Analysis of rainfall causal relationships in the Sudan

Monthly rainfalls of the main rainy period (April – October) in Sudan are quantitatively related to atmospheric factors which include vertical atmospheric motion and the depth of maritime SW winds. Other atmospheric properties which are studied in relation to rainfall include the thermal and moisture factors. From these specified factors a logical consideration of cause and effect is made with respect to rainfall over the Sudan as a whole. Multiple regression analysis has been used as a valuable tool in such analysis of causal relationships. It is also a useful technique by which to obtain reasonable estimates of rainfall for areas without rain gauges, and to assess the relative importance of causative factors of the rainfall amounts and spatial variations. Other statistical techniques used for examining the causal analysis are those of simple, partial and multiple correlation coefficients.     

The construction of a third order secular

In this part we find out the 24 equations of secular perturbation equations for the subsystem J-S-U-N. The solution of these equations by the Lagrange-Laplace procedure and the Eigen value Eigen vector is analysed. Also we refer to Hurwitz theorem to test stability.     

On the elimination of the critical term in a general first-order Uranus-Neptune theory

A solution of the Uranus-Neptune planetary canonical equations of motion through the Von Zeipel technique is presented. A unique determinging function which depends upon mixed canonical variables, reduces the 12 critical terms of the Hamiltonian to the set of its secular terms. The Poincaré canonical variables are used. We refer to a common fixed plane, and apply the Jacobi-Radau set of origins. In our expansion we neglected terms of power higher than the fourth with respect to the eccentricities and sines of the inclinations.     

Nonlinear effects on the distribution of crest-to-trough wave heights

The statistical distribution of the crest-to-trough heights of narrowband nonlinear sea waves is derived in a semi-closed form. A quantitative comparison of the resulting density and exceedance probability distributions with those of the linear theory is given. It is shown that the nonlinearity of waves, even with steepnesses typical of extreme sea states, has an insignificant influence on the distribution of crest-to-trough heights.     

Calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy and paleoecology of the Cenomanian – Turonian transition in the Tarfaya Basin, southern Morocco

An abundant and diverse nannoflora occurs across the Cenomanian/Turonian (C/T) boundary at Tazra in the Tarfaya Basin of southern Morocco. The nannoflora of this sequence permits recognition of three biozones (CC10-CC12), three subzones (CC10a, CC10b and CC10c), and thirteen important nannolith bioevents previously reported from this interval elsewhere. The floral record shows erratic species abundance fluctuations that clearly vary with lithology and reflect at least in part preservational bias and diagenetic processes. In general, four dissolution resistant taxa are dominant: Watznaueria barnesae, Eiffellithus turriseiffelii, Eprolithus floralis, and Zeugrhabdotus spp. The late Cenomanian Zone CC10 marks a rapid excursion in ∂¹³C and is characterized by the successive extinction of four taxa, which are widely recognized as reliable biomarkers: Corollithion kennedyi, Axopodorhabdus albianus, Lithraphidites acutus, and Helenea chiastia. This interval is also marked by high species richness and high abundance of the tropical species Watznaueria barnesae, suggesting warm tropical waters. The subsequent ∂¹³C plateau and organic carbon-rich black shale deposition of the oceanic anoxic event (OAE2) is characterized by low species richness, but high nannofossil abundance, and peak abundance of the cool water and high productivity indicator Zeugrhabdotus spp., followed by the first peak abundance of cool water Eprolithus floralis. This interval correlates with the planktic foraminiferal diversity minimum and the Heterohelix shift, which marks the expansion of the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ). The C/T boundary is identified based on the FO of Quadrum gartneri, which is <1 m below the FO of the planktic foraminifer C/T marker Helvetoglobotruncana helvetica. In the early and middle Turonian, the two dominant species, tropical W. barnesae and cool water E. floralis, alternate in abundance and suggest fluctuating climatic conditions.     

Assessment of organic pollutants in coastal sediments, UAE

Twenty-five stations were selected along the UAE coastal region to delineate the distribution and to determine the source of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH), total organic carbon (TOC), total Kjeldhal nitrogen (TKN), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The concentrations of TPH ranged between 46 and 223 mg/kg and the level of TOC was in the range from 0.044 to 17.8 wt%, while TPAHs occupied the range of 5–102.2 μg/kg. On the other hand, TPCBs showed values between 60 and 205 μg/kg and TKN ranged from 104 to 1,073 mg/kg. The present study shows that the distribution of organic compounds in UAE sediments were within safe limits comparing with previous studies. The present study revealed that TOC can be used as an indicator of oil pollution in heavily oiled sediments. The highest values of TOC, TPH, TPAHs and TPCBs related to the stations covered in fine sand due to adsorption properties and the large surface areas of the grains. The evaporation of low-boiling point compounds from surface layers leads to the enrichment of sediments with a thick residual. Al Sharjah-1 exhibited the highest values of TPH and TOC at Ras Al-Khaima-5, Umm Al-Quwen-1 and Dubai-1, while the highest values of TPAHs were at KhorFakkan-9, the highest value of TPCBs was at Ajman-2, and the highest values of TKN were at KhorFakkan-1, KhorFakkan-6 and Dubai-1.     

