An Intercomparison of Large-Eddy Simulations of the Stable Boundary Layer

Results are presented from the first intercomparison of large-eddy simulation (LES) models for the stable boundary layer (SBL), as part of the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment Atmospheric Boundary Layer Study initiative. A moderately stable case is used, based on Arctic observations. All models produce successful simulations, in as much as they generate resolved turbulence and reflect many of the results from local scaling theory and observations. Simulations performed at 1-m and 2-m resolution show only small changes in the mean profiles compared to coarser resolutions. Also, sensitivity to subgrid models for individual models highlights their importance in SBL simulation at moderate resolution (6.25 m). Stability functions are derived from the LES using typical mixing lengths used in numerical weather prediction (NWP) and climate models. The functions have smaller values than those used in NWP. There is also support for the use of K-profile similarity in parametrizations. Thus, the results provide improved understanding and motivate future developments of the parametrization of the SBL.     

Use of Machine Learning Methods to Reduce Predictive Error of Groundwater Models

Quantitative analyses of groundwater flow and transport typically rely on a physically‐based model, which is inherently subject to error. Errors in model structure, parameter and data lead to both random and systematic error even in the output of a calibrated model. We develop complementary data‐driven models (DDMs) to reduce the predictive error of physically‐based groundwater models. Two machine learning techniques, the instance‐based weighting and support vector regression, are used to build the DDMs. This approach is illustrated using two real‐world case studies of the Republican River Compact Administration model and the Spokane Valley‐Rathdrum Prairie model. The two groundwater models have different hydrogeologic settings, parameterization, and calibration methods. In the first case study, cluster analysis is introduced for data preprocessing to make the DDMs more robust and computationally efficient. The DDMs reduce the root‐mean‐square error (RMSE) of the temporal, spatial, and spatiotemporal prediction of piezometric head of the groundwater model by 82%, 60%, and 48%, respectively. In the second case study, the DDMs reduce the RMSE of the temporal prediction of piezometric head of the groundwater model by 77%. It is further demonstrated that the effectiveness of the DDMs depends on the existence and extent of the structure in the error of the physically‐based model.     

Nonsulfide zinc deposits in the Silesia–Cracow district,Southern Poland

The Silesia–Cracow district in Poland has been one of the world’s principal sources of zinc from nonsulfide zinc ore (Polish: galman). The still remaining nonsulfide ore resources can be estimated at 57 Mt at 5.6% Zn and 1.4% Pb. Nonsulfide mineralization is mainly hosted by Lower Muschelkalk (Triassic) limestone and is associated with different generations of the hydrothermal ore-bearing dolomite (OBD I, II, III). A fundamental ore control is believed to have been exerted by the basement faults, which were repeatedly reactivated during the Alpine tectonic cycle, leading to the formation of horst-and-graben structures: these dislocations may have caused short periods of emersion and the circulation of meteoric waters during the Cenozoic. Nonsulfide ores show a wide range of morphological characteristics and textures. They occur as earthy masses, crystalline aggregates, and concretions in cavities. Breccia and replacement textures are also very common. The most important mineral phases are: smithsonite, Fe–smithsonite, Zn–dolomite, goethite, and Fe–Mn(hydr)oxides. Minor hemimorphite and hydrozincite have also been detected. Two distinct nonsulfide ore types occur: the predominant red galman and the rare white galman. In the white galman, Fe–smithsonite and Zn–dolomite are particularly abundant. This ore type is commonly considered as a peripheral hydrothermal alteration product related to the same fluids that precipitated both the OBD II–III and the sulfides. In contrast, a supergene origin is commonly assumed for the red galman. Evidence of the petrographic and mineralogical difference between white and red galman is also found in stable isotope data. Smithsonite from red galman shows a limited range of δ ¹³C_VPDB values (−10.1 to −11.4‰), and δ ¹⁸O_VSMOW values (25.3‰ to 28.5‰, mean 26.8 ± 0.3‰). The uniform and low carbon isotope values of red galman smithsonite are unusual for supergene carbonate-hosted deposits and indicate the predominance of a single organic carbon source. Smithsonite from white galman has a more variable, slightly more positive carbon isotope (−2.9‰ to −7.4‰), but broadly similar oxygen isotope composition (26.8‰ to 28.9‰). The relationship of the white galman ore with the hydrothermal system responsible for OBD II and sulfide generation is still uncertain. The most important paleoweathering events took place in both Lower and Upper Silesia during Late Cretaceous up to Paleogene and early Neogene time. During this period, several short-lasting emersions and intense weathering episodes facilitated the formation of sinkholes in the Triassic carbonate rocks and the oxidation of sulfide orebodies through percolating meteoric waters. These phenomena may have lasted until the Middle Miocene.     

