Equivalent time-average and effective medium for periodic layers

The propagation of acoustic waves through a periodic layered medium is analyzed by an eigenvalue decomposition of the propagator matrix. This reveals how the velocity and attenuation of the layered medium vary as function of the periodic structure, material parameters and frequency. There are two important parameters which control the wave propagation in the periodic medium: the reflection coefficient and the ratio between one‐way traveltimes of the two parts of the cyclic layered medium. For low frequencies (large values of wavelength to layer thickness), the layered structure behaves as an effective medium, then there is a transition zone, and for higher frequencies (small values of wavelength to layer thickness) the medium is described by the time‐average velocity. In this paper we mostly concentrate on the transition zone between an effective medium and time‐average medium regimes. The width of the transition zone increases with larger values of the reflection coefficient. The transition zone corresponds to a blocking regime for which the transmission response of the layered structure is close to zero. For even higher frequencies, the time‐average medium is replaced by a new transition zone, and then again a time‐average medium. This pattern is periodically repeated with higher frequencies. For small values of the reflection coefficient, the transition between effective medium and time‐average medium occurs around a value of wavelength to layer thickness equal to 4.     

IGU Commission on Changing Rural Systems Subcominission on Highlands and High-Latitude Zones

The International Geographical Union Reports

IGU Commission on Changing Rural Systems Subcominission on Highlands and High-Latitude Zones     

Generalized Problem of Two and Four Newtonian Centers

We consider integrable spherical analog of the Darboux potential, which appear in the problem (and its generalizations) of the planar motion of a particle in the field of two and four fixed Newtonian centers. The obtained results can be useful when constructing a theory of motion of satellites in the field of an oblate spheroid in constant curvature spaces.     

Does the Poleward Migration Rate of the Magnetic Fields Depend on the Strength of the Solar Cycle?

We present the pattern of the polar magnetic reversal for cycle 23 derived from H synoptic charts and have also included the reversals of the earlier cycles 18–22 for comparison. At the beginning of a new cycle (i.e., soon after the polar reversal) the zonal boundaries of unipolar magnetic regions of opposite polarities (seen as filament bands on the synoptic charts) appear close to and on either side of the equator continuing through the years of minimum indicating the onset of the cancellation of flux at these low latitudes. The cycle thus starts with cancellation of flux close to the equator and ends with the polar reversal or flux cancellation near the poles. The filament bands just below the polemost ones migrate and reach latitudes 35°–45° by the time of polar reversal and become the polemost, once the polar reversal has taken place. During the years of minimum that follow, these filament bands remain more or less stagnant at the latitudes 35°–45° except for occasional slow migration towards the equator. The migration to the poles starts at a low speed of 3 m s^–1 only when the spot activity has risen to a significant level and then it accelerates to 30 m s^–1 at the peak of the activity. It takes 3–4 years for the polemost bands to reach the poles moving at these high speeds. We quantify this possible cause and effect phenomenon by introducing the concept of the `strength of the solar cycle' and represent this by either of a set of three parameters. We show that the velocity of poleward migration is a linear function of the `strength of the solar cycle'.     

Polar magnetic field reversals of the Sun in Maunder Minimum

A possible scenario of polar magnetic field reversal of the Sun during the Maunder Minimum (1645–1715) is discussed using data of magnetic field reversals of the Sun for 1880–1991 and the¹⁴ C content variations in the bi-annual rings of the pine-trees in 1600–1730 yrs.     

A moving group of young stars in Carina–Vela

Accurate two-colour photometry and proper motions of 7096 young X-ray stars in the ROSAT All-Sky Survey Bright Star Catalogue, version 1RXS, are extracted from the Tycho-2 Catalogue. The sample is dominated by red main-sequence and possibly pre-main-sequence stars. On a global proper motion convergence map, two features are very prominent: the nearby section of the Gould Belt and the Hyades convergent point. The appearance of the Gould Belt feature with its peak at ( l =2443, b =−126) is quite similar to that of Hipparcos OB stars. When only stars with proper motions drawing close to that point are selected, strong concentrations of stars in the direction of the Sco–Cen complex are found. Another concentration, not corresponding to any known OB association, is detected between the position of the Lower Centaurus Crux and Vela OB2 associations. It is a new young moving group located in Carina and Vela, and a near extension of the Sco–Cen complex. Contrary to the classical Gould Belt OB associations, the Carina–Vela moving group has a considerable geometric depth, the closest members being as near as 30 pc from the Sun. IC 2391, one of the youngest and closest open clusters on the sky, is a part of the Carina–Vela moving group. The Carina–Vela moving group does not link the Sco–Cen complex with the Vela OB associations, because the latter is much more distant than the outer limit of the sample. It is more likely that the young late-type population of the Scorpio–Centaurus–Carina moving group stretches towards the Sun and possibly beyond it.     

