciplinary Research Approach in the Urola Estuary (Basque Coast)

ABSTRACT Landscapes are the result of historical human–environment interactions whose material imprints are recorded in the local topography, hydrography, and sedimentary archives. Human influence is particularly visible in coastal and estuarine landscapes, due to the continuity and intensity of occupation since, at least, the Middle Ages. This paper analyses the historical evolution of an estuarine landscape in Atlantic Iberia, based on the combined analysis of documentary sources, land covers, and sediment cores. The observed anthropic impact relies on the superposition of different agents and processes that has been traced in detail from the Middle Ages to the present, permitting a critical and integrated reconsideration of the written and oral records and their confrontation with the materiality of the landscape. These results highlight the value of the proposed research approach for the study of human–environment interactions of a limited geographical area over the long term. More generally, it has been possible to link these agents and processes operating on the local scale to wider regional and global historical trends, contributing to better characterising and understanding the nature of the anthropogenic impact on coastal environments.

Variability of rainy season onsets over East Africa

AbstractOver the East Africa region forecasts of the onset of the rainy seasons have the potential to support decision‐making, especially in the largely rain‐fed agricultural sector. However, the understanding of key features of onset remains limited. Here, we analyse the variability of onset and associated drivers at interannual and subseasonal timescales, using several onset definitions. Results show that the onset date is especially variable from year to year in some of the high‐potential agricultural areas (standard deviation &gt;20 days), which has implications for agricultural risk management. The choice of onset definition metric matters; agronomic definitions have limited applicability at the regional scale and are also highly sensitive to the spatial scale of analysis and to the choice of rainfall data. Onset information provided at coarse scales should be used with caution for decision‐making at the local scale; the “hit rate” of coarse‐scale tercile onset information at the local scale is less than 40% on average. To varying degrees, onset is related to total seasonal rainfall and thus to dominant interannual drivers of rainfall, including the Indian Ocean Dipole and ENSO modes in October–December and the western Pacific “V‐gradient” pattern in March–May. However, by analysing the dominant proportion of onset variance unrelated to total rainfall during the climatological season we show a substantial influence of subseasonal drivers, notably the Madden–Julian Oscillation. As such, there is an opportunity for rainfall onset information to be provided across seasonal and subseasonal timescales. Our work reinforces the need for enhanced co‐production of such onset information with stakeholders, especially regarding the choice of metric, alignment of forecasts with livelihood calendars, interpretation of the credibility of information content for local‐level decision‐making, as well as appropriate strategies for staggered risk management interventions informed by forecasts over “seamless” lead times.