82 research outputs found
Design of a rain garden for Ziskind House
No full textIn the last decade green infrastructure has been normalized in designs ranging from permeable pavers for driveways, to green roofs for skyscrapers. Rain gardens, generally planted depressions which flood during storms, offer a relatively low-tech green infrastructure option that can be affordable and effective at cleaning runoff from storms. When this runoff is left untreated, it flows to rivers, potentially damaging the riparian ecosystem. This report presents a design of a rain garden for the western side of Ziskind House at Smith College in Northampton MA. In this site a rain garden is especially beneficial because it can be used as a learning tool for students and as a case study in green infrastructure for the college. The final design consists of layers of gravel, filter fabric, and soil, all covered with mulch and planted with native trees, shrubs, ferns, and wildflowers. The use of native plants means that the original topsoil could be used by adding compost instead of importing all new planting soil. This cost saving measure means that with a $10,000 budget, the rain garden could be amply planted, cover 1000 sqft, and store a volume of water equivalent to the 10-year, 24-hour design storm
Gender-based differences in learner English : A syntax study of Swedish high school students’ written production
No full textFemale students have long had a perceived advantage over male students in second language ac-quisition. In Swedish schools, the girls have outperformed the boys in the subject of English since the end of the Second World War, but the female students’ edge over the male students has diminished considerably over time. This essay aims to find out if there are any differences in lin-guistic ability between the two genders. The study uses a T-unit based syntax analysis in order to quantify the level of syntactic maturity that Swedish high school students possess, using data drawn from the Uppsala Learner English Corpus. Furthermore, the study aims to research gen-der-based stylistic differences and risk-taking behavior in the student’s writing. The results show that there are differences in syntactic maturity between the genders, as the female students in junior high school and the male students in senior high school outperform their respective counterparts, particularly in the indices based on error-free T-units. In addition, there are also stylistic disparities, as the female students have a greater focus on personalized ac-counts in their writing and the male students in junior high school have a very sparse and concise style of writing. The conclusion is drawn that while there are differences in syntactic maturity between boys and girls, the syntactic indices cannot accurately display the sophistication of the students’ writing and consequently should only be used in conjunction with more qualitative measures. Finally, while the study is not able to discern risk-taking in the students’ writing, the author concludes that risk-taking is an important factor in second language acquisition, especially considering the fact that the Swedish curricula in junior and senior high school English have a strong focus on communicative competence
Spatial distribution of water level impacting back-barrier bays
No full text© The Author(s), 2019. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Aretxabaleta, A. L., Ganju, N. K., Defne, Z., & Signell, R. P. Spatial distribution of water level impacting back-barrier bays. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 19(8), (2019): 1823-1838, doi: 10.5194/nhess-19-1823-2019.Water level in semi-enclosed bays, landward of barrier islands, is mainly driven by offshore sea level fluctuations that are modulated by bay geometry and bathymetry, causing spatial variability in the ensuing response (transfer). Local wind setup can have a complementary role that depends on wind speed, fetch, and relative orientation of the wind direction and the bay. Bay area and inlet geometry and bathymetry primarily regulate the magnitude of the transfer between open ocean and bay. Tides and short-period offshore oscillations are more damped in the bays than longer-lasting offshore fluctuations, such as a storm surge and sea level rise. We compare observed and modeled water levels at stations in a mid-Atlantic bay (Barnegat Bay) with offshore water level proxies. Observed water levels in Barnegat Bay are compared and combined with model results from the Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere–Wave–Sediment Transport (COAWST) modeling system to evaluate the spatial structure of the water level transfer. Analytical models based on the dimensional characteristics of the bay are used to combine the observed data and the numerical model results in a physically consistent approach. Model water level transfers match observed values at locations inside the bay in the storm frequency band (transfers ranging from 50 %–100 %) and tidal frequencies (10 %–55 %). The contribution of frequency-dependent local setup caused by wind acting along the bay is also considered. The wind setup effect can be comparable in magnitude to the offshore transfer forcing during intense storms. The approach provides transfer estimates for locations inside the bay where observations were not available, resulting in a complete spatial characterization. An extension of the methodology that takes advantage of the ADCIRC tidal database for the east coast of the United States allows for the expansion of the approach to other bay systems. Detailed spatial estimates of water level transfer can inform decisions on inlet management and contribute to the assessment of current and future flooding hazard in back-barrier bays and along mainland shorelines.This work was supported by the US Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Hazards/Resources Program
Intelligent Equalisation Principles and Techniques for Minimising Masking when Mixing the Extreme Modern Metal Genre.
