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Time Step (time + step)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Engineering60%
Mathematics and Statistics9%
Chemistry8%
Life Sciences7%
Earth and Environmental Science7%
Information Science and Computing4%
3 Other Domains5%
Distribution within Engineering
Numerical Methods & Algorithms66%
General & Introductory Electrical & Electronics Engineering5%
7 Other Subdomains29%

Kinds of Time Step

  • daily time step
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  • different time step
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  • small time step
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    Terms modified by Time Step

  • time step size
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    Selected Abstracts

    Motion visualization of human left ventricle with a time-varying deformable model for cardiac diagnosis

    COMPUTER ANIMATION AND VIRTUAL WORLDS (PREV: JNL OF VISUALISATION & COMPUTER ANIMATION), Issue 2 2001
    Soo-Mi Choi
    Abstract We present a time-varying deformable model to visualize and analyze the motion of the left ventricle from a time series of 3-D images. The model is composed of a non-rigid body that deforms around a reference shape obtained from the previous time step. At each time step, the position and orientation of the left ventricle are extracted from the feature points of images. This information gives the position and orientation of the coordinate system attached to the non-rigid body. To compute a dense non-rigid motion field over the entire endocardial wall of the left ventricle, we introduce a 3-D blob finite element and Galerkin interpolants based on 3-D Gaussian, and use a physically based finite element method and a modal analysis. Then, cinematic attributes are visualized in pseudo colors on the reconstructed surface in order to help medical doctors in their interpretation of the data. Using the presented model, we estimate clinically useful quantitative parameters such as regional wall motion and ejection fraction. Experimental results are shown in a time series of X-ray angiographic images. Copyright ©2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

    An Exploratory Technique for Coherent Visualization of Time-varying Volume Data

    COMPUTER GRAPHICS FORUM, Issue 3 2010
    A. Tikhonova
    Abstract The selection of an appropriate global transfer function is essential for visualizing time-varying simulation data. This is especially challenging when the global data range is not known in advance, as is often the case in remote and in-situ visualization settings. Since the data range may vary dramatically as the simulation progresses, volume rendering using local transfer functions may not be coherent for all time steps. We present an exploratory technique that enables coherent classification of time-varying volume data. Unlike previous approaches, which require pre-processing of all time steps, our approach lets the user explore the transfer function space without accessing the original 3D data. This is useful for interactive visualization, and absolutely essential for in-situ visualization, where the entire simulation data range is not known in advance. Our approach generates a compact representation of each time step at rendering time in the form of ray attenuation functions, which are used for subsequent operations on the opacity and color mappings. The presented approach offers interactive exploration of time-varying simulation data that alleviates the cost associated with reloading and caching large data sets. [source]

    An MPI Parallel Implementation of Newmark's Method

    COMPUTER-AIDED CIVIL AND INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING, Issue 3 2000
    Ali Namazifard
    The standard message-passing interface (MPI) is used to parallelize Newmark's method. The linear matrix equation encountered at each time step is solved using a preconditioned conjugate gradient algorithm. Data are distributed over the processors of a given parallel computer on a degree-of-freedom basis; this produces effective load balance between the processors and leads to a highly parallelized code. The portability of the implementation of this scheme is tested by solving some simple problems on two different machines: an SGI Origin2000 and an IBM SP2. The measured times demonstrate the efficiency of the approach and highlight the maintenance advantages that arise from using a standard parallel library such as MPI. [source]

    Incorporating Uncertainty into Demographic Modeling: Application to Shark Populations and Their Conservation

    CONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2002
    Enric Cortés
    I used age-structured life tables and Leslie matrices based on a prebreeding survey and a yearly time step applied only to females to model the demography of 41 populations from 38 species of sharks representing four orders and nine families. I used Monte Carlo simulation to reflect uncertainty in the estimates of demographic traits and to calculate population statistics and elasticities for these populations; I used correlation analysis to identify the demographic traits that explained most of the variation in population growth rates ( , ). The populations I examined fell along a continuum of life-history characteristics that can be linked to elasticity patterns. Sharks characterized by early age at maturity, short lifespan, and large litter size had high , values and short generation times, whereas sharks that mature late and have long lifespans and small litters have low , values and long generation times. Sharks at the "fast" end of the spectrum tended to have comparable adult and juvenile survival elasticities, whereas sharks at the "slow" end of the continuum had high juvenile survival elasticity and low age,zero survival ( or fertility ) elasticity. Ratios of adult survival to fertility elasticities and juvenile survival to fertility elasticities suggest that many of the populations studied do not possess the biological attributes necessary to restore , to its original level after moderate levels of exploitation. Elasticity analysis suggests that changes in juvenile survival would have the greatest effect on ,, and correlation analysis indicates that variation in juvenile survival, age at maturity, and reproduction account for most of the variation in ,. In general, combined results from elasticity and correlation analyses suggest that research, conservation, and management efforts should focus on these demographic traits. Resumen: Exploré los efectos de la incertidumbre en los caracteres demográficos en análisis demográficos de tiburones, un método no empleado con anterioridad para este taxón. Utilicé tablas de vida estructuradas por edades y matrices de Leslie basadas en evaluaciones pre-gestación y pasos de tiempo de un año aplicados solo a las hembras para modelar la demografía de 41 poblaciones de 38 especies de tiburones que representan cuatro órdenes y nueve familias. Utilicé la simulación de Monte Carlo para reflejar la incertidumbre en las estimaciones de caracteres demográficos y calcular las estadísticas y elasticidades poblacionales para estas poblaciones y el análisis de correlación para identificar los caracteres demográficos que explican la mayoría de la variación en las tasas de crecimiento poblacional ( , ). Las poblaciones examinadas caen dentro de un continuo de características de historias de vida que pueden estar vinculadas con los patrones de elasticidad. Los tiburones que maduran a temprana edad y tienen corta duración de vida y grupos grandes de crías tuvieron valores altos de , y tiempos generacionales cortos, mientras que los tiburones que maduran tarde y tienen una duración de vida larga y grupos pequeños de crías tienen valores bajos de , y tiempos generacionales largos. Los tiburones que se encuentran en el punto final "rápido" del espectro tendieron a tener elasticidades de supervivencia de adultos y juveniles comparables, mientras que los tiburones en el punto final "lento" del continuo tuvieron una alta elasticidad de supervivencia de juveniles y una baja elasticidad en supervivencia a la edad cero (o fertilidad ). Las proporciones de elasticidades de supervivencia de adultos y fertilidad y de elasticidades de supervivencia de juveniles y fertilidad sugieren que muchas de las poblaciones estudiadas no poseen los atributos biológicos necesarios para restaurar , a su nivel original después de niveles moderados de explotación. El análisis de elasticidad sugiere que en la supervivencia de juveniles se podría tener el efecto mayor de , y el análisis de correlación indica que la variación en la supervivencia de juveniles, la edad de maduración y reproducción explican la mayor parte de la variación en ,. En general, los resultados combinados de los análisis de elasticidad y correlación sugieren que los esfuerzos de investigación, conservación y manejo deberían enfocarse a estas características demográficas. [source]

    Risk assessment for nonindigenous pests: 2.

    DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS, Issue 5 2001
    Accounting for interyear climate variability
    Abstract The paper firstly discusses the importance of accounting for interyear variability when assessing the likelihood of establishment of an alien pest. The potential establishment of Colorado beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) is used as an illustration within the geographical context of England and Wales. An aggregate risk index is introduced as a probabilistic representation of the likelihood that a pest might complete a single generation over a 30-year period (1961,90). Data for individual years were used to compute, objectively, the interyear distribution of risk across the landscape. The standard deviation in area at risk (26 800 km2) was high relative to the average proportion of the landscape potentially at risk (95 700 km2). In 40% of years, the area at risk was estimated to be higher than ,average'. Secondly, the paper demonstrates multiple indices of risk that reflect different aspects of pest risk assessment. Viewing risk from a variety of perspectives provides a means of gauging the consistency and therefore reliability of the results. This contrasts with current practice, where a single mapped output is commonly presented to decision makers. Modelling using a daily time step allowed the use of indices to investigate the long-term probabilities of biotic and abiotic events of short duration. These indices include estimates of pest activity and flight potential. [source]

    Kinematic transformations for planar multi-directional pseudodynamic testing

    EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 9 2009
    Oya Mercan
    Abstract The pseudodynamic (PSD) test method imposes command displacements to a test structure for a given time step. The measured restoring forces and displaced position achieved in the test structure are then used to integrate the equations of motion to determine the command displacements for the next time step. Multi-directional displacements of the test structure can introduce error in the measured restoring forces and displaced position. The subsequently determined command displacements will not be correct unless the effects of the multi-directional displacements are considered. This paper presents two approaches for correcting kinematic errors in planar multi-directional PSD testing, where the test structure is loaded through a rigid loading block. The first approach, referred to as the incremental kinematic transformation method, employs linear displacement transformations within each time step. The second method, referred to as the total kinematic transformation method, is based on accurate nonlinear displacement transformations. Using three displacement sensors and the trigonometric law of cosines, this second method enables the simultaneous nonlinear equations that express the motion of the loading block to be solved without using iteration. The formulation and example applications for each method are given. Results from numerical simulations and laboratory experiments show that the total transformation method maintains accuracy, while the incremental transformation method may accumulate error if the incremental rotation of the loading block is not small over the time step. A procedure for estimating the incremental error in the incremental kinematic transformation method is presented as a means to predict and possibly control the error. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

