Corruption in cyclone preparedness and relief efforts in coastal Bangladesh: Lessons for climate adaptation?

This article seeks to draw possible lessons for adaptation programmes in Bangladesh by examining whether cyclone preparedness and relief interventions are subject to corrupt practices. Based on a random sample survey of 278 households, three focus-group discussions and seven key-informant interviews, the article investigates the nature and extent of corruption in pre- and post-disaster interventions in Khulna before and after Cyclone Aila in May 2009. Ninety nine percent of households reported losses from corrupt practices. Post-disaster interventions (such as food aid and public works schemes) suffered from greater levels, and worse types, of corruption than pre-disaster interventions (such as cyclone warning systems and disaster-preparedness training). Using an asset index created using principal component analysis, the article assesses how corruption affected wealth quartiles. Ultra-poor households were affected more by corruption in pre-disaster interventions, the wealthiest quartile more in certain post-disaster interventions, in particular public works and non-governmental interventions. These findings may hold lessons for attempts to increase resilience as current adaptation measures mirror some cyclone preparedness and relief efforts.     

Long-term variation of the semi-annual wave maxima in geomagnetic activity

Summary The time variations of the amplitudes and phases of the semi-annual variation in geomagnetic activity, characterized by the linear planetary index aa, have been analysed for the period 1868–1985. The results provide qualitative confirmation of Murayama's conclusions [13] about the systematic f phase in dependence on the changes in the level of solar activity and give support to Russel-McPherron's mechanism [16] concerning the effect of the predominant polarity of the interplanetary magnetic field. A distinctly expressed variation of the phase differences in the course of the sunspot cycle and of the 22-year cycle, and specific variations related to the sequence of four consecutive cycles have been established, as well as a well-defined 90-year period, all of them as a reflection of analogous variations in solar activity. The variations of the phase differences observed around the equinoxes can be explained by the combined effect of the mechanisms of the axial and equinoctial hypothesis. It is assumed that a displacement of the maxima of the semi-annual variation to dates after the equinoxes will be observed in the ascending parts and a reverse displacement towards the equinoxes and earlier dates in the desccending parts of the following sunspot cycles 22 nad 23.On leave from the Geophysical Institute of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Akad. G. Bonchev Str. bl. 3, Sofia 1113, Bulgaria.     

Measurement of a freezing nucleus content in a water sample — Evaluation of the method

Summary A drop freezing technique applied in laboratory research to heterogeneous ice nucleation is described. The quality of the obtained experimental data is studied both theoretically and experimentally. Attention is focused on the range of measurable freezing nucleus concentration, the accuracy, the correctness and the reproducibility of the results. Some mechanisms which could influence the correctness of the method are discussed. No mechanism significantly influencing the measurements was found. It is concluded that the present experimental method is an effective method of measuring a freezing nucleus content in a water sample.

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ama na uu m¶rt;a n¶rt;u mauu ¶rt; ¶rt; a ¶rt;. ¶rt;m ama mam n nuu m¶rt;a. uau ua a ¶rt;uana uum mauu ¶rt; ¶rt;, a mm, naum u nmumm mam. umum m uu a naum m¶rt;a, m u u ma.

     

Subduction and back-arc activity at the Hikurangi convergent Margin,New Zealand

The Hikurangi Margin is a region of oblique subduction with northwest-dipping intermediate depth seismicity extending southwest from the Kermadec system to about 42°S. The current episode of subduction is at least 16–20 Ma old. The plate convergence rate varies along the margin from about 60 mm/a at the south end of the Kermadec Trench to about 45 mm/a at 42°S. The age of the Pacific lithosphere adjacent to the Hikurangi Trench is not known.The margin divides at about latitude 39°S into two quite dissimilar parts. The northern part has experienced andesitic volcanism for about 18 Ma, and back-arc extension in the last 4 Ma that has produced a back-arc basin onshore with high heaflow, thin crust and low upper-mantle seismic velocities. The extension appears to have arisen from a seawards migration of the Hikurangi Trench north of 39°S. Here the plate interface is thought to be currently uncoupled, as geodetic data indicate extension of the fore-arc basin, and historic earthquakes have not exceededM _s=7.South of 39°S there is no volcanism and a back-arc basin has been produced by downward flexure of the lithosphere due to strong coupling with the subducting plate. Heatflow in the basin is normal. Evidence for strong coupling comes from historic earthquakes of up to aboutM _s=8 and high rates of uplift on the southeast coast of the North Island.The reason for this division of the margin is not known but may be related to an inferred increase, from northeast to southwest, in the buoyancy of the Pacific lithosphere.     

