Symplectic Mapping for Satellites and Space Debris Including Nongravitational Forces

The paper presents an efficient algorithm for the study of satellite and space debris orbits on long time intervals. The averaged equations of motion are integrated by means of the implicit midpoint method. This approach is known as a symplectic mapping technique. The perturbing forces included in the mapping are: the geopotential, the atmospheric drag, lunisolar perturbations and the direct radiation pressure (without shadow effects). The influence of the atmosphere is approximated by simple methods for the estimation of integrals. The described mapping is valid for the wide range of orbits including the resonant and the eccentric ones; it can be helpful in practical and theoretical problems. The lifetime of GPS transfer orbits is discussed as an exemplary application.     

Influence of Mean Rooftop-Level Estimation Method on Sensible Heat Flux Retrieved from a Large-Aperture Scintillometer Over a City Centre

The sensible heat flux (H) is determined using large-aperture scintillometer (LAS) measurements over a city centre for eight different computation scenarios. The scenarios are based on different approaches of the mean rooftop-level \((z_{H})\) estimation for the LAS path. Here, \(z_{H}\) is determined separately for wind directions perpendicular (two zones) and parallel (one zone) to the optical beam to reflect the variation in topography and building height on both sides of the LAS path. Two methods of \(z_{H}\) estimation are analyzed: (1) average building profiles; (2) weighted-average building height within a 250 m radius from points located every 50 m along the optical beam, or the centre of a certain zone (in the case of a wind direction perpendicular to the path). The sensible heat flux is computed separately using the friction velocity determined with the eddy-covariance method and the iterative procedure. The sensitivity of the sensible heat flux and the extent of the scintillometer source area to different computation scenarios are analyzed. Differences reaching up to 7% between heat fluxes computed with different scenarios were found. The mean rooftop-level estimation method has a smaller influence on the sensible heat flux (?4 to 5%) than the area used for the \(z_{H}\) computation (?5 to 7%). For the source-area extent, the discrepancies between respective scenarios reached a similar magnitude. The results demonstrate the value of the approach in which \(z_{H}\) is estimated separately for wind directions parallel and perpendicular to the LAS optical beam.     

The heat goes on—changes in indices of hot extremes in Poland

Theoretical and Applied Climatology - On the basis of temperature observations at 60 meteorological stations in Poland, changes in the indices associated with the presence of extremely high air...     

Seasonal deposition of authigenic calcite out of isotopic equilibrium with DIC and water,and implications for paleolimnological studies

Journal of Paleolimnology - We conducted year-round, monthly monitoring of the stable isotope composition of DIC and water in hypereutrophic Lake Kierskie, western Poland, along with isotope...     

Evolution of Mesozoic fluvial systems along the SE flank of the West Siberian Basin, Russia

The Mesozoic stratigraphy in the subsurface of the West Siberian Basin contains prolific hydrocarbon accumulations, and thus the depositional environments of marine and marginal marine Jurassic and Cretaceous age sediments are well-established. However, no information is currently available on strata of equivalent age that crop out along the SE basin margin in the Mariinsk–Krasnoyarsk region, despite the potential of these exposures to supply important information on the sediment supply routes into the main basin. Detailed sedimentological analysis of Jurassic–Cretaceous clastic sediments, in conjunction with palaeo-botanical data, reveals five facies associations that reflect deposition in a range of continental environments. These include sediments that were deposited in braided river systems, which were best developed in the Early Jurassic. These early river systems infilled the relics of a topography that was possibly inherited from earlier Triassic rifting. More mature fluvial land systems evolved in the Mid to Late Jurassic. By the Mid Jurassic, well-defined overbank areas had become established, channel abandonment was commonplace, and mudrocks were deposited on floodplains. Coal deposition occurred in mires, which were subject to periodic incursions by crevasse splay processes. Cretaceous sedimentation saw a renewed influx of sand-grade sediment into the region. It is proposed that landscape evolution throughout the Jurassic was driven simply by peneplanation rather than tectonic processes. By contrast, the influx of sandstones in the Cretaceous is tentatively linked to hinterland rejuvenation/ tectonic uplift, possibly coeval with the growth of large deltaic clinoform complexes of the Neocomian in the basin subsurface.     

Nonapplicability of the viscous approximation method in homogeneous cosmological models

By considering two conceptually important instances it is shown that one cannot use the viscous approximation method to estimate the effects of nonequilibrium processes in homogeneous cosmological models. Despite the widespread acceptance of this method, it is argued that not even qualitative estimates can be obtained by its use.     

Geo‐questionnaire: A Method and Tool for Public Preference Elicitation in Land Use Planning

Geo‐questionnaire involves an integration of sketchable maps with questions, aimed at eliciting public preferences and attitudes about land allocation and services. Respondents can link their answers with corresponding locations on a map by marking points or sketching polygon features. Geo‐questionnaires have been used to learn about perceptions and preferences of city residents for specific types of land use, place‐based services, and development projects. This article reports on results of an empirical study, in which an online geo‐questionnaire was designed and implemented to elicit preferences of residents in guiding an urban development plan. Preferences collected in the form of polygon sketches were processed using GIS operations and mapped for visual interpretation. The article focuses on aggregation and analysis of respondent preferences including the analysis of positional and attribute uncertainty. Results of the study show that geo‐questionnaire is a scalable method for eliciting public preferences with a potential for meaningfully informing land use planning.     

Changes in low and high flows in the Vistula and the Odra basins: Model projections in the European‐scale context

A number of extensive droughts and destructive floods have occurred in Poland in the last 25 years; hence, projections of low and high river flows are of considerable interest and importance. In the first part of this paper, projections of low and high flows in the rivers of the Vistula and the Odra basins (VOB region), for two future time horizons, are presented. Projections are based on the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) hydrological model simulations driven by results of the EURO‐CORDEX experiment under Representative Concentration Pathways 4.5 and 8.5. The VOB region covers most of Poland and parts of five neighboring countries, giving this study an international relevance. In the second part of the paper, a review of projections of low and high flows in rivers in Central and Eastern Europe is presented. Despite a substantial spread of flow projections, the main message of the modelling part is that increases of both low and high flows are dominating. The magnitude of increase of low flow is considerably higher than that of high flow. In other words, future streamflow droughts are projected to be less severe, whereas, in contrast, river floods are projected to increase, which is a challenge for flood risk reduction, water management, and climate change adaptation. There is an overall agreement of our findings for the VOB region with projections of hydrological extremes from large‐scale models forced by EURO‐CORDEX results in the European‐scale studies.