Superpenumbral chromospheric flare

We observed a C-class flare at the outer boundary of the superpenumbra of a sunspot. The flare was triggered by an emerging magnetic bipolar region that was obliquely oriented with respect to the superpenumbral fibrils. The flare started due to the low height magnetic reconnection of emerging magnetic flux with a superpenumbral field resulting in hot multi-temperature plasma flows in the inverse Evershed flow channel and its overlying atmosphere. Inverse Evershed flows in the chromosphere start from the superpenumbra towards the sunspot that end at the outer boundary of the penumbra. The hot plasma flow towards the sunspot in the inverse Evershed channels show about 10 km s~(-1) higher velocity in Hα wavelengths compared to the plasma emissions at various temperatures as seen in different AIA filters. Even though these velocities are about seven times higher than the typical inverse Evershed flow speeds, the flow is diminished at the outer boundary of the sunspot's penumbra. This suggests that the superpenumbral field lines that carry inverse Evershed flows are discontinued at the boundary where the penumbral field lines dive into the sun and these two sets of field lines are completely distinct. The discontinuity in the typical magnetic field and plasma properties at the adjoining of these two sets of field lines further leads to discontinuity in the characteristic magnetoacoustic and Alfv′en speeds, thereby stopping the plasma flows further on. The multi-temperature plasma in the inverse Evershed channels exhibits possible longitudinal oscillations initially during the onset of the flare, and later flows towards the sunspot. In the multi-temperature view, the different layers above the flare region have a mixture of supersonic as well as subsonic flows.     

Environment and Deep-Sea Mining: A Perspective

As the quest for deep-sea mineral resources is gaining momentum, environment and ocean mining have become important aspects of study. Because many of these deposits occur in international waters, the concern for environmental conservation in view of the effects of deep-sea mining is resulting in these effects being studied in different oceans, and efforts to develop regulations governing this exploitation are also underway at national and international levels. The impact assessment of deep-sea mining needs to encompass a variety of subjects, including environmental, socioeconomic, technological, and legal aspects. At the same time, effects of in situ environmental conditions on mining activities also need to be considered for effecient performance by the mining system. Differences in the degree of impact have been noticed during the mining simulation experiments by different investigating agencies. Therefore, interparameter comparisons, standardization of methods, and improvement in mining design are important considerations for proper utilization of resources, conservation of environment, and cost efficiency of the mining operations.     

The CLIVAR C20C project: which components of the Asian–Australian monsoon circulation variations are forced and reproducible?

A multi-model set of atmospheric simulations forced by historical sea surface temperature (SST) or SSTs plus Greenhouse gases and aerosol forcing agents for the period of 1950–1999 is studied to identify and understand which components of the Asian–Australian monsoon (A–AM) variability are forced and reproducible. The analysis focuses on the summertime monsoon circulations, comparing model results against the observations. The priority of different components of the A–AM circulations in terms of reproducibility is evaluated. Among the subsystems of the wide A–AM, the South Asian monsoon and the Australian monsoon circulations are better reproduced than the others, indicating they are forced and well modeled. The primary driving mechanism comes from the tropical Pacific. The western North Pacific monsoon circulation is also forced and well modeled except with a slightly lower reproducibility due to its delayed response to the eastern tropical Pacific forcing. The simultaneous driving comes from the western Pacific surrounding the maritime continent region. The Indian monsoon circulation has a moderate reproducibility, partly due to its weakened connection to June–July–August SSTs in the equatorial eastern Pacific in recent decades. Among the A–AM subsystems, the East Asian summer monsoon has the lowest reproducibility and is poorly modeled. This is mainly due to the failure of specifying historical SST in capturing the zonal land-sea thermal contrast change across the East Asia. The prescribed tropical Indian Ocean SST changes partly reproduce the meridional wind change over East Asia in several models. For all the A–AM subsystem circulation indices, generally the MME is always the best except for the Indian monsoon and East Asian monsoon circulation indices.     

