Thermosteric sea level rise for the past 50 years; comparison with tide gauges and inference on water mass contribution

In this paper we compare sea level trends observed at a few selected tide gauges of good quality records with thermosteric (i.e., due to ocean temperature change) sea level trends over 1950–1998 using different gridded ocean temperature data sets from Levitus et al. (2000) [Levitus, S., Stephens, C., Antonov, J.I., Boyer, T.P., 2000. Yearly and Year-Season Upper Ocean Temperature Anomaly Fields, 1948–1998. U.S. Gov. Printing Office, Washington, D.C. pp. 23.], Ishii et al. (2003) [Ishii, M., Kimoto, M., Kachi, M., 2003. Historical ocean subsurface temperature analysis with error estimates, Mon. Weather Rev., 131, 51–73.] and Levitus et al. (2005) [Levitus S., Antonov, J.I., Boyer, T.P., 2005. Warming of the world ocean, 1955–2003. Geophys. Res. Lett. 32, L02604. doi:10.1029/2004GL021592.]. When using the Levitus data, we observe very high thermosteric rates at sites located along the northeast coast of the US, north of 37°N. Such high rates are not observed with the Ishii data. Elsewhere, thermosteric rates agree reasonably well whatever the data set. Excluding the northeast US coastline sites north of 37°N, we compare tide gauge-based sea level trends with thermosteric trends and note that, in spite of a significant correlation, the latter are too small to explain the observed trends. After correcting for thermosteric sea level trends, residual (observed minus thermosteric) trends have an average value of 1.4 ± 0.5 mm/year, which should have an eustatic (i.e., due to ocean mass change) origin. This result supports the recent investigation by Miller and Douglas (2004) [Miller, L., Douglas, B.C., 2004. Mass and volume contributions to 20th century global sea level rise. Nature 428, 406–408.] which suggests that a dominant eustatic contribution is needed to explain the rate of sea level rise of the last decades observed by tide gauges, and shows that Cabanes et al. (2001) [Cabanes, C., Cazenave, A., Le Provost, C., 2001. Sea level rise during past 40 years determined from satellite and in situ observations. Science 294, 840–842.] arrived at an incorrect conclusion due to peculiarities in the gridded Levitus et al. (2000) [Levitus, S., Stephens, C., Antonov, J.I., and Boyer, T.P., 2000. Yearly and Year-Season Upper Ocean Temperature Anomaly Fields, 1948–1998. U.S. Gov. Printing Office, Washington, D.C. pp. 23.] data set.     

HD 9770, a southern active-chromosphere system

The visual triple system HD 9770 (BB Scl) has been the subject of a four-year programme of UVB ( RI )_C photometry and H α échelle spectroscopy. Analysis of the data obtained over that period shows that star B, and probably also star A, of HD 9770 is a binary. The A system comprises a K1V star, which may be in a binary system with another K dwarf. The B system is an eclipsing binary of the BY Dra type in which both stars are chromospherically active. An orbital period of 0.476 525±0.000 013 d has been derived from the light curve in V . Physical parameters derived from analysis of the light curves in UBV ( RI )_C are presented.     

Soluble ferric iron as an effective protective agent against UV radiation: Implications for early life

