Ocean color reveals phase shift between marine plants and yellow substance

Daily high-resolution Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) images of the central North Atlantic Ocean (1998-2003) show that temporal changes in the absorption coefficient of colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) or "yellow substance" follow changes in phytoplankton pigment absorption coefficient in time. CDOM peaks (between January and March) and troughs (late summer and fall) followed pigment peaks and troughs by approximately two and four weeks, respectively. This phase shift is additional strong evidence that CDOM in the marine environment is derived from phytoplankton degradation. The common assumption of linear covariation between chlorophyll and CDOM is a simplification even in this ocean gyre. Due to the temporal changes in CDOM, chlorophyll concentration estimated based on traditional remote sensing band-ratio algorithms may be overestimated by about 10% during the spring bloom and underestimated by a similar 10% during the fall. These observations are only possible through use of synoptic, precise, accurate, and frequent measurements afforded by space-based sensors because in situ technologies cannot provide the required sensitivity or synoptic coverage to observe these natural phenomena.     

Observation of Microstructures in Planetary Nebulae

HST images of 5 Planetary nebulae showing small scale structures have been retrieved from the archives. For two PNe, NTT images were also available, and a double channel deconvolution technique applied to combine them to the HST images. A very precise flux calibration was performed on the HST images. Bow shocks and ionization effects are likely detected. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Visualization of three-dimensional datasets

The effective visualization of three-dimensional (3d) datasets, both observationally and computationally derived, is an increasing problem in solar physics. We present here plots of computational data derived from the 3d reconstruction of the magnetic field of a loop system, rendered as anaglyphs. By combining images of the same 3d object from two slightly different angles a realistic and useful 3d effect is obtained, aiding data visualization. The application of the same technique to real solar data (such as from the Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer (CDS) on board the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)) is discussed.     

AIR SURVEY COMES OF AGE IN THE ORDNANCE SURVEY OF IRELAND: 1965–1986

Since the mid-1960s, the Ordnance Survey of Ireland, whose headquarters are in Dublin, has undergone great technological change. This paper emphasises the photogrammetric aspects of that change and outlines how a sophisticated range of modern equipment is used in the supply of survey data for the Irish Republic.     

Northern Hemisphere sea ice simulations by global climate models

The study described here is a synthesis of global climate model projections of Northern Hemisphere sea ice through the end of the 21st century. The synthesis includes an enhancement of the informational content of the projections from a set of five global atmosphere-ocean-ice models. The adjustments are based on the systematic errors in the models' present-day simulations relative to the HadISST observational data set. All models show decreases of sea ice through the 21st century when forced by the B2 scenario of greenhouse gas and aerosol concentrations. However, the differences in the present-day ice coverage simulated by the models are sufficiently large that they dominate the across-model variances of the projected ice extents. The adjustments based on the present-day biases remove much of the spread among the projections. The decreases of the adjusted ice extent by the year 2100 range from about 12% to about 46%. The percentage decreases are larger in summer than in winter; much of the Arctic Ocean is ice-free at the time of the summer ice minimum by the year 2099.     

Across‐axis variations in petrophysical properties of the North Porcupine Basin,offshore Ireland: New insights from long‐streamer traveltime tomography

The Porcupine Basin is a Mesozoic failed rift located in the North Atlantic margin, SW of Ireland, in which a postrift phase of extensional faulting and reactivation of synrift faults occurred during the Mid–Late Eocene. Fault zones are known to act as either conduits or barriers for fluid flow and to contribute to overpressure. Yet, little is known about the distribution of fluids and their relation to the tectono‐stratigraphic architecture of the Porcupine Basin. One way to tackle this aspect is by assessing seismic (V_p) and petrophysical (e.g., porosity) properties of the basin stratigraphy. Here, we use for the first time in the Porcupine Basin 10‐km‐long‐streamer data to perform traveltime tomography of first arrivals and retrieve the 2D V_p structure of the postrift sequence along a ~130‐km‐long EW profile across the northern Porcupine Basin. A new V_p–density relationship is derived from the exploration wells tied to the seismic line to estimate density and bulk porosity of the Cenozoic postrift sequence from the tomographic result. The V_p model covers the shallowest 4 km of the basin and reveals a steeper vertical velocity gradient in the centre of the basin than in the flanks. This variation together with a relatively thick Neogene and Quaternary sediment accumulation in the centre of the basin suggests higher overburden pressure and compaction compared to the margins, implying fluid flow towards the edges of the basin driven by differential compaction. The V_p model also reveals two prominent subvertical low‐velocity bodies on the western margin of the basin. The tomographic model in combination with the time‐migrated seismic section shows that whereas the first anomaly spatially coincides with the western basin‐bounding fault, the second body occurs within the hangingwall of the fault, where no major faulting is observed. Porosity estimates suggest that this latter anomaly indicates pore overpressure of sandier Early–Mid Eocene units. Lithological well control together with fault displacement analysis suggests that the western basin‐bounding fault can act as a hydraulic barrier for fluids migrating from the centre of the basin towards its flanks, favouring fluid compartmentalization and overpressure of sandier units of its hangingwall.     

