A review of the analyses of ocean wave groups

The most common parameters and functions used to characterize wave groups in linear seas are reviewed and interrelated in a unified manner. A three-axes representation of run lengths is used to characterize wave groups using exponential and Markov chain approximations. A relationship between four parameters (Q_p, Q_e, κ², and ρ²) and the correlation coefficient between consecutive wave heights [r_HH(1)] is demonstrated. The wave-height function method is reviewed in some detail in order to relate the run length theory with envelope theories. The theoretical estimates used to demonstrate the relationships between the various parameters must be considered as only first-order trends to parameter estimates computed from real wave data due to the statistical variability in these estimates when computed from real wave data.     

ENSO to multi-decadal time scale changes in East Australian Current transports and Fort Denison sea level: Oceanic Rossby waves as the connecting mechanism

The connection between East Australian Current (EAC) transport variability and Australia’s east coast sea level has received little treatment in the literature. This is due in part to the complex interacting physical processes operating in the coastal zone combined with the sparsity of observations available to improve our understanding of these possible connections. This study demonstrates a statistically significant (at the >90% level) relationship between interannual to decadal time scale variations in observed estimates of the EAC transport changes and east coast sea level measured at the high-quality, long record Fort Denison tide-gauge in Sydney Harbour, Australia (33°51′18″S, 151°13′32″E). We further demonstrate, using a linear reduced-gravity ocean model, that ENSO to decadal time-scale variations and the ocean-adjusted multi-decadal trend (approx. 1 cm/decade) in observed sea level at Fort Denison are strongly connected to modulations of EAC transports by incoming westward propagating oceanic Rossby waves. We show that EAC transport and Fort Denison sea level vary in a manner expected from both Tasman Sea generated Rossby waves, which account for the interannual and multi-annual variability, and remotely forced (from east of New Zealand) Rossby wave connections through the mid-latitudes, accounting for the ocean-adjusted multi-decadal trend observed at the New South Wales coast - with the regional-Tasman Sea forcing explaining the greatest overall proportion of EAC transport and sea-level variances.     

Optical Frequency Comb as a general-purpose and wide-band calibration source for astronomical high resolution infrared spectrographs

A spectrally filtered Optical Frequency Comb (OFC) laser is proposed as a versatile calibration source for astronomical spectrometers in the 1?C2 ??m spectral range. Such a source overcomes the limitations of current calibration lamps providing a uniform spectrum of equally spaced lines with similar intensity and extremely high long-term frequency stability. We present preliminary studies and results of a system which filters the OFC from a 100 MHz comb spacing to 16 GHz one, an adequate spacing for spectrometers with resolving power ????/???>30000. The first approach employs two Fabry-Perot cavities in series, made of dielectric coated mirrors, followed by a non-linear optical broadening system. The limitations of such a filtering process are discussed. These can be overcome by the second approach, based on filtering cavities with metallic coated mirrors.     

Quantifying the reefscape transformation of a coastal Caribbean coral reef during a phase shift and the associated coastal landscape change

Caribbean coral reefs are under strong natural and human pressures and many have undergone phase shifts as a result of local and global change. However few studies have quantified the extent of these phase shifts and the potential impacts that they have on coral reef communities. A temporal comparative analysis of several coral reefscape and landscape metrics was conducted for data from Mahahual, Quintana Roo, Mexico, between the years 2000 and 2006, when a phase shift occurred. Landscape metrics were calculated from coral reef and coastal cover maps obtained by multispectral satellite image classification using IKONOS satellite imagery. These metrics showed that the coastal landscape and reefscape of Mahahual lost 85 ha of vegetation cover and 43 ha of coral cover over 6 years, respectively. Coastal landscape transformation was induced by the construction of a cruise ship pier and multiple associated tourist developments along the coast, such as hotels and restaurants, meanwhile alteration of the reefscape may be associated with potential stressors such as coastal development, bleaching events and hurricanes.     

Correlation of Mississippian (Upper Viséan) foraminiferan,conodont, miospore and ammonoid zonal schemes,and correlation with the Asbian–Brigantian boundary in northwest Ireland

The microbiota of the upper Viséan (Asbian–Brigantian) rocks in the Lough Allen Basin in northwest Ireland is analysed. The Middle Mississippian sequence studied extends from the upper part of the Dartry Limestone/Bricklieve Limestone formations of the Tyrone Group to the Carraun Shale Formation of the Leitrim Group. The rocks have been traditionally dated by ammonoid faunas representing the B_2a to P_2c subzones. The Meenymore Formation (base of the Leitrim Group) also contains conodont faunas of the informal partial‐range Mestognathus bipluti zone. The upper Brigantian Lochriea nodosa Conodont Zone was recognized by previous authors in the middle of the Carraun Shale Formation (Ardvarney Limestone Member), where it coincides with upper Brigantian ammonoids of the Lusitanoceras granosus Subzone (P_2a). Foraminifera and algae in the top of the Dartry Limestone Formation are assigned to the upper Cf6γ Foraminifera Subzone (highest Asbian), whereas those in the Meenymore Formation belong to the lower Cf6δ Foraminifera Subzone (lower Brigantian). The Dartry Limestone Formation–Meenymore Formation boundary is thus correlated with the Asbian–Brigantian boundary in northwest Ireland. For the first time, based on new data, a correlation between the ammonoid, miospore, foraminiferan and conodont zonal schemes is demonstrated. The foraminiferans and algae, conodonts and ammonoids are compared with those from other basins in Ireland, northern England, and the German Rhenish Massif. Historically, the Asbian–Brigantian boundary has been correlated with several levels within the P_1a Ammonoid Subzone. However, the new integrated biostratigraphical data indicate that the Asbian–Brigantian boundary in northwest Ireland is probably located within the B_2a Ammonoid Subzone and the NM Miospore Zone, but the scarcity of ammonoids in the Tyrone Group precludes an accurate placement of that boundary within this subzone. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Vesta's mineralogical composition as revealed by the visible and infrared spectrometer on Dawn

