Winter and autumn daily precipitation patterns in Catalonia,Spain

Summary A principal component analysis (PCA), based on a network consisting of 60 pluviometric gauges and their daily precipitation data, is attempted in order to describe the main winter and autumn patterns governing precipitation in Catalonia (NE Spain). This PCA procedure is applied to the interstation correlation matrix and rotated component loadings are then deduced and extensively interpreted. The PCA results are then used in a clustering process (Average Linkage), leading to two rainfall divisions, one for each season, which are then compared.With 5 Figures     

Objective synoptic classification combined with high resolution meteorological models for wind mesoscale studies

Summary A methodology developed for automatic classification of Objective Synoptic Processes (OSP) and its application to the study of the mesoscale atmospheric circulatory patterns associated with them is described. The classification was based on the analysis of the evolution of surface pressure and geopotencial height at 500 hPa during three days. An iterative procedure results in an objective grouping of the main configurations describing different large-scale situations. This routine has been applied over an appropriate domain covering the Iberian Peninsula to obtain OSPs in the region for the two month period July–August, using daily synoptic maps for years 1990 to 1999 (a total of 7304 surface and 500 hPa synoptic maps have been used in the analysis). Finally, for a characteristic day for two of the OSPs obtained, a mesoscale meteorological model (TAPM) has been run at high resolution for the region of Catalonia, Northeastern Spain, in order to describe the local atmospheric circulatory patterns associated with a given large-scale situation. Results show that the complex orography modifies the large-scale forcings resulting in wind fields with a very important horizontal variability, significant daily cycle, and specific local features related to orographic elements, which the model was able to incorporate due to the highly-resolved orography used.     

Polarimetric receiver in the forty gigahertz band: new instrument for the Q-U-I joint Tenerife experiment

This paper describes the analysis, design and characterization of a polarimetric receiver developed for covering the 35 to 47 GHz frequency band in the new instrument aimed at completing the ground-based Q-U-I Joint Tenerife Experiment. This experiment is designed to measure polarization in the Cosmic Microwave Background. The described high frequency instrument is a HEMT-based array composed of 29 pixels. A thorough analysis of the behaviour of the proposed receiver, based on electronic phase switching, is presented for a noise-like linearly polarized input signal, obtaining simultaneously I, Q and U Stokes parameters of the input signal. Wideband subsystems are designed, assembled and characterized for the polarimeter. Their performances are described showing appropriate results within the 35-to-47 GHz frequency band. Functionality tests are performed at room and cryogenic temperatures with adequate results for both temperature conditions, which validate the receiver concept and performance.     

Validation and comparison of Advanced Differential Interferometry Techniques: Murcia metropolitan area case study

This paper is focused on the analysis of the performance of Stable Point Network (SPN) and Coherent Pixel Technique (CPT), which are Advanced Differential Interferometry Techniques (A-DInSAR) that estimate, among other results, mean deformation velocity maps of the ground surface and displacement time series from a SAR dataset. The test site is the metropolitan area of the city of Murcia (Spain) where a moderate slow subsidence induced by the overexploitation of aquifers is present. SAR data acquired between July 1995 and August 2005 from ERS and ENVISAT sensors have been processed by the SPN and CPT techniques and compared with in situ instrumental measurements assumed as reference. Experimental results have shown that both SPN and CPT techniques provide estimates of the deformation evolution in time with an absolute difference below 6 mm consistently in all comparisons: SPN vs extensometer, CPT vs extensometer and SPN vs CPT. The proposed validation and comparison experiment between both A-DInSAR techniques has been useful to observe their differences and complementarities.     

Effects of non-carbonaceous meteoritic extracts on the germination, growth and chlorophyll content of edible plants

We have conducted an investigation on the effects that the extracts of a non-carbonaceous meteorite could have on the germination and growth of plants and the ability of non-carbonaceous meteoritic resource to serve as nutrient source for young plants of edible types. Selected plants were two dicotyledons (Lycopersicon esculentum and Daucus carota) and one monocotyledon (Zea mays). Solution cultures were developed using seeds, seedlings and seed-embryos. Meteoritic powder was obtained from the Vigirima mesosiderite, which was analyzed by X-ray diffraction and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Results showed that extracts having variable concentrations of meteoritic matter favored an earlier germination in some plant species but the increase of the concentrations produced a decreased germination. However, total germination rate was higher in the presence of meteoritic extracts than in the presence of controls in the all species. A high metabolic yield in the protein synthesis was seen in dicotyledons utilizing Type-A and B extracts having concentrations of 4.16-8.33×10³ mg l⁻¹. Phaeophytinization index and chlorophyll a/b ratio, suggesting a negative effect of the heavy metals or acidic ions over the photosynthetic activity when extracts having high meteoritic concentrations were utilized. However, a higher chlorophyll (a) production in comparison to that of chlorophyll (b) was seen in extracts (Type-A and -B) with low concentrations of meteoritic matter. On the other hand, Z. mays seed-embryos growing in extracts (Type-D) having 3.53×10⁴ mg l⁻¹ of meteoritic matter showed a protein production (9.81×10⁻² mg protein mg wet wt⁻¹) higher than that observed in seed-embryos coming from extracts having lower concentrations. However, in Murashige medium, the seed-embryos exhibited a enhanced growth and a relatively higher protein production (10.3×10⁻² mg protein mg wet wt.⁻¹). Further, chlorophyll (a+b) synthesis was higher in Murashige medium than in meteoritic extracts but chlorophyll a/b ratio was <1 in all extracts and controls. Our results suggest the usefulness of the non-carbonaceous meteoritic resource as a complementary soil component or fertilizers for culture of edible plants in space settlements and mainly for the production of young plants due to the positive metabolic effects on the chlorophyll synthesis, mitochondrial metabolism and cellular division caused by PO₄³⁻, Fe²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Ca²⁺ ions. Earlier germination responses obtained in the present experiments demonstrated the possibility to utilize germination chambers in space having wet substrates containing meteoritic-powder solutions to obtain a higher number of seedlings in a minimum degree of time. These results also reveal the biological potential of this non-carbonaceous meteoritic matter for the growth of organisms in the early Earth, Mars, and probably in other planetary bodies beyond our Solar system.     

Stalactite drip rate variations controlled by air pressure changes: an example of non‐linear infiltration processes in the ‘Cueva del Agua’ (Spain)

A study of drip water from a stalactite in the Cueva del Agua (Granada, southern Spain) over four hydrological years has enabled a detailed characterization of infiltration through the non‐saturated zone of this cave. The most significant aspects are: (1) The drip water regime is not seasonal, but is linked instead to slow infiltration. Sudden changes in the drip water regime are detected, due to infiltration along the preferential flow paths and the draining of water of supersaturated water reserves from the microfissure and pore system. (2) The accumulation of excess rain in the unsaturated zone dislodges the reserve of supersaturated water from the matrix of microfissures and pores, giving rise to an average increase in drip intensity of 2·2 ± 0·5 mm h^?1 and 37 ± 13 µS cm^?1 in the electrical conductivity of the water. (3) Time‐series analysis of the drip water demonstrates a lack of linearity over time of the drip rate, indicating a chaotic regime. (4) When the dripping is constant, barometric oscillation of the air is the principal factor that causes the lack of linearity in the drip flow. In this way, over an average of 2–3 days, a mean variation of the air pressure inside the cave of 10 ± 3·7 mbar causes a mean oscillation in the drip rate of 0·5 ± 0·2 mm h^?1. This increase in air pressure is translated as an increase in the relative thickness of the gaseous phase of the drip water at the cost of the aqueous phase, so reducing the drip intensity of the stalactite. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.