An analysis of the use of complex-step differentiation (CSD) in optimization problems is presented. Complex-step differentiation is a numerical approximation of the derivative of a function valid for any real-valued analytic function. The primary benefit of this method is that the approximation does not depend on a difference term; therefore round-off error is reduced to the machine word-length. A suitably small choice of the perturbation length, h, then results in the virtual elimination of truncation error in the series approximation. The theoretical basis for this method is derived highlighting its merits and limitations. The Lunar Ascent Problem is used to compare CSD to traditional forward differencing in applications useful to the solution of optimization problems. Complex-step derivatives are shown to sufficiently apply in various interpolation and integration methods, and, in fact, consistently outperform traditional methods. Further, the Optimal Orbit Transfer Problem is used to test the accuracy, robustness, and runtime of CSD in comparison to central differencing. It is shown that CSD is a considerably more accurate derivative approximation which results in an increased robustness and decreased optimization time. Also, it is shown that each approximation is computed in less time using CSD than central differences. Overall, complex-step derivatives are shown to be a fast, accurate, and easy to implement differentiation method ideally suited for most optimization problems. / text

A suite of lightning strike glasses and unmelted starting materials has been studied by electron microscope and Mossbauer spectroscopy to determine Fe oxidation states. Nine of eleven samples are reduced compared to the starting materials; four of the glasses contain Fe0. Only one sample contained evidence of reduction by carbon, and the results support the reduction of Fe as intrinsic to the rapid, high temperature processing during lightning strikes.A thermodynamic modeling code is used to model the formation of moldavite tektites and the reduction of Fe from sediments around the Ries crater. During isentropic cooling from a strong shock, Fe3+ is reduced to Fe2+ at all modeled conditions. The best matches to an average moldavite composition and the compositions of the Bohemian and Bohemian:Radomilice sub-strewn fields occur with a mixture of surface and subsurface sands along a 4500 J/kg-K isentropic cooling path, consistent with an asteroid impact. The Lusatian and Moravian sub-strewn fields are better represented by starting materials of entirely surface sands, consistent with the uppermost layers of surface material having traveled the farthest from the impact.The thermodynamic code is also used to investigate the formation of lunar regolith agglutinates and reduction of Fe to Fe0. Forming Fe0 requires assuming Fe0 is miscible in silicate liquid at elevated temperatures and pressures. When Fe0 is included in the liquid solution, it is stable at modeled conditions. Simple separation of liquid from vapor is not sufficient to reproduce agglutinate glass. When the vapor phase is allowed to partially redeposit and some Fe0 is directly condensed from vapor, the resulting liquid better reproduces mare agglutinate glasses. This model cannot reproduce highland agglutinate glass, because the Al concentration remains too high in the liquid. The best match to mare glass is produced using the <10 µm fraction of the mare soil along the 8000 J/kg-K cooling isentrope at 100 bars, 4370 K with 95% vapor redeposition and 50% of the Fe(g) directly condensed as Fe0. The reduced fulgurite samples and the results of the impact models suggest that Fe reduction is intrinsic to the rapid, high temperature processing of silicates.

A mobile robotic platform for Autonomous Site Selection and Preparation (ASSP) was developed for an analogue deployment to Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i. A team of rovers performed an autonomous Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey and constructed a level landing pad. They used interchangeable payloads that allowed the GPR and blade to be easily exchanged. Autonomy was accomplished by integrating the individual hardware devices with software based on the ArgoSoft framework previously developed at UTIAS. The rovers were controlled by an on-board netbook. The successes and failures of the devices and software modules are evaluated within. Recommendations are presented to address problems discovered during the deployment and to guide future research on the platform.

A mobile robotic platform for Autonomous Site Selection and Preparation (ASSP) was developed for an analogue deployment to Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i. A team of rovers performed an autonomous Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey and constructed a level landing pad. They used interchangeable payloads that allowed the GPR and blade to be easily exchanged. Autonomy was accomplished by integrating the individual hardware devices with software based on the ArgoSoft framework previously developed at UTIAS. The rovers were controlled by an on-board netbook. The successes and failures of the devices and software modules are evaluated within. Recommendations are presented to address problems discovered during the deployment and to guide future research on the platform.

