Preprints
Filtering by Subject: Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Nanogenerators: A new paradigm in blue energy-harvesting
Published: 2022-03-26
Subjects: Engineering, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
The depletion of natural energy sources demands non-conventional efficient alternatives with sustainable utility. The outstanding performance of nanomaterials resolves the energy scarcity issue through the introduction of small-scale, energy-harvesting devices, called nanogenerators. A nanogenerator is an ambient energy-harvester with exotic features of being a lightweight, sustainable and [...]
Brittle basement deformation during the Caledonian Orogeny observed by K-Ar geochronology of illite-bearing fault gouge in west-central Sweden
Published: 2022-03-26
Subjects: Physical Sciences and Mathematics
This study presents K-Ar geochronology ages of illite from fault gouge in the crystalline basement in central-western Sweden. Samples of fault gouge were taken from two faults localizing brittle deformation along and within mafic dikes that intrude Paleoproterozoic granites. K-Ar ages from the ten dated fractions span from 823 Ma to 392 Ma. The older ages obtained, spanning from 823 to 477 Ma, [...]
Structural relationships in and around the Rheasilvia basin on Vesta
Published: 2022-03-25
Subjects: Physical Sciences and Mathematics
The Rheasilvia basin is an impact structure occupying most of Vesta’s southern hemisphere. Divalia Fossae, a set of circum-equatorial troughs, were previously proposed to be concentric around the basin, which is widely regarded as evidence that the Rheasilvia impact directly caused the formation of the troughs. Here, we produce a structural map of Rheasilvia that allows for geologic [...]
Unexpected space weather causing the reentry of 38 Starlink satellites in February 2022
Published: 2022-03-25
Subjects: Physical Sciences and Mathematics
The accidental reentry of 38 Starlink satellites occurred in early February, 2022, associated with the occurrence of moderate magnetic storms. Poorly understood structure of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) caused the magnetic storms at unexpected timing. Better understanding of minor CME structures is therefore necessary for modern space weather forecast. The "up to 50%" enhancement of air drag [...]
Controls on surface warming by winter Arctic moist intrusions in idealized large-eddy simulations
Published: 2022-03-25
Subjects: Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
The main energy input to the polar regions in winter is the advection of warm, moist air from lower latitudes. This makes the polar climate sensitive to the temperature and moisture of extra-polar air. Here, we study this sensitivity from an air-mass transformation perspective. We perform simulations of an idealized maritime air mass brought into contact with sea ice employing a three-dimensional [...]
A source model for earthquakes near the nucleation dimension
Published: 2022-03-23
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Earthquake self-similarity is a controversial topic, both observationally and theoretically. Theory predicts a finite nucleation dimension, implying a break of self-similarity below a certain magnitude. While observations of non self-similar earthquake behavior have been reported, their interpretation is challenging due to trade-offs between source and path effects and assumptions on the [...]
Denudation partitioning in carbonate regions reveal climatic and tectonic drivers of carbonate landscape evolution
Published: 2022-03-23
Subjects: Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Carbonate rocks are highly reactive and presumably have higher ratios of chemical weathering to total denudation relative to most other rock types. Their high chemical reactivity affects the first-order morphology of carbonate-dominated landscapes and their sensitivity to climate. However, there have been few efforts to quantify the partitioning of denudation into physical erosion and chemical [...]
Eavesdropping at the speed of light: distributed acoustic sensing of baleen whales in the Arctic
Published: 2022-03-23
Subjects: Marine Biology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics, Signal Processing
In a post-industrial whaling world, flagship and charismatic baleen whale species are indicators of the health of our oceans. However, traditional monitoring methods provide spatially and temporally undersampled data to evaluate and mitigate the impacts of increasing climatic and anthropogenic pressures for conservation. Here we present the first case of wildlife monitoring using distributed [...]
Discharge-driven rapid bank-erosion and its impact on sediment budgeting in lower Ganga valley: Evidences from Malda district, West Bengal, India
Published: 2022-03-23
Subjects: Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Riverbank erosion coupled with recurrent flooding has been a persistent problem in large parts of the Eastern India. Published data on bank erosion of the Ganga River in West Bengal suggests an annual average of 8 sq. km. land-loss during 1969-1999 and that potentially affected lives of nearly a million people and destroyed various human establishments. In this study, we aim to constrain the [...]
Temporal velocity variations in the northern Hikurangi margin and the relation to slow slip
Published: 2022-03-21
Subjects: Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Slow slip events (SSE) have been studied in increasing detail over the last 20 years, improving our understanding of subduction zone processes. Although the relationship between SSEs and the physical properties of their surrounding materials is still not well-understood, the northern Hikurangi margin in New Zealand is the site of relatively shallow ( < 10 km deep), frequent SSEs, providing [...]
Internal Planetary Feedbacks, Mantle Dynamics, and Plate Tectonics
Published: 2022-03-18
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geophysics and Seismology, Physical Sciences and Mathematics, Planetary Geophysics and Seismology, Planetary Sciences, Tectonics and Structure
Isolating planetary feedbacks, and feedback analysis, are prevalent aspects of climate and Earth surface process science. An under appreciation of internal planet feedbacks, and feedback analysis for plate tectonics research, motivate this chapter. We review feedbacks that influence the Earth's thermal evolution and expand them to include magmatic history and planetary water budgets. The [...]
African sand storms, blood rain, and continental mineral delivery to the Canary Islands
Published: 2022-03-17
Subjects: Physical Sciences and Mathematics
The origin of volcanism in the Canary Islands has been a matter of controversy for decades. Discussions have hinged on whether the Canaries owe their origin to seafloor fractures associated with the Atlas Mountain range or to an underlying plume or hotspot of uprising hot material from the deep mantle. The debate has recently concluded, however, following the discovery of nannofossils preserved [...]
Cloud-based interactive susceptibility modeling of natural hazards in Google Earth Engine
Published: 2022-03-17
Subjects: Engineering, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
We present an interactive tool for susceptibility modeling in Google Earth Engine (GEE). Our tool requires few input data and makes use of the breadth of predictors' information available in GEE. In this cloud computing environment, binary classifiers typical of susceptibility models can be called and fed with information related to mapping units and any natural hazards' distribution over the [...]
User guide of Google Earth Engine based Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) Tool
Published: 2022-03-16
Subjects: Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Working with Dynamic Earthquake Rupture Models: A Practical Guide
Published: 2022-03-16
Subjects: Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Dynamic rupture models are physics-based simulations that couple fracture mechanics to wave propagation and are used to explain specific earthquake observations or to generate a suite of predictions to understand the influence of frictional, geometrical, stress and material parameters. These simulations can model single earthquakes or multiple earthquake cycles. The objective of this paper is to [...]