Some recent MER Rover Opportunity results on ancient sedimentary rocks from Mars describe sandstones originated from the chemical weathering of olivine basalts by acidic waters [Squyres, S.W., Knoll, A.H., 2005. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 240, 1-10]. The absence of protective components in early Mars atmosphere forced any possible primordial life forms to deal with high doses of UV radiation. A similar situation occurred on the primitive Earth during the development of early life in the Archean [Berkner, L.V., Marshall, L.C., 1965. J. Atmos. Sci. 22 (3), 225-261; Kasting, J.F., 1993. Science 259, 920-926]. It is known that some cellular and/or external components can shield organisms from damaging UV radiation or quench its toxic effects [Olson, J.M., Pierson, B.K., 1986. Photosynth. Res. 9, 251-259; García-Pichel, F., 1998. Origins Life Evol. B 28, 321-347; Cockell, C., Rettberg, P., Horneck, G., Scherer, K., Stokes, M.D., 2003. Polar Biol. 26, 62-69]. The effectiveness of iron minerals for UV protection has also been reported [Phoenix, V.R., Konhauser, K.O., Adams, D.G., Bottrell, S.H., 2001. Geology 29 (9), 823-826], but nothing is known about the effect of iron in solution. Here we demonstrate the protective effect of soluble ferric iron against UV radiation on acidophilic photosynthetic microorganisms. These results offer an interesting alternative means of protection for life on the surface of early Mars and Earth, especially in light of the geochemical conditions in which the sedimentary minerals, jarosite and goethite, recently reported by the MER missions, were formed [Squyres, S.W., Arvidson, R.E., Bell III, J.F., Brückner, J., Cabrol, N.A., Calvin, W., Carr, M.H., Christensen, P.R., Clark, B.C., Crumpler, L., Des Marais, D.J., d'Uston, C., Economou, T., Farmer, J., Farrand, W., Folkner, W., Golombek, M., Gorevan, S., Grant, J.A., Greeley, R., Grotzinger, J., Haskin, L., Herkenhoff, K.E., Hviid, S., Johnson, J., Klingelhöfer, G., Knoll, A.H., Landis, G., Lemmon, M., Li, R., Madsen, M.B., Malin, M.C., McLennan, S.M., McSween, H.Y., Ming, D.W., Moersch, J., Morris, R.V., Parker, T., Rice Jr., J.W., Richter, L., Rieder, R., Sims, M., Smith, M., Smith, P., Soderblom, L.A., Sullivan, R., Wänke, H., Wdowiak, T., Wolff, M., Yen, A., 2004. Science 306, 1698-1703; Klingelhöfer, G., Morris, R.V., Bernhardt, B., Schröder, C., Rodionov, D.S., de Souza Jr., P.A., Yen, A., Gellert, R., Evlanov, E.N., Zubkov, B., Foh, J., Bonnes, U., Kankeleit, E., Gütlich, P., Ming, D.W., Renz, F., Wdowiak, T., Squyres, S.W., Arvidson, R.E., 2004. Science 306, 1740-1745].     

High resolution absorption cross section measurements of SO2 at 213 K in the wavelength region 172–240 nm

Laboratory measurements at high resolution of the absorption cross section of SO₂ at the temperature 213 K have been performed in the wavelength region 172–240 nm with a 6.65 m scanning spectrometer/spectrograph operated at an instrumental width of 0.002 nm. The measured cross sections are presented graphically in representative wavelength regions and are available throughout the region 172–240 nm at wavenumber intervals of 0.4–0.1 cm^?1 as a numerical tabulation stored on magnetic tape from the National Space Science Data Center, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, U.S.A. The measured cross sections, which are relevant to the photochemistry of planetary atmospheres, possess significantly more spectroscopic structure, and are more accurate, than previous measurements made at lower resolution.     

High resolution absorption cross-section measurements of N2O at 295–299 K in the wavelength region 170–222 nm

High resolution absorption cross-section measurements of N₂O at 295–299 K have been performed in the wavelength region 170–222 nm with a 6.65 m scanning spectrometer/spectrograph of sufficient resolution to yield cross-sections that are independent of the instrumental function. The measured cross-sections are presented graphically and are available throughout the region 44925–58955 cm^?1 at intervals of 0.1–0.2 cm^?1 as a numerical tabulation stored on magnetic tape from the National Space Science Data Center, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, U.S.A. Previously unresolved details of the banded structure which is superposed on the continuous absorption in the region 174–190 nm are observed.     