    On-line identification of non-linear hysteretic structural systems using a variable trace approach

    EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 9 2001
    Jeng-Wen Lin
    Abstract In this paper, an adaptive on-line parametric identification algorithm based on the variable trace approach is presented for the identification of non-linear hysteretic structures. At each time step, this recursive least-square-based algorithm upgrades the diagonal elements of the adaptation gain matrix by comparing the values of estimated parameters between two consecutive time steps. Such an approach will enforce a smooth convergence of the parameter values, a fast tracking of the parameter changes and will remain adaptive as time progresses. The effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed algorithm is shown by considering the effects of excitation amplitude, of the measurement units, of larger sampling time interval and of measurement noise. The cases of exact-, under-, over-parameterization of the structural model have been analysed. The proposed algorithm is also quite effective in identifying time-varying structural parameters to simulate cumulative damage in structural systems. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

    Dynamic coupled metal transport-speciation model: Application to assess a zinc-contaminated lake

    ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 10 2004
    Satyendra P. Bhavsar
    Abstract A coupled metal transport and speciation/complexation model (TRANSPEC) has been developed to estimate the speciation and fate of multiple interconverting species in surface aquatic systems. Dynamic-TRANSPEC loosely, sequentially couples the speciation/complexation and fate modules that, for the unsteady state formulation, run alternatively at every time step. The speciation module first estimates species abundance using, in this version, MINEQL+ considering time-dependent changes in water and pore-water chemistry. The fate module is based on the quantitative water air sediment interaction (QWASI) model and fugacity/aquivalence formulation, with the option of using a pseudo-steady state solution to account for past discharges. Similarly to the QWASI model for organic contaminants, TRANSPEC assumes the instantaneous equilibrium distribution of metal species among dissolved, colloidal, and particulate phases based on ambient chemistry parameters that can be collected through conventional field methods. The model is illustrated with its application to Ross Lake (Manitoba, Canada) that has elevated Zn concentrations due to discharges over 70 years from a mining operation. Using measurements from field studies, the model reproduces year-round variations in Zn water concentrations. A 10-year projection for current conditions suggests decreasing Zn remobilization and export from the lake. Decreasing Zn loadings increases sediment-to-water transport but decreases water concentrations, and vice versa. Species distribution is affected by pH such that a decrease in pH increases metal export from the lake and vice versa. [source]

    Methods for the analysis of trends in streamflow response due to changes in catchment condition

    ENVIRONMETRICS, Issue 7 2001
    R. A. Letcher
    Abstract Two algorithms for analysing changes in streamflow response due to changes in land use and farm dam development, based on the Estimated Generalized Least Squares (EGLS) and the Generalized Additive Model (GAM) methods, were compared on three catchments in the Macquarie River Basin in NSW, Australia. In order to account for the influence of climatic conditions on streamflow response, the IHACRES conceptual rainfall-runoff model was calibrated on a daily time step over two-year periods then simulated over the entire period of concurrent rainfall, streamflow and temperature data. Residuals or differences between observed and simulated flows were calculated. The EGLS method was applied to a smoothing of the residual (daily) time series. Such residuals represent the difference between the simulated streamflow response to a fixed catchment condition (in the calibration period) and that due to the actual varying conditions throughout the record period. The GAM method was applied to quarterly aggregated residuals. The methods provided similar qualitative results for trends in residual streamflow response in each catchment for models with a good fitting performance on the calibration period in terms of a number of statistics, i.e. the coefficient of efficiency R2, bias and average relative parameter error (ARPE). It was found that the fit of the IHACRES model to the calibration period is critically important in determining trend values and significance. Models with well identified parameters and less correlation between rainfall and model residuals are likely to give the best results for trend analysis. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

    A dynamic simulation model for powdery mildew epidemics on winter wheat,

    EPPO BULLETIN, Issue 3 2003
    V. Rossi
    A system dynamic model for epidemics of Blumeria graminis (powdery mildew) on wheat was elaborated, based on the interaction between stages of the disease cycle, weather conditions and host characteristics. The model simulates the progress of disease severity, expressed as a percentage of powdered leaf area, on individual leaves, with a time step of one day, as a result of two processes: the growth of fungal colonies already present on the leaves and the appearance of new colonies. By means of mathematical equations, air temperature, vapour pressure deficit, rainfall and wind are used to calculate incubation, latency and sporulation periods, the growth of pathogen colonies, infection and spore survival. Effects of host susceptibility to infection, and of leaf position within the plant canopy, are also included. Model validation was carried out by comparing model outputs with the dynamics of epidemics observed on winter wheat grown at several locations in northern Italy (1991,98). Simulations were performed using meteorological data measured in standard meteorological stations. As there was good agreement between model outputs and actual disease severity, the model can be considered a satisfactory simulator of the effect of environmental conditions on the progress of powdery mildew epidemics. [source]

    FE modelling of excavation and operation of a shield tunnelling machine.

