Thermal re-emission effects on GPS satellites

Highly precise satellite-derived coordinates depend on accurate orbit predictions, which cannot be achieved with purely empirical models. Global positioning system (GPS) satellites undergo several periodic perturbing forces that have to be modeled and understood. In this scenario, small non-gravitational forces can no longer be neglected when the purpose of the orbital analysis is to obtain accurate results (Vilhena de Moraes 1994). Together with solar radiation pressure, thermal re-emission effects due to solar heating and Earth albedo are the two most important non-gravitational effects. While solar radiation pressure is widely understood, our knowledge about thermal re-emission effects on GPS satellites is in its infancy. Few models have been proposed in recent years and despite the interest of the scientific community, there is a lack of detailed results concerning the magnitude and the behavior of such forces. The aim of this work is to provide a thermal re-emission force model for GPS satellites, simple enough to minimize the problem of modeling a satellite of complex shape with several components on its surface, but accurate enough to provide an estimate of the magnitude and the behavior of these forces, as well as to provide some input to the present knowledge about photon thrust on GPS satellites. Some results of this work point to the fact that thermal re-emission effects are good candidates to partially explain the Y-bias for GPS satellites.     

Environmental influences on the demersal fish assemblages in the Sepetiba Bay, Brazil

The structure of the demersal fish assemblage in Sepetiba Bay, southeast Brazil (22°54′–23°04′S, 43°34′–44°10′W) was described and related to environmental variables. A 3-yr long trawl survey (from July 1993 to June 1996) was conducted using a stratified random sampling strategy at 158 stations. One hundred and seven species of fishes in 80 genera and 44 families were identified. Gerreidae and Ariidae made up 30.5% and 28.6%, and 19.8% and 28.1% of the total number and weight, respectively. Sciaenidae, Engraulididae, Sparidae, and Carangidae were other prominent families. Three assemblages existed in the bay: one inhabited shallow, less saline and less transparent water in the inner zone (depth <5 m, transparency <2 m, salinity <30 psu, and slightly higher temperature); another in the outer zone with the opposite situation (depth >10 m, transparency >3 m, salinity >30 psu, and slightly lower temperature); and a third assemblage in the middle zone likely to prefer average values or show no clear preferences. Most species decreased in abundance over the 3-yr period of study. No seasonal change was detected in the assemblage structure, but many species were rare, indicating high spatial and temporal patchiness. Canonical correlation analyses were used to describe and compare the fish assemblages in the three different habitats. The outer zone had the greatest number of species recorded, lowest abundance, highest diversity and evenness, and was comprised mainly byCynossion leiarchus, Prionotus punctatus, Anchoa tricolor, Haemulon steindachneri, Diplectrum radiale, Etropus crossotus, andSphoeroides greeleyi; the inner zone had the lowest number of species recorded but the greatest number of species per sample, highest abundance, lowest diversity and evenness, being comprised mainly byDiapterus rhombeus, Genidens genidens, Cathrops spixii, Chloroschombrus chrysurus, Sciadeichthyes luniscutis, Cetengraulis edentulus, andArchorsargus rhomboidalis; while the third group had the lowest number of species per sample, being comprised by species widely distributed asGerres aprion, G. genidens, Gerres gula, andMicropogonias furnieri. Depth, followed by transparency and salinity, were the primary factors influencing assemblage distribution.     

Predictive Mapping of Prospectivity in the Gurupi Orogenic Gold Belt,North–Northeast Brazil: An Example of District-Scale Mineral System Approach to Exploration Targeting

The Gurupi Belt hosts a Paleoproterozoic gold province located in north–northeastern Brazil, at the borders of Pará and Maranhão states. It is considered to be an extension of the prolific West African Craton’s Birimian gold province into South America. Additionally, the belt has been the object of recent mineral exploration programs with significant resource discoveries. This study presents the results of predictive mapping using up-to-date mineral system concepts and recently finished regional-scale geological mapping, stream sediment and airborne geophysical surveys conducted by the Geological Survey of Brazil. We relate gold mineralization to an initially enriched crust, metamorphism, deep fluid pathways, structurally controlled damage zones and hydrothermal alteration. Prospective targets were generated using only regional public datasets and knowledge-driven targeting technique. This work did not incorporate any known gold deposits, yet it predicted the largest known deposits and their satellite targets. Besides, high prospective targets mapped almost 40% of known primary gold occurrences within 7% of the project area. This work allowed considerable search area reduction and identification of new target areas, thus collaborating on reducing costs, time and risk of mineral exploration. Results indicate that we achieved an efficient understanding of the geological processes related to the Gurupi Belt mineral system.     

The reflection effect in eclipsing binary systems

The weakest point in the modern models of eclipsing binary systems (EBS) is the treatment given to the effects of mutual irradiation. In this review, which does not have a similar one in the literature, I tried to collect all the work done on the irradiation problem until the middle of 1984, in order to make possible an evaluation of the present status of problem. Special emphasis is given to the applicability of the results to the analysis of EBS. The treatment given to the effect by the early studies as well as by practically all the modern models of EBS is described, and special attention is given to works analysing the problem using stellar model atmospheres. It turns out that the effect is more complex than suspected earlier, but that significant progress has been made recently.Review article.     

