Infrared transmission by water vapour

Summary Values of infrared transmission by water vapour are required in order to prepare radiation charts, to establish electronic computer programs for flux calculations, to permit deduction of stratospheric vapour concentrations from infrared observations and to facilitate the interpretation of infrared satellite data. In this paper, approaches involving the extensive use of spectroscopic (and theoretically derived) parameters are explored fully and their limitations indicated. The central problem in the use of the random model for the water vapour spectrum is the choice of a suitable unit of spectral interval. This choice involves the testing of line positions for a random distribution, the combination or separation of closely-adjacent lines and the assessment of the effects of a variable band envelope. Techniques suitable for these purposes are developed. In the spectral region between bands, one must consider the background or continuous absorption due to distant but strong lines. Appropriate methods of doing this are presented. In this case, in particular, the calculation of flux transmission for non-homogeneous atmospheric slabs presents special problems, which are considered here.

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Zusammenfassung Für die Konstruktion von Strahlungsdiagrammen, die Erstellung von Programmen für die Berechnung von Strahlungsstr?men mittels elektronischer Rechenmaschinen, für die Ermittlung von Wasserdampfkonzentrationen in der Stratosph?re durch Infrarotbeobachtungen und für die Auswertung von Strahlungsdaten, die von Satelliten gewonnen werden, sind genaue Angaben über die langwellige Transmission des Wasserdampfes erforderlich. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird der Versuch unternommen, durch umfassenden Gebrauch von spektroskopischen (und auch theoretischen) Parametern diese Aufgabe zu l?sen, wobei, auch die Grenzen der Methode aufgezeigt werden. Das Kernproblem bei der Verwendung eines Zufallsmodells des Wasserdampfspektrums ist die Wahl einer geeigneten Einheit für die Spektralintervalle. Dies bedeutet eine überprüfung der Lage der Absorptionslinien im Hinblick auf eine Zufallsverteilung, die Vereinigung oder Trennung benachbarter Spektrallinien und die Beurteilung der Frage, inwieweit die Wahl verschiedener Einhüllender der Spektralbanden das Ergebnis beeinflu?t. Es wurden dafür geeignete Methoden entwickelt. In den Spektralbereichen zwischen den Banden mu? auch der Betrag der kontinuierlichen Absorption, hervorgerufen durch die auseinanderliegenden, aber starken Linien in Rechnung gestellt werden. In diesem Fall ergibt sich das besondere Problem, die Strahlungsstr?me für nicht homogene Atmosph?renschichten zu berechnen.

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Résumé Il est indispensable de posséder des données exactes de la transmission pour les longues ondes dans la vapeur d'eau pour l'étude des domaines suivants: construction de diagrammes du rayonnement, programmation pour le calcul des flux de rayonnements par des calculatrices électroniques, calcul du taux de vapeur d'eau dans la stratosphère par des observations dans l'infra-rouge, dépouillement des données du rayonnement fournies par les satellites artificiels. Le présent travail est un essai de solution de ce problème au moyen de paramètres spectroscopiques et théoriques; on y indique cependant aussi les limites utiles de la méthode. Lors de l'utilisation d'un modèle aléatoire du spectre de la vapeur d'eau, le problème crucial est le choix d'une unité adéquate pour la mesure des intervalles spectraux. Cela implique l'examen de la position des lignes d'absorption en rapport avec la répartition aléatoire, la réunion ou la séparation de lignes spectrales rapprochées et l'appréciation de la mesure dans laquelle le résultat est influencé par le choix des différentes enveloppantes des bandes spectrales. On a développé des méthodes appropriées à ce but. La valeur de l'absorption continue, provoquée par des lignes distinctes, mais fortement marquées doit également être prise en considération dans l'espace compris entre les bandes du spectre. Dans ce cas, il se pose un problème particulier: celui du calcul des flux de rayonnement pour des couches atmosphériques inhomogènes.

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With 4 Figures

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Published by permission of the Director, Meteorological Branch, Department of Transport, Canada, and dedicated toDr. W. M?rikofer on the occasion of his 70th birthday.     