    GEOMECHANICS AND TUNNELLING, Issue 2 2009
    FE-Modellierung des Ausbruchs und Betriebs einer Schildvortriebmaschine
    Abstract A shield tunnelling machine is driven forward by applying mechanical jack forces behind the shield machine tail while excavating the soil in front of the shield machine with its cutting face. In this study, the advance and excavation processes of the shield tunnelling operation are modelled using the finite element method in order to investigate the effect of these construction processes on the ground response. An excavating finite element is introduced, which models the disturbed soil in front of the cutting face. The operation of shield advance and of soil excavation is simulated using the finite element re-meshing technique at each time step of the analysis. The proposed modelling techniques of shield tunnelling construction are applied to simulate a deep and a triple-face shield tunnelling project in Tokyo and the numerical results are compared with the field measurements. Eine Schildvortriebsmaschine wird durch Vorschubzylinder am Maschinenende vorangetrieben, während der Schneidkopf an der Vorderseite der Maschine den Boden abbaut. In dieser Studie werden der Vortrieb und der Bodenabbau beim Betrieb einer Schildmaschine mittels der Methode der Finiten Elemente modelliert, um den Einfluss dieser Vorgänge auf die Reaktion des Baugrunds zu untersuchen. Hierzu wird ein Ausbruchelement eingeführt, das den gestörten Boden vor der Maschine modelliert. Dabei wird das FE-Netz für jeden Zeitschritt angepasst. Die vorgestellte Modellierungstechnik für den Schildvortrieb wird eingesetzt, um einen tiefen Schildvortrieb und den Einsatz einer Dreikopf-Schildmaschine zu simulieren. Die numerischen Ergebnisse werden mit den Resultaten der vor Ort Messungen verglichen. [source]

    Saturation and time dependence of geodynamo models

    GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2010
    M. Schrinner
    SUMMARY In this study we address the question under which conditions a saturated velocity field stemming from geodynamo simulations leads to an exponential growth of the magnetic field in a corresponding kinematic calculation. We perform global self-consistent geodynamo simulations and calculate the evolution of a kinematically advanced tracer field. The self-consistent velocity field enters the induction equation in each time step, but the tracer field does not contribute to the Lorentz force. This experiment has been performed by Cattaneo and Tobias and is closely related to the test field method by Schrinner et al. We find two dynamo regimes in which the tracer field either grows exponentially or approaches a state aligned with the actual self-consistent magnetic field after an initial transition period. Both regimes can be distinguished by the Rossby number and coincide with the dipolar and multipolar dynamo regimes identified by Christensen and Aubert. Dipolar dynamos with low Rossby number are kinematically stable whereas the tracer field grows exponentially in the multipolar dynamo regime. This difference in the saturation process for dynamos in both regimes comes along with differences in their time variability. Within our sample of 20 models, solely kinematically unstable dynamos show dipole reversals and large excursions. The complicated time behaviour of these dynamos presumably relates to the alternating growth of several competing dynamo modes. On the other hand, dynamos in the low Rossby number regime exhibit a rather simple time dependence and their saturation merely results in a fluctuation of the fundamental dynamo mode about its critical state. [source]

    On accuracy of the finite-difference and finite-element schemes with respect to P -wave to S -wave speed ratio

    GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2010
    Peter Moczo
    SUMMARY Numerical modelling of seismic motion in sedimentary basins often has to account for P -wave to S -wave speed ratios as large as five and even larger, mainly in sediments below groundwater level. Therefore, we analyse seven schemes for their behaviour with a varying P -wave to S -wave speed ratio. Four finite-difference (FD) schemes include (1) displacement conventional-grid, (2) displacement-stress partly-staggered-grid, (3) displacement-stress staggered-grid and (4) velocity,stress staggered-grid schemes. Three displacement finite-element schemes differ in integration: (1) Lobatto four-point, (2) Gauss four-point and (3) Gauss one-point. To compare schemes at the most fundamental level, and identify basic aspects responsible for their behaviours with the varying speed ratio, we analyse 2-D second-order schemes assuming an elastic homogeneous isotropic medium and a uniform grid. We compare structures of the schemes and applied FD approximations. We define (full) local errors in amplitude and polarization in one time step, and normalize them for a unit time. We present results of extensive numerical calculations for wide ranges of values of the speed ratio and a spatial sampling ratio, and the entire range of directions of propagation with respect to the spatial grid. The application of some schemes to real sedimentary basins in general requires considerably finer spatial sampling than usually applied. Consistency in approximating first spatial derivatives appears to be the key factor for the behaviour of a scheme with respect to the P -wave to S -wave speed ratio. [source]

