Search

The computational complexity of simulating seismic waves demands continual exploration of more efficient numerical methods. While Finite Volume methods are widely acclaimed for tackling general nonlinear hyperbolic (wave) problems, their application in realistic seismic wave simulation remains uncommon, with rare investigations in the literature. Furthermore, seismic wavefields are influenced by sharp subsurface interfaces frequently encountered in realistic models, which could, in principle, be adequately solved with Finite Volume methods. In this study, we delved into two Finite Volume (FV) methods to assess their efficacy and competitiveness in seismic wave simulations, compared to traditional Finite Difference schemes. We investigated Gudunov-type FV methods: an upwind method called wave propagation algorithm (WPA), and a Central-Upwind type method (CUp). Our numerical analysis uncovered that these finite volume methods could provide less dispersion (albeit increased dissipation) compared to finite differences for seismic problems characterized by velocity profiles with abrupt transitions in the velocity. However, when applied to more realistic seismic models, finite volume methods yielded unfavorable outcomes compared to finite difference methods, the latter offering lower computational costs and higher accuracy. This highlights that despite the potential advantages of finite volume methods, such as their conservative nature and aptitude for accurately capturing shock waves in specific contexts, our results indicate that they are only advantageous for seismic simulations when unrealistic abrupt transitions are present in the velocity models.

In this work, we study and extend a class of semi-Lagrangian exponential methods, which combine exponential time integration techniques, suitable for integrating stiff linear terms, with a semi-Lagrangian treatment of nonlinear advection terms. Partial differential equations involving both processes arise for instance in atmospheric circulation models. Through a truncation error analysis, we show that previously formulated semi-Lagrangian exponential schemes are limited to first-order accuracy due to the discretization of the linear term; we then formulate a new discretization leading to second-order accuracy. Also, a detailed stability study is conducted to compare several Eulerian and semi-Lagrangian exponential schemes, as well as a well-established semi-Lagrangian semi-implicit method, which is used in operational atmospheric models. Numerical simulations of the shallow-water equations on the rotating sphere are performed to assess the orders of convergence, stability properties, and computational cost of each method. The proposed second-order semi-Lagrangian exponential method was shown to be more stable and accurate than the previously formulated schemes of the same class at the expense of larger wall-clock times; however, the method is more stable and has a similar cost compared to the well-established semi-Lagrangian semi-implicit method; therefore, it is a competitive candidate for potential operational applications in atmospheric circulation modeling., Comment: 35 pages, 10 figures

One important tool at our disposal to evaluate the robustness of Global Circulation Models (GCMs) is to understand the horizontal discretization of the dynamical core under a shallow water approximation. Here, we evaluate the accuracy and stability of different methods used in, or adequate for, unstructured ocean models considering shallow water models. Our results show that the schemes have different accuracy capabilities, with the A- (NICAM) and B-grid (FeSOM 2.0) schemes providing at least 1st order accuracy in most operators and time integrated variables, while the two C-grid (ICON and MPAS) schemes display more difficulty in adequately approximating the horizontal dynamics. Moreover, the theory of the inertia-gravity wave representation on regular grids can be extended for our unstructured based schemes, where from least to most accurate we have: A-, B, and C-grid, respectively. Considering only C-grid schemes, the MPAS scheme has shown a more accurate representation of inertia-gravity waves than ICON. In terms of stability, we see that both A- and C-grid MPAS scheme display the best stability properties, but the A-grid scheme relies on artificial diffusion, while the C-grid scheme doesn't. Alongside, the B-grid and C-grid ICON schemes are within the least stable. Finally, in an effort to understand the effects of potential instabilities in ICON, we note that the full 3D model without a filtering term does not destabilize as it is integrated in time. However, spurious oscillations are responsible for decreasing the kinetic energy of the oceanic currents. Furthermore, an additional decrease of the currents' turbulent kinetic energy is also observed, creating a spurious mixing, which also plays a role in the strength decrease of these oceanic currents.

Despite the growing interest in parallel-in-time methods as an approach to accelerate numerical simulations in atmospheric modelling, improving their stability and convergence remains a substantial challenge for their application to operational models. In this work, we study the temporal parallelization of the shallow water equations on the rotating sphere combined with time-stepping schemes commonly used in atmospheric modelling due to their stability properties, namely an Eulerian implicit-explicit (IMEX) method and a semi-Lagrangian semi-implicit method (SL-SI-SETTLS). The main goal is to investigate the performance of parallel-in-time methods, namely Parareal and Multigrid Reduction in Time (MGRIT), when these well-established schemes are used on the coarse discretization levels and provide insights on how they can be improved for better performance. We begin by performing an analytical stability study of Parareal and MGRIT applied to a linearized ordinary differential equation depending on the choice of a coarse scheme. Next, we perform numerical simulations of two standard tests to evaluate the stability, convergence and speedup provided by the parallel-in-time methods compared to a fine reference solution computed serially. We also conduct a detailed investigation on the influence of artificial viscosity and hyperviscosity approaches, applied on the coarse discretization levels, on the performance of the temporal parallelization. Both the analytical stability study and the numerical simulations indicate a poorer stability behaviour when SL-SI-SETTLS is used on the coarse levels, compared to the IMEX scheme. With the IMEX scheme, a better trade-off between convergence, stability and speedup compared to serial simulations can be obtained under proper parameters and artificial viscosity choices, opening the perspective of the potential competitiveness for realistic models., Comment: 35 pages, 23 figures

