Nonradial eruption of a kinking filament observed from STEREO

On 5 April 2008, a filament at the periphery of an active region was observed by the Extreme Ultraviolet Imager telescope aboard the STEREO-A spacecraft, which showed up as a prominence eruption in the field-of-view from STEREO-B. The filament at STEREO-A 304 Å was first lengthened toward a region with weak overlying magnetic field so evolved as a large-scale one consisting of bright and dark threads twisting with each other, and then the portion below the weak field underwent an eruption. Meanwhile, the corresponding STEREO-B 304 Å prominence threads exhibited a kinking structure and tilting motion, with its center deflecting from the radial direction. By using three-dimension (3D) reconstruction technology, we obtain the 3D topology for the kinked prominence when its apex arrived at 1.4 radii, from which a clockwise rotation of about 90° is found in the course of the eruption. By comparing the 3D structure with the magnetic-field configuration computed by using the Potential-Field Source-Surface (PFSS) model, it is suggested that the filament erupted against the rather weaker than stronger overlying magnetic field, which make it appear to tilt toward one side.     

Modelling detrital cooling-age populations: insights from two Himalayan catchments

The distribution of detrital mineral cooling ages in river sediment provides a proxy record for the erosional history of mountain ranges. We have developed a numerical model that predicts detrital mineral age distributions for individual catchments in which particle paths move vertically toward the surface. Despite a restrictive set of assumptions, the model permits theoretical exploration of the effects of thermal structure, erosion rate, and topography on cooling ages. Hypsometry of the source‐area catchment is shown to exert a fundamental control on the frequency distribution of bedrock and detrital ages. We illustrate this approach by generating synthetic ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar muscovite age distributions for two catchments with contrasting erosion rates in central Nepal and then by comparing actual measured cooling‐age distributions with the synthetic ones. Monte Carlo sampling is used to assess the mismatch between observed and synthetic age distributions and to explore the dependence of that mismatch on the complexity of the synthetic age signal and on the number of grains analysed. Observed detrital cooling ages are well matched by predicted ages for a more slowly eroding Himalayan catchment. A poorer match for a rapidly eroding catchment may result from some combination of large analytical uncertainties in the detrital ages and inhomogeneous erosion rates within the basin. Such mismatches emphasize the need for more accurate thermal and kinematic models and for sampling strategies that are adapted to catchment‐specific geologic and geomorphic conditions.     

Geoeffective Disturbances in the Solar Wind near the Solar Activity Minimum according to the Data of a Two-year Series of Observations of Interplanetary Scintillations with the BSA LPI Radio Telescope

Astronomy Reports - A joint analysis of the monitoring data of interplanetary scintillations with solar and geophysical data showed that at the descending phase of the 24 solar activity cycle, the...     

The Impact Of Urban Development On Recharge And Groundwater Quality In A Coastal Aquifer Near Perth,Western Australia

AbstractNear Perth, Western Australia, thirty boreholes were drilled at eleven sites in similar hydrogeological settings. The sites represent three levels of urban development: an uncleared area, a new residential area (less than 20 years old) and an old residential area (more than 60 years old). The objective was to assess the impact of sewered urban development on recharge and groundwater quality. Tritium data suggest that a greater proportion of recharge in the urban areas is from point sources, and this probably caused high redox potentials (up to 291 mV) in groundwater in the old residential area. Recharge in the new urban area is estimated to be about 37 percent of the average annual rainfall of about 0.8 m, and this value is probably greater than recharge in undeveloped areas. Concentrations of sulphate increase progressively with the age of urban development, from an average of 8 mg/L to 69 mg/L, probably as a result of fertilizer input and the oxidation of soil-held sulphides with land clearing. Nitrate concentrations are significantly higher in urban areas (average concentration >1 mg/L as N) than in the non-urban areas (average concentration <0.5 mg/L as N). However, the measured concentrations are all lower than expected from current fertilizer inputs in sewered urban areas of about 80 kg/ha, indicating that denitrification is taking place. A limited reservoir of reducing agents may be available from denitrification, and this may have implications for the sustained use of groundwater as a potable supply in coastal suburbs of Perth. RÉSUMÉ: Près de Perth, en Australie occidentale, 30 forages ont été réalisés en 11 sites dans les mêmes conditions hydrogéologiques. Ces sites présentent trois degrés de développement urbain: une zone non aménagée, une zone résidentielle nouvelle (de moins de 20 ans), une zone résidentielle ancienne (de plus de 60 ans). L'objectif était de déterminer l'impact de l'assainissement urbain sur la recharge et sur la qualité des eaux souterraines. Les données de tritium indiquent qu'une recharge plus importante se produit ponctuellement dans les zones construites, ce qui est probablement responsable des potentiels redox élevés (jusqu'à 291 mV) dans l'eau souterraine à long temps de séjour. La recharge dans la zone nouvellement urbanisée est d'environ 37% des précipitations moyennes annuelles (800 mm); cette valeur parait supérieure à celle de la recharge dans les zones non urbanisées. Les concentrations en sulfates augmentent progressivement avec l'âge du développement urbain, de 8 à 69 mg/l en moyenne, probablement à cause des apports d'engrais et de l'oxydation des sulfures lors du lessivage des sols. Les teneurs en nitrates sont significativement plus fortes en zones urbanisées (concentration moyenne supérieure à 1 mg/l en N) qu'en zones non urbanisées (concentration moyenne inférieure à 0.5 mg/l en N). Ces teneurs restent cependant nettement inférieurs à celles que produiraient, comme on le connait, des apports continus d'engrais de 80 kg/ha en zone urbanisée avec assainissement, ce qui prouve qu'une dénitrification se produit. Un réservoir limité d'agents réducteurs doit donc intervenir dans la d'énitrification, ce qui peut avoir des implications pour une utilisation durable des eaux souterraines pour l'alimentation en eau potable dans la banlieue côtière de Perth. RESUMEN: Cerca de Perth, Australia Occidental, se perforaron treinta sondeos en once localizaciones con similares características hidrogeológicas. Las localizaciones representan tres niveles de desarrollo urbano: un area no desarrollada, un area residencial moderna (menos de veinte años de edad) y un área residencial antigua (más de 60 años). El objetivo era evaluar el impacto del desarrollo en las redes de saneamiento urbanas en la recarga y calidad de las aguas subterráneas. Los datos de tritio sugieren que una gran proporción de la recarga en áreas urbanas procede de focos puntuales; esto es una posible causa de los altos potenciales redox (hasta 291 mV) de las aguas subterráneas en el área residencial antigua. La recarga en el área urbana moderna se estima sobre el 37% de la precipitación anual media, de alrededor de 0.8 m, y este valor es probablemente mayor que la recarga en áreas no desarrolladas. Las concentraciones de sulfato aumentan progresivamente con la edad del desarrollo urbano, desde una media de 8 mg/l hasta 69 mg/l, probablemente como resultado del aporte de fertilizantes y de la oxidación de los sulfuros retenidos durante la explanación del terreno. Las concentraciones de nitratos son significativamente más altas en áreas urbanas (concentración media > 1mg/l en forma de N) que en áreas no urbanas (concentración media < 0.5 mg/l en forma de N). Sin embargo, las concentraciones medidas son todas menores que las esperadas a partir de los valores de aporte de fertilizantes habituales en áreas urbanas con red de saneamiento, que son del orden de 80 kg/ha. Esto indica que está teniendo lugar un proceso de desnitrificación. Esta desnitrificación puede ser posible por la presencia de una acumulación limitada de agentes reductores, lo que puede tener implicaciones para el uso sostenido del agua subterránea como suministro de agua potable en los suburbios costeros de Perth.     