    Pan-European regional-scale modelling of water and N efficiencies of rapeseed cultivation for biodiesel production

    GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2009
    MARIJN VAN DER VELDE
    Abstract The energy produced from the investment in biofuel crops needs to account for the environmental impacts on soil, water, climate change and ecosystem services. A regionalized approach is needed to evaluate the environmental costs of large-scale biofuel production. We present a regional pan-European simulation of rapeseed (Brassica napus) cultivation. Rapeseed is the European Union's dominant biofuel crop with a share of about 80% of the feedstock. To improve the assessment of the environmental impact of this biodiesel production, we performed a pan-European simulation of rapeseed cultivation at a 10 × 10 km scale with Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC). The model runs with a daily time step and model input consists of spatialized meteorological measurements, and topographic, soil, land use, and farm management practices data and information. Default EPIC model parameters were calibrated based on literature. Modelled rapeseed yields were satisfactory compared with yields at regional level reported for 151 regions obtained for the period from 1995 to 2003 for 27 European Union member countries, along with consistent modelled and reported yield responses to precipitation, radiation and vapour pressure deficit at regional level. The model is currently set up so that plant nutrient stress is not occurring. Total fertilizer consumption at country level was compared with IFA/FAO data. This approach allows us to evaluate environmental pressures and efficiencies arising from and associated with rapeseed cultivation to further complete the environmental balance of biofuel production and consumption. [source]

    Trends and methodological impacts in soil CO2 efflux partitioning: A metaanalytical review

    GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2006
    JENS-ARNE SUBKE
    Abstract Partitioning soil carbon dioxide (CO2) efflux (RS) into autotrophic (RA; including plant roots and closely associated organisms) and heterotrophic (RH) components has received considerable attention, as differential responses of these components to environmental change have profound implications for the soil and ecosystem C balance. The increasing number of partitioning studies allows a more detailed analysis of experimental constraints than was previously possible. We present results of an exhaustive literature search of partitioning studies and analyse global trends in flux partitioning between biomes and ecosystem types by means of a metaanalysis. Across all data, an overall decline in the RH/RS ratio for increasing annual RS fluxes emerged. For forest ecosystems, boreal coniferous sites showed significantly higher (P<0.05) RH/RS ratios than temperate sites, while both temperate or tropical deciduous forests did not differ in ratios from any of the other forest types. While chronosequence studies report consistent declines in the RH/RS ratio with age, no difference could be detected for different age groups in the global data set. Different methodologies showed generally good agreement if the range of RS under which they had been measured was considered, with the exception of studies estimating RH by means of root mass regressions against RS, which resulted in consistently lower RH/RS estimates out of all methods included. Additionally, the time step over which fluxes were partitioned did not affect RH/RS ratios consistently. To put results into context, we review the most common techniques and point out the likely sources of errors associated with them. In order to improve soil CO2 efflux partitioning in future experiments, we include methodological recommendations, and also highlight the potential interactions between soil components that may be overlooked as a consequence of the partitioning process itself. [source]

    Estimating diurnal to annual ecosystem parameters by synthesis of a carbon flux model with eddy covariance net ecosystem exchange observations

    GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2005
    Bobby H. Braswell
    Abstract We performed a synthetic analysis of Harvard Forest net ecosystem exchange of CO2 (NEE) time series and a simple ecosystem carbon flux model, the simplified Photosynthesis and Evapo-Transpiration model (SIPNET). SIPNET runs at a half-daily time step, and has two vegetation carbon pools, a single aggregated soil carbon pool, and a simple soil moisture sub-model. We used a stochastic Bayesian parameter estimation technique that provided posterior distributions of the model parameters, conditioned on the observed fluxes and the model equations. In this analysis, we estimated the values of all quantities that govern model behavior, including both rate constants and initial conditions for carbon pools. The purpose of this analysis was not to calibrate the model to make predictions about future fluxes but rather to understand how much information about process controls can be derived directly from the NEE observations. A wavelet decomposition enabled us to assess model performance at multiple time scales from diurnal to decadal. The model parameters are most highly constrained by eddy flux data at daily to seasonal time scales, suggesting that this approach is not useful for calculating annual integrals. However, the ability of the model to fit both the diurnal and seasonal variability patterns in the data simultaneously, using the same parameter set, indicates the effectiveness of this parameter estimation method. Our results quantify the extent to which the eddy covariance data contain information about the ecosystem process parameters represented in the model, and suggest several next steps in model development and observations for improved synthesis of models with flux observations. [source]

