Sensitivity of a GCM simulation to subgrid infiltration and surface runoff

A subgrid parameterization of infiltration and surface runoff was evaluated using a land surface model coupled to an atmospheric general circulation model. Averaged over 5 year simulations, the subgrid parameterization resulted in significantly less infiltration of water into the soil compared to a simulation without subgrid hydrologic processes. As a result, the soils were drier, latent heat flux decreased, and surface air temperature increased. These results are consistent with other studies of subgrid hydrologic parameterizations, which also resulted in drier soils, decreased latent heat flux, and warmer surface temperatures. Several river basins were studied in detail. In the Amazon and Lena basins, the subgrid parameterization resulted in better annual runoff compared to observed annual river flow; surface air temperature was unchanged in the Amazon and better, compared to observations, in the Lena. In the Ob, Yenisey, and Amur basins, the subgrid parameterization resulted in too much annual runoff; July surface air temperature was unchanged or worse (Amur). Annual runoff for the Mississippi basin was better with the subgrid parameterization, but July surface air temperature was worse. These results suggest the utility of subgrid hydrologic parameterizations vary among river basins depending on the relative importance of Horton and Dunne runoff and the geologic factors affecting runoff generation.     

Simulations of precipitation and atmospheric circulation changes associated with warm SSTs: results from an ensemble of long term integrations with idealized anomalies

A general circulation model is used to simulate the atmospheric response to a prescribed, idealized time varying warm sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) in the equatorial Pacific characteristic of ENSO events. The model incorporates the full seasonal cycle and an ensemble of five anomaly simulations, each of 14 months duration, is performed and the results compared with those from a ten year control simulation involving climatological SSTs. In a test of the model, simulated perturbations to precipitation patterns are compared with the analysis by Ropelewski and Halpert which identifies regions where precipitation perturbations are associated with the ENSO cycle. Strong and statistically significant perturbations are simulated throughout much of the equatorial Pacific and the Australian region which agree with the analysis. Perturbations over the Americas and the Indian sub-continent show part agreement with observations, while elsewhere, at more remote and high latitude locations, there is less agreement, providing some indication of model limitations in simulating the hydrological cycle. Over the equatorial Pacific most of the anomalous precipitation is accounted for by moisture flux convergence. Only in the vicinity of the maximum anomaly, located in the eastern Pacific, do warmer SSTs contribute to the perturbed circulation. Elsewhere, anomalous wind speeds mainly determine anomalous heat fluxes. As a result, the large scale perturbations to wind, moisture and precipitation appear to be forced indirectly, rather than directly as assumed in simple ocean-atmosphere models.     

The preservation of scleractinian corals by calcite in the corallian beds (Oxfordian) of southern England

Corals in the Oxfordian barrier-reef complex of southern England show great variations in the style and quality of preservation. Preservation was influenced by differences in the structure and chemical composition of the skeleton and by diagenetic effects such as the production of fibrous aragonite overgrowths and micrite cement. In all cases, however, the aragonite dissolved. Calcite usually precipitated in the resultant voids.

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Zusammenfassung Die Korallen des Oxford-Barriere-Riffkomplexes in Südengland unterscheiden sich wesentlich in Wuchsform und Erhaltungszustand. Der Erhaltungszustand wird durch die primären Strukturunterschiede und die chemische Zusammensetzung des Skelettes sowie durch frühdiagenetische Veränderung — wie Aragonitnadel- oder Mikrit-Zemenet — bestimmt. Der primäre Aragonit des Skelettes hat sich in jedem Fall aufgelöst, und in den dabei entstandenen Hohlräumen wird Kalzit gefällt.

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Résumé Les coraux du complexe de récif en barrière Oxfordienne d'Angleterre du sud montrent les grandes variations dans le style et la qualité de l'état de conservation. Cet état a été influencé par les différences de construction et de composition chimique du squelette et par les effets du premier stade de la diagenèse tels que la production des surcroissances de l'aragonite fibreuse et le ciment micritique. Cependant, dans tous les cas l'originale aragonite s'est dissoute, et la calcite a été précipitée dans les espaces vides résultants.

