Spatial and temporal variation of sunshine in the Federal Republic of Germany

Summary The annual amount of sunshine during the 37-year period from 1951 through 1987 has been analyzed for 54 stations in the Federal Republic of Germany. Sunshine generally decreased during this period over the eastern half of the country and in the central German hills. For some stations, the loss amounts to more than 300 hours per year, more than 18% of total received sunshine. Mountain tops in the central German hills show the greatest decline; this may result from increased cyclonic episodes over Central Europe. The decrease in sunshine over central and northeastern Germany was not accompanied by increased precipitation, or by number of days of precipitation.With 5 Figures     

Economic and climatic factors in ‘acreage abandonment’ over marginal cropland

Crop yield projections made at planting time or during the growing season often ignore the fact that an unknown percentage of planted acreage is not harvested. As a solution, we present a model for 'acreage abandonment, based upon both economic and weather variables. Weather is shown to be a much more important determinant of the decision not to harvest than is the expected price. The explained variance in abandonment of spring wheat acreage by future delivery price is approximately 16%, but rises to over 60% when weather variables are added. In a similarly designed model for winter wheat in the southern plains, the price contribution is less than 5%.The spring wheat model was tested on two extensive sets of withheld data: three-year successive deletions through the entire (1932–1975) data set, and a ten year block at the beginning of the modelling period that included substantial weather and price perturbations induced by the dust bowl, depression, and attendant market gyrations. Predictive capability was retained in both tests.Current weather appears to weigh more heavily in the abandonment decision than does future price.     

The response of the ‘green revolution’ to climatic variability

The purpose of this research is to assess the climatic sensitivity of high yielding variety (‘HYV’) ‘green revolution’ wheat. Improved multiple regression models were constructed for yields in India and Sonora, Mexico — the two most intensively planted regions in the world. After isolating the most important climatic predictors (which, not surprisingly, are total rainfall over the irrigation basins), the models were reduced to the pre-HYV period, and then re-run with successively more years of HYV input. This test indicated that increased adoption of the HYV package is associated with a significant increase in yield sensitivity to the most important climatic determinants of yield. To serve as a control, the U.S. Winter Wheat region was also modelled with a similar method. Overall, there is no significant increase in yield sensitivity to climate during the same period that HYV's were adopted in Mexico and India. Assuming that there is no change in overall climatic variability, this study indicates that production will nonetheless become more variable, particularly as HYV culture is expanded. Ironically, countries with rapidly expanding populations, that rely increasingly on HYV's, will experience the most significant fluctuations.     

Genesis and diagnostic value of soft-sediment deformation structures—A review

Soft-sediment deformation structures are recognized as important diagnostic features in the rock record for determination of depositional environments and slope processes. The diagnostic value of these structures is reevaluated by analysis of the parameters controlling sediment deformation. Soft-sediment deformation is contemporaneous with deposition and occurs dominantly in course silt to fine sand. The high depositional rate, low permeability and low shear strength of grains within this sediment range maximize the occurrence of deformation. The dominant mechanisms responsible for sediment deformation include: (1) liquefaction or fluidization; (2) reverse density gradation; (3) slumping or slope failure; and (4) shear stress. In most cases a combination of these mechanisms occurs. The processes function in a continuum, producing features that are microscopic to megascopic in scale. It is shown that the processes, and thus the structures, are not environment specific. The true diagnostic value of the structures may be in defining hydrodynamic conditions, and in interpreting paleocurrents and paleoclimatic and paleoseismic events. Ultimately, for the best diagnostic results, soft-sediment deformation structures should be studied in association with all other available lithologic, structural and paleontological information.     

Zur Auswertung des ebenen Dreischichtenfalles in der Reflexionsseismik durch Potenzreihenentwicklung

Zusammenfassung Ein Verfahren zur Bestimmung der im Sinne der Methode der kleinsten Quadrate bestangepassten Schichtparameter an eine gemessene Laufzeitkurve wird angegeben. Es können höchstens drei Parameter berechnet werden, die drei übrigen Parameter müssen bekannt sein. Die Brechung wird exakt berücksichtigt. Das Verfahren ist für Berechnung durch Computer geeignet. Einfache Formeln gestatten eine angenäherte Bestimmung der unbekannten Parameter.

---

Summary A procedure for determining the best fitted parameters of a three layer case to a given travel time curve by the least squares method is described. At most three parameters can be calculated, the other three have to be known. Refraction is taken into account exactly. The calculations have to be made with the aid of a computer. The unknown parameters can be determined approximatively by simple formulas.