The fine structure of the geomagnetic field

It was shown in our previous works that the dipole part of the geomagnetic field direction is mainly represented by the 1200-yr variation. According to some indications, the residual of the dipole part of the field, the so-called δ variation, may be classified as standing waves. Average values of δ are calculated for each hemisphere. In this work, the difference values equal to the δ variations for each territory minus δ averages over hemispheres (western or eastern) are calculated. The resulting values, fine structure (FS) variations, characterize the FS of the geomagnetic field. The study of the activity of the FS variations and specific features of their N-S and E-W behavior and the comparative analysis of dynamic characteristics (activity and rate) give grounds to classify the FS variations (as well as the δ variations) as standing waves of the nondipole field.     

Seismic hazard monitoring in Kamchatka and its applications to the M = 6.6 earthquake of 6 October 1987

The earthquake of 6 October 1987 (M = 6.6), which occurred near the Shipunsky Cape, Kamchatka, was the largest crustal event in the vicinity of the main city of Kamchatka — Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky — during the last three decades. It was followed by numerous aftershocks. This earthquake allowed us to test the effectiveness of the seismic hazard monitoring in Kamchatka, including the seismological, geodetic and hydrogeochemical surveys. The seismic survey provided the location and source nature of the main shock and aftershocks and the seismic environment of the main shock. The geodetic and hydrogeochemical surveys have yielded data on the response to earthquakes of the Earth's surface deformations, water level, and chemical elements concentration in the underground water. As a result, the following data were obtained:

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The earthquake of 6 October had a seismic moment 4–10 E18 Nm, thrust type of faulting and the source volume of 20 × 20 × 10 km³. The maximum intensity was VI–VII (MSK-64 scale) and maximum acceleration 88 cm/s².

Before this event, a relative increase in the number of the upper mantle (depth more than 100 km) moderate magnitude earthquakes during 5 years and a one-year period of seismic quiescence for small shallow earthquakes, were recognized. Significant anomalies in HCO₃ and H₃BO₃ concentrations in the underground waters were observed in the wells a week before the main shock.

     

Ecological risk assessment and ecological security pattern optimization in the middle reaches of the Yellow River based on ERI+MCR model

The middle reaches of the Yellow River represent an important area for the protection and development of the Yellow River Basin. Most of the area of the river basin is within the Loess Plateau, which establishes it as a fragile ecological environment. Firstly, using high-resolution data of land use in the watershed from the past 30 years, landscape ecological risk(LER) sample units are defined and an ecological risk index(ERI) model is constructed. Kriging interpolation is used to display the LE...     

Peculiarities of surface air temperature variations over the Far East regions in 1976–2005

Peculiarities are investigated of the air temperature variation tendencies at some stations of the Far East in 1976–2005. The estimate of linear trend equation coefficients is computed according to the air temperature observation data using the least squares method. It is demonstrated that the air temperature trend in northern regions possesses a small probability at small values of residual variability. In the southern regions, the trend significance increases for almost all seasons at small values of residual variability. At midlatitude stations, the trend significance in January and February decreases considerably due to the large values of residual variability.