Integrated stratigraphy and <Superscript>40</Superscript>Ar/<Superscript>39</Superscript>Ar chronology of the Early to Middle Miocene Upper Freshwater Molasse in eastern Bavaria (Germany)

A detailed integrated stratigraphic study was carried out on middle Miocene fluvial successions of the Upper Freshwater Molasse (OSM) from the North Alpine Foreland Basin, in eastern Bavaria, Germany. The biostratigraphic investigations yielded six new localities thereby refining the OSM biostratigraphy for units C to E (sensu; Heissig, Actes du Congres BiochroM’97. Mem Trav EPHE, Inst Montpellier 21, 1997) and further improving biostratigraphic correlations between the different sections throughout eastern Bavaria. Radioisotopic ages of 14.55 ± 0.19 and 14.88 ± 0.11 Ma have been obtained for glass shards from the main bentonite horizon and the Ries impactite: two important stratigraphic marker beds used for confirming our magnetostratigraphic calibration to the Astronomical Tuned Neogene Time Scale (ATNTS04; Lourens et al. in Geologic Time Scale 2004, Cambridge University Press, 2004). Paleomagnetic analysis was performed using alternating field (AF) and thermal (TH) demagnetization methods. The AF method revealed both normal and reverse polarities but proofs to yield unreliable ChRM directions for the Puttenhausen section. Using the biostratigraphic information and radioisotopic ages, the magnetostratigraphic records of the different sections are tentatively correlated to the Astronomical Tuned Neogene Time Scale (ATNTS04; Lourens et al. in Geologic Time Scale 2004, Cambridge University Press, 2004). This correlation implies that the main bentonite horizon coincides to chron C5ADn, which is corroborated by its radioisotopic age of 14.55 Ma, whereas the new fossil locality Furth 460, belonging to OSM unit E, probably correlates to chron C5Bn.1r. The latter correlation agrees well with the Swiss Molasse locality Frohberg. Correlations of the older sections are not straightforward. The Brock horizon, which comprises limestone ejecta from the Ries impact, possibly correlates to C5ADr (14.581–14.784 Ma), implying that, although within error, the radioisotopic age of 14.88 ± 0.11 Ma is somewhat too old. The fossil localities in Puttenhausen, belonging to the older part of OSM unit C, probably coincide with chron C5Cn.2n or older, which is older than the correlations established for the Swiss Molasse. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi: ) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

塔克拉玛干沙漠不同区域土壤热通量变化比较

选取塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地塔中地区和北缘过渡带肖塘地区2013年土壤热通量观测资料,初步比较分析了塔克拉玛干沙漠两种下垫面的土壤热通量变化特征。结果表明：(1)在日变化尺度上,两个站点都有明显的日变化特征,1月份塔中站土壤热通量日平均变化幅度小于肖塘站,日较差分别为58.9 W.m2和72.4 W.m2,4月份两站土壤热通量变化幅度较为接近,日较差分别为88.1W.m2、100.1 W.m2。7、10月份塔中站土壤热通量变化幅度明显高于肖塘站,日较差分别为99.0 W.m2、53.7W.m2,100.3 W.m2、73.3W.m2。(2)不同天气条件下两个站点土壤热通量变化都有很大差异。晴天,塔中站和肖塘站土壤热通量变化都呈现出单峰型,变化幅度较一致,日较差分别为119.7 W.m2、119.1 W.m2。沙尘天和雨天受云层或降水的影响土壤热通量变化波动较大,沙尘天塔中站变化幅度小于肖塘站,日较差分别为83.6 W.m2、133.1 W.m2;雨天塔中站和肖塘站变化幅度都很剧烈,日较差分别为70.6 W.m2、66.6 W.m2。(3)年变化尺度上,塔中站土壤热通量在7月份达到最大值(7.7 W.m2),在11月出现最小值(-5.3 W.m2),肖塘站7月份出现最大值(4.2 W.m2),11月份出现最小值(-10.2 W.m2)。塔中站和肖塘站土壤热通量年总量差异很大,塔中站为16.8 W.m2,能量由大气向土壤传递,土壤为热汇,而肖塘站则为-34.9 W.m2,能量由土壤向大气传播,土壤表现为热源。