Geomagnetic induction in a heterogeneous sphere: fully three-dimensional test computations and the response of a realistic distribution of oceans and continents

Long-period geomagnetic data can resolve large-scale 3-D mantle electrical conductivity heterogeneities which are indicators of physiochemical variations found in the Earth's dynamic mantle. A prerequisite for mapping such heterogeneity is the ability to model accurately electromagnetic induction in a heterogeneous sphere. A previously developed finite element method solution to the geomagnetic induction problem is validated against an analytic solution for a fully 3-D geometry: an off-axis spherical inclusion embedded in a uniform sphere. Geomagnetic induction is then modelled in a uniform spherical mantle overlain by a realistic distribution of oceanic and continental conductances. Our results indicate that the contrast in electrical conductivity between oceans and continents is not primarily responsible for the observed geographic variability of long-period geomagnetic data. In the absence of persistent high-wavenumber magnetospheric disturbances, this argues strongly for the existence of large-scale, high-contrast electrical conductivity heterogeneities in the mid-mantle. Lastly, for several periods the geomagnetic anomaly associated with a mid-mantle spherical inclusion is calculated. A high-contrast inclusion can be readily detected beneath the outer shell of oceans and continents. A comparison between observed and computed c responses suggests that the mid-mantle contains more than one order of magnitude of lateral variability in electrical conductivity, while the upper mantle contains at least two orders of magnitude of lateral variability in electrical conductivity.     

Modelling photospheric magnetoconvection

The increasing power of computers makes it possible to model the non-linear interaction between magnetic fields and convection at the surfaces of solar-type stars in ever greater detail. We present the results of idealized numerical experiments on two-dimensional magnetoconvection in a fully compressible perfect gas. We first vary the aspect ratio λ of the computational box and show that the system runs through a sequence of convective patterns, and that it is only for a sufficiently wide box (λ ≥ 6) that the flow becomes insensitive to further increases in λ. Next, setting λ = 6, we decrease the field strength from a value strong enough to halt convection and find transitions to small-scale steady convection, next to spatially modulated oscillations (first periodic, then chaotic) and then to a new regime of flux separation, with regions of strong field (where convection is almost completely suppressed) separated by broad convective plumes. We also explore the effects of altering the boundary conditions and show that this sequence of transitions is robust. Finally, we relate these model calculations to recent high-resolution observations of solar magnetoconvection, in plage regions as well as in light bridges and the umbrae of sunspots.     

Speculations on the Thermal and Tectonic History of the Earth

Summary. The connection between the Earth's thermal history and convection in the mantle is exploited to elucidate the early evolution of the Earth. It appears probable that convection extending over almost all of the mantle has dominated vertical heat transport throughout the whole of the Earth's history. Only in boundary layers at the surface and at a depth of 650–700 km is conduction likely to be important. The resulting evolution appears to be consistent with geological observations on early Precambrian rocks.
Various arguments are put forward in favour of two horizontal scales of convective flow in the mantle at depths less than 650 km. The large scale flow is related to the motion of major plates, and must be ordered over distances of more than 5000 km. Its evolution and energetics are discussed and there are no obvious problems in maintaining the proposed convective motions. Small scale flow with an extent of the order of 500 km appears necessary both to explain the heat flow through older parts of the Earth's surface and to reconcile the geophysical observations with the results of numerical experiments. Though the existence of the small scale flow is at present speculative, various tests of its presence are proposed.     

The nature of blue luminescence from natural benitoite BaTiSi<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>9</Subscript>

It is proved that blue luminescence from benitoite is connected with intrinsic luminescence centers, namely isolated TiO₆ octahedra. The metastable level ³T_1u is the emitting level at low temperatures with a long decay time of 1.1 ms. At higher temperatures an energy level with higher radiation probability must be involved in the emission process, and this level is situated at 0.06 eV higher than the lowest level. These two levels may be connected with ³T_1u level splitting or with closely spaced ³T_1u and ³T_2u levels. Decay time shortening and thermal quenching are connected with nonradiative decay within the TiO₆ luminescence center, while energy migration does not take place at least up to room temperature.     

