Conditional statistics of vertical heat fluxes in local advection conditions

Turbulent fluctuations have been investigated in the internal boundary layer (IBL) which forms after a dry-to-wet surface transition. The IBL is defined as that part of the atmospheric surface layer where the influence of the downstream surface is noticeable. The results of the application of three different quadrant analysis techniques are presented. The three techniques, in increasing order of the amount of information supplied, provide:

1. the diurnal variation of quadrant contribution (C _i), number fraction (T _i) and conditional average (% MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXafv3ySLgzGmvETj2BSbqefm0B1jxALjhiov2D% aebbfv3ySLgzGueE0jxyaibaiiYdd9qrFfea0dXdf9vqai-hEir8Ve% ea0de9qq-hbrpepeea0db9q8as0-LqLs-Jirpepeea0-as0Fb9pgea% 0lrP0xe9Fve9Fve9qapdbaqaaeGacaGaaiaabeqaamaabaabcaGcba% GaeyykJeUabm4DayaafaGabm4CayaafaGaeyOkJe-aaSbaaSqaaiaa% dMgaaeqaaaaa!4215!\[\langle w's'\rangle _i \], with s = T or q) of vertical sensible and latent heat fluxes,
2. the quadrant contribution and number of samples of different sizes depending on the relative magnitude of each sample, and
3. the distribution of the nondimensional probability density function.

The results show that in the IBL the vertical flux of sensible heat is maintained by (i) a small fraction of large samples with warm air carried upwards, and (ii) a larger fraction of small samples with cool air carried downwards. Both processes are almost equal in importance. In the morning and near the top of the IBL negative temperature fluctuations are limited by the near-uniform temperature conditions upstream and above the IBL. This limitation reduces, at that location, the conditional average of the sinking motions of cool air. Closer to the wet surface the negative temperature fluctuations are less susceptible to the above mentioned limitation. As a consequence contributions from all four quadrants are almost equal leading to a very small vertical heat flux. In the presence of a temperature inversion over both the upstream and the downstream terrain, shear-generated turbulence appears to be the cause of the relative abundance of sinking motions of warm air and rising motions of cool air, leading to a reversal of the sensible heat flux. The latent heat flux is positive (i.e. directed away from the surface) at all times and is maintained in almost equal amount by (i) a small number of large magnitude samples with moist air carried upwards, and (ii) small magnitude samples with sinking motions of dry air. These sinking motions of dry air are far more numerous, especially in the morning, but their conditional average is very small. The abundance of sinking motions of dry air is attributed to the fact that over the downstream terrain evaporation is greatly enhanced, leading to a skewed w′q′ signal. This skewness is clearly visible in the w′q′-probability density distribution of the morning runs. In the evening the asymmetry between these two different contributions disappears. This is because evaporation is greatly reduced and large positive humidity fluctuations no longer occur.     

The use of7LiOH-impregnated filters for the collection of acidic gases and analysis by instrumental neutron activation analysis

A simple system was designed using⁷LiOH-impregnated filters to collect acidic gases from ambient air and from highly concentrated volcanic plumes or gas streams. These filters were developed for analysis using instrumental neutron activation analysis, but other analytical techniques could be used as well. The sampling system was designed to use a series of 1–3 M⁷LiOH-impregnated filters to collect high concentrations of acidic gases found in gas plumes of active volcanoes. The filters are quantitative for SO₂ and the halide acids when sufficient base is present to neutralize the acidic species. Extremely high concentrations of SO₂ may not be collected quantitatively since SO₂ is a relatively weak Lewis acid compared to the halide acids. The acidic oxides of Sb, As, and Se were also collected quantitatively. A particle filter preceded the impregnated filters in order to remove particles from the fumes. This system has proven effective under difficult sampling conditions and, since it is portable and light weight, it could be used for many volcanological applications where high levels of acidic gaseous phase species need to be collected.     

Weissbergite (TlSbS2) and Avicennite (Tl2O3), Rare Thallium Minerals: First Findings in Yakutia

Geology of Ore Deposits - Rare thallium minerals, avicennite and weissbergite, were found for the first time within the karst zones of the Khokhoy field of the Verkhnyaya Amga gold area, South...     

