Data Assimilation Modeling of the Barotropic Tides in the Korea/Tsushima Strait

During 1999–2000, 13 bottom mounted acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs) and 12 wave/tide gauges were deployed along two lines across the Korea/Tsushima Strait, providing long-term measurements of currents and bottom pressure. Tidally analyzed velocity and pressure data from the moorings are used in conjunction with other moored ADCPs, coastal tide gauge measurements, and altimeter measurements in a linear barotropic data assimilation model. The model fits the vertically averaged data to the linear shallow water equations in a least-squares sense by only adjusting the incoming gravity waves along the boundaries. Model predictions are made for the O₁, P₁, K₁, μ₂, N₂, M₂, S₂, and K₂ tides. An extensive analysis of the accuracy of the M₂ surface-height predictions suggests that for broad regions near the mooring lines and in the Jeju Strait the amplitude prediction errors are less than 0.5 cm. Elsewhere, the analysis suggests that errors range from 1 to 4 cm with the exception of small regions where the tides are not well determined by the dataset. The errors in the model predictions are primarily caused by bias error in the model’s physics, numerics, and/or parameterization as opposed to random errors in the observational data. In the model predictions, the highest ranges in sea level height occur for tidal constituents M₂, S₂, K₁, O₁, and N₂, with the highest magnitudes of tidal velocities occurring for M₂, K₁, S₂, and O₁. The tides exhibit a complex structure in which diurnal constituents have higher currents relative to their sea level height ranges than semi-diurnal constituents.     

Numerical treatment of the kinematic dynamo model

Summary Since the initial equations are complicated, the treatment of the kinematic dynamo model requires the use of numerical methods. In applying them to the given problem difficulties are encountered, which are not easy to overcome. This paper deals with the analysis of the experience acquired in treating the model of a nearly symmetric dynamo. Three different methods were employed (stationary, oscillatory and general non-stationary), because a combination of several solutions will yield more comprehensive information about the model being studied. Although the results are based on the study of a single particular model, similar problems also occur in other excercises and, therefore, the conclusions have a more general validity.     

Relation between two common localisation methods for the EnKF

This study investigates the relation between two common localisation methods in ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) systems: covariance localisation and local analysis. Both methods are popular in large-scale applications with the EnKF. The case of local observations with non-correlated errors is considered. Both methods are formulated in terms of tapering of ensemble anomalies, which provides a framework for their comparison. Based on analytical considerations and experimental evidence, we conclude that in practice the two methods should yield very similar results, so that the choice between them should be based on other criteria, such as numerical effectiveness and scalability.     

Cosmogenic radionuclides and mineralogical properties of the Chelyabinsk (LL5) meteorite: What do we learn about the meteoroid?

On February 15, 2013, after the observation of a brilliant fireball and a spectacular airburst over the southern Ural region (Russia), thousands of stones fell and were rapidly recovered, bringing some extremely fresh material for scientific investigations. We undertook a multidisciplinary study of a dozen stones of the Chelyabinsk meteorite, including petrographic and microprobe investigations to unravel intrinsic characteristics of this meteorite. We also study the short and long‐lived cosmogenic radionuclides to characterize the initial meteoroid size and exposure age. Petrographic observations, as well as the mineral compositions obtained by electron microprobe analyses, allow us to confirm the classification of the Chelyabinsk meteorite as an LL5 chondrite. The fragments studied, a few of which are impact melt rocks, contain abundant shock melt veins and melt pockets. It is likely that the catastrophic explosion and fragmentation of the Chelyabinsk meteoroid into thousands of stones was in part determined by the initial state of the meteoroid. The radionuclide results obtained show a wide range of concentrations of ¹⁴C, ²²Na, ²⁶Al, ⁵⁴Mn, ⁵⁷Co, ⁵⁸Co, and ⁶⁰Co, which indicate that the pre‐atmospheric object had a radius >5 m, consistent with other size estimates based on the magnitude of the airburst caused by the atmospheric entry and breakup of the Chelyabinsk meteoroid. Considering the observed ²⁶Al activities of the investigated samples, Monte Carlo simulations, and taking into account the ²⁶Al half‐life (0.717 Myr), the cosmic‐ray exposure age of the Chelyabinsk meteorite is estimated to be 1.2 ± 0.2 Myr. In contrast to the other radionuclides, ¹⁴C showed a very large range only consistent with most samples having been exposed to anthropogenic sources of ¹⁴C, which we associate with radioactive contamination of the Chelyabinsk region by past nuclear accidents and waste disposal, which has also been confirmed by elevated levels of anthropogenic ¹³⁷Cs and primordial ⁴⁰K in some of the Chelyabinsk fragments.     

The Alfvén wave parallel electric field in non-uniform space plasmas

We suggest a two-step mechanism for the generation of the parallel electric field at the Alfvén wave. At the first step, the coupling with the compressional mode due to the magnetic field non-uniformity and finite plasma pressure provides the parallel magnetic field of Alfvén wave. At the second step, the compressional mode acquires the parallel electric field due to coupling with the electrostatic mode as required by the quasi-neutrality condition in kinetics. The parallel electric field acquired by the Alfvén mode is considerably larger than that due to the single-step coupling between the Alfvén and electrostatic modes in kinetics.     

冰层空气反循环连续取芯钻具：结构设计与冰芯卡断数值模拟

冰心包含大量的古气候资料和古生物学信息,这些信息对于从远古到现代的气候变化和生物进化都很重要。如何高效快速地获取无污染的冰心是极地科学家的一个重要课题。冰层空气反循环钻具采用双壁钻杆形成反循环通道,内管提供了从钻头底部到表面的冰屑和冰心的连续通道。钻具通过卡断机构卡断冰心,通过反循环通道不断运移冰心,从而实现连续钻具连续取心。本文采用ABAQUS软件对冰心卡断过程进行分析,运用XFEM断裂准则以及Explicit显式方法求解,选出适宜的卡断器尺寸和中心通道尺寸,从而得到更好的反循环钻进效果。     

Seismic hazard assessments for two test areas — ‘Southern Italy’ and ‘Belgium—The Netherlands—Germany’

Within the activity of the ESC Subcommission 8 Engineering Seismology, Project TERESA, seismic hazard calculations have been performed for two areas of a different earthquake activity. Fundamental seismological data (earthquake catalogues, macroseismic observations and maps) and some additional geological information were analyzed and processed to prepare inputs for hazard computations. Great attention has been paid to verifying the reliability of the input data. Seismic hazards obtained for five sites of the region of high seismic activity (Sannio-Matese, southern Italy) and six sites of the region of low seismic activity (Brabant Massif and northern Rhine, Belgium—The Netherlands—Germany) are presented and discussed.