On the chemical composition of atmospheric aerosols — Part III: Trends of the total annual precipitation with respect to the chemical content of rainwater over the United States

Summary Following a recent hypothesis on the role of activated sodium chloride particles as potential nuclei of atmospheric precipitation, further analysis is made of average annual data due toC. Junge on the chemical composition of rainwater salts, and correlation of some parameters with the total amount of rainfall is attempted. It is found that the results obtained are in agreement with the proposed role of activated sodium chloride as a nucleus of a substantial part of the atmospheric precipitation.     

Mean wind-direction shear through a forest canopy

The equations of motion applying to the wind field in a forest canopy are simplified to a balance between the shearing stress gradient and either the form-drag of the leaves in the upper dense canopy, or the overall horizontal pressure gradient in the more open space beneath. The equations imply that, in descending through the forest, the stress and wind vectors turn through an angle which depends on the forest characteristics and on the stability and the speed of the airflow above the forest. The turning is roughly confirmed by an overall average measured on a very flat site near Thetford, Norfolk, covered by an extensive uniform pine forest.     

The surface wind over an upwelling area near Pisco,Peru

Harmonic analysis of longshore and onshore components of surface winds over an upwelling area off the coast of Peru shows regular, nearly sinusoidal, diurnal variations in both velocity components. Spectral analysis of wind speed also indicates strong diurnal variations in kinetic energy. The data are compatible with a recent model of coastal winds proposed by Lettau and Lettau.     

Experiments in tracing underground waters in limestones

Two experiments were conducted in the Carboniferous Limestone aquifer of the Mendip Hills, Somerset, to compare the relative merits of differing groundwater tracers. The tracers employed were lithium acetate, polyethylene powder, Lycopodium spores and the fluorescent dye Pyranine Conc.; all were introduced into the aquifer at stream sinks. The first two tracers were totally unsuccessful. In the two experiments the rates of travel of the fluorescent dye and Lycopodium spores were very similar. Only relative concentrations can be measured from the recovery of spores as opposed to absoute concentration for dye which were determined using a field continuous flow fluorometer. The quantitative dye concentration data can be used with simultaneous measurements of discharge at the spring to deduce the flow geometry of the system; the input, tributary, distributary and maximum discharges in the system and the volume of the underground conduits. Data are presented which indicate that exchange takes place between the flooded conduit, and the surrounding fissured bedrock in a manner analogous to bank storage in rivers flowing on alluvium.In conclusion fluoresent tracers are valuable for the detailed investigation of a single sink to rising system; Lycopodium spores, which can be used to trace several sinks simultaneously, are a valuable technique in exploratory tracing.     

The adjustment of intersecting chains of triangulation using a medium sized computer

Summary A method of adjusting intersecting chains of triangulation by direct elimination, using variation of coordinates, is given which is suitable for a computer of modest storage capacity (about 4000–8000 words). The network is considered to be made up of “nodes” (where two or more chains intersect) and “links” (which connect two nodes). The normal equations for the points in each link are computed, the coefficients of the unknown coordinates of the associated nodes being treated as extra right hand sides. These equations are then solved to express the coordinates of any link station in terms of the associated nodes. The process is repeated for all links. The normal equations for the nodes are then set up and substitution made for all “link” terms. The method is particularly powerful for the adjustment of a few, long, interconnected chains since the reduced normal equation coefficients are then banded about the diagonal, the semi band width being a little greater than the largest number of unknowns in the nodes along a single tie chain. For a computer of 7000 words capacity it is possible to solve for a band width of over 100 unknowns i.e. more than 50 stations.     

The response of the azimuthal component of the ionospheric electric field to auroral arc brightening

We have analyzed the response of azimuthal component of the ionospheric electric field to auroral arc activity. We have chosen for analysis three intervals of coordinated EISCAT and TV observations on 18 February, 1993. These intervals include three kinds of arc activity: the appearance of a new auroral arc, the gradual brightening of the existing arc and variations of the arc luminosity. The arcs were mostly east-west aligned. In all cases, the enhancement of arc luminosity is accompanied by a decrease in the westward component of the ionospheric electric field. In contrast, an increase of that component seems to be connected with arc fading. The observed response is assumed to have the same nature as the short circuit of an external electric field by the conductor. The possible consequence of this phenomenon is discussed.