No full textThe intensity, complexity and energy of performance, combined with the power and density of the tones involved are characteristics of the extreme metal genre. These characteristics present numerous problems when striving to achieve the clarity, definition and hyper-realism of performance required for this genres production. Avoiding masking in a mix is a fundamental
aspect of clarity, definition, intelligibility and perceived loudness and due to the fact that masking especially occurs in a dense mix, and is more pronounced in low frequencies, is particularly applicable to mixing the downtuned extreme metal genre. Masking in simple terms is the ability of frequencies of one sound to obscure or inhibit (i.e. mask) the frequencies of
another sound. This paper will draw upon the first author’s eight years of experience producing within the metal genre, including releases through Sony and Universal and working with the likes of Colin Richardson and Andy Sneap
Advancing coastal ocean modelling, analysis, and prediction for the US Integrated Ocean Observing System
No full textThis paper outlines strategies that would advance coastal ocean modeling, analysis and prediction as a complement to the observing and data management activities of the coastal components of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®) and the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). The views presented are the consensus of a group of U.S. based researchers with a cross-section of coastal oceanography and ocean modeling expertise and community representation drawn from Regional and U.S. Federal partners in IOOS. Priorities for research and development are suggested that would enhance the value of IOOS observations through model-based synthesis, deliver better model-based information products, and assist the design, evaluation and operation of the observing system itself. The proposed priorities are: model coupling, data assimilation, nearshore processes, cyberinfrastructure and model skill assessment, modeling for observing system design, evaluation and operation, ensemble prediction, and fast predictors. Approaches are suggested to accomplish substantial progress in a 3-8 year timeframe. In addition, the group proposes steps to promote collaboration between research and operations groups in Regional Associations, U.S. Federal Agencies, and the international ocean research community in general that would foster coordination on scientific and technical issues, and strengthen federal-academic partnerships benefiting IOOS stakeholders and end users.Peer reviewe
Pydata/Xarray: V0.9.1
No full textRenamed the "Unindexed dimensions" section in the <code>Dataset</code> and <code>DataArray</code> repr (added in v0.9.0) to "Dimensions without coordinates".</span
Collaboration tools and techniques for large model datasets
No full textAuthor Posting. © The Author(s), 2007. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of Elsevier B.V. for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Journal of Marine Systems 69 (2008): 154-161, doi:10.1016/j.jmarsys.2007.02.013.In MREA and many other marine applications, it is common to have multiple models running with different grids, run by different institutions. Techniques and tools are described for low-bandwidth delivery of data from large multidimensional data sets, such as those from meteorological and oceanographic models, directly into generic analysis and visualization tools. Output is stored using the NetCDF CF Metadata Conventions, and then delivered to collaborators over the web via OPeNDAP. OPeNDAP datasets served by different institutions are then organized via THREDDS catalogs. Tools and procedures are then used which enable scientists to explore data on the original model grids using tools they are familiar with. It is also low-bandwidth, enabling users to extract just the data they require, an important feature for access from ship or remote areas. The entire implementation is simple enough to be handled by modelers working with their webmasters – no advanced programming support is necessary.S. Carniel was partially supported by the Office of Naval Research (ONR grant number N00014-05-1-0730). I. Janekovic was supported by the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sport (grant number 0098113)
Modelling the Rhine ROFI on a non-straight coast
No full textAdditional thesis - The Rhine river outflow has a major impact on the North Sea in front of the Dutch coast. It creates the Rhine ROFI (region of freshwater influence), a very complex three-dimensional volume of water with a relatively low salinity. Many researches have been conducted on this phenomenon. Now another complex factor is added: a non-straight coastline. The specific case of the Sand Engine, a sandbar-shaped peninsula in front of the Holland coast, is studied. The objective is to identify changes in the Rhine ROFI caused by the Sand Engine and their possible causes. Simpson (Simpson, et al., 1993) and De Boer (2008) have identified several mechanisms influencing the shape and size of the Rhine ROFI. The major ones are: the deflection of the fresh water jet from the river Rhine through the Coriolis force towards