Equivalent thickness of the outer ionosphere obtained by evaluation of Faraday records

With an appropriate system of higher order approximations the Faraday-effect is calculated for instantaneous ionospheric models the data of which are derived from the results of vertical soundings. Only one parameter which corresponds to the thickness of the outer ionosphere is left open; it is determined by global comparison with simultaneous Faraday-observations of satellite emissions. The thickness parameter shows various forms of variation with latitude; an increase towards north is the rule for quiet daytime conditions. Comparison with local methods shows considerable differences due to the indetermination of the absolute number of rotations.     

Klimatologische Untersuchung über die geographische Verteilung der Globalstrahlung und der diffusen Himmelsstrahlung

Zusammenfassung Die vorliegende strahlungsklimatologische Studie verfolgt den Zweck, ausschließlich auf Grund von Meßergebnissen anhand ausgewählter Beispiele gegensätzlicher Großaumklimate zunächst die typischen Eigenschaften des Jahresganges der Globalstrahlung (T) und der diffusen Himmelsstrahlung (D) zu untersuchen. In Ergänzung hierzu werden häufigkeitsstatistische Betrachtungen über die Eigenheiten im Verhalten dieser Strahlungselemente im Bereich verschieden beschaffener geographischer Räume angestellt. Dabei zeigt sich, daß neben dem jahreszeitlichen Ablauf auch die Häufigkeitsverteilungen vonT undD sich zur Klimatypisierung heranziehen lassen. Ein besonderes Interesse beansprucht der jahreszeitliche Verlauf des VerhältnissesD/T in den Hauptklimazonen der Erde. Ferner wird die Breitenabhängigkeit der Globalstrahlung (T), der diffusen Himmelsstrahlung (D) und des VerhältnissesD/T behandelt. Hinsichtlich der Höhenabhängigkeit ergibt sich auf Grund des Verhaltens vonT undD für die gemäßigten Breiten eine Abnahme des QuotientenD/T. Den Abschluß bilden strahlungsklimatologische Überlegungen zur Frage der Abhängigkeit des VerhältnissesD/T von der Sonnenscheindauer im Bereich charakteristischer Klimazonen der Erde.

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Summary The present study of radiation climatology, exclusively basing on results of measurements, presents selected examples of contrary large-scale climatic conditions and examines the typical features of the annual variation of global radiation (T) and diffuse sky radiation (D). Supplementary considerations on frequency statistics refer to the peculiarities in the behaviour of these two radiation elements in different geographical areas. It results that beside the seasonal variation frequency distributions ofT andD can be used for a characterization of radiation climates. The seasonal variation of the characteristic ratioD/T in the main climatic zones of the earth is of particular interest. Furthermore, the latitudinal dependency of global radiation (T), diffuse sky radiation (D) and of the ratioD/T is discussed. As to the dependence on altitude the ratioD/T shows a decrease in temperate latitudes on account of the behaviour ofD andT. Finally climatological reflections on the dependence of the ratioD/T on the duration of sunshine in characteristic climatic regions of the earth are discussed.

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Résumé La présente étude de la climatologie du rayonnement a pour but de déterminer les propriétés typiques de l'évolution annuelle du rayonnement global (T) et du rayonnement diffus du ciel (D) et cela exclusivement sur la base de mesures faites et d'exemples choisis parmi des climats très différenciés. En complément, on prend en considération des statistiques de la fréquence des particularités de ces deux éléments à l'intérieur d'aires géographiques de climats divers. On en déduit que, à côté de l'évolution annuelle, la répartition des fréquences deT et deD permettent d'établir le type du climat. L'évolution saisonnière du rapportD/T est tout spécialement intéressant dans les principales zones climatiques de la terre. On considère ensuite la dépendance du rayonnement global (T), du rayonnement diffus du ciel (D) et du rapportD/T de la latitude du lieu. Dans les zones tempérées, le quotientD/T diminue avec l'altitude. L'auteur termine par des réflexions concernant la climatologie du rayonnement en relation avec la dépendance du rapportD/T de la durée d'insolation dans des zones climatiques caractéristiques de notre planète.

