Controls on the East Asian monsoon during the last glacial cycle,based on comparison between Hulu Cave and polar ice-core records

Previous studies have suggested a sound chronological correlation between the Hulu Cave record (East Asian monsoon) and Greenland ice-core records, which implies a dominant control of northern hemisphere climate processes on monsoon intensity. We present an objective, straightforward statistical evaluation that challenges this generally accepted paradigm for sub-orbital variability. We propose a more flexible, global interpretation, which takes into account a broad range of variability in the signal structures in the Hulu Cave and polar ice-core records, rather than a limited number of major transitions. Our analysis employs the layer-counted Greenland Ice-Core Chronology 2005 (GICC05), which was developed for Greenland records and has since been applied – via methane synchronisation – to the high-resolution δ¹⁸O_ice series from EPICA Dronning Maud Land (EDML). The GICC05 chronology allows these ice-core records to be compared to the U–Th dated Hulu Cave record within relatively narrow (～3%) bounds of age uncertainty. Following previous suggestions, our proposed interpretation suggests that the East Asian monsoon is influenced by a combination of northern hemisphere ‘pull’ (which is more intense during boreal warm periods), and southern hemisphere ‘push’ (which is more intense monsoon during austral cold periods). Our analysis strongly suggests a dominant control on millennial-scale monsoon variability by southern hemisphere climate changes during glacial times when the monsoon is weak overall, and control by northern hemisphere climate changes during deglacial and interglacial times when the monsoon is strong. The deduced temporally variable relationship with southern hemisphere climate records offers a statistically more plausible reason for the apparent coincidence of major East Asian monsoon transitions with northern hemisphere (Dansgaard–Oeschger, DO) climate events during glacial times, than the traditional a priori interpretation of strict northern hemisphere control.     

Wind‐driven inertial oscillations of large spatial coherence

Abstract

Inertial oscillations in current records collected from May to September, 1977, at ten mooring sites 20–300 km apart in the semi‐enclosed sea off northwest British Columbia are analysed. Near‐surface oscillations were wind‐driven, clockwise rotary and circularly polarized; near‐bottom oscillations at depths of 155–330 m were clockwise rotary, less than 10% of near‐surface amplitudes, highly elliptical and poorly correlated with surface winds. In the open southwest sector of the region, near‐surface spectra possessed well‐defined peaks centred roughly 3.5% above the local inertial frequency (f), whereas spectra for the semi‐enclosed northern sector had broad peaks centred at f. The peak spectral frequency at the southeast corner of the mooring array was 6.5% below f and is linked to a Doppler shift by mean flow advection of comparatively high wavenumber inertial oscillations. A particularly vigorous wind‐generated surface “event” in mid‐June was coherent to 99% confidence over a distance of 300 km and persisted for more than 8 days at most locations and 11 days at a mooring at the edge of the continental shelf. (Typical durations for single wave groups were ～2 1/2 days.) This event, together with a similar less energetic event in August, was due to quasi‐resonant forcing by frontal winds associated with sequences of regularly spaced, eastward travelling extratropical cyclones. Estimated inertial wavelengths ranged from 300–700 km over the main portion of the sea to 85–95 km in the southeast corner.     

Halo ejection in distant radio galaxies: jet feedback in massive galaxy formation

We present results from a Keck optical and near IR spectroscopic study of the giant emission line halos of the z>3 High Redshift Radio Galaxies (HiZRGs) 4C 41.17, 4C 60.07 and B2 0902+34. The outer regions of these halos show quiet kinematics with typical velocity dispersions of a few hundred km s⁻¹ and velocity shears consistent with rotation. The inner regions contain shocked, clumpy cocoons of gas closely associated with the radio lobes with disturbed kinematics and expansion velocities and/or velocity dispersions >1000 km s⁻¹. We also find evidence for the ejection of chemically enriched material in 4C 41.17 up to a distance of ∼60 kpc along the radio-axis. We infer that these HiZRGs are undergoing a final jet-induced phase of star formation with the ejection of most of their interstellar medium before evolving to become “red and dead” Elliptical galaxies.     

Spatially-resolved evolutionary synthesis modelling of ARP 299: Preliminary results

We present spatially-resolved evolutionary synthesis modelling of the colliding galaxies NGC 3690 and IC 694, together known as Arp 299. This system is a possible merger and an excellent example of interaction-induced starbursts. Arp 299 is relatively nearby (V=3100 km s^–1), emits most of its energy in the far-IR, and shows signs extended, thermal radiation sources. As such, it presents a good candidate for understanding the relationships between the dynamics of interacting galaxies and the starburst process. We use previously published photometric and spectroscopic data from the ultraviolet, optical, near- and far-infrared, millimeter, and radio spectral regions to constrain synthesis modelling of 1–2 kpc diameter areas at the three canonical regions of interest. The near-IR broadband decomposition method of Joy and Harvey (1987; also Telescoet al., 1985) is used to obtain the extinction to each of the three areas, which allows us to determine the intrinsic stellar spectrum. The synthesis modelling then determines the initial mass function and the star formation rate history of the interaction-induced stellar populations.     