Range and bearing estimation using polynomial rooting

Simultaneous estimation of the range and bearing of near-field emitters usually involves a multidimensional search. The authors examine an alternative algorithm which involves search in the range direction combined with polynomial rooting, which replaces the search in the azimuth direction. The proposed algorithm requires a smaller amount of computation than algorithms based on two-dimensional search. The performance of the algorithm is evaluated by Monte Carlo simulation, and is compared to the Cramer-Rao bound on the bearing/range estimation errors. Formulas for computing the bound are derived     

The influence of the local level on innovations in environmental technology: The case of the German kraft pulp industry

Particularly in view of the general trend for governments to withdraw from environmental regulation and leave the field to market processes, and in view of the growing importance of (transnational) environmental NGOs, the question arises whether and to what extent the local level as a location for production activities of whatever kind may influence the environmental performance of industrial enterprises. The concept proposed for the local level in this study incorporates the business-cluster and the (creative) milieu approach. The study uses disputes about the pulp industry in Germany in the period between 1950 and 2005 as an example to investigate the influence of local actors and local knowledge. It appears that the perception of industry-related environmental problems, as well as the solutions proposed, increase in quality as the volume of localised industry-specific knowledge expands. At the same time, responses at the local level are unmistakeably informed by debates about environmental problems on the national plane as well as by discussions about development paths at the local and/or regional level.     

Laboratory experiments of tsunami run-up and withdrawal in patchy coastal forest on a steep beach

Laboratory experiments were carried out to study tsunami flow dynamics in the presence of patchy macro-roughness, representing coastal forest, on a 1:10 steep beach. The experimental setup included four cross-shore rows of roughness patches affixed to the dry beach in a staggered array, such that 12 % of the staggered array region had higher roughness. The flow field during run-up and withdrawal was quantified using point measurements of velocity and flow depth at 20 locations, while high-resolution video was used to track bore position during run-up. Data analysis revealed that while inundated area was marginally impacted when patchy roughness was present, flow depths and flow force were, respectively, increased by more than 40 and 30 % in some areas within the patch array; a decrease in flow force was also observed in some areas. Alongshore variation in flow depth, induced by the roughness patches, was most pronounced during withdrawal. These findings suggest that patchy macro-roughness, like that created by coastal forest, will simultaneously lead to increased protection in some areas and decreased protection in others.     

APEX-SZ first light and instrument status

The apex-sz instrument is designed for the discovery and study of galaxy clusters at mm-wavelengths using the Sunyaev Zel’dovich effect. The receiver consists of 320 superconducting transition edge sensor (TES) bolometers cooled to 250 mK with the combination of a three stage He sorption fridge and mechanical pulse tube cooler. The detectors are instrumented with a frequency domain multiplexing readout system. The receiver is mounted on the 12 m apex telescope located at 5100 m on the Atacama plateau in Chile. For the first light engineering deployment of December 2005, the receiver was configured with a 55 element wedge of the bolometers and operating in the 150 GHz atmospheric window. During the engineering run we achieved significant milestones in our instrumentation development efforts, including celestial observations with a monolithically fabricated TES bolometer array cooled with a mechanical cooler and successful implementation of a SQUID-based MHz AC-biased readout. These technology demonstrations point the way toward future large TES bolometer array instruments. Here we describe the results of this deployment and future plans for the apex-sz instrument.     

Experts talk the future Reflections on the Bonn Seminar of Governmental Experts, 16–17 May 2005: a view from Europe

Abstract

This article provides a first-cut estimate of the potential impacts of the clean development mechanism (CDM) on electricity generation and carbon emissions in the power sector of non-Annex 1 countries. We construct four illustrative CDM regimes that represent a range of approaches under consideration within the climate community. We examine the impact of these CDM regimes on investments in new generation, under illustrative carbon trading prices of US$ 10 and 100/t C. In the cases that are most conducive to CDM activity, roughly 94% of new generation investments remains identical to the without-CDM situation, with only 6% shifting from higher to lower carbon intensity technologies.We estimate that the CDM would bolster renewable energy generation by as little as 15% at US$ 10/t C, or as much as 300% at US$ 100/t C.

A striking finding comes from our examination of the potential magnitude of the “free-rider” problem, i.e. crediting of activities that will occur even in the absence of the CDM. The CDM is intended to be globally carbon-neutral—a project reduces emissions in the host country but generates credits that increase emissions in the investor country. However, to the extent that unwarranted credits are awarded to non-additional projects, the CDM would increase global carbon emissions above the without-CDM emissions level. Under two of the CDM regimes considered, cumulative free-riders credits total 250–600 MtC through the end of the first budget period in 2012. This represents 10–23% of the likely OECD emissions reduction requirement during the first budget period. Since such a magnitude of free-rider credits from non-additional CDM projects could threaten the environmental integrity of the Kyoto protocol, it is imperative that policy makers devise CDM rules that encourage legitimate projects, while effectively screening out non-additional activities.