Turbulence structure of a tropical forest

A detailed analysis is presented of the horizontal wind fluctuations with periods 20 s to 1 hr, and their vertical structure as measured with light three-cup anemometers in a tropical forest environment. Information collected during the TREND (Tropical Environmental Data) experiment in a monsoon dominated region, was utilized. A special attempt was made to extract information relevant for dispersion modeling. Variability parameters within and above the forest canopy under different stability conditions were derived. A similar analysis was performed for a nearby clearing, to facilitate comparison between relatively smooth and rough surfaces, under identical ambient conditions. A limited sample of data (7 days) was utilized, initially, to develop a methodology to be later applied on a comprehensive data base, spanning the whole monsoon cycle.     

Regional variability in dust‐on‐snow processes and impacts in the Upper Colorado River Basin

Dust deposition onto mountain snow cover in the Upper Colorado River Basin frequently occurs in the spring when wind speeds and dust emission peaks on the nearby Colorado Plateau. Dust loading has increased since the intensive settlement in the western USA in the mid 1880s. The effects of dust‐on‐snow have been well studied at Senator Beck Basin Study Area (SBBSA) in the San Juan Mountains, CO, the first high‐altitude area of contact for predominantly southwesterly winds transporting dust from the southern Colorado Plateau. To capture variability in dust transport from the broader Colorado Plateau and dust deposition across a larger area of the Colorado River water sources, an additional study plot was established in 2009 on Grand Mesa, 150 km to the north of SBBSA in west central, CO. Here, we compare the 4‐year (2010–2013) dust source, deposition, and radiative forcing records at Grand Mesa Study Plot (GMSP) and Swamp Angel Study Plot (SASP), SBBSA's subalpine study plot. The study plots have similar site elevations/environments and differ mainly in the amount of dust deposited and ensuing impacts. At SASP, end of year dust concentrations ranged from 0.83 mg g^?1 to 4.80 mg g^?1, and daily mean spring dust radiative forcing ranged from 50–65 W m^?2, advancing melt by 24–49 days. At GMSP, which received 1.0 mg g^?1 less dust per season on average, spring radiative forcings of 32–50 W m^?2 advanced melt by 15–30 days. Remote sensing imagery showed that observed dust events were frequently associated with dust emission from the southern Colorado Plateau. Dust from these sources generally passed south of GMSP, and back trajectory footprints modelled for observed dust events were commonly more westerly and northerly for GMSP relative to SASP. These factors suggest that although the southern Colorado Plateau contains important dust sources, dust contributions from other dust sources contribute to dust loading in this region, and likely account for the majority of dust loading at GMSP. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Clay smear processes in mechanically layered sequences — Results of water-saturated model experiments with free top surface

The aim of this study is to improve our knowledge of the processes that lead to clay smear during faulting of a layered sand-clay sequence in an analogue sandbox model. We carefully characterized mechanical properties of the materials used by a series of geotechnical tests. Displacement field was quantified using PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry). The model is water-saturated to allow the deformation of wet clay and sand in one experiment comprising a sand package with a horizontal layer of clay above a predefined rigid basement fault. The thickness and rigidity of the clay layer are the parameters varied in this study. The model shows a range of structures that are related to competence contrast between sand and different clay types. Results show ductile shearing of soft clay with a transition to brittle fracturing of stiff clay accompanied by the formation of rotating clay blocks in the fault zone. Localized deformation is observed through time showing (i) the propagation of one active fault migrating laterally through the sediment package, and (ii) the formation of a stable prism between two or more active faults that gets progressively smaller with minor rotation of the hanging wall fault. Continuous clay smear is observed resulting from the lateral injection of clay as well as from a reworked mixture of sand and clay.     

Conjoint analysis of small‐boat recreational fishers in New Zealand

Conjoint analysis is a useful technique to assist recreational managers formulate policy, and develop strategies to efficiently and effectively distribute resources. Accurate estimates of the value of natural resources remain challenging, despite the development of a number of decision analysis techniques. This recreation geography study uses conjoint analysis to examine the relative importance of attributes associated with small‐boat recreational fishing experiences and demonstrates the value of conjoint analysis as a non‐market valuation tool. We found that the choices associated with companionship are the most important factors of recreational fishing and more tangible attributes such as the quality of launch facilities and catch probability are the least important factors.     

