ALBERT

Description / Table of Contents: PREFACE The CERN Accelerator School (CAS) was founded in 1983 with the aim to preserve and disseminate the knowledge accumulated at CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) and elsewhere on particle accelerators and storage rings. This is being achieved by means of a biennial programme of basic and advanced courses on general accelerator physics supplemented by specialized and topical courses as well as Workshops. The chapters included in this present volume are taken from one of the specialized courses, Applied Geodesy for Particle Accelerators, held at CERN in April 1986. When construction of the first large accelerators started in the 1950's, it was necessary to use geodetic techniques to ensure precise positioning of the machines' components. Since that time the means employed have constantly evolved in line with technological progress in general, while a number of specific developments - many of them achieved at CERN - have enriched the range of available instruments. These techniques and precision instruments are used for most of the world's accelerators but can also be applied in other areas of industrial geodesy: surveying of civil engineering works and structures, aeronautics, nautical engineering, astronomical radio-interferometers, metrology of large dimensions, studies of deformation, etc. The ever increasing dimensions of new accelerators dictates the use of the best geodetic methods in the search for the greatest precision, such as distance measurements to 10 -7, riqorous evaluation of the local geoid and millimetric exploitation of the Navstar satellites. At the same time, the powerful computer methods now available for solving difficult problems are also applicable at the instrument level where data collection can be automatically checked. Above all, measuring methods and calculations and their results can be integrated into data bases where the collection of technical parameters can be efficiently managed. In order to conserve the logical presentation of the different lectures presented at the CAS school, the chapters presented here have been grouped under four main topics. The first and the fourth deal with spatial and theoretical geodesy, while the second and third are concerned with the work of applied geodesy, especially that carried out at CERN. Readers involved in these subjects will find in the following chapters, if not the complete answer to their problems, at least the beginning of solutions to them.

Description / Table of Contents: INTRODUCTION The evaporite deposits of the Werra district, especially in the Hattorf mining field, are considered a worldwide unique location for the occurence of numerous basalt dikes and magmatic fluid phases fixed in salt rocks. In spite of the great number of studies dealing with the magmatites in the Werra region, previous investigations have rarely attempted more than a predominantly 'qualitative' description of the basaltic rocks and the effects of volcanism on the evaporites (see Chapter 2). The method of interpreting the mineralogical and chemical composition of the evaporites at the basalt contact is based on previous works (KNIPPING 1984; KNIPPING & HERRMANN 1985). This study should contribute to understanding (i) the mechanism of intrusion of the basaltic rnelts and (ii) the metamorphic processes occurring in the evaporites caused by mobile phases during volcanism. Hence, the following methods were applied: The mineralogical and chemical description of the basaltic rocks with recent nomenclature including the possible differences between individual dikes and between surface- and subsurface-exposed basalts. Seven surface and 48 subsurface exposures at the Hattorf mine of Kali & Salz AG were studied. Application of the most recent knowledge on basalt genesis for interpreting observational and experimental results. Studies on the sulfur and carbon isotope distributions of the native sulfur from several subsurface exposures and the enrichments of gases (predominantly CO2) in the evaporites. Calculation of the spatial and temporal temperature distribution in the evaporite rocks following intrusion of the basaltic melts. For purposes of clarity a few of the terms which will be used frequently here will first be defined: basalt - all of the intrusive rocks studied can be assigned mineralogically and chemically to the basalt family in a broader sense. Thus, the terms basaltic rock or, in short, basalt will be used for these rocks. rock salt - instead of the term salt for halitic rocks the term rock salt is used. Besides, the evaporites are generally designated as host rocks (for the basalt dikes) as well. gases - especially in the German literature the term carbon dioxide or carbonic acid (= Kohlensäure) is frequently used for the gases enclosed in the evaporites of the Werra-Fulda district. ACKERMANN et al (1964) found, in addition to carbon dioxide, considerable amounts of nitrogen and minor amounts of methane. In the following therefore the terms gas mixture or gas will be used. The various basalt dikes found in the Hattorf mining field are described here in terms of their mineralogy and geochemistry for the first time. In doing so it is necessary to number them from east to west. To avoid confusion with older numerations (e.g. SIEMENS 1971) the various dike systems are designated by capital letters (A to P).

Description / Table of Contents: PREFACE This volume comprises the main lectures delivered at the Fourth International Summer School in the Mountains on "Mathematical and Numerical Techniques in Physical Geodesy", held from August 25 to September 5, 1986 in Admont, Austria. The School was organized by the Institute of Theoretical Geodesy of the Technical University Graz, Austria under the auspices of the International Association of Geodesy. All five continents were represented by 70 participants from over 20 countries. The purpose of the Summer School was to provide an introduction to advanced techniques which represent the mathematical vehicle for the treatment of modern geodetic problems, to familiarize participants with the present state of the art of global and local gravity field determination methods, ranging from orbit theory, the key satellite techniques, to inertial and standard terrestrial methods, and to discuss future scientific developments. The arrangement of this volume matches the sequence of lectures given at the School. The theoretical PART A represents the mathematical framework of modern physical geodesy, the application PART B deals with the key satellite and surface techniques, providing the detailed structure of the earth's gravity field. PART A: One of the main goals in physical geodesy, global and local gravity field determination, is pursued by extensively applying functional analytic methods. Recently special attention is being given to the base function and norm choice problem, and to the establishment of a sound link between density distributions inside the earth as the source and observed or estimated gravity field quantities as the effect. The lectures by C.C. Tscherning focus on this topic. Space and time dependent problems of discrete and continuous type are encountered in modern geodesy nowadays and dealt with in the lectures by F. Sans6. Estimation theory either in its stochastic or statistic formulation plays a key role in the processing of processes like the earth's gravity field. The consistent processing of large structured data sets calls for equally structured numerical algorithms. Spectral analysis with its powerful fast Fourier transform has become a common tool for the treatment of such problems. An introduction to spectral methods, supplemented by numerous examples, is provided by B. Hofmann-Wellenhof and H. Moritz. PART B: The theory of orbit dynamics, tailored to the near circular orbits of most geodetic satellites, is fundamental to modern geodetic satellite techniques and discussed in the lectures by O.L. Colombo. Particular emphasis is put on the interplay between orbit perturbations and the earth's disturbing gravity field and its mapping by satellite techniques like satellite altimetry, satellite-tosatellite tracking and satellite gradiometry. Satellite gradiometry, which is discussed in the lectures by R. Rummel in detail, with regard to the geometric structure of the gravitational field, the observability of the gradients, and the mathematical model underlying the gravity field recovery problem, promises to provide particularly detailed information about the gravity field of our planet. The global structure of the earth's gravity field is described in terms of earth gravity field models which are derived from both satellite and surface data. The many delicate, mathematically as well as numerically challenging problems, related to the consistent processing of very large space distributed data sets, and proposed solutions are presented in the lecture by R.H. Rapp. For many years various attempts have been made to explain the shorter wavelength part of the earth's anomalous gravity field by isostatic phenomena. Recently several high resolution topographicisostatic earth models have been computed based on global digital terrain data using different techniques fo~ the estimation of the parameters of the chosen isostatic model. A declared goal is the maximum smoothing of the observed gravity field by removing the contribution of the topography and its isostatic compensation. This topic is discussed in the lectures by H. SUnkel. Inertial methods are steadily gaining importance, power and application. This is not only due to hardware improvements in terms of precision and reliability, but also due to recent advances in the mathematical and numerical modelling of the system's performance. An investigation of the error characteristics of inertial survey systems and their interaction with the anomalous gravity field, studied in the framework of dynamic system analysis, is the topic of the lectures by K.-P. Schwarz and the key issue for further improvements and possible integrations with other positioning systems. Geodetic data have both geometric and physical ingredients of various nature. Standard geodetic processing procedures aim at a separation of geometry from physics. Integrated geodesy, in contrast, has been designed as a very sophisticated melting pot which handles practically all available geodetic data in a consistent and optimal way.lt handles surface and satellite data with either geometrically or gravity field dominated content, and geophysical data in terms of density and seismic informatlon just as well and represents as such the great synthesis of mathematical modelling in connexion with geodetic data processing techniques; these advanced ideas are presented in the lectures by G. Hein. This volume presents highlights of modern geodetic activity and takes the reader to the frontiers of current research. It is not a textbook on a closed and limited subject, but rather a reference book for graduates and scientists working in the vast and beautiful, demanding but rewarding field of earth science in general and physical geodesy in particular. The editor expresses his appreciation to all authors of this volume for their advice and help in formulating and designing the scientific program of the Summer School, for providing typewritten lecture notes, and for their excellent cooperation.

Description / Table of Contents: PREFACE During the last decades, remarkable progress in heat flow studies has been made and a rough picture of the global surface heat flow density distribution can now be drawn. Simultaneously, the question of over which time period the surface heat flow is constant arose. There is a big field of model calculations, based on the changes in radioactive heat generation of the Earth, on plate motions, on stretching hypotheses or on other ideas, which result in geotherms in the geological past. Although these speculative paleogeotherms seem to be realistic especially in oceanic areas they do not belong to the scope of this book. In continental areas however, it is not possible to find a simple time dependence of the surface heat flow density. However, petroleum research and tectogenetic studies are very interested in the geothermal history of sedimentary basins and other continental areas. To obtain satisfactory results, a more or less direct determination of paleo heat flow density or geothermal gradient would be necessary to give more certain boundary conditions for calculating oil generation, and for controlling tectogenetic hypotheses. There are many methods available in the geosciences to determine temperatures in the geological past. Most of these models are able to estimate temperatures at which a mineral or a mineral assemblage was formed. These methods, however, are mostly unsuitable to reach the main goal of paleogeothermics in general, which is to determine the (regional) heat flow density variations during the geological past for bigger geological units, such as sedimentary basins. The methods applied most in sedimentary basins have been deduced from the degree of coalification of organic matter. Although much effort has been made to explain analytically the organic metamorphism, the results found up to now have been insufficient . However, the widespread application of this thermometer to estimate ancient thermal conditions is also reflected in the contents of this very volume where the interpretation of the degree of coalification of organic matter plays an important role. As well as this geothermometers, other methods are reviewed from a geophysical viewpoint which favours methods suitable to determine a paleothermal state of the upper crust. Further contributions of this book deal with - the history of the earth's surface temperature whose change provides an essential correction factor in heat flow density determinations, - isotope geothermometers and their application to various environments to evaluate thermal conditions in the past geological history, - an application of the radiometric dating method to retrace the paleothermal condition of the Central Alps. Most of the contributions were presented at the symposium "Paleogeothermics" which was held at the 18. General Assembly of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, August 15-27, 1983 in Hamburg/FRG. It has been the first time that such a symposium has been organized by the International Heat Flow Commission, and this book presents an attempt to define paleogeothermics under the auspices of the International Heat Flow Commission.