Heavy metals in particulate matter and sediments in the southern Barcelona sedimentation system (North-western Mediterranean)

Concentrations of selected heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) from surface sediments, suspended particulate matter and settling particles in the southern Barcelona continental margin were studied in order to evaluate the environmental impact of the anthropogenic metals discharged by the Llobregat River in this Mediterranean area. The temporal variation of heavy metals discharged by this river onto the continental shelf is clearly related to the river water flow. Part of the fine sediment and associated heavy metals transported by the Llobregat River during periods of low river flow accumulate on the river bed, and they are totally removed and discharged onto the Barcelona continental shelf during sporadic river water flow increases. Metals produce significant anomalies of chromium (×2.5), copper (×3.4) and zinc (×3.7) in the surface sediments of the Llobregat prodelta and tend to be transported along the continental shelf following the mean flow. Metals associated with the finest suspended flocs transferred to the slope are controlled by the shelf-slope density front and are transported along slope by the general geostrophic current, instead of accumulating and becoming concentrated in the slope bottom sediments. Settling particulate matter collected in sediment traps on the Barcelona continental slope offshore of the shelf-slope front shows low heavy metal concentrations except in a few sediment trap samples that are significantly metal-enriched in chromium (×4.5) and zinc (×6.8). This enrichment is associated with very short and sporadic river flow increases and is only recorded inside the Foix submarine canyon, which acts as a preferential conduit for the shelf-slope sediment transfer.     

Über interne Wellen,besonders solche mit Gezeitencharakter

Zusammenfassung Es wird ein Überblick über unsere derzeitigen Kenntnisse der internen Wellen im Ozean gegeben, wobei besonders jene mit Gezeitencharakter berücksichtigt werden. Die theoretischen Erörterungen sind möglichst kurz gehalten. Die Koppelung mit den Trägheitsschwingungen ausgedehnter Meeresgebiete erfährt eine eingehende Würdigung. Zum Schluß werden auch die Stabilitätsbedingungen interner Gezeitenwellen erörtert.

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On internal waves, especially on those of tidal periods

Summary This is an outline of our present knowledge of internal waves in the ocean with special reference to internal waves of tidal periods. The theoretical aspect is dealt with as briefly as possible. The coupling with the phenomenon of osciallations of inertia in large ocean areas is discussed in detail. Finally, the stability conditions of internal tide waves are treated.

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Sur des vagues internes, surtout sur celles ayant des périodes de marée

Résumé Voilà un aperçu de notre connaissance d'aujourd'hui des vagues internes dans l'océan, surtout de celles qui ont des périodes de marée. L'aspect théorique est brièvement traité. Le rapport avec les oscillations d'inertie en larges régions océaniques est précisé. Enfin, les conditions de stabilité des vagues internes de marée sont exposées.

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Vortrag, gehalten im geophysikalischen Kolloquium der Universität Hamburg am 10. Dezember 1952.     

Theoretische Überlegungen zum Phänomen des Windstaus und des Auftriebes an ozeanischen Küsten

Zusammenfassung Die Bearbeitung von dynamischen Schnitten quer zu ozeanischen Küsten mit Windstau und Auftriebsphänomenen, insbesondere jener Schnitte, die das große Beobachtungsmaterial des Marine Life Research Program der Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla (California) geliefert hat, hat den inneren Mechanismus des Vorganges bei Windstau oder Auftrieb an ozeanischen Küsten klargelegt, so daß es nun möglich ist, die Zusammenhänge in einfachen schematischen Modellen theoretisch zu erfassen. In der vorliegenden Untersuchung wird das Modell eines freien Ozeans mit anschließendem Schelfmeer unter vereinfachenden Annahmen vollständig durchgerechnet. Der Vergleich eines zahlenmäßigen Beispiels mit den Verhältnissen vor der kalifornischen Küste ergibt eine gute Übereinstimmung. Dies läßt annehmen, daß im theoretischen Modell alle das Phänomen mitbestimmenden Faktoren richtig erfaßt worden sind.