The Dawn spacecraft mission has provided extensive new and detailed data on Vesta that confirm and strengthen the Vesta–howardite–eucrite–diogenite (HED) meteorite link and the concept that Vesta is differentiated, as derived from earlier telescopic observations. Here, we present results derived by newly calibrated spectra of Vesta. The comparison between data from the Dawn imaging spectrometer—VIR—and the different class of HED meteorites shows that average spectrum of Vesta resembles howardite spectra. Nevertheless, the Vesta spectra at high spatial resolution reveal variations in the distribution of HED‐like mineralogies on the asteroid. The data have been used to derive HED distribution on Vesta, reported in Ammannito et al. (2013), and to compute the average Vestan spectra of the different HED lithologies, reported here. The spectra indicate that, not only are all the different HED lithologies present on Vesta, but also carbonaceous chondritic material, which constitutes the most abundant inclusion type found in howardites, is widespread. However, the hydration feature used to identify carbonaceous chondrite material varies significantly on Vesta, revealing different band shapes. The characteristic of these hydration features cannot be explained solely by infalling of carbonaceous chondrite meteorites and other possible origins must be considered. The relative proportion of HEDs on Vesta's surface is computed, and results show that most of the vestan surface is compatible with eucrite‐rich howardites and/or cumulate or polymict eucrites. A very small percentage of surface is covered by diogenite, and basaltic eucrite terrains are relatively few compared with the abundance of basaltic eucrites in the HED suite. The largest abundance of diogenitic material is found in the Rheasilvia region, a deep basin, where it clearly occurs below a basaltic upper crust. However, diogenite is also found elsewhere; although the depth to diogenite is consistent with one magma ocean model, its lateral extent is not well constrained.     

Analysis of some degenerate quadruple collisions

We consider the trapezoidal problem of four bodies. This is a special problem where only three degrees of freedom are involved. The blow up method of McGehee can be used to deal with the quadruple collision. Two degenerate cases are studied in this paper: the rectangular and the collinear problems. They have only two degrees of freedom and the analysis of total collapse can be done in a way similar to the one used for the collinear and isosceles problems of three bodies. We fully analyze the flow on the total collision manifold, reducing the problem of finding heteroclinic connections to the study of a single ordinary differential equation. For the collinear case, from which arises a one parameter family of equations, the analysis for extreme values of the parameter is done and numerical computations fill up the gap for the intermediate values. Dynamical consequences for possible motions near total collision as well as for regularization are obtained.Paper presented at the 1981 Oberwolfach Conference on Mathematical Methods in Celestial Mechanics.Dedicated to Prof. Szebehely on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday.     

Martian atmospheric particulate spectral end-members recovery from PFS and IRIS data

We present an application of a multivariate analyses technique on data returned by the Planetary Fourier Spectrometer (PFS) instrument on board the ESA’s Mars Express (MEX) spacecraft in order to separate the atmospheric contribution from the observed radiation. We observe that Thermal/Far Infrared spectra returned from Mars, covering almost a whole martian year, can be represented by a linear model using a limited set of end-member spectra. We identify the end-members as the suspended mineral dust and water ice clouds, but no surface signature was found. We improve previous studies performed with data from the Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) thanks to the higher spectral resolution of PFS. This allows for distinguishing narrow gaseous bands present in the martian atmosphere. Furthermore, the comparison of results from PFS and TES with data collected in 1971 by the Mariner 9 Infrared Interferometer Spectrometer (IRIS) shows an atmospheric dust component with similar spectral behavior. This might indicate homogeneity of the dust source regions over a time period of more than 30 years.     

Mixed extreme wave climate model for reanalysis databases

Hindcast or wave reanalysis databases (WRDB) constitute a powerful source with respect to instrumental records in the design of offshore and coastal structures, since they offer important advantages for the statistical characterization of wave climate variables, such as continuous long time records of significant wave heights, mean and peak periods, etc. However, reanalysis data is less accurate than instrumental records, making extreme data analysis derived from WRDB prone to under predict design return period values. This paper proposes a mixed extreme value model to deal with maxima, which takes full advantage of both (i) hindcast or wave reanalysis and (ii) instrumental records, reducing the uncertainty in its predictions. The resulting mixed model consistently merges the information given by both kinds of data sets, and it can be applied to any extreme value analysis distribution, such as generalized extreme value, peaks over threshold or Pareto–Poisson. The methodology is illustrated using both synthetically generated and real data, the latter taken from a given location on the northern Spanish coast.