Description / Table of Contents: INTRODUCTION - WHY THIS BOOK? Why study Numerical Geology? Although geologists have dabbled in numbers since the time of Hutton and Playfair, 200 years ago (Merriam 1981e), geology until recently lagged behind other sciences in both the teaching and geological application of mathematics, statistics and computers. Geology Departments incorporating these disciplines in their undergraduate courses are still few (particularly outside the USA). Only two international geomathematical/computing journals are published (Computers & Geosciences; Mathematical Geology), compared with dozens covering, say, petrology or mineralogy. It also remains common practice for years (and $1000s) to be spent setting up computerized machines to produce large volumes of data in machine-readable form, and then for geologists to plot these by hand on a sheet of graph paper! Despite this, the use of numerical methods in geology has now begun to increase at a rate which implies a revolution of no less importance than the plate tectonic revolution of the 1960's -- one whose impact is beginning to be felt throughout the academic, commercial, governmental and private consultative geological communities (Merriam 1969, 1981c). Although a few pioneers have been publishing benchmark papers for some years, the routine usage of machine-based analytical techniques, and the advent of low-priced desk-top microcomputers, have successively enabled and now at last persuaded many more geologists to become both numerate and computerate. Merriam (1980) estimated that two decades of increasing awareness had seen the percentage of geomathematical papers (sensu lato) rise to some 15% of all geological literature; meanwhile, mineralogy-petrology and geochemistry had both fallen to a mere 5% each! In these Notes, geomathematics and numerical geology are used interchangeably, to cover applications of mathematics, statistics and computing to processing real geological data. However, as applications which primarily store or retrieve numbers (e.g. databases) are included, as well as those involving actual mathematical calculations, 'Numerical Geology' is preferred in the title. 'Geomathematics' in this sense should not be confused with 'geostatistics', now usually restricted to a specialised branch of geomathematics dealing with ore body estimation (§20). Reasons for studying Numerical Geology can be summarised as follows: (1) Volumes of new and existing numerical data: The British Geological Survey, the world's oldest, recently celebrated its 150th anniversary by establishing a National Geoscience data-centre, in which it is hoped to store all accumulated records on a computer (Lumsden & Flowarth 1986). Information already existing in the Survey's archives is believed to amount to tens or hundreds of Gb (i.e. = 1010-11 characters) and to be increasing by a few percent annually. The volumes of valuable data existing in the worM's geological archives, over perhaps 250 years of geological endeavour, must therefore be almost immeasurably greater. It is now routine even for students to produce hundreds or thousands of multi-element analyses for a single thesis, while national programs of geochemical sampling easily produce a million individual dement values. Such volumes of data simply cannot be processed realistically by manual means; they require mathematical and statistical manipulation on computers -- in some cases large computers. (2) Better use of coded/digitised data: In addition to intrinsically numerical (e.g. chemical) data, geology produces much information which can be more effectively used if numerically coded. For example, relatively little can be done with records of, say, 'limestone' and 'sandstone' in a borehole log, but very much more can be done if these records are numerically coded as 'limestone = 1' and 'sandstone = 2'. Via encoding, enormous volumes of data are opened to computer processing which would otherwise have lain dormant. More importantly, geological maps - perhaps the most important tool of the entire science - can themselves be digitised (turned into large sets of numbers), opening up vast new possibilities for manipulation, revision, scale-change and other improvements. (3) Intelligent data use: It is absurd to acquire large volumes of data and then not to interpret them fully. Field geologists observing an outcrop commonly split into two (or more) groups, arguing perhaps over the presence or absence of a preferred orientation in kyanite crystals on a schist foliation surface. The possibility of actually measuring these orientations and analyzing them statistically (§17) is rarely aired-- at last in this author's experience! Petrologists are equally culpable when they rely on X-Y or, at maximum 'sophistication', X-Y-Z (triangular) variation diagrams, in representing the evolution of igneous rocks which have commonly been analyzed for up to 50 elements! Whereas some geological controversies (especially those based on interpretation of essentially subjective field observations) cannot be resolved numerically, many others can and should be. This is not to say (as Lord Kelvin did) that quantitative science is the only good science, but qualitative treatment of quantitative data is rarely anything but bad science. (4) Literature search and data retrieval: Most research projects must begin with reviews of the literature and, frequently, with exhaustive compilations of existing data. These are essential if informed views on the topic are to be reached, existing work is not merely to be duplicated, and optimum use is to be made of available funding, The ever-expanding geological literature, however, makes such reviews and compilations increasingly time-consuming and expensive via traditional manual means. Use of the increasing number of both bibliographical and analytical databases (§3) is therefore becoming a prequisite for well-informed, high-quality research. (5) Unification of interests: In these days of inexorably increasing specialisation in ever narrower topics, brought about by the need to keep abreast of the exploding literature, numerical geology forms a rare bridge between different branches not only of geology but of diverse other sciences. The techniques covered in this book are equally applicable (and in many cases have been in routine use for far longer) in biology, botany, geography, medicine, psychology, sociology, zoology, etc. Within geology itself, most topics covered here are as valuable to the stratigrapher as to the petrologist. 'Numerical geologists' are thus in the unique (and paradoxical) position of being both specialists and non-specialists; they may have their own interests, but their numerical and computing knowledge can often help all of their colleagues. (6) Employment prospects: There is a clear and increasing demand for computerate/numerate geologists in nearly all employment fields. In Australia, whose economy is dominated by geology-related activities (principally mining), a comprehensive national survey (AMIRA 1985) estimated that A$40M per annum could be saved by more effective use of computers in geology. Professional computer scientists are also of course in demand, but the inability of some of their number to communicate with 'laymen' is legendary! Consequently, many finns have perpetual need for those rare animals who combine knowledge of computing and mathematics with practical geological experience. Their unique bridging role also means that numerical geologists are less likely to be affected by the vaguaries of the employment market than are more specialised experts. Rationale and aims of this book This is a highly experimental book, constituting the interim text for new (1988) courses in 'Numerical Geology' at the University of Western Australia. It is published in the Springer Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences series precisely because, as the rubric for this series has it, "the timeIiness of a manuscript is more important than its form, which may be unfinished or tentative." Readers are more than welcome to send constructive comments to the author, such that a more seasoned, comprehensive version can be created in due course. Readers' indulgence is meanwhile craved for the number of mistakes which must inevitably remain in a work involving so many citations and cross-references. Emphasis is particularly placed on the word Notes in the series rifle: this book is not a statistical or mathematical treatise. It is not intended to stand on its own, but rather to complement and target the existing literature. It is most emphatically not a substitute for sound statistical knowledge, and indeed, descriptions of each technique are deliberately minimized such that readers shouM never be tempted to rely on this book alone, but should rather read around the subject in the wealth of more authoritative statistical and geomathematical texts cited. In other words, this is a synoptic work, principally about 'how to do', 'when not to do', 'what are the alternatives' and 'where to find out more'. It aims specifically: (1) to introduce geologists to the widest possible range of numerical methods which have already appeared in the literature; and thus (2) to infuse geologists with just sufficient background knowledge that they can: (a) locate more detailed sources of information; (b) understand the broad principles behind interpreting most common geological problems quantitatively; (c) appreciate how to take best advantage of computers; and thereby (d) cope with the "information overload" (Griffiths 1974) which they increasingly face. Even these aims require the reader to become to some extent geologist, computer scientist, mathematician and statistician rolled into one, and a practical balance has therefore been attempted, in which just enough information is hopefully given to expedite correct interpretation and avoidance of pitfalls, but not too much to confuse or deter the reader. Despite the vast literature in mathematics, statistics and computing, and that growing in geomathematics, no previous book was found to fulfill these alms on its own. The range of methods covered here is deliberately much wider than in previous geomathematical textbooks, to provide at least an introduction to most methods geologists may encounter, but other books are consequently relied on for the detail which space here precludes. These Notes adopt a practical approach similar to that in language guidebooks -- at the risk of emulating the 'recipe book' abhorred in some quarters. Every Topic provides a minimum of highly condensed sketch-notes (fuller descriptions are included only where topics are not well covered in existing textbooks), complemented by worked examples using real data from as many fields of geology as space permits. Specialists should thereby be able to locate at least one example close to their problems of the moment. In the earlier (easier) topics, simple worked examples are calculated in full, and equations are given wherever practicable (despite their sometimes forbidding appearance), to enable readers not only to familiarise themselves with the calculations but also to experiment with their own data. In the later (multivariate) topics (where few but the sado-masochistic would wish to try the calculations by hand!), the worked examples comprise simplified output from actual software, to familiarise readers with the types of computer output they may have to interpret in practice. Topics were arranged in previous geomathematical textbooks by statistical subject: 'analysis of variance', 'correlation', 'regression', etc., while nonparametric (rank) methods were usually dealt with separately from classical methods (if at all). Here, topics are arranged by operation (what is to be done), and both classical and rank techniques are covered together, with similar emphasis. When readers know what they want to do, therefore, they need only look in one Topic for all appropriate techniques. The main difficulty of this work is the near impossibility of its goal-- though other books with similarly ambitious goals have been well enough received (e.g.J.Math.Geol. 18(5), 511-512). Some constraints have necessarily been imposed to keep the Notes of manageable size. Geophysics, for example, is sketchily covered, because (i) numerical methods are already far more integrated into most geophysics courses than geology courses; (ii) several recent textbooks (e.g. Cantina & Janecek 1984) cover the corresponding ground for geophysicists. Structural geology is less comprehensively covered or cited than, say, stratigraphy, because (a) it commands many applications of statistics and computing unto itself alone (e.g. 3-D modelling, 'unravelling' of folds), whereas these Notes aim at techniques equally applicable to most branches of geology; (b) excellent comprehensive reviews of structural applications are already available (e.g. Whitten 1969,1981). Remote sensing is also barely covered, since comprehensive source guides similar in purpose to the present one already exist (Carter 1986). For the sake of brevity, phrases throughout this book which refer to males are, with apologies to any whose sensitivities are thereby offended, taken to include females!

