News from the AAS

Jacqueline Mitton reports on science highlights from the 201st meeting of the American Astronomical Society.     

A review of: “Fundamental problems in the theory of stellar evolution”

Abstract

Edited by D. Sugimoto, D. Q. Lamb and D. N. Schramm. IAU Symposium No. 93, Reidel, Dordrecht, 1981. 343 pp. (Cloth Dfl. 90 ($47.50) ISBN 90-277-1273-5; Paper Dfl. 40 ($21.00) ISBN 90-277-1274-3)     

Geosciences at Nice 2003

Simon Mitton reports from the joint meeting in April of the European Geophysical Society, the American Geophysical Union and The European Union of Geosciences, the largest geosciences meeting in Europe.     

The scientific value of the Carte du Ciel

Work began on the Astrographic Catalogue and Carte du Ciel in 1887 and continued until 1962. Derek Jones discusses this innovatory sky survey and its continuing value.     

The celestial and terrestrial departure points and their various aspects in geodesy and astrometry

Summary Based on the 127th Colloquium Report of the subgroup on coordinate frames and origins of the IAU working group on reference systems, in this paper, the possibility of taking the Celestial Departure Point as the origin of right-ascension on the instantaneous true equator is analysed in view of high-precision geodesy and astrometry. The properties and the applications of the celestial and terrestrial departure points in various aspects of practice and theory are generally reviewed. We have found that, referred to the ideal barycentric reference system proposed in the 127th IAU Colloquium, the Celestial Departure Point of a Quasi-Inertial Geocentric Equatorial Coordinate System may be a matchable origin on the moving geocentric true equator. Presented at the Seminary on Physical Geodesy, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of the Charles' University, Prague, March 1993; Contribution to the Special Commission on Fundamental Constants of the I.A.G. On leave from Shanghai Observatory, China     

Telescopes in Education at the IAU

The development and utilization of telescopes for educational purposes were discussed on 18 August at a special session of the IAU in Manchester. The session, which was organized by Barrie Jones and Alan Pickwick of the RAS Education Committee, was entitled "Astronomy Research Projects for School and University Students". Peter Bond summarizes.     

A comet impact in AD 536?

Emma Rigby, Melissa Symonds and Derek Ward-Thompson review the evidence for the possibility that a comet may have impacted the Earth in historical times, and discuss the size of the putative comet.     

Toward international cooperation in the study of recent crustal movements in Africa

How might an international plan for crustal-movement studies in Africa be implemented? This was the basic question underlying much of the discussion at the First International Symposium on Crustal Movements in Africa, convened in May 1981 in Addis Ababa at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. Three years later, in November/December 1984, the Second Symposium was held in Cairo, Egypt; and in April 1986, some outstanding questions were dealt with at the Third Symposium on Geodesy in Africa held in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, and at the International Symposium on Global Changes in Africa during the Quaternary, held in Dakar, Senegal.The present state and possible development of recent crustal movement studies in Africa are discussed. Finally, the cooperation of all scientists interested in such studies is solicited.     

The chemistry of star formation

Understanding the chemistry of molecular clouds is now realized to be fundamental to our understanding of the whole star-formation process. A two-day meeting was held within NAM2002 to bring together chemists and astronomers to discuss this complex subject. Derek Ward-Thompson, Helen Fraser and Jonathan Rawlings report.  

     

第十届大陆及其边缘的深部地震剖面国际研讨会概述

第十届大陆及其边缘的深部地震剖面国际研讨会于2003年1月6—10日在新西兰陶波召开。文章首先简介了本次会议的概况，然后详细介绍了深部地震测深数据的处理解释新方法、经典地学断面以及与青藏高原和地震各向异性有关的报告内容，最后提出一些个人的看法。     

Dark skies for all

Mark E Bailey reports from the Sixth European Dark-Skies Symposium, held in Portsmouth on 15 and 16 September 2006.     

INAUGURATION OF THE WORLD ASSOCIATION FOR SEDIMENTATION AND EROSION RESEARCH (WASER)

The World Association for Sedimentation and Erosion Research, the name of which has been abbreviated to WASER, was inaugurated on 19 Oct. 2004 during the 9th International Symposium on River Sedimentation in Yichang, China. Dr. Des Walling, the President of the new Association, addressed the inauguration ceremony. In his brief inaugural address, Dr. Walling stresses the role of WASER in facilitating and promoting corporation and collaboration between scientists in river sedimentation and civil engineers, hydraulic engineers, soil scientists, geomorphologists, geochemists, agricultural engineers, soil conservation specialists, watershed managers, social scientists and environmental managers. He looked back nearly 25 years to March 1980 and to the 1st International Symposium on River Sedimentation held in Beijing, which can be seen as having sown the seed for WASER.     

Ninth International Symposium on River Sedimentation(Oct.18-12, 2004, Yichang, China)

The Ninth International Symposium on River Sedimentation (9th ISRS) has been successfully held on Oct. 18 to 21, 2004 at the site of the partially completed Three Gorges Project on the Yangtze River near Yichang of Hubei Province, China. The Symposium is organized by the Ministry of Water Resources, People's Republic of China (MWR), sponsored by International Research and Training Center on Erosion and Sedimentation (IRTCES), Changjiang River Water Resources Commission (CWRC), China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR) and Chinese Hydraulic Engineering Society (CHES). Twenty nine organizations including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), International Association of Hydraulic Engineering and Research (IAHR), International Association for Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) are co-sponsors.     

