Near-surface models in Saudi Arabia     

Ralph Bridle  Robert Ley  Ameerah Al-Mustafa 《Geophysical Prospecting》2007,55(6):779-792

A single‐layer model of the near surface throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is available. While this simple model suffices for most areas and large subsurface structures, it fails in situations where the surface topography is complex, the base of weathering is below the datum, or where the time structural closure is less than the uncertainty in the static correction. In such cases, multiple‐layered models that incorporate velocities derived from analysis of first arrivals picked from seismic shot records have proved to be successful in defining the lateral heterogeneity of the near surface. The additional velocity information obtained from this first‐arrival analysis (direct as well as refracted arrivals) vastly improves the velocity–depth model of the near surface, regardless of the topography. Static corrections computed from these detailed near‐surface velocity models have significantly enhanced subsurface image focusing, thereby reducing the uncertainty in the closure of target structures. Other non‐seismic methods have been used either to confirm qualitatively or to enhance the layer models previously mentioned. Gravity data may be particularly useful in sandy areas to confirm general structure, while geostatistical modelling of vibrator base‐plate attributes has yielded information that enhances the velocity field. In the global context, exploration targets of the oil and gas industry are seeking smaller and lower relief‐time structures. Thus, near‐surface models will need to enhance and integrate these methods, particularly in areas where the assumption of flat‐lying near‐surface layers cannot be met.  相似文献   

AVIATR—Aerial Vehicle for In-situ and Airborne Titan Reconnaissance     

Jason W. Barnes  Lawrence Lemke  Rick Foch  Christopher P. McKay  Ross A. Beyer  Jani Radebaugh  David H. Atkinson  Ralph D. Lorenz  Stéphane Le Mouélic  Sebastien Rodriguez  Jay Gundlach  Francesco Giannini  Sean Bain  F. Michael Flasar  Terry Hurford  Carrie M. Anderson  Jon Merrison  Máté ádámkovics  Simon A. Kattenhorn  Jonathan Mitchell  Devon M. Burr  Anthony Colaprete  Emily Schaller  A. James Friedson  Kenneth S. Edgett  Angioletta Coradini  Alberto Adriani  Kunio M. Sayanagi  Michael J. Malaska  David Morabito  Kim Reh 《Experimental Astronomy》2012,33(1):55-127

We describe a mission concept for a stand-alone Titan airplane mission: Aerial Vehicle for In-situ and Airborne Titan Reconnaissance (AVIATR). With independent delivery and direct-to-Earth communications, AVIATR could contribute to Titan science either alone or as part of a sustained Titan Exploration Program. As a focused mission, AVIATR as we have envisioned it would concentrate on the science that an airplane can do best: exploration of Titan??s global diversity. We focus on surface geology/hydrology and lower-atmospheric structure and dynamics. With a carefully chosen set of seven instruments??2 near-IR cameras, 1 near-IR spectrometer, a RADAR altimeter, an atmospheric structure suite, a haze sensor, and a raindrop detector??AVIATR could accomplish a significant subset of the scientific objectives of the aerial element of flagship studies. The AVIATR spacecraft stack is composed of a Space Vehicle (SV) for cruise, an Entry Vehicle (EV) for entry and descent, and the Air Vehicle (AV) to fly in Titan??s atmosphere. Using an Earth-Jupiter gravity assist trajectory delivers the spacecraft to Titan in 7.5 years, after which the AVIATR AV would operate for a 1-Earth-year nominal mission. We propose a novel ??gravity battery?? climb-then-glide strategy to store energy for optimal use during telecommunications sessions. We would optimize our science by using the flexibility of the airplane platform, generating context data and stereo pairs by flying and banking the AV instead of using gimbaled cameras. AVIATR would climb up to 14?km altitude and descend down to 3.5?km altitude once per Earth day, allowing for repeated atmospheric structure and wind measurements all over the globe. An initial Team-X run at JPL priced the AVIATR mission at FY10 $715M based on the rules stipulated in the recent Discovery announcement of opportunity. Hence we find that a standalone Titan airplane mission can achieve important science building on Cassini??s discoveries and can likely do so within a New Frontiers budget.  相似文献   

Assessing the spatial variability of the ~3 μm OH/H2O absorption feature in CM2 carbonaceous chondrites     

Cody Schultz  Brendan A. Anzures  Ralph E. Milliken  Taki Hiroi  Kevin Robertson 《Meteoritics & planetary science》2023,58(2):170-194

H₂O and OH are readily detected in hydrated minerals in CM chondrites via reflectance spectroscopy due to their characteristic vibration absorptions at infrared wavelengths. Previous spectroscopic work on bulk powdered CM chondrites has shown that spectral parameters, like the wavelength position of the “3 μm absorption feature,” vary systematically with the extent to which the samples have been aqueously altered. However, it is yet unclear how these spectral features may vary across an intact meteorite chip when measured at spatial scales smaller than that of the individual components of the meteorite. Here, we explore the spatial variability of this spectral feature and others on intact CM2 chips which, unlike powders, retain their petrologic and textural characteristics. We also model the modal mineralogy of the bulk meteorite powders and correlate this with key spectral features, demonstrating that microscope Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic mapping provides a powerful, rapid, and non-destructive technique for assessing compositional diversity and variations in water–rock interactions in chondritic planetary materials. In all CM2 chondrites studied here, we find that variations in the position, shape, and strength of the 3 μm absorption feature reveal a single chondrite can exhibit as much spectral variation as the entire suite of CM2 chondrites. The observed variations in the position and shape of the 3 μm feature within individual CM2 chondrite chips suggest a range of alteration products (e.g., Mg-rich to Fe-rich phyllosilicates) are present and record sub-mm scale variations in the amount and/or chemistry of the altering fluids. The samples having experienced the most progressive aqueous alteration show the least amount of variability in features like the 3 μm absorption band minimum position, whereas the least altered samples exhibit the most variability. We also find that the bulk spectral signatures in the least altered samples appear to be biased toward the spectral signatures of clasts versus matrix. By extension, asteroid reflectance spectra exhibiting 3 μm absorption features consistent with those measured here may be interpreted in a similar framework in which the spectrum of what may appear to be the least altered asteroids represents an average that belies the true diversity of mineralogy and chemistry of the body.  相似文献   

Design and quantification of an extreme winter storm scenario for emergency preparedness and planning exercises in California     

Michael D. Dettinger  F. Martin Ralph  Mimi Hughes  Tapash Das  Paul Neiman  Dale Cox  Gary Estes  David Reynolds  Robert Hartman  Daniel Cayan  Lucy Jones 《Natural Hazards》2012,60(3):1085-1111

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Towards (Re)Constructing Narratives from Georeferenced Photographs through Visual Analytics     

Ralph K. Straumann 《The Cartographic journal》2014,51(2):152-165

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On the statistical distribution of dust devil diameters     

Ralph Lorenz 《Icarus》2011,215(1):381-390

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Mercury after the MESSENGER flybys: An introduction to the special issue of Planetary and Space Science     

Sean C. Solomon  Ralph L. McNutt Jr.  Louise M. Prockter 《Planetary and Space Science》2011,59(15):1827-1828

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