A calculated petrogenetic grid for ultramafic rocks in the system CaO-FeO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-CO2-H2O at low pressures

Calculated phase equilibria among the minerals amphibole, chlorite, clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, olivine, dolomite, magnesite, serpentine, brucite, calcite, quartz and fluid are presented for the system CaO–FeO–MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂–CO₂–H₂O (CaF-MASCH), with chlorite and H₂O–CO₂ fluid in excess and for a temperature range of 440°C–600°C and low pressures. The minerals chosen in CaFMASCH represent the great majority of phases encountered in metamorphosed ultramafic rocks. The changes in mineral compositions in terms of FeMg_-1 and (Mg, Fe)SiAl_-1Al_-1 are related to variations in the intensive parameters. For example, equilibria at high in the presence of chlorite involve minerals which are relatively aluminous compared with those at low . The calculated invariant, univariant and divariant equilibria are compared with naturally-occurring greenschist and amphibolite facies ultramafic mineral assemblages. The correspondence of sequences of mineral assemblages and the compositions of the minerals in the assemblages is very good.     

Xenon isotopes in size separated nanodiamonds from Efremovka: Xe*, Xe-P3, and Xe-P6

Xenon isotopic data were acquired by high resolution step pyrolysis and combined step pyrolysis/combustion of aliquots of size separated nanodiamonds. ¹²⁹Xe excess (¹²⁹Xe*) from in situ decay of ¹²⁹I is preferentially associated with the larger grain size separates. This observation rules out trapping by recoil from surrounding material. The releases of Xe-P3 and ¹²⁹Xe occur in the same low temperature pyrolysis steps and exhibit similar distributions among the size separates. These observations imply a common site for the components and, in consequence, suggest a common incorporation event.Whether one component or two, our observations require that ¹²⁹Xe* and Xe-P3 were incorporated into a subpopulation of nanodiamonds before nanodiamonds were mixed and incorporated into parent bodies. Their susceptibilities to loss during heating in the laboratory are similar, but the ratio of ¹²⁹Xe* to Xe-P3 varies among nanodiamond separates from different meteorites (literature data). We conclude that the ¹²⁹Xe* we observe today was present as ¹²⁹I during parent body processing. Furthermore, the range of ¹²⁹Xe*/¹³²Xe_P3 ratios across all the separates requires that even nanodiamonds from CI chondrites were at least 5-10× more rich in Xe-P3 during ¹²⁹I decay than they are today.We present a simple model involving one degassing event per parent body between incorporation of nanodiamonds and final decay of ¹²⁹I. The observed variations among parent bodies require degassing events separated by several ¹²⁹I half lives (∼50Ma), consistent with low-temperature processing on parent bodies but longer than expected for nebular processing. In this model, nanodiamonds from ALHA77307 degassed at an unusually early stage, suggesting they alone may retain the signature of processing in the nebula in their P3 and ¹²⁹Xe* abundances.The isotopic signature associated with Xe-P6 is also found only in the larger size separates. Concentration of Xe-HL increases with increasing grain size, but its relative abundance with respect to Xe-P3 and P6 is higher in smaller grain-size fractions. We argue that Xe-P6 is best seen as a variant of Xe-HL, and that they are both mixtures of a “normal” component akin to solar xenon and a slightly variable exotic component. We show that both current models of Xe-H formation can account for the observed variability, and propose a scenario according to which Xe-HL and P6 were implanted into separate diamond populations before incorporation of Xe-P3 and ¹²⁹I.     

Activity–composition relations for the calculation of partial melting equilibria in metabasic rocks

A set of thermodynamic models is presented that, for the first time, allows partial melting equilibria to be calculated for metabasic rocks. The models consist of new activity–composition relations combined with end‐member thermodynamic properties from the Holland & Powell dataset, version 6. They allow for forward modelling in the system NaO–CaO–KO–FeO–MgO–AlO–SiO–HO–TiO–FeO. In particular, new activity–composition relations are presented for silicate melt of broadly trondhjemitic–tonalitic composition, and for augitic clinopyroxene with Si–Al mixing on the tetrahedral sites, while existing activity–composition relations for hornblende are extended to include KO and TiO. Calibration of the activity–composition relations was carried out with the aim of reproducing major experimental phase‐in/phase‐out boundaries that define the amphibolite–granulite transition, across a range of bulk compositions, at ≤13 kbar.     

