New variations of Mg II emission lines of Mira AB with HST

This paper presents results from high resolution observations of the Mira AB binary system taken by the HST (Hubble Space Telescope) in the ultraviolet region through the period (1999–2004). By comparing the results using HST data with those obtained from the IUE (International Ultraviolet Explorer) observations through the period (1979–1995). we found new variations in the profiles, widths and fluxes of Mg II (k&h) emission lines. In addition to this it appears that there are another emission components at some phases in the red and blue sides of both Mg II (k&h) emission lines. These emission components may be of Mira A origin. There is a considerable shift of both Mg II (k&h) emission lines in observation taken on 2nd February 2004. The Mg II profiles extends up to more than 600 km/s, and redshifted as with IUE observations.     

Convection flow over a uniform-flux vertical surface with variable viscosity

A regular perturbation analysis is presented for natural convection flow over an uniform flux vertical surface with temperature dependent viscosity. Numerical calculations are presented forP _r=6.7 which show that the first-order correction to the local temperature difference and to the local skin-fraction are negative whereas it is positive for the local Nusselt number. The effects of variable viscosity on the temperature, velocity profiles, the local temperature difference, the local Nusselt number and the local skin fraction are discussed.     

Inorganic geochemical evidence for the depositional facies associations of the Upper Jurassic Chia Gara Formation in NE Iraq

Four wells (K-109, Hr-1, Tk-3, and Bj-1) in NE Iraq (including parts of the Kurdistan Region) were selected to study the Tithonian–Berriasian Chia Gara Formation from the inorganic geochemical point of view. The intervals studied in each well occurred at present-day burial depths of Hr-1 3,075–3,310 m; K-109 2,780–3,090; Tk-1 2,770–2,890; and Bj-1 2,150–2,310 m. A total of 16 samples from the four studied wells were investigated geochemically using X-ray fluorescence in order to measure their major element oxides and their trace element contents. Among the major oxides, CaO has the highest weight percentages in all samples as expected in this limestone-dominated formation. SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ show higher concentrations only in well Bj-1 than the other sections, due to its shallower depth of deposition and its marginal location within the depositional basin. The general trace element distribution along all studied well successions showed good similarity. However, the ratios of V/Ni and V/Cr were of higher values in the lower part of the formation, which is considered as a good indicator to the deposition of this part of the formation within anoxic depositional environment. An exception was in well Bj-1, where the V/Ni ratio was lower in the this lower part of the formation than the upper part that may be due to the different lithology in this succession which is lacking distinct shale or calcareous shale beds. However, the V/Cr ratio can still indicate the prevailing of reducing condition because V/Cr ratios in all samples are >2. Also, Th/U ratio in the lower part of the studied successions was lower than the upper part, which is also coinciding with the domination of the reducing geochemical conditions in the depositional environment. It may be concluded from this study that the R-mode cluster analysis of the main oxides indicated to the main mineral constituent of the rock which is calcite. It is also confirmed that the SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ contents in the Chia Gara limestones are especially high in well Bj-1, particularly in the lower and upper parts of the succession. On the other hand, R-mode cluster analysis of the trace elements showed lower amounts of Zr and V in relation to silica and confirmed the random distribution of Sr and Ba in the studied samples. Q-mode cluster analysis indicated that the upper part of the studied formation is pure limestone in well H-1 and such purity of limestone beds also occurs in the lower part of the studied formation in well Tk-3. The elemental distribution within the sections as inferred from the studied samples indicates that the anoxic depositional conditions were prevailed during the Chia Gara Formation, especially during the accumulation of the lower part.     

The Use of Gamma Ray Spectrometry as an Aid for Uranium Exploration in Kab Amiri Area,Central Eastern Desert,Egypt

High‐resolution gamma ray spectrometry was exploited to locate the potential radioactive targets at Kab Amiri granite pluton, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt. The Kab Amiri pluton forms a concentric granitic body of monzogranite to syenogranite composition intruded into mafic‐ultramific rocks. To identify and detect anomalous concentrations of natural radioactive elements in the study area, contour maps of equivalent uranium (eU ppm), equivalent thorium (eTh ppm), potassium (K%) and their geochemical ratios (eU/Th, eTh/K and eU‐eTh/3.5) as well as standard deviation map of uranium were constructed and interpreted. Qualitative and quantitative interpretations of the spectrometric survey data revealed the presence of seven radioactive anomalies in the south of the studied area. These anomalies could be related to the prevailing faulting directions NE and ENE fault trends. The southernmost anomalous zone is related to high episyenitization and uranium concentrations. It exhibits a sharp increase in the eU concentrations reaching 370 ppm resulting in a high eU/eTh ratio reaching 4.5 and characterized by oval shape trending in the NE direction. Constructing the contour map of the (eU‐eTh/3.5) was helpful in defining the trends of uranium migration and enabling the delineation of the limit between the negative contours (leaching) and positive contours (deposition).     

