The Australia telescope 20 GHz survey: hardware, observing strategy, and scanning survey catalog

The Australia Telescope 20 GHz (AT20G) survey is a large area (2?? sr), sensitive (40 mJy), high frequency (20 GHz) survey of the southern sky. The survey was conducted in two parts: an initial fast scanning survey, and a series of more accurate follow-up observations. The follow-up survey catalog has been presented by Murphy et al. (MNRAS 402:2403, 2010). In this paper we discuss the hardware setup and scanning survey strategy as well as the production of the scanning survey catalog.     

Thermal Regime of Rock and its Relation to Snow Cover in Steep Alpine Rock Walls: Gemsstock,Central Swiss Alps

Snow cover influences the thermal regime and stability of frozen rock walls. In this study, we investigate and model the impact of the spatially variable snow cover on the thermal regime of steep permafrost rock walls. This is necessary for a more detailed understanding of the thermal and mechanical processes causing changes in rock temperature and in the ice and water contents of frozen rock, which possibly lead to rock wall instability. To assess the temporal and spatial evolution and influence of the snow, detailed measurements have been carried out at two selected points in steep north‐ and south‐facing rock walls since 2012. In parallel, the one‐dimensional energy balance model SNOWPACK is used to simulate the effects of snow cover on the thermal regime of the rock walls. For this, a multi‐method approach with high temporal resolution is applied, combining meteorological, borehole rock temperature and terrain parameter measurements. To validate the results obtained for the ground thermal regime and the seasonally varying snowpack, the model output is compared with near‐surface rock temperature measurements and remote snow cover observations. No decrease of snow depth at slope angles up to 70° was observed in rough terrain due to micro‐topographic structures. Strong contrasts in rock temperatures between north‐ and south‐facing slopes are due to differences in solar radiation, slope angle and the timing and depth of the snow cover. SNOWPACK proved to be useful for modelling snow cover–rock interactions in smooth, homogenous rock slopes.     

Evidence of rainfall variations in Southern Brazil from trace element ratios (Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca) in a Late Pleistocene stalagmite

Trace element ratios in the Bt2 stalagmite from Botuverá cave, Southern Brazil, are explored as a proxy for changes in the local rainfall recharge during the last 116 ky. BP Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios, measured with an electron microprobe, are significantly positively correlated with one another throughout the entire record, and vary in a way that is very consistent with variations of δ¹⁸O in the same speleothem during the last glacial period. We suggest that prior calcite precipitation in the vadose zone of the cave system is the main factor affecting the incorporation of Mg and Sr into calcite of the stalagmite. This interpretation is supported by trace element correlation patterns and by results from a hydrochemistry study performed in a cave located in the same region and in a similar environmental setting. Therefore, we conclude that higher (lower) Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca values are associated with lower (higher) levels of recharge into the karstic aquifer, as such conditions lead to an increase (decrease) in the volume of calcite precipitated in the unsaturated zone above the cave during dry (wet) climate periods.Trace element variations point to generally dryer (wetter) conditions during lower (high) phases of summer insolation in the southern hemisphere. These periods coincide with decreased (increased) activity of the South American summer monsoon, as revealed by δ¹⁸O stalagmite records. In addition trace element variations show that rather wet conditions persisted throughout most of the last glacial period from approximately 70 to 17 ky BP. We suggest that during this period the glacial boundary conditions, especially ice volume buildup in the northern hemisphere, played an important role for monsoon rainfall intensification in the region.     

Distribution of222Rn over the north Pacific: Implications for continental influences

The atmospheric distribution of²²²Rn over the north Pacific is simulated with a three-dimensional chemical tracer model using meteorological input from the NASA-GISS general circulation model (4°×5° resolution). Radon-222 (half-life 3.8 days) is a tracer of continental air. Model results are in good agreement with measurements from ships and aircraft. Strong Asian influence is found throughout the tropospheric column over the north Pacific in spring, reflecting a combination of frequent convection over the continent, strong westerly winds at altitude, and subsidence over the ocean. In summer, the upper troposphere over the north Pacific is heavily affected by deep convection over China; however, Asian influences at the surface are then at their yearly minimum. In winter, strong Asian influence is found near the surface but not at high altitudes. Transport of American air over the Pacific is important only at low latitudes. American sources account for 11% of total²²²Rn in the model at Midway, 30% at Mauna Loa and 59% at Oahu. Results for Hawaii indicate two seasonal peaks of American influence, one in summer and one in winter. The tropical western Pacific is particularly remote from continental influences year round.     

