BVR observations and period variation of the near-contact binary ZZ Aurigae

BVR light curves of ZZ Aurigae were obtained with the 60-cm Cassegrain reflector at the Sobaek Observatory, Korea, between 2000 February and 2001 February. All collected times of minimum light, including our observations, were used for the period study. The period variation could be of quasi-sinusoidal form superposed on an upward parabola. A continuous period increase of  d P /d t =+2.3 × 10⁻⁸ d yr⁻¹  was determined for ZZ Aur. The period of quasi-sinusoidal variation is about ∼26–31 yr. Photometric solutions were found using the Wilson–Devinney method. The Roche configuration of ZZ Aur is that of an Algol-type semidetached system where the primary star nearly fills its Roche lobe and the secondary star fills its lobe. The spot model was used to explain the asymmetry in the light curve known as the O'Connell effect.     

Practical modified scheme of linear shallow-water equations for distant propagation of tsunamis

A simple but practical numerical model describing a distant propagation of tsunamis is newly proposed by introducing an additional term to the existing modified scheme. The numerical dispersion of the proposed model is manipulated to replace the physical dispersion of the linear Boussinesq equations without any limitation. The new model developed in this study is applied to propagation of a Gaussian hump over a constant water depth and the predicted free surface displacements are compared with available analytical solutions. A very reasonable agreement is observed.     

Foregrounds for 21-cm observations of neutral gas at high redshift

We investigate a number of potential foregrounds for an ambitious goal of future radio telescopes such as the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) and the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR): spatial tomography of neutral gas at high redshift in 21-cm emission. While the expected temperature fluctuations due to unresolved radio point sources is highly uncertain, we point out that free–free emission from the ionizing haloes that reionized the Universe should define a minimal bound. This emission is likely to swamp the expected brightness temperature fluctuations, making proposed detections of the angular patchwork of 21-cm emission across the sky unlikely to be viable. Hα observations with JWST could place an upper bound on the contribution of high-redshift sources to the free–free background. An alternative approach is to discern the topology of reionization from spectral features due to 21-cm emission along a pencil-beam slice. This requires tight control of the frequency-dependence of the beam in order to prevent foreground sources from contributing excessive variance. We also investigate potential contamination by galactic and extragalactic radio recombination lines (RRLs). These are unlikely to be show-stoppers, although little is known about the distribution of RRLs away from the Galactic plane. The mini-halo emission signal is always less than that of the intergalactic medium (IGM), making mini-haloes unlikely to be detectable. If they are seen, it will be only in the very earliest stages of structure formation at high redshift, when the spin temperature of the IGM has not yet decoupled from the cosmic microwave background.     

Pattern and origin of spherulites in a rhyolite dike swarm,northeastern Cheongsong, Korea

IntroductionThe northeastern Cheongsong area is underlainby a sequence of sedi mentary rocks together within-trusive and extrusive volcanic rocks all of late Creta-ceous age(Lee&Hong,1973;Ki m&Park,1970;Hwang,1998).Theintrusions,comprising astock,a plug and numerous dikes,are well exposedat the current surface due tothe enormous erosion ofany sedi mentary or volcanic covered rocks.Thedikes forma dike swarmand some are intruded intothe plug.The dikes swarm may represent the subsurfaceexpress…     

Passive-range estimation using dual focused beamformers

The passive-range estimation technique using a single focused beamformer has been studied under the sea. However, there are not many more methods in the case of closed multisource environments. In this paper, we propose the technique using dual focused beamformers to estimate the ranges of a closed multisource, and compare the proposed technique with the previous method. The proposed method is verified via computer simulation under the simplified multipath underwater channel model.     

Naturalization of Landscaping Woody Plant,Magnolia obovata Potentially Invasive Species

Magnolia obovata, a tree species native to Japan, is a traditional landscaping tree that has also been introduced to various countries. M. obovata individuals have recently emerged in non-planting areas in Korea, prompting us to investigate its distribution by establishing Dosolsan in an urban forest of Daejeon City as the target site. In order to determine its naturalization, the study explored the status of population growth by examining the diameter at breast height of the individuals, and diameter diminution quotient was calculated. Cores of the trees were collected, and the age distribution was estimated by regression analysis. Reproduction possibility was analyzed by verifying the flowerblooming and fruit-bearing. Spontaneous colonization was investigated in the other potential sites which have different location and environment, respectively.The diameter distribution showed a reverse J-shaped curve, and the diminution quotient was ≥ 1.8. The population was composed of different generations,thus confirming the growth of the population. The distributed M. obovata grew and flowered normally,and followed a normal life cycle. The same phenomenon was observed in other planting areas,residual forests in urban or rural areas, alluvial islands, and mountain forests. The continuous spread of M. obovata in new ecosystems may be attributable to its long-term distribution by birds, relatively fast growth, and maturity time. Investigations on the naturalization and spread of M. obovata in Korea, as well as in various countries, are warranted.     

Marine environmental impact assessment of abalone,Haliotis discus hannai,cage farm in Wan-do,Republic of Korea

To assess the marine environmental impacts of abalone, Haliotis discus hannai, cage farms in Wan-do, we monitored the benthic environment on top of the sediment underneath cage farm stations and reference stations. We applied two methods for this assessment. One was the A- and B-investigation of the MOM system (Modeling–On fish farm–Monitoring) developed in Norway. The other was a general environmental monitoring method which is widely used. In this study, we found benthic animals in all samples that belonged to condition 1 which were based on group 1(presence of macrofauna) of the B-investigation method. The values of redox potential (group 2–pH, redox potential) in all samples were above +65 mV belonging to condition 1. Based on sensory results (group 3–gas, color, odor, thickness of deposits), five out of seven experiment samples showed condition 1 while stations 2 and 7 showed condition 2, which have been cultured for 10 years in semi-closed waters. As group 2 takes precedence over group 3, the level of the conditions for B-investigation results consequently showed condition 1 in all stations. We found that pollutants and trace metals in the sediment underneath cage farms were lower than the pollution standard. This led us to conclude that the environmental impacts of the cage farms in this study were not significant.