Be star candidates in the Large Magellanic Cloud: the catalogue and comparison with the Small Magellanic Cloud sample

We present a catalogue with coordinates and photometric data of 2446 Be star candidates in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), based on a search of the OGLE II data base. The I -band light curves of these stars show outbursts in 24 per cent of the sample (Type-1 stars), high and low states in 10 per cent, periodic variations in 6 per cent (Type-3 stars), and stochastic variations in 60 per cent of the cases. We report on the result of the statistical study of light curves of Type-1 and Type-3 stars in the LMC, and the comparison with the previously reported results of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) sample. We find a statistically significant difference between amplitude, duration and asymmetry distributions of outbursts in both galaxies. Outbursts of SMC Type-1 stars are usually brighter, longer and with a slower decline. We find a bimodal distribution of periods of Type-3 stars in both galaxies, probably related to the recently discovered double periodic blue variables. We find also period and amplitude distributions of Type-3 LMC stars statistically different from those of the SMC stars. Our findings above suggest that the mechanisms causing the observed photometric variability of Type-1 and Type-3 stars could depend on metallicity. Moreover, they suggest that the outbursts are not primarily caused by stellar winds.     

ECHOBASE—A portable geographic fishery research database system

A geographic fishery research database system (GFRDBS), called ECHOBASE, for storing and management of data on pelagic fish resources from acoustic surveys and catch samples, combined with environmental data in a geographic context, has been developed. The system constitutes a portable and inexpensive yet powerful tool for fishery research and environmental monitoring and provides on‐board data processing and mapping capabilities.

Data are acquired from an echosounder, echo signal processor, environmental profiler (CTD probe), and Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. The electronic digitized maps (based on C‐MAP public format files) provide active on‐screen nautical charts.

The basic GFRDBS platform is a portable PC 486 machine, which is used as an on‐board data acquisition and processing tool running under MS Windows 3.1 operating environment. The system is designed around the Borland's PARADOX package, which provides a relational database for managing acoustic, catch, and environmental data. The ECHOBASE programs were written in Borland C ++ language as a Windows application.     

Chemometric analysis of <Superscript>137</Superscript>Cs activity and heavy metals distribution in the Tatras’ soil

The goal of the paper was to determine the activity of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁴⁰K radionuclides as well as heavy metals Zn, Cr, Pb in soil samples taken from the Tatra National Park in the south of Poland. The samples were obtained as cores (10 cm in diameter) from the top 10-cm layer of the soil. Each sample was divided into three subsamples (a, b and c), where a was the subsample closest to the surface and c was the deepest one. Activity of the radionuclides was determined by means of gamma spectrometry, while analysis of heavy metals was performed (after microwave digestion) using atomic absorption spectrometry technique. The highest activity of cesium-137 was detected (5112 ± 120 Bq kg^?1) in the “a” layer of the core with the peak concentration of cesium-137 (14,452 ± 278 Bq m^?2) in the whole soil core. The highest detected concentration of heavy metals was: Zn—52.8 ± 4.4 mg kg^?1, Pb—260.1 ± 9.4 mg kg^?1, Cr—52.8 ± 4.4 mg kg^?1, respectively. Cluster analysis and principal component analysis were used to examine the obtained data. Application of statistical analysis tools allowed specifying the interdependencies between the examined variables.     

The use of selected research methods to describe the pore space of dolomite from copper ore mine,Poland

Basic knowledge of the characteristics of copper-bearing rock such as dolomite is essential to locate those areas of the deposit which have different structural and textural properties. Those regions can be important in terms of the assessment of the possibilities of gas accumulating in them as well as in terms of gasogeodynamic hazard. To better understand those threats, it is necessary to locate, monitor and analyse those areas in detail. This article characterises the structural and textural parameters of dolomite from the Polkowice–Sieroszowice copper mine in Poland. The study involved five samples from various areas of the mine. A number of research methods were selected. Reflected and transmitted light microscopy (MS), computer microtomography (Micro-CT), gas adsorption porosimetry (LPNA), mercury porosimetry (MIP), helium and quasi-fluid pycnometry (Pycno. He, DryFlo). Each of the methods examined a different scope of the pore size, which enabled to achieve a full view of the porous nature of those rocks. We determined their porosity (open, closed, total), surface area as well as mean size and volume of the pores. Also, we studied the character and the pore size distribution from a few nm to a few mm. Comprehensive dolomite properties analyses showed that these rocks are characterised by high structural variability. They have mesopores and macropores but few micropores. The analyses presented in this paper are determined by a large petrographic diversity of the deposits containing dolomite. This article is an example of a comprehensive approach to the rock analysis in copper ore mines.     

3D structure of the Earth's crust beneath the northern part of the Bohemian Massif

The SUDETES 2003 wide-angle refraction/reflection experiment covered the area of the south-western Poland and the northern Bohemian Massif. The good quality data that were gathered combined with the data from previous experiments (POLONAISE'97, CELEBRATION 2000) allowed us to prepare a 3D seismic model of the crust and uppermost mantle for this area. We inverted travel times of both refracted and reflected P waves using the JIVE3D package. This allowed us to obtain a model of P-wave velocity distribution as well as the shape of major boundaries in the crust. We also present a detailed uncertainty analysis for both the boundary depths and the velocity field. In doing the uncertainty analysis we found an interesting, strong dependence between uncertainty and inversion scheme (order of used phases). We also compared the model with surface geology and found good correlation between velocity inhomogeneities in the uppermost crust (down to 2 km) and major geological units. The higher velocity lower crust (6.9–7.2 km/s) could result from remelting of the lower crust or magmatic underplating.     