Acoustic-gravity wave propagation in an atmosphere with two sound channels

Summary In order to interpret the observed features of pressure records produced by waves from large explosions in the earth's atmosphere, the writers have obtained numerical solutions of the homogeneous equations governing acoustic-gravity wave propagation in a stratified compressible fluid. Theoretical dispersion curves and variations of perturbation kinetic energy with altitude are presented for 11 normal modes. It is shown that the step-like character of the phase velocity curves in the velocity-period plane can be interpreted as being the result of interference between two families of normal modes-«quasi-horizontal modes» representing energy propagation in the lower atmosphere (below the ozonosphere) and «quasi-vertical modes» representing energy propagation in the upper atmosphere (above the ozonosphere). The theoretical prediction that several normal modes contribute to the observed barogram traces is verified by Fourier analysis of a number of wave records.Lamont Geological Observatory Contribution No. 611. — This research was supported by National Science Foundation Grant NSF-G-11997, Office of Naval Research Contract Nonr 266 (70), and National Science Foundation Grant NSF-GP-550. — Part of this research was done at the NASA Institute for Space Studies, New York, N. Y.     

Regulation of Tilapia metallothionein gene expression by heavy metal ions

Tilapia is a common fish species inhabiting inland waters and estuarine regions in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, and useful for bio-monitoring of metal pollution. Metallothionein (MT) gene expression in fish tissues has been useful to sub-lethal risk assessment as biomarker of exposure to metal ions in fishes inhabiting metal contaminated area. To investigate metal inductions of Tilapia MT gene expression in vivo, Tilapias were injected with different concentrations of heavy metals and tissues were then removed for quantitative PCR assay using mimic PCR methods. All of the metal ions tested (Cu(2+), Cd(2+), Hg(2+), Ni(2+), Pb(2+) and Zn(2+)) were able to induce hepatic MT mRNA levels. Renal MT mRNA levels of Cd(2+) and Zn(2+) treated fish was not induced with significant fold induction, however MT mRNA levels in gills were sensitive to the administrations of these metal ions. These data indicated that Tilapia MT mRNA levels in gills and liver are sensitive biomarker of exposure to various metal ions.     

Assessment of imposex in the common whelk, Buccinum undatum (L.) from the Eastern Scheldt, The Netherlands

Several cruises were carried out on the Eastern Scheldt between September 1992 and March 1995 to study the frequency and appearance of imposex in the common whelk, Buccinum undatum L. Incidences of imposex were always > 90%. For the first time several stages of imposex in Buccinum undatum are reported. The evolution of imposex in the whelk seems to follow a similar route as in Hinia reticulata belonging to the same superfamily (Buccinacea). Tissue organotin concentrations of animals collected in February 1995 showed the highest organotin concentrations in the digestive gland and lowest in the foot of the animals. Concentrations of phenyltin compounds (up to 625 ngSn/g DW) were much higher than those of butyltin compounds (up to 40 ngSn/g DW).     

Metabolism of perylene by monooxygenases of the skin and liver of Ambystoma tigrinum

The prevalence of dermal neoplasia among neotenic tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum) collected from the Reese Air Force Base sewage lagoon far exceeded that among salamanders from nearby uncontaminated lagoons. Perylene was the predominant pglycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contaminant in this lagoon. Perylene was shown to be a substrate for monooxygenases in skin and liver homogenates and formed DNA-binding metabolites. Perylene exposure appeared to augment subsequent perylene metabolism by dermal enzymes but it was not a strong inducer of hepatic monooxygenases. Aroclor 1254 induced benzo(a)pyrene and perylene metabolism by both skin and liver enzymes. However, perylene apparently was not activated by salamander enzymes, as suggested by its lack of in vitro mutagenicity and failure to induce tumors.     

Incorporation,distribution and fate of saturated petroleum hydrocarbons in sediments from a controlled marine ecosystem

A simulation of a chronic input of petroleum into an estuarine environment was investigated using the facilities at the Marine Ecosystems Research Laboratory at the University of Rhode Island. An oil-water dispersion of No. 2 fuel oil was added to the system (twice weekly for 24 weeks) and the saturated hydrocarbons from this oil were measured in suspended material and sediments. After the initial chronic oil addition, trace amounts of hydrocarbons were detected in the sediments within two weeks, but substantial accumulation was not detected for approximately 135 days. The oil appeared to enter the sediment via the suspended material, with most of the saturated hydrocarbons associated with smaller size sediment particles (< 45 μm to > 0·3 μm). With time, the fuel oil saturated hydrocarbons in the sediments were mixed to a depth of 3 to 4 cm. Although only 12% of the total saturated hydrocarbons added to the system were found in the sediments, these hydrocarbons appear to be relatively stable and were still detectable in these sediments for at least six months after the last oil addition.