Diurnal and Seasonal Trends in Convective Mixed-Layer Heights Estimated from Two Years of Continuous Ceilometer Observations in Vancouver,BC

Twenty-six months of continuous ceilometer data are used to estimate the convective mixed-layer height for 710 days by identifying backscatter gradients associated with the entrainment zone. To accomplish this, a semi-automatic procedure is developed that removes all non-applicable data before applying a mixed-layer height algorithm to the backscatter profiles. Two different algorithms for estimating the mixed-layer height are assessed: the minimum-gradient method and the ideal-profile method. The latter of these two algorithms is found to be more robust. Comparisons of mixed-layer height values estimated from the ceilometer agree with previous observations with slightly higher estimates in the mornings and evenings. For clear days with no cumulus cloud formation, the seasonal cycle in mixed-layer heights peaks in late June to early July. Daily maximum values are suppressed by the site’s coastal location, remaining below 800 m for all but a few days. The mean daily maximum mixed-layer height increases by 384 m for days with boundary-layer clouds. The mean summer diurnal trend is found not to differ greatly from that in spring on clear days, while days with boundary-layer clouds have higher spring values than in summer. Net surface heat flux and synoptic stability likely have the largest influence on the mixed-layer heights. Additionally, large intra-monthly variability suggests a strong influence from regional dynamics.     

The signature of dark energy on the local Hubble flow

Using N -body simulations of flat, dark energy-dominated cosmologies, we show that galaxies around simulated binary systems resembling the Local Group (LG) have low peculiar velocities, in good agreement with observational data. We have compared results for LG-like systems selected from large, high-resolution simulations of three cosmologies: a ΛCDM model, a ΛWDM model with a 2-keV warm dark matter candidate, and a quintessence (QCDM) model with an equation-of-state parameter   w =−0.6  . The Hubble flow is significantly colder around LGs selected in a flat, Λ-dominated cosmology than around LGs in open or critical models, showing that a dark energy component manifests itself on the scales of nearby galaxies, cooling galaxy peculiar motions. Flows in the ΛWDM and QCDM models are marginally colder than in the ΛCDM one.
The results of our simulations have been compared to existing data and to a new data set of 28 nearby galaxies with robust distance measures (Cepheids and surface brightness fluctuations). The measured line-of-sight velocity dispersion is given by  σ_H= (88 ± 20  km s⁻¹) × ( R /7 Mpc)  . The best agreement with observations is found for LGs selected in the ΛCDM cosmology in environments with  −0.1 < δρ/ρ < 0.6  on scales of 7 Mpc, in agreement with existing observational estimates on the local matter density. These results provide new, independent evidence for the presence of dark energy on scales of a few megaparsecs, corroborating the evidence gathered from observations of distant objects and the early Universe.     

The migration history of the Nazca Ridge along the Peruvian active margin: a re-evaluation

The collision zone of the 200 km wide and 1.5 km high Nazca Ridge and the Peruvian segment of the convergent South American margin between 14°S and 17°S is characterized by deformation of the upper plate and several hundred meters of uplift of the forearc. This is evident by a narrowing of the shelf, a westward shift of the coastline and the presence of marine terraces. As the Nazca Ridge is oblique with respect to both trench and convergence direction of the Nazca Plate, it migrates southward along the active plate boundary. For reconstructing the migration history of the Nazca Ridge, this study uses updated plate motion data, resulting from a revision of the geomagnetic time scale. The new model suggests that the ridge crest moved laterally parallel to the margin at a decreasing velocity of ∼75 mm/a (before 10.8 Ma), ∼61 mm/a (10.8-4.9 Ma), and ∼43 mm/a (4.9 Ma to present). Intra-plate deformation associated with mountain building in the Peruvian Andes since the Miocene reduces the relative convergence rate between Nazca Plate and Peruvian forearc. Taking an intra-plate deformation at a rate of ∼10 mm/a, estimated from space-geodetic and geological data, into account, does not significantly reduce these lateral migration velocities. Constraining the length of the original Nazca Ridge by its conjugate feature on the Pacific Plate yields a length of 900 km for the subducted portion of the ridge. Using this constraint, ridge subduction began ∼11.2 Ma ago at 11°S. Therefore, the Nazca Ridge did not affect the northern sites of Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 112 located at 9°S. This is supported by benthic foraminiferal assemblages in ODP Leg 112 cores, indicating more than 1000 m of subsidence since at least Middle Miocene time, and by continuous shale deposition on the shelf from 18 to 7 Ma, recorded in the Ballena industrial well. At 11.5°S, the model predicts the passage of the ridge crest ∼9.5 Ma ago. This agrees with the sedimentary facies and benthic foraminiferal stratigraphy of ODP Leg 112 cores, which argue for deposition on the shelf in the Middle and Late Miocene with subsequent subsidence of a minimum of several hundred meters. Onshore at 12°S, the sedimentary record shows at least 500 m uplift prior to the end of the Miocene, also in agreement with the model.     

Analysis of fluoride in rocks and an application to exploration

The fluoride^* content of rocks can be measured using a selective ion electrode. Analyses were made using a sodium hydroxide fusion and ammonium citrate buffer and measurements can be compared to standard or can be made by standard addition using the Gran's Plot method. The Gran's Plot method yields fluoride values in agreement with known values for standard rocks. Values obtained by these two methods vary sympathetically. Furthermore, whole rock fluoride values vary sympathetically with water-leachable fluoride values, which permits use of simpler, less expensive methods for field exploration purposes. Application of these procedures to an area of tin mineralization indicates that easily distinguishable anomalous fluoride values for water leach and total fluoride in rocks are associated with areas of tin mineralization.     