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Application of particle dynamics to derive a general circulation in low latitudes

Summary In Section 1 are set out the reasons for the use of particle dynamics in this investigation. In Section 2 are solved the equations of motion for particles constrained to move along a horizontal surface under the action of a constant meridional pressure gradient force to obtain (a) velocities in spherical polar co-ordinates with naturally varying Coriolis terms, and (b) velocities and trajectories in plane cartesian co-ordinates in which the Coriolis parameter is assumed constant. Results obtained in each system are compared, showing that the plane co-ordinates as used are not significantly inaccurate, and trajectories of air particles obtained by application significantly inaccurate, and trajectories of air particles obtained by application of this system in steps of 5° of latitude are plotted to show the production of belts of convergence at some distance from the equator under the action of meridional pressure gradient forces.The approximation of these idealised particle trajectories to actual streamlines of the air flow are discussed in Section 3, and the concept of the production of belts of convergence is used to formulate a theory of formation and maintenance of the sub-tropical anticyclones. In Section 4 this theory is applied to observed average temperature data and the calculated results compared with observed average pressure data. A possible synoptic application of the theory is then indicated in Section 5.

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Zusammenfassung Im ersten Abschnitt werden Gründe für die Anwendung der Dynamik von Massenteilchen in der vorliegenden Arbeit dargelegt. Abschnitt 2 enthält die Lösungen der Gleichungen für die Bewegung von Massenteilchen auf horizontalen Flächen unter der Einwirkung eines konstanten meridionalen Druckgradienten. Die Lösungen ergeben a) die Geschwindigkeiten in sphärischen Polarkoordinaten mit variablem Coriolis-Term (entsprechend natürlichen Verhältnissen) und b) Geschwindigkeiten und Trajektorien in ebenen kartesischen Koodinaten in denen der Coriolis-Parameter als konstant angenommen wird. Die Ergebnisse für beide Koordinatensysteme werden verglichen und es zeigt sich, daß bei Verwendung der ebenen Koordinaten keine wesentlichen Ungenauigkeiten auftreten. Zeichnet man schrittweise von 5 zu 5° (Fig. 1) die Trajektorien der Luftteilchen, so ergeben sich als Folge der meridionalen Druckgradienten Konvergenzzonen in einigem Abstand vom Äquator.Die Annäherung dieser idealisierten Trajektorien an tatsächliche Stromlinien der Luft wird in Abschnitt3 diskutiert. An Hand der Vorstellungen von der Entstehung der Konvergenzzonen wird eine Theorie der Entstehung und Erhaltung subtropischer Antizyklonen gegeben. Im vierten Abschnitt wird diese Theorie auf beobachtete Mitteltemperaturen angewendet und die Ergebnisse der Berechnung werden mit beobachteten mittleren Luftdruckwerten verglichen. Auf eine mögliche synoptische Anwendung der vorliegenden Ergebnisse wird in Abschnitt 5 hingewiesen.

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Résumé La première partie contient les motifs de l'emploi de la dynamique de points pesants dans la présente étude. La deuxième partie donne les solutions des équations du mouvement de points pesants sur des surfaces horizontales sous l'effet d'un gradient méridien constant. Ces solutions fournissent les vitesses en coordonnées polaires sphériques avec un terme Coriolis variable, ainsi que les vitesses et les trajectoires en coordonnées cartésiennes planes en admettant un paramètre de Coriolis constant. On compare les résultats pour les deux systèmes de coordonnées et l'on constate que l'emploi des coordonnées planes n'introduit pas d'erreurs appréciables. Si l'on dessine les trajectoires de 5 en 5 degrés on voit apparaître des zones de convergence à quelque distance de l'équateur par suite des gradients méridiens.Dans la troisième partie on discute la similitude plus ou moins grande de ces trajectoires idéalisées avec les lignes de courant réelles. Parant de l'origine possible des zones de convergence, on établit une théorie de l'origine et du maintien des anticyclones subtropicaux. Dans la quatrième partie on applique cette théorie aux températures moyennes observées et l'on compare les résultats avec les valeurs moyennes observées de la pression. Dans la cinquième partie enfin on montre l'application possible des résultats obtenus à la synoptique.

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With 1 Figure.

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This paper is published with the permission of the Director of the meteorological Office.     

Martian craters from earth

Martian craters were evidently observed and described by E. E. Barnard in 1892–1893 and by John E. Mellish in 1915.     

