An Advanced Probabilistic Neural Network for the Design of Breakwater Armor Blocks

In this study,an advanced probabilistic neural network(APNN)method is proposed to reflect the global probability density function(PDF)by summing up the heterogeneous local PDF which is automatically determined in the individual standard deviation of variables.The APNN is applied to predict the stability number of armor blocks of breakwaters using the experimental data of van der Meer,and the estimated results of the APNN are compared with those of an empirical formula and a previous artificial neural network(ANN)model.The APNN shows better results in predicting the stability number of armor blocks of breakwater and it provided the promising probabilistic viewpoints by using the individual standard deviation in a variable.     

The Effects of GPS Carrier Phase Ambiguity Resolution on Jason-1

We have used GPS carrier phase integer ambiguity resolution to investigate improvements in the orbit determination for the Jason-1 satellite altimeter mission. The technique has been implemented in the GIPSY orbit determination software developed by JPL. The radial accuracy of the Jason-1 orbits is already near 1 cm, and thus it is difficult to detect the improvements gained when the carrier phase ambiguities are resolved. Nevertheless, each of the metrics we use to evaluate the orbit accuracy (orbit overlaps, orbit comparisons, satellite laser ranging residuals, altimeter crossover residuals, orbit centering) show modest improvement when the ambiguities are resolved. We conservatively estimate the improvement in the radial orbit accuracy is at the 10–20% level.     

HUMAN MODIFICATION OF KOREAN LANDFORMS FOR GEOMANTIC PURPOSES*

The geomantic idea of chosan pibo is a particular way of remedying the inadequacies of a geomantic landscape by building small mounds of earth or stones and has been a significant motivation for modifying the environment in Korea. This idea is a part of ancient Chinese geomancy, or feng shui, for determining auspicious sites. Historically, three principal geomantic means have been used to compensate for shortcomings at an auspicious site: building religious structures, such as temples; creating hills, planting trees, or changing directions of watercourses; or making other symbolic gestures, such as naming objects and places. In this article I concentrate on the second, modifying landforms to compensate for the geomantic shortcomings of a place. The quasi‐religious zeal shown by feng shui practitioners in Korea to improve the local geomantic landscape is worthy of comparing and contrasting with the European Christian idea, held by medieval monastic monks, that humanity is a partner of God in improving the environment.     

Rate of late Quaternary ice-cap thinning on King George Island, South Shetland Islands, West Antarctica defined by cosmogenic 36Cl surface exposure dating

Glacial landforms on the Barton and Weaver peninsulas of King George Island in the South Shetland Islands, West Antarctica were mapped and dated using terrestrial cosmogenic ³⁶Cl methods to provide the first quantitative terrestrial record for late Quaternary deglaciation in the South Shetland Islands. ³⁶Cl ages on glacially eroded and striated bedrock surfaces range from 15.5±2.5 kyr to 1.0±0.7 kyr. The ³⁶Cl ages are younger with decreasing altitude, indicating progressive downwasting of the southwestern part of the Collins Ice Cap at a rate of ∼12 mm yr⁻¹ since 15.5±2.5 kyr ago, supporting the previously published marine records for the timing and estimate of the rate of deglaciation in this region.     

Some remarks on the westward propagation of the monsoon depression

Several westward propagation properties of the Indian monsoon depression were neglected by previous studies. They include:(1) the slower propagation speed of the depression depicted by a quasi‐geostrophic model, (2) the initiation of the asymmetric secondary circulation with respect to the depression center, and (3) the absence of the depression perturbation in the upper troposphere. Some further insights into these neglected propagation properties of the depression are obtained from the streamfunction budget analysis with the ECMWF (European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts) reanalysis data. (1) The inclusion of relative vorticity stretching, which is neglected in a quasi‐geostrophic model, increases the depression's westward propagation speed. (2) Within the large‐scale environment of the summer monsoon, the coupling of the east‐west differentiation of the meridional absolute vorticity advection with the CISK mechanism is conducive to the initiation and development of the asymmetric secondary circulation associated with the depression. (3) The Tibetan high is formed by summertime global‐scale stationary waves which are maintained by a Sverdrup balance. The positive streamfunction tendency induced by the upper‐tropospheric vortex stretching over the monsoon region suppresses the development of the monsoon depression in the upper troposphere.