On spin-driven inflation from inflation fields in General Relativity and COBE data

Obukhov spin-driven inflation in general relativity is extended to include inflation fields. A de Sitter phase solution is obtained and new slow-rolling conditions for the spin potential are obtained. The spin potential reduces to Obukhov result at the present epoch of the Universe where the spin density is low with comparison to the Early Universe spin densities. A relation between the spin density energy and the temperature fluctuation can be obtained which allow us to determine the spin density energy in terms of the COBE data for temperature fluctuations.     

The solar flares of February 1986 and the ensuing intense geomagnetic storm

A very intense geomagnetic storm, the largest observed in 26 years, was observed in early February 1986 having just been preceded by a series of six solar flares during the period 3–7 February. The storm and its antecedent flares are currently a subject of great interest because of the unusually large magnitude of the various geomagnetic effects that obtained. The fact that the flares were moderate to large in soft X-ray intensity, but much smaller than the largest that the Sun is capable of producing, coupled with the fact that these events occurred near the minimum of the current solar activity cycle, adds to the uniqueness of the overall episode. This paper describes the special circumstances surrounding these events and offers an interpretation of the cause and effect relationships through a numerical simulation of the dynamical evolutionary processes that may have occurred in interplanetary space.     

Are the small active regions related to the decay of the larger ones?

According to several properties, the active regions are divided in two groups whose limit is roughly set at 10²¹ Mx. A statistical analysis indicates that the small regions emerge almost exclusively in the remnant magnetic regions, resulting from the decay of previous active centers. According to these facts, a tentative picture is proposed, where the small active regions and perhaps also the ephemeral ones, are the secondary effects after the decay of the large active regions and complexes of activity.     

THERMAP: a mid-infrared spectro-imager for space missions to small bodies in the inner solar system

We present THERMAP, a mid-infrared spectro-imager for space missions to small bodies in the inner solar system, developed in the framework of the MarcoPolo-R asteroid sample return mission. THERMAP is very well suited to characterize the surface thermal environment of a NEO and to map its surface composition. The instrument has two channels, one for imaging and one for spectroscopy: it is both a thermal camera with full 2D imaging capabilities and a slit spectrometer. THERMAP takes advantage of the recent technological developments of uncooled microbolometer arrays, sensitive in the mid-infrared spectral range. THERMAP can acquire thermal images (8–18 μm) of the surface and perform absolute temperature measurements with a precision better than 3.5 K above 200 K. THERMAP can acquire mid-infrared spectra (8–16 μm) of the surface with a spectral resolution Δλ of 0.3 μm. For surface temperatures above 350 K, spectra have a signal-to-noise ratio >60 in the spectral range 9–13 μm where most emission features occur.     

<Superscript>10</Superscript>Be surface exposure dating of the last deglaciation in the Aare Valley,Switzerland

The combined Rhone and Aare Glaciers presumably reached their last glacial maximum (LGM) extent on the Swiss Plateau prior to 24 ka. Two well-preserved, less extensive moraine stades, the Gurten and Bern Stade, document the last deglaciation of the Aare Valley, yet age constraints are very scarce. In order to establish a more robust chronology for the glacial/deglacial history of the Aare Valley, we applied ¹⁰Be surface exposure dating on eleven boulders from the Gurten and Bern Stade. Several exposure ages are of Holocene age and likely document post-depositional processes, including boulder toppling and quarrying. The remaining exposure ages, however yield oldest ages of 20.7 ± 2.2 ka for the Gurten Stade and 19.0 ± 2.0 ka for the Bern Stade. Our results are in good agreement with published chronologies from other sites in the Alps.     

Modulation of the flow structure by progressive bedforms in the Kinoshita meandering channel