BOOK REVIEW

Book review in this article
H. F aul Nuclear Geology. A Symposium on Nuclear Phenomena in the Earth Sciences, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 1954 Price $ 7.00.     

Book reviews

Abstract

EDDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE (Edited by A. R. Robinson) Springer-Verlag, 1983, 268 figures, 625 pages. Price: DM 120 (U.S. $49.60). ISBN 3-540-12253-2

THE SOLAR GRANULATION, by R. J. Bray, R. E. Loughhead, and C. J. Durrant, 2nd Ed., Cambridge University Press 1984. xvi + 245 pp. Price: £27.50, $54.50, ISBN 0-521-24714-4.

ASTROPHYSICAL JETS. Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Torino, Italy. October 7–9, 1982. Edited by A. Ferrari and A. G. Pacholczyk, D. Reidel Publishing Company, 1983. xvi + 327 pp. Dfl. 110.00 (US. $48.00). ISBN 90-277-1627-7.

INTERNAL KINEMATICS AND DYNAMICS OF GALAXIES. IAU Symposium No. 100. Edited by E. Athanassoula. D. Reidel Publishing Company, xiv + 432 pp. 1983. Price: Dfl. 115 (U.S. $49.50) ISBN 90-277-1546-7

HANDBOOK OF PLASMA PHYSICS—BASIC PLASMA PHYSICS 1. Edited by A. A. Galeev and R. N. Sudan. North-Holland Publishing Company 1983. 730 pages. Price: US. $180.75 (Dfl. 425.00). ISBN 0-444-86427-x.

NUMERICAL METHODS FOR FLUID DYNAMICS. Edited by K. W. Morton, xiv + 517 pp, Price $55.50 (£30). ISBN 0-12-508360-2.

MAGNETIC FIELDS IN ASTROPHYSICS, By Ya. B. Zeldovich, A. A. Ruzmaikin and D. D. Sokoloff. Gordon and Breach Science Publishers, xvi + 365 pp. 1984. Price $60.00. ISBN 0-677-05530-7 (Vol. 3 in “The Fluid Mechanics of Astrophysics and Geophysics” ISSN 0260 4353).     

日本结构控制的工程应用

提出了包括基础隔震系统、质量阻尼系统和其他阻尼器的结构振动控制系统,阐述了结构控制系统在日本的实际工程应用,同时还介绍了于2000年11月召开的第二届日本结构控制学术会议的情况.     

Earlier days of gravity waves revisited

The means whereby the author came to be involved in the study of atmospheric gravity waves, and then came to involve others in that study, are outlined. In particular, events leading up to, during and following the International Symposium on Fluid Mechanics in the Ionosphere, of July 1959, are described.     

用三维运动学模式研究太阳暗条消失与行星际扰动

本文用19个行星际扰动事件为样本,采用三维运动学模式研究暗条消失事件（简称FD事件）与行星际瞬变扰动间的关系．太阳上的扰动源取行星际扰动前2-5d以内的所有FD事件,用势场模式计算得到的源表面磁场为背景,模拟每个扰动在行星际中的传播及其相互作用过程,观察扰动到达地球的时间和扰动大小．从模拟的结果来看,FD事件与行星际扰动事件有较好的对应关系,说明FD事件是行星际瞬变事件的一类重要的太阳源．19个事件中有2个没有对应的FD事件,5个模拟结果与观测结果相差较大,其余12个模拟结果与实际观测符合很好．这与过去这方面的工作有所不同,我们具体模拟了每个扰动事件的传播过程,同时考虑了扰动间的相互作用,包括扰动与共转流之间的相互作用,为太阳-行星际-地磁链天气过程的预报奠定了基础．     

用三维运动学模式研究太阳暗条消失与行星际扰动

本文用19个行星际扰动事件为样本,采用三维运动学模式研究暗条消失事件（简称FD事件）与行星际瞬变扰动间的关系．太阳上的扰动源取行星际扰动前2-5d以内的所有FD事件,用势场模式计算得到的源表面磁场为背景,模拟每个扰动在行星际中的传播及其相互作用过程,观察扰动到达地球的时间和扰动大小．从模拟的结果来看,FD事件与行星际扰动事件有较好的对应关系,说明FD事件是行星际瞬变事件的一类重要的太阳源．19个事件中有2个没有对应的FD事件,5个模拟结果与观测结果相差较大,其余12个模拟结果与实际观测符合很好．这与过去这方面的工作有所不同,我们具体模拟了每个扰动事件的传播过程,同时考虑了扰动间的相互作用,包括扰动与共转流之间的相互作用,为太阳-行星际-地磁链天气过程的预报奠定了基础．     

第11届国际大陆及其边缘深部结构学术会议和国际地质对比计划474号项目简介

本文介绍了第11届国际大陆及其边缘深部结构学术会议的情况。在此基础上,描述了国际地球深部探测的新动向,并对目前国际上深部探测的新方法作了简要介绍。此外,还对与会议有关的国际地质对比计划474号项目作了简要介绍。