Measurements of carbon dioxide and heat fluxes during monsoon-2011 season over rural site of India by eddy covariance technique

An increase in carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations in the atmosphere due to anthropogenic activities is responsible for global warming and hence in recent years, CO₂ measurement network has expanded globally. In the monsoon season (July–September) of year 2011, we carried out measurements of CO₂ and water vapour (H₂O) concentrations along with wind and air temperature over a tropical site in south-east India having rural topography. To collect these observations, the instrumentations used were the sonic anemometer for wind and temperature, and the open path H₂O/CO₂ infrared gas analyzer for CO₂ and H₂O concentrations. Using these observations, we explored the diurnal variability of CO₂ flux along with sensible and latent heat. The CO₂ flux was positive during night-time and negative during daytime and in phase with convective instability. The CO₂ flux relationships with the meteorological parameters such as wind speed, temperature and heat fluxes have been analysed. The seasonal (monsoon) half hour mean of CO₂ flux which was ?3.55 μmol m^???2 s^???1 indicated the experimental site as a CO₂ sink region (net seasonal uptake). An increase in CO₂ concentrations during weekends was not observed due to unavailability of heavy vehicular traffic.     

Astrometric observations of the Uranian satellites with the Faulkes Telescope North in 2007 September

The results of astrometric observations of the main Uranian satellites taken with the Faulkes Telescope North are presented. A median filter algorithm was applied to subtract a scattered-light halo caused by Uranus. The Two-Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS) and USNO-B1.0 were used as reference catalogues. The mean value of the differences between the equatorial coordinates of the satellites determined with 2MASS and USNO-B1.0 is close to 200 mas. A comparison of the observed equatorial coordinates of the satellites and their relative positions with ephemerides based on different combinations of theories of motion of Uranus and its satellites (DE405+GUST86, DE405+GUST06, INPOP+GUST86, INPOP+GUST06) was performed. The satellites' positions obtained with respect to 2MASS are in better agreement with theories. The values of (O−C) of the equatorial coordinates determined with the 2MASS are mainly less than 100 mas. The majority of (O−C) of relative positions are within ±50 mas. The mean values of the standard errors of (O−C) are within 20 to 60 mas.     

Iodine differentiation between different sized fractions in natural waters

Membrane filtration technique was applied to study the distribution of iodine and some other chemical elements (iron, manganese, aluminum, and silicon) in natural waters between different sized fractions (>0.45, 0.45–0.22, 0.22–0.1, and <0.1 μm). The paper presents analysis of factors able to modify the proportions of the adsorbed and dissolved species of the elements in waters. It is proved that up to 90% of the total amount of the iodine ion occurs in aquatic environments in the form of dissolved species (according to the current standard, in the fraction < 0.45 μm), with approximately 49% of the total concentration corresponding to the fraction of <0.10 μm. An increase in the acidity of the waters and their enrichment in finely divided organic and mineral material, and also an increase in Fe and Mn concentrations, may increase in the concentrations of the trace element in the particulate matter (up to 26% of the total iodide concentration). The greatest variations in iodine distribution between different fractions are found in the surface waters.     

Cluster analysis on the bulk elemental compositions of Antarctic stony meteorites

Remote sensing observations by recent successful missions to small bodies have revealed the difficulty in classifying the materials which cover their surfaces into a conventional classification of meteorites. Although reflectance spectroscopy is a powerful tool for this purpose, it is influenced by many factors, such as space weathering, lighting conditions, and surface physical conditions (e.g., particle size and style of mixing). Thus, complementary information, such as elemental compositions, which can be obtained by X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) and gamma‐ray spectrometers (GRS), have been considered very important. However, classifying planetary materials solely based on elemental compositions has not been investigated extensively. In this study, we perform principal component and cluster analyses on 12 major and minor elements of the bulk compositions of 500 meteorites reported in the National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR), Japan database. Our unique approach, which includes using hierarchical cluster analysis, indicates that meteorites can be classified into about 10 groups purely by their bulk elemental compositions. We suggest that Si, Fe, Mg, Ca, and Na are the optimal set of elements, as this set has been used successfully to classify meteorites of the NIPR database with more than 94% accuracy. Principal components analysis indicates that elemental compositions of meteorites form eight clusters in the three‐dimensional space of the components. The three major principal components (PC1, PC2, and PC3) are interpreted as (1) degree of differentiations of the source body (i.e., primitive versus differentiated), (2) degree of thermal effects, and (3) degree of chemical fractionation, respectively.     

An overview of the Gulf of Batabanó (Cuba): Environmental features as revealed by surface sediment characterisation

The main environmental features of the Gulf of Batabanó, Cuba, Caribbean, were investigated through the analyses of surface sediments collected at 23 sites. In order to highlight the potential threats affecting the sedimentary compartment of this area, samples were analysed for: granulometry, mineralogy, heavy metals concentration (As, Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn), organic carbon, total nitrogen and radionuclides. Findings were compared with published data and “grey” literature.Results showed: granulometric homogeneity and a widespread carbonatic condition all over the gulf, probably due to stable bathymetry and lack of terrigenous input (except for the La Coloma basin); a rather pristine environment for what concerns heavy metals pollution, except for La Coloma where a large arsenic input was recorded; very low levels of natural and artificial radioactivity; a relevant quantity of sedimentary organic matter, providing biota with useful substrate for feeding and enhancing the food-web development while indirectly supplying lobster fisheries. Combined data highlighted the impact of the Dique Sur in reducing terrigenous input in the coastal area.Future studies should focus on dating of sediment cores for identifying and quantifying the changes acting in the gulf and on investigating the origins of the large arsenic input to La Coloma.     

Changes in the circulation of Tampa Bay due to Hurricane Frances as recorded by ADCP measurements and reproduced with a numerical Ocean model

Hurricane Frances is shown to greatly alter the hydrodynamics within Tampa Bay, Florida, and the exchange of water with the Gulf of Mexico in both observational data and a realistic numerical circulation model of the Tampa Bay estuary. Hurricane Frances hit Tampa Bay on September 5, 2004 with surface winds peaking twice near 22 m s⁻¹. There were three stages to the hydrodynamic effect of Frances on Tampa Bay. The first stage included the approach of Frances up to the first wind peak. The winds were to the south and southeast. During this stage sea level was maintained below mean sea level (MSL) and the residual current (demeaned, detided) was weak. The second stage began as the winds turned to the east and northeast, as the eye passed near the bay, and ended as the second wind peak appeared. During this stage the residual currents were strongly positive (into the bay), raising sea level to 1.2 m above MSL at St. Petersburg. The measured residual circulation peaked at over +0.7 m s⁻¹ near the surface. The model shows this velocity peak yielded a maximum volume flux into the bay of +44,227 m³ s⁻¹, displacing a total volume of 1.5 billion m³ in just a few hours, about 42% of the bay volume. In the third stage a strong negative flow developed as the wind and sea level relaxed to near normal levels. The ADCP measured a peak outflow of −0.8 m s⁻¹ during this time. Model results indicate a maximum flux of −37,575 m³ s⁻¹, and that it took about 50 h to drain the extra volume driven into the bay by Hurricane Frances.