Temporal variation of the tropospheric cloud and haze in the jovian equatorial zone

We analyze the temporal variation of the tropospheric cloud and haze in the jovian equatorial zone. In order to investigate the time evolution of the haze, we utilize a comprehensive set of archival WFPC2 images in the 953 and 893-nm wavelengths spanning over a decade of HST observations of Jupiter. We find that the latitude of the peak haze reflectivity experienced a southerly shift in between late-1998 and early-2001 (not to be confused with southerly bulk transport of haze particles themselves); before this shift, the latitude of peak reflectivity had remained relatively stable at +7° (planetographic latitude). We examine the average haze reflectivity at three equatorial latitudes (−5°, 0°, +5°) and find variability of amplitude ±20%. Equatorial clouds, which lie deeper than the haze, showed zonal mean variability with an amplitude of about 5% except during the global upheaval of 2006-2007 in which cloud reflectivity dropped up to 16% depending on latitude. An analysis of temporal correlation between zonally averaged cloud reflectivity and zonally averaged haze reflectivity indicates a time-lag of about 1200 days (with a lower limit of 800 days) between changes in cloud reflectivity and later changes in haze reflectivity, but limitations in the temporal coverage of even this extensive dataset make it impossible to rule out even longer time-lags.     

Comment on “Transport of nonmethane hydrocarbons to Jupiter's troposphere by descent of smog particles” by Donald M. Hunten [Icarus 194 (2008) 616-622]

The downward transport of nonmethane hydrocarbons, condensed onto solid photochemically produced particles termed “smust,” may indeed be an important process in the methane-rich atmospheres of Jupiter and Titan. However, evidence supporting this mechanism on Jupiter [Hunten, D.M., 2008. Icarus 194, 616-622] is considerably weakened by three new considerations: the ethane mixing ratio does not increase with depth or show a 1-bar minimum, atmospheric characteristics measured by the probe throughout its descent are representative of much higher altitudes in the “normal” jovian atmosphere, and transport models must consider the lower boundary condition imposed by deep thermochemical destruction of nonmethane hydrocarbons. Additionally, ethane was not the most abundant nonmethane hydrocarbon detected by the Galileo Probe Mass Spectrometer (GPMS) near 11 bar, reinforcing previously published findings that some (if not all) of the nonmethane hydrocarbons detected by the GPMS were of instrumental rather than atmospheric origin.     

Stability of polar oscillations of non-rotating Newtonian superfluid stars

In this paper, we shall study the problem of stability of polar oscillations of a non-rotating Newtonian superfluid star. We find that the stability of the latter system is guaranteed by the positive definiteness of a matrix quantity. We also find conditions which characterize the occurrence of zero-frequency polar modes, which marks the onset of polar instability. We find that the negative definiteness of the mentioned matrix quantity implies instability of the system. We apply our results to show that the polar oscillations of a non-rotating Newtonian superfluid star in the zero-temperature approximation are marginally stable.     

NOIRCAT – the Northern HIPASS Optical/IR Catalogue

We present the Northern HIPASS (H  i Parkes All-Sky Survey) Optical/Infrared Catalogue (NOIRCAT), an optical/near-infrared (NIR) counterpart to the Northern HIPASS Catalogue (NHICAT). Of the 1002 sources in NHICAT, 655 (66 per cent) have optical counterparts with matching optical velocities. A further 85 (8 per cent) sources have optical counterparts with matching velocities from previous radio emission-line surveys. We find a correlation between the gas and stellar content of the NOIRCAT sources. Our H  i -selected sample of isolated galaxies also presents a wider range in NIR colours than previous optically selected studies of regular, isolated galaxies. All H  i detections in optically unobscured fields could be matched with either a NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database optical counterpart, or a galaxy visible in Second Palomar Observatory Sky Survey or Digitized Sky Survey images. However, as over 200 of these matched galaxies have no velocity information, further follow-up observations are needed to confirm the matches, and hence confirm or deny the existence of dark galaxies in this data set.     

Crack Coalescence in Molded Gypsum and Carrara Marble: Part 1. Macroscopic Observations and Interpretation

Cracking and coalescence behavior has been studied experimentally with prismatic laboratory-molded gypsum and Carrara marble specimens containing two parallel pre-existing open flaws. This was done at both the macroscopic and the microscopic scales, and the results are presented in two separate papers. This paper (the first of two) summarizes the macroscopic experimental results and investigates the influence of the different flaw geometries and material, on the cracking processes. In the companion paper (also in this issue), most of the macroscopic deformation and cracking processes shown in this present paper will be related to the underlying microscopic changes. In the present study, a high speed video system was used, which allowed us to precisely observe the cracking mechanisms. Nine crack coalescence categories with different crack types and trajectories were identified. The flaw inclination angle (β), the ligament length (L), that is, intact rock length between the flaws, and the bridging angle (α), that is, the inclination of a line linking up the inner flaw tips, between two flaws, had different effects on the coalescence patterns. One of the pronounced differences observed between marble and gypsum during the compression loading test was the development of macroscopic white patches prior to the initiation of macroscopic cracks in marble, but not in gypsum. Comparing the cracking and coalescence behaviors in the two tested materials, tensile cracking generally occurred more often in marble than in gypsum for the same flaw pair geometries.