Au cours de leur propagation, les ondes sismiques sont atténuées par deux phénomènes : l'absorption causée par les propriétés anélastiques des matériaux, d'une part, et la diffusion ou " scattering " causée par la présence d'hétérogénéités de petite échelle dans le milieu d'autre part. L'objectif de cette thèse est de cartographier les propriétés de diffusion et d'absorption des ondes sismiques dans deux contextes géophysiques extrêmes présentant des échelles spatiales très différentes. La première partie du manuscrit est consacrée à la stratification d'hétérogénéité dans la Lune. À l'aide d'un modèle original de diffusion en géométrie sphérique, nous avons inversé les mesures de temps d'arrivée du maximum d'énergie et de décroissance de la coda sismique réalisée sur les données des missions Apollo. Nos inversions mettent en évidence un très fort contraste des propriétés de scattering entre le mégarégolithe très atténuant et le manteau lunaire profond transparent. L'atténuation est très largement dominée par le scattering et suggère la présence de fracturation jusqu'à environ 100 km de profondeur, affectant ainsi le manteau. Une nouvelle méthode d'estimation de la profondeur des séismes superficiels fondée sur les signaux diffus a été développée et permet de confirmer l'existence de failles actives autour de 50 km de profondeur. La deuxième partie de la thèse est consacrée à la structure d'atténuation de Taïwan, une région qui présente des structures géologiques très variées dans un contexte tectonique de double subduction. On utilise la MLTWA (Multiple Lapse Time Window Analysis) -une méthode fondée sur le rapport entre énergie cohérente et incohérente du signal sismique- pour imager les variations latérales d'atténuation. Dans un premier temps nous avons travaillé dans l'hypothèse classique de diffusion isotrope dans un demi-espace. Nos résultats mettent en évidence un niveau d'atténuation globale très élevé ainsi que de forts contrastes des propriétés de scattering sur des échelles spatiales fines, de l'ordre de 10-20 km. La diffusion est particulièrement marquée dans les bassins de la côte ouest, le sud et la chaîne côtière associée à la collision avec l'arc volcanique de Luçon à l'est. L'absorption augmente graduellement vers l'est et atteint son maximum sous l'arc volcanique. L'examen de l'accord entre données et modèles a posteriori montre sans ambiguïté les limites de l'hypothèse de diffusion isotrope dans un demi-espace sur un ensemble de stations situées le long des côtes. Ceci nous conduit à explorer les effets de la diffusion anisotrope dans un guide d'onde modélisant la croûte. La prise en compte de l'anisotropie améliore significativement l'accord du modèle aux données. En particulier, à basse fréquence (1-2 Hz), notre étude démontre la prédominance de rétro-diffusion. Ce résultat est compatible avec la présence de forts contrastes d'impédance dans la croûte et suggère la présence massive de fluides dans les zones de failles et de volcans à Taïwan. La mesure de l'anisotropie de la diffusion ouvre des perspectives nouvelles de caractérisation des hétérogénéités géophysiques de petite échelle. / During their propagation, seismic waves are attenuated by two phenomena: on one hand, absorption caused by the anelastic properties of the materials, and on the other hand, scattering caused by the presence of small-scale heterogeneities in the medium. The aim of this thesis is to map the properties of scattering and absorption of seismic waves in two extreme geophysical contexts with very different spatial scales. The first part of this memoir is devoted to the stratification of heterogeneities in the Moon. We use a new diffusion model in spherical geometry to invert measurements of the time of arrival of the maximum of energy and the seismic coda decay on data from the Apollo missions. Our inversions provide evidence of a very sharp contrast of scattering properties between the highly attenuating megaregolith and the transparent deep lunar mantle. Attenuation is largerly dominated by scattering and suggests the presence of fractures down to about 100 km depth, into the mantle. A new method for estimating the depth of shallow moonquakes based on diffusive signals was developped and confirms the existence of active faults around 50 km deep. The second part of this thesis is devoted to the attenuation structure of Taiwan, a region with a wide variety of geological structures in the context of two subduction zones. We use the MLTWA (Multiple Lapse Time Window Analysis) -a method based on the ratio between the coherent and incoherent energy of the seismic signal- to image the lateral variations of attenuation. We worked first with the classical hypothesis