Different approaches to model error formulation in 4D-Var: a study with high-resolution advection schemes

All numerical models are imperfect. Weak constraint variational data assimilation ( VDA ), which provides a treatment of the modelling errors, is studied; building on the approach of Vidard et al. (Tellus, 56 A, pp. 177–188, 2004). The evolution of model error ( ME ) is modelled using ordinary differential equations, which involve a scalar parameter. These approaches were tested using different high-resolution advection schemes. The first set of experiments were constructed to see if it is possible to account for (numerical) discretization error within such a framework. In other set of experiments, a systematic source of modelling error was introduced by deliberately specifying an incorrect value for the Coriolis parameter in the model. Results with observational state at half of the model state resolution, are also presented. We also discuss a method of estimating the scalar parameter in the ME through VDA . In all cases, the inclusion of ME provides reduction in forecasting errors. Also, our experiments indicate that different settings of the model (e.g. using different high-resolution advection schemes) would need different ME formulation. Results presented in this paper could be used to formulate sophisticated ME forms to account for systematic errors in higher dimensional models with complex advection schemes.     

The role of research networks for science-policy collaboration in coastal areas

This paper reviews the approach taken by several UK coastal partnerships in developing research strategies and programmes. It reports on the status of these research initiatives and describes how the co-ordination and communication of scientific research have been approached through active partnerships with universities and the wider research community. Results of semi-structured interviews are followed by in-depth case studies of research networks on the Sefton Coast (focusing on coastal morphology) and the Severn Estuary (focusing on coastal change and climate change impacts). The results reveal the constraints and opportunities that exist in bringing together a variety of knowledge holders in the coastal zone. The paper identifies key elements of these initiatives and highlights lessons that can be applied to the development of other research initiatives in order to achieve science supported, ecosystem-based management.     

Optimal interpolation of the data of remote sensing of the sea surface

We analyze the statistical structure of the data of remote sensing of the fields of surface temperature and the concentration of chlorophyll in the northwest part of the Black Sea with an aim to apply the method of optimal interpolation to the restoration of the maps of these fields according to the restricted amounts of data. We determine the scales of smoothing for the selection of the random components of the fields and estimate their difference from the statistical model uniform and isotropic over the space correlation coefficients. The functions of spectral densities are constructed along various sections and the best intervals of discretization of the fields required to perform the optimal interpolation with given accuracy are determined. It is shown that the construction of the maps of fields under the conditions of controlled accuracy of reconstruction of their values remains possible even if the amounts of the input satellite data are significantly decreased. We consider a procedure of evaluation of the best possible amounts of data required for the use of the method of optimal interpolation. Some examples of application of this procedure to the data of remote sensing of the fields of surface temperature and the concentration of chlorophyll are presented.     

First Observation of Objects Found by the Tautenburg Objective Prism Survey

The spectra of ten objects discovered by the Tautenburg objective prism survey were obtained at a higher spectral resolution in order to refine the selection criteria. We found four objects to be quasars and three MARKARIAN -type galaxies.     

Geological structure of the Mediterranean Sea floor (based on geological—Geophysical data)

According to geophysical data, the Mediterranean Sea depressions are noted for a peculiar type of the earth's crust. The sedimentary rock sequence is of great thickness (8–15 km) and is of platform-type dislocation. Several structural stages are distinguished in the sedimentary complex. The youngest of them are the Messinian (evaporite) and Pliocene—Quaternary stages. The consolidated part of the earth's crust shows small thickness and is divided into large blocks. Vertical dislocations of the large crustal blocks which were conditioned by condensation—rarefaction and the upper mantle substance migration were at the base of Mediterranean sea floor transformation.     

Discrepancy of masses in double galaxies

The estimations of integral masses of double galaxies are obtained taking as a basis recent observational data on 150 pairs of galaxies with measured radial velocities for both components. It is shown that the mean orbital mass-to-luminosity ratio essentially depends on a morphological type of double galaxies and on a kind of interaction between pair components. Minimal values of mass-to-luminosity ratio take place for double galaxies having linear features of interaction, namely: bridges, tails; as well for pairs with compact and Markarian components, too. The empirical relation between mass-to-luminosity ratio and linear separation of pair components do not indicate on an existence of a hidden stellar coronae around double galaxies.     

A coupling method for soil structure interaction problems

This paper describes a soil‐structure coupling method to simulate blast loading in soil and structure response. For the last decade, simulation of soil behavior under blast loading and its interaction with semi buried structure in soil becomes the focus of computational engineering in civil and mechanical engineering communities. In current design practice, soil‐structure interaction analysis often assumes linear elastic properties of the soil and uses small displacement theory. However, there are numerous problems, which require a more advanced approach that account for soil‐structure interaction and appropriate constitutive models for soil. In simplified approaches, the effect of soil on structure is considered using spring‐dashpot‐mass system, and the blast loading is modeled using linearly decaying pressure–time history based on equivalent trinitrotoluene and standoff distance, using ConWep, a computer program based on semi‐empirical equations. This strategy is very efficient from a CPU time computing point of view but may not provide accurate results for the dynamic response of the structure, because of its significant limitations, mainly when soil behavior is strongly nonlinear and when the buried charge is close to the structure. In this paper, both soil and explosive are modeled using solid elements with a constitutive material law for soil, and a Jones–Wilkins–Lee equation of state for explosive. One of the problems we have encountered when solving fluid structure interaction problems is the high mesh distortion at the contact interface because of high fluid nodal displacements and velocities. Similar problems have been encountered in soil structure interaction problems. To prevent high mesh distortion for soil, a new coupling algorithm is performed at the soil structure interface for structure loading. The coupling method is commonly used for fluid structure interaction problems in automotive and aerospace industry for fuel sloshing tank, and bird impact problems, but rarely used for soil structure interaction problems, where Lagrangian contact type algorithms are still dominant. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.