Uncertainty of Climate Response to Natural and Anthropogenic Forcings Due to Different Land Use Scenarios

The A.M.Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics,Russian Academy of Sciences (IAP RAS) climate model (CM) of intermediate complexity is extended by a spatially explicit terrestrial carbon cycle module.Numerical experiments with the IAP RAS CM are performed forced by the reconstructions of anthropogenic and natural forcings for the 16th to the 20th centuries and by combined SRES (Special Report on Emission Scenarios) A2-LUH (Land Use Harmonization) anthropogenic scenarios for the 21st century.Hereby,the impact of uncertainty in land-use scenarios on results of simulations with a coupled climate-carbon cycle model is tested.The simulations of the model realistically reproduced historical changes in carbon cycle characteristics.In the IAP RAS CM,climate warming reproduced in the 20th and 21st centuries enhanced terrestrial net primary production but terrestrial carbon uptake was suppressed due to an overcompensating increase in soil respiration.Around year 2100,the simulations the model forced by different land use scenarios diverged markedly,by about 70 Pg (C) in terms of biomass and soil carbon stock but they differed only by about 10 ppmv in terms of atmospheric carbon dioxide content.     

How well do coupled models replicate ocean energetics relevant to ENSO?

Accurate replication of the processes associated with the energetics of the tropical ocean is necessary if coupled GCMs are to simulate the physics of ENSO correctly, including the transfer of energy from the winds to the ocean thermocline and energy dissipation during the ENSO cycle. Here, we analyze ocean energetics in coupled GCMs in terms of two integral parameters describing net energy loss in the system using the approach recently proposed by Brown and Fedorov (J Clim 23:1563?C1580, 2010a) and Fedorov (J Clim 20:1108?C1117, 2007). These parameters are (1) the efficiency ?? of the conversion of wind power into the buoyancy power that controls the rate of change of the available potential energy (APE) in the ocean and (2) the e-folding rate ?? that characterizes the damping of APE by turbulent diffusion and other processes. Estimating these two parameters for coupled models reveals potential deficiencies (and large differences) in how state-of-the-art coupled GCMs reproduce the ocean energetics as compared to ocean-only models and data assimilating models. The majority of the coupled models we analyzed show a lower efficiency (values of ?? in the range of 10?C50% versus 50?C60% for ocean-only simulations or reanalysis) and a relatively strong energy damping (values of ??^?1 in the range 0.4?C1?years versus 0.9?C1.2?years). These differences in the model energetics appear to reflect differences in the simulated thermal structure of the tropical ocean, the structure of ocean equatorial currents, and deficiencies in the way coupled models simulate ENSO.     

Alluvium: Implications for stratigraphy and correlation of quaternary sediments

Based on a generalized knowledge of conditions and mechanisms for accumulation of the cycle terrace alluvium on plain and mountain rivers, alluvium is suggested as an instrument for stratigraphic studies, interregional correlation, and correction of present schemes. Diachronous alluvial formations are uniformly constructed. They include two subunits, a lower “warm” and an upper “cool” one. In addition the formations are subdivided in dynamic phases that display a dominating regime and stages of erosion-and-accumulation cycle. Alluvial formations are characterized by a peculiar mechanical and mineralogical composition, gradation, bedding, thickness, landscape and climatic conditions of accumulation, paleontological content, character of occurrence, and position in a cycle incision. All these characters of an alluvial formation and its subformations correspond to a complete climatic rhythm and oscillation stages. Alluvial formations are associated in a certain way with glacial and marine sediments making up a single formation complex.     

A 96-antenna radioheliograph

Here we briefly present some design approaches for a multifrequency 96-antenna radioheliograph. The configuration of the array antenna, transmission lines and digital receivers is the main focus of this work. The radioheliograph is a T-shaped centrally condensed radiointerferometer operating in the frequency range 4–8 GHz.The justification for the choice of such a configuration is discussed. The signals from antennas are transmitted to a workroom by analog optical links. The dynamic range and phase errors of the microwave-over-optical signal are considered. The signals after downconverting are processed by digital receivers for delay tracking and fringe stopping. The required step of delay tracking and data rates are considered. Two 3-bit data streams(I and Q) are transmitted to a correlator with the transceivers embedded in Field Programmed Gate Array chips and with PCI Express cables.