Weichselian Late Pleniglacial surface winds over northwest and central Europe: a model–data comparison

Reconstructions of the Weichselian Late Pleniglacial wind direction in northwest and central Europe are reviewed and compared with palaeoclimate simulations performed with an atmospheric general circulation model. These reconstructions are based on proxy data containing information on former wind directions, such as relic dune forms, sediments and wind‐polished rock surfaces. The objective is to investigate whether: (1) the proxy information is internally consistent; and (2) in agreement with the model simulations. We find a general consensus in the proxy‐based reconstructions, indicating a dominant westerly to northwesterly wind in winter during the Late Pleniglacial. The model results indicate over the study area an atmospheric circulation in winter that is dominated by southwesterly to west‐northwesterly winds, which are stronger than the southwesterly winds in the present‐day climate. The main driving factors behind the anomalous atmospheric circulation in the Late Pleniglacial are the Laurentide Ice Sheet and a colder North Atlantic Ocean with a relatively extensive sea‐ice cover, leading to an eastward relocation of the Icelandic Low and an enhanced pressure gradient over northwest Europe. The minor difference in Late Pleniglacial wind direction between the reconstructions and model can be explained by a combination of uncertainties in the proxy data and the relatively low spatial resolution of the applied climate model. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Late Weichselian fluvio‐aeolian sands and coversands of the type locality Grubbenvorst (southern Netherlands): sedimentary environments,climate record and age

The Weichselian Late Pleniglacial and Lateglacial aeolian stratigraphy (Older Coversand I, Beuningen Gravel Bed, Older Coversand II, Younger Coversand I, Usselo Soil, Younger Coversand II) in the southern Netherlands has been reinvestigated in its type locality (Grubbenvorst). Sedimentary environments have been reconstructed and related to their climatic evolution based on periglacial structures. In addition, 22 optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages have been determined that provide an absolute chronology for the climatic evolution and environmental changes of the coversand area. From this work it appears that, prior to 25 ka fluvial deposition by the Maas dominated. After 25 ka fluvial activity reduced and deposition occurred in a fluvio‐aeolian environment with continuous permafrost (Older Coversand I). This depositional phase was dated between 25.2 ± 2.0 and 17.2 ± 1.2 ka. The upward increase of aeolian activity and cryogenic structures in this unit is related to an increase of climatic aridity and a decrease in sedimentation rate during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The Beuningen Gravel Bed, that results from deflation with polar desert conditions and that represents a stratigraphic marker in northwestern Europe, was bracketed between 17.2 ± 1.2 and 15.3 ± 1.0 ka. Based on this age result a correlation with Heinrich event H1 is suggested. Permafrost degradation occurred at the end of this period. Optical ages for the Older Coversand II unit directly overlying the Beuningen Gravel Bed range from 15.3 ± 1.0 ka at the base to 12.7 ± 0.9 ka at the top. Thus this regionally important Older Coversand II unit started at the end of the Late Pleniglacial and continued throughout the early Lateglacial. Its formation after the Late Pleniglacial (LP) maximum cold and its preservation are related to rapid climatic warming around 14.7 ka cal. BP. The Allerød age of the Usselo Soil was confirmed by the optical ages. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Biological carbon sequestration and carbon trading re-visited

Biological activities that sequester carbon create CO₂ offset credits that could obviate the need for reductions in fossil fuel use. Credits are earned by storing carbon in terrestrial ecosystems and wood products, although CO₂ emissions are also mitigated by delaying deforestation, which accounts for one-quarter of anthropogenic CO₂ emissions. However, non-permanent carbon offsets from biological activities are difficult to compare with each other and with emissions reduction because they differ in how long they prevent CO₂ from entering the atmosphere. This is the duration problem. It results in uncertainty and makes it hard to determine the legitimacy of biological activities in mitigating climate change. Measuring, verifying and monitoring the carbon sequestered in sinks greatly increases transaction costs and leads to rent seeking by sellers of dubious sink credits. While biological sink activities undoubtedly help mitigate climate change and should not be neglected, it is shown that there are limits to the substitutability between temporary offset credits from these activities and emissions reduction, and that this has implications for carbon trading. A possible solution to inherent incommensurability between temporary and permanent credits is also suggested.     