of isotropic scattering in a half-space. Our results provide evidence for a globally high level of attenuation with sharp contrasts of scattering properties across small spatial scales, of the order of 10-20 km. Scattering is particularly strong in the basins of the west coast, southern Taiwan and the eastern Coastal Range associated with the collision with the Luzon volcanic arc. Absorption increases gradually eastwards and reaches a maximum below the volcanic arc. A posteriori examination of the fit between data and model shows unambiguously the limits of the hypothesis of isotropic scattering in a half-space for a number of stations located along the coasts. This leads us to explore the effects of anisotropic scattering in a guide for seismic waves representing the crust. Taking anisotropy into account significantly improves the fitness of the model to the data. In particular, at low frequency (1-2 Hz), our study shows the prevalence of backscattering. This result is compatible with the presence of sharp contrasts of impedance in the crust and suggests the strong presence of fluids in fault zones and volcanoes in Taiwan. The measurement of scattering anisotropy opens new perspectives for characterizing small-scale geophysical heterogeneities.

Lunar cycles of reproduction are a widespread phenomenon in marine invertebrates and vertebrates. It is common practice to infer the adaptive value of this behavior based on the population level pattern. This practice may be flawed if individuals within the population are employing different reproductive strategies. Here, we capitalize on a long-term field study and a carefully controlled laboratory experiment of individually identifiable clown anemonefish, Amphiprion percula, to investigate the individual reproductive strategies underlying population-level patterns of reproduction. The field data reveal that A. percula exhibit a lunar cycle of reproduction at the population level. Further, the field data reveal that there is naturally occurring variation among individuals and within individuals in the number of times they reproduce per month. The laboratory experiment reveals that the number of times individuals reproduce per month is dependent on their food availability. Individuals are employing a conditional strategy, breeding once, twice or thrice per month, depending on resource availability. Breaking down the population level pattern by reproductive tactic, we show that each reproductive tactic has its own non-random lunar cycle of reproduction. Considering the adaptive value of these cycles, we suggest that all individuals, regardless of tactic, may avoid reproducing around the new moon. Further, individuals may avoid breeding in synchrony with each other, because of negative frequency dependent selection at the time of settlement. Most importantly, we conclude that determining what individuals are doing is a critical step toward understanding the adaptive value of lunar cycles of reproduction.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:25:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-02-19Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:12:14Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 jacob_rr_me_guara.pdf: 637187 bytes, checksum: 24c38b78cd04acc4d1694e9912f95502 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / No presente trabalho é abordada a manobra orbital Terra-Lua - Terra com o objetivo de um menor consumo de combustível. Inicialmente o satélite executa uma órbita em torno da Terra. Em um certo instante um impulso é efetuado para efetuar uma manobra não con-focal em que o satélite é transferido para uma órbita de transferência geocêntrica até um ponto da esfera de influência da Lua. A partir deste ponto o satélite é transferido para uma órbita hiperbólica em torno da Lua, e, no perilúnio desta órbita um novo impulso é dado transferindo o satélite para uma órbita lunar. A seguir é efetuada a manobra de volta em que o satélite é transferido para a órbitra geocêntrica de transferência, e no pericentro desta o satélite é transferido para a sua órbita inicial em torno da Terra. O caso não coplanar e a influência das perturbações devidas ao achatamento da Terra e a atração gravitacional da Lua também são analisados. / In the present work an Earth-Moon-Earth orbital maneuver is studied with the purpose of minimum fuel consumption. Initially it is considered an artificial satellite orbiting around the Earth. In a certain instant an impulse is effected to effect a not cofocal maneuver where the satellite is transferred to an orbit of geocentric transference until a point of the sphere of influence of the Moon. From this point the satellite is transferred to a hyperbolic orbit around the Moon, and, in the perilúnio of this orbit a new impulse is given transferring the satellite to a lunar orbit. To follow the maneuver is effected in return where the satellite is transferred to geocentric orbit of transference, and in pericentro of this the satellite is transferred to its initial orbit around the Earth. The non-coplanar case and the influence of the disturbances due to the flattening of the Earth and the gravitational attraction of the Moon also are analyzed.