Heat exchange between water and ice in the Arctic Ocean

Summary The heat balance equation for the bottom surface of floating sea ice is evaluated on the basis of observations of ice temperature, water temperature, current velocity, and ablation or accretion of ice. Assuming equality of the eddy diffusivities for momentum, heat, and salt (average 24 cm² sec^–1) it is shown that the temperature gradient in the oceanic boundary layer is extremely small (averages between 2.10^–5 and 4.10^–4°C/meter) and difficult to measure directly. It is suggested that a large part of the heat transfer from the relatively warm Atlantic water to the arctic atmosphere may occur through open leads in the ice cover.

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Zusammenfassung Die Wärmebilanzgleichung für die Unterseite von schwimmendem Meereis wird an Hand von Beobachtungen der Eistemperatur, der Wassertemperatur, der Strömungsgeschwindigkeit und der Eisdickenänderung ausgewertet. Unter der Annahme gleicher Austauschkoeffizienten für Bewegungsgröße, Wärme und Salzgehalt (im Mittel 24 cm² sec^–1) ergibt sich für die ozeanische Grenzschicht ein außerordentlich kleiner Gradient der Wassertemperatur (durchschnittlich zwischen 2.10^–5 und 4.10^–4°C/Meter), der durch direkte Beobachtungen schwer nachzuweisen ist. Es ist zu vermuten, daß ein beträchtlicher Teil der Wärmeabgabe von der relativ warmen atlantischen Wassermasse an die arktische Atmosphäre durch Öffnungen in der Meereisdecke erfolgt.

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Résumé On établit l'équation du bilan thermique valable pour la surface inférieure de la glace marine dérivante. Pour ce faire, on se sert d'observations de la température de la glace, de celle de l'eau, de la vitesse du courant et des variations de l'épaisseur de la glace. En admettant que les coefficients d'échange sont les mêmes pour la quantité de mouvement, la chaleur et le taux de salinité (en moyenne 24 cm² sec^–1), il résulte pour la couche limite un gradient extrêmement faible de la température de l'eau (situé en moyenne entre 2·10^–5 et 4·10^–4°C/m); un tel gradient est difficile à prouver au moyen d'observations directes. On peut supposer qu'une partie importante de la chaleur transmise par l'eau relativement chaude de l'Atlantique à l'atmosphère arctique passe au travers des lacunes de la couche de glace recouvrant l'océan.

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With 4 Figures

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Contribution 141, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle. This is a thesis submitted by the author in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science.     

Determination of part-per-trillion levels of atmospheric dimethyl sulfide by isotope dilution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Stable isotopic dilution was applied to the determination of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) in ambient air at the low part-per-trillion by volume (pptrv) levels. Perdeuterated DMS was used as an internal standard in the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry determination. The isotopically labelled internal standard provided insensitivity to possible losses of DMS in sampling and analysis. The lower limit of detection (LLD) was 1 pptrv with a sample acquisition time of 2 min.     

Tracer Flux Balance at an Urban Canyon Intersection

Despite their importance for pollutant dispersion in urban areas, the special features of dispersion at street intersections are rarely taken into account by operational air quality models. Several previous studies have demonstrated the complex flow patterns that occur at street intersections, even with simple geometry. This study presents results from wind-tunnel experiments on a reduced scale model of a complex but realistic urban intersection, located in central London. Tracer concentration measurements were used to derive three-dimensional maps of the concentration field within the intersection. In combination with a previous study (Carpentieri et al., Boundary-Layer Meteorol 133:277–296, 2009) where the velocity field was measured in the same model, a methodology for the calculation of the mean tracer flux balance at the intersection was developed and applied. The calculation highlighted several limitations of current state-of-the-art canyon dispersion models, arising mainly from the complex geometry of the intersection. Despite its limitations, the proposed methodology could be further developed in order to derive, assess and implement street intersection dispersion models for complex urban areas.     