Description / Table of Contents: Biolaminated deposits, produced by microbial communities, were studied in modern peritidal environments and in the rock record. The term microbial, mat refers to modern, the term stromatolite to ancient analogs. The term biolaminated deposits was used to encompass both microbial mats and stromatolites. Microbial mat environments studied are the Gavish Sabkha, the Solar Lake, both hypersaline back-barrier systems at the Gulf of Aqaba, Sinai Peninsula, and the "Farbstreifen-Sandwatt" (versicolored sandy tidal flats) on Mellum, an island in the estuary embayment of the southern North Sea coast. Three facies-relevant categories were distinguished: (i) the mat-forming microbiota, (2) environmental conditions controlling mat types and lithology, (3) bioturbation and grazing. Cyanobacteria account for biogenic sediment accretion in all cases studied. Three major groups occur: filamentous cyanobacteria, coccoid unicells with binary fission and those with multiple fission. In the presence of these groups the following mat types evolve: (i) continuously flat (stratiform) L~-laminae (occur in all environments studied); (2) translucent, vertically extended Lv-laminae (only Gavish Sabkha and Solar Lake); (3) nodular granules (only Gavish Sabkha). Basically, the development of mats is controlled by moisture. Thus high-lying parts where the groundwater table runs more than 40 cm below surface are bare of mats. These are: The circular slope and elevated center of the Gavish Sabkha, the shorelines of the Solar Lake and the episodically flooded upper supratidal zone of Mellum Island. The following situations of water supply were found to stimulate mat growth: (i) Capillary movement of groundwater to exposed surfaces, (2) shallowest calm water, both realized in the Gavish Sabkha and the Solar Lake. On Mellum Island, mats form in the lower supratidal zone, which is flooded in the spring tide cycle and wetted during low tide by capillary groundwater. Salinity is almost that of normal seawater, whereas in the Solar Lake, it ranges from 45 °/oo to 180 °/oo and in the Gavish Sabkha, it reaches more than 300 °/oo. Salinity increase is correlated with rising concentrations of magnesium and sulfate ions. In the Gavish Sabkha, episodic sheetfloods cause high-rate sedimentation which is accidental to the living mats. Episodic low-rate sedimentation stimulates the mats to grow through the freshly deposited sediment layer. This occurs predominantly on Mellum Island due to eolian transport. Within the Gavish Sabkha, mineralogy of sediments, community structures, standing crops, redox potentials and pH are highly correlative to the increasing evenness in moisture supply which is realized by the inclination of the system below mean sea level. These conditions bring about a lateral sequence of facies types which include (I) siliciclastic biolaminites at the coastal bar base, (2) nodular to biolaminoid carbonates at saline mud flats, (3) regularly stratified stromatolitic carbonates with ooids and oncoids within the hypersaline lagoon, (4) biolaminated sulfate towardthe elevated center. High-magnesium calcite in facies type 3 precipitates around decaying organic matter and forms also the ooids and oncoids. These occur predominantly within hydroplastic Lv-laminae which provide numerous nucleation centers. Within the Solar Lake, facies type 3 (stromatolitic carbonates with ooids and oncoids) is most important, and grows to extraordinary thickness at the lake's shelf. The regular alternation of dark and light laminae results from seasonally oscillating water depths. These conditions couple back over changing light and salinity intensities to changing dominance structures of mat-building communities. Increasing salinity correlates with decreasing water depth and accounts for the relative abundance of coccoid unicells and diatoms, both active producers of extracellular slimes (Lv-laminae). Water depths locally or temporarily increased favor surface colonization by Mic~ocoleu8 chthonoplastes (Lh-laminae). The biolaminated deposits of the versicolored tidal flats on Mellum Island are similar to facies type 1 of the Gavish Sabkha (siliciclastic biolaminites). Differences exist in the lithology: Sediments upon or through which the mats on Mellum Island grow are made up of clean sand. The grains originate predominantly from re-worked glacial sediments and are rounded to well rounded. By contrast, the strong angularity of siliciclastic grains in the Gavish Sabkha clearly shows their status as primary weathering products. In all environments studied, insects play a significant role. Mainly salt beetles contribute to the lebensspuren spectrum. There is no indication that burrowing and grazing beetles and dipterans are detrimental to the growing mat systems. According to the marine fauna, two distributional barriers exist: (i) physical and (2) biogeochemical factors. Physical barriers are (a) hypersalinity and barrier-closing, which restrict the marine fauna in the Gavish Sabkha and the Solar Lake to a few species, mainly meiofaunal elements such as ostracods and copepods. Only in the Gavish Sabkha, one marine gastropod species occurs which colonizes mud flats of lower salinity. A salinity barrier of about 70 °/oo separates the gastropod habitats from the zones of growing mats. Under reduced salinity, the snails are able to destroy the microbial mats completely. (b) Decreasing regularity of flooding in the microbial mat environment of Mellum Island excludes intertidal deformative burrowers such as cockles and lugworms. However, locally the mats are pierced by numerous dwelling traces. These stem from small polychaetes and amphipod crustaceans which are able to spread over the intertidal-supratidal boundary and settle up to the MHWS-Ievel. Biogeochemical barriers are oxygen depletion within the sediments, high ammonia and sulfide contents, which generate through bacterial break-down of organic matter. Within the highly productive mats of Mic~ocoleu8 chthonoplastes on Mellum Island, dwelling traces of marine polychaetes and amphipod crustaceans disappear due to these conditions. The name of the mat-forming species, Microcoleus chthonoplastes, indicates its capacity to form "soils" (Greek chthonos). While lithology is not altered, the presence of Mic~ocoleu8 mats leads to a habitat change which excludes trace-making "arenophile" invertebrate species and favors "chthonophile" species which do not leave traces. Stromatolitic microstructures studied in rock specimens were interpreted using modern analogs: Microcolumnar buildups in Precambrian stromatolites, ooids and oncoids were compared with those of modern microbial mats. The nodular to biolaminoid facies type found in the Gavish Sabkha was suggested to be an analog to the Plattendolomite facies of Permian Zechstein, North Poland. Studies of the Lower Jurassic ironstone of Lorraine clearly indicate that fungi have been involved in the formation of stromatolites, ooids and oncoids. In conclusion, the comparative study of microstructures in microbial mats and stromatolites reveals a better understanding in both fields. In many cases, it was geology which first revealed the similarity of recent forms to those ancient ones and consequently encouraged research into them.

Description / Table of Contents: INTRODUCTION While the complex mechanical properties of rocks and soils are studied for quite a while, it is only in the last decades that sound established mathematical models were developed based on accurate experimental data. Some rheological properties of geomaterials as for instance creep, were studied for a long time but the experimental data reported were incomplete and, as a consequence, the models developed have missed either the generality necessary for the solving of engineering problems or some of the major specific mechanical properties possessed by these materials as for instance dilatancy and/or compressibility , long term damage etc. Generally, these very particular empirical models were made for a specific test only and therefore are not appropriate for solving problems involving general loading histories. Let us remind that due to the presence of a great number of cracks and/or pores existing in roks and soils, the mechanical behaviour of geomaterials is quite distinct from that of other materials as for instance metals or plastics. That is why rock and soil rheology has some specific aspects. It must also be mentioned that the solving of various problems of rock and soil mechanics posed by modern technology was not possible by using time-independent models, thus the study and development of rehological models become absolutely necessary. In the last decade or so, very accurate experimantal data became available as a result of the development of experimental techniques and of the growing interest for this field of research in the scientific community. These data, in turn, have made possible the development of genuine models for geomaterials, mainly rheological models, able to describe such properties as creep, dilatancy and/or compressibility during creep, long term damage and failure occurring after various time intervals, slip surface formation etc. Today it is clear that no accurate constitutive equation for rocks can be formulated unless the dilatancy phenomena and the time effects are not included. Another idea is the need of a better description of the concepts of damage and failure of rocks, again using in someway the concepts of irreversible dilatancy or another related notion. In soil rheology it is clear that the scale effect may be taken into consideration in order to obtain a corect information from the routine tests. Also in writing the constitutive equations for soils it is neccessary to take into account the microscopic or local phenomena, because there is a great variety of types of saturated or nonsaturated soils, granular or cohesionless soil etc. The aim of the Euromech Colloquium 196 devoted to Rock and Soil Rheology and therefore that of the present volume too, is to review some of the main results obtained in the last years in this field of research and also to formulate some of the major not yet solved problems which are now under consideration. Exchange of opinions and scientific discussions are quite helpful mainly in those areas where some approaches are controversial and the progress made is quite fast. That is especially true for the rheology of geomaterials, domain of great interest for mining and petroleum engineers, engineering geology, seismology, geophlsics, civil engineering, nuclear and industrial waste storage, geothermal energy storage, caverns for sports, culture, telecommunications, storage of goods and foodstuffs (cold, hot and refrigerated storages), underground oil and natural gas reservoirs etc. Some of the last obtained results are mentioned in the present volume...

Description / Table of Contents: The study of calcareous bedding rhythms has become an important field in Geology. Often these bedding rhythms are simply interpreted as representations of primary climatic cycles without showing the effects of any appreciable diagenetic overprinting. This study, however, deals predominantly with the diagenetic processes which are usually large and affect both the amplitude and rhythm of carbonate oscillations. The purpose of this textbook is two fold. First, it intends to provide a better understanding of the processes of diagenetic bedding. Secondly, this new approach allows one to quantify and to understand diagenesis in terms of mass exchanges. This is possible through the development of methods which combine chemical data with compaction measurements. These methods can be also used independent of the marl-limestone alternation problem.

Description / Table of Contents: PREFACE During the so-called Mid-Cretaceous interval, approximately 100 million years ago, the earth experienced a dynamic phase in its geologic history. Enhanced global tectonic activity resulted in a major rearrangment of the continental plates; accelerated spreading rates induced a first-order sea level highstand; intense off-ridge volcanism contributed to a modeled high atmospheric CO 2 rate; climatic conditions fluctuated; and major changes occurred in biologic evolutionary patterns. With the initiation of a gradual change from an equatorial, east-west directed current-circulation pattern to a regime, dominated by south-north and north-south directed current systems, the earth's internal clock was set for Cenozoic, "modern" times. The Mid-Cretaceous dynamic phase is recorded in a suite of sediments of remarkable similarity around the globe. Shallow-water carbonate platforms drowned on a global scale; widespread sediment-starved, glauconite and phosphate- rich sequences developed; and consequently, pelagic sedimentary regimes "invaded" shelf and epicontinental sea areas. This typical "deepening-upward" pattern is well-documented in Mid-Cretaceous sequences along the northern Tethys margin. Shallow-water carbonates are overlain by condensed glauconitic and phosphatic sediments, which, in turn, are blanketed by pelagic carbonates. In this volume, the example of the western Austrian helvetic Alps, built up of inner and outer shelf sediments deposited along the northern Tethys margin, is used to elucidate the paleoceanographic conditions, under which the Mid-Cretaceous triad of platform carbonates, condensed phosphatic and glauconitic sediments, and pelagic carbonates was formed. In the first part, the evolution of this sequence is traced from the demise of the platform (Aptian) to the return of detritus-dominated deposition (Upper Santonian). The second part includes a discussion of the reconstructed paleoceanographic and tectonic variables, their possible interaction, as well as their influence on sediment properties during this period. Special attention is paid to (1) subsidence behavior of the inner, platform-based shelf and the outer shelf beyond the platform, (2) ammonoid paleobiogeography, (3) the northern tethyan current system and its impact on sediment patterns, (4) the influence of an oxygen minimum zone, (5) sediment bypassing mechanisms on the inner shelf, (6) condensation processes, (7) phosphogenesis, (8) relative sea level changes, (9) genesis and the development of unconformities, (10) tectonic phases and their impact on sediment configuration, (11) drowning of the shallow-water carbonate platform, and (12) "asymmetric" sedimentary cycles. The detailed reconstruction of the development of sedimentary patterns both in time and space in this particular area, and its environmental interpretation, given in this volume, may serve as a contribution to a better understanding of the Mid-Cretaceous dynamic phase in earth's history...

Description / Table of Contents: INTRODUCTION Evaporites may form in a spectrum of environments from continental sabkha (playa) to deep basins (see Kendall 1978 a, b, Schreiber 1978, 1986, Friedman and Krumbein 1985, for review). In the last two decades, many ancient evaporite basins have been interpreted using the sabkha model and the deep desiccated basin model, the former not excluding the latter. However, growing evidence has been gathered indicating that most evaporites are formed in subaqueous environments, so that it cannot be reasonably expected that one depositional model alone will explain the entire basin fill. The chapters in this volume discuss characteristic examples of evaporite basins, mostly of moderate size. Aspects of a saline giant, the Zechstein basin of Central and NW Europe, have been considered in Volume 10 of "Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences"...

Description / Table of Contents: This volume contains the contributions which have been presented at the 5. ALFRED WEGENER-Conference , held in Göttingen, Federal Republic of Germany, 21 - 24 May 1986. This conference was the first international meeting of the IGCP Project 216 :"global biological events in earth history". The aim of the conference was, to discuss (a) the state-of-the-art in respect to the recognition of bio-events and to the analysis of their causes (b) the presentation of new data (c) the strategies which are needed for further research, carried out in the international cooperation programme of Project 216. It was intended to achieve with these discussions a more critical approach to the problems of global bio-events.

Description / Table of Contents: The aim of this volume is to reflect the current state of geoscientific activity focused on the geodynamic evolution of the Atlas system and to discuss new results and ideas. The volume provides a selection of papers on the geological history, structural development, and geophysical data of Morocco. It was not possible to cover all areas of geoscientific interest, however, we hope to shed some light on the major geodynamic problems.

