POPCORN: A Field Study of Photochemistry in North-Eastern Germany

The intensive field study POPCORN (Photo-Oxidant Formation by Plant Emitted Compounds and OH Radicals in North-Eastern Germany) was carried out in a rural area of North-Eastern Germany during August 1994. An overview of the objectives, measurements and major results of this campaign is presented. Measurements of a set of relevant atmospheric trace compounds, including the hydroxyl radical, along with meteorological data were performed to increase the understanding of OH radical chemistry and photo-oxidant formation. Additionally, plant emissions and the exchange of trace gases between a maize field and the atmosphere were investigated. Budgets of selected trace gases were calculated to assess the relative importance of local sources, chemistry or transport. Intercomparisons between measurement techniques were a central issue of POPCORN and included measurements of OH, hydrocarbons, formaldehyde, photolysis frequencies and vertical fluxes. OH radical concentrations were measured simultaneously by LIF (Laser Induced Fluorescence) and DOAS (Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy). Both methods showed good agreement. Maximum OH concentrations were around 107 cm–3 and the diurnal cycles closely followed the rate of primary production via ozone photolysis. Generally, the trace gas composition during POPCORN was characterized by relatively low concentrations of most compounds, e.g. CO: 85–200 ppb, ethane: 0.6–2 ppb, and moderate NOx levels: 0.5–5 ppb (at noontime). Concentrations of individual biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOC) were mostly well below 100 ppt. However, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde which partly originate from biological sources were observed at mixing ratios of some ppb.     

Gaseous and Particulate Oxidized and Reduced Nitrogen Species in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer in Scandinavia in Spring

Observations of the concentration of several nitrogen containing compounds at five rural Scandinavian sites during March–June 1993 are reported. Total nitrate (NO ₃ ^- + HNO₃) and total ammonium (NH ₄ ⁺ + NH₃) were measured by denuder and filter pack. In general the methods agree well. At all sites the particulate fraction dominated, with the largest fraction of NO ₃ ^- and the lowest of NH ₄ ⁺ at the sites which were closest to the emission sources. The fraction of NO ₃ ^- of total nitrate increased with increasing NO₂ concentrations, indicating that the nighttime conversion of NO₂ to NO ₃ ^- is an important route of formation for NO ₃ ^- . A positive correlation was found between HNO₃ and O₃ in June at all sites, while no correlation was found early in the spring. Model calculations were made with a lagrangian boundary layer photooxidant model for the whole period, and compared to the measured concentrations. The calculated ratio between mean observed and modelled daily maximum concentrations of ozone over the measurement period were within +/–10% at all sites. The models ability to describe the daily ozone maximum concentration was satisfactory with an average deviation of 19–22% from the observed concentrations. HNO₃ was underestimated by over 50% at all sites except the one closest to the emission sources. The correlation between modelled and observed concentrations was generally best for the sites with shortest transport distance from the sources of emission.     

Meteorological Aspects, Ozone, and Solar Radiation Measurements During POPCORN 1994

Meteorological data, ozone mixing ratios, and photolysis frequencies for the period August 2 to August 24, 1994, are presented and discussed in support of the field campaign POPCORN (Photochemistry of Plant Emitted Compounds and OH Radicals in Northeastern Germany). Measurements of temperature, ozone, and wind speed at different heights are used to evaluate micro-meteorological parameters. The observations provide information about local influences on the air mass composition. The analysis of radio sonde data of nearby stations provides the height of the planetary boundary layer.     

Secularization in the Netherlands in its historical and geographical dimensions

The Netherlands is one of the most secularized countries in the western world. The aim of this paper is to put the secularization process in both historical and geographical perspective. As a mass process secularization started in the last quarter of the nineteenth century and accelerated from the sixties of this century onwards. The first concentrations of non-denominationalism could be found in the (Protestant) countryside of Friesland and Groningen as a consequence of profound social cleavages. Then, the big cities in the west took part in the process and more recently even the Catholic areas were affected due to the cultural revolution of the sixties and early seventies. Two counterforces were analysed: a religious revival within the Protestant community and the increasing proportion of Muslims and Hindus as a consequence of immigration and high fertility levels. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