the north forming a ‘coastal river’ of fresh water, advection due to tidal propagation, density currents as a consequence of horizontal density gradients, tidal straining and tidal mixing. Fortnightly and semidiurnal variations of velocities and stratification can be expected within the Rhine ROFI. Signell (1989) has had major contributions to the understanding of tidal propagation around coastal headlands. In his work a categorization is made for different combinations of tidal conditions and headland shapes. Within this categorization the Sand Engine is seen as a rather small and streamlined headland. Flow separation may be expected with a stagnant lee-side eddy forming each tidal period. These researches cover the main domain of interest of this thesis. An extension is made by exploring the baroclinic effects of the perturbation of the coast to the Rhine ROFI. For this purpose a numerical model was set up. In essence the original model De Boer used in his dissertation was applied. The Sand Engine was added as a blunt rectangular shape at the same distance from the river mouth as in reality. No numerical problems were found after adapting the model. The performance of the model was successfully verified by comparing time-averaged salinity distributions to figures in De Boer’s work. The Rhine ROFI and the ‘coastal river’ remain largely unchanged, comparing outcomes of the models with and without the Sand Engine. On a more detailed scale some interesting phenomena can be distinguished. During both neap and spring tide a fresh water feature forms ahead of high tide at the location of the Sand Engine. The offset of the fresh water feature has a barotropic origin, being generated by a strong current at the southwest corner of the Sand Engine. Under neap tide conditions this fresh water feature grows in the offshore direction, whereas this does not occur for spring tide conditions. This offshore advection is a baroclinic effect as such widespread offshore velocities involved with the offshore advection of fresh water were not found under barotropic conditions. A possible explanation of the offshore velocities is the strength of the tidal straining effect, being enforced by the stronger vertical density gradient when the fresh water is located at the Sand Engine. Tidal mixing is larger under spring conditions, preventing tidal straining from happening, explaining why offshore-directed velocities and subsequent offshore fresh water advection are not found in the results. In this thesis a simplified approach has been applied. Therefore the results must be treated with care under the likely possibility that flow mechanisms have been altered, enhanced or ruled out. However, the results do show the likely importance of baroclinic effects. These effects may have large consequences on the hydrodynamics in the area surrounding the Sand Engine. Therefore it is recommended to perform additional research on this topic.Civil Engineering and GeosciencesHydraulic EngineeringCIE5050-0
Variational analysis of drifter positions and model outputs for the reconstruction of surface currents in the central Adriatic during fall 2002
No full textAuthor Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2008. This article is posted here by permission of American Geophysical Union for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Journal of Geophysical Research 113 (2008): C04004, doi:10.1029/2007JC004148.In this paper we present an application of a variational method for the reconstruction of the velocity field in a coastal flow in the central Adriatic Sea, using in situ data from surface drifters and outputs from the ROMS circulation model. The variational approach, previously developed and tested for mesoscale open ocean flows, has been improved and adapted to account for inhomogeneities on boundary current dynamics over complex bathymetry and coastline and for weak Lagrangian persistence in coastal flows. The velocity reconstruction is performed using nine drifter trajectories over 45 d, and a hierarchy of indirect tests is introduced to evaluate the results as the real ocean state is not known. For internal consistency and impact of the analysis, three diagnostics characterizing the particle prediction and transport, in terms of residence times in various zones and export rates from the boundary current toward the interior, show that the reconstruction is quite effective. A qualitative comparison with sea color data from the MODIS satellite images shows that the reconstruction significantly improves the description of the boundary current with respect to the ROMS model first guess, capturing its main features and its exchanges with the interior when sampled by the drifters.Four of the authors are supported by the
Office of Naval Research, V.T. and A.G. under grants N00014-05-1-0094
and N00014-05-1-0095, P.M.P. under grant N00014-03-1-0291, and S.C.
under grant N00014-05-1-0730. CNR-ISMAR
activity was partially supported by P.O.R. ‘‘CAINO’’ (Regione Puglia),
VECTOR (Italian MIUR) project, and ECOOP (EU project)
The Paroxysmal Precipitation of the Desert: Flash Floods in the Southwestern United States
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