The CLIVAR C20C project: selected twentieth century climate events

We use a simple methodology to test whether a set of atmospheric climate models with prescribed radiative forcings and ocean surface conditions can reproduce twentieth century climate variability. Globally, rapid land surface warming since the 1970s is reproduced by some models but others warm too slowly. In the tropics, air-sea coupling allows models to reproduce the Southern Oscillation but its strength varies between models. We find a strong relationship between the Southern Oscillation in global temperature and the rate of global warming, which could in principle be used to identify models with realistic climate sensitivity. This relationship and a weak response to ENSO suggests weak sensitivity to changes in sea surface temperature in some of the models used here. In the tropics, most models reproduce part of the observed Sahel drought. In the extratropics, models do not reproduce the observed increase in the North Atlantic Oscillation in response to forcings, through internal variability, or as a combination of both.     

Radioactive quartz-pebble conglomerates from western margin of Bonai granite pluton,Sundargarh district,Orissa — A new find

Several radioactive quartz-pebble conglomerate (QPC) occurrences at the western margin of Archaean Bonai granite and overlying Iron Ore Group (IOG) rocks have recently been located over a total strike length of 8–10 km intermittently in a NE-SW to E-W trend with steep dips due north-west to north in parts of Sundargarh district of Orissa. The QPC samples have analysed up to 0.039% U₃O₈ and 0.035% ThO₂ with high concentration of Y (74 to 518 ppm), La(<100 to 880 ppm), Cr ( 126 to 633 ppm), Zr (137 to 1250 ppm) and Pb (31 to 581 ppm). Cellulose Nitrate (CN) film studies of few QPC samples indicated adsorbed uranium over goethite and infiltrated ferruginous material (limonite), secondary uranium as encrustation and fracture filling and discrete sub-rounded grains of monazite, zircon, allanite and rare xenotime in the matrix of QPC as radioactive phases. Higher content of Th over U, elevated concentration of Y and La in QPC eliminates the possibility of its low temperature product by epigenetic processes. Poor correlation of U with elements like Pb, Y, Zr, La and Cr can be explained due to surficial leaching of uranium from QPC after its deposition as reflected by adsorbed U over iron-oxides and low U/Th ratio in QPC in the area.     

Coal correlation and intrabasinal differential subsidence — A case study from the Barakar Formation of Talchir Gondwana Basin,Orissa

In case of autocyclic sedimentation, direct relationship exists between net thickness of strata and number of coal cycles. Many of the coal basins including coal bearing Gondwana basins of India are good examples of autocyclic sedimentation, in which the cyclicity is attributed to intrabasinal differential subsidence of the basin floor. In the present work an attempt has been made to quantify the intrabasinal subsidence in a part of the Barakar Formation of the Talchir Gondwana basin. Eight undisturbed intervals were delineated in the Barakar stratigraphy. During different phases of sedimentation, different parts of the study area subsided with varying magnitudes. The areas of maximum subsidence accommodated thicker sediment column in comparison to the areas of slow subsidence rate.     

Primordial magnetic fields and formation of molecular hydrogen

We study the implications of primordial magnetic fields for the thermal and ionization history of the post-recombination era. In particular, we compute the effects of dissipation of primordial magnetic fields owing to ambipolar diffusion and decaying turbulence in the intergalactic medium (IGM) and the collapsing haloes, and compute the effects of the altered thermal and ionization history on the formation of molecular hydrogen. We show that, for magnetic field strengths in the range  2 × 10⁻¹⁰≲ B ₀≲ 2 × 10⁻⁹ G  , the molecular hydrogen fraction in IGM and collapsing halo can increase by a factor of 5 to 1000 over the case with no magnetic fields. We discuss the implication of the increased molecular hydrogen fraction on the radiative transfer of ultraviolet photons and the formation of first structures in the universe.     

Solution of a Riemann–Hilbert problem for a new expression of Chandrasekhar’s H-function in radiative transfer

The linear singular integral equation derived from the nonlinear integral equation of Chandrasekhar’s H-function in radiative transfer is considered here to develop a new form of H-function as a solution of a Riemann–Hilbert problem using Plemelj and Cauchy integral formulae for complex domain. This new form of H-function is a simple integral of known functions. Forms of H-function both for conservative and nonconservative cases are obtained. Their numerical evaluations are made by Simpson’s one-third rule to arrive at an accuracy to ninth places of decimals.