Determination of magnetic helicity content of solar active regions from SOHO/MDI magnetograms

Chae (2001) first proposed a method of self-consistently determining the rate of change of magnetic helicity using a time series of longitudinal magnetograms only, such as taken by SOHO/MDI. Assuming that magnetic fields in the photosphere are predominantly vertical, he determined the horizontal component of velocity by tracking the displacements of magnetic flux fragments using the technique of local correlation tracking (LCT). In the present paper, after briefly reviewing the recent advance in helicity rate measurement, we argue that the LCT method can be more generally applied even to regions of inclined magnetic fields. We also present some results obtained by applying the LCT method to the active region NOAA 10365 under emergence during the observable period, which are summarized as follows. (1) Strong shearing flows were found near the polarity inversion line that were very effective in helicity injection. (2) Both the magnetic flux and helicity of the active region steadily increased during the observing period, and reached 1.2 × 10²² Mx and 8 ×10⁴² Mx², respectively, 4.5 days after the birth of the active region. (3) The corresponding ratio of the helicity to the square of the magnetic flux, 0.05, is roughly compatible with the values determined by other studies using linear-force-free modeling. (4) A series of flares took place while the rate of helicity injection was high. (5) The choice of a smaller window size or a shorter time interval in the LCT method resulted in a bigger value of the LCT velocity and a bigger value of the temporal fluctuation of the helicity rate. (6) Nevertheless when averaged over a time period of about one hour or longer, the average rate of helicity became about the same within about 10%, almost irrespective of the chosen window size and time interval, indicating that short-lived, fluctuating flows may be insignificant in transferring magnetic helicity. Our results suggest that the LCT method may be applied to 96-minute cadence full-disk MDI magnetograms or other data of similar kind, to provide a practically useful, if not perfect, way of monitoring the magnetic helicity content of active regions as a function of time.     

Seasonal Prediction Experiments of the Summer Droughts and Floods during the Early 1990’s in East Asia with Numerical Models

It has been shown by the observed data that during the early 1990’s, the severe disastrous climate occurred in East Asia. In the summer of 1991, severe flood occurred in the Yangtze River and the Huaihe River basin of China and in South Korea, and it also appeared in South Korea in the summer of 1993. However, in the summer of 1994, a dry and hot summer was caused in the Huaihe River basin of China and in R. O. K.. In order to investigate the seasonal predictability of the summer droughts and floods during the early l990’s in East Asia, the seasonal prediction experiments of the summer droughts and floods in the summers of 1991-1994 in East Asia have been made by using the Institute of Atmospheric Physics-Two-Level General Circulation Model (IAP-L2 AGCM), the IAP-Atmosphere/Ocean Coupled Model (IAP-CGCM) and the IAP-L2 AGCM in?cluding a filtering scheme, respectively. Compared with the observational facts, it is shown that the IAP-L2 AGCM or IAP-CGCM has some predictability for the summer droughts and floods during the early 1990’s in East Asia, es?pecially for the severe droughts and floods in China and R. O, K.. In this study, a filtering scheme is used to improve the seasonal prediction experiments of the summer droughts and floods during the early 1990’s in East Asia. The predicted results show that the filtering scheme to remain the planetary-scale disturbances is an effective method for the improvement of the seasonal prediction of the summer droughts and floods in East Asia.     

Diamondiferous peridotite xenoliths from the Argyle (AK1) lamproite pipe,Western Australia