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-02T11:16:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2014-06-26Bitstream added on 2014-12-02T11:21:33Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000793040.pdf: 1193515 bytes, checksum: 23a0b1f8ae70bae32dcec22e6d30e152 (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Neste estudo nós investigamos a atividade de forrageio de morcegos em cinco hábitats com diferentes fisionomias localizados em uma paisagem de Floresta Atlântica alterada do sul do Brasil. Por meio de redes-de-neblina e detectores de ultrassom, nós testamos as seguintes hipóteses (Capítulo I): (a) a atividade dos filostomídeos é maior nas florestas conservadas do que em hábitats degradados (área aluvial, cidade e monocultura); (b) a atividade de molossídeos e vespertilionídeos (insetívoros aéreos) é maior nos hábitats fisionomicamente abertos (cidade, área aluvial degradada e monocultura) do que nos fechados (floresta submontana e floresta aluvial). A primeira hipótese foi confirmada, exceto para as áreas aluviais degradadas que representaram um valor similar de abundância e riqueza àqueles observados para as florestas conservadas. Morcegos insetívoros aéreos (molossídeos e vespertilionídeos), por sua vez, foram mais ativos nos hábitats abertos, com destaque para o ambiente urbano e áreas aluviais degradadas, confirmando a segunda hipótese do trabalho. Utilizando os mesmos métodos (redes-de-neblina e detectores de ultrassom), nós avaliamos (Capítulo II) a “fobia lunar” em insetívoros aéreos (molossídeos e vespertilionídeos) e filostomídeos frugívoros, valendo-nos da predição de que insetívoros mantêm sua atividade de forrageio independente da luminosidade da lua (forrageadores aéreos mais rápidos), enquanto frugívoros reduzem sua atividade em períodos de maior luminosidade (forrageadores mais lentos). Os resultados indicaram variação na resposta mediante o aumento da luminosidade apenas para filostomídeos, confirmando a predição inicial. O conjunto de dados desta dissertação demonstra que quatro filostomídeos comuns (Artibeus lituratus, A. fimbriatus, Carollia perspicillata, Sturnira lilium) exploram vários ambientes na região, incluindo parcelas fisionomicamente abertas, como áreas ... / We investigated the foraging activity of bats in five habitats in an Atlantic Forest landscape located in southern Brazil. Using mist-nets and ultrasound detectors, we tested the two hypotheses (Chapter I): (a) phyllostomids activity is highest in conserved forests than in degraded habitats (riparian area, city and monoculture); (b) aerial insectivorous activity (molossids and vespertilionids) is highest in open space habitats (city, riparian degraded area and monoculture) than narrow space habitats (submontane and riparian forest). The first hypothesis was confirmed, but the abundance and richness were similar in degraded riparian areas and conserved forests. Moreover, aerial insectivorous bats (molossids and vespertilionids) were more active in open habitats especially in the urban environment and degraded riparian areas supporting the second hypothesis. Using the same methods (mist-nets and ultrasound detectors), we evaluated (Chapter II) the “lunar phobia” on aerial insectivorous (molossids and vespertilionids) and frugivorous phyllostomids, considering the prediction that activity of the insectivorous are independent of the brightness of the moon (faster aerial foragers) while frugivorous are less activity during periods of more brightness (slowest foragers). The results indicated response variation related to the brightness just to phyllostomids, confirming the initial prediction. The data set for this dissertation demonstrates that four common phyllostomids (Artibeus lituratus, A. fimbriatus, Carollia perspicillata, Sturnira lilium) explore different environments in the region, including open plots as degraded riparian areas. These places seem to favor the activity not only some phyllostomids but also aerial insectivorous bats (molossids and vespertilionids) as sites to movement between forest patches or feeding areas. The variation in foraging activity of insectivorous and frugivorous phyllostomids seems related with the ... / FAPESP: 12/12348-9

