Utilisation of the lunar field for interplanetary travel by the Oslo system

This paper presents preliminary results of orbital investigations by a data processing machine aimed at the utilisation of the lunar gravitational field in interplanetary travel. The lunar field is utilised in two successive steps. In the first step a spacecraft in an Earth-bound orbit is deviated into an orbit similar to but separated from the Earth's orbit around the Sun. In a successive approach between the spacecraft and the Earth-Moon system the combined fields of the Earth and the Moon are utilised as a means to convey to the spacecraft a main portion of the momentum required in order to carry it to the proximity of Venus.A substantial portion of the fuel required for space travel can be saved by this kind of procedure.The CD 3300 machine time needed for this investigation was supplied by the computing facility of the University of Oslo at Blindern.     

The use of the log-normal distribution of individuals among species in monitoring zoobenthos in the northern Baltic archipelago

The log-normal distribution of individuals among species of shallow, brackish water benthos is compared to other, more commonly used methods. This method, the use of which was introduced in marine monitoring in 1979, has not previously been tested on macrobenthos of the northern Baltic Sea. The relevance of other indices are discussed in relation to the log-normal distribution. Based on samples from three localities (soft littoral benthos, soft bottom benthos and sand bottom benthos) it is shown that the log-normal distribution could well be used as an important tool in interpreting benthic data sets from low-saline waters with few macrozoobenthic species. It illustrates natural and anthropogenic changes on the zoobenthic communities more adequately than the other parameters calculated.     

The Stokes and Vening-Meinesz functionals in a moving tangent space

The regularized solution of the external sphericalStokes boundary value problem as being used for computations of geoid undulations and deflections of the vertical is based upon theGreen functions S ₁(₀, ₀, , ) ofBox 0.1 (R = R ₀) andV ₁(₀, ₀, , ) ofBox 0.2 (R = R ₀) which depend on theevaluation point {₀, ₀} S _R0 ² and thesampling point {, } S _R0 ² ofgravity anomalies (, ) with respect to a normal gravitational field of typegm/R (free air anomaly). If the evaluation point is taken as the meta-north pole of theStokes reference sphere S _R0 ² , theStokes function, and theVening-Meinesz function, respectively, takes the formS() ofBox 0.1, andV ₂() ofBox 0.2, respectively, as soon as we introduce {meta-longitude (azimuth), meta-colatitude (spherical distance)}, namely {A, } ofBox 0.5. In order to deriveStokes functions andVening-Meinesz functions as well as their integrals, theStokes andVening-Meinesz functionals, in aconvolutive form we map the sampling point {, } onto the tangent plane T₀S _R0 ² at {₀, ₀} by means ofoblique map projections of type(i) equidistant (Riemann polar/normal coordinates),(ii) conformal and(iii) equiareal.Box 2.1.–2.4. andBox 3.1.– 3.4. are collections of the rigorously transformedconvolutive Stokes functions andStokes integrals andconvolutive Vening-Meinesz functions andVening-Meinesz integrals. The graphs of the correspondingStokes functions S ₂(),S ₃(r),,S ₆(r) as well as the correspondingStokes-Helmert functions H ₂(),H ₃(r),,H ₆(r) are given byFigure 4.1–4.5. In contrast, the graphs ofFigure 4.6–4.10 illustrate the correspondingVening-Meinesz functions V ₂(),V ₃(r),,V ₆(r) as well as the correspondingVening-Meinesz-Helmert functions Q ₂(),Q ₃(r),,Q ₆(r). The difference between theStokes functions / Vening-Meinesz functions andtheir first term (only used in the Flat Fourier Transforms of type FAST and FASZ), namelyS ₂() – (sin /2)^–1,S ₃(r) – (sinr/2R ₀)^–1,,S ₆(r) – 2R ₀/r andV ₂() + (cos /2)/2(sin² /2),V ₃(r) + (cosr/2R ₀)/2(sin² r/2R ₀),, illustrate the systematic errors in theflat Stokes function 2/ or flatVening-Meinesz function –2/². The newly derivedStokes functions S ₃(r),,S ₆(r) ofBox 2.1–2.3, ofStokes integrals ofBox 2.4, as well asVening-Meinesz functionsV ₃(r),,V ₆(r) ofBox 3.1–3.3, ofVening-Meinesz integrals ofBox 3.4 — all of convolutive type — pave the way for the rigorousFast Fourier Transform and the rigorousWavelet Transform of theStokes integral / theVening-Meinesz integral of type equidistant, conformal and equiareal.     

A comparison of Stokes' numerical integration and collocation,and a new combination technique

Summary Basically two different evaluation methods are available to compute geoid heights from residual gravity anomalies in the inner zone: numerical integration and least squares collocation.If collocation is not applied to a global gravity data set, as is usually the case in practice, its result will not be equal to the numerical integration result. However, the cross covariance function between geoid heights and gravity anomalies can be adapted such that the geoid contribution is computed only from a small gravity area up to a certain distance _o from the computation point. Using this modification, identical results are obtained as from numerical integration.Applying this modification makes the results less dependent on the covariance function used. The difference between numerical integration and collocation is mainly caused by the implicitly extrapolated residual gravity anomaly values, outside the original data area. This extrapolated signal depends very much on the covariance function used, while the interpolated values within the original data area depend much less on it.As a sort of by-product, this modified collocation formula also leads to a new combination technique of numerical integration and collocation, in which the optimizing practical properties of both methods are fully exploited.Numerical examples are added as illustration.     

