Multispectral imaging observations of Neptune’s cloud structure with Gemini-North

Observations of Neptune were made in September 2009 with the Gemini-North Telescope in Hawaii, using the NIFS instrument in the H-band covering the wavelength range 1.477–1.803 μm. Observations were acquired in adaptive optics mode and have a spatial resolution of approximately 0.15–0.25″.The observations were analysed with a multiple-scattering retrieval algorithm to determine the opacity of clouds at different levels in Neptune’s atmosphere. We find that the observed spectra at all locations are very well fit with a model that has two thin cloud layers, one at a pressure level of ∼2 bar all over the planet and an upper cloud whose pressure level varies from 0.02 to 0.08 bar in the bright mid-latitude region at 20–40°S to as deep as 0.2 bar near the equator. The opacity of the upper cloud is found to vary greatly with position, but the opacity of the lower cloud deck appears remarkably uniform, except for localised bright spots near 60°S and a possible slight clearing near the equator.A limb-darkening analysis of the observations suggests that the single-scattering albedo of the upper cloud particles varies from ∼0.4 in regions of low overall albedo to close to 1.0 in bright regions, while the lower cloud is consistent with particles that have a single-scattering albedo of ∼0.75 at this wavelength, similar to the value determined for the main cloud deck in Uranus’ atmosphere. The Henyey-Greenstein scattering particle asymmetry of particles in the upper cloud deck are found to be in the range g ∼ 0.6–0.7 (i.e. reasonably strongly forward scattering).Numerous bright clouds are seen near Neptune’s south pole at a range of pressure levels and at latitudes between 60 and 70°S. Discrete clouds were seen at the pressure level of the main cloud deck (∼2 bar) at 60°S on three of the six nights observed. Assuming they are the same feature we estimate the rotation rate at this latitude and pressure to be 13.2 ± 0.1 h. However, the observations are not entirely consistent with a single non-evolving cloud feature, which suggests that the cloud opacity or albedo may vary very rapidly at this level at a rate not seen in any other giant-planet atmosphere.     

Physical conditions in the convective envelope of stars

Summary The mechanical flux originating in the convective envelope of stars is shown to depend critically by the treatment of convection. In particular, in the framework of the mixing-length theory, in passing from a mixing lengthl=H _P to a mixing lengthl=H the presence of mechanical fluxes shifts from being a marginal phenomenon to a dominant one.Possible implications concerning atmospheric microturbulence in Main Sequence stars, as so asA _p andA _m stars, several types of variables and mass loss are briefly discussed.

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Sommario Si mostra come il flusso cinetico originato negli inviluppi convettivi di una stella dipenda criticamente dalle assunzioni fatte nel trattamento della convezione superadiabatica. In particolare, sulla base della teoria della lunghezza di rimescolamento, a seconda che si assumal=H _P o l=H i flussi cinetici passano dall'essere un fenomeno marginale a contributi determinanti.E' discussa una serie di possibili implicazioni riguardanti la microturbolenza atmosferica in stelle di sequenza principale, le stelleA _p eA _m, diversi tipi di variabili e la perdita di massa in fase di gigante.

     

Petrogenesis of Cenezoic volcanic rocks from the Aegean island arc

The Aegean volcanic arc formed in response to northeasterly subduction of the Mediterranean sea floor beneath the Aegean Sea. The active arc lies over 250 km from the Hellenic Trench in a region which has suffered considerable extension and subsidence since the mid-Tertiary. Suites of samples from the different volcanic centres making up the arc have been studied geochemically in order to assess lateral variations and to constrain the contribution of crustal contamination and sediment subduction in their petrogenesis.Lavas from all the major volcanic centres exhibit typical calc-alkaline major-element characteristics, and show enrichment in light REE and LIL elements but low contents of HFS elements. The enrichment in light REE is greater in the eastern (Nisyros, Kos) and western (Milos, Poros, Methana, Aegina) sectors of the arc (Ce_n/Yb_n=4) than in the central Santorini sector (Ce_n/Yb_n=2). All lavas have significant negative Eu anomalies and many have slight negative Ce anomalies. Less coherence is observed in the abundances and ratios of the other LIL elements, compared with the REE, along the island chain.Whereas the effects of crystal fractionation are evident in the trace-element patterns of lavas from individual islands, and are particularly well marked for Santorini, it is clear that there are consistent differences in trace-element abundances and ratios in the lavas of the various islands which reflect compositional differences in the mantle source and/or in melting conditions. Lavas from the eastern and western sectors have much higher levels of Ba and Sr but relatively lower Th, K and Rb than those from Santorini. Although some geochemical features could be explained through involvement of a component of subducted sediment in the source regions of the volcanoes, other element abundances and ratios indicate that this component must be very small. Detailed consideration of the inter-island geochemical variations suggests a complex make-up of the underlying lithosphere, resulting from a long history of subduction. In the region of Santorini, where crustal stretching is greatest, the underlying asthenosphere may be involved in magma production.     