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Mit 12 Textabbildungen     

Some implications of statistical transport theory in rock mechanics

Summary Recently, a new theory of the subsidence of rock masses has been advanced byLitwiniszyn and coworkers, which is based on the notion that the individual rock particles perform random walks. It is shown in the present paper that the final equations of the random walk theory can be justified from general principles of statistical mechanics in which no specific theoretical model of particle behaviour has to be made. The theory appears to account appropriately for subsidence phenomena.The research reported in this paper was supported by the Petroleum Research Fund of the American Chemical Society. Acknowledgment is made to the donors of the Petroleum Research Fund administered by the American Chemical Society for support of this reseach.     

An attempt to the explanation and to the prediction of the eleven-year cycle of solar activity

Summary According to the author the reason of the subsistence of the 11 years' sunspot cycle is to be found in the conjunction of the planets. As a result of the investigations it has been stated that from among the nine planets the joint tidal effect of Venus-Jupiter-Earth is a decisive factor in the variations of sunspot activity. The above three planets are every 10.4 years and 12.0 years respectively, in a close conjunction. The mean value (11.2 years) is in an almost full accordance with the average cycle-period. The fluctuations of the period of the cycle come from the fact that the planets' getting into approximately one line takes a different time within each cycle. This time delay is the cause of the stronger or weaker sunspot activity, and of the shorter or longer cycles.     

Geomagnetic multipoles, 1829 to 1960

Summary Using the results of spherical harmonic analyses of the geomagnetic field for some fourteen different epochs, includingGauss' first analysis for epoch 1835, and theErman-Petersen analysis for epoch 1829, the strength and axes of geomagnetic multipoles have been computed. In particular, a dipole from the three first order spherical harmonic coefficients, a quadrupole from five second order coefficients, and an octupole from seven third order coefficients. The axes of the quadrupole and octupole have moved quite rapidly when compared with movements of the dipole axis, and show a general movement westwards. Although the strength of the dipole has generally diminished, the strengths of the quadrupole and octupole have generally increased.On leave National University of La Plata, Argentina     

Climatic satellite monitoring of the external heat balance of the oceans and Black Sea

The long-wave outgoing radiation, effective cloudiness equal to the product of the total cloud amount by their optical density, and the sea-surface temperature determined from the satellites are used to determine the annual course of the components of external heat balance on the sea surface whose climatic anomalies, parallel with the meridional heat and water transfer in the ocean-atmosphere system, specify the intraannual and interannual large-scale variations of weather in different regions of the Earth. The development of these studies is connected with the progress of satellite hydrophysics because the data obtained from the space become sufficiently exact, regular, and global. The increase in the existing data array on the external heat balance of the oceans from ∼15–20 to 100 yr and more would promote the solution of the problem of oscillations of Earth's climate. We present examples of coordinated numerical analysis of the heat balance of the upper (0–100 m ) layer of the Black Sea performed on the basis of the shipborne and satellite data. __________ Translated from Morskoi Gidrofizicheskii Zhurnal, No. 6, pp. 59–75, November–December, 2007.     

A sonic well log of the basement complex of the Walvis Ridge

A sonic well log was obtained within the basement complex of the Walvis Ridge during Deep Sea Drilling Project Leg 74. The top of the basement complex is characterized by smooth acoustic reflectors. The rocks recovered within the basement complex consist of basalts with intercalated sediments. According to the log ～-50% of the upper 75 m of basement are igneous rocks and the other 50% sedimentary. Sonobuoy results indicate that the ratio of sediments to basalt increases with depth for an additional 225 m until a typical oceanic velocity structure is observed. Paleontological results suggest that the processes forming this upper 300 m of the basement complex was accomplished within a short time interval.