Similarity solution for the propagation of shock waves with varying energy in non-uniform medium

A model of self-similar propagation of shock waves driven by a flare energy release in a non-uniform atmosphere has been considered. The total energy content of the model is assumed to be increased with time within the inner expanding surface and shock front. Finally the variation of velocity, pressure, density, and energy of the model have been discussed. The gas is assumed to be grey and opaque.     

Similarity solution for the propagation of shock waves with varying strength in radiating medium

A model of similarity solution for the propagation of shock waves produced on account of an instantaneous release of energy in an inhomogeneous medium with the effect of radiation has been discussed. The disturbances of the medium are headed by a shock of variable strength. The variations of flow variables have been discussed for the different values of strength of the shock.     

Effect of solar pressure on the motion and stability of the system of two inter-connected satellites in an elliptical orbit

The effect of solar pressure on the two-dimensional motion of two cable-connected satellites in the Earth's central gravitational field of force for the elliptical orbit of the centre-of-mass of the system has been analysed. The equations of motion obtianed are nonlinear and non-autonomous.It is concluded with the aid of non-resonant solution that the system experiences resonance main as well as parametric. If the eccentricity is small, the system will always oscillate about the position of equilibrium with tight string like dumb-bell satellite with changing phase and constant amplitude.     

On the possibility of faint molecular lines of PO,PH, MgH+, and CN in the solar spectrum

Equivalent width calculations for some electronic and vibration-rotation transitions of the molecules PO, PH, MgH^+f, and CN have been carried out for a few umbral, photospheric, and facular model atmospheres. It appears that a few weak lines of these molecules might show up in the umbral spectrum. Le Blanc bands of CN are too weak for detection in the solar spectrum.     

The effect of solar pressure on the motion and stability of interconnected satellites in orbit

The paper deals with the effect of solar pressure on the motion and stability of two satellites connected by an inextensible string in a central gravitational field of force. A system of nonlinear, nonhomogeneous, and non-autonomous equations under the rotating frame of reference in Nechvíle's coordinate system have been obtained. The general solution of the above system of equations is beyond our reach. The particular solutions have been obtained.The particular solution in which the system lies, wholly along the radius vector joining the attracting centre and the centre of mass of the system under the central attracting force along was found to be stable (Singh, 1973). Naturally we got interested in examining the effect of solar radiation pressure on the stability of this particular solution.     

The Global Paleomonsoon as seen through speleothem records from Asia and the Americas

The regional monsoons of the world have long been viewed as seasonal atmospheric circulation reversal—analogous to a thermally-driven land-sea breeze on a continental scale. This conventional view of monsoons is now being integrated at a global scale and accordingly, a new paradigm has emerged which considers regional monsoons to be manifestations of global-scale seasonal changes in response to overturning of atmospheric circulation in the tropics and subtropics, and henceforth, interactive components of a singular Global Monsoon (GM) system. The paleoclimate community, however, tends to view ‘paleomonsoon’ (PM), largely in terms of regional circulation phenomena. In the past decade, many high-quality speleothem oxygen isotope (δ¹⁸O) records have been established from the Asian Monsoon and the South American Monsoon regions that primarily reflect changes in the integrated intensities of monsoons on orbital-to-decadal timescales. With the emergence of these high-resolution and absolute-dated records from both sides of the Equator, it is now possible to test a concept of the ‘Global-Paleo-Monsoon’ (GPM) on a wide-range of timescales. Here we present a comprehensive synthesis of globally-distributed speleothem δ¹⁸O records and highlight three aspects of the GPM that are comparable to the modern GM: (1) the GPM intensity swings on different timescales; (2) their global extent; and (3) an anti-phased inter-hemispheric relationship between the Asian and South American monsoon systems on a wide range of timescales.     

Numerical simulations of hot halo gas in galaxy mergers

Galaxy merger simulations have explored the behaviour of gas within the galactic disc, yet the dynamics of hot gas within the galaxy halo have been neglected. We report on the results of high-resolution hydrodynamic simulations of colliding galaxies with metal-free hot halo gas. To isolate the effect of the halo gas, we simulate only the dark matter halo and the hot halo gas over a range of mass ratios, gas fractions and orbital configurations to constrain the shocks and gas dynamics within the progenitor haloes. We find that (i) a strong shock is produced in the galaxy haloes before the first passage, increasing the temperature of the gas by almost an order of magnitude to   T ∼ 10^6.3 K  . (ii) The X-ray luminosity of the shock is strongly dependent on the gas fraction; it is  ≳10³⁹ erg s⁻¹  for halo gas fractions larger than 10 per cent. (iii) The hot diffuse gas in the simulation produces X-ray luminosities as large as  10⁴² erg s⁻¹  . This contributes to the total X-ray background in the Universe. (iv) We find an analytic fit to the maximum X-ray luminosity of the shock as a function of merger parameters. This fit can be used in semi-analytic recipes of galaxy formation to estimate the total X-ray emission from shocks in merging galaxies. (v) ∼10–20 per cent of the initial gas mass is unbound from the galaxies for equal-mass mergers, while 3–5 per cent of the gas mass is released for the 3:1 and 10:1 mergers. This unbound gas ends up far from the galaxy and can be a feasible mechanism to enrich the intergalactic medium with metals.     

Quantifying groundwater sensitivity and resilience over peninsular India

Groundwater in India plays an important role to support livelihoods and maintain ecosystems and the present rate of depletion of groundwater resources poses a serious threat to water security. Yet, the sensitivity of the hydrological processes governing groundwater recharge to climate variability remains unclear in the region. Here we assess the groundwater sensitivity (precipitation–recharge relationship) and its potential resilience towards climatic variability over peninsular India using a conceptual water balance model and a convex model, respectively in 54 catchments over peninsular India. Based on the model performance using a comprehensive approach (Nash Sutcliffe Efficiency [NSE], bias and variability), 24 out of 54 catchments are selected for assessment of groundwater sensitivity and its resilience. Further, a systematic approach is used to understand the changes in resilience on a temporal scale based upon the convex model and principle of critical slowing down theory. The results of the study indicate that the catchments with higher mean groundwater sensitivity (GWS) encompass high variability in GWS over the period (1988–2011), thus indicating the associated vulnerability towards hydroclimatic disturbances. Moreover, it was found that the catchments pertaining to a lower magnitude of mean resilience index incorporates a high variability in resilience index over the period (1993–2007), clearly illustrating the inherent vulnerability of these catchments. The resilience of groundwater towards climatic variability and hydroclimatic disturbances that is revealed by groundwater sensitivity is essential to understand the future impacts of changing climate on groundwater and can further facilitate effective adaptation strategies.