abstract: Impact cratering has played a key role in the evolution of the solid surfaces of Solar System bodies. While much of Earth’s impact record has been erased, its Moon preserves an extensive history of bombardment. Quantifying the timing of lunar impact events is crucial to understanding how impacts have shaped the evolution of early Earth, and provides the basis for estimating the ages of other cratered surfaces in the Solar System. Many lunar impact melt rocks are complex mixtures of glassy and crystalline “melt” materials and inherited clasts of pre-impact minerals and rocks. If analyzed in bulk, these samples can yield complicated incremental release 40Ar/39Ar spectra, making it challenging to uniquely interpret impact ages. Here, I have used a combination of high-spatial resolution 40Ar/39Ar geochronology and thermal-kinetic modeling to gain new insights into the impact histories recorded by such lunar samples. To compare my data to those of previous studies, I developed a software tool to account for differences in the decay, isotopic, and monitor age parameters used for different published 40Ar/39Ar datasets. Using an ultraviolet laser ablation microprobe (UVLAMP) system I selectively dated melt and clast components of impact melt rocks collected during the Apollo 16 and 17 missions. UVLAMP 40Ar/39Ar data for samples 77135, 60315, 61015, and 63355 show evidence of open-system behavior, and provide new insights into how to interpret some complexities of published incremental heating 40Ar/39Ar spectra. Samples 77115, 63525, 63549, and 65015 have relatively simple thermal histories, and UVLAMP 40Ar/39Ar data for the melt components of these rocks indicate the timing of impact events—spanning hundreds of millions of years—that influenced the Apollo 16 and 17 sites. My modeling and UVLAMP 40Ar/39Ar data for sample 73217 indicate that some impact melt rocks can quantitatively retain evidence for multiple melt-producing impact events, and imply that such polygenetic rocks should be regarded as high-value sampling opportunities during future exploration missions to cratered planetary surfaces. Collectively, my results complement previous incremental heating 40Ar/39Ar studies, and support interpretations that the Moon experienced a prolonged period of heavy bombardment early in its history. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Geological Sciences 2017

abstract: Affect is a domain of psychology that includes attitudes, emotions, interests, and values. My own affect influenced the choice of topics for my dissertation. After examining asteroid interiors and the Moon’s thermal evolution, I discuss the role of affect in online science education. I begin with asteroids, which are collections of smaller objects held together by gravity and possibly cohesion. These “rubble-pile” objects may experience the Brazil Nut Effect (BNE). When a collection of particles of similar densities, but of different sizes, is shaken, smaller particles will move parallel to the local gravity vector while larger objects will do the opposite. Thus, when asteroids are shaken by impacts, they may experience the BNE as possibly evidenced by large boulders seen on their surfaces. I found while the BNE is plausible on asteroids, it is confined to only the outer layers. The Moon, which formed with a Lunar Magma Ocean (LMO), is the next topic of this work. The LMO is due to the Moon forming rapidly after a giant impact between the proto-Earth and another planetary body. The first 80% of the LMO solidified rapidly at which point a floatation crust formed and slowed solidification of the remaining LMO. Impact bombardment during this cooling process, while an important component, has not been studied in detail. Impacts considered here are from debris generated during the formation of the Moon. I developed a thermal model that incorporates impacts and find that impacts may have either expedited or delayed LMO solidification. Finally, I return to affect to consider the differences in attitudes towards science between students enrolled in fully-online degree programs and those enrolled in traditional, in-person degree programs. I analyzed pre- and post-course survey data from the online astrobiology course Habitable Worlds. Unlike their traditional program counterparts, students enrolled in online programs started the course with better attitudes towards science and also further changed towards more positive attitudes during the course. Along with important conclusions in three research fields, this work aims to demonstrate the importance of affect in both scientific research and science education. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Geological Sciences 2017