Numerical modelling of the hydro‐chemo‐mechanical behaviour of geomaterials in the context of CO2 injection

Safety assessment of geosequestration of CO₂ into deep saline aquifers requires a precise understanding of the study of hydro‐chemo‐mechanical couplings occurring in the rocks and the cement well. To this aim, a coupled chemo‐poromechanical model has been developed and implemented into a research code well‐suited to the resolution of fully coupled problems. This code is based on the finite volume methods. In a 1D axisymmetrical configuration, this study aims to simulate the chemo‐poromechanical behaviour of a system composed by the cement well and the caprock during CO₂ injection. Major chemical reactions of carbonation occurring into cement paste and rocks are considered in order to evaluate the consequences of the presence of CO₂ on the amount of dissolved matrix and precipitated calcium carbonates. The dissolution of the solid matrix is taken into account through the use of a chemical porosity. Matrix leaching and carbonation lead, as expected, to important variations of porosity, permeability and to alterations of transport properties and mechanical stiffness. These results justify the importance of considering a coupled analysis accounting for the main chemical reactions. It is worth noting that the modelling framework proposed in the present study could be extended to model the chemo‐poromechanical behaviour of the reservoir rock and the caprock when subjected to the presence of an acidic pore fluid (CO₂‐rich brine). Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Squeezing information from regional climate change projections - results from a synthesis of CMIP5 results for south-east Queensland, Australia

We present a synthesis of CMIP5 model results for projected rainfall changes for a single region (south-east Queensland, Australia) and note that, as was evident in CMIP3 results, the multi-model mean projected changes for the late 21st century are not statistically significant for any season nor annually. Taking account of the number of statistically significant changes to mean rainfall, we find some evidence favouring a decrease in both spring and annual rainfall, but this is not compelling. In almost all cases the most frequent result is for no significant change. However, if we consider the number of results where there is a statistically significant change in the distributions of rainfall amounts, there appears to be slightly more information available for risk assessment studies. These numbers suggest an increase in the frequency of both wet and dry events during summer and spring, and a shift towards more frequent dry events during winter. There is no evidence for any significant changes to the distributions for either autumn or annually. The findings suggest that, in one respect, multi-model rainfall projections may contain more information than is evident from syntheses which focus on changes to the means and that, for some regions where changes in the frequency of wet and dry seasons/years have known impacts, the model projections may be more valuable than previously thought.     

Environmental Performance of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Companies in the Pearl River Delta Region (PRDR): a case study of Dongguan City

The environmental performance of foreign direct investment (FDI) companies in the Pearl River Delta Region (PRDR) is examined through a case study of Dongguan City. The influence of host governments, regional/international organisations and export markets is highlighted in the analysis of environmental management systems of the FDI companies. The majority of FDI companies in the region lack effective systems and measures for environmental management. The environmental governance of the host country, the environment-related legislation and policies of the main export markets, and the social responsibility of the company owners are major factors that influence the environmental performance of the FDI companies. A combination of the quality of host government decision making in relation to sustainable development and the high degree of social responsibility and environmental awareness of individual FDI companies is crucial not only to achieving better overall environmental performance but also to achieving better environmental quality in the PRDR.     

Measuring segregation: an activity space approach

While the literature clearly acknowledges that individuals may experience different levels of segregation across their various socio-geographical spaces, most measures of segregation are intended to be used in the residential space. Using spatially aggregated data to evaluate segregation in the residential space has been the norm and thus individual’s segregation experiences in other socio-geographical spaces are often de-emphasized or ignored. This paper attempts to provide a more comprehensive approach in evaluating segregation beyond the residential space. The entire activity spaces of individuals are taken into account with individuals serving as the building blocks of the analysis. The measurement principle is based upon the exposure dimension of segregation. The proposed measure reflects the exposure of individuals of a referenced group in a neighborhood to the populations of other groups that are found within the activity spaces of individuals in the referenced group. Using the travel diary data collected from the tri-county area in southeast Florida and the imputed racial–ethnic data, this paper demonstrates how the proposed segregation measurement approach goes beyond just measuring population distribution patterns in the residential space and can provide a more comprehensive evaluation of segregation by considering various socio-geographical spaces.     

An operational MODIS aerosol retrieval algorithm at high spatial resolution,and its application over a complex urban region

Aerosol retrieval algorithms for the MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) have been developed to estimate aerosol and microphysical properties of the atmosphere, which help to address aerosol climatic issues at global scale. However, higher spatial resolution aerosol products for urban areas have not been well-researched mainly due to the difficulty of differentiating aerosols from bright surfaces in urban areas. Here, an aerosol retrieval algorithm using the MODIS 500-m resolution bands is described, to retrieve aerosol properties over Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta region. The rationale of our technique is to first estimate the aerosol reflectances by decomposing the top-of-atmosphere reflectances from surface reflectances and Rayleigh path reflectances. For the determination of surface reflectances, a Minimum Reflectance Technique (MRT) is used, and MRT images are computed for different seasons. For conversion of aerosol reflectance to aerosol optical thickness (AOT), comprehensive Look Up Tables specific to the local region are constructed, which consider aerosol properties and sun-viewing geometry in the radiative transfer calculations. Four local aerosol types, namely coastal urban, polluted urban, dust, and heavy pollution, were derived using cluster analysis on 3 years of AERONET measurements in Hong Kong. The resulting 500 m AOT images were found to be highly correlated with ground measurements from the AERONET (r² = 0.767) and Microtops II sunphotometers (r² = 0.760) in Hong Kong. This study further demonstrates the application of the fine resolution AOT images for monitoring inter-urban and intra-urban aerosol distributions and the influence of trans-boundary flows. These applications include characterization of spatial patterns of AOT within the city, and detection of regional biomass burning sources.