Adaptive base-isolation of civil structures using variable amplification

Semi-active dampers are used in base-isolation to reduce the seismic response of civil engineering structures. In the present study, a new semi-active damping system using variable amplification will be investigated for adaptive baseisolation. It uses a novel variable amplification device （VAD） connected in series with a passive damper. The VAD is capable of producing multiple amplification factors, each corresponding to a different amplification state. Forces from the damper are amplified to the structure according to the current amplification state, which is selected via a semi-active control algorithm specifically tailored to the system＇s tmique damping characteristics. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the VAD-damper system for adaptive base-isolation, numerical simulations are conducted for three and seven-story base-isolated buildings subject to both far and near-field ground motions. The results indicate that the system can achieve significant reductions in response compared to the base-isolated buildings with no damper. The proposed system is also found to perform well compared to a typical semi-active damper.     

Simulation of rock failure modes in thermal spallation drilling

Acta Geotechnica - Thermal spallation drilling is a contact-less means of borehole excavation that works by exposing a rock surface to a high-temperature jet flame. In this study, we investigate...     

Measurement of ocean wave spectra using narrow-beam HE radar

A data interpretation algorithm is developed to extract ocean wave information from HF radar backscatter observed by a narrow-beam antenna system. The basis of this measurement is the inversion of the integral equation representing the second-order radar cross section of the ocean surface. This equation is numerically inverted by approximating it as a matrix equation and pseudoinverting the kernel matrix using a singular value decomposition. As a test of this algorithm, comparisons are made between wave spectrum estimates obtained from a WAVEC buoy and a pair of 25.4-MHz ground wave radars, using data collected during the 1986 Canadian Atlantic Storms Program (CASP). Overall, the results of this experiment have been positive and have demonstrated both the basic feasibility of the inversion algorithm and the wave sensing capability of HF radar. For example, significant wave height estimates deduced by two radars differed from the buoy, in an absolute value sense, by only 0.12 m on average. When using only one radar, the mean difference of this important parameter from the buoy was a reasonable 0.33 m     

A portable rainfall simulator for field assessment of splash and slopewash in remote locations

This paper describes the design, operation and performance of a field‐portable ‘drip‐type’ simulator and erosion measurement system. The system was constructed specifically for soil erosion research in the humid tropics and has been used extensively in Malaysian Borneo. The simulator is capable of producing replicable storms of up to 200 mm h^?1 intensity and 20–30 minutes duration with a drop‐size distribution close to that of natural storms of such intensity (D₅₀ of simulated rainfall is 4·15 mm at 200 mm h^?1 and 3·65 mm at 160 mm h^?1, D⁵⁰ measured during natural rainfall = 3·25 mm). The simulator is portable and simply constructed and operates without a motor or electronics, thus making it particularly useful in remote, mountainous areas. The erosion measurement system allows assessment of: (1) rainsplash detachment and net downslope transport from the erosion plot; (2) slopewash (erosion transported by overland flow); and (3) infiltration capacity and overland flow. The performance of the simulator–erosion system compared with previous systems is assessed with reference to experiments carried out in primary and regenerating tropical rainforest at Danum Valley (Malaysian Borneo). The system was found to compare favourably with previous field simulators, producing a total storm kinetic energy of 727 J m^?2 (over a 20‐minute storm event) and a kinetic energy rate of 0·61 J m^?2 s^?1, approximately half that experienced on the ground during a natural rainfall event of similar intensity, despite the shorter distance to the ground. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.