The influence of binary interactions on infrared passbands of populations

In our evolutionary population synthesis models, samples of binaries are reproduced by a ' patched ' Monte Carlo simulation and the stellar masses, integrated   J ,  H ,  K ,  L ,  L 2  and M magnitudes, mass-to-light ratios and broad colours involving infrared bands are presented for an extensive set of instantaneous-burst binary stellar populations. In addition, the fluctuations in the integrated colours, which have been given by Zhang et al., are reduced.
By comparing the results for binary stellar populations with (Model A) and without (Model B) binary interactions, we show that the inclusion of binary interactions makes the stellar mass of a binary stellar population smaller (  ∼3.6–4.5  per cent during the past 15 Gyr), magnitudes greater (except   U , ∼ 0.18 mag  at the most), colours bluer (∼0.15 mag for   V − K   at the most) and mass-to-light ratios greater (∼0.06 for K band) except those in the U and B passbands at higher metallicities. Binary interactions make the V magnitude less sensitive to age, and R and I magnitudes more sensitive to metallicity.
Given an age, the absolute values of the differences in the stellar mass, magnitudes and mass-to-light ratios (except those in the U and B bands) between Models A and B reach a maximum at   Z = 0.0001  , i.e. the effects of binary interactions on these parameters reach a maximum, while the differences in some colours reach a maximum at   Z ∼ 0.01–0.0004  . In contrast, the absolute value of the difference in the stellar mass is minimal at   Z = 0.03  ; those in the   U ,  B ,  V   magnitudes and the mass-to-light ratios in the U and B bands reach a minimum at   Z ∼ 0.01–0.004  .     

The structure of Titan’s atmosphere from Cassini radio occultations

We present results from the two radio occultations of the Cassini spacecraft by Titan in 2006, which probed mid-southern latitudes. Three of the ingress and egress soundings occurred within a narrow latitude range, 31-34°S near the surface, and the fourth at 52.8°S. Temperature-altitude profiles for all four occultation soundings are presented, and compared with the results of the Voyager 1 radio occultation (Lindal, G.F., Wood, G.E., Hotz, H.B., Sweetnam, D.N., Eshleman, V.R., Tyler, G.L. [1983]. Icarus 53, 348-363), the HASI instrument on the Huygens descent probe (Fulchignoni, M. et al. [2005]. Nature 438, 785-791), and Cassini CIRS results (Flasar, F.M. et al. [2005]. Science 308, 975-978; Achterberg, R.K., Conrath, B.J., Gierasch, P.J., Flasar, F.M., Nixon, C.A. [2008b]. Icarus 194, 263-277). Sources of error in the retrieved temperature-altitude profiles are also discussed, and a major contribution is from spacecraft velocity errors in the reconstructed ephemeris. These can be reduced by using CIRS data at 300 km to make along-track adjustments of the spacecraft timing. The occultation soundings indicate that the temperatures just above the surface at 31-34°S are about 93 K, while that at 53°S is about 1 K colder. At the tropopause, the temperatures at the lower latitudes are all about 70 K, while the 53°S profile is again 1 K colder. The temperature lapse rate in the lowest 2 km for the two ingress (dawn) profiles at 31 and 33°S lie along a dry adiabat except within ∼200 m of the surface, where a small stable inversion occurs. This could be explained by turbulent mixing with low viscosity near the surface. The egress profile near 34°S shows a more complex structure in the lowest 2 km, while the egress profile at 53°S is more stable.     

The almost contact system RU Eridani

TheV andB light curves of the eclipsing binary RU Eridani, published by Sarma and Sanwal (1981), have been analysed by means of the Wilson and Devinney (1971) method, in order to obtain a solution based on the Roche model, as distinct from the Russell and Merrill model, used by Sarma and Sanwal. The system turns out to consist of an evolved K1 secondary which appears to fill the lobe, capable of containing its mass, and of an F0 V primary, which seems almost to fill its own. An estimate of the absolute elements of RU Eri has been made, on the assumption that the primary has a mass corresponding to its spectral type according to Allen (1973).     

Is V899 Herculis an unsolved quadruple system containing double close binary stars?

