Intermediately complex models for the hydrological interactions in the atmosphere-vegetation-soil system

This paper investigates the hydrological interactions in the atmosphere-evegetation-soil system by using the bucket model and several new simplified intermediately complex models. The results of mathematical analysis and numerical simulations show that these models, despite their simplicity, can very clearly reveal the essential features of the rather complex hydrological system of atmosphere-ecosystem-soil. For given atmospheric variables, these models clearly demonstrate multiple timescales, the “red shift” of response spectra, multi-equilibria and limit cycles, bifurcation, abrupt change, self-organization, recovery, “desertification”, and chaos. Most of these agree with observations. Especially, the weakening of “shading effect” of living canopy and the wilted biomass might be a major mechanism leading to the desertification in a relatively short period due to overgrazing, and the desertification in a relatively long period or in climate of change might be due to both Charney’s mechanism and the shading effect. These ideas could be validated with further numerical simulations. In the paper, some methods for improving the estimation of timescales in the soil water evolution responding to the forcing are also proposed.     

Deep Hα imagery of the Eridanus shells

A deep Hα image of interlocking filamentary arcs of nebulosity has been obtained with a wide-field (≈30° diameter) narrow-band filter camera combined with a charge-coupled device as a detector. The resultant mosaic of images, extending to a galactic latitude of −65°, has been corrected for field distortions and had galactic coordinates superimposed on it to permit accurate correlations with the most recent H  i (21 cm), X-ray (0.75 keV) and FIR ( IRAS 100 μm) maps.
Furthermore, an upper limit of 0.13 arcsec yr⁻¹ to the expansion proper motion of the primary 25° long nebulous arc has been obtained by comparing a recent Hα image obtained with the San Pedro Martir telescope of its filamentary edge with that on a Palomar Observatory Sky Survey E plate obtained in 1951.
It is concluded that these filamentary arcs are the superimposed images of separate shells (driven by supernova explosions and/or stellar winds) rather than the edges of a single 'superbubble' stretching from Barnard's Arc (and the Orion Nebula) to these high galactic latitudes. The proper motion measurement argues against the primary Hα-emitting arc being associated with the giant radio loop (Loop 2) except in extraordinary circumstances.     

Modeling the mudslide aftermath of the 2007 Southern California Wildfires

An investigation is made of the influence of fire-caused deforestation on precipitation-triggered, shallow landslide susceptibilities in southern California, using a scalable and extensible geo-fluid model (SEGMENT), that accounts for soil mechanics, root distribution, and relevant hydrologic processes. SEGMENT is applicable to variable regional topography, soil thickness profiles, and vegetation coverage. In this study, for southern California following the 2007 wildfires, three experiments were performed with rainfall recurrence periods chosen to be 2, 10, and 25 years. These intervals correspond to 24-h storm rainfall totals of 17, 25.4, and 33 mm. The model generated landslide stability maps that identified three areas of high instability. These unstable regions are located in the San Fernando Valley, the San Gabriel Mountains, and the Santa Monica Mountains. In each case, the vegetation cover had been severely burned during the preceding 2007 wildfires. The model results showed that burning from wildfires is a major destabilizing factor for southern California. Burn sites are more prone to landslides than vegetated slopes because the soil more readily exceeds its critical moisture content. Severe droughts in a future warming climate are expected to increase the likelihood of more frequent and intense wild fires. Higher temperatures combined with decreased total rainfalls facilitate more intense landslides, including devastating mudslides, following heavy precipitation. Finally, the model is designed to assist in developing timely mitigation measures for post-fire, storm-triggered landslides.     