An in‐house fully three‐dimensional general‐purpose finite element model is applied to solve the hydrodynamic structure in a periodic Kinoshita‐generated meandering channel. The numerical model solves the incompressible Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes equations for mass and momentum, while solving the k ? ε equations for turbulence. The free surface is described by the rigid‐lid approximation (using measured water surface data) for flat (smooth‐bed) and self‐formed (rough‐bed) conditions. The model results are compared against experimental measurements in the ‘Kinoshita channel’, where three‐dimensional flow velocities and turbulence parameters were measured. This validation was carried out for the upstream‐valley meander bend orientation under smooth (flat bed) conditions. After validation, several simulations were carried out to predict the hydrodynamics in conditions where either it was not possible to perform measurements (e.g. applicability of the laboratory acoustic instruments) and to extrapolate the model to other planform configurations. For the flat smooth‐bed case, a symmetric (no skewness) planform configuration was modeled and compared to the upstream‐skewed case. For the self‐formed rough‐bed case, prediction of the hydrodynamics during the progression of bedforms was performed. It appears that the presence of bedforms on a bend has the following effects: (i) the natural secondary flow of the bend is disrupted by the presence of the bedforms, thus depending on the location of the dune, secondary flows might differ completely from the traditional orientation; (ii) an increment on both the bed and bank shear stresses is induced, having as much as 50% more fluvial erosion, and thus a potential increment on the migration rate of the bend. Implications on sediment transport and bend morphodynamics are also discussed in the paper. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Streamflow dynamics in a Mediterranean temporary river

Abstract

Mediterranean rivers are characterized by the irregularity of flow, harsh hydrological fluctuations and a profound transformation as the result of human activity. In this study, we investigate the streamflow response of a Mediterranean temporary river in which different groundwater, agriculture and urban contributions play an important role. Streamflow was measured at three nested gauging stations installed along Na Borges River, a lowland agricultural catchment (319 km²) on the island of Mallorca. Based on two hydrological years (2004/05 and 2005/06), potential evapotranspiration and surface water–groundwater interaction generated a succession of four different hydrological periods playing an important role in baseflow dynamics. The runoff coefficients were very low (<5%). At the event scale, groundwater also controlled runoff response, being very different according to hydrogeology, antecedent conditions and human impacts. During dry seasons, wastewater and karstic spring discharges maintain an influent regime into some streams. As a result, intense rainstorms in late summer generated water volumes over the impervious urban surfaces involved, with the result that quickflow was significant because the hydrological pathways were active. Citation Estrany, J., Garcia, C. & Alberich, R. (2010 Estrany, J., Garcia, C. and Batalla, R. J. 2010. Hydrological response of a small Mediterranean agricultural catchment. J. Hydrol., 380(1-2): 180–190. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2009.10.035[Crossref] , [Google Scholar]) Streamflow dynamics in a Mediterranean temporary river. Hydrol. Sci. J. 55(5), 717–736.      

Vulnerability,pressures, and protection of karst caves and their speleothems in Ha Long Bay,Vietnam

This paper presents the results of morphological and microclimatic surveys and speleothem analyses of ten karst caves located in different isles in Ha Long Bay, a famous tourist attraction in Vietnam. Characteristically, the caves have enormous entrances, roomy interiors, but short length, typical of karst caves in tropical climates. The cave microclimate was found to be significantly dependent on the outside atmosphere and human activities. There was a clear spatial variation in macro features and fabrics of speleothems from entrance (porous, microcrystalline) to rear (solid, macrocrystalline) of the caves. Microstructure analysis with the use of an environmental scanning electron microscope shows a gradual decrease of biological activity and microclimate instability from outside to the innermost parts of the caves are the causes for this spatial variation. Past and present deterioration of caves and speleothems directly due to tourist activities and vandalism has been observed. On the other hand, there are signs of speleothem regrowth in the caves where tourism has been stopped. This study has proved that caves and their speleothems in Ha Long Bay are highly dynamic and understanding of their environment requires immediate methodological attention. Based on the analytical results, it is recommended that regulation of visitor frequency and removal of lamp-flora are necessary for sustainable development of the show caves and their speleothems.     

Recent sedimentation and sedimentary budgets on the western Iberian shelf

Thus study is based on 31 box-core samples collected mainly from the mud-patches of the Galician and North-Portuguese shelf. Each of these cores, some decimetres in length, have been described, radiographied and sampled each centimetre for grain-size analysis and measurement of the particulate organic carbon (C_org) content. ²¹⁰Pb excess profiles have been measured using gamma spectrometry, which, combined with the analysis of the vertical variations of the sedimentary facies, have allowed estimates of sedimentation rates. These rates were found to vary between 0.05 and 0.40 cm yr⁻¹. Considering the latitudinal variation of sedimentation rates around the 100m contour, we note that the maximum rates occurred off the Douro estuary in the southern sector and also near the Galician rias to the north. The organic content (C_org) of sediments varied between 0.4 and 2%. Latitudinally C_org showed a decrease from the South to the North. These results coupled with the sedimentary map (see Dias, Gonzalez, Garcia & Diaz del Rio, 2001) have permitted us to establish the detrital mass budget and an inventory of C_org burial.