Description / Table of Contents: PREFACE In a densily populated industrialized country, waste disposal must be compatible with the requirements of the environment. This is one of the indispensable requirements to guarantee an effective protection of the environment. In the past years the waste disposal industry has been given increasing attention by the general public as well as the authorities. This confirms the necessity of adapting the quality of waste disposal to the technological standard of the production. While in the past, waste disposal performance was more or less evaluated in terms of short-term costs, there is at present a reorientation in the direction of a science-based waste disposal industry. These new tendencies are taking into account ecological factors as well as the long-term consequences - i.e., for decades and centuries to come - of waste disposal methods. In this light, particular attention is given to the depositing of residues whose utilization does not appear meaningful from an ecological point of view, or would require disproportionate ressources. It is an important concern of the Federal Authorities to encourage the rapid materialization of disposal solutions which can function as ultimate deposits, and which will therefore cause neither water pollution nor gaseous emissions. In view of this goal it is necessary to establish criteria and regulations for the wastes to be deposited as well as for the characteristics of the deposits. This field confronts science with an urgent but rewarding challenge and calls for close collaboration between many different specialized disciplines...

Description / Table of Contents: PREFACE Our planet is evolving and changing; its surface is capable of unleashing great violence as its crust is created and destroyed. Quite remarkably, it has been only recently that the fundamental elements of this evolution were fully appreciated, and only within the last decade have there been technologies capable of directly meastLring the global motions of the Earth's crust which are one of the most visible manifestations of these processes. Before the advent of space technologies, the nature of contemporary global plate motions went largely unobserved. These motions were understood from the geological records, and plate rates for million year averages were established_ Fortunately, the revolution in geophysics brought about by the general acceptance of plate tectonic theory has been paralleled by significant advances in space geodesy oceanography and geophysics. New space technologies have rapidly matured, yielding new insights and capabilities for more completely understanding the dynamical properties of the Earth, its oceans and atmosphere. Likewise, the evolving earth sciences capabilities from space are fostering new questions and goals made possible through the creative exploitation of satellite missions. A workshop entitled "The Interdisciplinary Role of Space Geodesy" was held in Erice, Italy, on the island of Sicily on July 23-29, 1988, to discuss the directions and challenges of space geodeys for the decades to come. This international gathering was made possible by the E. Majorana Centre for Scientific Culture int he framework of tis International School of Geodesy. The workshop was sponsored by the Italian Ministry of education, the Italian Ministry of Scientific and Technological Research, the Sicilian Regional Government, the Italian National Institute of Geophysics, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States. This volume is the result of the dedicated effort undertaken by an international group of scientists and administrators who have contemplated the challenge of the future of space-based earth science for the next decade. Recognizing the need for defining new milestones both in science and technology, they have developed a detailed report of what could be achieved and what challenges remain after twenty fertile years of space exploration...

Description / Table of Contents: This book is the collection of the Lecture Notes of an International Summer School of Theoretical Geodesy held in Assisi (Italy) from May 23 to June 3 -1988.

Description / Table of Contents: PREFACE The suggestion to compile and publish this volume dealing with some geoscientific problems of the Central Andes came up during a conference on "Mobility of Active Continental Margins" held in Berlin, February 1986. At this international conference, organized by the Berlin Research Group "Mobility of Active Continental Margins", colleagues from Europe, Southern and Northern America reported on their current investigations in the Central Andes. The Central Andes claim a special position in the 7000 km long Andean mountain range. In Northern Chile, Southern Bolivia and Northwest Argentina the Central Andes show their largest width with more than 650 km and along a Geotraverse between the Pacific coast and the Chaco all typical Andean morphotectonic units are well developed. Here, the pre-Andean evolution is documented by outcropping of Paleozoic and pre-Cambrian rocks. The characteristic phenomena of the Andean cycle can be studied along the entire geotraverse. The migration of the tectonic and magmatic activity starting in Jurassic and being active t i l l Quaternary is clearly evidenced. Besides the Himalaya, the Central Andes show with 70-80 km and -400 mgal the largest crustal thickness known in mountain ranges. These and many other interesting and exciting geoscientific features encouraged a group of geoscientists from both West-Berlin universities (Freie UniversitAt and Technische UniversitAt) to focus their studies along a geotraverse through the Central Andes. The realization of these studies would not have been possible without the active assistance and close cooperation of our colleagues from the geoscientific institutions in Salta (Argentina), La Paz and Santa Cruz (Bolivia) and Antofagasta and Santiago (Chile). Concerning the German participation, this joint and interdisciplinary project is financially supported since 1982 as Reserach Group" Mobility of Active Continental Margins" by the German Research Society and by the West-Berlin universities as well. A number of colleagues from universities in West Germany take part in this project, too. The papers presented here deal with the period from Late Precambrian up to the youngest phenomena in Quaternary. The contributions cover the whole spectrum of geoscientific research, geology, paleontology, petrology, geochemistry, geophysics and geomorphology. In conclusion, the data published here may help to improve the picture of Andean structure and evolution. The detailed investigations carried out in the past years show, that the first simple plate tectonic models proposed in the beginning of the seventies have to improved and modified. Furthermore, the results can be seen as contribution to the international Lithospheric Project and as a useful data base for the construction of a Central Andean Transect...

Description / Table of Contents: Climate change affects global and regional water cycling, as well as surficial and subsurface water availability. These changes have increased the vulnerabilities of ecosystems and of human society. Understanding how climate change has affected water resource variability in the past and how climate change is leading to rapid changes in contemporary systems is of critical importance for sustainable development in different parts of the world. This Special Issue focuses on “Water Resource Variability and Climate Change” and aims to present a collection of articles addressing various aspects of water resource variability as well as how such variabilities are affected by changing climates. Topics include the reconstruction of historic moisture fluctuations, based on various proxies (such as tree rings, sediment cores, and landform features), the empirical monitoring of water variability based on field survey and remote sensing techniques, and the projection of future water cycling using numerical model simulations. Articles are about recent discoveries related to water resource variability in paleoenvironmental reconstruction, hydrology, and geomorphology, as well as articles concerning new emerging technologies and their applications in monitoring water resource variability.

Description / Table of Contents: The use of agent-based models (ABMs) and modelling for understanding landscape change and dynamics continues to grow. One reason for the popularity of ABMs is that they provide a framework to represent multiple, discrete, multi-faceted, heterogeneous actors (human or otherwise) and their relationships and interactions between one another and their environment, through time and across space. This special issue seeks to showcase innovative uses of ABMs for investigating and explaining landscape change and dynamics and to explore and identify how researchers in different disciplines can learn from one another to further innovate. Thus, this special issue will emphasise multidisciplinary dialogue between researchers using ABM in physical geography, hydrology, ecology, land change science, economics, alternative histories, archaeology, sociology, psychology and others. Innovation may come in the form of computational, conceptual, analytical, participatory or epistemological advances in the use of ABM for a range of aims and motivations associated with landscape change and dynamics. Modelling advances may include new ways of representing agent decisions and/or interactions, establishing and evaluating model structures and rules, presenting and visualising change, multi-scale analysis, comparative techniques, narrative methods, and more. The presentation of innovative agent-based modelling from diverse research backgrounds and perspectives will demonstrate opportunities for learning and enable dialogue to enhance future use of ABMs for understanding landscape change.