A global model of changing N2O emissions from natural and perturbed soils

A high resolution global model of the terrestrial biosphere is developed to estimate changes in nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from 1860–1990. The model is driven by four anthropogenic perturbations, including land use change and nitrogen inputs from fertilizer, livestock manure, and atmospheric deposition of fossil fuel NO _x . Global soil nitrogen mineralization, volatilization, and leaching fluxes are estimated by the model and converted to N₂O emissions based on broad assumptions about their associated N₂O yields. From 1860–1990, global N₂O emissions associated with soil nitrogen mineralization are estimated to have decreased slightly from 5.9 to 5.7 Tg N/yr, due mainly to land clearing, while N₂O emissions associated with volatilization and leaching of excess mineral nitrogen are estimated to have increased sharply from 0.45 to 3.3 Tg N/yr, due to all four anthropogenic perturbations. Taking into account the impact of each perturbation on soil nitrogen mineralization and on volatilization and leaching of excess mineral nitrogen, global 1990 N₂O emissions of 1.4, 0.7, 0.4 and 0.08 Tg N/yr are attributed to fertilizer, livestock manure, land clearing and atmospheric deposition of fossil fuel NO _x , respectively. Consideration of both the short and long-term fates of fertilizer nitrogen indicates that the N₂O/fertilizer-N yield may be 2% or more.C. NBM Definitions AET _mon (cm H₂O) = monthly actual evapotranspiration - AET _ann (cm H₂O) = annual actual evapotranspiration - age _h (years) = stand age of herbaceous biomass - age _w (years) = stand age of woody biomass - atmblc (gC/m²/month) = net flux of CO₂ from grid - biotoc (gC/g biomass) = 0.50 = convert g biomass to g C - beff _h = 0.8 = fraction of cleared herbaceous litter that is burned - beff _w = 0.4 = fraction of cleared woody litter that is burned - bfmin = 0.5 = fraction of burned N litter that is mineralized or converted to reactive gases which rapidly redeposit. Remainder assumed pyrodenitrified to N₂. + N₂O - bprob = probability that burned litter will be burned - burn _h (gC/m²/month) = herbaceous litter burned after land clearing - burn _w (gC/m²/month) = woody litter burned after land clearing - cbiomsh (gC/m²) = C herbaceous biomass pool - cbiomsw (gC/m²) = C woody biomass pool - clear (gC/m²/month) = woody litter C removed by land clearing - clearn (gN/m²/month) = woody litter N removed by land clearing - cldh (month^–1) = herbaceous litter decomposition coefficient - cldw (month^–1) = woody litter decomposition coefficient - clittrh (gC/m²) = C herbaceous litter pool - clittrw (gC/m²) = C woody litter pool - clph (month^–1) = herbaceous litter production coefficient - clpw (month^–1) = woody litter production coefficient - cnrath (gC/gN) = C/N ratio in herbaceous phytomass - cnrats (gC/gN) = C/N ratio in soil organic matter - cnratt (gC/gN) = average C/N ratio in total phytomass - cnratw (gC/gN) = C/N ratio in woody phytomass - crod (month^–1) = forest clearing coefficient - csocd (month^–1) = actual soil organic matter decompostion coefficient - decmult decomposition coefficient multiplier; natural =1.0; agricultural =1.0 (1.2 in sensitivity test) - fertmin (gN/m²/month) = inorganic fertilizer input - fleach fraction of excess inorganic N that is leached - fligh (g Lignin/ g C) = lignin fraction of herbaceous litter C - fligw (g Lignin/ g C) = 0.3 = lignin fraction of woody litter C - fln2o = .01–.02 = fraction of leached N emitted as N₂O - fnav = 0.95 = fraction of mineral N available to plants - fosdep (gN/m²/month) = wet and dry atmospheric deposition of fossil fuel NO _x - fresph = 0.5 = fraction of herbaceous litter decomposition that goes to CO₂ respiration - fresps = 0.51 + .068 ^* sand = fraction of soil organic matter decomposition that goes to CO₂ respiration - frespw = 0.3 ^* (^* see comments in