On the possible utilization of Camelops by early man in North America

Camelops was a major faunal element in late Wisconsin biotic communities over much of North America. Interpretations of possible human association with Camelops are often based on poorly evaluated evidence. Ideal standards for acceptable evidence are compared here to the actual evidence that has been advanced. Of 25 fossil assemblages examined, 2 might be examples only of geological contemporaneity of humans and Camelops; 2 might indicate behavioral association of humans and Camelops bones; and 2 might indicate actual human utilization of Camelops (killing and/or butchering). Camelops bones interpreted as artifacts are similar to modern specimens affected by noncultural processes.     

Science, policy and the management of sewage materials. The New York City experience

Development of national policy on sewage sludge management is a classic example of incremental policy formulation [Fiorino, D.J. 1995. Making Environmental Policy. University of California Press. Berkeley, CA. p. 269]. Consequently, policy has developed piecemeal, and results are, in some ways, different than intended. Land application of sewage sludge has not been a panacea. Many of the same types of policy are now being raised about it. We demonstrate this by examining the management of sewage materials by New York City from near the turn of the 20th century, when ocean dumping was viewed as a means to alleviate some of the gross pollution in New York Harbor, to when ocean dumping was banned, and thence to the present when sludge is applied to land as "biosolids." Lessons learned during this long, sometimes contentious history can be applied to present situations--specifically not understanding the long-term consequences of land-based reuse and disposal technologies.     

Water transport through Hecate Strait,British Columbia

Abstract

The transport of water through Hecate Strait, British Columbia, is investigated to determine seasonal cycles and to find optimal surrogate series from which a long time series of along‐strait transport can be inferred and applied to fisheries and pollution problems. It is believed that the strength of a year‐class of cod in this Strait varies inversely with the transport in winter. Therefore, a good surrogate series is required, one that extends back in time to compare with fisheries records and will continue into the future to determine fluctuations in the population of these species.

Current meters deployed for an 11‐month period in 1983–84 provide transport measurements. Subsurface pressure gauges were deployed at 10‐m depth at five sites around Hecate Strait for a two‐year period in 1982–84. The cross‐strait difference of pressures determined by two of these gauges (Beauchemin Channel and Atli Inlet) serves as the best transport indicator, with an average correlation coefficient r of 0.88. Longer, continuous series are provided by the records from float‐type sea‐level gauges at Prince Rupert (PR), Queen Charlotte City (QCC) and Bella Bella (BB). Local air pressure is added to these series to convert them to subsurface pressure. Time series of geostrophic and measured winds are also considered. Among these longer series, transport is predicted best by the combination (PR + BB)/2 ‐ QCC (r = 0.82), which represents a cross‐strait difference in subsurface pressure.     

Isotope source table for a 25 M⊙ supernova

Abstract— We present a table giving the yields of 103 isotopes in eight distinct zones in the ejecta from the explosion of a 25 M star. Each zone in the ejecta is distinct isotopically due to the evolution and explosion of the star. Thus the table not only gives the yields of isotopes in the different zones of the ejecta but also provides information about the chemical environments in which each isotope is injected into the interstellar medium. The table is a summary of the nuclear yields from a single numerical model of the explosion of a massive star. The yields from a real supernova will vary from those in this table because of uncertainties in the input physics to the numerical model and because the real star may differ in mass, mass-loss rate, or metallicity from the modeled star. We argue that these uncertainties and variations, for the most part, will not change the direction of the largest isotopic effects in the different zones of the ejecta. This means that the table is quite generally applicable as a guide to understanding the ejecta of supernovae and as a characterization of possible chemical environments in which isotopes are injected into the interstellar medium.     

Discovery of a Color-selected Quasar at z = 5.50

I show how the existing observational data on Local Group dwarf galaxies can be used to estimate the average star formation law during the first 3 Gyr of the history of the universe. I find that the observational data are consistent with the orthodox Schmidt law with a star formation efficiency of about 4% if the star formation is continuous (during the first 3 Gyr). The efficiency is proportionally higher if most of the gas in the dwarfs was consumed (and never replenished) in a short time interval well before the universe turned 3 Gyr.