Description / Table of Contents: Chen, K.; Zamora, N.; Babeyko, A.; Li, X.; Ge, M. Precise Positioning of BDS, BDS/GPS: Implications for Tsunami Early Warning in South China Sea. Remote Sensing 2015, 7(12), 15955-15968; doi:10.3390/rs71215814 --- Cianflone, G.; Tolomei, C.; Brunori, C.; Dominici, R. InSAR Time Series Analysis of Natural and Anthropogenic Coastal Plain Subsidence: The Case of Sibari (Southern Italy). Remote Sensing 2015, 7(12), 16004-16023; doi:10.3390/rs71215812 --- Kropáček, J.; Vařilová, Z.; Baroň, I.; Bhattacharya, A.; Eberle, J.; Hochschild, V. Remote Sensing for Characterisation and Kinematic Analysis of Large Slope Failures: Debre Sina Landslide, Main Ethiopian Rift Escarpment. Remote Sensing 2015, 7(12), 16183-16203; doi:10.3390/rs71215821 --- Pacheco-Martínez, J.; Cabral-Cano, E.; Wdowinski, S.; Hernández-Marín, M.; Ortiz-Lozano, J.; Zermeño-de-León, M. Application of InSAR and Gravimetry for Land Subsidence Hazard Zoning in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Remote Sensing 2015, 7(12), 17035-17050; doi:10.3390/rs71215868 --- Al-Rawabdeh, A.; He, F.; Moussa, A.; El-Sheimy, N.; Habib, A. Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-Based Digital Imaging System to Derive a 3D Point Cloud for Landslide Scarp Recognition. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(2), 95; doi:10.3390/rs8020095 --- Zhai, W.; Shen, H.; Huang, C.; Pei, W. Building Earthquake Damage Information Extraction from a Single Post-Earthquake PolSAR Image. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(3), 171; doi:10.3390/rs8030171 --- Jiang, Y.; Liao, M.; Zhou, Z.; Shi, X.; Zhang, L.; Balz, T. Landslide Deformation Analysis by Coupling Deformation Time Series from SAR Data with Hydrological Factors through Data Assimilation. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(3), 179; doi:10.3390/rs8030179 --- He, M.; Zhu, Q.; Du, Z.; Hu, H.; Ding, Y.; Chen, M. A 3D Shape Descriptor Based on Contour Clusters for Damaged Roof Detection Using Airborne LiDAR Point Clouds. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(3), 189; doi:10.3390/rs8030189 --- Hu, J.; Wang, Q.; Li, Z.; Zhao, R.; Sun, Q. Investigating the Ground Deformation and Source Model of the Yangbajing Geothermal Field in Tibet, China with the WLS InSAR Technique. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(3), 191; doi:10.3390/rs8030191 --- Hsieh, Y.; Chan, Y.; Hu, J. Digital Elevation Model Differencing and Error Estimation from Multiple Sources: A Case Study from the Meiyuan Shan Landslide in Taiwan. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(3), 199; doi:10.3390/rs8030199 --- Zhu, S.; Xu, C.; Wen, Y.; Liu, Y. Interseismic Deformation of the Altyn Tagh Fault Determined by Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) Measurements. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(3), 233; doi:10.3390/rs8030233 --- Vetrivel, A.; Gerke, M.; Kerle, N.; Vosselman, G. Identification of Structurally Damaged Areas in Airborne Oblique Images Using a Visual-Bag-of-Words Approach. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(3), 231; doi:10.3390/rs8030231 --- Bardi, F.; Raspini, F.; Ciampalini, A.; Kristensen, L.; Rouyet, L.; Lauknes, T.; Frauenfelder, R.; Casagli, N. Space-Borne and Ground-Based InSAR Data Integration: The Åknes Test Site. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(3), 237; doi:10.3390/rs8030237 --- Liu, P.; Li, Q.; Li, Z.; Hoey, T.; Liu, G.; Wang, C.; Hu, Z.; Zhou, Z.; Singleton, A. Anatomy of Subsidence in Tianjin from Time Series InSAR. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(3), 266; doi:10.3390/rs8030266 --- Ma, Y.; Chen, F.; Liu, J.; He, Y.; Duan, J.; Li, X. An Automatic Procedure for Early Disaster Change Mapping Based on Optical Remote Sensing. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(4), 272; doi:10.3390/rs8040272 --- Yang, C.; Zhang, Q.; Xu, Q.; Zhao, C.; Peng, J.; Ji, L. Complex Deformation Monitoring over the Linfen–Yuncheng Basin (China) with Time Series InSAR Technology. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(4), 284; doi:10.3390/rs8040284 --- Watanabe, M.; Thapa, R.; Shimada, M. Pi-SAR-L2 Observation of the Landslide Caused by Typhoon Wipha on Izu Oshima Island. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(4), 282; doi:10.3390/rs8040282 --- Plank, S.; Twele, A.; Martinis, S. Landslide Mapping in Vegetated Areas Using Change Detection Based on Optical and Polarimetric SAR Data. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(4), 307; doi:10.3390/rs8040307 --- Solaro, G.; De Novellis, V.; Castaldo, R.; De Luca, C.; Lanari, R.; Manunta, M.; Casu, F. Coseismic Fault Model of Mw 8.3 2015 Illapel Earthquake (Chile) Retrieved from Multi-Orbit Sentinel1-A DInSAR Measurements. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(4), 323; doi:10.3390/rs8040323 --- Bai, L.; Jiang, L.; Wang, H.; Sun, Q. Spatiotemporal Characterization of Land Subsidence and Uplift (2009–2010) over Wuhan in Central China Revealed by TerraSAR-X InSAR Analysis. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(4), 350; doi:10.3390/rs8040350 --- Xu, B.; Li, Z.; Feng, G.; Zhang, Z.; Wang, Q.; Hu, J.; Chen, X. Continent-Wide 2-D Co-Seismic Deformation of the 2015 Mw 8.3 Illapel, Chile Earthquake Derived from Sentinel-1A Data: Correction of Azimuth Co-Registration Error. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(5), 376; doi:10.3390/rs8050376 --- Chen, M.; Tomás, R.; Li, Z.; Motagh, M.; Li, T.; Hu, L.; Gong, H.; Li, X.; Yu, J.; Gong, X. Imaging Land Subsidence Induced by Groundwater Extraction in Beijing (China) Using Satellite Radar Interferometry. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(6), 468; doi:10.3390/rs8060468 --- Ji, L.; Xu, J.; Zhao, Q.; Yang, C. Source Parameters of the 2003–2004 Bange Earthquake Sequence, Central Tibet, China, Estimated from InSAR Data. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(6), 516; doi:10.3390/rs8060516 --- Li, Y.; Jiang, W.; Zhang, J.; Luo, Y. Space Geodetic Observations and Modeling of 2016 Mw 5.9 Menyuan Earthquake: Implications on Seismogenic Tectonic Motion. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(6), 519; doi:10.3390/rs8060519 --- Trasatti, E.; Tolomei, C.; Pezzo, G.; Atzori, S.; Salvi, S. Deformation and Related Slip Due to the 2011 Van Earthquake (Turkey) Sequence Imaged by SAR Data and Numerical Modeling. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(6), 532; doi:10.3390/rs8060532 --- Wang, C.; Mao, X.; Wang, Q. Landslide Displacement Monitoring by a Fully Polarimetric SAR Offset Tracking Method. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(8), 624; doi:10.3390/rs8080624 --- Liu, Y.; Xu, C.; Li, Z.; Wen, Y.; Chen, J.; Li, Z. Time-Dependent Afterslip of the 2009 Mw 6.3 Dachaidan Earthquake (China) and Viscosity beneath the Qaidam Basin Inferred from Postseismic Deformation Observations. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(8), 649; doi:10.3390/rs8080649 --- Xu, B.; Feng, G.; Li, Z.; Wang, Q.; Wang, C.; Xie, R. Coastal Subsidence Monitoring Associated with Land Reclamation Using the Point Target Based SBAS-InSAR Method: A Case Study of Shenzhen, China. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(8), 652; doi:10.3390/rs8080652 --- Sun, L.; Muller, J. Evaluation of the Use of Sub-Pixel Offset Tracking Techniques to Monitor Landslides in Densely Vegetated Steeply Sloped Areas. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(8), 659; doi:10.3390/rs8080659 --- De Novellis, V.; Castaldo, R.; Lollino, P.; Manunta, M.; Tizzani, P. Advanced Three-Dimensional Finite Element Modeling of a Slow Landslide through the Exploitation of DInSAR Measurements and in Situ Surveys. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(8), 670; doi:10.3390/rs8080670 --- Zhang, Y.; Wu, H.; Kang, Y.; Zhu, C. Ground Subsidence in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region from 1992 to 2014 Revealed by Multiple SAR Stacks. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(8), 675; doi:10.3390/rs8080675 --- Zhou, G.; Yue, T.; Shi, Y.; Zhang, R.; Huang, J. Second-Order Polynomial Equation-Based Block Adjustment for Orthorectification of DISP Imagery. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(8), 680; doi:10.3390/rs8080680 --- Bonì, R.; Pilla, G.; Meisina, C. Methodology for Detection and Interpretation of Ground Motion Areas with the A-DInSAR Time Series Analysis. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(8), 686; doi:10.3390/rs8080686 --- Xie, S.; Duan, J.; Liu, S.; Dai, Q.; Liu, W.; Ma, Y.; Guo, R.; Ma, C. Crowdsourcing Rapid Assessment of Collapsed Buildings Early after the Earthquake Based on Aerial Remote Sensing Image: A Case Study of Yushu Earthquake. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(9), 759; doi:10.3390/rs8090759 --- Fernández, T.; Pérez, J.; Cardenal, J.; Gómez, J.; Colomo, C.; Delgado, J. Analysis of Landslide Evolution Affecting Olive Groves Using UAV and Photogrammetric Techniques. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(10), 837; doi:10.3390/rs8100837 --- Cignetti, M.; Manconi, A.; Manunta, M.; Giordan, D.; De Luca, C.; Allasia, P.; Ardizzone, F. Taking Advantage of the ESA G-POD Service to Study Ground Deformation Processes in High Mountain Areas: A Valle d’Aosta Case Study, Northern Italy. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(10), 852; doi:10.3390/rs8100852 --- Cooner, A.; Shao, Y.; Campbell, J. Detection of Urban Damage Using Remote Sensing and Machine Learning Algorithms: Revisiting the 2010 Haiti Earthquake. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(10), 868; doi:10.3390/rs8100868 --- Zhou, W.; Li, S.; Zhou, Z.; Chang, X. InSAR Observation and Numerical Modeling of the Earth-Dam Displacement of Shuibuya Dam (China). Remote Sensing 2016, 8(10), 877; doi:10.3390/rs8100877 --- Qu, T.; Lu, P.; Liu, C.; Wu, H.; Shao, X.; Wan, H.; Li, N.; Li, R. Hybrid-SAR Technique: Joint Analysis Using Phase-Based and Amplitude-Based Methods for the Xishancun Giant Landslide Monitoring. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(10), 874; doi:10.3390/rs8100874 --- Gong, L.; Wang, C.; Wu, F.; Zhang, J.; Zhang, H.; Li, Q. Earthquake-Induced Building Damage Detection with Post-Event Sub-Meter VHR TerraSAR-X Staring Spotlight Imagery. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(11), 887; doi:10.3390/rs8110887 --- Ding, C.; Feng, G.; Li, Z.; Shan, X.; Du, Y.; Wang, H. Spatio-Temporal Error Sources Analysis and Accuracy Improvement in Landsat 8 Image Ground Displacement Measurements. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(11), 937; doi:10.3390/rs8110937 --- Ma, C.; Cheng, X.; Yang, Y.; Zhang, X.; Guo, Z.; Zou, Y. Investigation on Mining Subsidence Based on Multi-Temporal InSAR and Time-Series Analysis of the Small Baseline Subset—Case Study of Working Faces 22201-1/2 in Bu’ertai Mine, Shendong Coalfield, China. Remote Sensing 2016, 8(11), 951; doi:10.3390/rs8110951 --- Caló, F.; Notti, D.; Galve, J.; Abdikan, S.; Görüm, T.; Pepe, A.; Balik Şanli, F. DInSAR-Based Detection of Land Subsidence and Correlation with Groundwater Depletion in Konya Plain, Turkey. Remote Sensing 2017, 9(1), 83; doi:10.3390/rs9010083 --- Tomás, R.; Li, Z. Earth Observations for Geohazards: Present and Future Challenges. Remote Sensing 2017, 9(3), 194; doi:10.3390/rs9030194

Description / Table of Contents: Zambon, I.; Colosimo, F.; Monarca, D.; Cecchini, M.; Gallucci, F.; Proto, A.; Lord, R.; Colantoni, A. An Innovative Agro-Forestry Supply Chain for Residual Biomass: Physicochemical Characterisation of Biochar from Olive and Hazelnut Pellets. Energies 2016, 9(7), 526; doi:10.3390/en9070526. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/9/7/526 --- Liu, P.; Wang, Q.; Yan, D.; Fang, W.; Mao, L.; Wang, D.; Li, Y.; Ouyang, C.; Guo, M.; Cao, A. Effects of Biochar Amendment on Chloropicrin Adsorption and Degradation in Soil. Energies 2016, 9(11), 869; doi:10.3390/en9110869. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/9/11/869 --- Fang, W.; Cao, A.; Yan, D.; Han, D.; Huang, B.; Li, J.; Liu, X.; Guo, M.; Wang, Q. The Effect of Two Types of Biochars on the Efficacy, Emission, Degradation, and Adsorption of the Fumigant Methyl Isothiocyanate. Energies 2017, 10(1), 16; doi:10.3390/en10010016. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/1/16 --- Long, J.; Boyette, M. Analysis of Micronized Charcoal for Use in a Liquid Fuel Slurry. Energies 2017, 10(1), 25; doi:10.3390/en10010025. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/1/25 --- Fuente-Hernández, A.; Lee, R.; Béland, N.; Zamboni, I.; Lavoie, J. Reduction of Furfural to Furfuryl Alcohol in Liquid Phase over a Biochar-Supported Platinum Catalyst. Energies 2017, 10(3), 286; doi:10.3390/en10030286. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/3/286 --- Brassard, P.; Godbout, S.; Raghavan, V.; Palacios, J.; Grenier, M.; Zegan, D. The Production of Engineered Biochars in a Vertical Auger Pyrolysis Reactor for Carbon Sequestration. Energies 2017, 10(3), 288; doi:10.3390/en10030288. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/3/288 --- González-Vázquez, M.; García, R.; Pevida, C.; Rubiera, F. Optimization of a Bubbling Fluidized Bed Plant for Low-Temperature Gasification of Biomass. Energies 2017, 10(3), 306; doi:10.3390/en10030306. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/3/306 --- Yang, X.; Wang, H.; Strong, P.; Xu, S.; Liu, S.; Lu, K.; Sheng, K.; Guo, J.; Che, L.; He, L.; Ok, Y.; Yuan, G.; Shen, Y.; Chen, X. Thermal Properties of Biochars Derived from Waste Biomass Generated by Agricultural and Forestry Sectors. Energies 2017, 10(4), 469; doi:10.3390/en10040469. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/4/469 --- Ellison, C.; McKeown, M.; Trabelsi, S.; Boldor, D. Dielectric Properties of Biomass/Biochar Mixtures at Microwave Frequencies. Energies 2017, 10(4), 502; doi:10.3390/en10040502. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/4/502 --- Kang, S.; Sim, B.; Kim, J. Volume and Mass Measurement of a Burning Wood Pellet by Image Processing. Energies 2017, 10(5), 603; doi:10.3390/en10050603. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/5/603 --- Tamošiūnas, A.; Chouchène, A.; Valatkevičius, P.; Gimžauskaitė, D.; Aikas, M.; Uscila, R.; Ghorbel, M.; Jeguirim, M. The Potential of Thermal Plasma Gasification of Olive Pomace Charcoal. Energies 2017, 10(5), 710; doi:10.3390/en10050710. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/5/710 --- Guizani, C.; Jeguirim, M.; Valin, S.; Limousy, L.; Salvador, S. Biomass Chars: The Effects of Pyrolysis Conditions on Their Morphology, Structure, Chemical Properties and Reactivity. Energies 2017, 10(6), 796; doi:10.3390/en10060796. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/6/796 --- Zhao, S.; Ta, N.; Wang, X. Effect of Temperature on the Structural and Physicochemical Properties of Biochar with Apple Tree Branches as Feedstock Material. Energies 2017, 10(9), 1293; doi:10.3390/en10091293. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/9/1293 --- Wanassi, B.; Hariz, I.; Ghimbeu, C.; Vaulot, C.; Jeguirim, M. Green Carbon Composite-Derived Polymer Resin and Waste Cotton Fibers for the Removal of Alizarin Red S Dye. Energies 2017, 10(9), 1321; doi:10.3390/en10091321. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/9/1321 --- Ghouma, I.; Jeguirim, M.; Sager, U.; Limousy, L.; Bennici, S.; Däuber, E.; Asbach, C.; Ligotski, R.; Schmidt, F.; Ouederni, A. The Potential of Activated Carbon Made of Agro-Industrial Residues in NOx Immissions Abatement. Energies 2017, 10(10), 1508; doi:10.3390/en10101508. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/10/1508 --- Jeguirim, M.; Limousy, L. Biomass Chars: Elaboration, Characterization and Applications. Energies 2017, 10(12), 2040; doi:10.3390/en10122040. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/12/2040

