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In the new energy systems' modeling paradigm with high temporal and spatial resolutions, the complexity of renewable resources and demand dynamics is a major obstacle for the scenario analysis of future energy systems and the design of sustainable solutions. Most advanced models are indeed currently restricted by past temporal energy demand data, improper for the analysis of future systems and often insufficient in terms of quantity or spatial resolution. A deeper understanding on energy demand dynamics is thus necessary to improve energy system models and expand their possibilities. The present study introduces noise-assisted multivariate empirical mode decomposition and recurrence quantification analysis for the study of this problematic variable with a case study of Japan's electricity demand data per region. These tools are adapted to nonlinear, complex systems' data and are already applied in a wide range of scientific fields including climate studies. The decomposition of electricity demand as well as the detection of irregularities in its dynamics allow to identify relations with temperature variations, demand sector shares, life style and local culture at different temporal scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The great Japanese earthquake (GJE) of March 11, 2011, was a megaevent. The conditions under which such seismic catastrophes occurred are discussed. The regime of the aftershocks of this megaevent is compared with the data on the aftershock sequences which accompanied the Simushir earthquakes (2006 and 2007) and the Andaman earthquake (2004) and with the seismicity behavior in the generalized vicinity of a strong earthquake. The aftershock sequences of the abovementioned strong earthquakes are shown to represent the sets of trend changes in the postshock activity and specific outbursts of seismic activity. Activity outbursts are characterized not only by an increase in the number and energy of events, but also by a decrease in the recurrence plot slope ( b value) and the average earthquake depth. Some such outbursts correspond to the occurrence of strong repeated shocks. A possible mechanism for outbursts of seismic activity is proposed. The possibility of a stronger repeated shock in the vicinity of the megaearthquake of March 11, 2011, is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]