Limb brightening on Uranus: An interpretation of the λ7300 Å methane band

Measurements of limb brightening on the Uranus disk within the λ7300 Å CH₄ band are interpreted using an elementary inhomogeneous radiative transfer model to describe the atmosphere. A two layer model which consists of a finite, optically thin, region of conservatively scattering particles overlying a semi-infinite clear H₂CH₄ atmosphere satisfactorily explains the observations. The maximum optical thickness of the upper layer appears to lie in the range 0.1 to 0.2. The CH₄/H₂ mixing ratio in the lower layer is larger than the corresponding solar value by a factor on the order of three or greater. The results are discussed briefly in terms of current models of the Uranus atmosphere.     

Saturn: UBV photoelectric pinhole scans of the disk

UBV pinhole scans of the Saturn disk have been made with a photoelectric area-scanning photometer. Limb profiles, spaced parallel to the equator, were obtained over the entire southern hemisphere of the planet. Saturn was found to exhibit strong limb brightening in the ultraviolet, moderate limb brightening at blue wavelengths, and strong limb darkening in the visual region of the spectrum. Latitudinal variations in the disk profiles were found. In general, the degree of limb brightening decreases towards the polar region. Pronounced asymmetry is apparent in the disk profiles in each color. The sunward limb is significantly brighter than the opposite limb. This asymmetry depends on phase angle; approaching zero at opposition, it reaches a maximum near quadrature. Our observations are interpreted using an elementary radiative transfer model. The Saturn atmosphere is approximated by a finite homogeneous layer of isotropically scattering particles overlying a Lambert scattering haze or cloud layer. The reflectivity of the haze or clouds is a strongly dependent function of wavelength. Our best-fitting model consists of a clear H₂ layer of column density ～31 km-am above the haze or clouds; the maximum permitted H₂ column density is ～46 km-am. The H₂ column density above the equatorial region appears to be less than at temperate latitudes. The phase-dependent asymmetry in the disk profiles is a natural consequence of the scattering geometry. Our results are consistent with current knowledge of the Saturn atmosphere.     

Preserving Ground Water Samples With Hydrochloric Acid Does Not Result in the Formation of Chloroform

Water samples collected for the determination of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are often preserved with hydrochloric acid (HCl) to inhibit the biotransformation of the analytes of interest until the chemical analyses can he performed. However, it is theoretically possible that residual free chlorine in the HCl can react with dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to form chloroform via the haloform reaction. Analyses of 1501 ground water samples preserved with HCl from the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment Program indicate that chloroform was the most commonly detected VOC among 60 VOCs monitored. The DOC concentrations were not significantly larger in samples with detectable chloroform than in those with no delectable chloroform, nor was there any correlation between the concentrations of chloroform and DOC. Furthermore, chloroform was detected more frequently in shallow ground water in urban areas (28.5% of the wells sampled) than in agricultural areas (1.6% of the wells sampled), which indicates that its detection was more related to urban land-use activities than to sample acidification. These data provide strong evidence that acidification with HCl does not lead to the production of significant amounts of chloroform in ground water samples. To verify these results, an acidification study was designed to measure the concentrations of all trihalomethanes (THMs) that can form as a result of HCl preservation in ground water samples and to determine if ascorbic acid (C₆H₈O₆) could inhibit this reaction if it did occur. This study showed that no THMs were formed as a result of HCl acidification, and that ascorbic acid had no discernible effect on the concentrations of THMs measured.     

Surface Integral Formulae for Geomagnetic Studies

Surface integral formulae are derived expressing any one of certain field quantities, namely current functions, magnetic potentials and normal components of magnetic fields, in terms of any one other, for current systems flowing in concentric spherical surfaces. In all, 36 such formulae are obtained, which should prove useful in many geomagnetic studies, especially in geomagnetic induction problems.     

Magnesian andesite and dacite lavas from Mt. Shasta,northern California: products of fractional crystallization of H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O-rich mantle melts

Mt. Shasta andesite and dacite lavas contain high MgO (3.5–5 wt.%), very low FeO*/MgO (1–1.5) and 60–66 wt.% SiO₂. The range of major and trace element compositions of the Shasta lavas can be explained through fractional crystallization (~50–60 wt.%) with subsequent magma mixing of a parent magma that had the major element composition of an H₂O-rich primitive magnesian andesite (PMA). Isotopic and trace element characteristics of the Mt. Shasta stratocone lavas are highly variable and span the same range of compositions that is found in the parental basaltic andesite and PMA lavas. This variability is inherited from compositional variations in the input contributed from melting of mantle wedge peridotite that was fluxed by a slab-derived, fluid-rich component. Evidence preserved in phenocryst assemblages indicates mixing of magmas that experienced variable amounts of fractional crystallization over a range of crustal depths from ~25 to ~4 km beneath Mt. Shasta. Major and trace element evidence is also consistent with magma mixing. Pre-eruptive crystallization extended from shallow crustal levels under degassed conditions (~4 wt.% H₂O) to lower crustal depths with magmatic H₂O contents of ~10–15 wt.%. Oxygen fugacity varied over 2 log units from one above to one below the Nickel-Nickel Oxide buffer. The input of buoyant H₂O-rich magmas containing 10–15 wt.% H₂O may have triggered magma mixing and facilitated eruption. Alternatively, vesiculation of oversaturated H₂O-rich melts could also play an important role in mixing and eruption.     