Comparison of the ENEAR peculiar velocities with the PSCz gravity field

We present a comparison between the peculiar velocity field measured from the ENEAR all-sky D _n– σ catalogue and that derived from the galaxy distribution of the IRAS Point Source Catalog Redshift Survey (PSC z ). The analysis is based on a modal expansion of these data in redshift space by means of spherical harmonics and Bessel functions. The effective smoothing scale of the expansion is almost linear with redshift reaching 1500 km s⁻¹ at 3000 km s⁻¹. The general flow patterns in the filtered ENEAR and PSC z velocity fields agree well within 6000 km s⁻¹, assuming a linear biasing relation between the mass and the PSC z galaxies. The comparison allows us to determine the parameter     where Ω is the cosmological density parameter and b is the linear biasing factor. A likelihood analysis of the ENEAR and PSC z modes yields     in good agreement with values obtained from Tully–Fisher surveys.     

Application of the K?ppen classification for climatic zoning in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil

The knowledge of the climatic conditions of a region is crucial for its agricultural development. It is also extremely important for understanding the fact that certain cultures have to develop under prevailing temperature and humidity conditions and assist in the adoption of a suitable irrigation technique, as well as its management and operationalization. The K?ppen system of climate classification is widely used for the identification of homogeneous climate zones as it considers only rainfall and temperature as the meteorological elements for classification. For this study, we used climatic databases of rainfall and temperature in a raster format, with a spatial resolution of 30″ of arc (an approximate area of 0.86?km²?pixel^?1), from 1961 to 1990. Through geoprocessing techniques, we obtained a map of climatic classification for the state of Minas Gerais. We found that the state has the following three major climatic groups: A, B and C, which correspond to tropical rainy, dry and warm temperate climates, respectively. The climate classes obtained were Aw, Am, BSh, Cwa and Cwb, with Aw, Cwa and Cwb classes occupying 99.89% of the territorial area of the state. The validation of the results showed a satisfactory agreement, with 93.75% reliability.     

What feeds shelf-edge clinoforms over margins deprived of adjacent land sources? An example from southeastern Brazil

In southeastern Brazil, the Serra do Mar coastal mountain range blocks the sediment influx from arriving at a ca. 1,500 km long continental margin comprising Santos and Pelotas basins. Despite this deprivation, the margin accumulated a ca. 1 km thick sedimentary succession since the Mid-Miocene. Examination of seismic reflection and oceanographic data indicates that shelf-margin clinoform formation exhibits a regional variability, with major sigmoidal clinoforms developed in the transitional area between both basins. Laterally, poorly developed oblique clinoforms constitute isolated depocenters along the shelf margin. The continuous clinoform development in the transitional area is attributed to the major influence on sediment transport patterns of several ocean bottom currents flowing along the margin, such as the Brazil Coastal Current, the Brazil Current and the Intermediate Water Brazil Current. These currents erode, transport and distribute sediments across the shelf break and upper slope from distant sediment sources located either north or south of the study area. The progressive southward strengthening of the Brazil Current could be responsible for a major southward sediment redistribution from the northern Campos Basin, and/or for sediment entrainment from northward-induced transport by the Brazil Coastal Current, originally derived from the De la Plata Estuary. In the transition between Santos and Pelotas basins, the Intermediate Water Brazil Current splits forming the Santos Bifurcation, allowing for a continuous depositional process and clinoform generation. We suggest that ocean bottom currents may shape other shelf-edge ‘contouritic clinoforms’ in continental margins mainly constructed by along-strike sediment transport largely driven by long-term geostrophic currents.     

The evolution of a tropical rainforest/grassland mosaic in southeastern Brazil since 28,000 C yr BP based on carbon isotopes and pollen records

The lack of paleoecological records from the montane Atlantic Rainforest of coastal Brazil, a hotspot of biological diversity, has been a major obstacle to our understanding of the vegetational changes since the last glacial cycle. We present carbon isotope and pollen records to assess the impact of the glaciation on the native vegetation of the Serra do Mar rainforest in São Paulo, Brazil. From ca. 28,000 to  22,000 ¹⁴C yr BP, a subtropical forest with conifer trees is indicative of cool and humid conditions. In agreement carbon isotopic data on soil organic matter suggest the presence of C₃ plants and perhaps C₄ plants from  28,000 to  19,000 ¹⁴C yr BP. The significant increase in the sedimentation rate and algal spores from  19,450 to  19,000 ¹⁴C yr BP indicates increasing humidity, associated to an erosion process between  19,000 and  15,600 ¹⁴C yr BP. From  15,600 ¹⁴C yr BP to present there is a substantial increase in arboreal elements and herbs, indicating more humid and warmer climate. From  19,000 to  1000 ¹⁴C yr BP, δ¹³C values indicated the predominance of C₃ plants. These results are in agreement with studies in speleothems of caves, which suggest humid conditions during the last glacial maximum.