A study of atmospheric structures using sodar in relation to land and sea breezes

Simultaneous observations were made by an acoustic sounder and on a meteorological tower during the month of May 1978 at the Atomic Power Station Tarapur. The probing range of the acoustic sounder was 700 m. The meteorological tower could sense wind and temperature at various levels up to a height of 120 m.The site being close to the sea shore, the thermal environment of the lower atmosphere is controlled mostly by land and sea breeze circulations. Thermal convective structures were seen during the daytime and also at night. The frequency of plume formation and the height of the plumes were, however, low during the night. The convective boundary layer in the daytime ranged from 400–500 m while at night it was mostly under 200 m. The observation of thermals at night is explained by the presence of a naturally stable marine layer above 30 m at this site. In the morning hours, winds suddenly change their direction allowing advection of a land breeze which is responsible for the formation of surface-based shear echoes to a height of 200 m during the transition period and for the subsequent development of an elevated layer due to mixing of two different air masses. A marine layer was also seen over Tarapur for a few days during the early evening and night hours. Its height was mostly around 400 m. It may indicate the presence of a subsidence inversion at Tarapur. The need for collection of supporting meteorological data to a height of 500 m by tethered balloon or some other suitable in-situ technique is stressed.     

The partial molal volume of silicic acid in 0.725 m NaCl

The partial molal volume ($\text{V}\text{?}$) of silicic acid in 0.725 m NaCl at 20°C has been calculated from (1) direct volume changes due to the dissolution of anhydrous sodium silicate and (2) some literature values for the partial molal volumes of NaOH and water. , unconnected for electrostriction effects, was found to be 53 ± 2 ml mole^?1. , corrected for volume changes due to solvent electrostriction by charged Si species, was estimated to be in the range 58–62 ml mole^?1; this range is 7–11 ml mole^?1 greater than the calculated from Willey's (Mar. Chem. 2, 239–250, 1974) solubility data obtained from the dissolution, in seawater, of amorphous silica subjected to hydrostatic pressure. Our does, however, agree within experimental error with the calculated from Jones and Pytkowicz's (Bull. Soc. Roy. Sci. Liege 42, 118–120, 1973) data for the solubility of amorphous silica in seawater at high pressure and is nearly in agreement with Willey's (Ph.D. thesis, Dalhousie University, 1975) solubility data for amorphous silica in 0.6 m NaCl.     

On cumulus-scale transport of horizontal momentum in monsoon depression over India

A diagnostie method of cumulus parameterization is suggested in which vertical transport of horizontal momentum by cumulus-scale is derived by making use of large-scale vorticity as well as divergence budget equations. Data for composite monsoon depression over India available from our earlier studies used to test the method. As a first approximation, the results are obtained using only the vorticity budget equation.The results show that in the southwest sector of the monsoon depression, which is characterized by maximum cloudiness and precipitation, there is an excess of cyclonic vorticity in the lower troposphere and anticyclonic vorticity in the upper troposphere associated with the large-scale motion. The distribution of eddy vertical transport of horizontal momentum is such that anticyclonic vorticity is generated in the lower troposphere and cyclonic vorticity aloft. Cumulus-scale eddies thus work against the large-scale system and tend to off-set the large-scale imbalance in vorticity.     

Magnetohydrodynamic simulations of gamma-ray burst jets: Beyond the progenitor star

Achromatic breaks in afterglow light curves of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) arise naturally if the product of the jet’s Lorentz factor $\gamma$ and opening angle ${\Theta }_j$ satisfies $\gamma {\Theta }_j?1$ at the onset of the afterglow phase, i.e., soon after the conclusion of the prompt emission. Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of collimated GRB jets generally give $\gamma {\Theta }_j?1$, suggesting that MHD models may be inconsistent with jet breaks. We work within the collapsar paradigm and use axisymmetric relativistic MHD simulations to explore the effect of a finite stellar envelope on the structure of the jet. Our idealized models treat the jet–envelope interface as a collimating rigid wall, which opens up outside the star to mimic loss of collimation. We find that the onset of deconfinement causes a burst of acceleration accompanied by a slight increase in the opening angle. In our fiducial model with a stellar radius equal to ${10}^{4.5}$ times that of the central compact object, the jet achieves an asymptotic Lorentz factor $\gamma ～500$ far outside the star and an asymptotic opening angle ${\Theta }_j?0.04\text{rad}?2°$, giving $\gamma {\Theta }_j～20$. These values are consistent with observations of typical long-duration GRBs, and explain the occurrence of jet breaks. We provide approximate analytic solutions that describe the numerical results well.     