Inversion-based deblending using migration operators

In this paper, we compare the denoising- and inversion-based deblending methods using Stolt migration operators. We use Stolt operator as a kernel to efficiently compute apex-shifted hyperbolic Radon transform. Sparsity promoting transforms, such as Radon transform, can focus seismic data into a sparse model to separate signals, remove noise or interpolate missing traces. Therefore, Radon transforms are a suitable tool for either the denoising- or the inversion-based deblending methods. The denoising-based deblending treats blending interferences as random noise by sorting the data into new gathers, such as common receiver gather. In these gathers, blending interferences exhibit random structures due to the randomization of the source firing times. Alternatively, the inversion-based deblending treats blending interferences as a signal, and the transform models this signal by incorporating the blending operator to formulate an inversion problem. We compare both methods using a robust inversion algorithm with sparse regularization. Results of synthetic and field data examples show that the inversion-based deblending can produce more accurate signal separation for highly blended data.     

Interpreting rural change in Malaysia

Relatively little in the literature on rural change in Southeast Asia engages with Malaysia, where the population is becoming urban‐based more rapidly than in many countries in the region. The literature on change in rural Malaysia during the past 40 years, supplemented by our own research, is used to identify key features of such change, which are considered in the context of existing interpretations to arrive at deeper understandings of rural change. Existing conceptualizations of rural change, it is suggested, must account for the diversity of roles taken by individuals daily, seasonally and at different life stages, as well as in multiple locations. Further attention needs to be paid to gender, generation and class among those experiencing change. Processes of rural (and urban) changes will continue and their complexity will reflect cultural and technological evolutions that affect individuals, households and communities throughout the world.     

INCOMING LONGWAVE RADIATION ENHANCEMENT BY CLOUD COVER

The effect of cloud cover on incoming longwave radiation reaching the ground surface is investigated using an analytic procedure. Results show that the contribution of a cloud deck depends not only on cloud type, but also on cloudless emissivity. The widely accepted notion that the enhancement factor for a cloud deck depends only on the cloud type is misleading and could lead to inconsistent results. Results in this paper explain the difference between observed and empirically derived incoming longwave radiation during overcast conditions in cold and mountainous regions. The effect of cloudless emissivity should be taken into account to represent adequately the contribution of cloud cover on incoming longwave radiation. The enhancement factor of all cloud types spans a wide range; it reaches its maximum values during dry atmospheric conditions and diminishes, almost linearly, as atmospheric humidity increases. The difference in the enhancement factor could reach as much as 100%. [Key words: longwave radiation enhancement, cloud contribution, clear-sky emissivity, atmospheric radiation, cloud emissivity.]     

Agrobiodiversity of Muda Rice Agroecosystem:A case Study in Largest Granary Area of Malaysia

A survey was carried out at the largest rice cultivation area in Peninsular Malaysia,the Muda rice agroecosystem.The main objective of this study was to document the overall biodiversity associated with this unique agroecosystem by using a combination of sampling techniques in order to record different groups of fauna and flora.The total number of biota recorded and identified from the rice field ecosystem during the study period consisted of 46 species of zooplankton,81 species of aquatic insects,5 species of rodents,7 species of bats,87 species of birds,11 species of fishes and 58 species of weeds.A long-term study should be carried out as more species are expected to be recorded when more of the Muda rice agroecosystem area has been sampled to obtain sufficient information on the Muda rice agrobiodiversity.     

Geomorphological aspects of the process of desertification in Western Sudan

Desertification involves several morphodynamic processes which serve as indicators of the highly complex process of desertification and thus play an important role in its monitoring. Ecological degradation triggers off and enhances these morphological activities, which are mainly processes of soil changes, soil erosion, and the transport and accumulation of soils. These alterations of relief and soil result in hydrological changes which have negative effects on land productivity. Both geomorphological and desertification processes are so interwoven that it becomes difficult to differentiate clearly between causes and effects. As the field studies tackled here have been carried out in the sandy regions of western Sudan, special attention is being paid to aeolian erosion and accumulation. Fluvial processes play only a subsidiary role in the processes of desertification there.     

Biophysical factors of remote sensing approach in urban green analysis

Greenery in an urban environment is an important consideration when studying temperature, and such enquiry can benefit human health. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how ambient temperature in urban areas is affected by forests and parks. The focus is on biophysical parameters related to these green areas, such as impervious surface percentages, albedo, areal coverage, elevation, and leaf area index (LAI). Geographic information systems and remote sensing were used to quantify green spaces using a pixel-based method. It was found that coverage area has little correlation with temperature. Factor analysis was used to determine the minimum number of independent factors, which explained 63% of the variance of that temperature. Only elevation, LAI and albedo were significant biophysical factors. Guidelines for greenery programmes should include these significant data-sets to understand the influence of green areas on heat reduction.