Monitoring the Dynamics of the Ionosphere–Plasmasphere System by Ground-Based ULF Wave Observations

Cross-spectral analysis of ULF wave measurements recorded at ground magnetometer stations closely spaced in latitude allows accurate determinations of magnetospheric field line resonance (FLR) frequencies. This is a useful tool for remote sensing temporal and spatial variations of the magnetospheric plasma mass density. The spatial configuration of the South European GeoMagnetic Array (SEGMA, 1.56 <  L <  1.89) offers the possibility to perform such studies at low latitudes allowing to monitor the dynamical coupling between the ionosphere and the inner plasmasphere. As an example of this capability we present the results of a cross-correlation analysis between FLR frequencies and solar EUV irradiance (as monitored by the 10.7-cm solar radio flux F10.7) suggesting that changes in the inner plasmasphere density follow the short-term (27-day) variations of the solar irradiance with a time delay of 1–2 days. As an additional example we present the results of a comparative analysis of FLR measurements, ionospheric vertical soundings and vertical TEC measurements during the development of a geomagnetic storm.     

The hypsometric curve of Mars

For the construction of the hypsometric curve of Mars the topographic map of the planet produced by the U.S.G.S. has been utilized. All the areas delimited by isolines and geographic grid have been measured, then summing all the contributions given by the areas included between the same isolines. Such measurements have been effected by means of a solid-state optical image analyzer.A comparative study of the hypsometric curves of the Earth and the Moon shows that, on Mars, several processes of vertical differentiation of the crust started, but did not develop completely owing to the exhaustion of the endogenic forces which determine the surficial dynamics of a planet.A model of the evolution of the Martian crust is discussed in order to justify the shape of the hypsometric curve.Paper presented at the European Workshop on Planetary Sciences, organised by the Laboratorio di Astrofisica Spaziale di Frascati, and held between April 23–27, 1979, at the Accademia Nazionale del Lincei in Rome, Italy.     

Silicate-silicate liquid immiscibility and graphite ribbons in Libyan desert glass

Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) investigation of the dark (brown or bluish) streaks occurring in Libyan Desert Glass reveals the common presence of small glass spherules. The spherules, mostly 100 nm in size, are homogeneously dispersed within the silica-glass matrix. The complete absence of electron diffraction effects confirms their amorphous nature. The spherules are Al-, Fe- and Mg-enriched with respect to the surrounding silica matrix and their (Mg + Al + Fe) : Si ratio is close to 1.The silica-glass matrix and amorphous spherules form an emulsion texture (i.e., globules of one glass in a matrix of another glass), which originates from silicate-silicate liquid immiscibility. This texture has also been observed in other impact-derived glasses.The silica glass also contains carbonaceous inclusions consisting of 5-50 nm thick, polygonalized graphite ribbons that form closed structures up to 200 nm in diameter.These observations are in agreement with an impact origin for Libyan Desert Glass.     

Fiumara: a kind of high hazard river

Fiumara is a kind of gravel-bed river, very steep and short, which flow through the southern Italy mountain chains, in Sicilia and Calabria regions. These streams drain mountain areas only, and are subject to a Mediterranean climate. They have a great transport and erosion capacity because of their flow regime, dominated by episodic flash floods alternated with long periods of inactivity during which their beds become completely dry. During this last century, the natural equilibrium of these particular alluvial environments has undergone notable modifications caused also by human activities. The effects of such works are investigated in terms of river dynamics, and some local examples are reported and discussed; some suggestions are made for recovery measures too.     

Impacts of land-use and climate changes on surface runoff in a tropical forest watershed (Brazil)

ABSTRACT

Surface runoff generation capacity can be modified by land-use and climate changes. Annual runoff volumes have been evaluated in a small watershed of tropical forest (Brazil), using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. Firstly, the accuracy of SWAT in runoff predictions has been assessed by default input parameters and improved by automatic calibration, using 20-year observations. Then, the hydrological response under land uses (cropland, pasture and deforested soil) alternative to tropical forest and climate change scenarios has been simulated. SWAT application has showed that, if forest was replaced by crops or pasture, the watershed’s hydrological response would not significantly be affected. Conversely, a complete deforestation would slightly increase its runoff generation capacity. Under forecasted climate scenarios, the runoff generation capacity of the watershed will tend to decrease and will not be noticeably different among the representative concentration pathways. Pasture and bare soil will give the lowest and highest runoff coefficients, respectively.     

Exact analytic solution for the rotation of a rigid body having spherical ellipsoid of inertia and subjected to a constant torque

The exact analytic solution is introduced for the rotational motion of a rigid body having three equal principal moments of inertia and subjected to an external torque vector which is constant for an observer fixed with the body, and to arbitrary initial angular velocity. In the paper a parametrization of the rotation by three complex numbers is used. In particular, the rows of the rotation matrix are seen as elements of the unit sphere and projected, by stereographic projection, onto points on the complex plane. In this representation, the kinematic differential equation reduces to an equation of Riccati type, which is solved through appropriate choices of substitutions, thereby yielding an analytic solution in terms of confluent hypergeometric functions. The rotation matrix is recovered from the three complex rotation variables by inverse stereographic map. The results of a numerical experiment confirming the exactness of the analytic solution are reported. The newly found analytic solution is valid for any motion time length and rotation amplitude. The present paper adds a further element to the small set of special cases for which an exact solution of the rotational motion of a rigid body exists.     

Channel and floodplain sediment dynamics in a reach of the tropical meandering Rio Beni (Bolivian Amazonia)

The study investigates interactions, water and sediment exchanges, between a rapidly migrating meander and its associated floodplain at fine temporal and spatial scales. The Beni River, an Amazonian free meandering river, makes the transition between Andean ranges and Amazonian lowlands. For the period 2002–2006, an assemblage of tools and methods (water and sediment discharges, topometric and bathymetric surveys, sedimentation rate estimations from unsupported ²¹⁰Pb and sediment trapping system) was used to jointly analyse the influence on the sediment budget of external factors (mainly water and sediment discharge) and the inherent behaviour of the system. The main issue addressed is the investigation of the complex relationship between ‘morphological conditioning’ of fluvial landform and process. The first part of the study was undertaken with the aim of linking erosion–deposition in an active meander with water and sediment fluxes. The three inter‐annual evolutions are characterized by very unequal sediment budgets; the first two intervals underwent predominant erosion, and the latter slight accumulation. Digital elevation models, evaluated for the active meander, demonstrate that sedimentation on the point bar depends more on external factors than erosion of the concave bank, which fluctuates slightly. The second part of the study, focusing on water and sediment exchanges between active bend and floodplain, examines the respective parts played by overbank flow and by an abandoned channel on the diffusion and sequestration of sediment. The association of short‐ and long‐term estimation of sedimentation rates suggests that floodplain construction is associated with two different processes and rhythms of sediment transportation. Finally, a sediment budget is proposed for the Beni River in the upper part of the Amazonian lowlands. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Radio maps of the Sun at λ = 1.95 cm

Two radio maps of the Sun at = 1.95 cm, taken at the N.R.A.O. (Green Bank) with a resolving power of 2.1 are studied and compared with H pictures: both bright and dark features appear to be strongly correlated. The emitted flux and the angular extent of the bright regions are given; from the observed radio-darkening of a region, the height of a prominence is derived.On leave from Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Firenze.