On the formation of massive stars

We present a model for the formation of massive ( M ≳10 M⊙) stars through accretion-induced collisions in the cores of embedded dense stellar clusters. This model circumvents the problem of accreting on to a star whose luminosity is sufficient to reverse the infall of gas. Instead, the central core of the cluster accretes from the surrounding gas, thereby decreasing its radius until collisions between individual components become sufficient. These components are, in general, intermediate-mass stars that have formed through accretion on to low-mass protostars. Once a sufficiently massive star has formed to expel the remaining gas, the cluster expands in accordance with this loss of mass, halting further collisions. This process implies a critical stellar density for the formation of massive stars, and a high rate of binaries formed by tidal capture.     

Extended source effects in astrometric gravitational microlensing

Extended source size effects have been detected in photometric monitoring of gravitational microlensing events. We study similar effects in the centroid motion of an extended source lensed by a point mass. We show that the centroid motion of a source with uniform surface brightness can be obtained analytically. For a source with a circularly symmetric limb-darkening profile, the centroid motion can be expressed as a one-dimensional integral, which can be evaluated numerically. We find that when the impact parameter is comparable to the source radius, the centroid motion is significantly modified by the finite source size. In particular, when the impact parameter is smaller than the source radius, the trajectories become clover-leaf like. Such astrometric motions can be detected using space interferometers such as the Space Interferometry Mission . Such measurements offer exciting possibilities for determining stellar parameters, such as stellar radius, to excellent accuracy.     

Hydrodynamics and stability of galactic cooling flows

Using numerical techniques we study the global stability of cooling flows in X-ray luminous giant elliptical galaxies. As an unperturbed equilibrium state we choose the hydrostatic gas recycling model. Non-equilibrium radiative cooling, stellar mass loss, heating by type Ia supernovae, distributed mass deposition and thermal conductivity are included. Although the recycling model reproduces the basic X-ray observables, it appears to be unstable with respect to the development of inflow or outflow. In spherical symmetry the inflows are subject to a central cooling catastrophe, while the outflows saturate in a form of a subsonic galactic wind. Two-dimensional axisymmetric random velocity perturbations of the equilibrium model trigger the onset of a cooling catastrophe, which develops in an essentially non-spherical way. The simulations show a patchy pattern of mass deposition and the formation of hollow gas jets, which penetrate through the outflow down to the galaxy core. The X-ray observables of such a hybrid gas flow mimic those of the equilibrium recycling model, but the gas temperature exhibits a central depression. The mass deposition rate M ˙ consists of two contributions of similar size: (i) a hydrostatic one resembling that of the equilibrium model, and (ii) a dynamical one which is related to the jets and is more concentrated towards the centre. For a model galaxy, like NGC 4472, our 2D simulations predict M ˙ ≈ 2 M⊙ yr⁻¹ within the cooling radius for the advanced non-linear stage of the instability. We discuss the implications of these results to Hα nebulae and star formation in cooling flow galaxies and emphasize the need for high-resolution 3D simulations.     

Leimavo Revisited: Agrarian Land-Use Change in the Highlands of Madagascar

Describing and explaining land-use change is of critical concern in Madagascar, where land transformations such as deforestation and resulting environmental degradation currently capture widespread attention. While the eastern rain forest recedes in the face of swidden cultivators, the highlands demonstrate more constructive transformations. In this paper I present a case study of land-use change in Leimavo, a small village near Ambositra studied in the 1960s by Jean-Pierre Raison. Here, the twentieth century has seen a gradual reduction in irrigated rice cultivation and cattle husbandry, and a boom in market-oriented orange, vegetable, and grain production. In the long term, a historical landscape of grassy hills has been transformed into a productive cultural landscape with woodlots, anti-erosion benching, rice terraces, fruit groves, and diverse crops. Critical factors determining the trajectory of land-use change include regional population pressure, state policies, market incentives, climate variations, and access to land and water resources. These critical factors, or explanations, are linked in the discussion by the use of a simple heuristic device—the range of choice—as a theoretical framework.