    Inverse Modeling Approach to Allogenic Karst System Characterization

    GROUND WATER, Issue 3 2009
    N. Dörfliger
    Allogenic karst systems function in a particular way that is influenced by the type of water infiltrating through river water losses, by karstification processes, and by water quality. Management of this system requires a good knowledge of its structure and functioning, for which a new methodology based on an inverse modeling approach appears to be well suited. This approach requires both spring and river inflow discharge measurements and a continuous record of chemical parameters in the river and at the spring. The inverse model calculates unit hydrographs and the impulse responses of fluxes from rainfall hydraulic head at the spring or rainfall flux data, the purpose of which is hydrograph separation. Hydrograph reconstruction is done using rainfall and river inflow data as model input and enables definition at each time step of the ratio of each component. Using chemical data, representing event and pre-event water, as input, it is possible to determine the origin of spring water (either fast flow through the epikarstic zone or slow flow through the saturated zone). This study made it possible to improve a conceptual model of allogenic karst system functioning. The methodology is used to study the Bas-Agly and the Cent Font karst systems, two allogenic karst systems in Southern France. [source]

    Estimation of rainfall from infrared-microwave satellite data for basin-scale hydrologic modelling

    HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 15 2010
    Oscar Anthony Kalinga
    Abstract The infrared-microwave rainfall algorithm (IMRA) was developed for retrieving spatial rainfall from infrared (IR) brightness temperatures (TBs) of satellite sensors to provide supplementary information to the rainfall field, and to decrease the traditional dependency on limited rain gauge data that are point measurements. In IMRA, a SLOPE technique (ST) was developed for discriminating rain/no-rain pixels through IR image cloud-top temperature gradient, and 243K as the IR threshold temperature for minimum detectable rainfall rate. IMRA also allows for the adjustment of rainfall derived from IR-TB using microwave (MW) TBs. In this study, IMRA rainfall estimates were assessed on hourly and daily basis for different spatial scales (4, 12, 20, and 100 km) using NCEP stage IV gauge-adjusted radar rainfall data, and daily rain gauge data. IMRA was assessed in terms of the accuracy of the rainfall estimates and the basin streamflow simulated by the hydrologic model, Sacramento soil moisture accounting (SAC-SMA), driven by the rainfall data. The results show that the ST option of IMRA gave accurate satellite rainfall estimates for both light and heavy rainfall systems while the Hessian technique only gave accurate estimates for the convective systems. At daily time step, there was no improvement in IR-satellite rainfall estimates adjusted with MW TBs. The basin-scale streamflow simulated by SAC-SMA driven by satellite rainfall data was marginally better than when SAC-SMA was driven by rain gauge data, and was similar to the case using radar data, reflecting the potential applications of satellite rainfall in basin-scale hydrologic modelling. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

    Parameterizing redistribution and sublimation of blowing snow for hydrological models: tests in a mountainous subarctic catchment

    HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 18 2009
    Matthew K. MacDonald
    Abstract Model tests of blowing snow redistribution and sublimation by wind were performed for three winters over a small mountainous sub-Arctic catchment located in the Yukon Territory, Canada, using a physically based blowing snow model. Snow transport fluxes were distributed over multiple hydrological response units (HRUs) using inter-HRU snow redistribution allocation factors (SR). Three SR schemes of varying complexity were evaluated. Model results show that end-of-winter snow accumulation can be most accurately simulated using a physically based blowing snow model when SR values are established when taking into account wind direction and speed and HRU aerodynamic characteristics, along with the spatial arrangement of the HRUs in the catchment. With the knowledge that snow transport scales approximately with the fourth power of wind speed (u4), SR values can be (1) established according to the predominant u4 direction and magnitude over a simulation period or (2) can change at each time step according to a measured wind direction. Unfortunately, wind direction data were available only for one of the three winters, so the latter scheme was tested only once. Although the aforementioned SR schemes produced different results, model efficiency was of similar merit. The independent effects of topography and vegetation were examined to assess their importance on snow redistribution modelling over mountainous terrain. Snow accumulation was best simulated when including explicit representations of both landscape vegetation (i.e. vegetation height and density) and topography (i.e. wind exposure). There may be inter-basin differences in the relative importance of model representations of topography and vegetation. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

    Detecting the effects of spatial variability of rainfall on hydrological modelling within an uncertainty analysis framework

    HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 14 2009
    P. M. Younger
    Abstract Spatial patterns of rainfall are known to cause differences in observed flow. In this paper, the effects of perturbations in rainfall patterns on changes in parameter sets as well as model output are explored using the hydrological model Dynamic TOPMODEL for the Brue catchment (135 km2) in southwest England. Overall rainfall amount remains the same at each time step so the perturbations act as effectively treated errors in the spatial pattern. The errors were analysed with particular emphasis on when they could be detected under an uncertainty framework. Higher rainfall perturbations (multipliers of × 4 and greater) in the low lying and high areas of the catchment resulted in changes to event peaks and accompanying compensation in the baseflow. More significantly, changes in the effective model parameter values required by the best models to take account of the more extreme patterns were able to be detected by noting when distributions of parameters change under uncertainty. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

