Analysis of precipitation series for Belgrade

Summary Precipitation is a very variable climatic element. It is highly variable, both spatially and temporally at different scales (interannual and intra-annual). The search for cyclicity in the climatic record can resolve some of the complexities of the atmospheric system. This paper takes the example of the Belgrade precipitation series (1889–2000) to illustrate how trend and spectral analysis can provide information on climate variability as expressed through this particular variable.The annual, seasonal and monthly precipitation series of the Belgrade-Observatory station were analyzed by means of the Mann-Kendall test and the spectral analysis. The power spectra were calculated using the autocorrelation spectral analysis, the maximum entropy spectral analysis and the multitaper method.The influence of large-scale phenomena such as the El-Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) on the Belgrade precipitation series was investigated.     

Numerical study of the cloud seeding effects

The microphysical model with the bulk water parameterization is applied to simulated both contact and deposition nucleation as well as the imersion freezing for unseeded cases and the cases immediately after seeding performed for the cold continental Cb clouds with small cloud droplets. The injection of agent AgI is performed in temperature region between –8°C and –12°C. The four groups of sensitivity experiments are executed.

Analysis of the Saharan dust regional transport

Summary The Balkan Peninsula is situated in the impact zone of Saharan dust storms. The case of Saharan dust transport to Belgrade in the period of 14–17 April 1994 is analyzed using the Eta model for synoptic and meso scale processes. Air back trajectories are calculated at six model levels from 434 up to 5129m with horizontal grid resolutions of 1°×1° and 10×10. Following cyclonic circulation the dust was picked up from North Africa, and transported over Mediterranean. Simultaneously, according to the analysis of the three lowest trajectories, transport of trace metals from Macedonia and southern Serbia by the Koshava wind might be dominant in the observed episode. Turbulent flow enhanced the coagulation process of initially clean dust particles with particles containing Pb and Cd. The coagulation and scavenging processes below and in clouds increased deposition rates of Pb and Cd in Belgrade in the course of wet removal, and consequently trough resuspension processes. Dry deposition samples contained characteristic particles up to 30µm in diameter with Fe content of 11 to 15 atomic% and significant ratio Si/Fe of 3 to 5, determined for selected single particles by the SEM/EDX method. Following dry and wet deposition of Cd and Pb, a residual effect of dustfall is noticed throughout the vegetational period.     

Fluctuations and trends of annual precipitation in different climatic regions of Croatia

Summary Secular series of annual precipitation over Croatia have been studied at three stations representing the different climatic regions of Croatia: Osijek (continental precipitation climate), Zagreb-Gri (continental precipitation climate with maritime influence) and Crikvenica (maritime precipitation climate).The time series analysis has been deduced by using a quick test for stationarity according to Schönwiese and Malcher, moving average filters, the Mann-Kendall rank statistic, and a progressive test for trend according to Sneyers. From this analysis, the stationarity in time series of annual precipitation totals is stated over the entire interval at all locations except for a very short interval during the first decade of the twentieth century over the continental lowland (Osijek). A generally decreasing trend is present over the entire interval, but is statistically significant only in the continental lowland (Osijek).With 4 Figures     

Recrystallization mechanisms of fergusonite from metamict mineral precursors

The metamict state and recrystallization of fergusonite in metamict natural samples were studied by thermal methods (TGA-DTA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy (RS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and electron microprobe (EPMA). Two metamict mineral samples of fergusonite were investigated in order to identify the original premetamict crystal structure and to identify recrystallization mechanisms. The TEM data and RS provided evidence on the partial preservation of the original structure in the investigated minerals, which are X-ray amorphous. It was shown that fergusonite could recrystallize from a metamict mineral with original fergusonite structure or from metamictized pyrochlore, which was altered before or after metamictization. Two recrystallization mechanisms were recognized: (a) epitaxial growth occurring at the boundary between preserved premetamict structure fragments and completely metamictized areas, and (b) nucleation-crystal growth mechanism occurring in completely amorphous areas of the minerals, and resulting in recrystallization of the original mineral as well as in the crystallization of a new mineral with a modified chemical composition as compared to the initial matrix.     

