Mode trapping in sdO models

Mode trapping of high-radial order gravity modes was found for a particular sdO model. The trapping is caused by the change in composition from the helium radiative shell to the hydrogen burning shell. A non-adiabatic effect of this trapping is the higher tendency to instability of the trapped modes. Low- to intermediate-radial order pressure modes (in sdO models they correspond to mixed modes with most nodes in the P-mode region) are found to be trapped by the chemical transition from the carbon-oxygen core to the He burning shell. As the trapping is produced in the deep interior of the star, where energy interchange is negligible at the p-mode frequencies, it has no particular effect on the driving.     

The Influence of Storms on Water Quality and Phytoplankton Dynamics in the Tidal James River

Due to the unpredictable nature of intense storms and logistical constraints of sampling during storms, little is known about their immediate and long-term impacts on water quality in adjacent aquatic ecosystems. By combining targeted experiments with routine monitoring, we evaluated immediate impacts of two successive storm events on water quality and phytoplankton community response in the tidal James River and compared these findings to a non-storm year. The James River is a subestuary of the Chesapeake Bay and sampling was conducted before, during, and after Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm (TS) Lee in 2011 and during the same time period (late summer/early fall) in 2012 when there were no storms. We collected and compiled data on nutrient and chlorophyll a concentrations, phytoplankton abundance, nitrogen uptake, primary productivity rates, and surface salinity, temperature, and turbidity in the meso- and polyhaline segments of the James River. Hurricane Irene introduced significant amounts of freshwater over the entire James River and Chesapeake Bay watersheds, while rainfall from TS Lee fell primarily on the tidal fresh region of the James River and headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay. Dinoflagellates dominated the algal community in the meso- and polyhaline segments prior to the storms in 2011, and a mixed diatom community emerged after the storms. In the mesohaline river segment, cyanobacteria abundance increased after TS Lee when salinities were depressed, likely due to washout from the oligohaline and tidal fresh regions of the river. In 2012, dinoflagellates dominated the community in both segments of the river during late summer but diatoms were also abundant and their biomass fluctuated throughout the summer and fall. Cyanobacteria were not present in either segment. Overall, we observed that the high-intensity rainfall from Hurricane Irene combined with high flushing in the headwaters as a result of TS Lee likely reduced primary productivity and altered community composition in the mesohaline segment but not the more estuarine-influenced polyhaline segment. Understanding the influence of high freshwater flow with a short residence time associated with storms is key to the planning and management of estuarine restoration as such disturbances are projected to increase as a result of climate change.     

Small Format Digital Cameras for Aerial Survey: Where Are We Now?

This paper introduces the subject of digital sensors for aerial survey by reviewing the use made of small format digital cameras in such an application. The major advantages and disadvantages of employing such consumer technology for aerial survey are highlighted. Finally, a specification is proposed for a minimum requirement for a digital solution based on a single area array sensor.     

Subsurface structure derived from detailed gravity and magnetic investigations along the Pala-Maneri traverse of the Main Central Thrust,NW Himalaya

A detailed, integrated gravity and magnetic study across the Main Central Thrust (MCT) along the Pala-Maneri traverse in Uttaranchal, NW Himalaya was carried out. The gravity data was acquired using a CG-3 gravity meter with an accuracy of 0.005 mGal, while magnetic data was acquired using a proton precession magnetometer with a station interval of 20 m. Data was collected along a 11.7 km, NE-SW traverse from Pala to Maneri along the proposed route of a hydroelectric headrace tunnel. The measured variation in the gravity field was approximately 70 mGal, with two prominent highs recorded at distances of 0.5 km, 7.5 km and lows at 3.0 km, 10.5 km from Maneri. The gravity highs can be attributed to presence of high-density rocks along the thrust planes. The sharp gravity low recorded at 10.5 km distance possibly indicates a sympathetic fault of the MCT that is highly saturated with fluids (water). The broad gravity low between 2.5 km and 4.0 km distance is likely to represent the gravity signature of the MCT itself. The measured variation in the magnetic field was approximately 285 nT. The associated gravity and magnetic signatures located several faults along the traverse including presence of the MCT at Kumaltigad.     

Conditioning of coefficient matrices of Ordinary Kriging

The solution of a set of linear equations is central to Ordinary Kriging. Computers are commonly applied because of the amount of data and work involved. There has, until recently, been little attention devoted toward the conditioning of kriging matrices. This article considers implications of conditioning upon numerical stability, instead of on robustness which has been the main focus of past work. The effect of properties of the stationary covariance matrix on the conditioning of the kriging matrix is discussed. The relationship between the covariance and autocorrelation functions allows some conclusions about the conditioning of covariance matrices, based on past work in deconvolution. The conditioning of some coefficient matrices of stationary kriging, defined in terms of either the semivariogram or the covariance, is examined.     