On the anomalous precipitation enhancement over the Himalayan foothills during monsoon breaks

An intriguing feature associated with ‘breaks’ in the Indian summer monsoon is the occurrence of intense/flood-producing precipitation confined to central-eastern parts of the Himalayan (CEH) foothills and north-eastern parts of India. Past studies have documented various large-scale circulation aspects associated with monsoon-breaks, however the dynamical mechanisms responsible for anomalous precipitation enhancement over CEH foothills remain unclear. This problem is investigated using diagnostic analyses of observed and reanalysis products and high-resolution model simulations. The present findings show that the anomalous precipitation enhancement over the CEH foothills during monsoon-breaks emerges as a consequence of interactions between southward intruding mid-latitude westerly troughs and the South Asian monsoon circulation in its weak phase. These interactions facilitate intensification of mid-tropospheric cyclonic vorticity and strong ascending motion over the CEH foothills, so as to promote deep convection and concentrated rainfall activity over the region during monsoon-breaks. Mesoscale orographic effects additionally tend to amplify the vertical motions and precipitation over the CEH foothills as evidenced from the high-resolution model simulations. It is further noted from the model simulations that the coupling between precipitation and circulation during monsoon-breaks can produce nearly a threefold increase of total precipitation over the CEH foothills and neighborhood as opposed to active-monsoon conditions.     

Gauribidanur Low-Frequency Solar Spectrograph

A new radio spectrograph, dedicated to observe the Sun, has been recently commissioned by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) at the Gauribidanur Radio Observatory, about 100 km North of Bangalore. The instrument, called the Gauribidanur Low-frequency Solar Spectrograph (GLOSS), operates in the frequency range≈40?–?440 MHz. Radio emission in this frequency range originates close to the Sun, typically in the radial distance range r≈1.1?–?2.0 R_⊙. This article describes the characteristics of the GLOSS and the first results.     

Effect of sample pretreatment and size fraction on the δ18O and δ13C values of foraminifera in Arabian Sea sediments

Stable oxygen and carbon isotope ratios (δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C, respectively) of a planktonic foraminiferal species (Globigerinoides sacculifer) and marble carbonate were measured with and without a variety of pretreatments like ultrasonication, soaking in H₂O₂, methanol and roasting under vacuum. Additionally, organic matter - carbonate mixtures were also analysed with and without the above pretreatments. No significant difference was found in the isotope ratios of treated and untreated samples. It appears that most of the pretreatments may not be necessary when dealing with planktonic foraminifera, especially G. sacculifer. Analysis of two different size fractions (> 400 μm and 250–400 μm) of this species reveals that the smaller size fraction is enriched in ¹⁸O and depleted in ¹³C relative to the bigger size fraction. It is therefore necessary to choose a proper size fraction for isotopic analyses.     

Relationship between stable isotope ratios and drop size distribution in tropical rainfall

We carried out simultaneous measurements of drop size distribution (DSD) and stable oxygen and hydrogen isotopic compositions (??¹⁸O and ??D) of rain at the National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL), Gadanki (13.5°N, 79.2°E), southern India, during September?COctober 2006, with the aim of understanding microphysical processes leading to rain formation. The MST radar at NARL was operated continuously during rain events, while rain samples were collected at very short time intervals (<1?h), to capture small changes (>0.2?? and >2??) in their ??¹⁸O and ??D. The slope of the local meteoric water line (??D?C??¹⁸O line), was 8.07?±?0.47, similar to that of global meteoric water line, confirming that the precipitation occurred under isotopic equilibrium, and was unaffected by some anomalous process; further, the evaporation of rain drops at the cloud base was insignificant. Whenever the isotopic variations were larger during a rain event (>2??) there was a significant negative correlation between the ??¹⁸O and DSD. The possible explanation is that larger drops are mostly associated with convective rather than stratiform rain, and ¹⁸O (and D) depletion in convective rain is relatively more. Bin-resolved microphysical models incorporating water isotopologues could benefit by considering drop size spectra, which could improve the match with stable isotope observations of precipitation.