Section 2.3 under decomposition) = fraction of woody litter decomposition that goes to CO₂ respiration - fsoil = ratio of NPP measured on given FAO soil type to NPF_miami - fstruct = 0.15 + 0.018 ^* ligton = fraction of herbaceous litter going to structural/woody pool - fvn2o = .05–.10 = fraction of excess volatilized mineral N emitted as N₂O - fvol = .02 = fraction of gross mineralization flux and excess mineral N volatilized - fyield ratio of total agricultural NPP in a given country in 1980 to total NPP_miami of all displaced natural grids in that country - gimmob _h (gN/m²/month) = gross immobilization of inorganic N into microbial biomass due to decomposition of herbaceous litter - gimmob _s (gN/m²/month) = gross immobilization of inorganic N into microbial biomass due to decomposition of soil organic matter - gimmob _w (gN/m²/month) = gross immobilization of inorganic N into microbial biomass due to decomposition of woody litter - graze (gC/m²/month) = C herbaceous biomass grazed by livestock - grazen (gN/m²/month) = N herbaceous biomass grazed by livestock - growth _h (gC/m²/month) = herbaceous litter incorporated into microbial biomass - growth _w (gC/m²/month) = woody litter incorporated into microbial biomass - gromin _h (gN/m²/month) = gross N mineralization due to decomposition and burning of herbaceous litter - gromin _s (gN/m²/month) = gross N mineralization due to decomposition of soil organic matter - gromin _w (gN/m²/month) = gross N mineralization due to decomposition and burning of woody litter - herb herbaceous fraction by weight of total biomass - leach (gN/m²/month) = leaching (& volatilization) losses of excess inorganic N - ligton (g lignin-C/gN) = lignin/N ratio in fresh herbaceous litter - LP _h (gC/m²/month)= C herbaceous litter production - LP (gC/m²/month) = C woody litter production - LPN _h (gN/m²/month) = N herbaceous litter production - LPN _W (gN/m²/month) = N woody litter production - manco2 (gC/m²/month) = grazed C respired by livestock - manlit (gC/m²/month) = C manure input (feces + urine) - n2oint (gN/m²/month) = intercept of N₂O flux vs gromin regression - n2oleach (gN/m²/month) = N₂O flux associated with leaching and volatilization of excess inorganic N - n2onat (gN/m²/month) = natural N₂O flux from soils - n2oslope slope of N₂O flux vs gromin regression - nbiomsh (gN/m²) = N herbaceous biomass pool - nbiomsw (gN/m²) = N woody biomass pool - nfix (gN/m²/month) = N₂ fixation + natural atmospheric deposition - nlittrh (gN/m²) = N herbaceous litter pool - nlittrw (gN/m²) = N woody litter pool - nmanlit (gN/m²/month) = organic N manure input (feces) - nmanmin (gN/m²/month) = inorganic N manure input (urine) - nmin (gN/m²) = inorganic N pool - NPP _acth (gC/m²/month)= actual herbaceous net primary productivity - NPP _actw (gC/m²/month) = actual woody net primary productivity - nvol (gN/m²/month) = volatilization losses from inorganic N pool - plntnav (gN/m²/month)= mineral N available to plants - plntup _h (gN/m²/month) = inorganic N incorporated into herbaceous biomass - plntup _w (gN/m²/month) = inorganic N incorporated into woody biomass - precip _ann (mm) = mean annual precipitation - precip _mon (mm) = mean monthly precipitation - pyroden _h (gN/m²/month) = burned herbaceous litter N that is pyrodenitrified to N₂ - pyroden _w (gN/m²/month) = burned woody litter N that is pyrodenitrified to N₂ - recyc fraction of N that is retranslocated before senescence - resp _h (gC/m²/month) = herbaceous litter CO₂ respiration - resp _s (gC/m²/month) = soil organic carbon CO₂ respiration - resp _w (gC/m²/month) = woody litter CO₂ respiration - sand sand fraction of soil - satrat ratio of maximum NPP to N-limited NPP - soiloc (gC/m²) = soil organic C pool - soilon (gN/m²) = soil organic N pool - temp _ann (°C) = mean annual temperature - temp _mon (°C) = mean monthly temperature Now at the NOAA Aeronomy Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado.