The gas scintillation proportional counter in the spacelab environment: In-flight performance and post-flight calibration

We describe the in-orbit performance of the gas scintillation proportional counter which formed part of the Spacelab-1 payload. Discontinuities in the instrument gain are observed (similar to those of the xenon-filled GSPC's on the EXOSAT and TENMA satellites). A post-flight recalibration of the instrument was performed using synchrotron radiation, which found the discontinuities to be coincident with the xenonL edges.     

The evolution of latera caldera (central Italy) in the light of subsurface data

Subsurface geothermal exploration has considerably added to our knowledge of the Latera volcanic complex. A syenitic body is located about 2 km below the present-day surface; K-Ar data point a 0.9 Ma age. The primary magma was a silica-saturated trachyte; undersaturated, hauyne-bearing products are found near the carbonatic wall-rocks and have been interpreted as reaction products. Subsurface data from deep drilling and geophysical surveys suggest that the Latera caldera resulted from three main successive collapse phases: (i) formation of an old caldera, now buried, related to the eruption of ignimbrites from the syenitic magma chamber; (ii) sinking of the eastern sector as a consequence of the formation of the nearby Bolsena caldera (0.3 Ma); (iii) multistage formation of the present Latera caldera (0.16 Ma).     

Analysis of tropical cyclone intensification trends and variability in the North Atlantic Basin over the period 1970–2003

Summary Over the past three decades, the sea-surface temperatures of the lower latitudes of the North Atlantic basin have increased while the lower-tropospheric temperatures show no upward trend. This differential warming of the atmosphere may have a destabilizing effect that could influence the development and intensification of tropical cyclones (TCs). In this investigation, we find that in general, TC intensification (a) is higher during the daytime period and during the later months of the storm season, (b) tends to be higher in the western portion of the North Atlantic basin, and (c) is not explained by current month or antecedent SSTs. Any changes associated with warming of the surface compared to a smaller temperature rise in the lower-troposphere (and resultant changes in atmospheric stability) have not produced detectable impacts on intensification rates of tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic basin.