An analytical iterative algorithm for the prediction of special satellite orbit points with the Brouwer orbit theory

Employing a direct recursive algorithm in relation with analytical theories will yield a considerable saving in computer time, as opposed to simulating a point by point integration through repeated evaluations of the orbit theory. As a case in point, we shall compute the set of osculating orbiting elements corresponding to special events within the revolution of an artificial satellite.     

Temperature minimum heating in solar flares by resistive dissipation of Alfvén waves

We examine the possibility that the strong heating produced at temperature-minimum levels during solar flares is due to resistive dissipation of Alfvén waves generated by the primary energy release process in the corona. It is shown how, for suitable parameters, these waves can carry their energy essentially undamped into the temperature-minimum layers and can then produce a degree of heating consistent with observations.Also Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University.     

Impact of Climate, Moisture Regime, and Nutrient Regime on the Productivity of Douglas-Fir in Coastal British Columbia, Canada

Future climate change is expected to have many impacts on forest ecosystems. It is important to have some understanding of these impacts in order to make informed forest management decisions. A major consideration in making forest management decisions is the productivity of a site, as measured by site index. In this study, I relate Douglas-fir site index to accumulated growing degree-days greater than 5^°C (DD5), as well as to soil moisture and nutrient regime. This allows the impact of climate change on forest productivity to be estimated. A two step approach was followed. The first step derived models to estimate various climate variables to latitude, longitude, and elevation using data from climate stations. Then, these climate variables were used along with soil moisture and nutrient data to predict site index for the site index plots. A two step approach was taken because climatic data were not available for the site index plots. The trend was for site index to increase with both increasing soil moisture and nutrients, although the site index decreased on the wetter sites. Site index also increased with DD5 at the rate of 1.2 m for every increase of 100 units in DD5. These models can be used together to evaluate the impact of various climate change scenarios on site index.     

Transformations of mercury, iron, and sulfur during the reductive dissolution of iron oxyhydroxide by sulfide

Methylmercury can accumulate in fish to concentrations unhealthy for humans and other predatory mammals. Most sources of mercury (Hg) emit inorganic species to the environment. Therefore, ecological harm occurs when inorganic Hg is converted to methylmercury. Sulfate- and iron-reducing bacteria (SRB and FeRB) methylate Hg, but the effects of processes involving oxidized and reduced forms of sulfur and iron on the reactivity of Hg, including the propensity of inorganic Hg to be methylated, are poorly understood. Under abiotic conditions, using a laboratory flow reactor, bisulfide (HS⁻) was added at 40 to 250 μM h⁻¹ to 5 g L⁻¹ goethite (α-FeOOH) suspensions to which Hg(II) was adsorbed (30-100 nmol m⁻²) at pH 7.5. Dissolved Hg initially decreased from 10³ or 10⁴ nM (depending on initial conditions) to 10⁻¹ nM, during which the concentration of Hg(II) adsorbed to goethite decreased by 80% and metacinnabar (β-HgS_(s)) formed, based on identification using Hg L_III-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopic analysis. The apparent coordination of oxygens surrounding Hg(II), measured with EXAFS spectroscopy, increased during one flow experiment, suggesting desorption of monodentate-bound Hg(II) while bidentate-bound Hg(II) persisted on the goethite surface. Further sulfidation increased dissolved Hg concentrations by one to two orders of magnitude (0.5 to 10 nM or 30 nM), suggesting that byproducts of bisulfide oxidation and Fe(III) reduction, primarily polysulfide and potentially Fe(II), enhanced the dissolution of β-HgS_(s) and/or desorption of Hg(II). Rapid accumulation of Fe(II) in the solid phase (up to 40 μmol g⁻¹) coincided with faster elevation of dissolved Hg concentrations. Fe(II) served as a proxy for elemental sulfur [S(0)], as S(0) was the dominant bisulfide oxidation product coupled to Fe(III) reduction, based on sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy. In one experiment, dissolved Hg concentrations tracked those of all sulfide species [S(-II)]. These results suggest that S(-II) reacted with S(0) to form polysulfide, which then caused the dissolution of β-HgS_(s). A secondary Fe-bearing phase resembling poorly formed green rust was observed in sulfidized solids with scanning electron microscopy, although there was no clear evidence that either surface-bound or mineralized Fe(II) strongly affected Hg speciation. Examination of interrelated processes involving S(-II) and Fe(III) revealed new modes of Hg solubilization previously not considered in Hg reactivity models.