Correction to: Atmospheric Turbulence Measurements at a Coastal Zone with and without Fog

Boundary-Layer Meteorology -     

An Evaluation of the Flux–Gradient Relationship in the Stable Boundary Layer

Data collected during the SHEBA and CASES-99 field programs are employed to examine the flux–gradient relationship for wind speed and temperature in the stably stratified boundary layer. The gradient-based and flux-based similarity functions are assessed in terms of the Richardson number Ri and the stability parameter z/Λ_*, z being height and Λ_* the local Obukhov length. The resulting functions are expressed in an analytical form, which is essentially unaffected by self-correlation, when thermal stratification is strong. Turbulence within the stably stratified boundary layer is classified into four regimes: “nearly-neutral” (0 < z/Λ_* < 0.02), “weakly-stable” (0.02 < z/Λ_* < 0.6), “very-stable” (0.6 < z/Λ_* < 50), and “extremely-stable” (z/Λ_* > 50). The flux-based similarity functions for gradients are constant in “nearly-neutral” conditions. In the “very-stable” regime, the dimensionless gradients are exponential, and proportional to (z/Λ_*)^3/5. The existence of scaling laws in “extremely-stable” conditions is doubtful. The Prandtl number Pr decreases from 0.9 in nearly-neutral conditions and to about 0.7 in the very-stable regime. The necessary condition for the presence of steady-state turbulence is Ri < 0.7.     

On the nature of the junction zone between the Vienna and Pannonian sedimentary basins

The results of long-term (2001–2009) measurements of fractures in sedimentary rocks of the Badenian and Pannonian age within the Rust-Fertorakos Highland and adjacent areas are presented and interpreted in terms of paleostresses in the study. The Rust-Fertorakos Highland has a nearly north-south trending strike and separates the Vienna and Pannonian Basins. It is expressed not only in the topography but also in the thickness of the sedimentary cover. Faults in the basement of the Rust-Fertorakos Highland have a nearly north-south strike diagonal to the general NE-SW strike of the faults of the basement of the Vienna Basin. The data of measurements of joints made in quarries and on road slopes that were subsequently computer processed using two independent techniques indicate that, along with joint systems, which are orthogonal to the rock bedding and are of a primary lithogenetic origin, joints joining to form systems obliquely oriented to the bedding are quite common in the region. These secondary joint systems have been formed at later stages of development of already lithified rocks under the influence of tectonic paleostresses. Interpreting pairs of secondary systems as conjugated shear joints, the authors have reconstructed the orientations of the axes of the relevant tectonic paleostresses. At some observation points, the identification of conjugated shear systems has been ambiguous. In these cases, two possible solutions for the paleostress axes have been drawn. Despite some ambiguities, all of the solutions obtained have a steady tendency in terms of the orientation of the minimum compression axis T ₃. This axis is subhorizontal and is oriented nearly east-west with some variation. The maximum compression axis T ₁ and the intermediate principal stress axis T ₂ are normally inclined to the horizontal, and the orientation of these axes depends on the observation point.     

Near-Surface Vertical Flux Divergence in the Stable Boundary Layer

Flow in the stable boundary layer is examined at four contrasting sites with greater upwind surface roughness. The surface heterogeneity is disorganized and in some cases weak as commonly occurs. With low wind speeds, the vertical divergence (or convergence) of the momentum and heat fluxes can be large near the surface in what is normally assumed to be the surface layer where such divergence is neglected. For the two most heterogeneous sites, a shallow “new” boundary layer is captured by the tower observations, analogous to an internal boundary layer but more complex. Above the new boundary layer, the magnitudes of the downward fluxes of heat and momentum increase with height in a transition layer, reach a maximum, and then decrease with height in an overlying regional boundary layer. Similar structure is observed at the site with rolling terrain where the shallow new boundary layer at the surface is identified as cold-air drainage generated by the local slope above which the flow undergoes transition to an overlying regional flow. Significant flux divergence near the surface is generated even over an ice floe for low wind speeds and in a shallow Ekman layer that forms during the polar night. For higher wind speeds, the magnitude of the downward fluxes decreases gradually with height at all levels as in a traditional boundary layer.     

Effect of Single-Phase Oxidation of Titanomagnetite in Basalts on the Determination of Intensity and Direction of Paleomagnetic Field

Izvestiya, Physics of the Solid Earth - Abstract—We present the results of studying the effect of laboratory oxidation of titanomagnetite in P72/4 basalt from the Red Sea rift zone, which...     

Free convection frequency spectra of atmospheric turbulence over the sea

Frequency spectra of atmospheric turbulenceS (f) in the inertial subrange are considered in the free convection regime over the sea surface in a case of motionless instrument measurements (Eulerian frequency spectra). The frequency spectra formulaef _* S (f)/ ² =c (f _*/f)^5/3 for wind velocity (=1–3), temperature (=t) and humidity (=e) fluctuations are derived on the basis of similarity theory and the –5/3 law. These relations also can be derived from a consideration of convective large-scale advection of small eddies. The frequency scalef _* = (N ^{1 2}/)^1/2 (H/z ²)^1/3 is the lower bound of the inertial subrange and it is of order 10^–2 Hz.The spectra formulae are compared with direct measurements of atmospheric turbulence from the fixed research tower in the coastal zone of the Black Sea in calm weather. It is shown that these formulae are realized at least over two to three decades of the frequency range (approximately from 10^–2 to 10 Hz) and values of the numerical coefficients are found. The derived formulae can be used for calculations of sensible and latent heat fluxes by measuring the high-frequency range of spectra at a fixed point at low wind speeds when the conventional inertial dissipation method is not applicable.     

Quantitative Analysis of Samples of Natural Hydrocarbon Reservoirs by the Methods of Integral Geometry and Topology

Izvestiya, Physics of the Solid Earth - Abstract—The paper addresses quantitative analysis of three-dimensional (3D) porous media (natural hydrocarbon reservoirs) based on topological...     

Polarization of Cosmic Microwave Backgdound Scattered by Moving Flat Protoobjects

The work is devoted to the investigations of possible observational manifestations of protoobjects related to the dark ages epoch (10 < z < 1000), before formation of self-luminous galaxies and stars. These objects can distort the cosmic microwave background. Formation of these objects is described in the pancake theory and in the model of hierarchic clustering. According to these theories we may consider these protoobjects as flat layers. We consider both Thomson (with Rayleigh phase matrix) and resonance (for complete frequency redistribution) scattering of cosmic microwave background radiation by a moving flat layer. The resulting anisotropy and polarization of cosmic microwave radiation are calculated for a wide range of layer optical thickness (from an optically thin layer to an optically thick one). Analytical solutions are also obtained for the case of an optically thin layer and are compared with the numerical ones.