William Smith's map brought alive by digital remastering

The geological mapping carried out by William Smith, which resulted in the publication of his famous map in 1815, was remarkable in many respects, not least because it relied on him being able to make consistent and accurate observations on the rock types he encountered during his fieldwork. This ability, gained from his many years studying rocks, allowed him to observe features with his own eyes (or at the very least, with the aid of a simple magnifying device) that others could not. We take a new look at William Smith's original stratigraphical sequences, and with samples collected from his classic field areas (many of which are around the city of Bath, Somerset, UK), demonstrate how spatial mineralogy mapping can be incorporated into the modern age of digital mapping.     

Coastal flooding in Scotland: towards national-level hazard assessment

This study investigated contributory factors to flood hazard around Scotland. There is a need to develop preliminary assessments of areas potentially vulnerable to flooding for compliance with the European Union Directive on the Assessment and Management of Flood Risks (2007/60/EC). Historical accounts of coastal flood events in Scotland, notably in a storm in January 2005, had shown that estimates of risk based on still water levels required further information to identify sites at which waves and surges could combine. Additionally, it was important to add the effect of future sea-level rise and other drivers from published sources. Analysis of multiple years’ tidal data at seven sites, including estuaries, compared recorded water levels at high-return periods to those derived from a spatially interpolated numerical model contained within a publicly available flood risk map. For gauges with the longest records, increases were seen over time that reflected rises in mean sea level. Exposure to wave energy was computed from prevailing wind strength and direction at 36 stations, related to wave fetch and incident wind direction. Although the highest wave exposure was at open coast locations exposed to the long Atlantic fetch, GIS analysis of coastal rasters identified other areas in or close to estuaries that also had high exposure. Projected sea-level change, when added to the surge and wave analyses, gives a spatially extensive structured variable flood risk assessment for future coastal flood hazard to complement the public flood risk map. Such tools can help fulfil the requirements of the EC Directive and may be a useful approach in other regions with high spatial variability in coastal flood risk related to exposure to waves and wind.     

Physical,chemical, and biological conditions associated with the early stages of the Lake Michigan vernal thermal front

An investigation of the thermal front in southeastern Lake Michigan during April 1988 revealed a dynamic physical, chemical, and biological environment. The front was observed approximately 4 km from the coast as a distinct gradient separating cold open-lake waters from warmer nearshore waters. Surface isotherms near the front were generally parallel to one another but skewed with respect to shore. Comparison between April 22 and 29 showed that the surface isothern pattern was modulated by wind stress. The pattern from April 29 showed signs of flow instabilities with horizontal scales of 1 km to 5 km. Surface drifter trajectories provided estimates of horizontal convergence at the fron which varied from 7×10^?6 s^?1 to 20×10^?6 s^?1. Inferred rates of downwelling, which ranged from 9.5 m d^?1 to 20.7 m d^?1, were sufficient to move a water parcel from the surface to the bottom in 2 to 6 d at the front. Convergent circulation was observed on both sampling dates despite contrasts in wind stress. Concentrations of chloride, soluble silica, and chlorophyll, which were always higher inshore, were 5% to 82% larger than offshore mean values. The aquatic environment just inshore of the thermal front was characterized by chlorphyll concentrations which exceeded 5.0 μg 1^?1 while concentrations offshore were between 1.0 μg 1^?1 and 2.0 μg 1^?1. A relatively uniform vertical structure in chlorophyll concentrations in the frontal zone was consistent with the observed convergence and inferred downwelling near the front.     

The development of warehousing in England

Over the past decade there has been a growing recognition by the business community, central government and local planners of the economic importance of warehousing. This importance can be measured in terms of the value of stock held in warehouses, their very rapid growth relative to other types of commercial property and the employment they create. This article reviews changes in business and planning attitudes to warehousing, accounts for the recent growth of warehouse floorspace in England and examines the spatial distribution of this growth.