Limb brightening on Uranus: The visible spectrum,II

New narrow-band (100 Å) photoelectric area-scanning photometry of the Uranus disk is reported. Observations were concentrated on the two strong CH₄ bands at λ 6190 and 7300 Å. Adjacent continuum regions at λ 6400 and 7500 Å were also measured for comparison. Both slit and pinhole scans were made in orthogonal directions. Disk structure in each waveband is apparent through lack of circular symmetry in the intensity distribution over the Uranus image. Polar brightening is especially prominent in the λ 7500-Å waveband. Coarse quantitative determinations of the true intensity distribution over the Uranus disk were made. For the λ 6190-Å CH₄ band, Uranus exhibits a disk of essentially uniform intensity except for a hint of polar brightening. For the λ 7300-Å CH₄ band, moderate limb brightening is apparent. Specifically, the true intensities at the center and limb of the planetary disk are approximately in the proportion 1:2. Extreme limb brightening, with a corresponding intensity ratio greater than 1:4, is not permitted by the observational data.     

Das oberengadiner Gebirge,seine Schicht- und Eruptivgesteine sowie der Bau und die Wurzeln seiner Überschiebungsdecken

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

A unified approach to the implicit integration of standard,non‐standard and viscous plasticity models

It is shown how modern concepts to integrate the elasto‐plastic rate equations of standard plasticity via an implicit algorithm can be generalized to plasticity without an explicitly defined yield surface and to overstress‐type models of viscoplasticity, where the stress point can be located outside the loading surface. For completeness, a tangent operator is derived that is consistent with the update algorithm. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evolution of debris cover on glaciers of the Eastern Alps,Austria, between 1996 and 2015

Debris cover on glaciers is an important component of glacial systems as it influences climate–glacier dynamics and thus the lifespan of glaciers. Increasing air temperatures, permafrost thaw and rock faces freshly exposed by glacier downwasting in accumulation zones result in increased rockfall activity and debris input. In the ablation zone, negative mass balances result in an enhanced melt-out of englacial debris. Glacier debris cover thus represents a clear signal of climate warming in mountain areas. To assess the temporal development of debris on glaciers of the Eastern Alps, Austria, we mapped debris cover on 255 glaciers using Landsat data at three time steps. We applied a ratio-based threshold classification technique and analysed glacier catchment characteristics to understand debris sources better. Across the Austrian Alps, debris cover increased by more than 10% between 1996 and 2015 while glaciers retreated in response to climate warming. Debris cover distribution shows significant regional variability, with some mountain ranges being characterised by mean debris cover on glaciers of up to 75%. We also observed a general rise of the mean elevation of debris cover on glaciers in Austria. The debris cover distribution and dynamics are highly variable due to topographic, lithological and structural settings that determine the amount of debris delivered to and stored in the glacier system. Despite strong variation in debris cover, all glaciers investigated melted at increasing rates. We conclude that the retarding effects of debris cover on the mass balance and melt rate of Austrian glaciers is strongly subdued compared with other mountain areas. The study indicates that, if this trend continues, many glaciers in Austria may become fully debris covered. However, since debris cover seems to have little impact on melt rates, this would not lead to prolonged existence of debris-covered ice compared with clean ice glaciers.     

Are there social limits to adaptation to climate change?

While there is a recognised need to adapt to changing climatic conditions, there is an emerging discourse of limits to such adaptation. Limits are traditionally analysed as a set of immutable thresholds in biological, economic or technological parameters. This paper contends that limits to adaptation are endogenous to society and hence contingent on ethics, knowledge, attitudes to risk and culture. We review insights from history, sociology and psychology of risk, economics and political science to develop four propositions concerning limits to adaptation. First, any limits to adaptation depend on the ultimate goals of adaptation underpinned by diverse values. Second, adaptation need not be limited by uncertainty around future foresight of risk. Third, social and individual factors limit adaptation action. Fourth, systematic undervaluation of loss of places and culture disguises real, experienced but subjective limits to adaptation. We conclude that these issues of values and ethics, risk, knowledge and culture construct societal limits to adaptation, but that these limits are mutable.