Orbital period variation of the W UMa-type eclipsing binary, V899 Herculis, discovered by the Hipparcos satellite was investigated based on all available photoelectric and CCD times of light minimum. It is discovered that the orbital period of the binary shows a cyclic change with an amplitude of 0.0117 days. The cyclic period change can be explained as the light-travel time orbit of a tertiary component in the system, which is in agreement with the spectroscopic result obtained by Lu et al. [Lu, W., Rucinski, S.M., Ogloza, W., 2001. AJ 122, 402] who found that the system, of which V899 Herculis is a fainter component (B), is a triple, even quadruple and with the photometric result obtained by Özdemir et al. [Özdemir, S., Demircan, O., Erdem, A., Cicek, C., Bulut, I., Soydugan, E., Soydugan, F., 2002. A&A 387, 240] who reported a large amount of third light (L₃ ∼ 0.68) of the system. The third body (A) rotates around the eclipsing pair in a period of 3.7 years. Lu et al. [Lu, W., Rucinski, S.M., Ogloza, W., 2001. AJ 122, 402] reported that the tertiary component is F5-type main-sequence star. However, the present analysis shows that the mass of the third component is no less than 2.8 M_⊙, which is larger than the mass of an F5-type main-sequence star suggesting that the tertiary component may be a non-eclipsing close binary. Therefore, the system may be a possible unsolved quadruple system containing double close binary stars. It is a good astrophysical laboratory to study the formation and evolution of binary and multiple system. The timescale for the formation of the G-type overcontact binary (V899 Herculis) via AML should be shorter than the main-sequence time of an F5-type star.     

An improved measurement of a spectrogram of a ‘gap’

A spectrogram of the 5250 Å region previously obtained during a period of excellent seeing has been remeasured and calibrated by reference to the preliminary KPNO photometric atlas. This analysis, using the logarithm of opacitance instead of an H-D plot, has reduced some of the effects of scattered light and shows greater facular line contrast.Visiting Scientist, Kitt Peak National Observatory Tucson, Ariz. 85726, U.S.A., which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under contract with the National Science Foundation.     

Appearance of Saturn’s F ring azimuthal channels for the anti-alignment configuration between the ring and Prometheus

In this article we explore the aspect of the F ring with respect to the anti-alignment configuration between the ring and Prometheus. We focus our attention on the shape of the F ring’s azimuthal channels which were first reported by Porco et al. (Porco, C.C., Baker, E., Barbara, J., Beurle, K., Brahic, A., Burns, J.A., Charnoz, S., Cooper, N., Dawson, D.D., Del Genio, A.D., Denk, T., Dones, L., Dyudina, U., Evans, M.W., Giese, B., Grazier, K., Helfenstein, P., Ingersoll, A.P., Jacobson, R.A., Johnson, T.V., McEwen, A., Murray, C.D., Neukum, G., Owen, W.M., Perry, J., Roatsch, T., Spitale, J., Squyres, S., Thomas, P., Tiscareno, M., Turtle, E., Vasavada, A.R., Veverka, J., Wagner, R., West, R. [2005] Science, 307, 1226-1236) and numerically explored by Murray et al. (Murray, C.D., Chavez, C., Beurle, K., Cooper, N., Evans, M.W., Burns, J.A., Porco, C.C. [2005] Nature 437, 1326-1329) who found excellent agreement between Cassini’s ISS reprojected images and their numerical model via a direct comparison. We find that for anti-alignment the channels are wider and go deeper inside the ring material. From our numerical model we find a new feature, an island in the middle of the channel. This island is made up of the particles that have been perturbed the most by Prometheus and only appears when this satellite is close to apoapsis. In addition, plots of the anti-alignment configuration for different orbital stages of Prometheus are obtained and discussed here.     

Iowa catalog of solar X-ray flux (2–12 Å)

The absolute X-ray flux from the whole disc of the sun in the wave length range 2 to 12 Å has been observed for a prolonged period by University of Iowa equipment on the earth-orbiting satellite Explorer 33 and the moon-orbiting satellite Explorer 35, both of the Goddard Space Flight Center of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The observations are continuing at the date of writing (July 1969). A comprehensive catalog of the flux F (2–12 Å) is being produced. The observational technique and the scheme of reducing data are described herein. Sample tabulations and plots are given. A catalog of tabular and graphical data with a time resolution of either 81.8 or 163.6 sec has been completed for the following periods: From Explorer 33: 2 July 1966 to 27 July 1967 From Explorer 35: 26 July 1967 to 18 September 1968 These blocks of data have been delivered to the National Space Science Data Center National Aeronautics and Space Administration Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, U.S.A. and made available through that agency to interested workers in solar and ionospheric physics. Further blocks of data will be made available as they are completed. An abridged summary of principal flares is published in the monthly Solar-Geophysical Data of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Environmental Science Services Administration.     

A model of light-curve synthesizing for dwarf novae and the analysis of the OY Car observations by application of the inverse-problem method

The paper contains a model synthesizing the light curves of novae and novae-like stars, as well as of active close binaries (CB) in the phase of an intensive matter exchange between the components with accretion onto a white dwarf. The model considers the radial and azimuthal temperature distributions in the disk enabling a successful interpretation of asymmetrically deformed light curves characteristic for these systems. The analysis of the observed light curves is performed by using the inverse-problem method (Djuraevi, 1992b) adapted to this model. In the particular case the parameters for the dwarf-novaOY Car are estimated on the basis of the U and B observations (Woodet al., 1989).The synthetic light curves obtained through the inverse-problem solving, as a whole, fit the observations well which indicates that it is possible to estimate the system parameters on the basis of the model proposed here.The obtained results indicate a complex hot-spot structure approximated in the model with two components—a central part and a surrounding spot larger in size. The central hot-spot part (temperature about 10000 K is surrounded asymmetrically by the larger spot lower in temperature (about 7000 K). The radiation of the central hot spot is beamed forward by about 20°. The angular size of the hot-spot central part is about 5°, the centre longitude is 322°, whereas for the surrounding spot the size is about 33° and the longitude of the centre about 300°.For the mass ratio of the componentsq=0.102 one finds for the orbit inclination about 83°.8. The analysis shows that the disk radius is about 51% of the corresponding Roche lobe radius.Based on the U and B light curves the quiescent disk-edge temperature is estimated to about 5500 K (U), i.e. 4400 K (B). The disk-radial-temperature profile is much flatter than in the steady-state-approximation case. Beginning from the edge towards the disk centre the temperature slowly increases attaining about 7200 K (U), i.e. 5700 K (B) near the white dwarf. The differences in the solutions for the U and B light curves can be due to deviations in the disk radiation from the black-body approximation assumed in the present model. Expressed in the units of the distance between the component centres [D=1] the disk size is estimated to about 0.304 [D=1], its thickness to 0.014 [D=1], and the white-dwarf radius to about 0.02 [D=1]. The white-dwarf temperature is about 15000 K.The obtained results are in a relatively good agreement with the system parameters estimated earlier (Woodet al., 1989). This indicates that the proposed model of the system and the corresponding inverse-problem method briefly presented here are fully applicable to the analysis of active CB light curves in this evolutionary phase. Though the model given here includes a number of approximations, it enables an independent procedure in the observational-material analysis based on the light-curve synthesis and on the application of the inverse-problem method. Results obtained by applying such an independent method can also serve as a reasonable way in testing the solutions obtained by utilising the earlier approaches.     

The supernova fragmentation model of solar system formation

We have further developed Brown's model of solar system formation. In this model, each fragment of an ejected supernova shell evolves into a separate solar system. Specifically, we have formulated the reverse-flow hypothesis that may be responsible for the inner, earthlike planets. We have written a computer program with which it is possible to calculate mass distributions within a solar nebula. We have found mass distributions similar to our solar system over a wide range of the model parameters.Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by the University of California for the U.S. Dept. of Energy under contract W-7405-ENG-36.     