Large-Scale Structure of the Carina Nebula

Observations obtained with the Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) satellite reveal for the first time the complex mid-infrared morphology of the entire Carina Nebula (NGC 3372). On the largest size scale of approximately 100 pc, the thermal infrared emission from the giant H ii region delineates one coherent structure: a (somewhat distorted) bipolar nebula with the major axis perpendicular to the Galactic plane. The Carina Nebula is usually described as an evolved H ii region that is no longer actively forming stars, clearing away the last vestiges of its natal molecular cloud. However, the MSX observations presented here reveal numerous embedded infrared sources that are good candidates for sites of current star formation. Several compact infrared sources are located at the heads of dust pillars or in dark globules behind ionization fronts. Because their morphology suggests a strong interaction with the peculiar collection of massive stars in the nebula, we speculate that these new infrared sources may be sites of triggered star formation in NGC 3372.     

Snow hydrology of a constructed watershed in the Athabasca oil sands region,Alberta, Canada

Wetlands are now being integrated into oil sands mining landscape closure design plans. These wetland ecosystems will be constructed within a regional sub‐humid climate where snowfall represents ~25% of annual precipitation. However, few studies focus on the distribution of snow and, hence, the storage of winter precipitation in reclaimed oil sands landscapes. In this study, the distribution, ablation and fate of snowmelt waters are quantified within a constructed watershed in a post‐mining oil sands environment. Basin‐averaged peak SWE was 106 mm, with no significant difference between reclaimed slopes with vegetation and those that were sparsely vegetated or bare. Snow depth was greatest and more variable near the toe of slopes and became progressively shallower towards the crest. Snow ablation started first on the vegetated slope, which also exhibited the maximum observed ablation rates. This enhanced melt was attributed to increased absorption of short‐wave radiation by vegetation stems and branches. Recharge to reclaimed slopes and a constructed aquifer during the snowmelt period was minimal, as the presence of ground frost minimized infiltration. Accordingly, substantial surface run‐off was observed from all reclaimed slopes, despite being designed to reduce run‐off and increase water storage. This could result in increased flashiness of downstream watercourses during the spring freshet that receive run‐off from post‐mining landscapes where large reclaimed slopes are prolific. Run‐off ratios for the reclaimed slopes were between 0.7 and 0.9. Thus, it is essential to consider snow dynamics when designing landscape‐scale constructed ecosystems. This research demonstrates that the snowmelt period hydrology within reclaimed landscapes is fundamentally different from that reported for natural settings and represents one of the first studies on snow dynamics in constructed watershed systems in the post‐mined oil sands landscape. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The role of recharge and evapotranspiration as hydraulic drivers of ion concentrations in shallow groundwater on Everglades tree islands,Florida (USA)

Recently, evapotranspiration has been hypothesized to promote the secondary formation of calcium carbonate year‐round on tree islands in the Everglades by influencing groundwater ions concentrations. However, the role of recharge and evapotranspiration as drivers of shallow groundwater ion accumulation has not been investigated. The goal of this study is to develop a hydrologic model that predicts the chloride concentrations of shallow tree island groundwater and to determine the influence of overlying biomass and underlying geologic material on these concentrations. Groundwater and surface water levels and chloride concentrations were monitored on eight constructed tree islands at the Loxahatchee Impoundment Landscape Assessment (LILA) from 2007 to 2010. The tree islands at LILA were constructed predominately of peat, or of peat and limestone, and were planted with saplings of native tree species in 2006 and 2007. The model predicted low shallow groundwater chloride concentrations when inputs of regional groundwater and evapotranspiration‐to‐recharge rates were elevated, while low evapotranspiration‐to‐recharge rates resulted in a substantial increase of the chloride concentrations of the shallow groundwater. Modeling results indicated that evapotranspiration typically exceeded recharge on the older tree islands and those with a limestone lithology, which resulted in greater inputs of regional groundwater. A sensitivity analysis indicated the shallow groundwater chloride concentrations were most sensitive to alterations in specific yield during the wet season and hydraulic conductivity in the dry season. In conclusion, the inputs of rainfall, underlying hydrologic properties of tree islands sediments and forest structure may explain the variation in ion concentration seen across Everglades tree islands. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Using Lightning Data to Better Understand and Predict Flash Floods in the Mediterranean

One of the costliest natural hazards around the globe is flash floods, resulting from localized intense convective precipitation over short periods of time. Since intense convective rainfall (especially over the continents) is well correlated with lightning activity in these storms, a European Union FP6 FLASH project was realized from 2006 to 2010, focusing on using lightning observations to better understand and predict convective storms that result in flash floods. As part of the project, 23 case studies of flash floods in the Mediterranean region were examined. For the analysis of these storms, lightning data were used together with rainfall estimates in order to understand the storms?? development and electrification processes. In addition, these case studies were simulated using mesoscale meteorological models to better understand the local and synoptic conditions leading to such intense and damaging storms. As part of this project, tools for short-term predictions (nowcasts) of intense convection across the Mediterranean and Europe, and long-term forecasts (a few days) of the likelihood of intense convection, were developed and employed. The project also focused on educational outreach through a special Web site http://flashproject.org supplying real-time lightning observations, real-time experimental nowcasts, medium-range weather forecasts and educational materials. While flash floods and intense thunderstorms cannot be prevented, long-range regional lightning networks can supply valuable data, in real time, for warning the public, end-users and stakeholders of imminent intense rainfall and possible flash floods.