    Impact of time-scale of the calibration objective function on the performance of watershed models

    HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 25 2007
    K. P. Sudheer
    Abstract Many of the continuous watershed models perform all their computations on a daily time step, yet they are often calibrated at an annual or monthly time-scale that may not guarantee good simulation performance on a daily time step. The major objective of this paper is to evaluate the impact of the calibration time-scale on model predictive ability. This study considered the Soil and Water Assessment Tool for the analyses, and it has been calibrated at two time-scales, viz. monthly and daily for the War Eagle Creek watershed in the USA. The results demonstrate that the model's performance at the smaller time-scale (such as daily) cannot be ensured by calibrating them at a larger time-scale (such as monthly). It is observed that, even though the calibrated model possesses satisfactory ,goodness of fit' statistics, the simulation residuals failed to confirm the assumption of their homoscedasticity and independence. The results imply that evaluation of models should be conducted considering their behavior in various aspects of simulation, such as predictive uncertainty, hydrograph characteristics, ability to preserve statistical properties of the historic flow series, etc. The study enlightens the scope for improving/developing effective autocalibration procedures at the daily time step for watershed models. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

    Determination of upward/downward groundwater fluxes using transient variations of soil profile temperature: test of the method with Voyons (Aube, France) experimental data

    HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 18 2005
    Hocine Bendjoudi
    Abstract The temperature variations recorded at several points of a vertical shallow-depth profile are governed both by conductive and convective heat transfers and can be used to calculate the vertical component of the Darcy velocity and thermal diffusivity in the soil. This paper describes such calculations when transient variations over tens of days are considered and tests them using data collected at Voyons (Aube, France). The temperature was recorded during a year and a half period with a 1 h sampling time step at three different depths: 0·2, 0·4 and 0·75 m. By processing the annual variation of temperature, we obtained a value of the Darcy velocity in good agreement with the value of actual/potential evapotranspiration ratio. By processing transient variations, despite the limitation of the calculations due to the lack of sensitivity of the sensors, results obtained at Voyons were in good correlation with tensiometric data. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

    Process-oriented catchment modelling and multiple-response validation

    HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 2 2002
    S. Uhlenbrook
    Abstract The conceptual rainfall runoff model TAC (tracer-aided catchment model) has been developed based on the experimental results of tracer hydrological investigations at the mountainous Brugga and Zastler basins (40 and 18·4 km2). The model contains a physically realistic description of the runoff generation, which includes seven unit types each with characteristic dominating runoff generation processes. These processes are conceptualized by different linear and non-linear reservoir concepts. The model is applied to a period of 3·2 years on a daily time step with good success. In addition, an extensive model validation procedure was executed. Therefore, additional information (i.e. runoff in subbasins and a neighbouring basin, tracer concentrations and calculated runoff components) was used besides the simulated discharge of the basin investigated. This study shows the potential of tracer data for hydrological modelling. On the one hand, they are good tools to investigate the runoff generation processes. This is the basis for developing more realistic conceptualizations of the runoff generation routine. On the other hand, tracer data can serve as multi-response data to assess and validate a model. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

    Neural network approach to stereoscopic correspondence of three-dimensional particle tracking velocimetry

    IEEJ TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING, Issue 6 2008
    Achyut Sapkota Student Member
    Abstract Particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) is a reliable measurement technique for the quantitative study of fluid flows by observing the motion of the particles seeded in them and is widely used in several industrial applications. The nature of the flow can be precisely observed only if all the three components of the velocity are computed. In 3-D PTV system, particles viewed by two (or more than two) stereoscopic cameras with a parallax have to be correctly paired at every synchronized time step. This is important because the 3-D coordinates of individual particles cannot be computed without the knowledge of the correct stereo correspondence of the particles. In the present work, a neural network,based algorithm has been proposed for the stereoscopic particle pairing process. The correspondence between the particle pairs is modeled as a constrained optimization problem. The constraints are provided on the basis of the epipolar geometry of the particle images and on the basis of the uniqueness of the matched pairs. The results are tested with various standard images. Copyright © 2008 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [source]

    An operator-split ALE model for large deformation analysis of geomaterials

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 12 2007
    Y. Di
    Abstract Analysis of large deformation of geomaterials subjected to time-varying load poses a very difficult problem for the geotechnical profession. Conventional finite element schemes using the updated Lagrangian formulation may suffer from serious numerical difficulties when the deformation of geomaterials is significantly large such that the discretized elements are severely distorted. In this paper, an operator-split arbitrary Lagrangian,Eulerian (ALE) finite element model is proposed for large deformation analysis of a soil mass subjected to either static or dynamic loading, where the soil is modelled as a saturated porous material with solid,fluid coupling and strong material non-linearity. Each time step of the operator-split ALE algorithm consists of a Lagrangian step and an Eulerian step. In the Lagrangian step, the equilibrium equation and continuity equation of the saturated soil are solved by the updated Lagrangian method. In the Eulerian step, mesh smoothing is performed for the deformed body and the state variables obtained in the updated Lagrangian step are then transferred to the new mesh system. The accuracy and efficiency of the proposed ALE method are verified by comparison of its results with the results produced by an analytical solution for one-dimensional finite elastic consolidation of a soil column and with the results from the small strain finite element analysis and the updated Lagrangian analysis. Its performance is further illustrated by simulation of a complex problem involving the transient response of an embankment subjected to earthquake loading. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