西沙群岛基底火山碎屑岩中单斜辉石的矿物化学特征及其地质意义

本文利用电子探针对南海西沙群岛琛航岛珊瑚礁底部火山碎屑岩中的单斜辉石矿物的化学特征进行了研究。结果表明,该单斜辉石属于富钙透辉石,部分有正环带结构,从核部到边部Ca、Fe、Ti的含量逐渐增加,是岩浆正常结晶顺序的反映,说明该区域的岩浆演化是向着富Ca、Fe、Ti方向发展的。主量元素数据显示,单斜辉石具有低Si高Al的特征(SiO₂=41.40%～48.44%,Al₂O₃=5.54%～10.20%),且AlⅣ含量较高,说明母岩浆为不饱和碱性岩浆系列;此外,单斜辉石Ca含量偏高,Ca/(Ca+Mg+Fe)值在46.1%～51.4%之间,推测是母岩浆的高Ca含量导致了大量高钙辉石的产出。结合西沙海域的地震和构造资料,推测琛航岛珊瑚礁的基底是玄武质火山碎屑岩组成的平顶状海山,系岩浆穿过断裂发育的岩石圈层在西沙群岛的海底喷发,随后火山碎屑物质经过堆积、固结作用而形成;该火山碎屑岩的原岩为板内碱性玄武岩。     

Influence of North Atlantic Oscillation on Moscow Climate Continentality

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - The natural variability of regional climatic conditions poses certain difficulties in detecting global climate change at a local scale. The question...     

基于自动探测方法的南海北部涡致海表温度锋面的特征研究

南海北部具有丰富的温度锋面和中尺度涡,它们调节着局地的热量和能量平衡。本文利用卫星海洋高度异常和海表温度数据,并基于自动探测方法,探究了2007年至2017年南海北部中尺度涡边缘的海表温度锋面（涡致锋面）特征。反气旋/气旋边缘出现锋面的概率可达20%。气旋涡在各个方向上出现锋面的概率比较均匀,反气旋涡的东北部和西南部出现锋面的概率大于西北部和东南部。中尺度涡致锋面的数量有明显的季节变化,而涡动能未表现出明显的季节变化。中尺度涡致锋区的总涡动能是中尺度涡内动能的3倍,并且反气旋涡致锋面的总涡动能明显强于气旋涡致锋面的总涡动能。中尺度涡致锋面的数量和涡动能的年际变化与厄尔尼诺南方涛动指数没有明显的相关性。本研究也讨论了中尺度涡致锋面的可能机制,但是中尺度涡对海表温度锋的贡献需要进一步定量研究。     

经验模式分解对恒电量瞬态响应信号的预处理

应用经验模式分解（EMD）将恒电量瞬态响应信号分解为不同时间尺度的内在模函数（IMF）分量。去除其中的小时间尺度的干扰噪声分量。然后经过拉普拉斯变换获得恒电量频谱以研究电化学腐蚀过程。     

Atmospheric temperature sounding with the Fourier spectrometer

Preliminary results of a space experiment using the IKFS-2 infrared sounder (Meteor-M2 satellite) showed high-quality of measurements of spectra of the outgoing thermal radiation of the atmosphere–surface system and the adequacy of developed IR radiation atmospheric models in the 15-μm carbon gas absorption band used to recover the vertical profiles of the atmospheric temperature. Outgoing radiation spectra measured by IKFS-2 instruments make it possible to restore vertical temperature profiles with errors close to 1K in most of the 0–30 km high-altitude region, except for the lower troposphere and altitudes above 30 km, where these errors are close to 2–3K.     

Estimation of physical efficiency of hail protection accounting for changes in hail climatology

Results are considered of study of climate global warming effects on hail climatology and on technique of estimation of physical efficiency of hail protection taking account of the region hail danger trend. It is found that during last 30 years, occurrence frequency of hail and the number of heavy hailstorms in the mountainous areas of the Northern Caucasus decreased, on average, by a factor of 1.5–2, and in the foothill areas increased by 15–20%. It is shown that efficiency of hail protection works should be estimated taking into account the hail danger trend for each region.     

低纬高原气候季节变化特征研究——以云南昆明大理为例

依据《气候季节划分》标准,选取我国低纬高原地区2个典型旅游城市——昆明和大理,进行了气候季节平均态,季节开始日期及长度变化,春分、夏至、秋分、冬至节气气温演变分析。（1） 昆明、大理是高原“无夏区”,一年仅有春、秋、冬三季,属“春秋型”城市,春、秋季为295 d和290 d,占全年的80.8%和79.5%。（2） 随着气候变暖,昆明、大理春、秋、冬三季比例发生了改变,春、秋季增加,冬季缩短,昆明变化幅度强于大理。（3） 昆明、大理春季始于2月9日和2月10日,春季长度为117 d和123 d;秋季始于6月7日和6月13日,秋季长度为178 d和167 d;冬季始于12月1日和11月27日,冬季长度为70 d和76 d;昆明、大理“春常在、秋长驻、冬短暂”特征显著。（4） 近60年来,昆明、大理春季开始日呈提早趋势,秋季开始日呈稍推迟趋势,冬季开始日呈推迟趋势;昆明、大理春季长度增加;昆明秋季长度略增加,大理秋季长度略减少;昆明、大理冬季长度减少。（5） 昆明、大理春分节令日气温阀值为14.8 ℃和14.2 ℃,夏至为20.3 ℃和20.5 ℃,秋分为17.4 ℃和17.5 ℃,冬至均为7.9 ℃;与我国东部季风区的北京和上海相比,昆明、大理在春分、夏至、秋分、冬至四个节令上具有“春暖、夏凉、秋爽、冬暖”特征;近60年来,四个节令日气温年际变化呈升高趋势,尤以春分、秋分增暖显著。