Some observations of bipolar flashes during summer thunderstorms near Warsaw

Lightning discharges monitored by the SAFIR network system in Poland have been additionally identified over the 100×100 km area near Warsaw by single-point independent recordings of electric field and Maxwell current rapid changes. The data collected in summer thunderstorm days of 2002 showed some untypical properties of the lightning discharges which are rarely observed. Especially remarkable was a number of ground multi-stroke flashes with the return strokes (RS) which transported to the earth charges of opposite signs. Bipolar flashes (BF) of this kind were mostly involved in the events in which the nearby intracloud (ic) and cloud-to-ground (c-g) discharges were very closely associated in time. Events of such a close collocation of two different types of lightning discharges, previously called the complex lightning discharge events (CLDE), were quite often observed during summer thunderstorms in Poland. The events of this kind, i.e. 8 flashes, identified by the SAFIR detection system as BF’s present the multiple stroke flashes of the mean horizontal separation distance between striking points of particular RS equal to (2.8 ± 2.1) km and of the mean time interval between strokes of (46.8 ± 74.4) ms. The time separation between the observed BF and the adjacent ic flashes was from 0.1 to 335 ms, and horizontal separation distance between them ranged from 1.8 to 14.5 km. The multiplicity of the recorded BF’s ranged from 2 to 4 strokes. Four of these BF’s followed the ic discharge, but the other three preceded the ic and one was alone with no close ic.     

Use of variograms for field magnetometry analysis in Upper Silesia Industrial Region

Measurements of topsoil magnetic susceptibility are often used for quick assessment of soil contamination of anthropogenic origin, with heavy metals or other pollutants. However, because of complicated correlations between low-field magnetic susceptibility (shortened to magnetic susceptibility) of topsoil and soil pollution, the outcome of a field magnetometry survey can not be related directly to soil pollution. For each case study, the results should be interpreted on their own taking into account not only the type of pollution but also pedogenic, biogenic and environmental factors. In practice, it is very difficult to measure and consider all these factors. Here we illustrate the merit of geostatistical methods, which are focused on the spatial variability of a phenomenon, in the interpretation of soil magnetometry results. This article presents the analysis of spatial variability of top soil layers magnetic susceptibility-within the Upper Silesia Industrial Region (USIR)-using semivariance analysis. It also explains how to adjust the sampling density of field magnetometry measurements to spatial variability of the soil pollution as well as to the spatial scale of the investigated area. For this purpose, the values of magnetic susceptibility have been measured by using various sampling densities at areas of different size located within USIR. This enabled to determine the main scales of magnetic susceptibility spatial variability of soils within USIR using semivariance. A few distinct scales of variability were found from the site scale to a more regional scale. Variability ranges of 30 km, 12 km, and 5 km refer to the large regional scale, whereas smaller ranges of few hundreds down to a few tens of meters, can be attributed to the local (site) scale. In addition, the precision of the measuring campaigns, performed within USIR with different sampling densities, was compared through the analysis of the spatial variability of the soil magnetic susceptibility signal by using ordinary kriging. jarek97@yahoo.com, piotr.fabijanczyk@is.pw.edu.pl     

An approach to adaptation to climate changes in Poland

Adopted by COP 10 (Dec 1/CP.10) and approved by the MOP1, the Buenos Aires programme of adaptation and response measures opens doors to intensify preparations for expected climate change. By this decision the COP, requested the SBSTA to develop a structured 5-year programme of work of the SBSTA on the scientific, technical and socio-economic aspects of impacts of, and vulnerability and adaptation to, climate change. Consequently, the COP, by its decision 2/CP.11, adopted the “Five-year programme of work of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice on impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change” Finally during COP12 this programme was approved as “Nairobi Work Programme on impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change”. This programme has fundamental significance not only for developing countries, but also for industrialized nations in which some sectors of the or social life are particularly vulnerable to climate change, specifically, inter alia EIT countries and new EU Member States. Further development of this adaptation programme economy should contain steps that provide optimum economic and social effectiveness, risk management, identification of vulnerable sectors and gaps in knowledge, preparation of a list of policy options, including an analysis of cost effectiveness, selection of the most effective policies, and a preparedness implementation plan. In Poland the preliminary adaptation programme covered agriculture, water management, and coastal zone management. For the time being, gaps in knowledge and preparedness measures have been identified. An estimation of possible impact on these areas was based on chosen GCMs, and sea level rise IPCC scenarios. In conclusion, it was stated that the results achieved should be seen as a first step forward and a more comprehensive study is necessary to update the results and cover other sectors of the economy, such as health protection, spatial planning, ecosystems and forestry, and to develop specific guidelines and recommendations for policy-makers.