On the physics of a long decay X-ray event

A long decay X-ray event (LDE) which appeared as an expanding loop system on the solar limb on 13–14 August 1973 was well observed temporally (with Skylab ATM S056 and S054 X-ray telescopes) and spectrally (with S082A XUV spectroheliograph). We summarize and supplement the extensive discussion in the literature. In addition, a one-dimensional hydrodynamic study is undertaken to investigate both increasing and decreasing phases of the event. Results indicate that the inferred temperature gradients along the loops during the heating phase are consistent with unrestricted dynamic and conductive flows along magnetic field lines. Furthermore, we conclude that it cannot be unequivocally stated that enhanced emission at the tops of loops is due to pressure gradients along the field lines. Finally, the large emission measure variations in the 10⁵–10⁶ K plasma during the event's decline may be due simply to the temperature dependence of radiative decay within a multi-loop configuration.Presently a NRC Associate at NASA/MSFC, Space Sciences Laboratory, MSFC, Ala. 35812, U.S.A.Presently at NASA/MSFC, Space Sciences Laboratory, MSFC, Ala. 35812, U.S.A.     

Possible mass distributions in the nebulae of other solar systems

The supernova shell fragmentation model of solar system formation — previously shown to be successful in describing the mass distribution of our solar system — is used to calculate the mass distributions of other solar nebulae.Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by the University of California for the U.S. Dept. of Energy under Contract W-7405-ENG-36.     

Geocentric sea-level trend estimates from GPS analyses at relevant tide gauges world-wide

The problem of correcting the tide gauge records for the vertical land motion upon which the gauges are settled has only been partially solved. At best, the analyses so far have included model corrections for one of the many processes that can affect the land stability, namely the Glacial-Isostatic Adjustment (GIA). An alternative approach is to measure (rather than to model) the rates of vertical land motion at the tide gauges by means of space geodesy. A dedicated GPS processing strategy is implemented to correct the tide gauges records, and thus to obtain a GPS-corrected set of ‘absolute’ or geocentric sea-level trends. The results show a reduced dispersion of the estimated sea-level trends after application of the GPS corrections. They reveal that the reference frame implementation is now achieved within the millimetre accuracy on a weekly basis. Regardless of the application, whether local or global, we have shown that GPS data analysis has reached the maturity to provide useful information to separate land motion from oceanic processes recorded by the tide gauges or to correct these latter. For comparison purposes, we computed the global average of sea-level change according to Douglas [Douglas, B.C., 2001. Sea level change in the era of the recording tide gauge. Int. Geophys. Ser., 75, pp. 37–64.] rules, whose estimate is 1.84 ± 0.35 mm/yr after correction for the GIA effect [Peltier, W.R., 2001. Global glacial isostatic adjustment and modern instrumental records of relative sea level history. Int. Geophys. Ser., 75, pp. 65–95.]. We obtain a value of 1.31 ± 0.30 mm/yr, a value which appears to resolve the ‘sea level enigma’ [Munk, W., 2002. Twentieth century sea level: an enigma. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 99(10), pp. 6550–6555].     

The sensitivity of ECHAM4/ML to a double CO2 scenario for the Late Miocene and the comparison to terrestrial proxy data