Synthesis and characterization of high-pressure and high-temperature sphene (CaTiSiO5)

Sphene (CaTiSiO₅), a calcium titanosilicate ceramic has been prepared from a powder mixture of CaCO₃, TiO₂ and SiO₂ using vibro-milling for homogenization and activation of precursors. During the high-pressure and high-temperature synthesis (HPS) process at 4 GPa and 1,200 °C, sphene undergoes into phase transition, from room-temperature phase P2₁ /a to high-temperature phase A2/a. Evidence of that structural phase transition is given in this paper using infrared, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction. Rietveld refinement was employed to get the structural information of the synthesized powder. The most important structural change due to phase transition, the disappearance of the characteristic out-of-center distortion of the Ti atom and moving to the center of octahedra, was confirmed. HPS is an effective method for producing full-dense ceramics without any additives. Reduction of particle size occurred during high-pressure compaction. Microstructure and particle size of both phases were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy.     

Physical properties and the chemical composition of sphalerites from Yugoslavia

Chemical and spectral analyses are given for 16 sphalerites from Yugoslavia. Since they were formed under various conditions the content of Fe and other metals (Mn and Cd especially) varies widely. The relation between the dimensions of elementary cell and the molar percent of FeS in the sphalerites of Yugoslavia shows only slight differences from Vegard's rule. The indices of refraction and reflectivity as well as dispersion for the wavelengths 440, 460, 480, 500, 540, 580, 620, and 660 nm were measured. For the wavelengths mentioned, diagrams are given showing the relation between reflectivity and microhardness of sphalerite and its chemical composition.

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Zusammenfassung Für 16 jugoslawische Zinkblenden wurde die chemische Zusammensetzung und spektralanalytisch der Gehalt an Spurenelementen ermittelt. Da die Zinkblenden unter sehr verschiedenen Bedingungen entstanden, schwankt ihr Gehalt an Fe und anderen Metallen, besonders Mn und Cd stark. Die Verhältnisse zwischen der Größe der Elementarzelle und den Molprozenten von FeS zeigen nur geringe Abweichungen von der Vegard-Regel. Für die Wellenlängen 440, 460, 480, 500, 540, 580, 620 und 660 nm wurden Refraktionsindices, Absorptionskoeffizient und Reflexionsvermögen ermittelt. Die Beziehungen zwischen Reflexionsvermögen, Mikrohärte und chemischer Zusammensetzung werden in Diagrammen dargestellt.

     

The effect of coherency stress on the mechanism of the reaction albite+K+⇌K-feldspar+Na+ and on the mechanical state of the resulting feldspar

Coherency stress and coherency strain energy generated by Na⁺?K⁺ ion exchange in alkali feldspars are calculated using an isotropic model, and deformation of single crystals of alkali feldspars exposed to molten alkali chlorides at \(P_{H_2 O} \) < 1 bar is described. Coherency stress in alkali feldspars can reach 10–20 kb. When it is large, partial relaxation by fracture and/or plastic deformation takes place under anhydrous conditions, but temporary build-up of stress is unavoidable even under hydrothermal conditions. Because of coherency strain energy, a thin layer of an end-member alkali feldspar produced by cation exchange on a grain of the other end-member alkali feldspar would be unstable with respect to dissolution. Therefore, under hydrothermal conditions one end-member alkali feldspar replaces the other by dissolution and precipitation. The mechanism of the reaction $$Na_x K_{1 - x} AlSi_3 O_{8_{(feld.)} } + yK^ + \rightleftharpoons Na_{x - y} K_{1 + y - x} AlSi_3 O_{8_{(feld.)} } + yNa^ + $$ is primarily controlled by \(P_{H_2 O} \) and by ΔK/(Na + K), the difference between the equilibrium value and the initial value of the atomic K/(Na + K) ratio of the feldspar. When ¦ΔK/(Na + K)¦ is small, the reaction proceeds by cation exchange. When ¦ΔK/(Na + K)¦ is large, cation exchange still occurs if \(P_{H_2 O} \) is very low, but under hydrothermal conditions replacement by dissolution and precipitation occurs.     

Rotation axes of asteroids: Results for 14 objects

In this paper results of determinations of the rotation axis direction (as given by ecliptic coordinates of its intersection with geocentric celestial sphere) for 14 asteroids are presented for which a sufficient number of good observations are available. The calculation is performed by using the improved amplitude-magnitude method developed by V. Zappalà, M. Di Martino, P. Farinella, and P. Paolicchi (1983, In Asteroids, Comets, Meteors, pp. 73–76). Additionally, an improvement of the method is described regarding a weighting procedure. Whenever possible, the results are compared with already existing data, coming from other methods (mainly from photometric astrometry). In general, very good agreement was found, which can be considered as strongly encouraging for further application of the adopted procedure. Some preliminary approaches for a statistical investigation are given.