The plan shape of current ripples in relation to flow conditions

Two sets of empirical data on the relationship of the plan shape of current ripples to flow conditions previously thought incompatible are reconciled by taking explicit and necessary account of the effects of flow width relative to flow depth. The aspects of plan shape considered are the mean streamwise ripple wavelength and the wavelength, measured across the flow, of longitudinal features due to centrifugal instability formed on the backs of the ripples. A regression analysis connecting these attributes with flow conditions including the width-effect shows that the amount of unexplained variability is of the same order as the accumulated experimental errors, and suggests that the two sets of data are in excellent agreement. The relationship of the plan geometry to flow conditions is less simple than has sometimes been supposed, but ways are suggested in which the experimental results can be used to establish the hydraulics of past environments.     

Solving the mysteries of the diffuse interstellar medium with high-resolution UV spectroscopy

Understanding the complex structure, dynamics, and ionization of gas in the nearby interstellar medium is required before one can realistically model interstellar gas in other galaxies. High-resolution ultraviolet spectra provide the essential data for such studies because the resonance lines of most important atoms, ions, and molecules are located in the ultraviolet, and high spectral resolution is needed to resolve line profiles and determine the velocity structure along a line of sight. I list ten important physical questions concerning interstellar gas that require a more sensitive spectrometer than STIS and the desired spectral resolution to answer these questions.     

Frostspalten und Froststrukturen in Schottern bei Leipzig

Zusammenfassung In saaleeiszeitlichen Schottern bei Leipzig-Schönau, deren Alter außer durch eine Liegend- und eine Hangendmoräne auch durch Tier- und Pflanzenfunde gesichert ist (Grahmann), treten neben kryoturbaten Strukturen 5. Frostspalten auf. Die Spalten sind ganz schmal, beginnen in 4 verschiedenen Höhen und werden von ungestörtem Schotter überlagert, sind also während der Aufschotterung entstanden. Der Schotter ist gegen die Spalten gebeugt, was für Frostspalten im Schotter typisch ist und auf dessen Wasserdurchlässigkeit zurückgeführt wird. Sie sind einphasig entstanden und bezeugen für die Auf Schotterung ein trockenes, kaltes Klima. Wenn Frostspalten im Schotter beginnen, stellen sie dafür nicht nur einen Klimaindikator, sondern auch ein glaziales Leitfossil dar.     

High-Resolution Simulations of Nonhelical MHD Turbulence

According to the kinematic theory of nonhelical dynamo action, the magnetic energy spectrum increases with wavenumber and peaks at the resistive cutoff wavenumber. It has previously been argued that even in the dynamical case, the magnetic energy peaks at the resistive scale. Using high resolution simulations (up to 1024³ meshpoints) with no large-scale imposed field, we show that the magnetic energy peaks at a wavenumber that is independent of the magnetic Reynolds number and about five times larger than the forcing wavenumber. Throughout the inertial range, the spectral magnetic energy exceeds the kinetic energy by a factor of two to three. Both spectra are approximately parallel. The total energy spectrum seems to be close to k ^?3/2, but there is a strong bottleneck effect and we suggest that the asymptotic spectrum is instead k ^?5/3. This is supported by the value of the second-order structure function exponent that is found to be ζ₂ = 0.70, suggesting a k ^?1.70 spectrum. The third-order structure function scaling exponent is very close to unity,—in agreement with Goldreich–Sridhar theory. Adding an imposed field tends to suppress the small-scale magnetic field. We find that at large scales the magnetic energy spectrum then follows a k ^?1 slope. When the strength of the imposed field is of the same order as the dynamo generated field, we find almost equipartition between the magnetic and kinetic energy spectra.     

USE OF SPACE PHOTOGRAPHS IN THE MAKING AND REVISION OF SMALL-SCALE MAPS

A brief review paper focuses on Soviet strategies for the use of space imagery, particularly photographic products (1:2,000,000 to 1:4,200,000 scale) from manned spaceflights, in the revision of small-scale general reference maps. Principles for the interpretation and mapping of basic map elements appearing on space photographs are outlined. Space photographs provide for reduction in time spent in map editing and the more correct analysis of the reliability of information and its generalization. A technology of map revision based on the joint use of original photographs and photomaps, with the transfer of revisions from photomaps to map originals, is proposed. Translated from: Geodeziya i kartografiya, 1986, No. 8, pp. 29-33.