The composition of low energy primaries withZ≥9 in cosmic radiation

Photometric mean track width measurements have been made on 81 primary particles (Z9) stopping in a nuclear emulsion stack exposed at 2.7 g/cm² of residual atmosphere at Fort Churchill, Canada. The standard deviation of the charge determinations amounts to 0.14 units of charge for oxygen and increases to 0.40 units for iron nuclei when 10 mm track is measured. The relative abundances of the nuclei in the charge interval 8Z14 are given for the energy interval 250–400 MeV/nucleon, and comparisons are performed with the results of other measurements. The VH-particles are dominated by iron. The distribution of the VH-particles seems to be consistent with the assumption that the VH-nuclei have in the mean passed through only 1.6±0.5 g/cm² interstellar matter.     

Microflow of geogas — A possible formation mechanism for deep-sea nodules

A formation model for deep-sea manganese nodules based on ascending bubble trains of geogas is proposed. The bubble train forces material in the sediments and particles adsorbed by the bubbles to the sediment—water interface where precipitation reactions occur. In the presence of a nucleating agent a nodule is formed. Such a model might explain a number of observations concerning nodular structure, genesis and distribution.     

Road Traffic and Avalanches – Methods for Risk Evaluation and Risk Management

This paper considers the methods for risk analysis and management in connection with avalanches and road traffic. Examples with calculations of encounter probability and quantification of uncertainty are given, along with suggestions for risk management in Norway.     

Early MIS 3 glacial lake evolution, ice-marginal retreat pattern and climate at Sokli (northeastern Fennoscandia)

Lake development at Sokli, northern Finland, is traced through the analysis of diatoms and other siliceous micro-fossils in a 2-meter thick minerogenic, laminated clay-silt deposit dated to the early part of Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3. Fluctuating water levels and changes in lake extent depicted by the siliceous micro-fossil record, together with lithology, suggest that an important part of the sediment sequence was deposited in a glacial lake. The proxy-based glacial lake evolution is tested using a Digital Elevation Model and geomorphologic evidence including eskers dated to the early MIS 3 Tulppio Interstadial at Sokli. Despite the apparent ice-dammed nature of the lake, the sediment is relatively rich in fossils and there are limited signs of re-deposition of older fossil material. The siliceous micro-fossil record together with data from other proxies previously analysed in the same sediment samples provides a coherent picture of past environmental changes around the Sokli site. This is most probably due to the sheltered position of the coring-site in a lake embayment. Quantitative climate reconstructions based on the diatom record show mean July air temperatures as high as present-day values at Sokli, and the temperature ranges indicated by the diatom record are in agreement with temperature reconstructions based on chironomids. The position of Sokli in the northeastern portion of the central area of the Scandinavian glaciations and the northern retreat pattern implies that an important part of eastern Fennoscandia was deglaciated during the early MIS 3 warming event.     

The composition of the cosmic radiation and the atomic properties of the elements

The composition of the primordial cosmic radiation has been compared with the solar system composition and that of interstellar matter. It is found that the overabundance of an element in the radiation is approximately proportional to the cross-section for the ionization of neutral atoms of that element through fast charged particle impacts. The results strongly support the assumption that the selection of cosmic ray particles is governed by the atomic properties of the elements.     

National forest carbon inventories: policy needs and assessment capacity

Previous research has identified the importance of the role of land cover in the global carbon cycle. In particular, forests have been identified as a significant carbon sink that can mitigate the rate of global climate change. Policy makers are faced with complex and difficult challenges in getting timely and useful information in monitoring global forest resources. Recent advances in the tools and methods of forest carbon accounting have produced new, innovative approaches to forest-based carbon inventories. But it is important as new tools are developed that scientists understand the needs of policy makers and that policy makers understand the capabilities and limitations of forest inventory methods. This paper explores four different policy applications that rely, or could benefit from, national carbon inventories. The goal is to help build a bridge between the communities of climate policy makers and scientists specialized in forest carbon inventories. To this end, we pursue three specific objectives: First we provide an overview for policy makers about approaches to forest carbon inventories, paying particular attention to the contributions of remote sensing technologies. Second, we outline the issues particularly relevant to forest inventory scientists who are interested in responding to public policy needs. We then discuss the tradeoffs between information cost, accuracy, precision, transparency and timeliness that need to be balanced in long-term monitoring of forest carbon. Finally, the article concludes with a series of observations and recommendations for the implementation of forest carbon inventories as increasingly central components of global climate change policy.