Palomar and Table Mountain observations of 9P/Tempel 1 during the Deep Impact encounter: First results

We present the first results of the Palomar Adaptive Optics observations taken during the Deep Impact encounter with 9P/Tempel 1 in July 2005. We have combined the Palomar near-IR imaging data with our visual wavelength images obtained simultaneously at JPL's Table Mountain Observatory to cover the total wavelength range from 0.4 to 2.3 μm in the B, V, R, I, J, H, and K filter bands, spanning the dates from 2005 July 03-07. We also include in our overall analysis images taken on the pre-encounter dates of June 1 and June 15, 2005. The broad wavelength range of our observations, along with high temporal resolution, near-IR sensitivity, and spatial resolution of our imaging, have enabled us to place constraints on the temperature of the impact flash and incandescent plume of >700 K, and to provide mean dust velocities of order approximately 1.25 h after impact derived from our 1.64 μm observations. Our ejected dust mass estimates, as derived from our near-IR observations, are an order of magnitude less than those previously reported for visual wavelength observations.     

Neutron diffraction determination of the cell dimensions and thermal expansion of the fluoroperovskite KMgF3 from 293 to 3.6 K

The cell dimensions of the fluoroperovskite KMgF₃ synthesized by solid state methods have been determined by powder neutron diffraction and Rietveld refinement over the temperature range 293–3.6 K using Pt metal as an internal standard for calibration of the neutron wavelength. These data demonstrate conclusively that cubic $ Pm\overline{3} m The cell dimensions of the fluoroperovskite KMgF₃ synthesized by solid state methods have been determined by powder neutron diffraction and Rietveld refinement over the temperature range 293–3.6 K using Pt metal as an internal standard for calibration of the neutron wavelength. These data demonstrate conclusively that cubic KMgF₃ does not undergo any phase transitions to structures of lower symmetry with decreasing temperature. Cell dimensions range from 3.9924(2) ? at 293 K to 3.9800(2) ? at 3.6 K, and are essentially constant within experimental error from 50 to 3.6 K. The thermal expansion data are described using a fourth order polynomial function.     

The rheology of cryovolcanic slurries: Motivation and phenomenology of methanol-water slurries with implications for Titan

The Cassini spacecraft has revealed landforms on the surface of Titan suggested to be viscous cryovolcanic flows and possibly eruptive domes. In order to relate those surface features to the processes and chemistries that produced them, it is necessary to construct flow models, which rely on characterization of the rheological properties of the eruptants. This paper describes our initial exploratory attempts to understand the rheological characteristics of cryogenic slurries, using a 40% methanol-water mixture, as a precursor to more detailed experiments. We have devised a new automated cryogenic rotational viscometer system to more fully characterize cryovolcanic slurry rheologies. A series of measurements were performed, varying first temperature, and then strain rate, which revealed development of yield stress-like behaviors, shear-rate dependence, and thixotropic behavior, even at relatively low crystal fractions, not previously reported. At fixed shear rate our data are fit well by the Andrade equation, with the activation energy modified by a solid volume fraction. At fixed temperature, depending on shearing history, a Cross model could describe our data over a wide shear rate range. A Bingham plastic model appears to be a good constitutive model for the data measured at high shear rates when the shear was global. The yield stress like behavior implies that levee formation on cryolava flows is more likely than would be inferred from the previous studies, and may provide a partial explanation for features interpreted as steep-sided volcanic constructs on Titan.     

The impact of methane thermodynamics on seasonal convection and circulation in a model Titan atmosphere

We identify mechanisms controlling the distribution of methane convection and large-scale circulation in a simplified, axisymmetric model atmosphere of Titan forced by gray radiation and moist (methane) convection. The large-scale overturning circulation, or Hadley cell, is global in latitudinal extent and provides fundamental control of precipitation and tropospheric winds. The precipitating, large-scale updraft regularly oscillates in latitude with seasons. The distance of greatest poleward excursion of the Hadley cell updraft is set by the mass of the convective layer of the atmosphere; convection efficiently communicates seasonal warming of the surface through the cold and dense lower atmosphere, increasing the heat capacity of the system. The presence of deep, precipitating convection introduces three effects relative to the case with no methane latent heating: (1) convection is narrowed and enhanced in the large-scale updraft of the Hadley cell; (2) the latitudinal amplitude of Hadley cell updraft oscillations is decreased; and (3) a time lag is introduced. These effects are observable in the location and timing of convective methane clouds in Titan’s atmosphere as a function of season. A comparison of simulations over a range of convective regimes with available observations suggest methane thermodynamic-dynamic feedback is important in the Titan climate.     

