C) W.M.O.—E.C.A.F.E.

Abstract

The authors give data of water infiltrations in horizontal and vertical columns, and in a two dimensional model. The soils are two mixtures of sand and loam, and a natural sandy loam. The characteristics of these soils are given in the article.

As a conclusion, the two dimensional problem can be approached by a linear combination of data in horizontal and vertical columns.     

Present-day trends of vertical ground motion along the coast lines

Vertical ground motion (VGM) rates stand as crucial information, either for predicting the impact of the actual sea level rise along low-lying coasts or refining geodynamic problems. Because present day VGM rates have a magnitude smaller than 10 mm/yr, they remain challenging to quantify and often elusive. We focus on the quantification of global-scale VGM rates in order to identify global or regional trends. We computed VGM rates by combining tide gauges records and local satellite altimetry, which yield a new dataset of 634 VGM rates. We further compare this database to previous studies that use geodetic techniques and tide gauges records in order to evaluate the consistency of both our results and previous ones. The magnitudes differ by less than 5 mm/yr, and similar subsidence and uplift general tendencies appear. Even if the asset of our database stands in the greater number of sites, the combination of all studies, each with different pros and cons, yields a hybrid dataset that makes our attempt to extract VGM trends more robust than any other, independent study. Fennoscandia, the West coast of North America, and the eastern coast of Australia are uplifting, while the eastern coast of North America, the British Isles and Western Europe, the eastern Mediterranean Sea, Japan, and the western coast of Australia are subsiding. Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA) is expected to provide a major contribution to the present-day signal. Aside from Fennoscandia, observed VGM often depart from the GIA model predictions of Peltier (2004). This either results from an underestimate of the model predictions or from the influence of other processes: indeed, the influence of the geodynamic setting appears in particular along the coasts of western North America or Japan, where the alternation of transform faults and subduction zones makes it possible to assign contrasted behaviours to the local geodynamic context. Local mechanisms like anthropogenic processes or sediment compaction, also contribute to VGM. This remains true for the critical cases of Venice, the Gulf of Mexico, the Ganges delta, and the Maldives, which are particularly exposed to the current sea level rise.     

Sumixam maximus gen. and sp. nov., a New Pennsylvanian Species of Archaeorthoptera (Neoptera; Indiana, USA)

A new Mazon-Creek-type fossil specimen is described as Sumixam maximus gen. and sp. nov., assigned to the taxon Archaeorthoptera Béthoux and Nel, 2002 (composed of Orthoptera and some fossil relatives): it exhibits one of the diagnostic character states of this taxon, which is the fusion of CuA (emerging from M + CuA) with CuP, or a branch of it. A more precise taxonomic assignment is out of reach. The new taxon exhibits a fusion of the anterior branch of MA with RP, and a point of divergence of MA and MP located near the point of divergence of CuA (from M + CuA), but lack a branching of CuPa. This unique combination of character states is probably derived with respect to a number of contemporaneous species. Sumixam maximus gen. and sp. nov. is most likely the closest known relative of the panorthopterans, which include all the recent Archaeorthoptera.     

Validation and Application of Plants as Biomonitors of Trace Element Atmospheric Pollution – A Co-Ordinated Effort in 14 Countries

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) organized a co-ordinated research project (CRP) on Validation and application of plants as biomonitors of trace element atmospheric pollution analysed by nuclear and related techniques involving 14 participating countries. The CRPs objective was to identify appropriate bioindicators for local and/or regional application and validate them for general air pollution monitoring. Activities included quantification studies, research into spatial and time resolution for particular organisms, and physiological studies. A number of suitable bioindicators were identified in different parts of the globe and tested during the CRP. Sampling strategies were reviewed and the recommended approach adopted by the group. Appropriate sample preparation procedures were assessed and harmonised to the degree allowed by different geographic and climatic conditions in the participating countries. Two interlaboratory comparison exercises were carried out on lichen and moss materials. Results confirmed definite improvement in analytical performance of the participating laboratories, but also revealed possible inconsistencies due to different sample processing procedures. Several monitoring surveys were carried out and consequently pollution maps drawn for extended areas or countries. Overall results confirmed applicability of lower plants for assessing the degree of atmospheric pollution and provided several countries with effective monitoring tools not used before.     

COMMENTS ON THE PAPER: RECALCULATION OF H-Lα SKY SURVEYS: NO NEED FOR ANISOTROPIC SOLAR WIND MASS OUTFLOWS?

In a recently published paper, Scherer and Fahr (1995) claimed that the departures of sky L emission measured by Prognoz 5 and 6 from an optically thin model can be attributed entirely to deficiencies of the optically thin approximation, and are not due to variations of solar wind ionization rate with latitude, as advocated since many years by our research group. They base their claim on the result of their new sophisticated model of L radiation transport.It is shown here that their new model, in the simple case of isotropic solar wind, predicts a distribution of intensity in a simple geometry which is completely contradicted by the observations: they find a minimum of intensity near the upwind direction, where a maximum has been observed consistently by all L instruments. Therefore, their conclusion based on an erroneous model must be rejected.     

Transformation of Irradiance Measurements into Spectral Actinic Flux for Photolysis Rates Determination

The actinic flux is the only radiometric quantity suitable for photolysisfrequency determination. It is derived from solar spectral irradiancemeasurements performed by a portable spectroradiometer in the 300–850nm wavelength range. The spectral irradiance is first divided into a directpart and a diffuse part, according to the atmospheric conditions, and thenconverted into the corresponding actinic flux quantity. As an intermediary,the ratio of diffuse actinic flux to diffuseirradiance is calculated by the spherical harmonics radiative code withrespect to wavelength, solar zenith angle, surface albedo, and aerosolproperties.The results of extensive sensitivity studies of asa function of the main atmospheric parameters are discussed and lead to theconclusion that aerosol optical depth is the major critical value for aprecise determination. The global algorithm totransform spectral irradiance into actinic flux is finally applied forphotodissociation rate calculations by convolution of the obtained actinicflux spectra with the absorption cross-sections and quantum yields of themolecule studied. Photolysis rates of different atmospheric photooxidants havebeen measured with this spectroradiometric method during the summers of 1993and 1994 in Brittany and in Portugal. The ozone and nitrogen dioxidephotodissociation rates obtained present a good agreement with thej(O₃) and j(NO₂) actinometerresults, for the same experimental conditions in Brittany.