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Theoretical considerations on the phenomenon of wind effect (Windstau) and upwelling on oceanic coasts

Summary The elaboration of dynamic sections located at right angles to oceanic coasts with banking effects as well as upwelling phenomena, above all the working up of those profiles based on the comprehensive observation material obtained under the Marine Life Research Program by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography of La Jolla (California) has recently enabled the internal mechanism of the processes of the piling up or upwelling of water on oceanic coasts to be revealed; thus it is now possible to theoretically conceive the correlations with the aid of simple schematic patterns. In the present paper the model of an open ocean with an adjacent shelf sea is completely computed under certain simplifying assumptions. A numerical example is compared with the conditions existing off the coast of California and the correspondence is found to be good. This allows of the assumption that in the theoretical model all factors exerting an essential influence on the phenomenon under discussion have been properly taken into account.

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Considérations théoriques des phénomènes de montée et de baisse de niveau sur les littoraux

Résumé En se servant des coupes dynamiques orientéesperpendiculairement à la direction générale des littoraux soumis aux phénomènes de montée et de baisse de niveau sous la pression du vent de mer et celle du vent de terre, et surtout en élaborant les nombreuses observations faites sous le Marine Life Research Program de la Scripps Institution of Oceanography à La Jolla (Californie) on est récemment arrivé à éclaircir le mécanisme interne de la montée et de la baisse de niveau sur les littoraux. Il est donc possible de saisir d'une manière théorique les corrélations à l'aide de simples modèles schématiques. On a introduit des suppositions simplifiantes dans le travail suivant et on a complètement calculé le modèle d'un océan ouvert se reliant à une zone adjacente de la marge continentale. L'exemple numérique donné est en bon accord avec les conditions devant la côte de la Californie. On peut donc supposer que tous les éléments qui influencent essentiellement ce phénomène ont été proprement introduits dans le modèle théorique.

     

Orion: A 1–5 Micron Focal Plane for the 21st Century

The Orion program is a project to develop a 2K × 2K infrared focal plane using InSb p-on-n diodes for detectors. It is the natural follow-up to the successful Aladdin 1K × 1K program started in the early 90's. The work is being done at the Raytheon Infrared Operations Division (RIO, previously known as the Santa Barbara Research Center) by many of the same people who created the Aladdin focal plane. The design is very similar to the successful Aladdin design with the addition of reference pixels, whole array readout (no quadrants), two-adjacent-side buttability, and a packaging design that includes going directly to the ultimate focal plane size of 4K × 4K. So far we have successfully made a limited number of hybrid modules with InSb detectors. In this paper we will describe the design features and test data taken from some of these devices. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Lead and copper in the waters of Raritan and Lower New York Bays

A survey of waters adjacent to this heavily urbanized and industrialized region showed concentrations of copper, 65 μg l.^?1 to be the highest reported to date for estuarine waters, and lead up to 13.9 μg l.^?1 Correlations between distributions of dissolved and total metal concentration in the water column, hydrography, and metal in the sediment were related to benthic studies in this area. Laboratory studies are cited which show the potential for adverse effects on marine animals at these metal concentrations.     

Genetic Relationships Among One Non-Endemic and Two Endemic Mediterranean Triplefin Blennies (Pisces, Blennioidei)

Abstract. Three triplefin blennies occur sympatrically in the Mediterranean Sea; Tripterygion tripteronotus and T. melanurus are endemic, whereas T. delaisi is also found in the Eastern Atlantic. Although very similar in morphology, ecology and behaviour, some striking differences exist among reproductive strategies. Several authors proposed hypotheses on the evolution of these species. In order to enhance insight into the genetic structure of this genus, an enzyme electrophoretic survey was performed. Samples of 40 to 45 specimens of each species were collected near Calvi (Corsica, France). Twenty-four enzyme loci were analysed, of which 17 appeared polymorphic. T. delaisi showed a high level of average observed heterozygosity (H_o) of 0.140, as opposed to very low levels of 0.009 and 0.021 in T. tripteronotus and T. melanurus , respectively. Nei's genetic distance was 0.21 between T. delaisi and T. tripteronotus , 0.35 between T. delaisi and T. melanurus and 0.45 between T. tripteronotus and T. melanurus . We hypothesise that divergence of these species started before the Pleistocene and that the endemic species survived the Pleistocene glaciations in refugia within the Mediterranean. The possibility that T. tripteronotus and T. delaisi diverged through sympatric speciation is discussed.