High-speed knots in the hourglass-shaped planetary nebula Hubble 12

We present a detailed kinematical analysis of the young compact hourglass-shaped planetary nebula Hb 12. We performed optical imaging and long-slit spectroscopy of Hb 12 using the Manchester echelle spectrometer with the 2.1-m San Pedro Mártir telescope. We reveal, for the first time, the presence of end caps (or knots) aligned with the bipolar lobes of the planetary nebula shell in a deep [N  ii ]λ6584 image of Hb 12. We measured from our spectroscopy radial velocities of  ∼120 km s⁻¹  for these knots.
We have derived the inclination angle of the hourglass-shaped nebular shell to be ∼65° to the line of sight. It has been suggested that Hb 12's central star system is an eclipsing binary which would imply a binary inclination of at least 80°. However, if the central binary has been the major shaping influence on the nebula, then both nebula and binary would be expected to share a common inclination angle.
Finally, we report the discovery of high-velocity knots with Hubble-type velocities, close to the core of Hb 12, observed in Hα and oriented in the same direction as the end caps. Very different velocities and kinematical ages were calculated for the outer and inner knots showing that they may originate from different outburst events.     

Hurricane Katrina storm surge delineation: implications for future storm surge forecasts and warnings

The storm surge in coastal Mississippi caused by Hurricane Katrina was unprecedented in the region. The height and geographic extent of the storm surge came as a surprise to many and exceeded pre-impact surge scenarios based on SLOSH models that were the basis for emergency preparedness and local land use decision-making. This paper explores the spatial accuracy of three interpolated storm surge surfaces derived from post-event reconnaissance data by comparing the interpolation results to a specific SLOSH run. The findings are used to suggest improvements in the calibration of existing pre-event storm surge models such as SLOSH. Finally, the paper provides some suggestions on an optimal surge forecast map that could enhance the communication of storm surge risks to the public.     

Millennial‐scale fire and vegetation history from a mesic hardwood forest of southeastern Wisconsin,USA

High‐resolution charcoal analysis of lake sediment cores was used to reconstruct the fire history from two sites in a mesic hardwood forest of south‐eastern Wisconsin located in the Kettle Moraine State Forest. Pollen data from the region indicate that the sites, which lie within 5 km of each other, have had a consistent presence of mesic hardwood forest for the last 6500 years. A pollen record from one of the sites confirmed the regional vegetation history and the charcoal analysis indicated that fire frequency at each site was temporally linked to regional drought. Periods of high fire occurrence occurred in connection with a region‐wide drought 4200 years ago and, over the last 2000 years, shorter‐scale regional droughts were centred at 1800, 1650, 1100, 1000, 800, 700 and 600 cal a BP. The fire histories indicate that the last 1000 years have had lower fire frequencies than the previous 6500 years and suggest that the mesic hardwood forests may be resilient to increases in fire that may result from future climate change. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Attribution of twentieth century temperature change to natural and anthropogenic causes

  We analyse possible causes of twentieth century near-surface temperature change. We use an “optimal detection” methodology to compare seasonal and annual data from the coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation model HadCM2 with observations averaged over a range of spatial and temporal scales. The results indicate that the increases in temperature observed in the latter half of the century have been caused by warming from anthropogenic increases in greenhouse gases offset by cooling from tropospheric sulfate aerosols rather than natural variability, either internal or externally forced. We also find that greenhouse gases are likely to have contributed significantly to the warming in the first half of the century. In addition, natural effects may have contributed to this warming. Assuming one particular reconstruction of total solar irradiance to be correct implies, when we take the seasonal cycle into account, that solar effects have contributed significantly to the warming observed in the early part of the century, regardless of any relative error in the amplitudes of the anthropogenic forcings prescribed in the model. However, this is not the case with an alternative reconstruction of total solar irradiance, based more on the amplitude than the length of the solar cycle. We also find evidence for volcanic influences on twentieth century near-surface temperatures. The signature of the eruption of Mount Pinatubo is detected using annual-mean data. We also find evidence for a volcanic influence on warming in the first half of the century associated with a reduction in mid-century volcanism. Received: 24 January 2000 / Accepted: 20 April 2000