Exponential time integrators have been applied successfully in several physics-related differential equations. However, their application in hyperbolic systems with absorbing boundaries, like the ones arising in seismic imaging, still lacks theoretical and experimental investigations. The present work conducts an in-depth study of exponential integration using Faber polynomials, consisting of a generalization of a popular exponential method that uses Chebyshev polynomials. This allows solving non-symmetric operators that emerge from classic seismic wave propagation problems with absorbing boundaries. Theoretical as well as numerical results are presented for Faber approximations. One of the theoretical contributions is the proposal of a sharp bound for the approximation error of the exponential of a normal matrix. We also show the practical importance of determining an optimal ellipse encompassing the full spectrum of the discrete operator, in order to ensure and enhance convergence of the Faber exponential series. Furthermore, based on estimates of the spectrum of the discrete operator of the wave equations with a widely used absorbing boundary method, we numerically investigate stability, dispersion, convergence and computational efficiency of the Faber exponential scheme. Overall, we conclude that the method is suitable for seismic wave problems and can provide accurate results with large time step sizes, with computational efficiency increasing with the increase of the approximation degree., Comment: 30 pages, 55 figure, original research. Keywords: Exponential integrator, Faber polynomial, Wave equation, Absorbing boundaries, Eigenvalue distribution

In this paper, we give pointwise estimates of a Vorono\"i-based finite volume approximation of the Laplace-Beltrami operator on Vorono\"i-Delaunay decompositions of the sphere. These estimates are the basis for a local error analysis, in the maximum norm, of the approximate solution of the Poisson equation and its gradient. Here, we consider the Vorono\"i-based finite volume method as a perturbation of the finite element method. Finally, using regularized Green's functions, we derive quasi-optimal convergence order in the maximum-norm with minimal regularity requirements. Numerical examples show that the convergence is at least as good as predicted.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on how the spread of infectious diseases worldwide are importantly shaped by both human mobility networks and socio-economic factors. Few studies, however, have examined the interaction of mobility networks with socio-spatial inequalities to understand the spread of infection. We introduce a novel methodology, called the Infection Delay Model, to calculate how the arrival time of an infection varies geographically, considering both effective distance-based metrics and differences in regions' capacity to isolate -- a feature associated with socioeconomic inequalities. To illustrate an application of the Infection Delay Model, this paper integrates household travel survey data with cell phone mobility data from the S\~ao Paulo metropolitan region to assess the effectiveness of lockdowns to slow the spread of COVID-19. Rather than operating under the assumption that the next pandemic will begin in the same region as the last, the model estimates infection delays under every possible outbreak scenario, allowing for generalizable insights into the effectiveness of interventions to delay a region's first case. The model sheds light on how the effectiveness of lockdowns to slow the spread of disease is influenced by the interaction of mobility networks and socio-economic levels. We find that a negative relationship emerges between network centrality and the infection delay after lockdown, irrespective of income. Furthermore, for regions across all income and centrality levels, outbreaks starting in less central locations were more effectively slowed by a lockdown. Using the Infection Delay Model, this paper identifies and quantifies a new dimension of disease risk faced by those most central in a mobility network., Comment: 21 pages, 11 figures, 3 tables

In this paper we propose a novel way to integrate time-evolving partial differential equations that contain nonlinear advection and stiff linear operators, combining exponential integration techniques and semi-Lagrangian methods. The general formulation is built from the solution of an integration factor problem with respect to the problem written with a material derivative, so that the exponential integration scheme naturally incorporates the nonlinear advection. Semi-Lagrangian techniques are used to treat the dependence of the exponential integrator on the flow trajectories. The formulation is general, as many exponential integration techniques could be combined with different semi-Lagrangian methods. This formulation allows an accurate solution of the linear stiff operator, a property inherited by the exponential integration technique. It also provides a sufficiently accurate representation of the nonlinear advection, even with large time-step sizes, a property inherited by the semi-Lagrangian method. Aiming for application in weather and climate modeling, we discuss possible combinations of well established exponential integration techniques and state-of-the-art semi-Lagrangian methods used operationally in the application. We show experiments for the planar rotating shallow water equations. When compared to traditional exponential integration techniques, the experiments reveal that the coupling with semi-Lagrangian allows stabler integration with larger time-step sizes. From the application perspective, which already uses semi-Lagrangian methods, the exponential treatment could improve the solution of wave-dispersion when compared to semi-implicit schemes.