This paper describes a suite of peridotite xenoliths. some carrying diamonds at high grades, from the richly diamondiferous early Proterozoic (1180 Ma) Argyle (AK1) lamproite pipe, in northwestern Australia. The peridotites are mostly coarse garnet lherzolites but also include garnet harzburgite, chromite — garnet peridotite, a garnet wehrlite, and an altered spinel peridotite with extremely Cr-rich chromite. In all cases the garnet has been replaced by a kelyphite-like, symplectic intergrowth of Alrich pyroxenes, Al-spinel and secondary silicates. The peridotites have refractory compositions characterized by high Mg/(Mg+Fe) and depletion in lithophile elements (Al₂O₃ and CaO < 1%, Na₂O0.03%) and high field strength cations such as Ti, Zr, Y, and Yb. Olivines have high Mg/(Mg+Fe) (Mg ^91–93 ) and, like olivine inclusions in diamonds from the Argyle pipe, contain detectable amounts of Cr₂O₃ (0.03%–0.07%) but have very low CaO contents (typically 0.04%–0.05%). Enstatites (Mg ^92–94 ) have comparatively high Cr₂O₃ (0.2%–0.45%) and Na₂O (up to 0.18%) but very low Al₂O₃ contents (0.5%–0.7%). Diopsides (Mg ^92–94 , Ca/(Ca+Mg+Fe)=0.37–0.43) are Cr-rich (0.7%–1.9% Cr₂O₃) and have low Al₂O₃ (0.7%–2.2%) and Na₂O (0.5%–1.6%) contents. Many have high K₂O contents, typically 0.1%–0.4% but up to 1.3% K₂O in one xenolith. The chromite coexisting with former garnet is Mg-and Cr-rich [Mg/(Mg+Fe²⁺)=0.68–0.72, Cr/(Cr+Al)=0.72–0.79] whereas chromite in the spinel peridotite is even more Cr-rich (65% Cr₂O₃, Cr/(Cr+Al)=0.85, resembling inclusions in diamond. One highly serpentinized former garnet peridotite contains a Cr-rich (up to 13% Cr₂O₃) titanate resembling armalcolite but containing significant K₂O (1%–2.5%), CaO (0.6%–2.2%), ZrO₂ (0.1%–0.8%), SrO (0.1%–0.3%), and BaO (up to 0.58%): this appears to have formed as an overprint of the primary mineralogy. Temperatures and pressures estimated from coexisting pyroxenes and reconstructed garnet compositions indicate that the garnet lherzolites equilibrated at 1140°–1290° C and 5.0–5.9 GPa (160–190 km depth), within the stability field of diamond. Oxygen fugacties within the diamond forming environment are estimated from spinel-bearing assemblages to be reducing, with f _O2 between MW and IW. The presence of significant K in the diopsides from the peridotite xenoliths and in diopsides from heavy mineral concentrate from the Argyle pipe implies metasomatic enrichment of the subcontinental lithosphere within the diamond stability field. The P-T conditions estimated for the Argyle peridotites demonstrate that diamondiferous lamproite magmas incorporate mantle xenoliths from similar depths to kimberlites in cratonic settings, and imply that Proterozoic cratonized orogenic belts can have lithospheric roots of comparable thickness to beneath Archaean cratons. These roots lie at the base of the lithosphere within the stability field of diamond. The xenoliths, the calcic nature of chrome pyropes from heavy mineral concentrate, and the diamond inclusion assemblage indicate that the lighosphere beneath the Western Australian lamproites is mostly depleted lherozolite rather than the harzburgite commonly found beneath Archaean cratons. Nevertheless, the dominance of eclogitic paragenesis inclusions in Argyle diamonds indicates a significant proportion of diamondiferous eclogite is also present. The form, mineral inclusion assemblage, and the C-isotopic composition of diamonds in the peridotite xenoliths suggest that disaggregated diamondiferous peridotites are the source of the planar octahedral diamonds which constitute a minor component of the Argyle production. These diamonds are believed to have formed from mantle carbon in reduced, refractory peridotite (Iherzolite-harzburgite) in contrast to the predominant strongly ¹³C-depleted eclogitic suite diamonds which contain a recycled crustal carbon component. The source region of the lamproites has undergone long-term (2 Ga) enrichment in incompatible elements.     

Numerical flow simulation of flush type intake duct of waterjet

Waterjet propulsion system is widely used to thrust high speed marine vessels in excess of 30–35 knots by virtue of high propulsive efficiency, good maneuverability, and less vibration. Since, however, approximately 7–9% of the total power is lost in intake duct due to flow separation, nonuniformity, etc., detail understanding of flow phenomena occurring within intake duct is essential to reduce the power loss. The present work solved 3D incompressible RANS equations on multiblocked grid system of the flush type intake duct of waterjet. The numerical results of surface pressure distributions, velocity vectors, and streamlines were compared with experiments and good agreements were obtained for three jet velocity ratios. Strong suction flow through the inlet was shown and the vortex induced by the separation along the corner of the side wall was clearly shown. Flow separation on the lip was also observed. The location of stagnation point on the lip was well predicted, in accordance with PIV measurement.     