    A new approach to avoid excessive numerical diffusion in Eulerian,Lagrangian methods

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 11 2008
    A. Younes
    Abstract Lumping is often used to avoid non-physical oscillations for advection,dispersion equations but is known to add numerical diffusion. A new approach is detailed in order to avoid excessive numerical diffusion in Eulerian,Lagrangian methods when several time steps are used. The basic idea of this approach is to keep the same characteristics during all time steps and to interpolate only the concentration variations due to the dispersion process. In this way, numerical diffusion due to the lumping is removed at the end of each time step. The method is combined with the Eulerian,Lagrangian localized adjoint method (ELLAM) which is a mass conservative characteristic method for solving the advection,dispersion equation. Two test problems are modelled to compare the proposed method to the consistent, the full and the selective lumping approaches for linear and non-linear transport equations. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

    Solution of non-linear dispersive wave problems using a moving finite element method

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 4 2007
    Abigail Wacher
    Abstract The solution of the fully non-linear time-dependent two-dimensional shallow water equations is considered. Dispersive effects due to the Coriolis forces are taken into account. Such effects are of major importance in geophysical fluid dynamics applications. The recently proposed string gradient weighted moving finite element method is extended for this class of problems. This method simultaneously determines, at each time step, the solution of the governing partial differential equations and an optimal location of the finite element nodes. It has previously been applied to non-dispersive wave problems; here its performance under the demanding conditions of large Coriolis forces, inducing large mesh and field rotation, is studied. Optimal rates of convergence are obtained. Results for some example problems of water hump release are presented. Non-linear and linearized solutions are compared. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

    Compressible flow SUPG parameters computed from element matrices

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 9 2005
    L. Catabriga
    Abstract We present, for the SUPG formulation of inviscid compressible flows with shocks, stabilization parameters defined based on the element-level matrices. These definitions are expressed in terms of the ratios of the norms of the matrices and take into account the flow field, the local length scales, and the time step size. Calculations of these stabilization parameters are straightforward and do not require explicit expressions for length or velocity scales. We compare the performance of these stabilization parameters, accompanied by a shock-capturing parameter introduced earlier, with the performance of a stabilization parameter introduced earlier, accompanied by the same shock-capturing parameter. We investigate the performance difference between updating the stabilization and shock-capturing parameters at the end of every time step and at the end of every non-linear iteration within a time step. We also investigate the influence of activating an algorithmic option that was introduced earlier, which is based on freezing the shock-capturing parameter at its current value when a convergence stagnation is detected. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

    Efficiency of boundary element methods for time-dependent convective heat diffusion at high Peclet numbers

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 4 2005
    M. M. Grigoriev
    Abstract A higher-order boundary element method (BEM) recently developed by the current authors (Comput Methods Appl Mech Eng 2003; 192: 4281,4298; 4299,4312; 4313,4335) for time-dependent convective heat diffusion in two-dimensions appears to be a very attractive tool for efficient simulations of transient linear flows. However, the previous BEM formulation is restricted to relatively small time step sizes (i.e. ,t,4,/V2) owing to the convergence issues of the time series for the kernel representation within a time interval. This paper extends the boundary element formulation in a way to allow time step sizes several orders of magnitude larger than in the previous approach. We consider an example problem of thermal propagation, and investigate the accuracy and efficiency of BEM formulations for Peclet numbers in the range from 103 to 105. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

    CBS versus GLS stabilization of the incompressible Navier,Stokes equations and the role of the time step as stabilization parameter

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 2 2002
    R. Codina
    Abstract In this work we compare two apparently different stabilization procedures for the finite element approximation of the incompressible Navier,Stokes equations. The first is the characteristic-based split (CBS). It combines the characteristic Galerkin method to deal with convection dominated flows with a classical splitting technique, which in some cases allows us to use equal velocity,pressure interpolations. The second approach is the Galerkin-least-squares (GLS) method, in which a least-squares form of the element residual is added to the basic Galerkin equations. It is shown that both formulations display similar stabilization mechanisms, provided the stabilization parameter of the GLS method is identified with the time step of the CBS approach. This identification can be understood from a formal Fourier analysis of the linearized problem. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]