Air–sea interaction over the Indian Ocean due to variations in the Indonesian throughflow

The effects of the Indonesian throughflow on the upper thermocline circulation and surface heat flux over the Indian Ocean are presented for a 3-D ocean model forced by two different monthly wind-stress climatologies, as they show interesting differences, which could have implications for long-term variability in the Indian and Australasian monsoons. The effects are determined by contrasting a control run with a run in which the throughflow is blocked by an artificial land-bridge across the exit channels into the Indian Ocean. In the model forced by ECMWF wind stresses, there is little impact on the annual mean surface heat flux in the region surrounding the throughflow exit straits, whereas in the model forced by SSM/I-based wind stresses, a modest throughflow of less than 5 ᎒⁶ m³s^-1 over the upper 300 m induces an extra 10-50 Wm^-2 output. In the SSM/I-forced model, there is insignificant penetration of the throughflow into the northern Indian Ocean. However, in the ECMWF-forced model, the throughflow induces a 5-10 Wm^-2 reduction in heat input into the ocean, i.e., an effective output, over the Somali Current in the annual mean. These differences are attributed to differences in the strength and direction of the Ekman transport of the ambient flow, and the vertical structure of the transport and temperature anomalies associated with the throughflow. In both models, the throughflow induces a 5-30 Wm^-2 increase in net output over a broad swathe of the southern Indian Ocean, and a reduction in heat output of 10-60 Wm^-2 in a large L-shaped band around Tasmania. Effective increases in throughflow-induced net output reach up to 40 (60) Wm^-2 over the Agulhas Current retroflection in the ECMWF (SSM/I)-forced model. Seasonal variations in the throughflow's effect on the net surface heat flux are attributed to seasonal variations in the ambient circulation of the Indian Ocean, specifically in coastal upwelling along the south Javan, west Australian, and Somalian coasts, and in the depth of convective overturning between 40°S to 50°S, and its sensing of the mean throughflow's thermal anomaly. The seasonal anomalies plus annual mean yield maximum values for the throughflow-induced net surface heat output in boreal summer. Values may exceed 40 Wm^-2 in the southern Indian Ocean interior in both models, exceed 60 Wm^-2 over the Agulhas retroflection and immediate vicinity of the exit channels in the SSM/I-forced model, and reach 30 Wm^-2 over the Somali jet in the ECMWF-forced model.     

Wave runup on a concentric twin perforated circular cylinder

The regular wave interaction with a twin concentric porous circular cylinder system consisting of an inner impermeable cylinder and an outer perforated cylinder was studied through physical model and numerical model studies. The experiments were carried out on the twin concentric cylinder model in a wave flume to study the wave runup and rundown at the leading and trailing edges of the perforated cylinder. It was found that the maximum wave runup on the perforated cylinder is almost same as the incident wave height. The experimental results were used to develop the predictive formulae for the wave runup and rundown on the perforated cylinder, which can be easily used for design applications. The wave runup profiles around the perforated cylinder for different values of ka and porosities were studied numerically using Green's Identity Method. The results of the numerical study are presented and compared with the experimental measurements.     

Characteristics of the winter boundary layer over the African Plateau: 26 ° S

Characteristics of the winter boundary layer over the (elevation 1600 m) in the vicinity of Johannesburg, 26 ° S, 29 ° E, are described in relation to air pollution potential by means of doppler sounder observations and background climatological data. Regional mean winds for the 800 h Pa level show that the winter boundary layer is dominated by a cell of high pressure over the Limpopo River Valley to the northeast of Johannesburg. To the south of Johannesburg, westerly circumpolar flow is prevalent and encroaches onto the plateau during the passage of frontal perturbations. Doppler sounder wind and turbulence profiles, averaged for the months of August 1984 and June 1985, are presented to establish a boundary-layer climatology. Diurnally averaged doppler sounder profiles for both months revealed a very consistent convective/day — stable/night cycle in the very dry winter conditions. A sharp radiation inversion formed just after sunset up to the 150–200 m level and grew in depth to reach 300 m on average near sunrise. The inversion caused a reduction in frictional drag and the formation of nocturnal low level jet during westerly encroachment. A case study is evaluated to determine the detailed structure of the low level jet near Johannesburg. The thermal wind plays a role in the nocturnal acceleration; mechanisms for its development and maintenance are explored. Additional work is presented on the synoptic cycle and its influence on air pollution dispersion over the African Plateau.     

Ore dust pollution,hatching and egg temperatures in birds

Dry ore dust pollution decreased the hatching success of fowl eggs from 76% in the control to 57% when manganese ore dust and 54% when iron ore dust were used. Daily wetting of eggs aggravated the ore dust effect. When eggs were covered with ore dust, the heat exchange properties of eggs exposed to direct sunlight were significantly changed. Manganese and iron ore dust covered eggs heated and cooled at a significantly faster rates than the controls. The interior uppermost area may reach a temperature of 54°C after 60 minutes in the sun. Manganese ore dust covered brown eggs were the most affected and white eggs the least. Ore dust pollution therefore poses a threat to the hatching success of bird eggs.