Surface kinematics of periglacial sorted circles using structure-from-motion technology

Sorted soil circles are a form of periglacial patterned ground that is commonly noted for its striking geometric regularity. They consist of an inner fine domain bordered by gravel rings that rise some decimetres above the fine domain. Field measurements and numerical modelling suggest that these features develop from a convection-like circulation of soil in the active layer of permafrost. The related cyclic burial and exhumation of material is believed to play an important role in the soil carbon cycle of high latitudes. The connection of sorted circles to permafrost conditions and its changes over time make these ground forms potential palaeoclimatic indicators. In this study, we apply for the first time photogrammetric structure-from-motion technology (SfM) to large sets of overlapping terrestrial photos taken in August 2007 and 2010 over three sorted circles at Kvadehuksletta, western Spitsbergen. We retrieve repeat digital elevation models (DEMs) and orthoimages with millimetre resolution and precision. Changes in microrelief over the 3 yr are obtained from DEM differencing and horizontal displacement fields from tracking features between the orthoimages. In the fine domain, surface material moves radially outward at horizontal rates of up to ~2 cm yr−1. The coarse stones on the inner slopes of the gravel rings move radially inward at similar rates. A number of substantial deviations from this overall radial symmetry, both in horizontal displacements and in microrelief, shed new light on the spatio-temporal evolution of sorted soil circles, and potentially of periglacial patterned ground in general.

Enhanced Piezoelectric Properties of Piezoelectric Single Crystals by Domain Engineering

ABSTRACTFor tetragonal barium titanate (BaTiO3) single crystals, an electric field (E-field) applied along [111]c direction can induce an engineered domain configuration. In this study, the engineered domain structures with different domain sizes were induced into BaTiO3 single crystals, and their piezoelectric properties were investigated as a function of a domain size. Prior to this study, the dependence of domain configuration on the temperature and the E-field was investigated using a polarizing microscope in order to understand the optimum condition for fine and coarse domain structures. As a result, above Curie temperature (Tc) of 132.2 °C, when the E-field over 6 kV/cm was applied along [111]c direction, the engineered domain configuration with fine domain structure appeared. Moreover, it was also found that this fine domain structure was still stable at room temperature without E-field. On the other hand, the coarse domain structure was obtained by poling at just below Tc. Finally, the piezoelectric properties were measured using the 31 resonators with different kinds of domain sizes. As the result, it was found that the piezoelectric properties such as d31 and k31 increased significantly with decreasing domain sizes.