Strato-mesospheric ozone and IMF sector boundary

Summary We find no effect of the interplanetary magnetic field(IMF) sector boundary crossing in ozone at altitudes ranging from the middle stratosphere(10 hPa) to the lower mesosphere(0.4 hPa) at middle latitudes(40°–60° N), based on winter data over the period of December 1979–December 1982.

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Резюме Мы не нaшлu нuкaко о эффекma nересеченuя секmорноŭ рaнuцы межnлaнеmно о мa нumно о nоля в озоне в облaсmu высоm меж?rt;у сре?rt;неŭ сmрamосфероŭ(10 Пa) u нuжнеŭ мезосфероŭ(0,4 Пa) нa сре?rt;нuх шuроmaх(40°–60° с.ш.), nрuменяя зuмнuе ?rt;aнные зa nерuо?rt; ?rt;екaбрь 1979 – ?rt;екaбрь 1982 .

     

On the gravitation absorption hypothesis

Summary It is recommended that the data from measurements with supraconducting gravity meters be also analysed with regard to verifying the gravitation absorption hypothesis. Based on theoretical data from a3-year period, the spectrum of the assumed effect of shielding the gravitational influence of the Sun by the Earth's body on the value of the acceleration of gravity has been calculated for the tidal station Brussels (Figs 2a–e).

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¶rt;aam aauuam ¶rt;a uu n¶rt;uaumau ma mu u nuunm n¶rt;auaumauu. a mmuu ¶rt;a a mmu nu¶rt; u nm n¶rt;naa ma auauaumau ¶rt;mu a m a uu u u mmu ¶rt; nuu mauu (u. 2a–).

     

Thermo-elastic deformations due to the annual temperature variation at the tidal station in Vyhne

Summary The thermo-elastic deformations due to the annual temperature variation are computed. The time variation of these deformations is compared with the variation of the slow deformations observed at the tidal station in Vyhne.

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u mnu ¶rt;auu, a¶rt; auau mnam nmu a nnmama. ¶rt; mu ¶rt;au a ¶rt; ¶rt; ¶rt;au, u a nuu mauu ().

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Dedicated to RNDr Jan Pícha, CSc on his 70th birthday     

Historical changes in sediments of Pyramid Lake,Nevada, USA: consequences of changes in the water balance of a terminal desert lake

Sediment cores from the shallow and deep basins of Pyramid Lake, Nevada, revealed variations in composition with depth reflecting changes in lake level, river inflow, and lake productivity. Recent sediments from the period of historical record indicate: (1) CaCO₃ and organic content of sediment in the shallow basin decrease at lower lake level, (2) CaCO₃ content of deep basin sediments increases when lake level decreases rapidly, and (3) the inorganic P content of sediments increases with decreasing lake volume. Variations in sediment composition also indicate several periods for which productivity in Pyramid Lake may have been elevated over the past 1000 years. Our data provide strong evidence for increased productivity during the first half of the 20th Century, although the typical pattern for cultural eutrophication was not observed. The organic content of sediments also suggests periods of increased productivity in the lake prior to the discovery and development of the region by white settlers. Indeed, a broad peak in organic fractions during the 1800's originates as an increase starting around 1600. However, periods of changing organic content of sediments also correspond to periods when inflow to the lake was probably at extremes (e.g. drought or flood) indicating that fluctuations in river inflow may be an important factor affecting sediment composition in Pyramid Lake.