Shoaling of sixth-order Stokes waves on a current

Jonsson and Arneborg (Jonsson, I.G., Arneborg, L., 1995. Energy properties and shoaling of higher-order Stokes waves on a current. Ocean Engng 22, 819-857.) combined energy flux and set-down to make shoaling predictions for fourth-order Stokes waves with and without a net volume flux. With basis in their expressions, sixth-order expressions are derived and combined to make shoaling predictions correct to sixth order with an arbitrary net volume flux. The new sixth-order results are compared with the fourth-order results and the practically exact results obtained by Sobey and Bando (Sobey R.J., Bando K., 1991. Variations on higher-order shoaling. J. Waterway, Port, Coastal Ocean Engng ASCE 117, 348-368) with a Fourier 18 model. The effects of introducing sixth-order theory rather than the fourth-order theory in shoaling calculations are in general found to be small. As expected the deviations increase with increasing wave-steepness, decreasing depth and opposing currents. Also as expected, the results obtained with the sixth-order expressions improve the results obtained with the fourth-order expressions when compared to the results of Sobey and Bando. As novelties, some considerations regarding the consistency of odd- and even-order shoaling calculations, and the magnitude of the bottom slope, are presented. Furthermore a comparison between the wave-induced current and the total current is given.     

The occurrence of bisulfite-aldehyde addition products in fog- and cloudwater

Elevated concentrations of S(IV) and formaldehyde were observed in fog- and cloudwater at sites in California. The highest concentrations (up to 3 mM S(IV) and 0.7 mM CH₂O) were measured at Bakersfield, during a prolonged period of repeated fog. In Bakersfield [S(IV)] generally exceeded [CH₂O], while in the Los Angeles area the reverse was observed. The lowest concentrations of both species were observed at marine and high altitude sites away from local emissions. Equilibrium computations indicate that high concentrations of S(IV) cannot be achieved without the formation of S(IV)-RCHO adducts.     

A comparison of observed and thermodynamically predicted phase equilibria and mineral compositions in mafic granulites

Recently published activity–composition (a–x) relations for minerals in upper amphibolite‐ and granulite facies intermediate and basic rocks have expanded our ability to interpret the petrological evolution of these important components of the lower continental crust. If such petrological modelling is to be reliable, the abundances and compositions of phases calculated at the interpreted conditions of metamorphic equilibration should resemble those in the sample under study. Here, petrological modelling was applied to six granulite facies rocks that formed in different tectonic environments and reached different peak metamorphic pressure–temperature (P–T) conditions. While phase assemblages matching those observed in each sample can generally be calculated at P–T conditions that approximate those of peak metamorphism, a consistent discrepancy was found between the calculated and observed compositions of amphibole and clinopyroxene. In amphibole, Si, Ca and A‐site K are underestimated by the model, while Al and A‐site Na are overestimated; comparatively, in clinopyroxene, Mg and Si are generally underestimated, while Fe²⁺ and Al are typically overestimated, compared to observed values. One consequence is a reversal in the Fe–Mg distribution coefficient (K_D) between amphibole and clinopyroxene compared to observations. Some of these mismatches are attributed to the incorrect partitioning of elements between the predicted amphibole and clinopyroxene compositions; however, other discrepancies are the result of the incorrect prediction of major substitution vectors in amphibole and clinopyroxene. These compositional irregularities affect mineral modal abundance estimates and in turn the position and size (in P–T space) of mineral assemblage fields, the effect becoming progressively more marked as the modal abundance of hornblende increases; hence, this study carries implications for estimating P–T conditions of high‐temperature metabasites using these new a–x relations.     

Improved regional scale processes reflected in projected hydrological changes over large European catchments

For the fourth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the recent version of the coupled atmosphere/ocean general circulation model (GCM) of the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology has been used to conduct an ensemble of transient climate simulations These simulations comprise three control simulations for the past century covering the period 1860–2000, and nine simulations for the future climate (2001–2100) using greenhouse gas (GHG) and aerosol concentrations according to the three IPCC scenarios B1, A1B and A2. For each scenario three simulations were performed. The global simulations were dynamically downscaled over Europe using the regional climate model (RCM) REMO at 0.44° horizontal resolution (about 50 km), whereas the physics packages of the GCM and RCM largely agree. The regional simulations comprise the three control simulations (1950–2000), the three A1B simulations and one simulation for B1 as well as for A2 (2001–2100). In our study we concentrate on the climate change signals in the hydrological cycle and the 2 m temperature by comparing the mean projected climate at the end of the twenty-first century (2071–2100) to a control period representing current climate (1961–1990). The robustness of the climate change signal projected by the GCM and RCM is analysed focussing on the large European catchments of Baltic Sea (land only), Danube and Rhine. In this respect, a robust climate change signal designates a projected change that sticks out of the noise of natural climate variability. Catchments and seasons are identified where the climate change signal in the components of the hydrological cycle is robust, and where this signal has a larger uncertainty. Notable differences in the robustness of the climate change signals between the GCM and RCM simulations are related to a stronger warming projected by the GCM in the winter over the Baltic Sea catchment and in the summer over the Danube and Rhine catchments. Our results indicate that the main explanation for these differences is that the finer resolution of the RCM leads to a better representation of local scale processes at the surface that feed back to the atmosphere, i.e. an improved representation of the land sea contrast and related moisture transport processes over the Baltic Sea catchment, and an improved representation of soil moisture feedbacks to the atmosphere over the Danube and Rhine catchments.