An interference filter for observing the photospheric network

Photographs of the Sun, recently obtained with a violet interference filter ( 3840 Å), show the photospheric network (or photospheric faculae) with a contrast of typically 20% across the entire solar disk. Since this network is cospatial with photospheric magnetic fields, one is able to determine thepositions (not polarity) of these magnetic fields with fairly modest equipment. Furthermore, numerous dark structures and a faint dark network can be seen through the violet filter.     

On the failure of Laplace's tidal equations to model subinertial motions at a discontinuity in depth

Infinitesmal amplitude, inviscid, subinertial oscillations over a discontinuity in depth are considered distinguishing three ocean models: (i) the Laplacian model in which the flow is governed by Laplace's tidal equations (LTE); (ii) the more realistic geophysical model in which the Vaisala frequency is assumed to be much greater than the inertial frequency; and (iii) the laboratory model in which the fluid is homogeneous with the Vaisala frequency equal to zero. The Laplacian model supports free waves perfectly trapped at the step while the laboratory model supports no perfectly trapped waves. The two approximations nevertheless predict similar behavior, because in the presence of forcing, the surface mode of the laboratory model is highly excited at frequencies and wavenumbers close to those of the perfectly trapped solutions predicted by LTE. Only in the limit of very long, low-frequency motions does the Laplacian model describe the barotropic modes of the geophysical model well, qualitatively, and even here the quantitative disagreement in predicted phase speeds and group velocities is substantial. At shorter wavelengths, LTE qualitatively misrepresent the dispersion properties by erroneously predicting topographically trapped motions with vanishing group velocity at a subinertial upper limit to the frequency of free oscillation. In particular, the results indicate that, for the step topography, there is in general no trapped, barotropic mode (double-Kelvin wave) in the geophysical model. Thus, LTE fail in modeling even the barotropic parts of subinertial motions at a depth discontinuity and should not be used in such calculations.     

A new method for computing synthetic seismograms

Summary. The computation of theoretical seismograms for models in which the elastic parameters and density vary only with depth (in a plane, cylindrical or spherical geometry) reduces to the solution of an ordinary differential equation plus the evaluation of inverse transformations. In principle, the problem is straightforward. In practice, many techniques and approximations can be used at each stage and many combinations and variants are possible. In this paper, we discuss a new method of evaluating the inverse transforms. Any method can be used to solve the differential equation and we only discuss a few analytic approximations to illustrate the new method. The inverse transformations are a frequency and wavenumber integral. Essentially four techniques can be used to evaluate these depending on the order of integration and whether the wavenumber integral is distorted from the real axis. Three of these have been widely used, but the technique of evaluating the frequency integral first and keeping the wavenumber real is new. In this paper, we discuss some of the advantages of this combination.     

The effects of partial redistribution on facular K line profiles

We present theoretical Ca ii K-line profiles and filtergram contrasts for several recent models of solar faculae. The line profiles vary greatly between models and between complete and partial frequency redistribution non-LTE calculations for any given model. The filtergram contrasts are relatively insensitive to the line formation theory which greatly simplifies the calculation for comparison with observations. All of the models considered exhibit K-line contrasts smaller than the mean value observed by Mehltretter.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under contract with the National Science Foundation.     

On the physical conditions in the photospheric network: An improved model of solar faculae

Semi-empirical models of solar faculae, cospatial with strong photospheric magnetic fields, have been constructed from continuum observations. The center-to-limb contrast of the various models was computed taking into account their geometrical shape. The adopted model whose horizontal size was taken to be 750 km, indicates that, in field regions, the temperature begins to rise outwards at z -125 km (above ₅₀₀₀ = 1) and that the extrapolated temperature at z -400 km is about 1500 K above that of the undisturbed atmosphere; the electron density is higher by a factor of about 30.     

The use of sedimentary algal pigments to infer historic algal communities in Lake Apopka,Florida

The primary producer community of Lake Apopka, a large (125 km²), shallow (mean depth, 1.7 m), polymictic Florida lake, shifted from macrophyte dominance to phytoplankton dominance in the 1940s. Today, frequent wind resuspension of highly organic, unconsolidated sediments supports a meroplanktonic community that is predominantly diatoms, but during calm periods the algal community is dominated by planktonic cyanobacteria. Sedimentary algal pigments (chlorophyll derivatives and carotenoids) and chemical proxies for nutrient enrichment (polyphosphate, total phosphorus and biogenic silica) in three sediment cores were used to investigate historic changes in primary producers. Sediments were separated into three stratigraphic zones using multivariate statistical techniques. Stratigraphic zonation was established in each core although sediment deposition at one site was insufficient to adequately resolve temporal changes. These results show the importance of selecting suitable sites for paleolimnological studies. The oldest zone represents macrophyte-derived sediments, and the two overlying zones represent phytoplankton-derived sediments deposited since the 1940s. Algal pigments in the most recent sediment zone show little degradation, which might be due to the presence of viable meroplankton in the sediment. After the initial primary producer shift from macrophytes to phytoplankton, the lake experienced a short period of cyanobacterial dominance followed by a period of benthic diatom abundance before being replaced by the present algal community consisting of cyanobacteria and meroplanktonic diatoms. Chlorophyll derivatives and carotenoids were highly correlated with total phosphorus. Historic trends inferred from the data include algal and cyanobacterial productivity that increased with increased phosphorus loading. The study demonstrates that valid paleolimnological proxies for historic eutrophication are available in loosely consolidated sediments of shallow, subtropical lakes.     

Early Himalayan exhumation: Isotopic constraints from the Indian foreland basin

Nd- and Sr-isotopic compositions of Palaeogene foreland basin sediments are used to provide insights into early Himalayan evolution, particularly the timing of exposure of high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr units, erosion of which may have caused the late Tertiary increase in oceanic Sr-isotopic ratios. During the late Palaeocene–early Eocene, erosion was from mixed sources including suture zone rocks. Exhumation of the High Himalaya was occurring by the time of deposition of alluvial sediments after mid-Oligocene times and this source has dominated Himalayan sediments from at least this time until the present day. The transition is interpreted to reflect exhumation of 'basement rocks' of the Indian plate, when the High Himalaya became a sufficient topographic barrier to separate suture zone rocks from the foreland basin. The marked rise in seawater ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr from 40 Ma is consistent with the erosion of a Himalayan source with a high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio.