On the Anomalous Behaviour of Scalar Flux–Variance Similarity Functions Within the Canopy Sub-layer of a Dense Alpine Forest

Within the canopy sub-layer (CSL), variability in scalar sources and sinks are known to affect flux–variance (FV) similarity relationships for water vapour (q) and carbon dioxide (C) concentrations, yet large-scale processes may continue to play a significant role. High frequency time series data for temperature (T), q and C, collected within the CSL of an uneven-aged mixed coniferous forest in Lavarone, Italy, are used to investigate these processes within the context of FV similarity. This dataset suggests that MOST scaling describes the FV similarity function of T even though the observations are collected in the CSL, consistent with other studies. However, the measured FV similarity functions for q and C appear to have higher values than their temperature counterpart. Two hypotheses are proposed to explain the measured anomalous behaviour in the FV similarity functions for q and C when referenced to T. Respired CO₂ from the forest floor leads to large positive excursions in the C time series at the canopy top thereby contributing significantly to both C variance increase and C vertical flux decrease—both leading to an anomalous increase in the FV similarity function. For q, transport of dry air from the outer-layer significantly increases both the variance and the water vapour flux. However, the expected flux increase is much smaller than the variance increase so that the net effect remains an increase in the measured FV similarity function for water vapour above its T counterpart. The hypothesis here is that identifying these events in the temporal and/or in the frequency domain and filtering them from the C and q time series partially recovers a scalar flow field that appears to follow FV similarity theory scaling. Methods for identifying both types of events in the time and frequency domains and their subsequent effects on the FV similarity functions and corollary flow variables, such as the relative transport efficiencies, are also explored.     

Anomalous fluid emission of a deep borehole in a seismically active area of Northern Apennines (Italy)

The Miano borehole, 1047 m deep, is located close to the river Parma in the Northern Apennines, Italy. A measuring station has been installed to observe the discharge of fluids continuously since November 2004. The upwelling fluid of this artesian well is a mixture of thermal water and CH₄ as main components. In non-seismogenic areas, a relatively constant fluid emission would be expected, perhaps overlaid with long term variations from that kind of deep reservoir over time. However, the continuous record of the fluid emission, in particular the water discharge, the gas flow rate and the water temperature, show periods of stable values interrupted by anomalous periods of fluctuations in the recorded parameters. The anomalous variations of these parameters are of low amplitude in comparison to the total values but significant in their long-term trend. Meteorological effects due to rain and barometric pressure were not detected in recorded data probably due to reservoir depth and relatively high reservoir overpressure. Influences due to the ambient temperature after the discharge were evaluated by statistical analysis. Our results suggest that recorded changes in fluid emission parameters can be interpreted as a mixing process of different fluid components at depth by variations in pore pressure as a result of seismogenic stress variation. Local seismicity was analyzed in comparison to the fluid physico-chemical data. The analysis supports the idea that an influence on fluid transport conditions due to geodynamic processes exists. Water temperature data show frequent anomalies probably connected with possible precursory phenomena of local seismic events.     

Foraminifera from the early Danian intertrappean beds in Rajahmundry quarries,Andhra Pradesh

Intertrappean beds exposed between upper and lower traps of the Government and Sunnamrayalu quarries of Rajahmundry were analyzed based on benthic and planktic foraminifera, ostracodes and algae observed in thin sections. Planktic foraminifera indicate deposition occurred in the early Danian Parvularugoglobigerina eugubina (P1a) zone shortly after deposition of the lower trap flows. The most diverse planktic assemblages were deposited in limestones of the middle intertrappean interval and indicate an upper P1a age, or subzone P1a(2), as marked by the co-occurrence of P. eugubina, Globoconusa daubjergensis, Parasubbotina pseudobulloides and Subbotina triloculinoides. Reworked late Maastrichtian planktic foraminifera are common in a limestone interval and suggest erosion of uplifted Cretaceous sediments. Benthic foraminiferal assemblages indicate deposition occurred predominantly in shallow inner shelf to brackish environments. Similarly, ostracodes indicate variable environments ranging from inner neritic to brackish with fresh water influx, as also indicated by the presence of fresh water algae. These data confirm an overall deepening from restricted shallow marine to estuarine, lagoonal and finally open marine conditions followed by abrupt emersion and paleosoil deposition prior to the arrival of the upper trap flows at or near the base of C29n.     

Sequence stratigraphy of Soma quarry section,near Gowripatnam,Rajahmundry area,Andhra Pradesh

An attempt is made to work out the sequence stratigraphic frame work of Infra and Intertrappean beds exposed in Soma quarry section, near Gowripatnam, Rajahmundry area to understand the mode of depositional process in the basin by integrating litho and biostratigraphic data. The study documents the field data to recognize some of sequence parameters in the field. The sequence stratigraphic study shows the Sequence Boundary, Transgressive Systems Tract (TST), three shallowing upward sequence, Maximum Flooding Surface (MFS) and Highstand Systems Tract (HST) deposits got exposed as a result of basinal rise and fall.     