Solar Image Restoration By Use Of Multi-frame Blind De-convolution With Multiple Objects And Phase Diversity

An extension of Joint Phase Diverse Speckle image restoration is presented. Multiple realizations of multiple objects having known wavefront relations with each other can now be restored jointly. As the alignment of the imaging setup does not change, near-perfect alignment can be achieved between different objects, thus greatly reducing false signals in the determination of derived quantities, such as magnetograms, Dopplergrams, etc. The method was implemented in C++ as an image restoration server, to which worker clients can connect and disconnect randomly, so that a large number of CPUs can be used to speed up the restorations. We present a number of examples of applications of the restoration method to observations obtained with the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope on La Palma.     

International study onArtemia. LI. New survey ofArtemia resources in the People's Republic of China

We have surveyed 7 inland salt lakes and 14 coastal saltworks in the People's Republic of China (P. R. China) which are natural habitats for the brine shrimpArtemia. We report here on the location of the lakes, the mode of reproduction of theArtemia and the opportunities for achieving self sufficiency in cyst production for use in the local aquaculture industry. Because of frequent misunderstandings regarding the identification of a specific habitat, a new identification system for each population is proposed, using a numerical code which identifies the province, the habitat and the date of collection. Information of newArtemia populations is included as well as data on their reproduction mode.International interdisciplinary study onArtemia populations coordinated by the Laboratory of Aquaculture &Artemia Reference Center, University of Ghent, Belgium.     

Post-Variscan sedimentary record of the SW margin of the Bohemian massif: a review

The late-Palaeozoic to Cenozoic stratigraphic and structural record of the southwestern margin of the Bohemian massif and its extension beneath the southward adjacent Molasse basin shows that it is controlled by a system of basement-involving faults which came into evidence during Stephanian– Autunian times and which were subsequently repeatedly reactivated. Thick Permo-Carboniferous clastics accumulated in fault-bounded transtensional basins aligned with the southwestern Bohemian border zone (SWBBZ). Following late-Autunian deformation of these basins, the SWBBZ was overstepped by late-Permian to Late Jurassic platform sediments, reflecting tectonic stability. During the Early Cretaceous the SWBBZ was strongly reactivated, causing disruption and erosion of its Mesozoic sedimentary cover. Sedimentation resumed in the area of the SWBBZ during late Early and Late Cretaceous with clastic influx from the Bohemian massif reflecting gradually increasing tectonic activity along the SWBBZ. During the Late Senonian and Paleocene transpressional deformations resulted in upthrusting of major basement blocks. In the Molasse basin such structures are sealed by transgressive Late Eocene marine strata. Mio-Pliocene uplift of the Bohemian massif, involving mild reactivation of the SWBBZ, is related to the development of the volcano-tectonic Eger zone. The structural configuration of the SWBBZ is largely the result of Late Senonian–Paleocene compressional intraplate tectonics which play a major role in the structural framework of the northern Alpine and Carpathian foreland.     

A search for OB stars in supernova remnants

A massive binary, in which the primary becomes a supernova, should leave a luminous secondary near the centre of its remnant. Contrary to expectation no statistically significant excess of OB stars is, however, found near the centres of optically visible galactic supernova remnants.     

Paleolimnological evidence for increased landslide activity due to forest clearing and land-use since 3600 cal BP in the western Swiss Alps

Schwarzsee is located in the western Swiss Alps, in a region that has been affected by numerous landslides during the Holocene, as evidenced by geological surveys. Lacustrine sediments were cored to a depth of 13 m. The vegetation history of the lake's catchment was reconstructed and investigated to identify possible impacts on slope stability. The pollen analyses record development of forest cover during the middle and late Holocene, and provide strong evidence for regional anthropogenic influence such as forest clearing and agricultural activity. Vegetation change is characterized by continuous landscape denudation that begins at ca. 4300 cal. yrs BP, with five distinct pulses of increased deforestation, at 3650, 2700, 1500, 900, and 450 cal. yrs BP. Each pulse can be attributed to increased human impact, recorded by the appearance or increase of specific anthropogenic indicator plant taxa. These periods of intensified deforestation also appear to be correlated with increased landslide activity in the lake's catchment and increased turbidite frequency in the sediment record. Therefore, this study gives new evidence for a strong influence of vegetation changes on slope stability during the middle and late Holocene in the western Swiss Alps, and may be used as a case study for anthropogenically induced landslide activity.     

Theoretical pv-magnitude calibrating curves for deep foci

Summary The theoretical medium period PV-magnitude calibrating curves were computed for the Earth model PREM and a wide range of focal depths. The calculated set of curves reflects the distribution of model parameters, the influence of source radiation was not taken into account. The widely used Gutenberg's empirical calibrating curves were compared with the theoretical ones. Pronounced deviations in the shape and differences in the level of isolines were found. Thus, if model PREM is considered to be representative of the Earth's structure, the empirical calibrating curves (D, h) for magnitude determination currently used in seismological practice, have to be verified.

---

auma mmuu au u u ¶rt; n¶rt;u aum¶rt; - n ¶rt;nu¶rt; annaam ¶rt; ¶rt;u u RE u ¶rt;uanau aa. uu maam an¶rt;u naam ¶rt;u ma uu u umua. u nu nuuu au u ma u a mmuuu uu. u a¶rt; mu auu n u u. au a, u num ¶rt; RE n¶rt;maum ¶rt; mu u, m ¶rt;u num nuuu au u (D, h) ¶rt; n¶rt;u aum¶rt;, m am unm u namu.