Characteristics of over-water surface stress during strex

Surface stress values obtained from the NOAA Ship OCEANOGRAPHER during STREX indicate that wind speed and stability dependent bulk derived stress values are two to three times too low in surface pre-frontal, pre-trough and pre-ridge regions of transiting synoptic systems. The measured stress values were based on calculations of turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rates using hot film measured velocity variances. Bulk stress values obtained with wind speed (neutral drag coefficient) and stability dependencies in the Large and Pond derivation agreed very well with the measured values in other regions of the synoptic systems. In situ wave information was not adequate to relate differences to coupled vector wind and wave fields. However, analyses and interpretation of wind and stability effects suggest that wind wave interaction was the reason for the observed sub-synoptic (mesoscale) stress enhancements.     

Surface pressure profiles, vortex structure and initialization for hurricane prediction. Part I: analysis of observed and synthetic structures

Without detailed reconnaissance, consistent representation of hurricane-like vortices in initial conditions for operational prediction and research simulations still remains elusive. It is thus often necessary, particularly for high-resolution intensity forecasting, to use synthetic tropical cyclone circulations to initialize forecast models. Variants on three commonly used surface pressure profiles are evaluated for possible use. Enhancements to the original profiles are proposed that allows definition of both the inner-core and outer circulation. The latter improvement creates a vortex more consistent with the estimated outer structure which sometimes appears to be crucial to the evolving intensity of the storm. It also allows smoother merging of the synthetic vortex with the environment. Comparisons of the profiles against (a) structure estimates, (b) each other, (c) structures obtained via conservation of angular momentum, and (d) observed vorticity structures, suggest that a new enhanced Fujita profile best represents real TC structures. Student-t tests indicate that improved fitting to the observations is statistically significant.     

Quantifying River‐Groundwater Interactions of New Zealand's Gravel‐Bed Rivers: The Wairau Plain

New Zealand's gravel‐bed rivers have deposited coarse, highly conductive gravel aquifers that are predominantly fed by river water. Managing their groundwater resources is challenging because the recharge mechanisms in these rivers are poorly understood and recharge rates are difficult to predict, particularly under a more variable future climate. To understand the river‐groundwater exchange processes in gravel‐bed rivers, we investigate the Wairau Plain Aquifer using a three‐dimensional groundwater flow model which was calibrated using targeted field observations, “soft” information from experts of the local water authority, parameter regularization techniques, and the model‐independent parameter estimation software PEST. The uncertainty of simulated river‐aquifer exchange flows, groundwater heads, spring flows, and mean transit times were evaluated using Null‐space Monte‐Carlo methods. Our analysis suggests that the river is hydraulically perched (losing) above the regional water table in its upper reaches and is gaining downstream where marine sediments overlay unconfined gravels. River recharge rates are on average 7.3 m³/s, but are highly dynamic in time and variable in space. Although the river discharge regularly hits 1000 m³/s, the net exchange flow rarely exceeds 12 m³/s and seems to be limited by the physical constraints of unit‐gradient flux under disconnected rivers. An important finding for the management of the aquifer is that changes in aquifer storage are mainly affected by the frequency and duration of low‐flow periods in the river. We hypothesize that the new insights into the river‐groundwater exchange mechanisms of the presented case study are transferable to other rivers with similar characteristics.     

The geology, petrology, and petrogenesis of Saba Island, Lesser Antilles

Saba is the northernmost volcano along the Lesser Antilles island-arc chain. The Lesser Antilles arc results from the west-northwest subduction of the Atlantic lithosphere beneath the Caribbean Plate. Sediment thickness along the trench decreases northward away from sediment sources on the continent of South America. We focused our attention on Saba precisely because it is the furthest away from documented geochemical effects in the southern arc volcanics of the large sediment thicknesses — normally attributed to both source or upper level contamination (i.e. assimilation).Field mapping, petrology, mineralogy, K–Ar dating, and geochemical analyses (major and trace element) indicate a complex history of magma petrogenesis including crystal fractionation, magma mixing, and, surprisingly, crustal assimilation. This is the first time assimilation has been documented in the northern section of the Lesser Antilles arc. Magma mixing shows up in the field as banded pumice and petrographically and mineralogically as complex zoning in phenocrysts (such as reverse zoning in plagioclase), disequilibrium mineral assemblages (e.g. quartz and olivine), and disequilibrium between minerals and whole-rock compositions (e.g. forsterite content of olivine). Mass-balance modeling of major and trace elements support our contention that crystal fractionation (including amphibole) played an important role in magma evolution. However, various geochemical trends can only be explained by assimilation-fractional crystallization based on the fact that the trends of various trace elements and trace-element ratios vary with increasing silica. Finally, we could find no evidence of sediment source contamination in the most mafic rocks. It may exist but is overprinted by the later assimilation effects.     

The development of a cocoon star

A newly-formed massive star is likely to be surrounded by dense gas and dust as it approaches the main sequence. Radiation pressure must push some of the inner material outward before the star begins to produce ionizing radiation; this affects the formation of theHii region. A remarkably dense dust front may precede the ionization front.The observable radio and infrared spectra are discussed. If the dust cloud is composed of small graphite grains, extraordinarily large far-infrared fluxes are possible.     