Estimation of infiltration rate,run-off and sediment yield under simulated rainfall experiments in upper Pravara Basin,India: Effect of slope angle and grass-cover

The main objective of this study is to measure the effect of slope and grass-cover on infiltration rate, run-off and sediment yield under simulated rainfall conditions in a badland area located in the upper Pravara Basin in western India. An automatic rainfall simulator was designed following Dunne et al (1980) and considering the local conditions. Experiments were conducted on six selected experimental fields of 2 × 2m within the catchment with distinct variations in surface characteristics — grass-covered area with gentle slope, recently ploughed gently sloping area, area covered by crop residue (moderate slope), bare badland with steep slope, gravelly surface with near flat slope and steep slope with grass-cover. The results indicate subtle to noteworthy variations amongst the plots depending on their slope angle and surface characteristics. An important finding that emerges from the study is that the grass-cover is the most effective measure in inducing infiltration and in turn minimizing run-off and sediment yield. Sediment yields are lowest in gently sloping grass-covered surfaces and highest in bare badland surfaces with steep slopes. These findings have enormous implication for this area, because over 2/3 area is characterized by bare and steep slopes.     

Swift observations of CSS081007:030559+054715

CSS081007:030559+054715 was discovered by the Catalina Real‐time Transient Survey. Optical spectroscopy revealed a multi‐peaked Hα emission line profile with radial velocities exceeding 1500 km/s, as well as strong Ne emission, suggestive of a neon nova. We monitored the source extensively with the Swift satellite, obtaining a unique dataset spanning 270 days in the soft X‐ray and UV bands. The data reveal a soft, blackbody‐like spectrum with a temperature around 55 eV (though dependent on the modelling), variable X‐ray and UV light curves with a 1.77 day period in both the X‐ray and UV bands, a longer timescale modulation of ∼ 50 days, followed by a slowly declining trend in the soft X‐ray and UV flux. We highlight the Swift observations and their implications for the SSS nature of this object (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Beginning of the super‐soft phase of the classical nova V2491 Cygni

We present the results of soft X‐ray studies of the classical nova V2491 Cygni using the Suzaku observatory. On day 29 after outburst, a soft X‐ray component with a peak at ∼0.5 keV has appeared, which is tantalising evidence for the beginning of the super‐soft X‐ray emission phase. We show that an absorbed blackbody model can describe the observed spectra, yielding a temperature of 57 eV, neutral hydrogen column density of 2 × 10²¹ cm^–2, and a bolometric luminosity of ∼10³⁶ erg s^–1. However, at the same time, we also found a good fit with an absorbed thin‐thermal plasma model, yielding a temperature of 0.1 keV, neutral hydrogen column density of 4 × 10²¹ cm^–2, and a volume emission measure of ∼10⁵⁸ cm^–3. Owing to low spectral resolution and low signal‐to‐noise ratio below 0.6 keV, the statistical parameter uncertainties are large, but the ambiguity of the two very different models demonstrates that the systematic errors are the main point of concern. The thin‐thermal plasma model implies that the soft emission originates from optically thin ejecta, while the blackbody model suggests that we are seeing optically thick emission from the white dwarf (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The cool companion of AA Doradus—Brown dwarf or late M star?

AA Dor is one of only seven known eclipsing binaries consisting of a hot subdwarf star and a low-mass companion. Although AA Dor has been studied in many investigations, a controversy about the nature of its companion persists. Is it a brown dwarf or a low-mass main sequence star? We reanalyse high resolution spectra using metal enhanced LTE model atmospheres. The optical spectra are polluted by reflected light from the companion. Using spectra taken during secondary eclipse, we derive atmospheric parameters consistent with results from the light curve. For the first time we achieve a self-consistent solution that matches all available observations, i.e. the light and radial velocity curves, as well as the atmospheric parameters. The resulting masses $M_{1}=0.510^{+0.125}_{-0.108}\ \mathrm{M}_{\odot}$ and $M_{2}=0.085^{+0.031}_{-0.023}\ \mathrm{M}_{\odot}$ are consistent with the canonical mass of an sdB star and a low-mass main sequence star. However, a brown dwarf companion cannot be excluded.     

The HYPER-MUCHFUSS project—target selection and analysis

The HYPER-MUCHFUSS project targets a population of high velocity subluminous B stars to discover either close binaries with massive unseen companions or hyper-velocity stars. Our starting point is the enormous database of SDSS. We preselected sdO/B candidates by colour and classified them by visual inspection of their spectra. We measured the radial velocity from the coadded SDSS spectra, which serves as first epoch measurement. Stars with high Galactic rest-frame velocities were selected and second epoch observations were obtained starting in 2007 at several sites. For the brighter targets we also included the SDSS individual spectra as additional information. In the course of our survey we observed 88 out of 265 stars from our target list. We discovered 39 HVS candidates as well as 49 close binaries. In addition we analysed all single spectra of sdBs from SDSS and found 120 close binaries. For the targets with constant RVs we performed a proper motion analysis with the highest possible accuracy from the available digitised photographic plates. Together with the analysed spectra and the calculation of the spectroscopic distance, we calculated complete trajectories and deduced the origins of these stars. Targets with high RV variability on short timescales were selected for follow-up. Numerical simulations based on the period and companion mass distribution of the known sdB binary sample were carried out to optimise the target selection and single out candidate binaries with massive companions. The follow-up campaign using WHT/ISIS and CAHA-3.5m/TWIN started in 2009.