Noise source level density due to surf. I. Monterey Bay, CA

Ambient noise measurements made in Monterey Bay, CA, in 1981 were reduced by estimations of wave-breaking noise and the residual noise was combined with modeled transmission loss (TL) to estimate the spectral source level of surf-generated noise. A Hamilton geoacoustic model of the coastal environment was derived and used in a finite-element parabolic equation propagation-loss model to obtain TL values. Estimates of both the continuous, or local, and discrete components of wave-breaking noise intensity were subtracted from the total measured noise field to determine the contribution due to surf only. Surf breaking on a uniform 12.5-km linear section of beach near Ft. Ord was found to be the dominant source of surf-generated noise. Estimated noise source level densities for heavy surf at Ft. Ord beach varied from 138 dB ref. 1 μPa Hz^-1/2 m at 1 m from the source at 50 Hz to 107 dB at 1 kHz, with a slope of about -5 dB per octave. Although these results must be considered as preliminary, since they are based on a small number of measurements, they may he useful for prediction of ambient noise in other littoral regions     

The use of remotely sensed land cover to derive floodplain friction coefficients for flood inundation modelling

Remotely sensed land cover was used to generate spatially‐distributed friction coefficients for use in a two‐dimensional model of flood inundation. Such models are at the forefront of research into the prediction of river flooding. Standard practice, however, is to use single (static) friction coefficients on both the channel and floodplain, which are varied in a calibration procedure to provide a “best fit” to a known inundation extent. Spatially‐distributed friction provides a physically grounded estimate of friction that does not require fitting to a known inundation extent, but which can be fitted if desired. Remote sensing offers the opportunity to map these friction coefficients relatively straightforwardly and for low cost. Inundation was predicted using the LISFLOOD‐FP model for a reach on the River Nene, UK. Friction coefficients were produced from land cover predicted from Landsat TM imagery using both ML and fuzzy c‐means classifiction. The elevetion data used were from combined contour and differential global positioning system (GPS) elevation data. Predicted inundation using spatially‐distributed and static friction were compared. Spatially‐distributed friction had the greatest effect on the timing of flood inundation, but a small effect on predicted inundation extent. The results indicate that spatially‐distributed friction should be considered where the timing of initial flooding (e.g. for early warning) is important. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A paleomagnetic study of the Mull lava succession

Summary. A paleomagnetic study has been made of a succession of 139 non-overlapping basaltic lavas, representing 91 per cent of the longest remaining succession of flows associated with the Paleogene Mull volcano. All the lavas have experienced considerable hydrothermal alteration, probably at up to several million years after initial magnetization and frequently with alteration to the opaque minerals and the production of new potentially magnetic phases. The question of whether directional remagnetization has taken place while preserving within-unit directional consistency and discreteness of unit mean direction is discussed. Extensive directional remagnetization is excluded as an explanation for the data. If stable directions obtained by alternating field remanence cleaning coincide with original TRM directions then a mean pole position for all temporally independent lava directions from the British Tertiary igneous province is at 71.9° N, 167.2° E, with k:22 and α₉₅:3.0°. This pole is significantly different from the geographic pole. If the difference in palaeomagnetic and geographic poles is interpreted in terms of absolute plate motion, then 2010 km of northwards motion of the western part of the Eurasian Plate, at 3.7 cm/yr, has taken place over the last 55 Myr. This motion has implications for the geological history of the Arctic and for the complexity of mantle motions.     

Beach sediment temperature variations through depth and time

Data obtained from a site at mean tide level on Belfast Lough, Northern Ireland, show temperature fluctuations on various timescales. Hourly means differ markedly from month to month but are similar for different depths during the same month. The short-term temperature fluctuations recorded at the surface are largely dissipated at a sediment depth of 20 cm with the proportion of total flux occurring at any depth remaining similar irrespective of the absolute temperature range. It is suggested that temperature flux ratios may provide an objective in situ assessment of beach exposure and/or water flow through sediments. A plea for a standardized methodology is made.     

U,B, V light curves of CO Lacertae

CO Lacertae is one of the very few known binaries with both a short period of apsidal motion and good M, L, R data. Our newU, B, V light curves provide two times of minima and a check on Semeniuk's value forP _aps. This is the first published example of an eclipsing binary analysed in terms of a physical model (as opposed to a model based on spherical or ellipsoidal star figures) which allows for eccentric orbit effects. The light curves show some peculiarities — particularly a large, probably intrinsic, scatter.