Microfocus X-ray computed tomography analysis of corroded glass objects

Microfocus X-ray computed tomography (µCT) is a useful tool for non-destructive analysis of corroded archaeological glass objects and for monitoring restoration and conservation processes for these materials. This was demonstrated by µCT analysis of artificially corroded laboratory-produced glasses and corroded archaeological glasses retrieved from soil environments. Corrosion layers with a thickness of 20 µm or more can be detected as areas with lower X-ray attenuation values than the non-corroded glass. Features that are revealed by µCT analyses include the degree and patterns of corrosion and the presence of various internal structures in the corrosion layers. The study of restored corroded glasses demonstrates that mechanical and laser cleaning can be monitored efficiently. The study of consolidation practices, using test objects, requires the use of additives to increase X-ray attenuation values of the organic compounds that are used.     

Chromospheric and coronal explosions in solar flares

The phenomenon described as a coronal explosion results directly from a chromospheric explosion. These two phenomena always occur together. They are the manifestations of the impulsive phase explosions in solar flares. These explosive processes occur during and immediately after the onset of the impulsive phase of flares. A previously presented model, describing the relation between the two kinds of explosions, appears to be able to explain qualitatively, and in many cases also quantitatively, the observations relevant to these explosive processes.     

考虑随机模型精化的精密GPS动态定位新方法

GPS动态定位要求建立函数模型和随机模型。函数模型描述的是观测值和待估参数之间的物理和几何关系，随机模型描述了GPS观测值的统计特征，并通过观测值的方差协方差给定了每个观测值对最后的定位结果的贡献。正确给定函数模型和随机模型对于GPS定位结果的估计和观测值的粗差探测均至关重要。由于有各种误差存在于伪距和载波相位观测值中，一般GPS动态定位模型均采用双差观测值来构建函数模型。有时候，仔细地使用单差观测值，较之双差观测值有更多的优点，给出了选用单差观测值的理由。但是单差观测值给函数模型带来了接收机钟差，如果直接使用单差观测方程，设计矩阵是奇异的。为了解决这个问题，将伪距观测值中接收机钟差项和接收机延迟项合并为一个新的未知参数。至于载波相位观测值，首先选定一个参考卫星，然后在观测方程的右端同时增加一正一负的参考卫星单差整周模糊度，将正项与接收机钟差项和接收机延迟项合并为一个新的未知参数，将负项和原观测方程中的单差整周模糊度项合并为双差整周模糊度，而参考卫星观测方程的模糊度项则为零，这样无须组建双差观测值，软件实现较容易，也可以直接使用LAMBDA法求整周模糊度，最终也解决了观测方程奇异的问题。准确理解观测值的统计特征是建立GPS随机模型的基础，长期以来GPS商业软件均采用简化模型。关于GPS随机模型的研究远没有函数模型那样受到广泛关注，静态GPS定位可以采用方差协方差分量估计等严密的方法，而动态定位无法承担方差协方差分量估计的计算负担。GPS观测值的信噪比(SNR)是GPS接收机观测过程中的副产品，影响SNR值的因素，如大气层、多路径、接收机内部电路等，也正好是GPS观测值的误差源，因此GPS观测值的方差与SNR存在一定的对应关系。利用这个对应关系来精化GPS随机模型。为了验证本文采用的函数模型的正确性和随机模型的有效性，我们对1999年的一次实测数据(包括零基线和短基线)进行了试算。与零基线的真值和GPSurvey 2．35处理的短基线静态结果比较，表明使用的函数模型是正确的。简化随机模型和精化随机模型处理的结果比较说明精化模型提高了基线处理的精度，同时说明了研究GPS随机模型精化的必要性。