Changes in spatial variations of sap flow in Korean pine trees due to environmental factors and their effects on estimates of stand transpiration

It is difficult to scale up measurements of the sap flux density (Js) for the characterization of tree or stand transpiration (E) due to spatial variations in JS and their temporal changes. To assess spatial variations in the sap flux density of Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) and their effects on E estimates, we measured the Js using Granier-type sensors. Within trees, the Js decreased exponentially with the radial depth, and the Js of the east aspects were higher than those of the west aspects. Among trees, there was a positive relationship between Js and the tree diameter at breast height, and this positive relationship became stronger as the transpiration demand increased. The spatial variations that caused large errors in E estimates (i.e., up to 110.8 % when radial variation was ignored) had varied systematically with environmental factors systematic characteristics in relation to environmental factors. However, changes in these variations did not generate substantial errors in the E estimates. For our study periods, the differences in the daily E (E _D) calculated by ignoring radial, azimuthal and tree-to-tree variations and the measured E _D were fairly constant, especially when the daily vapor pressure deficit (D__D) was higher than 0.6 kPa. These results imply that the effect of spatial variations changes on sap flow can be a minor source of error compared with spatial variations (radial, azimuthal and tree-to-tree variations) when considering E estimates.     

Determining the condition of groundwater in evaluating the need for corrective measures: a case for the national groundwater-monitoring network in South Korea

Groundwater data (water level, electrical conductivity (EC) and temperature) have been collected since 1995 from the national groundwater-monitoring stations in South Korea. Recently, substantial groundwater-level decline and deterioration of groundwater quality were reported at several stations. Relevant authorities undertook to investigate the groundwater hazards and to devise mitigation measures for selected monitoring stations. However, there were no criteria to determine the status of the groundwater level and EC, compared with historic data. A methodology is presented, which defines the groundwater condition. Using the suggested criteria, water level and EC data are classified into normal, watch and warning levels, leading to different administrative measures and technical investigations. The primary criterion compares the observed values for the evaluation year (e.g. 2003) and the historic values of normal years preceding the evaluation year (e.g. 1996–2002), using box plots. The secondary criterion uses variation trends of the values with the aid of parametric and non-parametric trend tests. Final decisions are dependent on scores assigned to each test. According to the criteria suggested, detailed investigations and mitigation measures for water level decline are required for seven stations and those for water quality are needed for 18 stations because they reside within the warning classification.     

Burial and degradation of Rena oil within coastal sediments of the Bay of Plenty

ABSTRACT

During the Rena oil spill, no data existed for New Zealand conditions on the likely depth of burial and the expected degradation of oil deposited on sandy beaches. Sediment cores were taken from 12 locations along the Bay of Plenty coastline c. 1 year after the Rena oil spill. No visible oil was detected in cores and trenches dug within the beaches. Chemical extraction was performed on 20?cm slices from the upper 40?cm of 26 cores, and the elutriates were analysed for the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The results were compared with known PAH fingerprints of Rena oil and its degradation products. Only seven samples contained some marker PAHs, and none had a complete Rena profile, indicating stormwater contamination. Despite extensive deposition of Rena oil on beaches, no evidence of ongoing contamination could be located, indicating that the clean-up and degradation were effective at removing the oil.     

Application of MPA to estimate probability of collapse of structures

This paper develops a modal pushover analysis‐ (MPA) based approximate procedure to quantify the collapse potential of structural systems. The computationally demanding incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) of the structural system is avoided by MPA of the structure in conjunction with empirical equations for the collapse strength ratio for the first‐mode single‐degree‐of‐freedom (SDF) system; higher modes of vibration play essentially no role in estimating the ground motion intensity required to cause collapse of the structure. Presented are collapse fragility curves for 6‐, 9‐, and 20‐story regular special moment‐resisting teel frames computed by the exact and approximate procedures, demonstrating that the MPA‐based approximate procedure requires only a small fraction (1% in one example) of the computational effort inherent in exact IDA and still achieves highly accurate results. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.