EUV Full-Sun Imaged Spectral Atlas Using the SOHO Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer

The Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer (CDS) aboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) carries out a regular program of measuring the full-disk irradiance using the Normal Incidence Spectrograph (NIS). The full-disk solar spectrum is returned in the wavelength bands 308–379 Å and 513–633 Å, with a spectral resolution between 0.3 and 0.6 Å. A recent modification to the CDS on-board software allows simultaneous moderate resolution monochromatic images to be made of the stronger lines in these wavelength ranges. We report on observations made 23 April 1998, 21 May 1998, and 22 June 1998. A total of 69 monochromatic full-Sun images are extracted from the spectral line data. For the first time, spectrally resolved images of the full Sun in Heii 303.8 Å and Sixi 303.3 Å are presented and compared. Velocity maps of the Sun in singly ionized helium are presented. Correlations of intensity to velocity over a wide range of transition region and coronal temperatures are shown. Lines from Hei to Fexiv show statistical red shifts of 1–7 km s^–1 between active regions and quiet Sun areas. Velocity maps of Mgix andx are presented, showing strong upflow and downflow regions associated with active regions, but not correlated with the brightest emission. Changes in line width are also presented in Hei, with discussion of similar features in other lines of comparable temperature. Corrections which need to be applied to CDS/NIS data to extract meaningful velocities and line widths are presented and discussed. The identifications of the lines in the CDS spectrum are examined. The spatial and spectral variation of the background component of the CDS spectrum is examined.     

Drifting runoff periodicity during the 20th century due to changing surface water volume

Fourier and wavelet analyses were used to reveal the dominant trends and coherence of a more than one‐century‐long time series of precipitation and discharge in several watersheds in Sweden, two of which were subjected to hydropower and intensive agriculture. During the 20th century, there was a gradual, significant drift of the dominant discharge periodicity in agricultural watersheds. This study shows that the steepness of the Fourier spectrum of runoff from the May to October period each year increased gradually during the century, which suggests a more predictable intra‐annual runoff pattern (more apart from white‐noise). In the agricultural watershed, the coherence spectrum of precipitation and runoff is generally high with a consistent white‐noise relationship for precipitation during the 20th century, indicating that precipitation is not controlling the drift of the discharge spectrum. In the hydropower regulated watershed, there was a sudden decrease of the discharge spectrum slope when regulation commenced in the 1920s. This study develops a new theory in which the runoff spectrum is related to the hydraulic and hydro‐morphological characteristics of the watershed. Using this theory, we explain the changes in runoff spectra in the two watersheds by the anthropogenic change in surface water volume and, hence, changes in kinematic wave celerity and water transit times. The reduced water volume in the agricultural watershed would also contribute to decreasing evaporation, which could explain a slightly increasing mean discharge during the 20th century despite the fact that precipitation was statistically constant in the area. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Magnetotactic bacteria from the human gut microbiome associated with orientation and navigation regions of the brain

Journal of Oceanology and Limnology - Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), ubiquitous in soil and fresh and saltwater sources have been identified in the microbiome of humans and many animals. MTB...     

Northern landscapes in transition: Evidence,approach and ways forward using the Krycklan Catchment Study

Improving our ability to detect changes in terrestrial and aquatic systems is a grand challenge in the environmental sciences. In a world experiencing increasingly rapid rates of climate change and ecosystem transformation, our ability to understand and predict how, when, where, and why changes occur is essential for adapting and mitigating human behaviours. In this context, long-term field research infrastructures have a fundamentally important role to play. For northern boreal landscapes, the Krycklan Catchment Study (KCS) has supported monitoring and research aimed at revealing these changes since it was initiated in 1980. Early studies focused on forest regeneration and microclimatic conditions, nutrient balances and forest hydrology, which included monitoring climate variables, water balance components, and stream water chemistry. The research infrastructure has expanded over the years to encompass a 6790 ha catchment, which currently includes 11 gauged streams, ca. 1000 soil lysimeters, 150 groundwater wells, >500 permanent forest inventory plots, and a 150 m tall tower (a combined ecosystem-atmosphere station of the ICOS, Integrated Carbon Observation System) for measurements of atmospheric gas concentrations and biosphere-atmosphere exchanges of carbon, water, and energy. In addition, the KCS has also been the focus of numerous high resolution multi-spectral LiDAR measurements and large scale experiments. This large collection of equipment and data generation supports a range of disciplinary studies, but more importantly fosters multi-, trans-, and interdisciplinary research opportunities. The KCS attracts a broad collection of scientists, including biogeochemists, ecologists, foresters, geologists, hydrologists, limnologists, soil scientists, and social scientists, all of whom bring their knowledge and experience to the site. The combination of long-term monitoring, shorter-term research projects, and large-scale experiments, including manipulations of climate and various forest management practices, has contributed much to our understanding of boreal landscape functioning, while also supporting the development of models and guidelines for research, policy, and management.     

Voluntary citizen participation in carbon allowance markets: the role of norm-based motivation

The results from a semi-experimental study of Swedish students’ stated willingness to purchase emission allowances for carbon dioxide are presented. Drawing heavily on recent developments in the literature on integrating norm-motivated behaviour into neoclassical consumer theory, it is assumed that individuals have a preference for maintaining a self-image as a responsible (and thus norm-compliant) person. The results indicate that students’ willingness to purchase carbon allowances is determined by both price and the presence of norms: those who feel personally responsible for contributing to reducing climate damages also appear more inclined to buy allowances. The empirical findings are consistent with the notion that a person's beliefs about others’ stated willingness to purchase carbon allowances imply improvements in their own self-image and ultimately behavioural change. This suggests that information campaigns that attempt to influence beliefs about others’ intentions could promote ‘green’ consumer behaviour in the carbon allowance market. Such (stated) behaviour also appears to be influenced by a person's awareness of the problem of climate change and their beliefs about their own ability to contribute to solving it.

Policy relevance

Although there is a concern that public goods such as reduced climate change may be under-provided in the free market, individual concern for the environment occasionally has profound impacts on consumer choice and voluntary action. This research suggests that information campaigns that attempt to influence beliefs about others’ intentions could promote ‘green’ consumer behaviour in carbon allowance markets. Publicly-provided information about the impacts of climate change and the ways in which these damages stem from individual choices could also induce this type of behaviour.     

A comparative analysis of some two-dimensional orderings

Abstract

Many spatial analysis algorithms for cellular representations and data structures are based on an ordering of cells or objects to transform a two-dimensional problem to a one-dimensional one. Several orderings are available and their differing properties influence the performance of the data structures and algorithms. The relative merits of five orderings (row, row prime, Hilbert, Morton and Gray code) are assessed empirically for four paradigmatic geographical data-processing tasks in spatial analysis and data management. It is concluded that the Hilbert ordering deserves further investigation.     

Four barriers to the development of effective exploratory visualisation tools for the geosciences

This paper outlines four specific problems that appear to represent considerable obstacles to the development of visualisation strategies for use within the domain of geography and the Earth sciences. These are: (1) the speed of graphical rendering, (2) the management of perceptual anomalies due to visual combination effects, (3) the vast range of potential approaches and mappings (the complexity of the visual assignment process), and (4) the orientation of the user into an artificial or virtual reality. Each problem is discussed in terms of the visualisation of geographical data for the purpose of exploratory visual analysis. The specific underlying research issues and questions are described, with particular emphasis to how these relate to the geographical domain. Where possible, some potential solutions are suggested. Specific examples of geographical data visualisation are given to substantiate the arguments presented. The discussion highlights the need for further research in a number of key areas, and stresses the weaknesses of current visualisation theory and technology when applied to non-trivial geographical datasets.