Characteristics of the hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 system of the minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)

The whales are an interesting group in several aspects of science, including evolutionary biology, marine ecology and toxicology. Some of the whale species, including the minke whale, graze at the top of the food chains, where they become susceptible to the accumulation of marine pollutants ingested by organisms at lower levels. The northern stock of the minke whale grazes in Arctic waters in the summer, an area of increasing interest in the development of new oil fields. Studies on the metabolism, disposition and effects of xenobiotics in marine mammals are few. The only reports in the open literature so far have dealt with these questions in seals.^1–3 Although the marine mammals comprise a particularly interesting group in marine ecology and toxicology, no data have to our knowledge been presented on the xenobiotic metabolising enzyme systems of the whales. In this study, components of the microsomal cytochrome P-450 system were measured in liver samples from several females, one male, and two foetal minke whales, caught in the Norwegian whaling season of 1983. Because of the limited number of samples studied we have treated the samples individually and not performed any statistical analysis of the data. The trends discussed below must therefore be considered with this background.     

Correlation of the absorption coefficient with a reduction in mean mass for dissolved organic matter in southwest Florida river plumes

Results are presented from an investigation of the relationship between molecular mass distribution and optical properties for colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM); a complex assembly of organic macromolecules of marine and freshwater origin found throughout the surface ocean. Unique data are derived from the application of a new technique, a combination of a hydrophilic–lipophilic copolymer-based solid phase extraction (SPE) with electrospray ionization (ESI) continuous flowing ion trap mass spectrometry (cf-MS), for the direct determination of CDOM mass distribution. An evaluation of this copolymer-based extraction technique for the analysis of Suwannee River Natural Organic Matter (SRNOM) reference material revealed that the current method compares favorably with C₁₈ modified silica or XAD resin-based extraction methods reported in the literature when considering extraction efficiency or low extraction bias for CDOM. The mass distribution of CDOM in several freshwater to marine transition zones along coastal southwestern Florida has been determined with this technique. All rivers in the study region had a bimodal distribution of masses. A case study of the Caloosahatchee River outflow CDOM mass distribution data are presented as an example of the modification in mass distributions. The lower mass mode of the bimodal distribution was observed to have a relatively stable mean throughout the study region at 406±9 Da, while decreasing in concentration in a non-conservative manner with salinity. In contrast, the upper mass mode of the bimodal distribution was observed to have a variable mean, reaching 1408 Da in the least saline waters and decreasing by 174 Da through the transect toward higher salinity coastal waters. Coinciding with this reduction in mean mass for the upper distribution is a non-conservative reduction in concentration when compared with salinity. We define apparent organic carbon (AOC) as a function of the cf-MS determined total integrated area and use this value to determine concentration of the total extracted CDOM. Unique correlations between the CDOM fluorescence (350-nm excitation/450-nm emission) and the AOC for these coastal samples have been observed for each of three rivers in the study region. The steepest slope and highest correlation between optical and mass spectral properties are observed in rivers with strongly absorbing waters originating in the Florida Everglades and lowest in rivers draining clearer waters from widely variable and anthropogenic influenced regions. The trends in molecular mass distribution and corresponding optical properties support the theory that CDOM in coastal zones is environmentally processed material from terrestrial sources. Probable cause of the reduction in mean mass and suggestions for further investigation of sources and transformations of CDOM are discussed.     

The Effects of Reduced Oxygen Content on Predation and Siphon Cropping by the Brown Shrimp, Crangon crangon

Abstract. Aquarium experiments were performed to test for critical oxygen levels in relation to the predation efficiency of C. crangon . Short-term (60 h) experiments where done in normoxia (> 95%). 50, 40.30, and 20% oxygen saturation with the amphipod Bathyporeiapilosa as prey. A significantly reduced predation rate was detected at 30% oxygen. Sublethal effects of C. crangon on adult Macoma balthica (mainly by siphon cropping) were studied by measuring the condition of the clams (morphometric, somatic, and biochemical). To test for these effects experiments were conducted under normoxia and moderate hypoxia (40% oxygen); Condition and siphon indices revealed no change in condition after a 3-week exposure to moderate hypoxia, while a significant reduction in the condition of adult clams was found in both normoxia and hypoxia when subjected to siphon cropping by C. crangon . No enhanced siphon cropping could be detected due to hypoxia.
The results indicate that C. crangon is able to maintain its predatory role until a level of 30% oxygen in short-term exposure. After a 20% oxygen level, however, the abiotic stress alters the functional role of C. crangon as a predator, indicating a threshold of 20–302 oxygen for the normal functioning of the predator-prey food webs.