Description / Table of Contents: Fu, R.; Wu, Y.; Wang, H.; Xie, J. A Distributed Control Strategy for Frequency Regulation in Smart Grids Based on the Consensus Protocol. Energies 2015, 8(8), 7930-7944; doi:10.3390/en8087930. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/8/8/7930 --- Chae, W.; Lee, H.; Won, J.; Park, J.; Kim, J. Design and Field Tests of an Inverted Based Remote MicroGrid on a Korean Island. Energies 2015, 8(8), 8193-8210; doi:10.3390/en8088193. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/8/8/8193 --- Nguyen, T.; Yoo, H.; Kim, H. Application of Model Predictive Control to BESS for Microgrid Control. Energies 2015, 8(8), 8798-8813; doi:10.3390/en8088798. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/8/8/8798 --- Jung, S.; Jang, G. Development of an Optimal Power Control Scheme for Wave-Offshore Hybrid Generation Systems. Energies 2015, 8(9), 9009-9028; doi:10.3390/en8099009. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/8/9/9009 --- Yang, Y.; Zhang, W.; Jiang, J.; Huang, M.; Niu, L. Optimal Scheduling of a Battery Energy Storage System with Electric Vehicles’ Auxiliary for a Distribution Network with Renewable Energy Integration. Energies 2015, 8(10), 10718-10735; doi:10.3390/en81010718. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/8/10/10718 --- Xia, H.; Chen, H.; Yang, Z.; Lin, F.; Wang, B. Optimal Energy Management, Location and Size for Stationary Energy Storage System in a Metro Line Based on Genetic Algorithm. Energies 2015, 8(10), 11618-11640; doi:10.3390/en81011618. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/8/10/11618 --- Telaretti, E.; Ippolito, M.; Dusonchet, L. A Simple Operating Strategy of Small-Scale Battery Energy Storages for Energy Arbitrage under Dynamic Pricing Tariffs. Energies 2016, 9(1), 12; doi:10.3390/en9010012. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/9/1/12 --- Gelažanskas, L.; Gamage, K. Distributed Energy Storage Using Residential Hot Water Heaters. Energies 2016, 9(3), 127; doi:10.3390/en9030127. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/9/3/127 --- Pietrosanti, S.; Holderbaum, W.; Becerra, V. Optimal Power Management Strategy for Energy Storage with Stochastic Loads. Energies 2016, 9(3), 175; doi:10.3390/en9030175. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/9/3/175 --- Lin, F.; Li, X.; Zhao, Y.; Yang, Z. Control Strategies with Dynamic Threshold Adjustment for Supercapacitor Energy Storage System Considering the Train and Substation Characteristics in Urban Rail Transit. Energies 2016, 9(4), 257; doi:10.3390/en9040257. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/9/4/257 --- Bruen, T.; Hooper, J.; Marco, J.; Gama, M.; Chouchelamane, G. Analysis of a Battery Management System (BMS) Control Strategy for Vibration Aged Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC) Lithium-Ion 18650 Battery Cells. Energies 2016, 9(4), 255; doi:10.3390/en9040255. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/9/4/255 --- Chung, Y. A Novel Power-Saving Transmission Scheme for Multiple-Component-Carrier Cellular Systems. Energies 2016, 9(4), 265; doi:10.3390/en9040265. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/9/4/265 --- Zangs, M.; Adams, P.; Yunusov, T.; Holderbaum, W.; Potter, B. Distributed Energy Storage Control for Dynamic Load Impact Mitigation. Energies 2016, 9(8), 647; doi:10.3390/en9080647. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/9/8/647 --- Zhao, Z.; Sun, Y.; Hu, A.; Dai, X.; Tang, C. Energy Link Optimization in a Wireless Power Transfer Grid under Energy Autonomy Based on the Improved Genetic Algorithm. Energies 2016, 9(9), 682; doi:10.3390/en9090682. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/9/9/682 --- Gatta, F.; Geri, A.; Lamedica, R.; Lauria, S.; Maccioni, M.; Palone, F.; Rebolini, M.; Ruvio, A. Application of a LiFePO4 Battery Energy Storage System to Primary Frequency Control: Simulations and Experimental Results. Energies 2016, 9(11), 887; doi:10.3390/en9110887. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/9/11/887 --- Kies, A.; Schyska, B.; von Bremen, L. The Demand Side Management Potential to Balance a Highly Renewable European Power System. Energies 2016, 9(11), 955; doi:10.3390/en9110955. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/9/11/955 --- Yang, J.; Choi, J.; An, G.; Choi, Y.; Kim, M.; Won, D. Optimal Scheduling and Real-Time State-of-Charge Management of Energy Storage System for Frequency Regulation. Energies 2016, 9(12), 1010; doi:10.3390/en9121010. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/9/12/1010 --- Gao, Z.; Chin, C.; Woo, W.; Jia, J. Integrated Equivalent Circuit and Thermal Model for Simulation of Temperature-Dependent LiFePO4 Battery in Actual Embedded Application. Energies 2017, 10(1), 85; doi:10.3390/en10010085. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/1/85 --- Yunusov, T.; Zangs, M.; Holderbaum, W. Control of Energy Storage. Energies 2017, 10(7), 1010; doi:10.3390/en10071010. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/7/1010

Description / Table of Contents: Belle, J.; Liu, Y. Evaluation of Aqua MODIS Collection 6 AOD Parameters for Air Quality Research over the Continental United States. Remote Sens. 2016, 8(10), 815; doi:10.3390/rs8100815. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/8/10/815 --- Sun, K.; Chen, X.; Zhu, Z.; Zhang, T. High Resolution Aerosol Optical Depth Retrieval Using Gaofen-1 WFV Camera Data. Remote Sens. 2017, 9(1), 89; doi:10.3390/rs9010089. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/9/1/89 --- Chen, X.; Yang, D.; Cai, Z.; Liu, Y.; Spurr, R. Aerosol Retrieval Sensitivity and Error Analysis for the Cloud and Aerosol Polarimetric Imager on Board TanSat: The Effect of Multi-Angle Measurement. Remote Sens. 2017, 9(2), 183; doi:10.3390/rs9020183. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/9/2/183 --- Jiang, M.; Sun, W.; Yang, G.; Zhang, D. Modelling Seasonal GWR of Daily PM2.5 with Proper Auxiliary Variables for the Yangtze River Delta. Remote Sens. 2017, 9(4), 346; doi:10.3390/rs9040346. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/9/4/346 --- Wang, Y.; Chen, L.; Li, S.; Wang, X.; Yu, C.; Si, Y.; Zhang, Z. Interference of Heavy Aerosol Loading on the VIIRS Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) Retrieval Algorithm. Remote Sens. 2017, 9(4), 397; doi:10.3390/rs9040397. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/9/4/397 --- Wang, W.; Mao, F.; Pan, Z.; Du, L.; Gong, W. Validation of VIIRS AOD through a Comparison with a Sun Photometer and MODIS AODs over Wuhan. Remote Sens. 2017, 9(5), 403; doi:10.3390/rs9050403. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/9/5/403 --- Zhu, J.; Xia, X.; Wang, J.; Che, H.; Chen, H.; Zhang, J.; Xu, X.; Levy, R.; Oo, M.; Holz, R.; Ayoub, M. Evaluation of Aerosol Optical Depth and Aerosol Models from VIIRS Retrieval Algorithms over North China Plain. Remote Sens. 2017, 9(5), 432; doi:10.3390/rs9050432. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/9/5/432 --- Dolgii, S.; Nevzorov, A.; Nevzorov, A.; Romanovskii, O.; Kharchenko, O. Intercomparison of Ozone Vertical Profile Measurements by Differential Absorption Lidar and IASI/MetOp Satellite in the Upper Troposphere–Lower Stratosphere. Remote Sens. 2017, 9(5), 447; doi:10.3390/rs9050447. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/9/5/447 --- Liu, L.; Zhang, X.; Xu, W.; Liu, X.; Lu, X.; Wang, S.; Zhang, W.; Zhao, L. Ground Ammonia Concentrations over China Derived from Satellite and Atmospheric Transport Modeling. Remote Sens. 2017, 9(5), 467; doi:10.3390/rs9050467. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/9/5/467 --- Chen, W.; Fan, A.; Yan, L. Performance of MODIS C6 Aerosol Product during Frequent Haze-Fog Events: A Case Study of Beijing. Remote Sens. 2017, 9(5), 496; doi:10.3390/rs9050496. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/9/5/496 --- Osorio, M.; Casaballe, N.; Belsterli, G.; Barreto, M.; Gómez, Á.; Ferrari, J.; Frins, E. Plume Segmentation from UV Camera Images for SO2 Emission Rate Quantification on Cloud Days. Remote Sens. 2017, 9(6), 517; doi:10.3390/rs9060517. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/9/6/517 --- Gu, J.; Chen, L.; Yu, C.; Li, S.; Tao, J.; Fan, M.; Xiong, X.; Wang, Z.; Shang, H.; Su, L. Ground-Level NO2 Concentrations over China Inferred from the Satellite OMI and CMAQ Model Simulations. Remote Sens. 2017, 9(6), 519; doi:10.3390/rs9060519. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/9/6/519 --- Wang, Y.; Wang, J.; Levy, R.; Xu, X.; Reid, J. MODIS Retrieval of Aerosol Optical Depth over Turbid Coastal Water. Remote Sens. 2017, 9(6), 595; doi:10.3390/rs9060595. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/9/6/595 --- Kim, D.; Lee, H.; Hong, H.; Choi, W.; Lee, Y.; Park, J. Estimation of Surface NO2 Volume Mixing Ratio in Four Metropolitan Cities in Korea Using Multiple Regression Models with OMI and AIRS Data. Remote Sens. 2017, 9(6), 627; doi:10.3390/rs9060627. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/9/6/627 --- Qu, Y.; Han, Y.; Wu, Y.; Gao, P.; Wang, T. Study of PBLH and Its Correlation with Particulate Matter from One-Year Observation over Nanjing, Southeast China. Remote Sens. 2017, 9(7), 668; doi:10.3390/rs9070668. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/9/7/668 --- Tosca, M.; Campbell, J.; Garay, M.; Lolli, S.; Seidel, F.; Marquis, J.; Kalashnikova, O. Attributing Accelerated Summertime Warming in the Southeast United States to Recent Reductions in Aerosol Burden: Indications from Vertically-Resolved Observations. Remote Sens. 2017, 9(7), 674; doi:10.3390/rs9070674. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/9/7/674 --- Tao, M.; Wang, Z.; Tao, J.; Chen, L.; Wang, J.; Hou, C.; Wang, L.; Xu, X.; Zhu, H. How Do Aerosol Properties Affect the Temporal Variation of MODIS AOD Bias in Eastern China?. Remote Sens. 2017, 9(8), 800; doi:10.3390/rs9080800. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/9/8/800 --- Wang, W.; Mao, F.; Du, L.; Pan, Z.; Gong, W.; Fang, S. Deriving Hourly PM2.5 Concentrations from Himawari-8 AODs over Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei in China. Remote Sens. 2017, 9(8), 858; doi:10.3390/rs9080858. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/9/8/858 --- Yuchechen, A.; Lakkis, S.; Canziani, P. Linear and Non-Linear Trends for Seasonal NO2 and SO2 Concentrations in the Southern Hemisphere (2004−2016). Remote Sens. 2017, 9(9), 891; doi:10.3390/rs9090891. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/9/9/891 --- Qin, K.; Rao, L.; Xu, J.; Bai, Y.; Zou, J.; Hao, N.; Li, S.; Yu, C. Estimating Ground Level NO2 Concentrations over Central-Eastern China Using a Satellite-Based Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression Model. Remote Sens. 2017, 9(9), 950; doi:10.3390/rs9090950. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/9/9/950