Partial melting of the Indarch (EH4) meteorite: A textural,chemical, and phase relations view of melting and melt migration

Abstract— To test whether aubrites can be formed by melting of enstatite chondrites and to understand igneous processes at very low O fugacities, we have conducted partial melting experiments on the Indarch (EH4) chondrite at 1000–1500 °C. Silicate melting begins at 1000 °C, and Indarch is completely melted by 1500 °C. The metal-sulfide component melts completely at 1000 °C. Substantial melt migration occurs at 1300–1400 °C, and metal migrates out of the silicate charge at 1450 °C and ～50% silicate partial melting. As a group, our experiments contain three immiscible metallic melts (Si-, P-, and C-rich), two immiscible sulfide melts (Fe- and FeMgMnCa-rich), and silicate melt. Our partial melting experiments on the Indarch (EH4) enstatite chondrite suggest that igneous processes at low fO₂ exhibit several unique features. The complete melting of sulfides at 1000 °C suggests that aubritic sulfides are not relics. Aubritic oldhamite may have crystallized from Ca and S complexed in the silicate melt. Significant metal-sulfide melt migration might occur at relatively low degrees of silicate partial melting. Substantial elemental exchange occurred between different melts (e.g., S between sulfide and silicate, Si between silicate and metal), a feature not observed during experiments at higher fO₂. This exchange may help explain the formation of aubrites from known enstatite chondrites.     

The K-selected Butcher-Oemler effect

We derive the blue fraction for a sample of K-selected galaxies in 25 clusters at 0.15 <z<0.92. We find a much smaller blue fraction and weaker trend with redshift than measured in optically selected samples. We suggest that the Butcher-Oemler effect is primarily due to star forming low luminosity galaxies. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The high latitude circulation and temperature structure of the thermosphere near solstice

The neutral gas temperature and circulation of the thermosphere are calculated for December solstice conditions near solar cycle maximum using NCAR's thermospheric general circulation model (TGCM). High-latitude heat and momentum sources significantly alter the basic solar-driven circulation during solstice. At F-region heights, the increased ion density in the summer hemisphere results in a larger ion drag momentum source for the neutral gas than in the winter hemisphere. As a result there are larger wind velocities and a greater tendency for the neutral gas to follow the magnetospheric convection pattern in the summer hemisphere than in the winter hemisphere. There is about three times more Joule heating in the summer than the winter hemisphere for moderate levels of geomagnetic activity due to the greater electrical conductivity in the summer E-region ionosphere.

The results of several TGCM runs are used to show that at F-region heights it is possible to linearly combine the solar-driven and high-latitude driven solutions to obtain the total temperature structure and circulation to within 10–20%. In the lower thermosphere, however, non-linear terms cause significant departures and a linear superposition of fields is not valid.

The F-region winds at high latitudes calculated by the TGCM are also compared to the meridional wind derived from measurements by the Fabry-Perot Interferometer (FPI) and the zonal wind derived from measurements by the Wind and Temperature Spectrometer (WATS) instruments onboard the Dynamics Explorer (DE−2) satellite for a summer and a winter day. For both examples, the observed and modeled wind patterns are in qualitative agreement, indicating a dominant control of high latitude winds by ion drag. The magnitude of the calculated winds (400–500 m s⁻¹) for the assumed 60 kV cross-tail potential, however, is smaller than that of the measured winds (500–800 m s⁻¹). This suggests the need for an increased ion drag momentum source in the model calculations due to enhanced electron densities, higher ion drift velocities, or some combination that needs to be further denned from the DE−2 satellite measurements.     

Lost Foraging Opportunities for East Asian Hunter‐Gatherers Due to Rising Sea Level Since the Last Glacial Maximum

This paper explores how changes in sea level and biome distribution may have affected the habitats occupied by hunter‐gatherers in East Asia. Using a model‐based reconstruction of changing sea level from the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) to present day, our analysis reveals that the exposure of a large continental shelf during the LGM sea level lowstand created a wealth of wooded, estuarine, and coastal biomes that could have been exploited intensively by Late Pleistocene hunter‐gatherers. Models explaining hunter‐gatherer subsistence changes and migrations in this period should take into account the large area that has been lost to rising sea level since the LGM.