岩石圈伸展的壳/幔拆离模型(Parallel Extension Tectonics):华北克拉通东部早白垩世岩石圈减薄与破坏机理

华北克拉通岩石圈减薄和破坏机理长期以来存在争议,基于岩石学、岩石地球的化学分析研究突出强调深部过程的重要性。前人提出了两种重要模式：包括以拆沉作用为代表的top-down tectonics模型和以热-机械侵蚀与化学侵蚀,或地幔置换、交代作用的bottom-up tectonics模型。然而,对于这两种模式而言尚存在许多无法合理解释的问题,比如在此深部过程中,区域性岩石圈伸展有多大的贡献？地壳伸展构造是作为深部过程的响应,还是同为岩石圈伸展的产物？本文基于早白垩世东亚地区（尤其是华北克拉通东部地区）伸展构造与岩浆活动的综合分析,揭示出华北克拉通东部不同地区伸展构造变形与岩浆活动之间的时、空和成因关系有一定的差异。但整体上看,岩石圈伸展起着主导作用,控制着岩浆上侵和就位,在拆离断层下盘侵入形成各种规模的花岗质为主的侵入体,或于上盘喷发形成火山-沉积岩盆地。在伸展构造发育的不同阶段,可以有伸展早期、伸展期及伸展期后的岩浆活动。岩浆活动的强度及岩浆源区特点有显著的时空变化。一方面,在同一地区不同演化阶段其源区有很大的差异。表现为主体上是早期以古老下地壳源为主,随着壳/幔伸展作用演化,逐渐向混合源或独立幔源的演化。同时,不同地区岩浆源区的变化规律也显著不同。以胶辽地区为例,胶东整体上是壳幔混合源区对于岩浆演化有重要贡献;而辽东地区具有显著的源区演化特点：从剪切早期古老下地壳源区为主,并伴有幔源物质加入,剪切期古老下地壳为主,到剪切晚期和剪切期后以新生下地壳为主。本文认为岩石圈伸展的壳/幔拆离模型（Parallel Extension Tectonics）,可以合理地解释华北克拉通及邻区早白垩世构造-岩浆活动性。在该模型中,遭受伸展的华北克拉通岩石圈发生壳-幔拆离作用。在岩石圈伸展作用期间,地壳层次的拆离作用与岩石圈地幔层次上的拆离作用可以是耦合的或者是解耦的,从而导致华北克拉通岩石圈减薄过程中在地壳尺度上的拆离作用与变质核杂岩的剥露有三种不同的类型：同岩浆活动型伸展（C型：Co-magmatism mode extension）、无岩浆活动型伸展（A型：Amagmatism mode extension）和多阶段混合型（M型：Multi-mode extension）。

     

Incorporating inland flooding into hurricane evacuation decision support modeling

Natural Hazards - Formal engineering hurricane evacuation studies have not typically considered inland flooding explicitly, though it has been shown repeatedly to be a major cause of damage and...     

Aeolian dynamics over a coastal foredune,Prince Edward Island,Canada

Near‐surface airflow over a morphologically simple, vegetated, 8 m high foredune with a small wave‐cut scarp was measured for onshore to oblique‐onshore conditions during a low‐moderate (5–6 m s^‐1 ) wind event and a high velocity (11–18 m s^‐1) sand‐transporting gale event. Flow across the foredune was characterized by significant flow compression and acceleration up and across the foredune during both events. During the gale, a pronounced jet (speed bulge) developed at the foredune crest, which increased in magnitude with increasing wind speed. The vertical (W) velocity component of the 3D flow field was positive (upwards) across the stoss slope under low wind conditions but negative (downwards) during gale wind conditions, with upslope acceleration. During the low velocity event, there was speed‐down within the vegetation canopy, as would be expected for a porous roughness cover. During the strong wind event there was speed‐up in the lower portion of the vegetation canopy, and this was found up the entire stoss slope. Sediment transport during the gale force event was substantial across the beach and foredune despite the moderate vegetation cover and minimum fetch. Aeolian suspension was evident in the lee of the dune crest. The observations presented herein show that strong storm winds are an effective mechanism for translating sediment landwards across a high vegetated foredune, contributing sediment to the stoss slope, crest and leeward slopes of the foredune and backing dunes. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Distributive justice in the international regulation of global ecosystem services

Incentive measures can internalize the external benefits of ecosystem services or, conversely, the external costs of service losses. In the last decade, preliminary steps have been taken in this direction in the form of voluntary payments for ecosystem services. Much larger financial flows may be required, however, to reverse the present trend of ecosystem degradation, making the issue of distributive justice all the more pressing. This article offers a first outline of the international regulation of ecosystem services under different principles of distributive justice. It is concluded that negative incentives, i.e. putting a price on exerting pressures on ecosystems, are better justified than positive incentives, i.e. rewarding the provision of current ecosystem services. Negative incentives do not necessarily worsen the situation of countries, since the revenues of taxation are redistributed. Whether countries become net payers or receivers under a particular incentive and redistribution scheme depends upon its underlying principle of justice.     

Short-range order and frustration in omphacite: Comparison of three CVM approximations

We compare three cluster variation method (CVM) models for order-disorder in omphacite (Al_0.5Mg_0.5)[Na_0.5Ca_0.5]Si₂O₆: the generalized point approximation (GPA), generalized pair approximation (GPaA) and an approximation that is based on two eight-body clusters (2X8A). The same Hamiltonian (set of pairwise interactions) is used for all three approximations. Pair probabilities predicted by the GPA obey the geometric constraints of the crysal structure (the frustration constraint), but the exclusion of short-range order (SRO) leads to overestimates of the configurational internal energy (〈E〉), and the critical temperature for cation order-disorder (T _c ). The GPaA violates the frustration constraint, and it therefore fails to predict a P2 ₁/n → C2/c order-disorder transition and yields values for 〈E〉 and SRO that are inconsistent with the omphacite crystal structure. The 2X8A predicts SRO that is consistent with the frustration constraint, and it yields improved (lower) estimates of 〈E〉 and T _c relative to the GPA: 〈E〉_2X8A<〈E〉_GPA, and T _c (2X8A)≈0.741 T _c (GPA).