For the Tortonian, Steppuhn et al. [Steppuhn, A., Micheels, A., Geiger, G., Mosbrugger, V., 2006. Reconstructing the Late Miocene climate and oceanic heat flux using the AGCM ECHAM4 coupled to a mixed-layer ocean model with adjusted flux correction. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 238, 399–423] perform a model simulation which considers a generally lower palaeorography, a weaker ocean heat transport and an atmospheric CO₂ concentration of 353 ppm. The Tortonian simulation of Steppuhn et al. [Steppuhn, A., Micheels, A., Geiger, G., Mosbrugger, V., 2006. Reconstructing the Late Miocene climate and oceanic heat flux using the AGCM ECHAM4 coupled to a mixed-layer ocean model with adjusted flux correction. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 238, 399–423] demonstrates some realistic trends: the high latitudes are warmer than today and the meridional temperature gradient is reduced. However, the Tortonian run also indicates some insufficiencies such as too cool mid-latitudes which can be due to an underestimated pCO₂ in the atmosphere. As a sensitivity study, we perform a further model experiment for which we additionally increase the atmospheric carbon dioxide (700 ppm). According to this CO₂ sensitivity experiment, we find a global warming and a globally more intense water cycle as compared to the previous Tortonian run. Particularly the high latitudes are warmer in the Tortonian CO₂ sensitivity run which leads to a lower amount of Arctic sea ice and a reduced equator-to-pole temperature difference. Our Tortonian CO₂ sensitivity study basically agrees with results from recent climate model experiments which consider an increase of CO₂ during the next century (e.g. [Cubasch, U., Meehl, G.A., Boer, G.J., Stouffer, R.J., Dix, M., Noda, A., Senior, C.A., Raper, S., Yap, K.S., 2001. Projections of Future Climate Change. In: Houghton, J.T., Y. Ding, D.J. Griggs, M. Noguer, P.J. van der Linden, X. Dai, K. Maskell, C.A. Johnson (eds.), Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 525–582]) suggesting that the climatic response on a higher atmospheric CO₂ concentration is almost independent from the different settings of boundary conditions (Tortonian versus today). To validate the Tortonian model simulations, we perform a quantitative comparison with terrestrial proxy data. This comparison demonstrates that the Tortonian CO₂ sensitivity experiment tends to be more realistic than the previous Tortonian simulation by Steppuhn et al. [Steppuhn, A., Micheels, A., Geiger, G., Mosbrugger, V., 2006. Reconstructing the Late Miocene climate and oceanic heat flux using the AGCM ECHAM4 coupled to a mixed-layer ocean model with adjusted flux correction. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 238, 399–423]. However, a high carbon dioxide concentration of 700 ppm is questionable for the Late Miocene, and it cannot explain shortcomings of our Tortonian run with ‘normal’ CO₂. In order to fully understand the Late Miocene climate, further model experiments should also consider the palaeovegetation.     

Photometric and spectroscopic study of nova Cassiopeiae 1995 (V723 Cas)

We report an 11-year long series of U BV RI observations and the results of our monitoring of the classical slow nova V723 Cas. We analyze the spectra of this star taken using the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences with a spectral resolution of 3.5–8.5 Å during the nebular stage and at the supersoft X-ray source phase (SSS). This systemhas a large orbital inclination and its orbital period is equal to 0.693265 days. The orbital period increases. We found low-amplitude light variations with the orbital period during the early stages of the outburst and even at the pre-maximum stage. The orbital light curve at the nebular stage is asymmetric and gradually increases its amplitude up to V=2 ^m in 2006. The asymmetry of the light curve of V723 Cas can be explained by the reflection effect, eclipse of the extended accretion disk, and high rate of mass transfer in the system. The light curve of V723 Cas has developed a plateau due to the SSS phase. In the spectrum of V723 Cas the transition to the SSS phase shows up in an order-of-magnitude increase of the flux of the [Fe X] λ 6374 Å emission, which forms in the expanding envelope. In addition, narrow emission lines λ 6466.4 Å (O V) and λ 6500.5 Å (Fe XVII) also emerged in the spectrum.     

Spectroscopic observations of the classical symbiotic star V1413 AQL at the phase of its transition to quiescence

We present the results of our spectroscopic and photometric observations of the classical symbiotic star V1413 Aql in 2003–2007, which cover the transition phase of its hot component from activity to quiescence. Various quiescence criteria for the hot component of the system are analyzed. Judging by its photometric characteristics, the system had not yet returned to quiescence by 2007, although a fairly strong He II λ4686 Å line observed previously during quiescence in 1993 appeared in its spectrum. We model the continuum energy distribution for V1413 Aql based on a standard three-component model and a model with an accretion disk. Analysis of the forbidden [O III] and [Ne III] lines shows that the neon abundance in V1413 Aql may be enhanced with respect to the oxygen abundance. The cool component of V1413 Aql has been found to be a variable M5-type red giant, with the variability amplitude at λ = 7500 Å being at least 2 ^m .