Description / Table of Contents: Biopolymers, as natural polysaccharides, are considered benign polymers for what concerns the environment. This is not a new invention, but at best a renaissance: the first type of polymers used by human kind were animal hides, cellulose, silk, wool. Among benefits of natural occurring biopolymers there are potential biocompatibility, renewable resources, low processing costs, tailoring of structure by genetic manipulation, and, as said, environmentally compatibility. Limits are, sometimes, premature degradation and high production costs due to the very high purity required for medical uses. Polysaccharides are not drugs by themselves, but their use in pharmaceutical field, for example as drug carriers or antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory or anticoagulant agents, is increasingly promising. Marine polysaccharides include chitin, chitosan, alginate, agar and carrageenans. Chitosan is a cationic carbohydrate biopolymer derived from chitin, the second most abundant polysaccharides present in nature after cellulose. The main sources of chitin are the shell wastes of shrimps, lobsters and crabs. For its characteristics, chitosan founds particular application as non viral vector in gene delivery. Films from chitosan are very tough and long lasting. Alginates derive from seaweed extraction (pheophyceae), and are mainly used in drug delivery and as hydrogels for immobilizing cells and enzymes, due to the mild conditions of cross-linking through bivalent cations (Ca2 ). Agar (or agar-agar) and carrageenans are linear polysaccharides from red seaweeds. They are highly reactive chemically and are peculiar for thermoreversible gel formation. Exopolysaccharides (EPS), substantial components of the extracellular matrix of many cells of marine origin, also have to be mentioned for their potential interest in pharmaceuticals, and new EPS producing bacteria, particularly from extreme marine environments, are being isolated.The possibility of chemical modification, blending and addition of biodegradable additives allows to tailor the final properties of polysaccharides and opens the doors to wider applications, particularly in pharmaceutical area. This issue is intended to explore any new potentiality of marine polysaccharides, as those above mentioned, deriving from chemical or chemical-physical modifications, and the scaling-up of their pharmaceutical applications.

Description / Table of Contents: Remote Sensing and Geosciences for Archaeology / Geosciences 2018, 8(2), 41; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences8020041 --- Landscape Pattern Detection in Archaeological Remote Sensing / Geosciences 2017, 7(4), 128; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences7040128 --- Semi-Automatic Detection of Indigenous Settlement Features on Hispaniola through Remote Sensing Data / Geosciences 2017, 7(4), 127; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences7040127 --- SARchaeology—Detecting Palaeochannels Based on High Resolution Radar Data and Their Impact of Changes in the Settlement Pattern in Cilicia (Turkey) / Geosciences 2017, 7(4), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences7040109 --- Detecting Landscape Disturbance at the Nasca Lines Using SAR Data Collected from Airborne and Satellite Platforms / Geosciences 2017, 7(4), 106; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences7040106 --- SAR Imaging of Archaeological Sites on Intertidal Flats in the German Wadden Sea / Geosciences 2017, 7(4), 105; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences7040105 --- Geoarchaeological Core Prospection as a Tool to Validate Archaeological Interpretation Based on Geophysical Data at the Roman Settlement of Auritz/Burguete and Aurizberri/Espinal (Navarre) / Geosciences 2017, 7(4), 104; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences7040104 --- Geometric Analysis on Stone Façades with Terrestrial Laser Scanner Technology / Geosciences 2017, 7(4), 103; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences7040103 --- From Above and on the Ground: Geospatial Methods for Recording Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa / Geosciences 2017, 7(4), 100; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences7040100 --- Optical Remote Sensing Potentials for Looting Detection / Geosciences 2017, 7(4), 98; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences7040098 --- How Can Remote Sensing Help in Detecting the Threats to Archaeological Sites in Upper Egypt? / Geosciences 2017, 7(4), 97; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences7040097 --- 3D Point Clouds in Archaeology: Advances in Acquisition, Processing and Knowledge Integration Applied to Quasi-Planar Objects / Geosciences 2017, 7(4), 96; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences7040096 --- The American Schools of Oriental Research Cultural Heritage Initiatives: Monitoring Cultural Heritage in Syria and Northern Iraq by Geospatial Imagery / Geosciences 2017, 7(4), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences7040095 --- Using Ontology-Based Photogrammetry Survey for Medieval Archaeology: Toward a 3D Geographic Information System (GIS) / Geosciences 2017, 7(4), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences7040093 --- Accurate Reconstruction of the Roman Circus in Milan by Georeferencing Heterogeneous Data Sources with GIS / Geosciences 2017, 7(3), 91; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences7030091 --- Are We There Yet? A Review and Assessment of Archaeological Passive Airborne Optical Imaging Approaches in the Light of Landscape Archaeology / Geosciences 2017, 7(3), 86; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences7030086 --- Comparison Study to the Use of Geophysical Methods at Archaeological Sites Observed by Various Remote Sensing Techniques in the Czech Republic / Geosciences 2017, 7(3), 81; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences7030081 --- Analysis and Processing of Nadir and Stereo VHR Pleiadés Images for 3D Mapping and Planning the Land of Nineveh, Iraqi Kurdistan / Geosciences 2017, 7(3), 80; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences7030080 --- A Manifold Approach for the Investigation of Early and Middle Neolithic Settlements in Thessaly, Greece / Geosciences 2017, 7(3), 79; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences7030079 --- Fusion of Satellite Multispectral Images Based on Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) Data for the Investigation of Buried Concealed Archaeological Remains / Geosciences 2017, 7(2), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences7020040 --- Quantitative Examination of Piezoelectric/Seismoelectric Anomalies from Near-Surface Targets / Geosciences 2017, 7(3), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences7030090

Description / Table of Contents: Taravat, A.; Rajaei, M.; Emadodin, I.; Hasheminejad, H.; Mousavian, R.; Biniyaz, E. A Spaceborne Multisensory, Multitemporal Approach to Monitor Water Level and Storage Variations of Lakes. Water 2016, 8(11), 478; https://doi.org/10.3390/w8110478 --- Paillou, P. Mapping Palaeohydrography in Deserts: Contribution from Space-Borne Imaging Radar. Water 2017, 9(3), 194; https://doi.org/10.3390/w9030194 --- Jiang, L.; Schneider, R.; Andersen, O.; Bauer-Gottwein, P. CryoSat-2 Altimetry Applications over Rivers and Lakes. Water 2017, 9(3), 211; https://doi.org/10.3390/w9030211 --- Polishchuk, Y.; Bogdanov, A.; Polishchuk, V.; Manasypov, R.; Shirokova, L.; Kirpotin, S.; Pokrovsky, O. Size Distribution, Surface Coverage, Water, Carbon, and Metal Storage of Thermokarst Lakes in the Permafrost Zone of the Western Siberia Lowland. Water 2017, 9(3), 228; https://doi.org/10.3390/w9030228 --- Salameh, E.; Frappart, F.; Papa, F.; Güntner, A.; Venugopal, V.; Getirana, A.; Prigent, C.; Aires, F.; Labat, D.; Laignel, B. Fifteen Years (1993–2007) of Surface Freshwater Storage Variability in the Ganges-Brahmaputra River Basin Using Multi-Satellite Observations. Water 2017, 9(4), 245; https://doi.org/10.3390/w9040245 --- Springer, A.; Eicker, A.; Bettge, A.; Kusche, J.; Hense, A. Evaluation of the Water Cycle in the European COSMO-REA6 Reanalysis Using GRACE. Water 2017, 9(4), 289; https://doi.org/10.3390/w9040289 --- Parrens, M.; Al Bitar, A.; Frappart, F.; Papa, F.; Calmant, S.; Crétaux, J.; Wigneron, J.; Kerr, Y. Mapping Dynamic Water Fraction under the Tropical Rain Forests of the Amazonian Basin from SMOS Brightness Temperatures. Water 2017, 9(5), 350; https://doi.org/10.3390/w9050350 --- Pham-Duc, B.; Prigent, C.; Aires, F. Surface Water Monitoring within Cambodia and the Vietnamese Mekong Delta over a Year, with Sentinel-1 SAR Observations. Water 2017, 9(6), 366; https://doi.org/10.3390/w9060366 --- Nielsen, K.; Stenseng, L.; Andersen, O.; Knudsen, P. The Performance and Potentials of the CryoSat-2 SAR and SARIn Modes for Lake Level Estimation. Water 2017, 9(6), 374; https://doi.org/10.3390/w9060374 --- Nguyen, D.; Wagner, W. European Rice Cropland Mapping with Sentinel-1 Data: The Mediterranean Region Case Study. Water 2017, 9(6), 392; https://doi.org/10.3390/w9060392 --- Ferrara, C.; Lega, M.; Fusco, G.; Bishop, P.; Endreny, T. Characterization of Terrestrial Discharges into Coastal Waters with Thermal Imagery from a Hierarchical Monitoring Program. Water 2017, 9(7), 500; https://doi.org/10.3390/w9070500 --- Shen, H.; Leblanc, M.; Frappart, F.; Seoane, L.; O’Grady, D.; Olioso, A.; Tweed, S. A Comparative Study of GRACE with Continental Evapotranspiration Estimates in Australian Semi-Arid and Arid Basins: Sensitivity to Climate Variability and Extremes. Water 2017, 9(9), 614; https://doi.org/10.3390/w9090614 --- Erazo, B.; Bourrel, L.; Frappart, F.; Chimborazo, O.; Labat, D.; Dominguez-Granda, L.; Matamoros, D.; Mejia, R. Validation of Satellite Estimates (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission, TRMM) for Rainfall Variability over the Pacific Slope and Coast of Ecuador. Water 2018, 10(2), 213; https://doi.org/10.3390/w10020213

Description / Table of Contents: Barr, B. “An ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure”: Adopting Landscape-Level Precautionary Approaches to Preserve Arctic Coastal Heritage Resources. Resources 2017, 6(2), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources6020018 --- Bickford, N.; Smith, L.; Bickford, S.; Bice, M.; Ranglack, D.H. Evaluating the Role of CSR and SLO in Ecotourism: Collaboration for Economic and Environmental Sustainability of Arctic Resources. Resources 2017, 6(2), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources6020021 --- Manley, B.; Elliot, S.; Jacobs, S. Expedition Cruising in the Canadian Arctic: Visitor Motives and the Influence of Education Programming on Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviours. Resources 2017, 6(3), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources6030023 --- Johnston, M.; Dawson, J.; Maher, P. Strategic Development Challenges in Marine Tourism in Nunavut. Resources 2017, 6(3), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources6030025 --- Bystrowska, M.; Wigger, K.; Liggett, D. The Use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Managing High Arctic Tourism Sites: A Collective Action Perspective. Resources 2017, 6(3), 33; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources6030033 --- Aase, J. The Ortelius Incident in the Hinlopen Strait—A Case Study on How Satellite-Based AIS Can Support Search and Rescue Operations in Remote Waters. Resources 2017, 6(3), 35; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources6030035 --- Stewart, E.; Espiner, S.; Liggett, D.; Taylor, Z. The Forgotten Islands: Monitoring Tourist Numbers and Managing Tourism Impacts on New Zealand’s Subantarctic Islands. Resources 2017, 6(3), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources6030038 --- Huijbens, E.; Lamers, M. Sustainable Tourism and Natural Resource Conservation in the Polar Regions: An Editorial. Resources 2017, 6(3), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources6030045

Description / Table of Contents: There is ample evidence that the push for biomass as an alternative source of renewable energy to replace fossil fuels for heating and power generation is much greater than expected. There is a huge gap between the present contribution and the committed part of renewables for the majority of world countries. The uptake of renewables in general, and biomass in particular, is still considered somewhat risky due to the lack of best practice examples to demonstrate how efficient the technology is today.

Description / Table of Contents: Mechanisms of SAR Imaging of Shallow Water Topography of the Subei Bank / Remote Sens. 2017, 9(11), 1203; doi:10.3390/rs9111203 --- Detection of Bivalve Beds on Exposed Intertidal Flats Using Polarimetric SAR Indicators / Remote Sens. 2017, 9(10), 1047; doi:10.3390/rs9101047 --- Exploring the Potential of Active Learning for Automatic Identification of Marine Oil Spills Using 10-Year (2004–2013) RADARSAT Data / Remote Sens. 2017, 9(10), 1041; doi:10.3390/rs9101041 --- Assimilation of Typhoon Wind Field Retrieved from Scatterometer and SAR Based on the Huber Norm Quality Control / Remote Sens. 2017, 9(10), 987; doi:10.3390/rs9100987 --- Performance Analysis of Ocean Surface Topography Altimetry by Ku-Band Near-Nadir Interferometric SAR / Remote Sens. 2017, 9(9), 933; doi:10.3390/rs9090933 --- Satellite Survey of Internal Waves in the Black and Caspian Seas / Remote Sens. 2017, 9(9), 892; doi:10.3390/rs9090892 --- Contextual Region-Based Convolutional Neural Network with Multilayer Fusion for SAR Ship Detection / Remote Sens. 2017, 9(8), 860; doi:10.3390/rs9080860 --- Refocusing of Moving Targets in SAR Images via Parametric Sparse Representation / Remote Sens. 2017, 9(8), 795; doi:10.3390/rs9080795 --- Modulation Model of High Frequency Band Radar Backscatter by the Internal Wave Based on the Third-Order Statistics / Remote Sens. 2017, 9(5), 501; doi:10.3390/rs9050501 --- Ku-Band Sea Surface Radar Backscatter at Low Incidence Angles under Extreme Wind Conditions / Remote Sens. 2017, 9(5), 474; doi:10.3390/rs9050474 --- Doppler Spectrum-Based NRCS Estimation Method for Low-Scattering Areas in Ocean SAR Images / Remote Sens. 2017, 9(3), 219; doi:10.3390/rs9030219 --- An Improved Shape Contexts Based Ship Classification in SAR Images / Remote Sens. 2017, 9(2), 145; doi:10.3390/rs9020145 --- GF-3 SAR Ocean Wind Retrieval: The First View and Preliminary Assessment / Remote Sens. 2017, 9(7), 694; doi:10.3390/rs9070694

Description / Table of Contents: The goal of this Special Issue of Geosciences is to gather high-quality original research articles and reviews on the use of Earth Observation (EO) data and technologies to image and monitor geohazards from space. Geohazards, such as landslides, volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, ground subsidence and heave, pose significant risks to human life and property. Even when not with catastrophic consequences, or when characterised by relatively slow onset and evolution, these processes may be damaging over long time periods. Human interaction with the environment may also combine with natural processes, and thus trigger, induce acceleration or exacerbate the impacts of geohazards on built environment. With a wide spectrum of imaging capabilities—from optical to radar sensors, low to very high resolution, continental to local scale, single-image to multi-temporal approaches, yearly to sub-daily acquisition repeat cycles—nowadays, EO offers several opportunities for the geoscience community to map and monitor geohazards from space. Topics of interest of this Special Issue include, but are not limited to: development, validation and implementation of satellite EO data processing methods and applications for geohazards mapping and monitoring; radar interferometry (InSAR), object-based image analysis (OBIA), multi-spectral data analysis, feature extraction, time series analysis, photo-interpretation, and digital fieldwork.

Description / Table of Contents: PREFACE It is to-day generally recognized by environmental scientists that the particular behaviour of trace metals in the environment is determined by their specific physico-chemical forms rather than by their total concentration. With the introduction, several years ago, of atomic absorption spectrometry at many laboratories involved in environmental studies, a technique for simple, rapid and cheap determination of total metal concentrations in environmental samples became available. As a consequence, there is a plethora of scientific papers and reports where metal concentrations in the environment are only reported as total concentrations. It appears that the simplicity of making accurate determinations of total metal contents in water, sediment and biological samples has somewhat masked the need for improved knowledge about the various forms of metals occurring in the environment as well as the bioavailahility of these forms. In other words, the need for metal speciation in studies of metals in the environment does not seem to have become obvious to most environmental scientists until relatively recently. As a matter of fact, it was only in the middle of the 1970s that the first systematic attempts were made to obtain information about the various metal species occurring in environmental samples. During the last ten years, however, a revolutionary change of attitude towards the importance of metal speciation has occurred and considerable research effort has been devoted by environmental scientists to measuring the concentrations of biologically important trace metals in surface waters. There is currently an increasing effort to couple the development of chemical analytical techniques to process-related biological problems. Concurrently, a new focus is being imposed on ecological impact studies, that of determining which active trace metal species merit the most intensive research from the standpoint of environmental perturbation. Current efforts are directed towards the development of chemical speciation schemes which can be related directly to measures of bioavailability...

Description / Table of Contents: INTRODUCTION In the context of evolutionary studies, it is the privilege of paleontologists to trace the actual course of evolutionary change over time spans that are adequate for such a slow process. At the same time it is their crux that they can not always hope to do this with the resolution necessary to reveal the causal relationships involved. The Tübingen Sonderforschungsbereich 53, "Palökologie", was primarily geared to study the interrelationships between organisms and environments in the fossil record. As is pointed out in this volume, such an approach will necessarily emphasize the static aspect of this relationship, all the more since this is what we need for the practical purposes of facies recognition. This was clone during a time interval of thirteen years at the level of individual species and taxonomic groups ("Konstruktions-Morphologie"), of characteristic facies complexes ("Fossil-Lagerstätten") and of assemblages ("Fossil- VergeseIlschaftungen") with the aim to recognize general patterns that persist in spite of the historical and evolutionary changes in the biosphere. But as our project came closer to its end, the possible causal relationships between physical and evolutionary changes became more tangible. This trend is expressed by symposia devoted to the biological effects of long term tectonic changes (KULLMANN & SCHÖNENBERG, eds., 1983) and of short term physical events (EINSELE & SEILACHER, eds., 1982). But in retrospect it appears that the time scales of the environmental changes chosen were either too large or too small to reveal the mechanisms of evolutionary response. The present volume is the outcome of a symposium of the projects B 20 ("Bankungsrhythmen in sedimentologischer, ökologischer und diagenetischer Sicht", directed by U. BAYER), D 40 ("Analoge Gehäuse-Aberrationen bei Ammonoideen", directed by J. WIEDMANN) and D 60 ("Substratwechsel im marinen Benthos", directed by A. SEILACHER) in September, 1983. tt addresses environmental changes at time scales large enough to produce more than a local ecological response and short enough to observe evolutionary and/or migratory changes at the species and genus levels. It also focusses on basins which by various degrees of isolation provided suitable sites for "evolutionary experiments", such as lakes and marginal epicontinental basins. In a way, this book is a successor of the previous one on "Cyclic and event stratification" (EINSELE & SEILACHER, eds., 1982). Small scale cycles and events are the 'primitives' of a sedimentary sequence, the lowermost scale from which it can be deciphered. However, medium and long term physical cycles commonly impress sedimentological and lithological trends on the stratigraphic column which are accompanied by faunal replacements and cycles. But since sedimentation is controlled both by physical and biological processes, which are intercorrelated in complicated ways, we also need to decode the stratigraphic text. In this effort, paleontological and sedimentological interpretation must go hand in hand. On the 'megascale' of global sea-level changes faunal and species evolution is triggered by opening and closing of migration pathways, sometimes providing us with malor biostratigraphic boundaries. As it turns out, however, integrated research and the choice of suitable scales do not free us from problems of resolution. Thus our inability to distinguish local speciation from ecophenotypic modification and from immigration in the fossil record excludes definite evolutionary answers even in well studied cases. Nevertheless we hope that this approach opens a fruitful discussion, in which stratigraphy, systematic paleontology and paleoecology will be reconciled in a concerted effort to eventually understand the evolutionary mechanisms of our biosphere.

Description / Table of Contents: PREFACE It was only during the last few years, that the geological effects of storms and hurricanes in shallow-marine environments have been better appreciated. Not only were storm deposits recognized to dominate many shelf sequences, they also proved to be valuable tools in facies and paleogeographical analysis. Additionally, storm layers form important hydrocarbon reservoirs. Storm-generated sequences are now reasonably mell documented in terms of their facies associations in the stratigraphic record. Much less is known, however, about the effects and the depositional processes of modern storms, and about the styles of storm sedimentation on basinwide scales. Accordingly, the goal of this study is two-fold: 1. it presents two case studies of modern carbonate and terrigenous clastics storm sedimentatioq. The models derived from these actualistic examples can be used to interprete possible ancient analogues. 2. it presents a comprehensive analysis of an ancient storm depositional system (Muschelkalk) on a basin-wide scale. The underlying approach of this study is a process-oriented analysis of sedimentary sequences, an approach that ~as summarized by Matthews (1974, 1984) as "dynamic stratigraphy". The integration of actualistic models with a "dynamic" stratigraphic analysis helps to understand the dynamics of storm depositional systems; these models have a potential to be applied to other basins and to predict the facies organisation and the facies evolution in such systems...

Description / Table of Contents: PREFACE During the last few years, evaporites have increasingly been regarded as sediments and not only as chemical precipitates. Especially the intensive study of the Zechstein facies has resulted in a vast amount of observations and interpretations which are of general significance, offering important information to all sedimentologists interested in carbonates and evaporites. It seems therefore useful to introduce the sedimentological approach in a basin where various chemical concepts have been developed. This is the aim of the present volume, and this approach will be recognized by the reader in most of the chapters. The idea of publishing a collection of papers on the Zechstein facies and related rocks found an enthusiastic response, although later some contributors were, for various reasons, unable to meet the deadline. However, the papers submitted cover all major fields and will certainly stimulate further research...